Zhu Xiong Ying was very satisfied with Ru Chang's performance. He liked obedient civil and military officials like her, especially on matters of principle. He disliked gossip and constant questioning.

Perhaps Zhu Xiong Ying is already showing some signs of being autocratic, and it's hard to say whether he will become a tyrant in the future. However, for Zhu Xiong Ying, such things are not something to worry about too much right now.

After Ru Chang left, Yan Zhenzhi arrived, and he can be considered an important member of the Crown Prince's faction.

In reality, Yan Zhenzhi could not be considered a traditional civil official. He came from a wealthy family and was selected as the grain chief, from which he gradually rose to prominence. This position was not even considered a true official; it was a clerk, though of course, it was better than a clerk. The grain chief was a position that was passed down through generations.

Looking at Yan Zhenzhi, Zhu Xiong Ying smiled and said, "Zhenzhi, are you aware that there is much gossip outside that I value craftsmen and am fond of strange and ingenious skills?"

The reason for saying this is, of course, the current environment, where people look down on craftsmen, and Old Zhu has almost relegated craftsmen to a lowly status, so the social status of craftsmen is naturally even lower.

In fact, old feudal rulers like Zhu Yuanzhang viewed artisans and merchants as not engaged in productive work, and naturally suppressed them. Rulers of other dynasties were similar, believing that studying and farming were the proper pursuits, and other activities needed to be restricted, especially merchants, who needed to be suppressed. Zhu Yuanzhang was just a bit stricter.

Yan Zhenzhi didn't hide anything and said, "Your Highness, there are indeed people in the court talking about it, saying that Your Highness treats the craftsmen too well!"

Zhu Xiong Ying remained noncommittal, but asked again, "Zhen Zhi, in your opinion, is it inappropriate for me to treat the craftsmen too well?"

Yan Zhenzhi paused for a moment before speaking, “Your Highness, I have served in the Ministry of Works for a long time, and it is thanks to Your Highness’s favor that I have been able to hold a position in the court. I have had many interactions with artisans in Beiping, and I believe that Your Highness should treat artisans well, but also suppress them!”

Zhu Xiong Ying asked with great interest, "Oh? Tell me, why do you say that?"

Yan Zhenzhi immediately replied, “When I lived in Wucheng, I thought most craftsmen were carpenters and blacksmiths. My trip to Beiping broadened my horizons. Carpenters and blacksmiths are certainly important, and our Great Ming Dynasty also needs master craftsmen. However, nowadays, most craft households are engaged in people’s livelihood, and they often produce luxurious and enjoyable items. I think the court should not encourage this.”

Zhu Xiong Ying couldn't help but laugh. Yan Zhenzhi was quite bold, but what he said made a lot of sense.

Porcelain, needless to say, has always been a hallmark of the Chinese nation. Silk fabrics, and so on, are also among the hallmarks of the Chinese nation. These things are certainly important, and such luxury goods certainly had their place.

However, Zhu Xiong Ying also felt that this trend needed some guidance. Improving the quality of life was certainly not a problem. But if it led to a one-sided pursuit of pleasure, that was something Zhu Xiong Ying didn't want to see.

Actually, the Ming Dynasty was doing alright at the moment. Zhu Yuanzhang, who had grown up in hardship, ruled the world, but he was not extravagant and was even considered relatively frugal. Zhu Xiong Ying, the third-generation emperor, was also quite simple and not a hedonist.

Under such circumstances, some civil and military officials were secretly thinking that the Zhu family, being of humble origins, simply didn't understand life or how to enjoy it. Consequently, even wealthy families would sometimes be more mindful of their image, not daring to cause too much trouble, lest they attract the emperor's attention.

Zhu Xiong Ying said with a smile, "What you say makes sense, but we can't do without carpenters. Zhen Zhi, do you think I should train blacksmiths, gunpowder makers, and other craftsmen? Those who can improve the Ming army should be trained more, while those who indulge in pleasure should be restricted?"

Yan Zhenzhi had this in mind. He felt that his suggestions were very reasonable and that they could be adopted.

Emperor Zhu himself was not particularly fond of pleasure, and the Crown Prince also disliked extravagance. Under such circumstances, it was natural that the kilns in Jingdezhen would not have burned all night, and Ge ware and Longquan ware would not have become sacred places in the hearts of many artisans.

"You did a great job in Beiping this time, exceeding my expectations." Looking at Yan Zhenzhi, Zhu Xiong Ying did not hold back her praise. "This time, craftsmen from all over the country gathered in Beiping, and Zhenzhi arranged everything in an orderly manner. The construction of the Imperial City and the Imperial Palace was excellent. I think Zhenzhi is also capable of serving as the Minister of Works. He can do a good job in this position."

An excited Yan Zhenzhi repeatedly expressed his gratitude. His rise from a wealthy local gentry to one of the six ministers was quite a leap. This was likely due to the fact that the country had just been founded, which allowed Yan Zhenzhi such a significant leap in status and class.

Yan Zhenzhi understood even more clearly that he had indeed accomplished a great deal over the years, but to say that the city of Beiping and the Imperial Palace were built under his supervision was somewhat of an exaggeration. However, Yan Zhenzhi also understood that he had indeed proven his abilities, that he had fulfilled the Crown Prince's mission, and that he knew the importance of the Ministry of Works Academy in the Crown Prince's heart.

Yan Zhenzhi left the Eastern Palace full of expectations, naturally because his career was going smoothly and he had the opportunity to advance further.

Yan Zhenzhi understood that he was different from traditional civil officials. Even though there were still some civil officials in the Ming court who hadn't participated in the imperial examinations, such officials were becoming increasingly rare. Yan Zhenzhi knew that without the Crown Prince's strong support, his career wouldn't have been so smooth, let alone that he would have become one of the Six Ministries Ministers!

As for whether the Crown Prince harbored any intention to suppress traditional Confucian disciples, Yan Zhenzhi was unwilling to speculate further.

Whether Zhu Xiong Ying attempted to change the organizational structure of the civil service is a matter of opinion. In any case, some civil officials were not happy, feeling that allowing artisans and gentry to enter the court was an insult to the descendants of the sage.

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