171: Establish a cabinet

The atmosphere in the great hall relaxed as everyone departed. The previously solemn and impassioned military council ambiance quietly faded, replaced by a more private, even somewhat casual ease. The three individuals who remained shared an extraordinary relationship: Morton was Linn's old servant, who had followed him since his humble beginnings, loyal and diligent; Payson was the brother who had fought alongside Linn earliest, entrusting his life to him, and they understood each other deeply.

Payson, uncharacteristically relaxed, looked at Linn with a smile and teased, "My Duke, this territory is getting bigger and bigger with each battle. We're about to add another Scott Province, almost half a kingdom. Your power has grown, but isn't the burden on your shoulders also getting heavier? Does it feel a bit difficult to govern?"

Linn also shed his usual authority, shaking his head with a bitter smile and naturally responding, "Leaving you two behind is precisely because I'm troubled by this. The military is now entirely overseen by Clay, with each legion commander performing their duties, so I don't worry much about that. But as for governmental affairs..." He rubbed his temples, revealing a hint of genuine fatigue. "The East Sea and Rhine Provinces, plus the soon-to-be-established Scott Province, and Star Sea Island itself with its thirty-six affiliated islands—documents pile up like mountains from all over, covering everything from taxation, agriculture, and construction to civil disputes and official evaluations... Everything needs to be reviewed and approved. Our territory will only grow larger in the future. If it all falls on me alone, I'm afraid I really won't be able to handle it."

Payson continued to smile, "The more capable, the more work, right? Who told you to be our backbone. However, continuing like this is indeed not a solution. Look at Governor Morton, his hair has turned white from worry."

Morton chuckled honestly from the side, not refuting. He indeed felt that managing the increasingly prosperous and complex Star Sea Island was quite strenuous.

After the joke, Linn's expression turned serious, and he voiced his long-considered idea: "I plan to formally establish two permanent supreme deliberative and decision-making bodies: the 'Cabinet of Governmental Affairs' and the 'Military Cabinet'."

"The core permanent institutions of both Cabinets will be located on Star Sea Island, serving as the supreme administrative and military decision-making centers of the territory. The Cabinet of Governmental Affairs will oversee all internal affairs, finance, construction, education, judiciary, and other matters except military affairs. Its status will be above that of the Governors of all provinces, coordinating the work of the provinces and formulating unified policies."

He looked at Payson and Morton: "I intend to have Lawrence replace you as the Governor of East Sea Province. And you, Payson, will be recalled to Star Sea Island to serve alongside Morton as a Cabinet of Governmental Affairs Minister, jointly handling major affairs and daily decisions from all provinces. General governmental affairs will be discussed and decided by the two of you leading the Cabinet; for matters involving the fundamental direction of the territory or those of particular significance, we will discuss and decide together. At the same time, one of your most important tasks is to discover and Cultivate more governmental administration talents for the future of the Star Sea Territory, and to establish a stable, efficient, and sustainable civil service System."

This idea made both Payson and Morton ponder. A moment later, approval appeared in their eyes. This could indeed fundamentally solve the current problems of lagging administrative efficiency, over-centralized power, and an inadequate talent pipeline. It would also free Linn from complex daily governmental affairs, allowing him to focus on more macroscopic strategic planning and power enhancement.

"This method is excellent!" Morton was the first to nod. "It can unify decrees, improve efficiency, relieve the young master's worries, and systematically Cultivate future talents. However..." He looked at Payson, sincerely saying, "Lord Payson's ability is outstanding, and his experience is rich, far surpassing mine. This position of Chief Cabinet Minister should be held by Lord Payson; I can assist from the side. To be honest, just managing Star Sea Island alone already feels a bit beyond my capabilities. Taking on such a heavy responsibility again, I fear I might mess things up."

Payson immediately waved his hand, "Old Mo, that's wrong! You've followed the Lord the longest, are most familiar with all the affairs of the Star Sea Territory, have the deepest qualifications, and handle matters steadily. This chief position is none other than yours. I'll be content to be a deputy, assisting you with specific affairs."

The two deferred to each other, both genuinely believing the other was more suitable. Linn looked at his two most trusted right-hand men, and a warmth flowed through his heart. He raised his hand, stopping their 謙讓.

"Alright, I understand both your intentions." Linn finally made the decision, "Payson, your strategic vision, decisiveness, and ability to handle complex matters are evident to all. In the future, the Cabinet will face the complex situation of coordinating several provinces and even more territories, requiring stronger pioneering and coordination capabilities. This matter will be handled as Old Mo suggested."

He formally announced: "Effective immediately, the 'Cabinet of Governmental Affairs' of the Star Sea Territory is officially established! The Governors of the East Sea, Rhine, and Scott (post-war) provinces, as well as the Governors of provinces established subsequently, shall all be ex-officio members of the Cabinet, participating in regular deliberations. The first Chief Cabinet Minister shall be Payson! Morton shall serve as the Second Minister, assisting Payson, and continuing to oversee the affairs of Star Sea Island itself."

"Personnel for the Cabinet's daily operations will be primarily selected from outstanding graduates of the Administration Academy of Star Sea Academy and existing young officials who have shown excellent performance. Through this Cabinet, we aim not only to govern the territory but also to forge it into a cradle for cultivating future pillars of governmental affairs, laying the most solid administrative foundation for the Star Sea Territory's eternal enterprise!"

Seeing Linn's resolve and Morton's sincere attitude, Payson no longer declined, rising to bow solemnly: "Thank you for the trust, my Lord and Morton. Payson will do his utmost and not fail your expectations!"

Morton also smiled and cupped his hands: "Congratulations, Lord Payson! I will certainly cooperate fully."

The three looked at each other and smiled, a silent flow of tacit understanding and strength, born of absolute trust and common goals, permeating the empty great hall. The establishment of the supreme administrative framework marked the Star Sea Territory's formal transition from a pioneering phase focused on 'conquering the world' to a new era of standardized, systematic development focused on 'governing the world'.

Linn was decisive and didn't procrastinate. After resolving the governmental affairs, he summoned several military officials from the Star Sea Domain who participated in the war.

Mainly Clay, Ocean, and Shirei.

And he shared the idea of the Military Cabinet with everyone.

Finally, it was decided that Linn himself would concurrently serve as the supreme military commander, with Clay as his deputy. Members would include the commanders of each legion, and their main task would be to jointly discuss matters such as army deployment planning.

After the discussion, Linn breathed a huge sigh of relief. From then on, his pressure was greatly alleviated. Governmental and military affairs could operate and be resolved independently, and he only needed to participate in major events to guide the general direction.

This step was also an important reform for his future goal of overthrowing the Aolai Kingdom. And he would have more time to focus on Cultivating.