The Outsider (Outsider #1) ✔️

Chapter 24 : Julien's Model

"You remember the book of Eldor Julien?" Drabert asked. "My father always told me there was deep philosophy behind the fairy tale of elves. The story actually about governance. The same as you are trying to tell us now. Monarch vs a Committee. Absolute vs shared power, shared decision-making."

Julien would have reprimanded him for bringing up a fairy tale into discussion. But he had deep respect for Drabert's father, the 'Disgraced Prince'. If his father had drilled somethings into Drabert's head through the story, it was probably worth listening to.

"How does the story of Eldor make it unfit to implement what I am suggesting?" he asked.

"The rules of governance... The elves established a Triumvirate. They did not believe in the rule of absolute power of a single person as king. That runs antipathy to what we have in our country. And in most countries in the world. The self-governed city-states have failed except for Thousand Nations. In the end, the Triumvirate delayed decisions, and almost caused the kingdom to fail.

"It's the same here. Worse, since you cannot officially say you have a joint decision system, which means you are liable for the decisions which you may not agree to but have to pretend is yours. It will not last."

Julien looked thoughtful, "Then they created the Hegemon as the sole arbiter to help make the decisions faster. So we can... But no, you are right, in the end, the Hegemon disbanded the council and killed the members when they protested. No, we are taking a bad example.

"And don't forget, in the end of the story, the Triumvirate did re-emerge and overthrew the king. The Hegemon was nothing but a king... No, I disagree. I want you 3 to help me, advice me and at least, work to execute my orders. That way, it is like me being at 4 places at the same time. Don't give up on me, just because of some story. If our intent is good and our nature honest, we will make it work.

"We will make a new hybrid model of that."

"There is actually too much for an individual to do. Someone has to collect and analyse data, make strategies and execute the strategies. It may not be involved in actually running the government."

"So, it's like Core Minsters that we have today?" Louis asked.

"Probably, to start with, yes. I should make your guys ministers. Making you ministers means that you have access to everything. But the real thing is that I want you all to supervise these ministers, government officials... all those who oppose change and implementation of our plans. The reason I succeeded in many things in the last 5 years that Grandfather fondly talks of in the Media, is that I relentlessly pursued them as projects, taking harsh action and eliminating those who did not do what I needed."

"What exactly do you have in mind? Is there a masterplan that we don't know?" Crator asked.

"We have reached the limit of what the Royal Family can achieve. Governance is no longer simple enough for a bunch of high-born men to do efficiently. We are falling behind other nations in many cases because there are not enough qualified people within the family to manage it. We need fresh blood. The Royal Family and Nobles should no longer be the Ministers." Julien said.

"So, who will be Ministers?" Rosemary asked in surprise.

"As it has been throughout the earlier ages, before the Royal Family expanded to become large enough to run most of the ministries. And before it became the norm to keep the Royals and the Nobles occupied with posts of Ministers. We identify the best out of the common population, let them mature and grow, make them the Ministers. Will it eventually create a real political class in the country? It will happen anyway, and you can't stop it. If you try to stop it, what is formed eventually, will be inherently hostile to us.