After inspecting the gunpowder workshop, Zhu Xiong Ying was also pleased.

Back at Fulong Palace, Zhu Xiong Ying collapsed onto his couch. "Have any of those scholars or newly appointed scholars complained lately?"

Wang Chengen dared not conceal the truth and said, "There is indeed resentment. Some scholars feel that Your Highness is close to military officers and craftsmen. Moreover, some have made some outrageous remarks."

Zhu Xiong Ying gave a mocking smile and said, "These people seem to have gotten too cocky now that their good days have arrived!"

When Zhu Yuanzhang was conquering the country, he did indeed try hard to gain the support of scholars, especially the Zhejiang civil service group, which was very important. Liu Bowen was a representative of this group, and they did provide Zhu Yuanzhang with a lot of help.

However, to be fair, Zhu Yuanzhang was also very ruthless when it came to dealing with civil officials.

Zhu Xiong Ying said this because, during the Yuan Dynasty, some Confucian scholars also suffered from discrimination. In the eleventh year of the Dade era of the Yuan Dynasty, Confucius was posthumously honored as the Great Sage and King of Literature; on the other hand, Confucianism ranked nine out of ten classes of people in the Yuan Dynasty.

The term "stinking intellectual" has historical basis. During the Yuan Dynasty, Confucian scholars were ranked after prostitutes but before beggars!

Even so, many people still miss the rule of the Yuan Dynasty. Especially in the north, the direct rule by a foreign ethnic group has made many people fundamentally reject their Han identity.

The status of Confucianism is beyond doubt, and its influence on this nation is deeply rooted.

Zhu Xiong Ying felt that due to the devastation caused by the former Yuan dynasty, coupled with the intentional or unintentional suppression by the current Zhu, the scholar-official group's expectation of governing the country together with the scholar-officials was just a dream, and it was impossible to restore the status of the Song dynasty!

We should adapt and utilize the good aspects of Confucianism, as national genes and other factors are not easily changed. However, Confucianism should not become a one-man show, nor should it allow Confucian scholars to control all channels to obtain official positions.

In Beiping, within his own base of operations, Zhu Xiong Ying could begin to try some things!

Wang Chengen naturally dared not speak at this moment; he only needed to complete the task assigned by the Crown Prince. He was a clever man, but he also knew that the Crown Prince was a man of deep thoughts, and that the Crown Prince would only act a little more freely in front of the Emperor and the Crown Prince.

Having always been by Zhu Xiong Ying's side, Wang Chengen knew that Zhu Xiong Ying was a multifaceted person, and understanding his thoughts was no easy task. Moreover, once the Crown Prince made a decision, it was generally impossible for anyone to change his mind.

Furthermore, in his eyes, His Highness the Crown Prince is wise and powerful, and His Highness's decisions are naturally correct. He will implement them without any compromise and will not doubt them!