As a qualified emperor, it was of utmost importance to be good at using checks and balances. Since ancient times, all the emperors had used the tripartite system to check and balance their subjects.
From the Three Ministers and Nine Ministers in the Qin and Han Dynasties to the Three Provinces and Six Ministries in the Tang dynasty, they all used a multiple of three.
Putting the six ministries aside, the three provinces were the true tripartite system. The three provinces restrained and supervised each other. In this way, the emperor not only reduced his workload, but also did not have to worry about the risk of his subjects taking away his power.
"So, Meton is imitating the Three Ministers and Nine Ministers of the previous dynasty. It's a pity that he is imitating the Three Ministers and Nine Ministers!" Li Tai suddenly understood.
The Round Table Conference that Meton advocated was in line with the number and system of the Three Ministers and Nine Ministers. Obviously, everyone thought that Meton was using it to reform the Village Mo.
"The Hundred Schools of Thought and other pre-Qin schools are all stubborn and revered the ancient rites!" Li Tai snorted coldly in his heart.
History had proven that the Three Ministers and Nine Ministers were no longer in line with the requirements of the era. The Three Provinces and Six Ministries system was the best political system that gathered the wisdom of thousands of years in China. In Li Tai's view, Meton's move was the biggest mistake.
Li Shimin nodded. If an ordinary person imitated a political system, the imperial court would definitely be wary. However, it would be strange if they did not advocate a political system.
If Meton had imitated the Three Provinces and Six Ministries system, it would definitely leave a knot in his heart. However, if Meton had imitated the Three Ministers and Nine Ministers of the Qin and Han Dynasties, it would not be a problem. After all, Confucius had always advocated the restoration of the rites of Zhou.
Li Chengqian shook his head and said, "Although the Three Ministers and Nine Ministers are outdated, Meton did not imitate it completely. Instead, he made some major changes. As for the effect, it's hard to say."
The Three Ministers were the Prime Minister, the Censor, and the Grand Commandant. In the Village Mo, except for Li Yi, the Censor changed from one person to all the villagers. The Grand Commandant was originally in charge of the army, but Meton was replaced by Han Zheng from the Legalism School.
Although Li Chengqian was not optimistic about the Three Ministers and Nine Ministers system, he had full confidence in Meton. Moreover, he felt that there was a deeper meaning to the changes in the Village Mo, but he could not explain it.
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Li Shimin showed a meaningful smile and said, "So, Gao Ming also thinks that Modun can manage Village Mo well."
Li Chengqian nodded his head solemnly. He had no doubts about this.
"What about Qingque?" Li Shimin turned his head and asked Li Tai who was beside him.
Li Tai smiled bitterly and nodded, "Father, the Three Ministers and Nine Ministers system was used for hundreds of years in the Qin and Han Dynasties. It must have its advantages. It is more than enough to manage the Village Mo."
In his opinion, Meton's action was like using a sledgehammer to kill a chicken. No, it was like taking an army to kill a chicken to manage a village. Meton imitated the Three Ministers and Nine Ministers system. It was like using a cannon to kill a mosquito.
"So, you all think that the Village Mo will get better and better for a long time in the future?" Li Shimin asked again.
Li Tai and Li Chengqian were stunned and suddenly understood. In their opinion, for the Village Mo, it was not important whether the Three Ministers and Nine Ministers system was outdated or not, as long as it could make the Village Mo better.
At the same time, they realized a new problem. Now the Village Mo had made so many contributions to the imperial court and paid so many taxes. How much would the Village Mo grow in the future?
The two looked at each other and suddenly showed a shocked expression.
Li Shimin said seriously, "There is no such thing as outdated or not. It depends on whether the system is suitable or not. No matter how outdated the system is, as long as it is used properly, it can play an incredible role."
Li Shimin was not a person who was rigidly bound by the rules. In the Han Dynasty, the feudal system had caused a lot of trouble. However, Li Shimin still let his concubine's sons be officials in the Tang Dynasty. If it were not for the opposition of hundreds of officials, the Tang Dynasty would probably repeat the Seven Kingdoms Rebellion.
If Meton were here, he would smile bitterly. He just simplified the system of the separation of powers in the later generations and used it in the Village Mo. He did not expect to support the Three Ministers and Nine Ministers system.
"I will keep it in mind!" Li Chengqian bowed and replied.
Li Shimin nodded with satisfaction. The reason why he analyzed Meton's strategy of governing the Village Mo was not only to let Li Chengqian understand the principle of checks and balances, but also to teach him some ways of governing a country.
But he neglected one thing. When he taught Li Chengqian, he did not avoid Li Tai at all. What's more, he did not notice that the eyes of Li Tai next to him were unusually bright.
At this moment, Pande hurried in from outside the hall, handed over a return gift list and bowed, "Your Majesty, this is the reward for the ministers. Please check it!"
Li Shimin took it and nodded in satisfaction. Although the Great Tang had not been blessed with good weather this year, it had successfully avoided the three major natural disasters. Its treasury was brimming with resources, so this year's rewards were naturally much more generous.
But when he saw Wei Zheng's reward, he could not help but frown. Pande lowered his eyelids. Because Wei Zheng's gift was the thinnest, relatively speaking, Wei Zheng's reward was less than that of the ministers of the same rank.
Li Shimin took a deep breath and said, "Meton said yesterday that if the water is a mirror, one can straighten one's clothes. If history is a mirror, one can know the rise and fall of the dynasty. If people are a mirror, one can know the gains and losses. If laws are a mirror, one can know the misfortune. The School of Mo uses laws as a mirror, and I use people as a mirror. Wei Zheng is my mirror. "
Li Shimin did not know that Meton's words were copied from him. He felt that these words were very suitable for him. Meton asked the School of Legalism to supervise the School of Mo at all times in order to prevent the School of Mo from going the wrong way. And the person who often advised him to avoid making mistakes was Wei Zheng. When Li Shimin saw 'using people as a mirror', the first person he thought of was Wei Zheng.
"Your Majesty, it is a great blessing for the emperor and his minister to be able to meet each other." Pande said respectfully.
Li Shimin immediately revealed a smug expression. He picked up the gift list and swiped it with his hand. "Men, add the return gift for Modun to Minister Wei."
"Ah!" Everyone was dumbfounded.
Pande immediately came back to his senses and said, "Why don't I prepare another gift for Marquis Merton?"
Li Shimin snorted and said, "The Village of Mo is so rich. He won't care about this small amount of money."
Pande immediately smiled bitterly. The imperial family's rewards had always been generous. Since when did they care about small amounts of money? However, with the Village of Mo's ability to make money, these rewards probably did not care about Meton.
"Besides, with this kid's prodigal character, no matter how much money we have, it will not be enough for him to squander." Li Shimin said bitterly.
"Then what do you mean, Your Majesty?" Pande asked cautiously.
Li Shimin showed a proud smile and said, "This year, I also plan to imitate Minister Wei and be stingy!"
Under everyone's puzzled look, Li Shimin walked to the table and wrote five big words with a heavy brush.
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