While the approximate difference shouldn't be too significant, it's still necessary to thoroughly investigate the situation. After all, it's been over six years since Lao Zhu last conducted a large-scale investigation, and it's time to start again.
This was also because it was the second year of Zhu Yunying's reign, and many things naturally needed to be prepared more thoroughly at this time, so as to facilitate his subsequent series of plans.
It is true that the national strength of the Ming Dynasty is increasing, but many things still need to be seen with one's own eyes to have a better understanding, so that the plan can be more solid and the execution can be more reliable.
Lian Zining was indeed not afraid of offending people. His identity was special and his ambitions were quite lofty. As the Left Censor-in-Chief, he could be considered one of the Seven Ministers. With his high position and great power, he should do more for the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Yunying also had other thoughts behind this. The imperial examinations would begin next year, and another batch of successful candidates would enter the court. Therefore, if the prefects and assistant prefects were corrupt, Zhu Yunying wouldn't mind using their heads as a warning to others. He could also free up some positions for younger officials who had been in the central government for a long time to gain experience in the lower levels.
Without experience as a people-friendly official, it won't work. If you're out of touch with the people and don't understand their lives, how can you share the emperor's worries and govern the Ming Dynasty?
Offending people wasn't just something Lian Zining was doing, nor was it just something the Censorate was doing. Many people understood that their actions were authorized by the Emperor. At that point, many civil and military officials, corrupt bureaucrats, and powerful families would be in a state of panic, and many aristocratic clans would be in dire straits.
Lian Zining was quite experienced. He knew he had a heavy responsibility on his shoulders and he absolutely did not want to betray the emperor's trust. He also genuinely hoped to bring a golden age to the Ming Dynasty through his own efforts.
So what we need to do now is start preparing in advance. For example, the Censorate's self-inspection. If the Censorate itself is not clean, then their supervision and investigation will naturally not bring back news that satisfies Zhu Yunying.
Even if the Censorate conducts its own investigation, and even if Zhu Yunying inevitably sends agents from the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard to conduct a secret investigation, it's hard to guarantee that they are absolutely incorruptible and selfless. However, starting a self-investigation now can still provide a lot of help for the subsequent actions.
Looking at Wang Chengen, Zhu Yunying said, "Have someone prepare a meal; let's go to the Qianqing Palace for dinner."
Wang Chengen's expression turned bitter as he said to Zhu Yunying, "Your Majesty, the Prince of Dai has returned to the palace, and the Emperor Emeritus is in the Fengxian Hall."
Some things don't need to be said explicitly. When Old Zhu is in the Ancestral Hall, he's with his son. If nothing unexpected happens, besides worshipping ancestors, he's mostly enforcing family rules. Basically, all of his sons except for the eldest Zhu receive this treatment.
Zhu Yunying casually asked, "Oh? What happened to our thirteenth uncle again?"
Prince Zhu Gui was the same age as Zhu Yunying, only three months older. His mother was Consort Guo Hui, daughter of Prince Guo Zixing of Chuyang. It can be said that Zhu Gui was a relatively respectable prince in the palace and a rather 'rare' prince who could be enfeoffed.
After all, he was born in the same year as Zhu Yunying and had already taken up his fiefdom, so Zhu Yunying couldn't easily make a move against him. However, after Zhu Gui, none of Zhu Yunying's sons took up their fiefdoms. As for Zhu Yunying's cousins, brothers, and even nephews, they shouldn't expect to take up their fiefdoms, and even those who had already done so shouldn't expect to receive a real fiefdom.
Wang Chengen said, “Your Majesty, the Prince of Dai has been arbitrarily conscripting soldiers and civilians and extorting money, causing great suffering to the people.”
Zhu Yunying's face immediately darkened; this was the reason why he disliked the princes.
Although according to Zhu Yuanzhang's original policy, the princes had no administrative power and their armies were not particularly large, the princes who were enfeoffed did not care about the suffering of the people. Their lawlessness was one thing, but the fact that local officials could not punish them was another. Many local officials even flattered the princes to curry favor with them.
Zhu Yunying abruptly stood up, his face cold, and walked straight towards Fengxian Hall. "Uncle, Zhu Yunying should still be respected where respect is due, and treated with the respect due to deserve it."
However, if his uncles acted lawlessly, Zhu Yunying would not be too lenient. Even though he was a junior, Zhu Yunying was now the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty and the rightful head of the clan; these matters should be decided by him!
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