Chapter 48: Formation Of The Government
After the execution of all the rebels, all their properties were quickly confiscated. To Vijay's astonishment, the total value of these assets amounted to a staggering 40 million Varaha, which equalled the fiscal revenue of the entire Empire from the previous year. But that wasn't all – they also discovered at least 10 tons of gold and around 20 tons of silver. Furthermore, a gold mine was found on Vimal's estate, though unfortunately, it had already been largely depleted, with only a small amount of gold remaining to be extracted.
Seeing all this wealth, Vijay couldn't help but think about historical examples like the Soviet Union and the Chinese Communist Party, which had also slaughtered their nobles and merchants in order to consolidate their resources and establish a strong foundation for their countries.
Thinking about the wealth he now held, Vijay decided to convene an imperial council to address an important matter: the establishment of a new form of governance. Until now, the empire's functions had been overseen by the imperial council. However, with his reforms underway, the workload had become too substantial to manage solely through the council. Creating a formal government would allow for the delegation of responsibilities and benefits across various departments.
Within an hour, the heads of all major departments had assembled in the imperial hall. Vijay began with his speech, "Gentlemen, today we gather in this imperial hall to lay a solid foundation for the new organization I am about to introduce – the government."
The attendees at the meeting weren't surprised by the new term Vijay used, as they had become accustomed to his frequent introduction of unfamiliar words. With their attention on him, Vijay continued to explain his plans.
"A government is a system that exercises authority and control on behalf of the king over a specific area or population. Its main functions include creating and enforcing laws, managing public resources, maintaining order, and representing the interests of citizens both within and outside the empire. Governments are responsible for fostering societal development with the monarch's approval."
Though there was some confusion on their faces, everyone still continued to listen to the king's words.
"The various divisions we have now will be upgraded into different ministries. Please take your appointments," Vijay said, prompting everyone to become more attentive.
"Ravichandra Rao, I hereby appoint you as the prime minister of the Empire. Your role will be to act as a bridge between me and the cabinet. You'll lead the cabinet and ensure that my orders are carried out as planned. However, remember that I retain the authority to remove you from this position if I find it unsuitable."
Vijay explained as the old butler stood up and bowed to Vijay, showing his acceptance of the position. He understood that he had attained this important role due to Vijay's trust in him, and he was determined to fulfil that trust placed on him.
"Next, the Department of Finance would be elevated to the Ministry of Finance, responsible for managing economic and financial matters of the Empire, including taxation, finances, and budgeting. The candidate for the Ministry of Finance is yet to be determined, but the selections will take place soon." He continued.
"The Department of Internal Affairs would be upgraded to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, responsible for managing domestic affairs, including law enforcement and internal security. Arjun would be promoted to the position of Minister for the Ministry of Internal Affairs." Vijay stated, Similar to Ravichandra, Arjun stood and bowed to demonstrate his respect and commitment to fulfilling the task assigned by the king.
"The Department of External Affairs, or Military, would be upgraded to the Ministry of War, effective immediately. This ministry would be led by Martial Logananda Senapati. The Ministry of War would encompass both the army and the navy as department-level units." As Vijay eyed the old man, Logananda rose from his seat and offered a military salute to signify his acceptance of the role.
"The Department of Justice would also be elevated to the Ministry of Justice. This unit would be responsible for the administration of the legal system, including various codes in the empire and the issuance of legal decrees. However, it's important to note that the Ministry of Justice would not possess law enforcement powers. This ministry would be headed by Minister Bhuvan." Vijay stated as Bhuvan stood up with a respectful bow to everyone as he accepted his task.
"The Department of Business would be upgraded to the Ministry of Trade and Commerce, responsible for trade policies, commercial regulations, and industrial development. This ministry would be led by Minister Rajesh." Vijay declared, Rajesh quickly stood up with a respectful attitude, humbly accepting his role.
"The Department of Agriculture would be upgraded to the Ministry of Agriculture, responsible for handling agricultural policies, rural development, and farming regulations." He said as Narasimha got up and bowed to everyone with humility. After leading the agricultural department for a long time, his temperament rapidly improved comparable to his colleagues, allowing him to communicate calmly with the heads of other divisions.
"The Department of Religion and Culture would be upgraded to the Ministry of Cultural and Educational Affairs, responsible for managing educational and cultural institutions in the empire and drawing clear lines in religious matters. This department would be headed by Minister Raghavendra Bhatt." He said, As Raghavendra quickly got up and bowed to everyone with a namaskara.
"The Department of Livelihood would be upgraded to the Ministry of Public Health, responsible for overseeing public health policies and medical services. Lokesh would continue to head this department, and his position would be promoted to that of Minister of Public Health." Vijay continued.
"Two more new ministries will be established, but due to the lack of infrastructure and personnel support at the moment, only the framework for these ministries will be set up today, to be filled in at a later date.
The Ministry of Communication will oversee communication services between various parts of the Empire and establish infrastructure for communication and maintenance.
The Ministry of Transportation will manage different modes of transportation networks within the Empire and maintain the network."
"All the newly appointed members, along with the Prime Minister, will form a cabinet to help me form the government. You are all responsible to me and me alone. I have the power to dissolve the cabinet whenever necessary. I wish you all success in your various fields of expertise. In the coming days, we will discuss various reforms to be implemented."
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