Chapter 490 Queen Mary’s Determination
Queen Mary hurriedly picked up the document in front of her, but she didn't know which item she had just mentioned, so she had to glance at Joseph beside her as if asking for help.
Seeing her son nodding slightly, she immediately put on a majestic posture, nodded and said: "I agree to the proposal, please ask Archbishop Brian to prepare the relevant decrees."
Brian hurriedly bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Joseph also breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that his sausage-slicing tactic was successful.
Although the influence of officials in the fields of water conservancy and road administration is minimal, once this decree is signed, it will be the first of its kind for officials to "take exams for employment"!
There is a lot of room for manipulation in how to define the so-called positions that "require high professional knowledge".
Do you think finance requires professional knowledge? Does industrial management require professional knowledge? What about agriculture? What about trade? What about justice?
In the future, more and more government positions will be included in the "professional examination", and eventually all positions will be included. The most important step in the reform of officialdom will be completed.
By then, the professional studies of officials can also be left to institutions such as the University of Paris and the University of Toulouse, and the University of Administration will only be responsible for assessment.
At that time, it will become a complete version of the "official examination", and the reform of official administration will be completely completed.
Most importantly, the process would be gradual and would not provoke a backlash from the existing bureaucracy.
Of course, there will definitely be people who are dissatisfied with this system. After all, the good-for-nothing sons and grandsons of some nobles cannot become high-ranking officials just relying on their connections. But they will also think of the grand occasion of reviewing the police force, thus turning their dissatisfaction into complaints, just talking about it.
In fact, even this kind of public examination system has huge advantages for the nobles.
First of all, college tuition in this era is very high and ordinary people cannot afford it.
Secondly, the children of the aristocracy are also more familiar with the assessment content of the University of Administration - their fathers were the first ones to study here. Now is not like the Internet age. Real questions for civil service examinations can be found everywhere. Even if civilians have no problem with professional subjects, they may not be able to beat the nobles in the public examination.
Therefore, this makes the nobles less resistant to the public examination. After all, the noble class controls most of the government positions.
Joseph would not pursue absolute equality. At least in the 18th century, the role of the nobility was irreplaceable.
Immediately, Brian continued: "The next motion. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince proposes to establish an 'auxiliary administrative agency' as a supplement that can immediately take over management when an emergency occurs in the main administrative department."
Seeing that everyone didn't quite understand, Joseph explained: "I thought of this issue from this corruption case.
"As you know, there are currently more than 40 officials on trial in court, and most of them will be convicted. The matters they are responsible for will face stagnation in a short period of time. This is a risk that must be considered.
“So I think a ‘auxiliary administrative agency’ can be established, with positions based on existing government departments, but without actual authority being granted.
“In the event of an accident occurring among existing officials, the corresponding officials can be transferred from the ‘auxiliary agencies’ to take over.”
Baron Breteuil, the Minister of Justice, immediately frowned and said: "Your Highness, this will increase the salary expenditure of a large amount of officials. And according to you, these people in the 'auxiliary agencies' have no role most of the time..." Joseph smiled and said : "Your concerns are very reasonable, so the salary of the officials of the 'auxiliary agency' will be set relatively low. And they can also be allowed to do some work within their capabilities, such as organizing documents, transcribing information, etc."
"But this is still..."
Mirabeau observed the expression of the Crown Prince, then stood up and said: "Baron Breteuil, do you know how long the imprisonment of a large number of officials this time has disrupted the administration of various places? It may be more than a month.
“The losses caused during this period are enough to pay officials across the country for half a year.
"I think His Highness's suggestion is very good. Not only can it stabilize the administrative management, but it can also allow those idle nobles to take on a new role and contribute to the country."
Joseph immediately gave him an approving look. Fortunately, Mirabeau has something to do with what allows nobles to contribute to the country.
Joseph just wanted to create a lot of "empty official positions" to arrange for those who spent money to buy official positions. After all, they paid real money and signed an agreement with the government. It’s really hard to dismiss someone without making any big mistakes.
So he set up this "auxiliary administrative agency" by referring to the Nanjing garrison court in the Ming Dynasty. Judging from the names of the official positions, they are exactly the same as your previous ones, but once you are transferred from the Beijing court to Nanjing, you will lose all your power and just wait for retirement.
After the professional assessment of officials is gradually popularized, all positions will be empty. Officials who only think about making money will definitely be stuck in the assessment, and then you will have to go to "auxiliary positions" to accumulate experience.
As for having a bunch of more bureaucrats, Joseph doesn't think it's a waste of money.
On the contrary, replacing these guys who sell their official positions with people who can do practical things will bring a positive impetus to the country and the benefits will be far greater than their small salary.
Not to mention that the "auxiliary positions" can at least do things like sorting out documents, so that a few less ordinary clerks can be hired, which does not cost much more.
When Baron Breteuil heard this, he just thought that the crown prince wanted to create more official positions so that he could collect more official fees, so he stopped talking and sat down silently.
Queen Mary was not distracted this time, and saw that all the ministers did not object, so she signed the document handed over by Brian - such a small-scale administrative adjustment did not even require the king to sign a decree.
After talking about some daily affairs, this seemingly unremarkable, but actually far-reaching cabinet meeting for France came to an end.
Queen Mary looked at Brian's back, remembered the scene at today's meeting, and suddenly called him out.
Briann turned back and bowed slightly to her: "Your Majesty, do you have any other orders?"
Queen Mary hesitated and said: "Archbishop Briand, do you think that if I do not attend the cabinet meeting, will the Crown Prince be able to lead the ministers to properly handle government affairs?"
Brianne said: Yes, of course it can. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has long supported the overall situation of France. In fact, the meeting may be more efficient if you don't attend.
However, he still looked extremely surprised and shouted: "You are the soul of France. If you do not chair the cabinet, it will be a disaster for the country!"
(End of chapter)