Chapter 103: The Initial Establishment of the Administrative Kingdom System
“Ordinary people have limited wisdom; they won’t take the initiative to improve work efficiency or accelerate production. They won’t easily fight for a vague, distant future; they only care about the present...”
Indeed, without vested interests, no one will act. Every change, no matter how convoluted, ultimately revolves around interests.
“That’s why it requires a hand to push them forward, a brain to help them change, and a spirit to guide them into the future... and that brain, spirit, and hand is the state!”
Old Fu finally articulated his ultimate concept—state governance.
“Let them work, live... everything will be handled by the state, including managing them.”
“Work will be directly assigned by the state, tasks issued by the state, and living supplies distributed by the state...”
“All they need to do is complete their targets or tasks as arranged by the state!”
“This...”
Mo Fangyuan felt as though he had heard a similar policy during history lessons long ago, but the details and the name of that policy had long since slipped from his memory.
“However, this is indeed very suitable for the current situation of the Block Kingdom!”
Mo Fangyuan pondered silently.
The Block Kingdom has a small population; it’s impossible to implement a lofty communist society. One must understand that communism requires a high level of social productivity. Attempting communism in this era of relatively backward productivity is a dead end.
Furthermore, Mo Fangyuan holds the highest prestige throughout the Block Kingdom and can easily guide the people to accomplish any task.
Under these circumstances, the “state governance” proposed by Old Fu is the most fitting.
At least, none present could immediately suggest a better method.
“Old Fu, please continue.”
Mo Fangyuan admitted his lack of expertise and decided to leave the professional matters to the professionals.
“Therefore, we must capture the hearts of the people so they all obey the kingdom, allowing His Majesty the King’s orders to reach throughout society! Concentrate the entire strength of the Block Kingdom for development!”
“The first step starts from the most basic level—the common people!”
Old Fu fell silent after this and handed a stack of documents to Mo Fangyuan.
[Change the positions of building chiefs, unit chiefs, and district chiefs at the grassroots level into kingdom officials responsible for conveying the King’s orders, inspecting, and supervising the daily lives of residents.]
The roles of building chief, unit chief, and district chief were originally designed by Mo Fangyuan to facilitate the statistical management of residents living in apartment buildings and to assist him in managing the people, but they were not official kingdom officials.
One building chief manages eight households including himself within a building; one unit chief oversees three building chiefs; one district chief manages three unit chiefs...
It was clear that by converting all these building chiefs, unit chiefs, and district chiefs into kingdom officials, Mo Fangyuan could thoroughly monitor and control all citizens of the Block Kingdom.
[Set factory foremen and factory directors as kingdom officials tasked with supervising workers and preventing potential slacking.]
Mo Fangyuan could already guess Old Fu’s intention: to use these two grassroots positions to bring the lives and work of the Block Kingdom’s people entirely under state control.
“This is outright imprisonment! The people of the Block Kingdom will have no freedom at all!”
Old Duan was the first to jump up and oppose.
“Freedom is the foundation of social development. Without freedom, the Block Kingdom will become a stagnant pool, utterly lifeless, both in the real world and the spiritual realm!”
Old Duan expressed strong opposition.
“Hmph! Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures! Only by concentrating all the power of the Block Kingdom can we possibly survive... Or do you want to seek freedom over at the Skull King’s side? I hear the air there is full of freedom!”
Old Fu snorted coldly—he had long disliked Old Duan, the newcomer.
“Freedom is the premise of development!”
“Control is necessary for survival!”
“...”
Seeing Old Duan and Old Fu at odds, Mo Fangyuan recalled what he had studied in political science about the nature of freedom.
“Gentlemen, there’s no need for such conflict!”
“Freedom and control are not in opposition...”
Absolute freedom only damages the meaning and scope of society; only freedom under certain restrictions can propel society forward.
Under absolutism, freedom is controlled freedom. But if freedom cannot survive in an irrational state, such freedom is meaningless, both to society and individuals.
“Freedom can exist, but it must be limited by systems!”
Mo Fangyuan interrupted their quarrel, affirming that freedom could exist, and the meeting continued.
“Grassroots management can be implemented according to Old Fu’s method, but as long as the people do not harm the kingdom, their freedom within the system will not be restricted.”
Having laid out the grassroots management system, Mo Fangyuan invited Old Fu to continue.
“At the same time, the powers of such grassroots systems must be separated, or the people might be controlled by those with ill intentions!”
Indeed, if the systems governing people’s lives and work are combined, the power of the managing department would inflate, affecting other departments' authority and function.
“So, a division into two is necessary!”
Old Fu took another stack of documents from his inventory and handed them to Mo Fangyuan.
[Ministry of Military: Responsible for military operations of the coercive forces (Kingdom Military Staff)]
[Standing Army Corps: Manages external military operations (Field Army)]
[National Security Department: Manages domestic border security (The Watchers)]
[Material Management Bureau: Oversees resources of the Block Kingdom (Kingdom’s main warehouse, plaza warehouse, central warehouse)]
Following Mo Fangyuan’s guidance, Old Fu divided domestic and foreign military forces, and the Material Management Bureau, along with the Ministry of Military, would coordinate the army’s required supplies.
[Ministry of Internal Affairs: Assists the great King in governing the nation and provides excellent advisory opinions when necessary (Kingdom officials)]
[Ministry of Civil Affairs: Manages matters related to the daily lives of the Block People (ID system, citizens’ living systems)]
[Ministry of Labor Affairs: Manages matters related to the work and livelihoods of the Block People (allocation systems, production work systems)]
The Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Labor Affairs each controlled half of the grassroots management system’s powers, while the Ministry of Internal Affairs supervised to prevent unnecessary “troubles.”
[Ministry of Education: Manages the kingdom’s educational work (schools)]
In Old Fu’s reform plan, only the Ministry of Education seemed largely unchanged.
[Ministry of Agriculture: Manages crop production within the kingdom (farmland, plantations)]
[Ministry of Livestock: Manages domestic animal husbandry (breeding farms)]
[Ministry of Scientific Research: Develops technology and synthesis blueprints (Iron Golem Laboratory)]
[...]
[Each ministry sets one minister position, two deputy ministers, team leaders, and delineates workforce and tasks.]
[King’s Office: The highest authority department, managing all affairs.]
The meeting room fell into a deep silence; even Zhang Lingyun, usually the most lively, quieted down.
They all knew that once this plan was implemented, the Block Kingdom’s society would undergo earth-shattering changes. No one dared to decide lightly...
In Old Fu’s plan, the Block Kingdom remained a monarchy, with the King holding all power.
Mo Fangyuan understood the reform plan still had many shortcomings—there were no departments relating to law or economics, no clear system for selecting officials...
Seeing the solemn atmosphere in the meeting room, Mo Fangyuan tapped on the table and made his decision.
“The meeting will adjourn for today. Everyone, go back and prepare. Tomorrow, we will make the final decision!”
Given the gravity of the matter, Mo Fangyuan dared not decide hastily and wanted to further consider the feasibility of Old Fu’s plan.
“Yes, sir!”
The attendees felt a sense of relief and gathered their materials to leave. Only Mo Fangyuan remained seated at the head of the table, lost in thought.
Military, politics...
Mo Fangyuan felt Old Fu’s plan was still missing something, but he could not recall what.
“Propaganda Department!”
For some reason, the name surfaced instinctively in Mo Fangyuan’s mind, as if it held crucial significance to Old Fu’s plan.