Seven Seas Beacon Fire

“Father, please take back what you just said. I was just trying to persuade you in a more tactful way. Do you think I’m deliberately contradicting you?” Li Renchi raised his head and asked, “When you taught me before, you required us to be realistic and to speak frankly. Does Father not even remember what he said before?”

"Are you challenging me to a duel?"

"I dare not," Li Renchi shook his head and said, "A family with a loyal son will not ruin its family, and a country with a loyal minister will not perish. This is a saying you taught me, Father, and I am simply acting in accordance with your teachings!"

Eastern Tang Dynasty Official System

(This is a preliminary assumption; the actual content in the following text shall prevail.)

1: In front of the emperor

Imperial Guards

Imperial Guards of the Palace - Commander of the Imperial Guards of the Palace

Imperial Guards Infantry Division – Commander of the Imperial Guards

Imperial Guard Cavalry Commander - Commander of the Imperial Guard

Imperial Privy Council – Imperial Privy Councilor, Grand Marshal, and General (Honorary Position) [Military Orders]

subordinate:

Left Privy Council – Deputy Privy Councilor, Grand Marshal, General of the Cavalry [1 Ministry, 5 Protectorates]

Army Department – ​​Commander-in-Chief of the Army

Anxi Protectorate – Military Governor

Guanzhong Protectorate – Military Governor

Hebei Protectorate – Military Governor

Hedong Protectorate – Military Governor

Longyou Protectorate – Military Governor

Right Privy Councilor – Deputy Privy Councilor, Grand Marshal, General of Chariots and Cavalry [1 Ministry, 6 Protectorates]

Admiralty – Commander-in-Chief of the Navy

Jiangnan Protectorate – Military Governor

Jingxiang Protectorate – Military Governor

Sichuan-Kang Protectorate – Military Governor

Lingnan Protectorate – Military Governor

Annam Protectorate – Military Governor

Old Port Protectorate – Military Governor

The Five Military Departments of the Empire—The Five Military Officials of the Empire [Military and Political Affairs]

subordinate:

Department of Military Affairs – Staff Officer (Advisor)

The Imperial Guard Commandery – Chief of the Imperial Guard Commandery (Political)

The Department of Personnel Selection – The Minister of Personnel Selection (for selecting officials)

Treasurer – Chief Treasurer (Services)

Ordnance Bureau – Ordnance Bureau Chief (Equipment)

Secretariat—Imperial Academician [Imperial Advisor]

subordinate:

Zizheng Pavilion – Grand Secretary of the Zizheng Hall (Executive Director)

Chengzhi Pavilion – Grand Academician of Hanyuan Hall (responsible for drafting imperial edicts)

Changqiu Pavilion – Changqiu Envoy (Executive Director of the Palace)

Guanglu Pavilion – Guanglu Minister (awarding medals)

Talisman Pavilion - Talisman Token (in charge of seals)

Second, the attached pivot

Imperial Dalitai – Imperial Dalitai Minister [Judicial Power]

Imperial Censorate – Imperial Censor [Supervisory Power]

subordinate:

Imperial Censorate – Attendant Censor [Remonstrance and Reproach]

The Censorate – Censor-in-Chief [overseeing all officials in the central government]

The Censorate—Supervising Censors [responsible for supervising local officials]

Third, the central axis

The Ministry of Personnel – Imperial Minister of Personnel (a nominal position) [Administrative Power]

subordinate:

The Eastern Department of the Ministry of Personnel – Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel [8 ministries]

The Selection of Officials – Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel [Power of Examination]

Ministry of State Ceremonies – Minister (Diplomacy)

Ministry of Justice – Minister (Public Security)

Department of Civil Affairs – Minister (Civil Affairs)

Ministry of Ceremonies – Minister (Education)

Ministry of Agriculture and Sericulture – Minister (Agriculture)

Ministry of Revenue – Minister (Statistics)

Minister of Water Resources – Minister (Water Conservancy)

The Western Department of the Ministry of Personnel – Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel [8 ministries]

The Three Departments – Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Finance [Financial Power]

Ministry of Law – Minister (Judicial Officer)

Department of Treasury – Minister (Commerce)

Ministry of Public Works – Minister (Industry)

Ministry of Posts and Communications – Minister (Transportation)

Department of Health Protection – Minister (Health)

Ministry of the Imperial Household Department – ​​Minister (Auditer)

Ministry of Ceremonies – Minister (News)

The Imperial Secretariat – Inspector of the Five Directorates of the Imperial Secretariat [5 Directorates]

Imperial College – Chancellor (Cadre Training)

Imperial Observatory – Director (Earthquake and Meteorology)

Treasury Supervisor – Director (Central Bank)

Maritime Safety Administration - Director (Customs Inspector)

Supervisor of Imperial Sacrifices – Director (Science and Technology Engineering)

IV. Auxiliary pivot

The Secretariat—the Imperial Secretariat Chancellor (a nominal position) [Legislative Power]

The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel was appointed as the Vice Minister of the Chancellery, with two Attendants-in-Ordinary serving as his assistants.

Hanlin Academy (with six academicians) – Drafting official documents

Shique Tongshiyuan – Qingyi Compilation

The Secretariat—Imperial Attendant-in-Ordinary (a nominal position) [Right of Deliberation]

The Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel was appointed as the Vice Minister of the Chancellery, with two Assistant Ministers of the Ministry of Personnel serving as his subordinates.

Tongjin Yintai Division – Tongzhengshi [Memorials]

Consultative and Fieldwork Division – Consultant [Rejection]

V. Local Administrative Divisions

Jifu: 2

Chief Executive: Prefectural Governor; Chief Judicial Officer: Vice Prefect

Chief Legislator: Feng Lingshi; Chief Inspector: Fufeng Shi

capital city Yingtian

Chang'an, the capital

Tao: 20

Chief Executive: Changping Transport Commissioner; Chief Justice: Provincial Judicial Commissioner

Chief Legislator: Political Consultative Conference Commissioner; Chief Inspector: Anti-Corruption Commissioner

Leadership institutions: Grain Transport Commissioner, Censorate Commissioner, Censorate Commissioner, Supervisory Commissioner

PS: This was made by Chicken Nuggets, and I'm posting it here mainly as a reference. If you think it's good, then the official titles of the new dynasty will follow this. Of course, like military ranks, if you think it's too awkward and you don't understand it, then we'll use more modern terms.

Leave a comment if you like this style.

Leave a comment here if you think something more modern and better.

Regardless, Chicken Nuggets really knows how to create official titles. When I have time, I'll share a couple more of his official title settings with you all while they're free, and you can give me your opinions.

Overall, Chicken Nuggets handled the checks and balances in the court quite well with his official titles, especially his ideas on replacing the Grand Secretary with the Left Censor-in-Chief as the head of all officials in the modern Ming Dynasty court, and his own "Scholars' Council," which are all quite ingenious.

Unfortunately, the book does not focus on depicting the Ming Dynasty from 1644 to the end of the 19th century, and these aspects are not suitable for development in the current plot. Those who are interested in this topic can join the group for discussion.

Oh, it seems the group number hasn't been announced yet. The current main group is 705028652. Everyone is welcome to join the group for discussion.

Finally, as is customary, I would like to ask everyone to vote for me with monthly tickets and recommendation tickets. This is really important to me now that the book is in its new stage. Thank you everyone, thank you everyone.

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Boiling Blood (3)

Li Zongdi's mustache was practically standing on end. Although he had known in the past that his eldest son, despite his seemingly weak appearance, actually possessed a stubborn streak, he never expected that this stubbornness would be directed at him in this way.

If the second or third son were here today, the Prince of Jin would probably already be whipping those two with his bow. But the eldest son is different. In traditional Chinese family politics, the eldest son, especially the eldest son of the principal wife, is no longer just your son after he comes of age.

Just like if Zhu Di made a mistake and displeased Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Yuanzhang could whip Zhu Di into a spinning top. But doing so to Zhu Biao would be absolutely unacceptable. This is not because Zhu Yuanzhang particularly favored Zhu Biao. The same applies to other examples where the relationship between father and son was not so good—you can kill, but you cannot humiliate.

If you're not prepared to abandon your account and start over, you either need to intimidate people with your power or persuade them with reason.

Li Zongdi naturally understood the reasoning behind this, so Prince Jin's body trembled – "Boss, you have to grant my request."

Prince Jin's eyes drooped, and the old man looked pitiful: "I'm already 60 years old, and I don't know how many more years I have left to live. There are all sorts of opinions about your father outside, but we're family, so let's keep our own words to ourselves. Your father isn't some saint; I also have emotions and desires."

"What I value most in this life is my reputation, both before and after my death. It's my face. Now that I've raised the banner of resistance against Japan, I have no way out. You know how many eyes are watching me across the country. How can I possibly submit to Britain?"

Li Renzhi remained silent. Seeing this, Li Zongdi continued to appeal to his son's emotions and reason: "Moreover, from an emotional point of view, the last straw that made our family determined to raise an army to quell the rebellion was the news that the Singapore fortress had fallen and the last garrison in the city, led by Major Lin Juemin, had launched a counterattack and all of them had died in battle."

Lin Juemin was a good boy. He was your mother's nephew, the only male in her family line. He could have lived a life like Jia Baoyu in *The Story of the Stone*, but he volunteered to join the army when the Old Port Pacification Commission was invaded, and ultimately died a heroic death. If we were to coexist with the Victorians… Qingming Festival is coming soon. What am I supposed to tell your mother when you offer incense then?

“I understand all these reasons, Father.” Li Renchi said in a steady tone and without changing expression, “Father, when you decided to raise an army, it was due to both deep thought and righteous indignation. For you at that time, neither of these was wrong, because you were the Prince of Jin, the Grand Marshal and General-in-Chief. You were a fierce general who fought on the battlefield. When you encountered problems, you were used to charging forward bravely as you had on the battlefield, relying on courage and blood to solve problems… Of course, there was nothing wrong with that.”

But we Chinese also have an old saying, "Those who are not in a position should not meddle in its affairs." And you have now effectively begun to take over this country. Whatever direction you intend to lead this country in the future, Father, as you said in the main hall that day, you are responsible for this country. May I take this as Father's political declaration?

Li Zongdi raised an eyebrow slightly. He originally wanted to reason with his eldest son, but he didn't expect that after his eldest son took over the conversation, he would turn the tables and continue to escalate the issue.

Faced with Li Renzhi's question, Li Zongdi could only nod silently—the Li family was not the Sima family, who could swear an oath by the Luo River and then ignore it as mere words. What they said in the main hall was as good as their word, and this could indeed be seen as their political declaration, which could not be denied in any way.

"Since Father acknowledges that this is a political declaration, then I ask Father to prioritize national affairs. I believe that in the face of national interests, personal reputation and gains are insignificant. If sacrificing personal reputation can save the country from calamity, I think that is also an honor."

After saying this, Li Renzhi stared straight at his father: "We do not have the resources to fight on two fronts right now. If you had taken over this country a year ago, perhaps we could have given it a try, but now the entire country is on the edge of a tightrope. Please forgive me, but I cannot agree to you adding any more risks to this country."