Zhu Xiong Ying, who was half emperor and half subject, attended court for the first time and only listened without speaking. Occasionally, when Emperor Zhu asked a question, Zhu Xiong Ying would only give some mature and prudent answers, or rather, some empty words and clichés.
Although this appearance seemed to be just a whim of Zhu Xi's, merely a way for him to give Zhu Xiong Ying a respectable appearance, in many people's minds, it was also a clear signal from Zhu Xi.
Zhang He's ennoblement did indeed evoke envy in many, but it wasn't anything to be surprised about. Zhang He already had considerable merit, and now, supposedly, he was serving the Crown Prince. Therefore, the Crown Prince's appearance in court this time carried a different significance.
In the imperial court, one had to become a minister of the Hongwu Emperor. However, a very small number of people could become part of the Eastern Palace's inner circle and serve the Crown Prince.
Now, there is a need for some new options. If these civil and military officials become part of the Crown Prince's inner circle, it would be a good way out.
However, seeking to gain the support of the Crown Prince was not an easy task. One reason was the potential displeasure of the Crown Prince, and another was that they were too old.
For these people, there are few opportunities left. However, at this time, it might be a good opportunity to have their eldest sons and grandsons seek refuge with the Crown Prince.
As the 'second crown prince,' Zhu Xiong Ying seems to have gradually learned some tricks of the trade, and he now has some insights of his own.
Zhu Yuanzhang, a genius of unparalleled talent, was a former little monk and beggar who became the founder of the Ming Dynasty. He was practically omnipotent. Whether it was balancing the court, the art of imperial strategy, or military campaigns, he was proficient in everything. He was a true all-rounder.
Zhu Xiong Ying is now learning to be a leader. He doesn't do everything himself like the workaholic Lao Zhu, but he is starting to learn how to be a leader who can take a strategic view.
Take Longjiang Shipyard, for example; it's bustling with activity right now. Originally, due to the maritime ban, the shipyard's development and scale were shrinking, but now things are different.
Although it cannot be said that the manufacturing capacity has been restored to its peak during the Southern Song Dynasty, the Longjiang Shipyard has begun to recover slowly, and the shipyard workers and others have also felt that life has a different kind of hope.
For example, just a couple of days ago, a craftsman received a reward from the Crown Prince, and it's said that they'll even try to get credit for him!
In addition to his keen interest in ships, Zhu Xiong Ying also placed great importance on firearms.
In fact, Zhu Yuanzhang was a master of firearms, and the Ming army was equipped with a very high level of firearms.
The main cold weapons included long-handled swords, spears, short-handled long swords, waist knives, and various miscellaneous weapons such as halberds, forks, and wolf-tooth rakes. In addition to inheriting traditional weapon types, firearms reached their peak development during the Ming Dynasty.
However, in terms of firearms, there were hand-held muskets and matchlock guns, which were relatively large in size and caliber. They were generally filled with lead bullets and iron bullets, and their range was only a few dozen to two hundred paces.
Another type is large cannons of various calibers and shapes that are mounted on a mount for firing. Most of them are filled with materials such as stone, lead, and iron, commonly known as solid shot, while a few are filled with explosive spherical projectiles. Their range is generally from several hundred paces to two or three miles. They are mainly used for defending fortresses and attacking cities, and are also used in field battles, naval battles, and sea battles.
There are also some 'basic rockets' that are quite useful in both offense and defense.
There is a certain risk of barrel explosion, the range is relatively short, the accuracy is not particularly high, and the power is not particularly great... But in Zhu Xiong Ying’s view, the development of these firearms is the general trend of the future and an irreversible trend.
Nowadays, artisans have a relatively low social status, and the Ministry of Works is the lowest-ranking of the six ministries. The treatment and benefits for these 'scientists' and artisans are certainly not up to par in any aspect.
Zhu Xiong Ying was naturally aware of these matters, and he couldn't change some people's views overnight. However, he could guide them slightly and express his own attitude, which would be enough.
There are many clever people who can read the emperor's mind. The fact that the Crown Prince values craftsmen and is generous in rewarding those who have made great contributions actually tells a lot of things, which makes many people with ulterior motives pay close attention and be very sensitive.
Zhu Xiong Ying's attitude displeased many civil officials, but in the Ming Dynasty today, there were no so-called "pure stream" or "Donglin Party," and civil officials could not make their voices particularly loud in the court.
However, they did not experience the Tumu Crisis, nor did they witness the Ming Dynasty's military elite group being wiped out in one fell swoop by Zhu Qizhen, the war god of the Ming Dynasty, nor did they annihilate all the elite forces accumulated by the Ming Dynasty in one fell swoop.
Although there were some factions of the Huaihe River clique and the Zhejiang East literati group in the Ming court, their power remained relatively weak due to the deaths and retirements of figures like Liu Bowen, and the purge following the Hu Weiyong case. When they encountered the military clique, they were almost guaranteed to be soundly defeated.
Moreover, the one sitting on the dragon throne is the Hongwu Emperor. Neither civil officials nor military officers can cause much trouble; they are all completely under his control.
Thinking about it this way, I really can't let my fourth uncle usurp the throne; his lineage has produced quite a few oddballs.
Leaving aside the war god of the Ming Dynasty, there was the carpenter emperor Zhu Youxiao, the incredibly absurd Zhu Houzhao, Zhu Yijun who didn't attend court for twenty-eight years but still managed to bring about the Wanli Restoration, or the master of political maneuvering, Jiajing... There were quite a few eccentric emperors in history, and the Zhu family accounted for almost half of them!
Old Zhu found it somewhat amusing. His beloved grandson had made an appearance in court, and just when everyone thought it was a strong signal and many were speculating, he had disappeared again.
Old Zhu had also asked, and if the Crown Prince was willing, he could continue to observe the court affairs. However, the Crown Prince kept saying he wanted to sleep, or that he had too many things to do, and in short, he was unwilling to go to the court again.
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