Chapter 691 - 146: Preparations Before the Sect Return Assembly, Part 3

The seventeen prefectures within the Sect’s territory can be organized into four domains. Yuanzhou, where the Sect is located, will be designated as an independent prefecture. We will establish an Imperial City there to govern all other prefectures and domains.

Within the Imperial City, we will establish a Monarch and a Cabinet. Each Prefecture will provide one member to the Cabinet, and each domain will have a Cabinet Master. The four Cabinet Masters will oversee the Cabinet, forming a council.

The vast majority of issues, such as the livelihood of the mortals and political affairs, will be handled by this Cabinet council.

As for judicial matters, with the exception of special cases like those involving the direct descendants of Immortals, all other ordinary legal proceedings will be based primarily on the Canon and managed by Officials.

The Monarch will exist outside the council and possess veto power on certain matters, but will also be subject to checks and balances from the entire Cabinet.

This is the general framework. I’ll draw up a draft in the next few days, and you just have to implement it."

Qin Shizhong paused for a moment. After some hesitation, he said, "Senior Uncle, the Cabinet council you described already has a comprehensive system for handling affairs. Moreover, since it’s composed of representatives from the Prefectures, they will have sufficient local support.

Why is there a need to establish a separate Monarch?

Once this position is established, it won’t just have a profound impact on the Cabinet council, but on the entire administrative network as well.

The mortal world, after all, isn’t as easy to govern centrally as the Sect. Besides, the Sect Leader’s position is only equivalent to that of a Cabinet Master, which is vastly different from a Monarch.

If not handled carefully, the establishment of this Monarch will interfere with the Cabinet council’s ability to carry out its duties. To be precise, a system with either a Monarch or a Cabinet council would work just fine. But putting both together..."

Zhang Deming glanced at Qin Shizhong and said, "It is precisely because the mortal world is not like the Sect that a Monarch is necessary. No matter how much the Sect’s four departments scheme and struggle against one another, it all happens under the foundation of a single Sect.

Plus, with the Supreme Elders watching over everything, no major disaster can occur. Therefore, it doesn’t matter if the Sect Leader’s authority is weakened.

But in the mortal world, if there is only a Cabinet, the moment the four Cabinet Masters begin to fight, it will lead to a schism. The Prefectures under their command will then split off as well, and the world of the Celestial Spirit Mortals will descend back into the chaos of a hundred warring cities.

The role of a Monarch, aside from being largely a figurehead, is to serve as a symbol of unity. It frames all conflicts as internal struggles within a single nation. No matter how they fight, it remains an internal power struggle, merely a battle between factions."

Qin Shizhong’s brow furrowed. "Then why use the Cabinet to weaken the Monarch?" he asked. "Wouldn’t an absolute Monarch be better for ensuring stability? Since the judicial system is already independent, an autocratic ruler couldn’t do anything too outrageous anyway. Wouldn’t it be better to just do away with the Cabinet?"

Zhang Deming glanced at Qin Shizhong. ’This man really is a politician whose calling was delayed by cultivation,’ he thought. ’He’s quite politically astute.’

Zhang Deming nodded. "You’re right," he said. "Under normal circumstances, with an independent judiciary and Immortals watching from above, there’s no possibility of a Monarch acting outrageously.

An absolute Monarch would be the most suitable choice for the mortal world, at least as it is now. But if I did that, all my hard work over the past half-month would have been for someone else’s benefit. Why would I do that?"

Hearing this, Qin Shizhong looked at Zhang Deming, his face a mask of confusion.

"Why do you think I’m still bothering with a Cabinet council, even after making the judiciary independent?" Zhang Deming asked.

Qin Shizhong pondered for a long time before replying hesitantly, "To weaken the Monarch after establishing the Monarch’s Tier."

Zhang Deming nodded. "Correct. But have you figured out *why* I’m doing it?"

After thinking for a long time, Qin Shizhong could only shake his head. "This Disciple is slow-witted. I await your punishment, Senior Uncle."

"Punish you for what?" Zhang Deming said. "You’ve already done a fine job. Tell me what part you can’t figure out."

"This Disciple understands the function of most of these arrangements, and I recognize the ingenuity of the overall structure. It’s just... this matter of the Monarch’s Tier. If you dislike it, Senior Uncle, couldn’t you just use another method to ensure a unified structure?

Why go to the trouble of creating it, only to use the Cabinet to suppress it?

It’s clear that a system with either the Monarch or the Cabinet council would suffice. But now you’ve mashed them together, and it seems a bit... a bit..." Qin Shizhong didn’t finish his sentence.

"A bit like a pointless exercise? A waste of effort?" Zhang Deming finished for him.

Qin Shizhong immediately lowered his head. "That is not what this Disciple meant. I am simply too slow-witted to understand the profound meaning behind your actions, Senior Uncle."

"Everything you said before was correct," Zhang Deming said. "After making the judiciary independent, an absolute Monarch is indeed the best choice. But... if I were to set it up that way, the mortal world would no longer have anything to do with us.

That’s because when you were thinking about the mortal world, you were *only* thinking about the mortal world. You didn’t consider the Sect; you didn’t factor our Sect into the equation."

A sharp glint flashed in Qin Shizhong’s eyes. "Senior Uncle," he said, "are you saying the Monarch’s Tier is a figurehead role reserved exclusively for the Sect?"

Zhang Deming nodded. "Out of sheer inertia, the Sect pays little attention to a fragmented mortal world. But once the mortal world is unified, it won’t be long before the Sect realizes what a powerful asset it is in this new era of resource scarcity.

Once they understand its importance, the position of Monarch will likely become yet another prize for the various departments within the Sect to fight over.

If the benefits are great enough... I might not be able to hold on to this Monarch’s Tier.

But with the current setup, what does it matter if I give away the throne? Once the Sect’s factions start their infighting, the Cabinet itself will become their new target.

Once a few of the great families have seized the positions of Cabinet Master, they will keep each other in check. The mortal world’s political structure will become extremely stable, because if any one family tries to make a move, the others will never allow it."

Qin Shizhong’s eyes lit up again. "So that’s why you had me personally teach those mortals, Senior Uncle! You were preparing them to become City Lords, paving the way for the future Cabinet?"