Considering the fate of the former Minister, there's really no need to ponder what to do now or how to express one's stance. Just do your job well, and absolutely do not antagonize the Emperor at such a time.

Zhu Yunying continued, “Although building the Yellow River dike is a major undertaking that benefits the country and its people, we must learn from the past. Emperor Yang of Sui built the Grand Canal, which led to turmoil throughout the country. The Yuan Dynasty also built the Yellow River, which caused widespread resentment among the people.”

What Zhu Yunying said was no secret; many people knew that such a massive project required not only a large amount of money and food, but also countless laborers.

Whether it's conscripting laborers or performing corvée labor, having many people isn't enough for such a project. Moreover, most of these people are young and strong, making their management no easy task.

If some ambitious individuals start causing trouble, it might actually lead to some problems.

The Ming Dynasty has only been established for a little over thirty years. Many older people are still thinking about Chen Youliang, Zhang Shicheng, Liu Futong, and wondering why a beggar could sit on the dragon throne.

In this era, there's no shortage of ambitious individuals, or people who act impulsively and do things that are both laughable and pathetic. Moreover, the general public's level of understanding is relatively limited; once someone raises a rallying cry, many people might be unwittingly swept up in it.

The Ming Dynasty now appears to be a peaceful and prosperous country with relatively wealthy people. However, everyone understands that while the current level is good, it may not meet the expectations of some people, and some will want more.

Moreover, both the old Zhu and the young Zhu have acted in ways that have affected the interests of many. Seeing the Zhu family firmly established in power is something many people find unsettling. Given the opportunity, they wouldn't hesitate to cause trouble for the Ming Dynasty.

Or there are some people who feel their talents are going to waste. They may not necessarily want wealth, fame, or high-ranking positions. Fame and fortune hold little appeal for them; what they want is simply to prove their abilities and talents.

As for world turmoil or widespread suffering, those are not matters for them to concern themselves with. Possessing the skill to slay dragons, they should naturally do something earth-shattering; only in this way can they display their talents, and only in this way can they act like true heroes.

The Censorate and the Ministry of Justice must also follow up and maintain strict oversight. We absolutely cannot allow any major unrest to occur in such matters. The golden age of the Ming Dynasty has only just begun, and we must not allow any turmoil at this time to affect the development of the Ming Dynasty.

The merits will last for generations, but the sins are immediate; Zhu Yunying absolutely cannot accept such a thing.

Yan Zhenzhi looked extremely excited; it was clear to anyone with eyes that he, as Minister of Works, had gained the emperor's trust. The heavy responsibility of governing the Yellow and Huai Rivers now rested on Yan Zhenzhi's shoulders.

Undoubtedly, this is a difficult task, and any mishap could render all previous efforts futile. However, for many ambitious individuals, governing the Yellow and Huai Rivers could be a path to lasting fame, a source of immense glory for many.

The governance of the Yellow and Huai Rivers now appears to be nearing completion, at least in terms of the overall framework. Who is responsible for this matter, and which departments need to be involved, are now identified.

Some people admired Yan Zhenzhi, while others disagreed, or perhaps some had other ideas.

The Minister of Works is about to go to govern the Yellow and Huai Rivers, which means he will have no time to do more of the daily work of the Ministry of Works.

It might not seem like a problem in the short term, but over a longer period, many people will inevitably think it's no big deal. Moreover, it's clear to everyone that the emperor values ​​the announcement and cannot keep the Minister of Works on the Yellow River dike indefinitely, ignoring the daily operations of the Ministry.

The Minister of Works may soon be replaced, which could be an opportunity for many.

Those who could stand in the imperial court were at least fourth-rank officials, considered important ministers of the court. But for most people, they aspired to climb higher, and to hold a ministerial position was considered the pinnacle of their careers.

In the early years of the Hongwu reign, being an official was an extremely dangerous job. Vacancies frequently arose among the ministers of the Six Ministries, or high-ranking officials were dismissed or executed. Even so, this did not diminish the pursuit of high office and prestige among many people.

The current Ying Shi dynasty seems to be in a similar situation, even though Emperor Ying Shi has only been on the throne for four years. There have been quite a few changes in the positions of the six ministers. Some died of old age or illness, but it appears that the emperor consciously made adjustments.

This is a good sign; it gives more people hope and shows them that there is still room for advancement in their careers.

Many are already itching to get involved, perhaps needing to cultivate their positions carefully to have a chance to become truly important officials. Moreover, everyone can see that Emperor Ying Shi values ​​the Ministry of Works, which means they have a chance to advance further.

If a wealthy landlord, or even a lowly official like a grain manager, could rise to become the Minister of Works in the Ming Dynasty, then what about learned scholars? They too had the opportunity to showcase their talents and demonstrate to the emperor what true pillars of the state were!

With many civil officials harboring differing thoughts, some military officers are now feeling somewhat apprehensive.

With the war in Goryeo over, it was initially thought that the court would expand into the northwest, where there were still remnants of the Mongol Yuan dynasty, and many people were preparing to follow Lan Yu to achieve great deeds. But now it seems that there is no chance at all.

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