After a year of 'ceasefire,' the Ming Dynasty was about to begin preparing to conquer all sides again, ready to once again display its military might.

Xu Huizu naturally knew what he should do, and in fact, he was not surprised at all by these things.

Ultimately, the silver mines in Japan were simply too important, and the imperial court couldn't continue to be so complacent. Many even felt that if the former Yan king hadn't already established a kingdom in Japan, the imperial army would have already been stationed there.

But that wasn't enough. Many people were also worried that the Prince of Yan might have inappropriate thoughts once he gained power. It's simply money that moves people's hearts, especially when it's a mountain of silver. It would be strange if they weren't tempted at all.

After all, the Ming Dynasty was far from the capital, separated by the sea, and there was no doubt that some people might have ulterior motives.

Busan's three guards seem like a safeguard, but they are isolated and subject to uncertainty. Therefore, it means that North Korea is a must-capture location; even just for the sake of the silver mine, it's worth taking.

The idea that civil officials should not engage in excessive military campaigns is only held by a very small number of extremely conservative and pedantic individuals. When the Ming Dynasty learned that Japan possessed an inexhaustible silver mine, the entire court and the public were essentially sharpening their knives in anticipation of this wealth. This silver mine was absolutely to be controlled by the Ming court.

Now that war is about to begin, many people don't know the exact scale of the conflict or whether it's a war to destroy a nation.

In fact, Zhu Yunying understood that if a major war were launched against Korea, there would certainly be some opposition within the court. Many people would feel that maintaining the status quo was sufficient and there was no need to think about the future.

However, those voices clearly could not shake Zhu Yunying's resolve. This great battle had to begin, and some hidden dangers had to be eliminated in advance. In fact, this was also to better ensure that some of Zhu Yunying's plans could be executed.

After all, the number of princes in the Ming Dynasty was increasing. Although some preferred to be wealthy and idle princes, others felt that as descendants of Zhu Yuanzhang, they still had some passion in their bones and wanted to make achievements and establish their own foundation.

If Korea were conquered, it could become a vassal state of at least two princes, thus ensuring the 'security' of the Ming Dynasty's surrounding areas.

Zhu Yunying was in a good mood because he knew that some of his plans were progressing smoothly, which was a good thing.

When considering military affairs, it is essential to also consider civil administration, which is equally important.

Ru Chang was engaged in a heated debate in the court because the imperial examinations were about to begin. Many civil officials were somewhat uncomfortable with the fact that he had been appointed as the chief examiner for two consecutive examinations, feeling that the emperor's favoritism towards Ru Chang was too obvious.

Therefore, it's necessary to find some problems at this point, such as issues with the questions themselves, or problems with Ru Chang herself. If Ru Chang can be brought down, they or those connected to her can become the chief examiners, cultivating and expanding their own power.

If they could bring down the emperor's most trusted confidant, they might have a chance to become important ministers.

Internal strife or mutual backstabbing is perfectly normal and nothing to be surprised about.

Zhu Yunying might not necessarily be happy about this, and he certainly didn't want factional strife to occur. However, if the scale were controlled somewhat, it was acceptable; if the civil officials were all in cahoots, the emperor would feel uneasy.

After the court session, Zhu Yunying summoned Ru Chang to the Wuying Hall, saying, "Ru Qing, you've become our target now."

"It's all thanks to Your Majesty's favor." Ru Chang was not too reserved. He said with a smile, "Although there were some criticisms against me in court today, I think it was just because I was rectifying the administration. Some of my colleagues must have been worried."

Ru Chang's statement was true; Emperor Zhu Yunying's desire to reform the bureaucracy naturally meant that Ru Chang would be at the forefront. Currently, many in the court were attacking Ru Chang, and some indeed felt threatened.

These people naturally lacked the courage to confront the emperor. However, they now had some courage to overthrow Ru Chang.

Ultimately, it's because their own interests have been threatened. Even though they usually fear and respect Ru Chang, that's no longer the case.

Zhu Yunying was naturally aware of some things, and all he needed to do was remain calm and collected.

Zhu Yunying naturally didn't need to concern himself with matters like being the examiner. He wouldn't even care about setting the exam questions. He only needed to prepare for the palace examination after the provincial examination, or perhaps look at the papers of the top ten or twenty candidates who were considered for the imperial examination.

"Ruqing, the court needs talented people nowadays." Zhu Yunying stopped joking and said seriously, "The court needs pragmatic talents. Although eloquent writing is good, those people should go to the Hanlin Academy or the Imperial Academy. They cannot govern a region."

Ru Chang was not surprised at all by the emperor's words; he had long known the emperor's temperament and preferences.

The Hongwu Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was a pragmatic man who valued both literary and military prowess, and genuine talent and practical ability. The Ying Shi Emperor, following in his footsteps, was less concerned with literary talent and more interested in those who could get things done. (Gu Pi)

This wasn't an emperor who favored the "slender gold" style of calligraphy or painting; in fact, he quite disliked ornate writing. Such writing only increased the emperor's efficiency in reviewing memorials, and flowery language didn't necessarily earn him reward or appreciation; it could very well result in a tirade of anger.

Pragmatism is obviously the most important thing, and this can be considered as setting the tone for this imperial examination.

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