Ch.132Relay Station (3)

# The Kurultai

About three hours had passed since taking the position to open the Kurultai.

During that time, various opinions were exchanged about how the administration of the Ulus should be structured.

Some suggested adopting the Three Departments and Seven Ministries system like Western Liao.

Others proposed the Three Departments and Six Ministries system like the Song Dynasty.

There were even diverse opinions suggesting that the Gurkhan should directly rule the Six or Seven Ministries himself.

“It seems best to establish Three Departments and Seven Ministries to reduce the workload for Lord Temujin, who will succeed the Gurkhan.”

“The Seven Ministries originally added the separate Ministry of Animal Husbandry. There’s no need for Seven Ministries. Let’s keep it concise with Three Departments and Six Ministries following the Song Dynasty’s system.”

“The Three Departments aren’t necessarily essential. If the Gurkhan directly commands the Six or Seven Ministries, state affairs would run more smoothly.”

Listening to each argument, they all made sense in their own way.

The Three Departments and Seven Ministries included the Ministry of Animal Husbandry, which was important for raising livestock in Mongolia.

However, this ministry could be handled at the level of vassal states within the Ulus.

Therefore, there was no need for the Khan who ruled the entire Ulus to concern himself with the Ministry of Animal Husbandry.

Additionally, the Three Departments and Seven Ministries system was originally based on the Song Dynasty’s Three Departments and Six Ministries system.

So the proposal to follow the administrative system of the Song Dynasty, which could be considered a senior empire in administration, also made sense.

Finally, the proposal to eliminate the Three Departments entirely and establish Six or Seven Ministries to increase control over officials was also related to centralization and strengthening royal authority.

In other words, all three opinions were reasonable.

However, having been born and educated in a highly centralized country, I was inclined toward the proposal for direct control rather than establishing Three Departments.

This was because the current administrative goal of the Ulus was centralization.

The most important aspect of centralization was strong royal authority.

Strong royal authority was often based on majesty or legitimacy.

But control over officials also had a significant influence.

Therefore, I preferred the direct Six or Seven Ministries system that would allow for strong royal authority to control officials.

“I like the direct system.”

Hearing my words, Elunka looked at me with concern.

“It’s understandable that the Khan would consider a direct system. However, the khans of the steppe do not fear leading soldiers to the frontlines themselves. Because of this, if the Khan leaves his position, there could be a major gap in state affairs.”

Elunka’s point was valid.

In Mongolia, where leaders often personally commanded troops, adopting a direct system could lead to administrative paralysis as documents requiring approval would pile up.

“That’s a good point. But I believe the direct system is most appropriate for strengthening administrative power as the Ulus becomes an empire. However, we cannot allow administrative gaps while the leader is absent, so discuss ways to resolve this issue.”

At my words, the Darughachis and officials all bowed.

Then they began a heated discussion.

“What about appointing a chancellor?”

“Isn’t that a position that has disappeared even in the Central Plains?”

“The Jin Dynasty has the position of Grand Chancellor, so it wouldn’t be strange for us to follow that example.”

Everyone knew that someone was needed to lead the administration in the king’s absence.

Thus, the officials proposed appointing a chancellor to lead the government.

“I agree with appointing a chancellor. However, we must check against excessive concentration of power in the chancellor’s hands.”

“Is such checking really necessary? If someone from the Borjigin clan becomes chancellor, wouldn’t that resolve concerns about plotting treason?”

“Regardless of clan, anyone can dream of treason. And as the Gurkhan said, in the Ulus, becoming chancellor based on clan or origin is no longer possible.”

“Then what do you suggest?”

At this, a Darughachi from the Khamag Mongol stepped forward.

And in a loud voice, he made his position clear to everyone.

“I believe it’s right to appoint three chancellors to check each other. This way, power won’t be concentrated in one person, and even if one person plots treason, others can check them.”

“Then how is that different from the Three Departments and Six Ministries?”

In response to the objection from an Oirat Darughachi, the man who had spoken earlier answered.

“Originally, the Three Departments in the Three Departments and Six Ministries system consisted of the Secretariat, which established policy direction; the Department of State Affairs, which implemented policies; and the Chancellery, which reviewed policies. This meant that the Six or Seven Ministries that executed practical affairs had to follow the orders of the Secretariat. To prevent this, we plan to appoint three chancellors who will discuss matters before executing practical affairs. This would give the executive agencies independence to directly carry out the Khan’s orders or report independently, because they would be separate departments not under the direct command of the three chancellors.”

At the Khamag Mongol man’s words, the Darughachis participating in the Kurultai stirred.

According to him, the three chancellors would be higher in rank than the heads of the executive agencies but not their direct superiors, so they would have to consult with each agency head before carrying out tasks.

This would make administrative processing somewhat cumbersome, but since the Six Ministries had the authority to report directly to the Khan, they could act independently.

This could actually be better for the Ulus, which was adopting the decimal system that respected autonomy.

Even the smallest military unit, the Arban, was only given mission objectives while decisions on how to act were largely left to the judgment of the ten-man leader.

Therefore, this would be familiar to Mongol officials.

Anyway, many people began to support the opinion of the Darughachi from the Khamag Mongol.

Additionally, Elunka also viewed his proposal positively.

“It seems like a good opinion, my Khan.”

“Indeed.”

As I said this, I couldn’t help but be surprised internally.

This was because the system proposed by the Darughachi was clearly similar to the State Council system of the Joseon Dynasty.

The three chancellors were like the Three State Councillors, and the Six Ministries below them were like the Six Ministries of Joseon.

Of course, this system wasn’t unique to Joseon.

But since I was from Korea, I couldn’t help but think of the Joseon administrative system as soon as I heard the Darughachi’s proposal.

Anyway, the State Council system of the Joseon Dynasty was created to balance royal authority and ministerial power.

However, this was just what textbooks said, so I didn’t know if royal authority and ministerial power were truly harmonized.

But in Mongolia’s current situation, having three chancellors check each other seemed like the best choice.

As mentioned earlier, steppe nations typically had frequent personal rule by leaders.

This made it virtually impossible for the Khan to lead state affairs and oversee all administration.

Since it was impossible, it seemed better to divide officials to prevent them from colluding or conspiring.

If this system were adopted, the three chancellors would check each other and wouldn’t be able to freely lead the Six Ministries.

This could lead to strengthening royal authority.

With these thoughts, I looked at the Darughachi from the Khamag Mongol who had given such a good opinion.

And I asked him a question.

“What is your name, you who have given such a good opinion?”

The man bowed respectfully.

And proudly stated his name before everyone.

“I am Chilaun of the Suldus clan.”

* * *

As soon as the Kurultai ended, I returned to my ger.

I lay down, my body tired from the long meeting.

Then what I had just heard came back to me.

“Chilaun… I never knew Chilaun was under my command.”

It’s dark under the lamp—I never expected one of the Darughachis by my side to be Chilaun.

Chilaun Suldus.

He was one of the Four Dogs, specifically one of the strategists.

In the original history, as the son of Sorqan Shira, he had disobeyed Targutai Kiriltuk’s orders to attack and imprison Temujin, and instead rescued him.

Later, he achieved great military merit in the Battle of Köiten, making perhaps the greatest contribution to Temujin’s unification of Mongolia.

It was almost embarrassing that I hadn’t realized such a person was under my command.

“In a way, he’s practically my relative, and I didn’t know.”

The Suldus tribe was part of the Tayichiud tribe.

The Khan of the Tayichiud was Ambaghai Khan, an ancestor of Yesugei.

This made Chilaun a distant relative of mine by blood.

“Is this Chilaun such an outstanding person?”

Munglig opened the door of the ger and entered.

At his appearance, I looked at him, asking if he had been eavesdropping.

“I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, brother. I just came because it’s our usual exercise time and you didn’t come out…”

“Your excuse is too long.”

“I’ll make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

At Munglig’s sincere apology, I nodded.

It wasn’t that important a conversation anyway.

“Anyway, even in my humble opinion, the argument that this Chilaun made at today’s Kurultai seemed quite useful.”

“Did it?”

“Yes. Despite his young age, he made a reasonable argument, so I think he’ll become an even greater person than his father, Darughachi Sorqan Shira.”

The fact that Chilaun could participate in this Kurultai was actually thanks to Sorqan Shira.

Sorqan was from the Tayichiud tribe, which had been absorbed into the Kiyat tribe—the tribe I led—and was the person with the highest loyalty to me among the clans.

There was a reason for his blind loyalty to me.

In the past, the Tatar tribe, instigated by the Jin Dynasty, had attacked his clan.

As Toghrul and I happened to be passing by, Yesugei, who was full of chivalry in his youth, rescued Sorqan and his clan.

Because of this, even when the entire Tayichiud tribe was absorbed by me after Ambaghai Khan was defeated in Bokh, he was actually pleased.

Given this relationship with Sorqan, it wasn’t strange that his son Chilaun was near me.

“Yes. He’s a child who will become an even greater figure.”

I said this while nodding.

It occurred to me that there might be talented individuals like Chilaun within our ranks whom I hadn’t yet discovered.