"The Department of Revenue, like the Department of Justice, retains some of its duties within the Shangshu Province, but the collection and disbursement of taxes and funds must be independent and cannot remain under the Shangshu Province."
Win Zhao listened and pondered, understanding Li Nian's intention. He decided to strip the Shangshu Province of its other powers, turning it into an institution solely dedicated to handling state affairs.
Li Nian continued: "The six departments also need to be dismembered and divided. The Department of Revenue, which handles matters related to population, land, marriage, and inheritance, as well as the collection and disbursement of taxes and funds for the whole country, is equally complicated!"
"Taxation is the source of national fiscal revenues and is of great importance. It should be strictly managed. I suggest that a separate department be established to handle tax collection and determination of outlays and income, alongside the Department of Revenue, rather than under its jurisdiction."
Win Zheng said, "Is this the practice of the various states in later times?"
Li Nian nodded and said, "Yes! Later states highly valued taxation. Whether engaging in wars with other states or governing at home, taxation is essential for their support. Wars are fought with money and grain, and the way a state obtains money and grain is through taxation."
"Collecting money and grain is important, and calculating the expenditure of money and grain is equally important. Therefore, I believe it is necessary to establish a specialized department solely for the purpose of calculation, so as to prevent excessive expenditures and corruption by some individuals."
Win Zheng hesitated without confirming or denying. Li Nian continued, "The scope of the Ministry of Rites is also too broad. If the future King has an interest in promoting the imperial examination system in the Great Qin, the power over schools and imperial examinations can be separated from it to form a Ministry of Education or a Department of Teaching. The Ministry of Rites also has the responsibility of receiving envoys from other countries, which could also be set apart as a separate Department of Diplomacy."
After a long time, Li Nian finally finished speaking, "The above are just my humble opinions, based on the thoughts I had about the matters of the future."
Win Zheng sighed helplessly, "According to your advice, it is indeed possible to weaken the functions of the three ministries and six departments, making their responsibilities more clear-cut. However, the number of officials required...
To establish so many departments, how many officials will the Great Qin need? This is completely out of line with the current realities of the Great Qin!
Moreover, in the actual implementation process, can it truly make each department's responsibilities clearer? Can everyone comply with the regulations and carry out their duties in accordance with their thoughts?
Any system, if it can run perfectly according to the designer's ideas, will naturally be effective. However, how could it possibly do so when implemented in practice?
Ming Hongwu wanted everyone in the world to do their own jobs and be content with their respective careers, so that his Great Ming dynasty could last for ten thousand years. However, problems arose not long after a few generations had passed.
The army system of the Tang Dynasty and the military household system of the Ming Dynasty, which one doesn't have temporary advanced characteristics?
Indeed, when discussing the decline of the Tang Dynasty in later times, the collapse of the military household system is often mentioned as a key factor.
Thinking that there may not be enough officials, Ying Zheng suddenly turned to look at Li Nian and asked, "Can you recommend some capable individuals to me for service? This problem should be easy for you, as you come from the future and understand history. I'm sure you know who can be used by my Great Qin."
It has finally arrived!
Li Nian sighed silently, he had always been unwilling to raise this issue himself.
Because answering this question may lead to some people's deaths.
Would Ying Zheng, upon learning that the Han High Emperor, Liu Bang, was named Liu Bang and resided in Zhongyang Li of Peifeng Village, Pei County, have immediately dispatched someone to assassinate him?
If Zhang Liang, the revered ancient strategist known as the "Sage of Strategies," harbored an intense hatred for the Qin Dynasty and personally took part in an assassination attempt on Emperor Qin Shi Huang, it is highly likely that upon learning of this, Emperor Qin Shi Huang would have him executed. The severity of the crime and Emperor Qin Shi Huang's reputation for harshness suggest that he would not tolerate such an attack on his person.
Li Nian still holds a very positive opinion of the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty, Gaozu, who is known as a "Sage of Strategies" throughout the ages.
Therefore, before the founding emperor Qin Shi Huang, Li Nian did not volunteer to mention it, but now that Qin Shi Huang has asked, Li Nian knows he cannot evade the truth.
"Given that Emperor Chu can establish the Han Dynasty, he must have surrounded himself with many capable individuals and exceptional scholars. Therefore, why not enlighten me? Let us start with Emperor Chu. I am very curious to learn more about him?"
Li Nian took a deep breath, calmed his emotions, and with a determined look said, "In the fifty-first year of the reign of King Zhao, Emperor Gaozu was born in the Zhongyang village of the Pei Feng area."
Ying Zheng was taken aback for a moment, asking, "How many years have passed?"
The fifty-first year of Zhao Wang?
Isn't that about the same age as the Marquis of Pei who established the Han Dynasty?
Li Nian originally thought that the Marquis of Pei would be much younger than him, but he didn't expect that they were of the same generation.
Based on Li Nian's account, he passed away in the 37th year of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's reign, which would have made him 49 years old. At that time, the Marquis of Pei was also 46 years old.
This scoundrel actually established the Han Dynasty and became the ruler of all under heaven at such a young age?
Indeed, he is a truly remarkable individual!
Li Nian continued, "Emperor Gaozu's full name is Liu Bang. He was born with prominent forehead and dragon-like face features, had beautiful beard, and had seventy-two black spots on his left thigh. By nature, he was kind-hearted and compassionate towards others, known for his benevolence and generosity. His personality was free-spirited and carefree, unconcerned with trivial matters, and he possessed a great capacity for tolerance."
"But he disliked engaging in agricultural labor and was often scolded by his father for it. In his youth, he had a conflict with his sister-in-law because he led people to live off her, depending on her for food."
As Li Nian spoke, Emperor Qin Shi Huang began to feel increasingly uncomfortable. The description of Emperor Gaozu seemed to be praising him excessively, but to him, it sounded more like the description of a common street hustler.
How could such a person be the one to gain the heavens, and replace our great Qin Dynasty?
Emperor Qin Shi Huang furrowed his brow and said, "This Marquis of Pei seems to be a no-good rascal."
Li Nian replied, "The king does not need to use 'seems to be,' but that is indeed part of the charm of the Marquis of Pei. His personality is open-minded, flexible, able to blend in with anyone, and also knows how to utilize people's strengths."
"Even after he established the Han Dynasty and became the emperor, he was still like this, able to sit in the palace and discuss matters with his ministers, as well as be casual and talk joyfully with a lowly soldier without adhering to etiquette."
"According to 'Shi Jing' (Records of the Grand Historian), there was once an incident where Emperor Gaozu was struck by an arrow during a battle with Ruyi, and he became ill while traveling."
The illness was severe, and Empress Lü sought out a skilled physician. The physician came to see Emperor Gaozu and asked about his condition. The physician replied, 'The illness can be cured.'
Therefore, Gaozu cursed the physician and said, "I, as a common clothes-wearing man holding a three-foot sword, conquered the world. Is this not destiny? Destiny is in the heavens. Even if it were Xu Qian (Qian Xu), what could he do?" As a result, he did not allow the physician to treat him and gave him 50 pounds of gold as a reward before sending him away.
Emperor Qin Shi Huang fell silent after hearing this, contemplating what he himself would do in that situation.
The answer he came up with made Emperor Qin Shi Huang even more silent; he probably would have accused the physician of crimes.
"In the end of the Qin Dynasty, the Marquis of Pei was not particularly powerful and far outmatched by the legendary General Meng Jiangsu. He suffered numerous defeats, yet he ultimately managed to defeat Meng Jiangsu, precisely due to these traits."
"After Emperor Gaozu became the emperor, he once discussed with his subordinates why he was able to gain the heavens and why Xiang Yu lost the heavens."
He once said, 'I am not as capable as Liangtan (Fan Zhongtan) in planning strategies within a tent, but I can decide battles thousands of miles away.'
He said, 'I am not as capable as Xiao He in managing the state, comforting the people, ensuring a steady supply of provisions, and maintaining unbroken supply lines.'
In commanding an army of a million men, winning battles, and capturing forts, I am not as capable as Han Xin.
These three, all outstanding individuals, I can trust and utilize.
That is why I was able to conquer the world.
Xiang Yu had Fan Zeng by his side but could not make good use of him. That is why he was captured by me.'
"Emperor Gaozu was also not without his flaws. He was greedy, enjoyed sensual pleasures, had no shame, did not recognize his relatives, led a life of indulgence, and lacked the demeanor of a true gentleman."
"During his struggle with Xiang Yu to gain control over the heavens, Emperor Gaozu was pursued so fiercely that he had to abandon his children and even left them behind multiple times while escaping on a horse. This matches the description of a scoundrel, as the king suggested."
As for the act of abandoning his children, Emperor Qin Shi Huang didn't seem to find it particularly remarkable; it was just that he had originally thought that the Marquis of Pei would be a member of the nobility from the Six States, but he hadn't expected him to be such a person.
However, upon further reflection, Emperor Qin Shi Huang realized that the Marquis of Pei was indeed an intriguing individual, even more so than what he had initially imagined. He became increasingly eager to welcome the Marquis of Pei to Xi'an and meet him in person.
As for the King of the Strong, Emperor Qin Shi Huang had also been mentioned before by Li Nian, and it was likely that he was a member of the Xiang family. Upon further reflection, it appeared that these six-state nobles were not capable either, as they were defeated by a scoundrel and lost their chance to gain the heavens.
