Kautilya's Arthashastra 1.9.8

1.9.8

yaugapadyāt tu karmaṇām anekatvād anekasthatvāc ca deśakālātyayo mā bhūd iti parokṣam amātyaiḥ kārayet // ity amātyakarma /

As works do not happen to be simultaneous, are various in form, and pertain to distant and different localities, the king shall, in view of being abreast of time and place, depute his ministers to carry them out. Such is the work of ministers.