Daming: I am the Crown Prince

Zhu Yunhuan was a little surprised. It turned out that someone gave him a pillow when he was sleepy.

According to the Jinyiwei, Annan also had a lot of firearms. When Annan and Champa, the two arch-enemies, attacked each other, there were a lot of firearms in their armies.

Zhu Yunhuan did not find this strange at all. He did not think that only the Central Plains dynasty had firearms. When the Mongolian army was marching across Asia and Europe, it did not only rely on cavalry, but also used a lot of firearms.

As for Li Yuancheng's ability, the Jinyiwei also judged that he was good at making firearms and had many ingenious ideas. However, due to Annan's strength and technology, some of the firearms were immature.

This is a good thing. Annan’s firearms technology is not mature. By coming to the Ming Dynasty to discuss with those skilled craftsmen, perhaps they can realize their brilliant ideas directly.

Once he goes back, Li Yuancheng will definitely not be able to return to Annan. As long as he is useful, the Ming Dynasty will enthusiastically keep him.

Besides, Li Yuancheng's father wanted to usurp the throne, so there was a precedent for Li Yuancheng to stay in the Ming Dynasty as a hostage.

As soon as Yan Zhenzhi asked for an audience, Zhu Yunhuan summoned him. Zhu Yunhuan admired and recognized this Minister of Works very much.

Yan Zhenzhi said directly, "Your Highness, if the court sets up garrisons and builds a city in Tianjin, it should dredge the Grand Canal."

Zhu Yunhuan was a little puzzled. "Minister Yan, you should know that Chen Xuan has been ordered to dredge the canal. Many of the laborers and craftsmen were also transferred by your Ministry of Works."

Yan Zhenzhi knew about this, so he came to complain, "Your Highness, it's because too many people are needed to dredge the Grand Canal, and the court is building water conservancy projects, so there is a shortage of craftsmen now."

Zhu Yunhuan looked at Yan Zhenzhi leisurely and asked, "Don't keep me in suspense. Tell me what you are thinking."

Yan Zhenzhi answered directly, "Your Highness, the city wall and the imperial palace of Yingtian Prefecture have also been completed. Shouldn't these craftsmen be transferred to other places?"

Thirty years ago, Zhu Yuanzhang personally led his troops to attack Jiqing Road in three routes in ten days, and then renamed it Yingtian Prefecture. Since then, the city walls have been continuously built.

It was also at that time that Zhu Yuanzhang ordered Liu Ji and others to choose a site for the new palace. Liu Ji, who was well versed in geomancy, finally chose this piece of land as a Feng Shui treasure land for the emperor's residence.

More than 200,000 soldiers, civilians and craftsmen were recruited to fill up Yanque Lake and rebuild a new city, which was initially called the New Palace of the King of Wu and later the Imperial City.

It was basically completed a few years ago, and the whole process took 26 years. But this simply refers to the imperial palace, and the city walls of Yingtian Prefecture are still being cast and will continue for some time.

Zhu Yunhuan thought about it carefully and said, "Yingtian Prefecture is different after all, but now the main city is basically built. Leave a few laborers behind, and you can arrange the rest."

Yan Zhenzhi was still a little embarrassed, but he still said, "Your Highness, I'm afraid we are still short of laborers. If you give me another 50,000 people, it should be enough."

"Fifty thousand people?" Zhu Yunhuan was shocked. "Those who are supposed to perform corvée labor are all doing so, and all the prisoners in the world are being escorted to build cities and dig canals. Fifty thousand people, where can I find fifty thousand people for you?"

Although the imperial court can now easily mobilize an army of 100,000, these are basically professional soldiers and military households from all over the country, so it is not difficult to mobilize them.

But now wanting to conscript 50,000 people for corvée is another concept, after all, these people cannot be completely free from production. If they are really conscripted, at least 50,000 families will lack the main labor force, which is not acceptable.

Yan Zhenzhi was also in a dilemma, but he still insisted, "Your Highness, we are really short of manpower. I dare not conscript men, but there are too many things to do now."

Zhu Yunhuan could understand Yan Zhenzhi's complaints, mainly because there were many large projects at the moment. So even if there were more manpower, it wouldn't be too much at this time, and it was all completely understandable.

But now that he was asked to recruit 50,000 people, Zhu Yunhuan really had no better way, as the gap was a bit too big.

Daoyan, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up, "Your Highness, the emperor's great-grandson is about to be born, and His Majesty must be extremely happy."

Zhu Wenyao is still a little unknown, he won't be born until the end of the year, and his birthday is probably around the same time as Zhu Yunhuan's. It's a bit early to talk about this kid now.

But Zhu Yunhuan suddenly reacted, stared at Daoyan and said, "Do you want me to be unfaithful and unfilial?"

Daoyan was not panicked and quickly explained, "Your Highness, I dare not."

Zhu Yunhuan also started to make trouble. The number of craftsmen building the city in Yingtian Prefecture was not the largest at first. There were 200,000 people at the peak, but now there were less than 50,000.

But there is one place where there are more than 50,000 laborers and craftsmen, and that is in Purple Mountain. There is still constant construction going on there, and that is the Emperor's Xiaoling Mausoleum.

Zhu Yunhuan scratched his face, feeling a little embarrassed. "I'll go ask, but I can't guarantee this. At most, I can only ask for 30,000 people. There's really no way to get more than that."

Yan Zhenzhi immediately said happily, "Your Highness, 30,000 people will do. If it's 30,000 people, I can basically arrange it." This made Zhu Yunhuan look at Yan Zhenzhi. This was a typical case of asking for a sky-high price and then paying it back. 50,000 people, Yan Zhenzhi also knew that 50,000 people was unrealistic, and his psychological bottom line might be 10,000 or 20,000.

Forget it, such an official still needs to be useful. So Zhu Yunhuan didn't mind being tricked a little bit, as long as he could do some things well, that would be enough.

These can also be regarded as the difference between Yan Zhenzhi and Ren Hengtai. When Ren Hengtai committed a crime, Zhu Yunhuan would not protect him too much. Normal procedures and processes were enough, even if Ren Hengtai seemed to have done something practical.

But the practical things he did were very different from what Yan Zhenzhi did. If someone else who was well-read in poetry and literature was in the position of Minister of Rites, he might be able to do it.

But it is not easy to manage a series of large projects. Yan Zhenzhi is very good at this. This Minister of Works does not like to fight for power and profit, but does things in a down-to-earth manner, which makes him worthy of reuse.

Zhu Yunhuan looked at Yan Zhenzhi and asked, "You are just the Minister of Works?"

Yan Zhen replied politely, "Your Highness, I am honored to be appointed as the Minister of Works by Your Majesty, who has appreciated me."

Zhu Yunhuan was silent for a moment before he said, "Okay, I'll give you the title of Eastern Palace Assistant Official later. You're also from a wealthy family, how many children do you have?"

Yan Zhenzhi was immediately excited. Although the title of Eastern Palace Assistant Minister was an honorary title, it was also a kind of honor and affirmation. Currently, Eastern Palace Assistant Ministers were basically all nobles.

Yan Zhen replied politely, "I have four sons and two daughters. All my daughters are married. I also have four grandsons and four granddaughters, but the granddaughters are too young."

"You are dreaming!" Zhu Yunhuan laughed and scolded, "The Crown Princess and I are deeply in love, so we are not considering taking a concubine now. Let your descendants enter the Imperial Academy when they are of appropriate age, and when the construction of the city is completed, I will posthumously confer titles on your parents."

Yan Zhenzhi was even more excited. As a minister who was originally a grain chief, he could be said to have achieved the pinnacle of civil service. With the emperor's appreciation and the crown prince's trust, not only did he hold a high position in the temple, but his children also benefited. Even his parents could be posthumously honored, which was the greatest affirmation of him!
After Yan Zhenzhi left with tears of gratitude, Zhu Yunhuan became worried. If he went to ask for the 30,000 people now, it was possible that Zhu would allow it.

But it is also possible that Zhu Yuanzhang was furious, and at that time Zhu Yunhuan might run towards Fengxian Hall again.

Thinking about these things, Zhu Yunhuan's scalp tingled, but this matter could not be avoided and had to be faced.

When I arrived at Wuying Palace at a leisurely pace, I just made it in time for lunch.

"Grandfather, you have to be more restrained." Zhu Yunhuan started complaining as soon as he entered the door, "Rewards today, gifts tomorrow, now Miao Jin is a little scared. If it's a son, it's good, but if it's a girl, she will be so scared!"

Old Zhu said directly, "It must be a boy, how could it be a girl! The first one in our family is a boy, not a girl!"

Old Zhu has the confidence to say this because his grandfather, his father, and his brothers all had sons as their firstborn children.

When it comes to his children and nephews, the first born are all sons. So Zhu is very confident that he will definitely have a great-grandson!
But Old Zhu also said, "You are right. Our granddaughter-in-law looks generous, but she is just like a bullied daughter-in-law in front of us. We know what to do. We will reward her accordingly and not scare her."

"Who wouldn't be afraid of the emperor's might?" Zhu Yunhuan also told the truth, "Even when I saw you were really angry, I was trembling inside. I was just holding on. It would be a lie to say I wasn't afraid."

Zhu Yuanzhang was also aware of this. Since he became a local lord, more and more people were afraid of him, including some of his former companions. The only one who was not afraid of him from beginning to end was Empress Ma.

Be it Zhu Biao or Zhu Yunhuan, they did not seem to feel much pressure in front of Old Zhu, but they did feel some pressure facing the furious Old Zhu.

Zhu Yunhuan said as he picked up some food, "Grandfather, Yan Zhenzhi is asking for more people. There are not enough people doing corvée labor now, and the court has too many things to do. Thirty thousand people, where can I find thirty thousand people for him?"

Lao Zhu put down his chopsticks and asked, "Tell me, what evil idea do you have?"

Zhu Yunxun flattered, "With Wen Yao, Grandfather will surely live a long life. I think ten years shouldn't be difficult. At least we have to teach Wen Yao to be a little sensible. How about we put some things on hold?"

Old Zhu was so angry that he jumped up and down. This bastard was staring at the craftsmen of Xiaoling Mausoleum!

Zhu Yunxun hurriedly explained, "Grandfather, it's not that I'm unfilial. I think that place must be repaired and repaired all the time. It's just that we don't need so many people now, so I'll take some people out to do other things first."

Old Zhu stared at Zhu Yunhuan and asked, "We have buried it, are you really in charge?"

Zhu Yunhuan cried out in injustice, "Grandfather, how can I not do this? How can I be such an unfilial person! As for my parents, I have long wanted to stop using yellow glazed tiles."

Only green glazed tiles can be used in the prince's palace, and yellow is only for the emperor.

Old Zhu said unhappily, "We have also seen clearly that we cannot take care of the affairs after death, so you have to take care of it. Thirty thousand people, you can only take thirty thousand people away." (End of this chapter)