In ancient times, there were many ways to win people's hearts. Emperors often liked to have their princes lead the horses of their generals. This was undoubtedly a very effective method, and many considered it an unparalleled honor, a truly prestigious thing.
Zhu Yunying was indeed speaking from the heart. What Yan Zhenzhi was about to do required considerable courage and involved a great deal of hardship. He might even die on the road to controlling the Yellow River, and his reputation for the first half of his life could be ruined overnight.
This is no joke. Managing the Yellow River requires a lot of laborers and corvée labor. If it is not managed well, it could lead to unrest and other problems.
If such a thing were to happen, Yan Zhenzhi would not only fail to be remembered in history, but would likely be infamous for eternity.
If things really come to that, forget about honor; it might be that only killing can appease public anger. If it really comes to that, it could very well mean the death of the entire family and even three generations of relatives.
But Yan Zhenzhi couldn't care less about that right now; he was incredibly excited. He was about to do something he had been looking forward to for a long time, and he felt that the task he was about to take on was even more important than the position of Minister of Works.
Yan Zhenzhi was indeed well-prepared; this wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. His previous mention of it to Zhu Yunying was after careful consideration, as he felt many conditions were ripe. His recent communication with many people further boosted his confidence; he knew he could accomplish this.
Just as Yan Zhenzhi was calming down, Old Zhu, whose hair had turned completely white, appeared.
"What's wrong?" Old Zhu stepped into the Wuying Hall and asked casually, "Not only did you ask us to come, but you also asked the Crown Prince to come? If you ask me, the Crown Prince's inability to finish his studies is a waste of your time. You want him to come for everything, big or small."
Yan Zhenzhi immediately knelt down, somewhat excited, "Your subject Yan Zhenzhi, Minister of Works, pays respects to His Majesty the Retired Emperor."
Zhu De was undoubtedly Yan Zhenzhi's mentor. Without Zhu De's appreciation, Yan Zhenzhi would have remained just a wealthy household in Wucheng. Without Zhu De's promotion, Yan Zhenzhi would have been just an insignificant grain official, with no chance of ever becoming the Minister of Works!
"Zimin," Old Zhu waved his hand casually, "Rise."
Yan Zhenzhi was used to this. Old Zhu would occasionally call Yan Zhenzhi by his original courtesy name, "Zimin," but because of Zhu Yunying, Yan Zhenzhi now used his courtesy name as his given name as well. He didn't think this was a bad thing; on the contrary, it was an honor for him.
Zhu Yunying helped the old Zhu toward the dragon throne and said, "Grandpa Emperor, we were talking to him about the Yellow River. This is a very important matter, so of course we should invite you to come and oversee it. Only then will we feel at ease."
Old Zhu chuckled and said to Zhu Yunying, "What's wrong? Are you afraid we'll dig out a one-eyed stone man from the riverbed?"
Zhu Yunying chuckled and said, "We're afraid that another Han Shantong or Liu Futong might appear, or even a Little Ming King. Speaking of which, he was my grandfather's old employer."
Old Zhu patted Zhu Yunying on the shoulder and joked, "Then don't worry. You're capable now. Even if another Zhu Chongba or Zhu Guorui emerged, it wouldn't be a big deal. As for Han Shantong and Han Lin'er, I remember Liao Yongzhong's grandson should be entering officialdom by now, right?"
Liao Yongzhong was the one who had Han Shantong's son, Han Lin'er, the Little Ming King, drowned in the Guazhou River. Although many people say that Liao Yongzhong was being clever on his own, many also know that it was at the behest of Zhu De.
Liao Yongzhong was executed in the eighth year of the Hongwu reign for illegal acts such as using dragon and phoenix symbols. His eldest son, Liao Quan, inherited the title of Marquis of Deqing, but died of illness in the seventeenth year of the Hongwu reign. Liao Yongzhong's grandson, Liao Yong, did not inherit the title, as it was not a hereditary title.
Actually, Liao Yong and Zhu Yunying didn't get along very well. This dignified descendant of a military meritorious official was led astray, not only going to study Confucianism but also becoming a disciple of Fang Xiaoru.
Despite Zhu Yunying's lack of emphasis on Fang Xiaoru, Fang Xiaoru was quite famous among scholars.
Historically, Liao Yong angered Zhu Di by collecting Fang Xiaoru's body, leading to the extermination of his entire family and his execution. His uncle and brother were exiled, while his mother, wife, and daughters were enslaved in the laundry department. It's worth noting that Liao Yong's mother was Tang He's eldest daughter, and she suffered all sorts of abuse in the laundry department.
Zhu Yunying knew a little about it; Liao Yongzhong and Tang He both held extremely special positions and significance in his heart. Although they were no longer alive, Zhu Yunying still paid considerable attention to their descendants.
Zhu Yunying naturally followed suit and knew some of the details. "Grandfather, forget about that grandson of Marquis Deqing. He's just a bookish fellow who likes to spout pedantry. If you ask me, we shouldn't have given him the position of Gentleman Attendant. He's just like our third son; they're birds of a feather."
Old Zhu understood immediately and sighed, saying, "So, that means this is how their family is going to end. Their descendants are unworthy, and the legacy of their ancestors is gone. While we're alive, we can still offer some help, but after we're gone, their family will inevitably decline."
Zhu Yunying continued, "That's just how it is. 'The swallows that once graced the halls of the Wang and Xie families now fly into the homes of ordinary people.' Even if their family has declined, they are still considered wealthy. As long as their descendants are ambitious, they should have a chance to rise again in the future."
Old Zhu nodded slightly and said, "The good-for-nothing doesn't even consider his origins, yet he insists on joining the ranks of scholars. Well, it's fine, he's lost the spirit of martial prowess, so he can just pass down poetry and books as a family tradition."
Liao Yongzhong's lineage may indeed have fallen into ruin, probably because the leader took the wrong path, and the whole family may have to go astray.
There's nothing we can do about it; it's all because Liao Yongzhong's grandson doesn't study properly and insists on imitating 'Jia Baoyu'. In some ways, Liao Yong himself can be considered the Jia Baoyu of the Ming Dynasty, their styles are quite similar.
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
