Emperor Zhu Yunying maintained a detached expression; he was all too aware of the turmoil that had been raging in the court these past few days. He was also perfectly aware of the true feelings of his civil and military officials.

A monarch who wants to check and balance the court cannot simply resort to crude and brutal methods; he also needs some cunning and tactics. As for the civil and military officials, they may seem to fear imperial power, but they will also constantly test the emperor and try to find ways to restrain his authority.

Even someone as domineering as Zhu Yuanzhang (the Hongwu Emperor) did not have every decree carried out diligently; there were times when he would rescind his orders.

There are things that even Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't do, so Zhu Yunying naturally knew he didn't have the authority to do them. His current prestige seems quite high, partly due to his powerful backing by Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, but also partly due to his years of governing and overseeing the country, and partly because he has accomplished some things in the two years since ascending the throne.

Emperor Ying Shi wanted to reform the bureaucracy, which was not a problem.

Even those with ulterior motives and questionable principles understood that once official corruption was rampant, a dynasty was on the verge of decline. Therefore, Emperor Ying Shi's ambitious efforts to reform the bureaucracy seemed perfectly normal to everyone.

However, for many people, how to rectify official corruption, or to what extent this rectification should go, is a matter worth debating in the imperial court. This is no small matter, as it concerns the interests of many people.

Showing weakness at this moment is impossible, and worrying about offending the emperor is also out of the question. Many people understand that if they are suppressed by the emperor this time, it will be incredibly difficult to accomplish anything in the future.

Don't think this is just a matter for a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of Personnel's Selection and Appointment Department; it's not that simple.

Huang Zicheng spoke with a mixture of worry and righteous indignation, “Your Majesty, during the Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties, the court did not restrict scholars. As a result, there were magnanimous and refined scholars. The calligraphy of Wang Xizhi and his son Wang Xianzhi was unparalleled, and the paintings of Gu Kaizhi were admired by the world. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the court valued scholars, and only then did we have Li Bai, Bai Juyi, and Yan Zhenqing.”

Just then, Chang Mao suddenly couldn't help but laugh, his expression one of complete sneer.

Huang Zicheng glared angrily at Chang Mao and asked, "Lord Kaiping, what is so ridiculous about what I said?"

"The elegance of the Jin Dynasty? Why don't you mention the migration of the elite south? I remember that the Central Plains were repeatedly plundered by foreign tribes back then, and official education seemed to be in decline. Only those aristocratic families could engage in refined conversation." Chang Mao chuckled, looking disdainful. "While you were enjoying your refined lifestyle over there, the Han people in the north became like two-legged sheep!"

Just then, Feng Cheng chimed in, “Lord Kaiping is right. We also remember that Li Bai’s poems have been passed down through the ages, but Yan Zhenqing was strangled by a traitorous general. We also seem to remember that Yan Zhenqing’s elder brother, Yan Gaoqing, was beheaded by An Lushan, and his son, Yan Jiming, was also beheaded. The second best calligraphy work in the world is Yan Zhenqing’s tearful ‘Elegy for My Nephew’.”

Huang Zicheng, enraged, said to Feng Cheng, "The Yan family is known for its unparalleled loyalty and bravery; who in the world does not praise them?"

Seeing that Feng Cheng seemed unable to find a rebuttal, Huang Zicheng, the master of witty remarks, continued, "There were countless great masters in the Song Dynasty, such as Ouyang Xiu, the three Su brothers, and Zeng Gong, who left behind numerous masterpieces that have been passed down through the ages, which naturally allowed people to see the prosperity and grandeur of the Song Dynasty. The court treated scholars well, and scholars naturally praised them."

Sitting on the dragon throne, Zhu Yunying remained expressionless, seemingly having grasped some of Huang Zicheng's meaning.

It wasn't just Joo Yoon-young who noticed; aside from a very few exceptionally simple-minded people, everyone else could hear it to some extent as well.

Ultimately, Huang Zicheng felt that the Ming Dynasty did not treat scholars as well as the Tang and Song Dynasties. He seemed to have found some reasons to use this as an excuse to fight for more rights and better treatment for scholars in the Ming Dynasty.

After all, in many people's eyes, the privileges held by scholars in the Ming Dynasty were far too few. Compared to ordinary people, they were much better off, but in reality, compared to the Song Dynasty, the treatment of scholars was far worse.

Even during the Yuan Dynasty, scholars were seemingly relegated to the ninth class, and Confucian scholars appeared to be "inferior people." However, some aristocratic families received relatively good treatment, which is why many scholars at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty "cherished their homeland," as the Yuan Dynasty had provided them with ample benefits.

Huang Zicheng continued, “Your Majesty, the Qing official in charge of the Ministry of Personnel was merely drinking at a brothel after finishing his duties. He was just chatting with a few close friends. What crime has he committed? The court has strict laws and regulations and is doing its utmost to suppress scholars. This action is likely to damage the literary style of the Ming Dynasty!”

Chang Mao couldn't stand it anymore and laughed, "Well, we've figured it out. You scholars can't write a poem without visiting a brothel. Well, let me say this too: if we military officers don't go to brothels, we'll lose our courage; if we don't beat up a few pedantic scholars, we'll lack our fighting spirit!"

As soon as Chang Mao finished speaking, the civil officials in the court were collectively enraged. This was not just Chang Mao slandering and belittling the civil officials; it was also a provocation against the civil officials and an attempt to provoke the scholars.

The military elites were naturally fearless, possessing a significant psychological advantage over the civil service. Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the military elites had maintained an absolute upper hand. Even though the emperor occasionally tried to suppress them, it did not diminish their arrogance in the slightest.

Seeing his uncle about to clench his fist, Zhu Yunying quickly rebuked him in a cold voice, "Such noise in the Fengtian Hall is unbecoming!"

Immediately, the civil and military officials, who had been busy arguing and even on the verge of violence, knelt down and obediently begged for forgiveness. They didn't necessarily know they were wrong, but they understood that they needed to make their stance clear at this time, because what they had done was indeed quite outrageous.

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