After the court meeting, Fang Yun returned to the Left Prime Minister's Pavilion. He gathered the Empress Dowager, the Left Prime Minister's Assistant Prime Minister, and all the important officials in the Cabinet. With the participation of Gao Mo, they prepared to draft a draft of the Constitution of Jingguo.
In fact, after everyone had arrived, Fang Yun gave each of them a draft of the constitution that he had already drafted.
Just by looking at the beginning, all the officials were shocked. They didn't expect Fang Yun to be so bold.
The first article of the Constitution stated that Jingguo was a country ruled by scholars under the leadership of the Emperor and the Cabinet.
The officials didn't know what the Constitution was, but after listening to Fang Yun's explanation in the Fengtian Palace, they knew that the Constitution was the highest law in a country. All the laws and regulations in a country had to comply with the Constitution. No one was allowed to violate the Constitution.
It could be said that the Constitution defined what kind of country a country was, what kind of laws were, and what kind of officials were.
Although the first article of the Constitution didn't clearly state the nature of Jingguo, it put the Cabinet and the Emperor on the same level. This meant that from now on, Jingguo had no power to overthrow the Cabinet.
In other words, Jingguo had no absolute control over the Cabinet. He didn't even have the power to veto.
All the officials thought the same thing. Everyone knew what Sima Zhao was thinking.
However, the first article didn't remove the Emperor's power.
Elder Gao Mo of the Punishment Hall looked at the first rule with a hint of displeasure in his eyes, but then he sighed helplessly.
Gao Mo was very dissatisfied with Fang Yun's mediocre style of the first article. It didn't completely determine the nature of the country or the political system, and it didn't distinguish between Jingguo and the Cabinet.
However, Gao Mo didn't blame Fang Yun. There was no other way. If the Constitution was too radical, the Imperial Family would rather fight to the death than agree. Therefore, the first article of the Constitution had to be like this.
However, when he saw the second article, Gao Mo smiled.
The second article of the Constitution stated that all the legislative power in the Constitution belonged to the Cabinet.
This meant that Jingguo had no legislative power. He couldn't make and decide Jingguo's laws and regulations.
The Empress Dowager only read two articles of the constitution. She gritted her teeth and wanted to tear up the draft in front of her.
The third clause made the Empress Dowager relax. It clearly stated that all laws in Jingguo had to be approved by the monarch and stamped with the imperial seal.
The fourth clause stated that all the ministers of the Cabinet, the heads of the ministries, the heads of the provinces, and the officials of the third rank and above were to be nominated by the Cabinet, appointed by the Monarch, and stamped with the Imperial Seal.
This meant that if Jing Jun did not agree, no one could become a high official.
However, the Empress Dowager's expression changed. This meant that the monarch could only decide the appointment of high-ranking officials, and could not decide the fate of low-ranking officials. Before this, the monarch was also responsible for the appointment and dismissal of officials of the fifth rank and above.
After reading the fifth clause, the Empress Dowager's expression turned for the better again. According to the constitution, the monarch was the highest person in charge of the country's etiquette. Any grand ceremony should be presided over by the monarch.
Seeing this, many officials heaved a sigh of relief. In the Saint Origin World, there was no need to doubt the importance of etiquette. This was because the monarch was the Son of Heaven, the leader of the human race as decided by the heavens. The monarch's authority came from the heavens, which was the greatest etiquette. If the monarch could not be in charge of etiquette, it meant that the monarch was not the Son of Heaven. Without the legitimate status, the legitimacy of the monarch's position would no longer exist.
Since Fang Yun had decided to let Jing Jun be in charge of the country's etiquette, it meant that there was no intention to abolish the monarch. This made the officials no longer worried about Fang Yun usurping the throne.
However, after reading the sixth clause, the Empress Dowager slammed the draft on the table in front of her.
"I will not allow the sixth clause to appear!"
The officials were silent.
The sixth clause of the constitution clearly stated that the Son of Heaven was in charge of etiquette. The etiquette belonged to the heavens, and the Son of Heaven was in charge. The Cabinet was in charge, and the government belonged to the people. Scholars served the monarch diligently. The Cabinet officials should take the initiative to take over the government affairs of the monarch, so that the monarch could better control the country's etiquette.
This was stripping the monarch of his authority!
The Son of Heaven was in charge. In the orthodox Confucian interpretation, it meant that the Son of Heaven did not increase additional taxes, did not increase the burden of the people, and did not do unnecessary wars. In short, it meant that the Son of Heaven did not do things that should not be done. As long as the Son of Heaven was in charge of benevolence, righteousness, and morality, then the officials and the people would go their own way without any problems.
Since the world was in charge, then the Son of Heaven was in charge of the country.
However, some scholars and scholars deliberately twisted this sentence, understanding that the truly wise Son of Heaven should be in the court and not do anything, leaving the government affairs to the officials. This was a good thing for the world and the people.
This kind of intention to seize the monarch's authority had not faded away for a long time among the scholars.
All the officials did not seem to hear the Empress Dowager's words and continued to read.
Because it was only a draft, the content was not detailed.
Some of the content was more general, some of the content was more pertinent, and some of the content made the officials feel uncomfortable.
For example, before the law, everyone was equal.
In the human race, there was no Son of Heaven who would be punished the same as the commoners if he broke the law. Only the princes would be punished the same as the commoners if they broke the law. In reality, there was no law that could bind the monarch. Although this constitution was a bit strange, the officials all knew that it was a slogan and would not be effective.
However, there was a clause after this constitution that many officials could not accept.
Men and women were equal.
The Empress Dowager looked at this with a complicated expression. Zhao Hongzhuang's stubborn face appeared in front of her.
"Minister Fang, this old minister does not agree with the inclusion of equality between men and women in such an important constitution," Yang Xuwen said.
Fang Yun smiled and said, "Half of Jingguo is made up of women. All the men are born of women. Without you and me, and even without the civil and military officials, the human race can still continue. Without women, the human race will perish. If all the women in the world are not worthy of being important, then who is? "
Yang Xuwen said, "Women have no strength to truss a chicken. It's difficult for them to enter the hall of elegance. They can't govern the country, and they can't kill the barbarians. How can they be equal to men?"
Many officials nodded gently, agreeing with Yang Xuwen's words.
Fang Yun asked, "Could it be that Minister Yang wants to stand up for women and recommend women to govern the country, so that women can be promoted to the civil rank and obtain the power to kill the barbarians?"
Yang Xuwen said helplessly, "I can't win against you, but I definitely don't agree with this clause. If you force it through, I will exercise my veto power. "
The officials were shocked. They did not expect that just as Sheng Boyuan was forced to leave, the officials of the imperial court finally reached an agreement. The left minister and the assistant minister actually had a conflict.
This time, Yang Xuwen's attitude was extremely firm.
Fang Yun said helplessly, "Then I'll take a step back. In front of the law, men and women are equal. If you allow your wife, daughter, and mother to be treated unfairly, then I have nothing to say. "
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