In the imperial court, civil and military officials expressed their opinions, and even some who had not given up hoped that Emperor Ying Shi would change his mind at the last minute. These things were not difficult; a single imperial edict from the retired emperor would suffice, and everyone would be happy, and everything would proceed smoothly.

When that time truly arrives, the cabinet system will be legitimate, instead of its current rather awkward position. This violates ancestral rules; Emperor Hongwu hadn't even passed away yet, and Emperor Yingshi so brazenly overturned ancestral rules—it's really unacceptable, and this is what makes many people feel uncomfortable.

After all, rules and regulations are extremely important to many people, and even an emperor cannot easily overturn certain systems.

These are universal values; the Emperor of England was simply playing with his reputation. There were far better solutions, but it seems the Emperor chose the worst possible approach.

Let them say what they want; the one sitting on the dragon throne clearly didn't care anymore. Or perhaps these dissenting voices were already expected. If they hadn't been there, the emperor would probably have questioned the officials' stance and their moral character.

It's fine if the name isn't legitimate or the words aren't properly followed, at least Zhu Yunying feels that these things are in his best interest.

Such debate should come to an end, because the stubborn emperor had already made his decision, which could not be changed by the objections of a few ministers. Emperor Ying Shi was also domineering, almost no different from Emperor Hongwu.

Looking at the assembled officials, Zhu Yunying spoke, "Since the Song Dynasty, the Yellow River has changed its course, causing frequent floods. Now that our Great Ming Dynasty is powerful, it is time to properly manage the Yellow River's floods. What are your thoughts on this, my esteemed ministers?"

As soon as the emperor finished speaking, the civil and military officials naturally began to express their opinions.

In reality, many people knew that the emperor had long been determined to control the Yellow River floods, so there was no need to voice any objections at this time.

Moreover, everyone here is intelligent. Although things seem to be going smoothly right now, and the impact of the Yellow River floods doesn't seem particularly significant, everyone understands that this is only temporary and absolutely does not mean that we can rest easy.

A more accurate statement is that the Yellow River still faces flooding, but it is now only experiencing smaller-scale floods, and there has been no actual breach.

The Ming Dynasty is indeed powerful now, and the emperor's plan to control the Yellow River floods is actually a good thing for the country and its people. Such a thing certainly needs support, especially for civil officials. Controlling the Yellow River floods is a project with lasting benefits, and it deserves support.

Compared to the military officials who were only thinking about waging war everywhere, controlling the Yellow River floods was clearly the best choice. After all, the military strength of the Ming Dynasty was already strong enough; if the fighting continued like this, when would the civil officials ever have a chance to rise in the ranks?

At this moment, Ru Chang stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that the construction of the Yellow River dike is of utmost urgency. The floods are not serious now, but we also know that the lower reaches of the Huai River often experience some flooding when it rains."

Lian Zining also stepped forward at this moment, saying, "Your Majesty, I believe that building the Yellow River dike is a major undertaking for the court. Although it will cost a great deal of money and grain, once the Yellow River is successfully controlled, it will ensure the peace and tranquility of the country for generations to come."

Zhu Yunying smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Peace and tranquility are too much. If we can protect the people of the Ming Dynasty for a hundred years, I will feel that is enough."

Hearing the emperor say this, many people were speechless. It was clear that His Majesty was not one to appreciate flattery. Ordinary pleasantries and pleasantries had absolutely no effect on him.

Phrases like "Long live the Emperor" or "May peace last forever" are meaningless. Even the current emperor, let alone Emperor Hongwu, often disregarded such auspicious words. These two emperors were far too pragmatic; they were clearly not easily swayed by a few auspicious phrases.

Looking at Yan Zhenzhi, Zhu Yunying said, "Controlling the Yellow River floods will inevitably require the full efforts of the court. I think that the Ministry of Works alone is clearly not enough. The Ministry of Personnel should also contribute. They should review the resumes of all officials and find those who are good at water management to serve the court this time."

Ru Chang naturally had no objections; he felt that this arrangement was the most correct one. Controlling the Yellow River floods was not something that the Ministry of Works alone could accomplish; the Ministry of Personnel needed to send many officials to assist, something everyone already knew.

In fact, controlling the Yellow River floods is no secret. Not only had various rumors circulated before, but more importantly, many things have become clear in recent days. Everyone knows the emperor's determination to control the Yellow River, and everyone knows that this matter is being led by the Minister of Works.

The punishment of the former Minister of Revenue drew sighs of regret from many. Yu Xin seemed extremely reluctant to jump into this mess, but man proposes, God disposes. Or rather, if the emperor is unreasonable, even a high-ranking official like Yu Xin is powerless.

Considering Yu Xin's current predicament, many people understand that anyone who dares to obstruct the emperor's repair of the Yellow River dike is defying him. Such a national policy cannot be shaken in any way; anyone who opposes it at this time is making an enemy of the Yellow Emperor, and their fate is self-evident.

The Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Works alone were clearly insufficient. The massive project of building the Yellow River dike naturally required countless amounts of money and grain, as well as a large labor force. Therefore, the Ministry of Revenue naturally played an important role at this time.

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