I traveled back to the Qin Dynasty, and the First Emperor begged me to become his empress.

Chapter 427 Major Reshuffle in the Imperial Court

The King of Qin, his eyes gleaming, asked, "What do you all think?"

The crowd answered in unison, "We have no objections."

Kui Zhuang stepped forward to express his gratitude, his face solemn and filled with a sense of mission. He understood that he was about to shoulder the heavy responsibility of managing the appointment and dismissal of civil officials, finances, and etiquette education, which would affect the foundation of the Qin Dynasty.

Meng Tian stepped forward with his fists clasped, his posture upright and his aura imposing: "What the princess says is reasonable. As for the Right Chancellor, who is in charge of military affairs, justice, and engineering, which are related to the safety and development of the Great Qin, I recommend General Wang Jian. He has fought for many years and is quite familiar with military deployment and weapons manufacturing, so he is the most suitable person for the position."

All eyes followed Meng Tian's movements and turned to Wang Jian. The King of Qin nodded slightly, looking at Wang Jian. Although Wang Jian had white hair, he was vigorous and showed no signs of old age. He smiled and said, "I am old; I will leave the opportunity to you young people!"

The King of Qin looked at him sincerely and said, "General Wang, you are in excellent spirits. I am still waiting for your help to unify the six kingdoms."

Jian smiled and replied, "If Your Majesty commands, I will naturally go into battle to fight the enemy. However, I am truly powerless to fulfill the duties of the Right Chancellor. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

The King of Qin did not insist further, but instead turned his gaze to Meng Tian and said, "General Meng Tian, ​​you have been on the battlefield for a long time and have made great achievements. How about appointing you as the Right Chancellor?"

Upon hearing this, Meng Tian immediately knelt down to express his gratitude: "This humble general accepts the order." A surge of pride welled up in his heart, knowing that this was not only an honor but also a heavy responsibility. The military, judicial, and engineering construction of the Great Qin would unfold a new chapter in his hands.

At this time, the discussion about the position of Censor-in-Chief sparked controversy. One minister advised, "The Censor-in-Chief bears the heavy responsibility of supervising all officials and must be upright and incorruptible, unafraid of powerful figures. However, if the wrong person is chosen, it may breed new corruption."

Another person said, "We can select from those officials who are honest, upright, and outspoken. Feng Jie is a man of integrity and might be a suitable candidate for the position of Censor-in-Chief."

Upon hearing this, the King of Qin pondered for a moment, weighed the pros and cons, and said, "Very well, then Feng Jie shall be appointed as the Imperial Censor."

Feng Jie accepted the order with a resolute expression. He understood that he was about to become the guardian of integrity and incorruptibility in the Qin Dynasty, shouldering the sacred mission of supervising officials and impeaching those who broke the law.

When it came to choosing a prime minister, everyone naturally turned their attention to members of the royal family. However, the King of Qin turned his gaze to Ying Wuyou and said slowly, "Although Jiayang is young, her policies on industry and agriculture are beneficial to the country and the people. She shall concurrently serve as prime minister."

These words caused a slight commotion in the court. A woman holding one of the Five Ministers' positions was extremely rare in the history of the Qin Dynasty. Feng Quji frowned slightly, a complex expression flashing in his eyes. He hesitated, then finally gave Ying Wuyou a deep look.

Shusun Tong's official tablet snapped in two with a "crack." The old scholar trembled: "Women interfering in politics! Like hens crowing at dawn! The Zhou rites have collapsed!"

Ying Wuyou calmly said, "The Book of Documents, in the chapter 'The Oath at Mu,' records that when King Wu attacked King Zhou, there were also women soldiers in armor. Confucius edited the Book of Poetry but did not remove this passage, which shows..." She paused deliberately, watching Shusun Tong's face turn from red to green, "The intention of the sages was to promote only the talented."

Feng Jie pondered for a moment, then stepped forward: "Your Majesty, the system of five ministers and twelve officials certainly clarifies responsibilities, however..." He paused, his gaze sweeping over Ying Wuyou, "The position of Minister of State Affairs has always been held by learned and venerable scholars. Although the princess has made outstanding contributions, she is still young, and I fear she may not be able to win over the people."

Meng Tian smiled slightly and stepped forward, saying, "Lord Feng, you are mistaken. Princess Jiayang's agricultural policies have resulted in abundant granaries in Guanzhong; this is a tangible achievement. The position of advisor to the state requires practical individuals, not those who merely spout Confucian classics."

The King of Qin raised his hand, stopping the argument: "This matter is settled; there's no need for further discussion." He looked at Ying Wuyou, his eyes filled with expectation, "Jiayang, do not disappoint me."

Ying Wuyou took a deep breath and bowed solemnly: "Your subject will do his utmost to live up to Father's expectations." Although she knew in her heart that the road ahead would be difficult and that she would face many doubts, her inherent resilience made her fearless, and only by sitting in this position could she have more say.

With the initial selection of the five prime ministers, the appointment of officials in the twelve departments was also put on the agenda. The departments of personnel and merit, household taxation, and rites and literature, among others, each performed their duties, and many people recommended talented individuals.

Before the assembly could reach a conclusion, the King of Qin declared, "As for the Twelve Ministries, I have already made my decision."

[Left Chancellor (Kui Zhuang) under his jurisdiction]

1. Department of Personnel and Merit – Yao Jia (A capable diplomat, skilled at recognizing talent)

2. Director of Household Taxation – Zheng Guo (a master of water conservancy and skilled in finance and taxation)

3. Director of Rites and Literature – Chunyu Yue (a Confucian scholar in charge of the rites)

[Right Chancellor (Meng Tian) in charge]

4. Military Affairs Department – ​​Wang Jian (A veteran general in charge, ensuring the stability of military affairs)

5. Department of Criminal Law – Li You (Li Si's son, temporarily holding this position)

6. Manufacturing Division – Mo Li (a confidant of Ying Wuyou, specializing in machinery improvement)

[Under the jurisdiction of the Censor-in-Chief (Feng Jie)]

7. Censorate – Dunruo (a stern remonstrating official who scrutinizes all officials)

8. Auditing Department – ​​Sima Xin (A capable financial official, responsible for auditing accounts)

[National Policy (Win Without Worry) Jurisdiction]

9. Historian – Wang Jue (son of Wang Wan, responsible for recording the new policies)

10. Imperial Astronomical Bureau – Gan De (Revises the calendar and assists farmers with timely harvests)

11. Zongfan Si – Ying Chengjiao (Representative of the Imperial Clan, in charge of Ying clan affairs)

[Directly under the jurisdiction of Grand Chancellor (Feng Quji)]

12. Office of Transmission – Chen Chi (Intelligence transmission, smooth implementation of government orders)

After the King of Qin finished speaking, the hall fell silent for a moment.

The hall was completely silent. The assembled officials looked at each other, none daring to speak rashly.

Wang Wan and Li Si, once powerful ministers who held immense influence in the court, were now excluded from the Five Ministers and given only honorary titles. What is even more perplexing is that their sons, Wang Jue and Li You, were respectively appointed to important positions such as "Director of the Imperial Historiography" and "Director of the Criminal Law."

"Is this a demotion, or another form of favor?"

Feng Quji frowned, trying to fathom the deeper meaning behind it.

Before they knew it, dusk had fallen, and the candlelight flickered in the main hall. The discussion about the selection of the Five Ministers and Twelve Ministers had finally come to an end.

King Ying Zheng of Qin remained seated, quietly observing everything. At this moment, he said in a deep voice, "Let it be arranged in this way. The new system of five ministers and twelve officials is intended to ensure that Qin can operate in an orderly manner under any difficult circumstances. I look forward to your performance."

With a command from the King of Qin, the atmosphere in the court shifted from tense discussion to efficient action planning. Although many were still reluctant to accept this new bureaucratic system, no one dared to stand up and oppose it.

"Your Majesty's command is ours to obey!"

Amidst cheers and applause, the Qin Dynasty's bureaucratic system underwent a complete transformation. Officials quickly withdrew and returned to their posts.

"What exactly is the meaning behind Your Majesty's actions?" After the court session ended, several ministers gathered outside the palace gates and discussed in hushed tones.

"Although Wang Wan and Li Si are not among the Five Ministers, their sons hold key positions in important departments, which..."