Yu Xin immediately said, "Your Majesty, Xia Yuanji participated in the formulation of the system for the previous proposal to merge the poll tax into the land tax, and his suggestions were all simple and easy to follow."
Zhu Yunying's eyes lit up, mainly because his position was too high. So even though Xia Yuanji had some reputation in the court, Zhu Yunying might not be able to take him seriously.
In short, it's a case of 'the higher you climb, the colder it gets,' and Emperor Zhu Yunying was used to setting grand policies and strategies. Even an emperor with immense power cannot truly control the movements of every single official.
Zhu Yunying became interested and asked, "In that case, shall we summon Xia Yuanji to the palace? A person whom you praise so highly must possess some real talent and ability."
This gave Yu Xin a sense of pride, even though he held the high position of Minister of Revenue. However, among the six ministers, he was an old minister left behind by the Hongwu Emperor, not a confidant of the emperor like Ru Chang or Yan Zhenzhi.
He was even somewhat relieved at times; if Zhuo Jing hadn't gone against the emperor's wishes, the Minister of Revenue might have been replaced.
Now he has finally gained the emperor's approval, and he can probably continue in his position as Minister of Revenue, becoming a truly important minister. Perhaps, he can retire peacefully in a few years, earning a good reputation both before and after his death.
In truth, Yu Xin's recommendation of Xia Yuanji stemmed not only from his genuine admiration for Xia Yuanji, but also from a desire to cultivate a lasting relationship. He knew Xia Yuanji was talented and capable, and could become a high-ranking official in the court.
If he could become Xia Yuanji's mentor, even after he retires from officialdom, he could still leave behind some lineage for himself and his family.
True saints don't exist; it's perfectly normal for people to have their own little thoughts and desires. As long as they don't affect the administration of the court, the emperor can probably understand. After all, Emperor Ying Shi doesn't seem to be a particularly harsh emperor.
Even the seemingly strict Hongwu Emperor did not pay much attention to the faction formed by Li Shanchang, Yang Xian, Hu Weiyong, and others.
Moreover, he's not currently forming cliques for personal gain, so he has even less to worry about displeasing the emperor.
Zhu Yunying was naturally pleased with the emergence of talented individuals. As an emperor, no matter how wise and powerful one is, it is impossible for one person to do everything well; one still needs the assistance of many civil and military officials.
Moreover, Zhu Yunying was somewhat self-aware; his greatest advantage was that he had a 'long-term vision' and knew some of the historical trends.
However, this does not mean that Zhu Yunying was omniscient, or that he was a genius. Even though many people outside praised him constantly, whether sincerely or insincerely, it seemed that Zhu Yunying was already a wise and benevolent ruler.
Fortunately, Zhu Yunying had some self-awareness; he wasn't that narcissistic, and he didn't get carried away or lose his head from such flattery.
It seems that the Ming Dynasty has not yet produced many more military leaders. However, the emergence of another outstanding candidate for Minister of Revenue at this time is clearly something that Zhu Yunying is quite satisfied with and looking forward to.
Especially since Xia Yuanji, recommended by Yu Xin, has some experience in economics, Zhu Yunying is even more looking forward to him.
The Ming Dynasty, and indeed all dynasties throughout history, has never lacked economists. However, within the framework of traditional Confucian culture, many scholars were not necessarily 'economists,' which was something Zhu Yunying regretted.
However, according to Yu Xin, this Xia Yuanji is capable of managing banking affairs and has also participated in the formulation and improvement of the land tax reform policy. This is clearly the kind of talent Zhu Yunying needs, so we should take a good look at him.
Furthermore, when the land survey was required for the previous system of converting poll tax to land tax, Xia Yuanji served as the investigating envoy in charge of inspecting criminal cases and supervising county and prefectural officials, and he achieved good results.
This made Zhu Yunying even more satisfied and hopeful. It seemed that this was a rising star prepared for him, who might become a trusted advisor whom Zhu Yunying would rely on for the next few years or decades.
Even though Xia Yuanji is only a fifth-rank official now.
Xia Yuanji, with his upright appearance, arrived at the Wuying Hall. Indeed, in ancient times, there were certain requirements regarding appearance for officials; those who were unattractive or ugly were unlikely to be noticed by the emperor.
"Your humble servant Xia Yuanji, Director of the Fujian Provincial Department of Revenue, pays his respects to Your Majesty the Emperor."
Joo Yoon-young smiled and raised her hand, "Rise."
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