As emperor, Zhu Yunying was undoubtedly quite domineering. However, he considered himself to be relatively diligent and fair in handling certain matters, which was about enough; one can't expect him to be perfect.
They've become adept at using empty promises or a combination of harsh words and sweet rewards, demonstrating a more mature approach to managing subordinates.
However, he also clearly understands that sometimes it's not enough to just talk about ideals or give some vague honors; there also needs to be some tangible benefits, so that people can see hope while also getting closer to those achievements.
This is what motivates people and makes them work tirelessly, even to the point of forgetting to eat or sleep. Simply making empty promises won't really work for seasoned veterans.
In fact, Li Jinglong is the same. Despite his current high position and power, and despite appearing to be the emperor's confidant, this is all a deliberate display by the emperor. If he weren't constantly given honors or important tasks, this dignified Duke of Cao might have already become anxious.
If they were truly sidelined, the huge difference in status would be difficult for many people in the central government to adjust to. They might harbor resentment or have all sorts of other thoughts.
Zhu Yunying knew that he could not please everyone, nor could he appoint everyone to important positions. There would certainly be many people who felt that his talents were not being recognized and that their emperor lacked the ability to judge people.
But there's nothing that can be done about it; they can only blame themselves for not having the opportunity to showcase their talents to the emperor. Naturally, they couldn't leave a deep impression on the emperor, and naturally, they couldn't achieve anything in their current positions. So they can't blame others; they can only say that their abilities were limited, and it had little to do with opportunity.
In any case, that's what Zhu Yunying believed. He only needed those he considered important, and he only wanted to cultivate officials he saw who had potential. Giving opportunities to everyone was obviously unrealistic; even as the emperor, he couldn't do that.
This is reality, whether you want to admit it or not, this is the stark reality.
That's why the world is so unfair; some people simply lack opportunities. Their abilities may be considerable, but they lack that one chance to be recognized. Others, however, are different. Even if they fail, it doesn't matter; they'll get more opportunities to learn and grow.
Of course, some people get opportunities that others can only dream of because of their background or other reasons.
That was the case for Ma Sanbao. He was originally just an insignificant eunuch, but by some chance, the emperor noticed him. Perhaps it was because the emperor trusted him enough to handle things that he got the opportunity to prove himself.
This might not just be a simple matter of proving oneself; the emperor had entrusted this important task to them, something many eunuchs would envy immensely. The vast majority of eunuchs spent their entire lives working diligently and cautiously in the palace, but they rarely had the opportunity to serve the emperor, let alone have their names remembered.
But Ma Sanbao was different. He hadn't served the emperor for long, but the emperor had already taken notice of him and he was poised for a meteoric rise.
Everyone knows that the emperor valued the navy, and everyone knows that the Ming Dynasty's navy was becoming increasingly powerful. Now, the navy no longer only had large forces in Poyang Lake or Chaohu Lake, but was expanding in all directions.
Heading north, grain could be transported to Tianjin and Beiping via the Grand Canal, which seemed insignificant, as there were various positions on the canal transport system. At most, the canal transport during the Ming Dynasty seemed to be on a larger scale, but this had little to do with the navy.
However, as many people know, grain transport from places like Tianjin often still required sea transport. Sea routes were also opened from Tianjin to Liaodong, Goryeo (Korea), and Japan.
This is already quite a large scale, not to mention that the Ming Dynasty's navy would not be satisfied with this achievement.
Expanding southward was paramount. The Zhongshan Kingdom on Ryukyu Island was merely a tiny territory, more like a small transit point. It was simply a stepping stone towards Japan and Southeast Asia, a means to better control all vassal states or to open up more...
The sea route.
The Maritime Trade Office had many ships that made numerous voyages between Southeast Asia and the Ming Dynasty. They brought back a lot of gems, spices, and grains, while shipping out porcelain, cloth, and ironware. This brought more silver to the imperial court, enriching the national treasury. Many people also knew that the granaries in Fujian and other places were full, and grain could even be transported to other places.
This was not enough; it was far from meeting the emperor's requirements. The Ming Dynasty's navy continued to search for overseas territories.
It wasn't just about promoting national prestige; it was about understanding the local specialties, products, and customs of those places, and finding things that would be useful to the Ming Dynasty.
Of course, the Embroidered Uniform Guard and similar organizations might also have other motives, such as spying on foreign countries, learning about their military and political systems, understanding their terrain, or even secretly cultivating their own power base.
These are all things that should be done, because the emperor of the Ming Dynasty seems extremely greedy. In the four years since his ascension to the throne, the court has actually used some military force, large and small. Even if the current emperor is not the type to engage in endless wars, many people understand that he will not stop there; he will certainly continue to seek opportunities for expansion.
Southeast Asia and other places may be the next destination for the emperor.
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