Daming: I am the Crown Prince

Chapter 147 Waiting for Results

Ren Hengtai came to the Wenhua Palace with a sense of honor, "Your Highness Ren Hengtai pays respect to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. May Your Highness live long."

Zhu Yunhuan smiled and joked, "It seems that the Shangshu is in a very good mood. Is there any good news?"

After getting to know the grandson, Ren Hengtai would not be particularly nervous most of the time. Because the grandson was not the kind of person who was moody. As long as the work was done well, the grandson was relatively easy-going and liked to joke.

It just makes people feel weird sometimes, because the prince is still young. Let alone joking with people in their thirties and forties, people in their sixties and seventies sometimes also make harmless jokes.

So some of the previous rumors were true, for example, the fact that this prince had been a playboy since childhood.

Ren Hengtai immediately got down to business, "Your Highness, previously many students from the Imperial College went to various prefectures to supervise the construction of water conservancy projects. Now many places have sent back many commendations, and the students have been highly praised."

No wonder Ren Hengtai was so happy. After all, the Imperial College was the highest institution of learning in the country, and it complemented the Ministry of Rites. Now the students of the Imperial College performed well, which was also part of Ren Hengtai's political achievements.

Zhu Yunhuan was also happy, "This is a good thing. Students of the Imperial College of the Ming Dynasty should learn how to govern the country and maintain peace. Even if you don't have extraordinary talents, taking care of the people in a certain area is a good thing!"

Everyone can say nice things, but whether they can do it is another matter.

But this time it was different. Regardless of whether these students from the Imperial College were active or passive, they did do some good things.

Zhu Yunhuan said, "Call the left and right assistant ministers of the Ministry of Personnel."

Ren Hengtai's eyes suddenly lit up. If nothing unexpected happened, the Crown Prince would consider selecting some officials from the students who were going to lead the construction of water conservancy projects this time.

This is what should be done. Since these students have performed so well, they should be rewarded when the time comes.

Zhai Shan and others who were good at handling the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel came over soon. They were the first batch of Jinshi in the early Ming Dynasty and were considered young talents. They were now good at handling the affairs of the ministry.

The other is the Minister Fu Youwen, who has nothing to do with Fu Youde. He used to be a Minister in the Ministry of Revenue. His mature and steady character allows him to help Zhai Shan to hold the fortress.

Zhu Yunhuan did not hide anything and said directly, "Previously, students from the Imperial College were sent to various prefectures to supervise the construction of water conservancy projects. Now many students have made some contributions. It is said that those who have made contributions should be rewarded, and those who have made mistakes should be punished. Rewards and punishments should be clearly distinguished. This is the way it should be. Tell me, how should students with outstanding performance be rewarded?"

Ren Hengtai and others did not think there was any problem with this. There were many officials in the Ming Dynasty who were promoted directly from the Imperial College.

Zhai Shan said, "Your Highness, the students of the Imperial College have gone to the prefectures and have not returned yet. It will not be too late to reward them after they return to the capital."

Fu Youwen put forward his own idea, "Minister Zhai, this time the students of the Imperial College are building water conservancy projects, and the various government offices have also sent people to accompany them, and all the evaluations have been sent back. I think it is not bad to reward them after all the students have returned, but if they are rewarded by the court on the day they return to Beijing, they will definitely be more grateful to the court."

The two assistant ministers had different opinions. One wanted to reward the students immediately, while the other planned to wait until the students returned before rewarding them collectively. It seemed that both of them were fine, as each had his own reasons.

Zhu Yunhuan was not in a hurry to express his opinion because these matters were not particularly important.

As long as it is clear that there will be rewards, as well as the treatment and level of the rewards, etc., these things actually need to be determined.

"By the way, I think we have made a lot of progress in water conservancy this time." Zhu Yunhuan mentioned something and said, "It is said that we should adapt to local conditions. Different places have different hydrology and terrain, so water conservancy construction is also somewhat different. Many students this time are well-educated, so let them summarize the experience of water conservancy construction in various places and compile it into a book."

Ren Hengtai was stunned for a moment, then said, "Your Highness is wise!"

Zhu Yunhuan continued, "Let the Hanlin Academy help as well. Look for ancient books and books by predecessors. If we can compile a book about rivers, streams, dams and weirs, it will also benefit the people."

Ren Hengtai and the others naturally had no objections, as they all knew that such a thing was definitely a good thing. However, to achieve this, they still needed the power of the court, otherwise it would be difficult to organize more people and find more information.

It is very important to compile some books into volumes, summarize the experiences handed down by predecessors, and continue to disseminate, learn and improve them.

Sometimes Zhu Yunhuan also wanted to complain, because the saying "teach the apprentice and starve to death" is popular nowadays.

Therefore, many skills cannot be spread, which is also a very worrying thing. So encouragement should be given when it is necessary. There is no certain benefit. Some people will hide their "unique skills" and will not be willing to teach them until they die.

Zhu Yunhuan has made a lot of efforts in this matter. Wuyuan is now researching some weapons manufacturing technologies, and Longjiang Shipyard also has familiar shipbuilders. This time, he also asked the students of the Imperial College who were engaged in water conservancy to exchange experiences.

This does not include the task of compiling medical books assigned to King Zhu Su of Zhou, and Xu Miaojin's learning to organize and edit some agricultural books. Even more, Zhu Yunhuan himself also selected a group of people from the Gunpowder Bureau to study granulated gunpowder.

After a busy day, Zhu Yunxun returned to the East Palace and saw Zhu Youling. "Second sister, do you have someone you like?" Zhu Youling blushed and asked in a timid tone, "Who cares?"

"You really want me to take care of this matter? If I don't, who will?" Zhu Yunxun said with a smile, "Your parents are gone, your grandfather doesn't care about your marriage, and the Crown Princess won't let her do it even if she wants to. Tell me, who can take care of your marriage?"

Hearing Zhu Yunhuan say this, Zhu Youling was speechless, because this was the truth. Her marriage should still be decided by her younger brother.

Zhu Youling thought for a moment before saying, "Is there a suitable noble family that wants me to marry?"

"I've already said it's not necessary." Zhu Yunhuan was both amused and angry. "I am now a powerful figure in the court, so there is no need for my sister to marry him to win over others."

Zhu Youling thought about it and said, "Then don't look for a scholar. I don't like those people. I want to find someone tall and handsome. What do you think?"

Looking at his second sister, Zhu Yunhuan gave her a thumbs up and praised, "Good! You are worthy of being my sister!"

Zhu Youling said confidently, "You also said that there is no need to look for someone who can be useful to you, so how can I be wronged? My aunt said that if you marry the wrong person, your life will be ruined. I think if I marry someone ugly, the royal family's face is one thing, but I will be upset every day, that's another matter."

Zhu Yunhuan could only sigh and say, "I shouldn't have let my aunt live in the East Palace in the first place!"

Although he complained like that, Zhu Yunhuan was still happy in his heart.

The younger sister-in-law had helped a lot in the past two years in the Eastern Palace, otherwise Zhu Yourong and Zhu Youling would not be able to manage the Eastern Palace well. Although they were not good at managing the household now, they had made some progress compared to two years ago when they only knew poetry, calligraphy and painting and had no opinions of their own.

Although it is difficult to change the character I have developed since childhood, and I am still a little timid and weak, but this is also changing. As long as it is developing in a good direction, it's fine.

Besides, since their younger brother is the crown prince and they have a good relationship, Zhu Yourong and Zhu Youling don’t have to worry about being bullied after getting married.

Zhu Yourong also came out of the house at this time, "Little brother, I will get married next year, right?"

"Yes, now that you have a husband, I have also settled my marriage, except that my second sister is still undecided." Zhu Yunhuan said, "And Youwei, I will probably find a suitable person for her in a few days."

Zhu Yunhuan took care of his half-sister as much as he could.

Zhu Yourong said quickly, "If Youwei is here, find her someone from a scholarly family. She is more timid. If she is from a wealthy family, she might feel uncomfortable."

Zhu Yunhuan nodded slightly. Logically speaking, Zhu Youwei didn't have to worry so much. After all, she was a princess and the third daughter of the late crown prince. But everyone knew that she was born out of wedlock and her biological mother was an unfavored concubine, so her status was a little difficult to say.

Although no one dared to make things difficult for her for the sake of Zhu Yunhuan, if she were in the homes of some nobles, perhaps some people would really give her a hard time.

The current Ming Dynasty is not like the middle and late periods in history, when the prince consort and the princess had to have the permission of the nanny to live together.

In the past, when Zhu Yuanzhang's eldest daughter, Princess Lin'an, married Li Shanchang's son Li Qi, they lived in the Duke of Korea's mansion and strictly observed the code of conduct for women and cultivated their virtues.

"I know what's going on. If you really have someone you like, you can tell me." Zhu Yunxun said with a smile, "It's not appropriate for me to tell her that. You can go and tell her and ask her what she thinks."

Zhu Yourong nodded and reminded, "Grandma's birthday is in a few days, do you want to go?"

"I will definitely go." Zhu Yunhuan said with a smile, "If you don't tell me about this, how can I forget it?"

Zhu Youling, who was much more cheerful, joked, "You can't say for sure, if you're busy making manure!"

Zhu Yunhuan rolled his eyes and threatened, "Second sister, if grandfather heard what you said, he would definitely scold you! I was busy with farming. My Ming Dynasty is based on agriculture. How could you say such harsh words!"

Zhu Yourong chimed in, "Who doesn't know that the Crown Prince has opened up two acres of land in the palace to farm? And how many people don't know that the Crown Prince's wife is busy sorting out ancient agricultural books? You two have good reputations, and the people praise you!"

It was indeed no secret that Zhu Yunhuan was farming. It had made quite a fuss to begin with, and with deliberate publicity, more people knew about it. It was only natural that it happened, and there was no need to be surprised at all.

Zhu Yunhuan smiled, seemingly a little proud, but he would not be satisfied.

Now it is just a matter of attitude, he has not seen the results yet. When there are results, he will be truly happy and proud!

(End of this chapter)