After using both carrot and stick, Zhou Xu had at least managed to keep Li Bowen around, but he also knew that Li Bowen's attitude had already changed.
Since he understood this, Zhou Xu simply adjusted his duties...
"How about this? Starting tomorrow, Bowen, in addition to serving as an assistant adviser, you'll also take on the position of Secretary-General of the Secretary Office. You'll be responsible for managing the Secretary Office and assisting with the daily work of the Hall of Diligent Governance."
"This subject thanks His Majesty!"
After all, Li Bowen was an excellent talent, and his mind still worked rather quickly.
Li Bowen understood that at first glance, their emperor's arrangement meant he would hold two positions at once, increasing his workload. In reality, however, it had given him a way out.
His original duties in the Hall of Diligent Governance had already been much the same as those in the Secretary Office, and the work on the Secretary Office's side had always been coordinated by him.
Put plainly, he was already the Secretary-General. It was just that Zhou Xu had now formally placed the title of "Secretary-General" on his head.
The move seemed redundant, but given Li Bowen's circumstances, it held great significance.
In the Hall of Diligent Governance, he had been at the bottom of the assistant advisers. But once he went to the Secretary Office as Secretary-General, with his many years of experience in government affairs, wouldn't those tasks be as easy as grabbing something from a bag?
If things got too stressful in the Hall of Diligent Governance, he could go spend some time in the Secretary Office.
Once he had had enough of the Secretary Office, he could come back to the Hall of Diligent Governance and sit around for a while.