Not only were the other civil and military officials curious about this matter, but Ru Chang herself was also somewhat uncertain and uneasy about going to the Wuying Hall.
Upon arriving at the Wuying Hall, Zhu Yunying rubbed his temples, looking utterly exhausted. "Ru, my companion, these days the court must be in turmoil, right? I reckon quite a few people are lobbying you, aren't they?"
Ru Chang didn't dare to hide anything and immediately said, "Recently, some people have indeed become restless. The Ministry of Revenue's affairs are too complicated, and everyone can't help but think about them."
Ru Chang continued, "The position of Minister of Revenue is also prestigious. There is still no definite decision regarding Lord Yu Xin. Some people want to discuss it further and give him a lighter punishment. Others, I'm afraid, want to convict Lord Yu Xin."
Zhu Yunying wasn't surprised. Wherever there are people, there is a social hierarchy. Besides, the position of Minister of Revenue was indeed too prestigious.
There's a specific role to play here; if Yu Xin doesn't fall, many people feel their future is being blocked. Or some people see Yu Xin as their protector and naturally don't want to see him suffer.
Zhu Yunying nodded slightly and instructed Ru Chang, "This matter is of great importance. You are our study companion and the Minister of Personnel. There is still no conclusion on Yu Xin's side, so you should not get involved at this time. Just do your duty, and that will be enough."
Ru Chang hurriedly replied, "Your subject obeys the decree."
Zhu Yunying nodded and continued, "You also need to keep an eye on the Ministry of Works. You should talk to Yan Zhenzhi again these days. We also need to consider the other officials in the Ministry of Works when it comes to the selection of the Minister of Works."
Ru Chang immediately realized what was happening and asked anxiously, "Your Majesty, is there going to be a conclusion regarding Minister Yan's work on the Yellow River?"
Zhu Yunying nodded slightly and said to Ru Chang, "It's not just the Yellow River. We need to manage the Yellow River, but also the Huai River. The banks of the Huai River are grain-producing areas. If we don't manage them, it won't be a problem. If we're going to do it, we should do it properly."
Ru Chang immediately nodded in agreement; this was indeed a major matter. It seemed that now it wasn't just a matter of choosing a successor for the Minister of Revenue, but also the successor for the Minister of Works.
Zhu Yunying sighed and said to Ru Chang, "Yan Zhenzhi, he'd rather be the Minister of Works than do something thankless and arduous. Let's let him have his way this time. Whether he'll be remembered in history or end up with nothing to show for his efforts, that depends on his abilities."
Ru Chang said with emotion, "I admire Minister Yan. Minister Yan is a role model for us all."
Zhu Yunying agreed with this assessment, stating that what Yan Zhenzhi was doing was indeed a thankless task. Doing it well would bring him lasting fame, but if anything went wrong, it would be all for naught, and he might even be remembered with infamy for eternity.
What Yan Zhenzhi was doing was indeed a model for many officials who had the world in their hearts and aspirations. He was a man who was truly doing great things and was truly preparing to become a capable minister and renowned official who would benefit the country.
Zhu Yunying always attached great importance to the Ministry of Works, a fact well-known to many. His trusted confidants were especially aware of this, though sometimes they too harbored their own opinions.
Ru Chang looked at Zhu Yunying and tentatively said, "Your Majesty, I believe that the Ministry of Works Academy should follow the example of the Martial Arts Academy. The Ministry of Works Academy is a place that gathers the most skilled craftsmen of the Ming Dynasty, and the court also provides it with a lot of money. Now it is also teaching and writing books. I think that the Ministry of Works Academy should be separated from the Ministry of Works so that it will be less subject to its control."
Zhu Yunying was silent for a moment, then thought for a moment and said, "You are right, my dear minister. We really need to think about this matter. The academy should also consider the example of Yiwu Academy. Perhaps the bank should also be separated to make things easier."
The Ministry of Works College is indeed under the Ministry of Works' jurisdiction; it's the Ministry's private domain, and the Ministry does sometimes make arrangements for the college. The banks, on the other hand, are clearly under the Ministry of Revenue's control, and sometimes lack autonomy.
The Martial Arts Academy that Zhu Yunying established was not under the jurisdiction of the Five Military Commissions; it became independent.
Zhu Yunying did not intend to grant the Martial Arts Academy, the Ministry of Works Academy, or the Bank complete autonomy, nor did he intend to simply add a few more extremely important government offices to the existing Six Ministries in the court.
However, these three departments were all created by Zhu Yunying, and he placed high hopes on them. They can have some autonomy, but they also need to be subject to some constraints to prevent these three extremely sensitive departments from growing unchecked.
After chatting with Ru Chang, Zhu Yunying waved her hand and said, "Your companion should step down first. I'm a little tired and want to rest."
Ru Chang immediately took her leave, but she was also a little worried, feeling that His Majesty looked particularly tired today.
Perhaps because he was familiar with Ru Chang, and also because he had been instructed by Zhu Yunying, Wang Chengen naturally knew what he should do.
“Your Majesty has been resting less these days and sleeping very lightly,” Wang Chengen said with a worried look. “Your Majesty is probably sleeping less than two hours a day now.”
Although Ru Chang also slept relatively little, he felt that His Majesty was sleeping far too little. No matter how busy he was with state affairs, he needed at least two hours of sleep each day to have any energy.
No wonder His Majesty looked rather tired in court, and he yawned for two days in the Wuying Hall, looking extremely exhausted.
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