But now, things are different. The emperor has implemented the "equalization of land tax and poll tax," which doesn't mean that the opportunity for land consolidation has been completely eliminated. It's just that under this policy, the cost and burden of consolidating land have increased significantly, making it less worthwhile.
These are naturally the reasons why many small landowners were very dissatisfied with Emperor Ying Shi, but it seems that they could only complain in private. Faced with the emperor's power, they did not even dare to show any resistance.
Those small landlords are all like this, and scholars are actually all the same.
Some people may have thought that they could influence the emperor through their own efforts. Even if they couldn't change Emperor Ying Shi, they still needed to get the next emperor of the Ming Dynasty to be close to Confucianism, and that the emperor of the Ming Dynasty should believe in the words of the sage.
Although they may have some dissatisfaction with the emperor, it did not diminish the enthusiasm of many scholars for the imperial examinations. They still hoped to pass with flying colors and bring glory to their ancestors.
Little Zhu asked curiously, "Great-grandfather, what kind of emperor do you think my father was?"
Old Zhu was silent for a moment, then said, "Your brother is a good emperor. He is wise, brave, thoughtful, shrewd, and resourceful. He is not muddle-headed about small matters, and he has a long-term vision in important ones."
"Your father is harsh but not ungrateful, cold but not heartless. He is somewhat cold-hearted, but also has a lot of warmth."
Hearing Old Zhu's assessment, Little Zhu objected, "Great-Grandfather, our father wasn't mean at all. He was very sentimental and treated old officials and relatives exceptionally well!"
Old Zhu smiled and patted Little Zhu's head. Some things are better left unsaid until Little Zhu is a bit older. Perhaps some things make sense, and he'll probably understand when he's older.
However, Old Zhu didn't think her grandson had behaved badly. An emperor should be harsh, but not too benevolent. If an emperor were perfect, it wouldn't be a good thing; it might even lead to turmoil in the country.
While the old man and the young man chatted idly in the restaurant, admiring the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yunying in the palace was extremely busy. He had very little chance to leave the palace; he had endless memorials to review every day, and many matters to decide. Where would he find the time to go on incognito visits?
Yan Zhenzhi reappeared in the Wuying Hall. The Minister of Works said, "Your Majesty, I am about to go to Kaifeng Prefecture, and I am afraid I will not be able to take care of the affairs of the Ministry of Works."
It's understandable that Yan Zhenzhi has such concerns. He's about to set off to manage the Yellow and Huai Rivers, which is his top priority. Once he devotes all his energy to this task, he'll naturally be unable to attend to the affairs of the Ministry of Works.
Therefore, Yan Zhenzhi came here this time hoping that His Majesty the Emperor would revoke his position as Minister.
Zhu Yunying remained noncommittal, smiling as he said, "My dear minister, there's no need to worry. Governing the Yellow and Huai Rivers is a momentous matter, and it's also a top priority for the court. There's no need to worry about the Ministry of Works either; there are the Left and Right Vice Ministers. You're not worried about being involved in the Ministry of Works' affairs, so just leave everything to the Left and Right Vice Ministers."
The emperor's meaning was clear: Yan Zhenzhi would remain the Minister of Works of the Ming Dynasty. As one of the six ministers, his administration of the Yellow and Huai Rivers would naturally give him greater influence and allow him to better control the officials.
There's no need to worry about the daily operations as announced; the Ministry of Works is full of talented people. Although there's no Minister, there are still the Left and Right Vice Ministers, who can handle these matters well.
As early as the Hongwu era, it was clear that the absence of a Minister would not affect the operation of the Six Ministries. Therefore, civil and military officials did not need to consider themselves too important. Even if they held high positions and wielded great power, the Ming Dynasty would still function in an orderly manner without them.
It may seem a little heartless, but that's the truth. What the Ming Dynasty couldn't do without was an emperor, not ministers.
Since the emperor had already said so, Yan Zhenzhi naturally had no other opinions. Moreover, with the official position of Minister of Works, he could indeed save himself a lot of trouble, and governing the Yellow and Huai Rivers would be more convenient.
After all, officialdom is a very pragmatic place, and the saying "when you leave, the tea cools" is all too common. When you are a high-ranking official, your door is always bustling with visitors. But once you lose your official position, not to mention your former colleagues, even some of your former students and acquaintances may become distant.
Yan Zhenzhi had seen this kind of thing happen quite often, and sometimes he even felt a sense of shared sorrow.
Despite being a former official of His Majesty the Emperor, His Majesty still treated him with great respect and placed unparalleled trust in him.
Zhu Yunying looked at Yan Zhenzhi earnestly and said, "You don't need to worry about the Ministry of Works. You only need to manage the Yellow and Huai Rivers well now. Everything else is none of your concern. If you encounter any difficult decisions, report to me immediately! Managing the Yellow and Huai Rivers is a matter of national importance, and I entrust this matter to you, my dear minister!"
Yan Zhen knelt down, his voice firm, "Your Majesty, I obey! I will do my utmost to live up to Your Majesty's great favor!"
For Yan Zhenzhi, managing the Yellow and Huai Rivers was always a blessing. What many people would consider dirty, tiring, or even arduous work, he did with great joy, always feeling that it was the most important job of his life.
This was an opportunity for him to make a name for himself in history, and Yan Zhenzhi naturally valued this opportunity immensely.
Looking at Yan Zhenzhi, one of the earliest men to remain by his side, Zhu Yunying said, "You have been with me for nearly twenty years. I know your abilities and character well. I feel at ease entrusting such an important matter to you!"
After saying this, Zhu Yunying said to Wang Chengen, "The Yellow River dike stretches for thousands of miles. I hereby bestow upon you a carriage and two imperial horses, and have someone escort you back to your residence!"
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