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In the early spring of the twenty-second year of the Hongwu reign, Nanjing was still shrouded in a peaceful atmosphere, but the Fengtian Hall had already returned to its former solemnity and grandeur.

At the third quarter of the hour of Yin (3:45 AM), before dawn, civil and military officials were already standing solemnly in the hall according to their rank.

At the very front of the imperial clan, a slightly immature figure stood out: the newly crowned Prince Wu, Zhu Yunwen.

"His Majesty has arrived..."

Amidst the high-pitched announcements of the Directorate of Ceremonial, Zhu Yuanzhang, dressed in a dragon robe, entered the main hall.

His gaze paused slightly as it swept over Suning, a hint of barely perceptible concern flashing across his face.

After all, Suning was only eleven years old at the time, and it was really not certain that he could adapt to such a high-intensity schedule.

"Long live my emperor! Long live!"

Amidst shouts of "Long live the Emperor!", Zhu Yuanzhang sat down steadily and said, "All of you, rise."

Today's court assembly is destined to be anything but peaceful.

The first to step forward was Shen Jin, the Minister of War: "Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present. Last year, the remnants of the Northern Yuan fled west under the leadership of Yesudie'er. Recent intelligence reports indicate that they are regrouping in the Hami area, which may pose a threat to the border."

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned slightly: "What countermeasures do you all have?"

Duke Lan Yu of Liang immediately stepped forward: "Your Majesty, this humble general is willing to lead troops to conquer and capture Yesudie'er, and present him to the palace!"

Several military officers echoed this sentiment, and the voices advocating war gained the upper hand for a time.

After all, the Ming Dynasty was truly powerful at this time and did not take the remnants of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty seriously.

Furthermore, military officers naturally crave war and endless merit, so the words of Minister of War Shen Jin and Lan Yu caused a stir throughout the court.

However, at that moment, a clear voice rang out: "Grandfather, I think it is not advisable."

The officials looked in the direction of the voice and saw Su Ning calmly stepping out of the ranks. His eleven-year-old figure still appeared somewhat thin in his well-fitting royal robes, which was understandable given his age.

However, his demeanor was as composed as that of a seasoned courtier, showing none of the impetuousness of an eleven-year-old boy.

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes flashed with surprise. He had thought Su Ning would be nervous and uncomfortable on his first court appearance, but he hadn't expected him to get into the zone so quickly: "What are your thoughts, Prince Wu?"

“Your Majesty,” Su Ning bowed and said, “I have recently studied the reports from the border and discovered that after Yesudier fled west, his troops numbered less than ten thousand and were lacking in food and clothing. At this time, it would be too costly to launch a long expedition. It would be better to hold the border and wait for the enemy to tire themselves out.”

Lan Yu immediately retorted, "His Highness Prince Wu has long resided in the deep palace and is ignorant of military affairs. If the remnants of the Northern Yuan are not completely wiped out, they will surely become a major threat!"

Su Ning remained calm and asked, "Does the Duke of Liang know how much grain and fodder is needed to conquer Hami? How many troops will be required? And how will the defenses be established after the battle?"

The three questions left Lan Yu speechless for a moment.

He hadn't really thought about these details, and of course, they weren't something he needed to consider.

In the original historical timeline, there would be a war-mongering Zhu Di in the future, whose mind was only focused on conquering the northern deserts and who completely ignored the difficulties Zhu Gaochi was facing.

Therefore, Lan Yu and his old rival Zhu Di were truly the same kind of people, both willing to disregard everything for the sake of conquering the battlefield.

Upon seeing this, Yu Xin, the Minister of Revenue, was overjoyed and quickly stepped forward to support Su Ning: "Your Majesty, what the Prince of Wu said is absolutely right. Although tax revenue from various regions increased last year, the national treasury is still not abundant. If we were to launch a large-scale war at this time, it would likely damage the foundation of the nation."

As expected, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded in satisfaction: "The Prince of Wu has considered this matter thoroughly. We will discuss it again later."

For the next few topics, Suning either listened attentively in silence or offered his opinions when appropriate.

What surprised Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao even more was his familiarity with various government affairs, which was completely unlike that of an eleven-year-old child who was participating in politics for the first time.

After the court session, Zhu Yuanzhang summoned Su Ning to the Jinshen Hall.

"Yunyi, I saw that you handled things with ease in court today. Were you prepared beforehand?"

Su Ning respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, I study the Imperial Gazette every day to learn about important events in the court. In addition, the teachers at Xiaoling Academy also explain government affairs to me."

Zhu Yuanzhang said meaningfully, "But your insights on military affairs today are not like those of a theorist."

“I dare not hide it,” Su Ning said frankly. “Through the exchanges between the Ming Dynasty Bank and various places, I have gained some understanding of the situation on the border and the warehouses in various places. After Yesudier’s remnants fled west, I ordered people to pay special attention to the caravans coming and going in the Hami direction, and thus I have obtained some intelligence.”

Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao exchanged a surprised look.

"It seems that letting you participate in politics was the right thing to do," Zhu Yuanzhang said with satisfaction. "But you must remember that in the court, you must not only show your talents, but also know how to hide your shortcomings."

"Grandson will remember the teachings of His Majesty."

……

In the following months, Su Ning attended court on time every day and gradually adapted to the rhythm of the court.

What surprised the entire court even more was that this young King of Wu not only had a profound understanding of politics beyond his years, but also always offered unique insights.

In February, the imperial court discussed reforms to the grain transport system.

While the ministers were still debating whether to increase the number of grain transport ships, Su Ning proposed a completely new plan:

"I think we can install sails on the cargo ships to use wind power and save manpower. At the same time, we can improve the ship design to increase cargo capacity. In this way, we can increase transport capacity without increasing the number of ships."

After careful consideration, Qin Kui, the Minister of Works, exclaimed in amazement, "His Highness Prince Wu's method is indeed brilliant!"

"Granted." Zhu Yuanzhang on the dragon throne and Zhu Biao standing to the side both had their eyes light up.

In March, Zhejiang suffered from floods, and the imperial court discussed disaster relief measures.

While the ministers were struggling with how to allocate grain, Su Ning proposed an innovative solution:
"My grandson suggests that we can use the Daming Bank as a base to issue special disaster relief notes. Merchants can purchase these notes, and the court can use these funds to purchase grain locally, which will save on transportation costs and enable rapid disaster relief."

"In addition, we can use work relief to build a new official road from Nanjing to Henan."

"Oh? A new type of official road?"

At this moment, Su Ning directly took out the cement and solidified concrete that he had prepared in advance. "Grandpa, Father, this is the new building material cement developed by Mingtang Trading Company. When mixed with sand and gravel and water, it can quickly solidify into an exceptionally strong road surface and wall."

"Oh? How sturdy is it?"

"Grandpa Emperor can inspect it himself!" However, Su Ning handed the cement and concrete blocks to Pu Bucheng.

Then, Pu Bucheng handed over the cement and concrete blocks to Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao.

"Grandfather, Father, the workshops under Mingtang Trading Company are currently using cement and concrete. We would appreciate it if you could take the time to inspect them in person."

"Good! In three days, we will move to Mingtang Trading Company's workshops for inspection."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

What pleased Zhu Yuanzhang the most was that Su Ning always maintained a humble attitude in the court.

Even when their suggestions are adopted, they never take credit or become arrogant.

After court that day, Zhu Biao couldn't help but say to Zhu Yuanzhang, "Father, I have noticed that Yun Tong seems to really enjoy participating in politics. He gets up at dawn every day and I have never seen him show the slightest sign of fatigue."

Zhu Yuanzhang said meaningfully, "This child was born to be an emperor. What a pity..."

He didn't continue, but Zhu Biao understood his father's concerns...

Su Ning has too close ties with the nobles of Huaixi. If he were to succeed to the throne, he would likely find it difficult to control those arrogant and unruly soldiers.

At the same time, Suning's performance also alerted other vassal kings.

Inside the Prince of Yan's residence, Zhu Di looked at the latest news from Nanjing with a solemn expression: "This Yun Tong is even more formidable than we imagined."

Yao Guangxiao pondered for a moment and said, "Your Highness, the Prince of Wu is now deeply favored by the Emperor and has demonstrated extraordinary governing abilities. If this continues, I fear..."

“I know,” Zhu Di interrupted him, “but there’s nothing we can do now but wait and see.”

The next day, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao, along with a group of high-ranking officials, visited the workshop and witnessed firsthand the power of cement and concrete.

As a result, Su Ning's memorial was once again adopted by Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao, and they suddenly discovered that Su Ning often surprised them.

During a court assembly in April, when the topic of overseas trade policy was being discussed, Su Ning made a suggestion that shocked all the officials:
"I believe that we should establish Maritime Trade Offices in Ningbo, Quanzhou, and Guangzhou to regulate overseas trade. At the same time, we should build an ocean-going fleet to explore maritime trade routes."

However, this suggestion was opposed by many ministers, led by the Ministry of Rites, who believed that it was "putting the cart before the horse and violating ancestral rules."

Faced with opposition, Su Ning neither got angry nor backed down, but patiently explained: "Now that the Ming Dynasty is rich in resources, if we can open up overseas markets, we can not only increase the national treasury revenue, but also enhance our national prestige. Why not do it?"

"Besides, what kind of ancestral system are you talking about? Our Zhu family's ancestors were just ordinary people."

"..." The high-ranking officials present were all quite taken aback by Su Ning's words.

However, these scholar-officials were unwilling to compromise, and the debate lasted for a full hour.

Ultimately, Zhu Yuanzhang made a decision: "What the Prince of Wu said is quite insightful. This matter will be jointly discussed by the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue."

"According to the order."

As the court session ended, Duke Lan Yu of Liang deliberately walked to Su Ning's side and whispered, "Your Highness Prince Wu's demeanor in court today impressed this old minister."

Su Ning smiled calmly: "You flatter me, Duke of Liang. I am young and inexperienced, and I still have much to learn from the old general."

"King of Wu, have you ever considered what you rely on?"

"My reliance has always been on myself and the will of Heaven!"

"Oh? Does the King of Wu really not value the support of the nobles of Huaixi?"

"Then, Duke of Liang, can you really represent all the noble families of Huaixi?"

"I……"

“Uncle, I would rather create my own interest group than the greedy cave that my grandfather and father have to tolerate.”

"..." At this moment, Lan Yu was so shocked by Su Ning's words that she trembled all over.

This was the first time Lan Yu had sensed a terrifying aura emanating from Su Ning; it was as if he could see his own life or death reflected in her.

However, Su Ning ignored the disheartened Duke Lan Yu of Liang, bowed respectfully, and then strode away.

Watching Su Ning's departing figure, a complex expression flashed in Lan Yu's eyes. However, his long-cultivated arrogance quickly prevailed, and he simply wouldn't allow himself to admit defeat to a mere brat.

Back at Qingyan Pavilion, Ma He couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, isn't your proposal to expand maritime trade today too radical? After all, the maritime ban was personally ordered by His Majesty."

Su Ning removed his princely crown and robes, and said calmly, "If we want to change this era, someone has to take the first step! Besides, I am not the Emperor's grandfather, and I can't be his yes-man."

"But...won't this make His Majesty dislike you?"

"Ma He, do you think that if I keep trying to please my grandfather and father, they will choose me to be the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty?"

"This……"

Outside the window, spring rain is drizzling.

Su Ning knew that his performance in the court today had declared to everyone that the Ming Dynasty had welcomed an extraordinary prince.

……

Ultimately, Su Ning's memorial on maritime trade was not approved, mainly because Zhu Yuanzhang was too stubborn and the opposition from the civil service was too fierce.

However, Su Ning was completely unconvinced, after all, this was just a test for him.

The court assembly in May of the twenty-second year of the Hongwu reign was destined to leave a significant mark on the history of the Ming Dynasty.

When Prince Zhu Yunwen of Wu stepped forward to present his "Memorial on the New School System," the air in the entire Fengtian Hall seemed to freeze.

"Grandfather, I believe that the current education system, which only emphasizes Confucian classics and neglects practical skills, is no longer suitable for the development of the Ming Dynasty." Su Ning's voice was particularly clear in the silent hall. "Therefore, I request that a new system be established, with five years of government-run primary school, two years of junior high school, and two years of senior high school, and that universities be established in each province to specialize in practical subjects such as physics, mathematics, agriculture, commerce, engineering, and military science."

The memorial was delivered to Zhu Yuanzhang by a eunuch. The old emperor had only read a few lines when his brows furrowed tightly.

Zhu Biao, who was standing to the side, also gasped and looked at his son with concern.

Previously, Xiaoling Academy could be considered a form of self-entertainment for Suning. Although the civil officials and scholar-officials rejected it, they did not take it to heart.

However, Su Ning now wants the imperial court to fully promote the new education system, which is something they cannot tolerate.

"Your Highness, Prince Wu!" Minister of Rites Ren Hengtai was the first to speak out, his voice trembling with excitement, "This proposal is simply digging up the very foundation of our Chinese civilization's millennia-old cultural heritage! The imperial examination system for selecting officials is an established law of our ancestors; how can it be easily changed?"

The Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate then stepped forward: "Your Majesty! It is already inappropriate for the Xiaoling Academy to teach miscellaneous subjects. Now, to extend this to the whole country is to lead all the students of our Great Ming Dynasty astray!"

In an instant, more than ten civil officials knelt down:
"Think twice, Your Majesty!"

"This proposal will bring disaster to the country and its people!"

"Your Majesty, please immediately shut down the Xiaoling Academy!"

Faced with a torrent of opposition, Su Ning remained calm and composed: "Minister Ren, may I ask how many officials in the court today are knowledgeable in water management? How many understand financial management? How many comprehend the principles of investigating things to acquire knowledge?"

Ren Hengtai angrily retorted, "Hmph! King Wu, the way of being an official lies in understanding the classics and being well-versed in the teachings of the sages! Those miscellaneous studies and minor arts are handled by the clerks!"

"What a ridiculous notion of 'the clerks and runners handle everything'!" Su Ning suddenly raised his voice. "It is precisely this kind of outdated view that leads to clerks and runners controlling government affairs, while officials become mere puppets! What's the difference between you officials and the clay statues in temples? Are the masters of the temples those clay statues, or the monks, Taoist priests, and temple keepers?"

"This……"

This statement was like a drop of cold water into a hot oil pan, immediately causing even greater turmoil.

"Arrogant!" The civil officials and scholars who quickly realized what was happening were all furious.

"How could a mere child like you know the profound and subtle teachings of the sages!"

"Enough!" Zhu Yuanzhang slammed his hand on the armrest of the dragon throne. "What kind of decorum is this, with all this noise and commotion in the court!"

The hall fell silent instantly.

At this moment, an unexpected figure stepped forward.

Duke Lan Yu of Liang bowed and said, "Your Majesty, this old minister is a rough man and does not understand the principles of sages. But this old minister knows that the skills that the sons of soldiers in the army have learned at Xiaoling Academy are all real and practical. This old minister believes that the King of Wu's proposal is beneficial to the country and the people!"

Several military officers echoed his sentiments, creating a standoff between civil and military officials in the court.

Fang Xiaoru, who was then only a Hanlin Academician, suddenly knelt down and wept bitterly: "Your Majesty! If this system is implemented, students throughout the land will no longer study the classics, and the thousand-year-old tradition of Confucianism will be destroyed in an instant! I beg to remonstrate with my life!"

Zhu Yuanzhang's face was gloomy as he looked at the Crown Prince, who had remained silent: "Biao'er, what do you think?"

Zhu Biao hesitated for a moment before cautiously replying, "Your subject believes that Yuntong's concerns are not without merit. However, the matter of reform is of great importance and requires careful consideration."

Just as the stalemate was at hand, Su Ning spoke up again: "Grandfather, I have another suggestion. University graduates can take the Ministry of Personnel examination, and those who pass can start as clerks and be promoted based on their performance. This can solve the problem of clerks inheriting positions and controlling government affairs."

"Absurd!" the Minister of Personnel shouted in protest. "How can a scholar associate with a mere clerk!"

"Why not?" Su Ning retorted. "Only those who understand practical matters can govern the world. If one doesn't even understand the affairs of a low-level official, how can one be an official?"

The court meeting ended unhappily.

But this debate has only just begun.

In the following days, memorials impeaching Su Ning flooded the Office of General Affairs.

The civil officials not only opposed the reform of the education system, but also demanded the abolition of the Xiaoling Academy.

"Your Majesty, the Xiaoling Academy teaches bizarre and ingenious skills, which mislead and bewitch people, and is truly the source of chaos!"

"The King of Wu is young and has been deceived by treacherous people. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"

Some even pointed the finger at Su Ning's background: "I've heard that the teaching materials for Xiaoling Academy were mostly written by the King of Wu. How could an eleven-year-old child write books and establish doctrines? There must be something sinister about him!"

In response to these attacks, Suning made a strong statement at the next morning meeting.

“You all say that Xiaoling Academy is heretical,” Su Ning said, taking out a thick ledger. “Then please explain why, last year, graduates of Xiaoling Academy in various places made real contributions to flood control and the improvement of agricultural tools.”

He turned to Zhu Yuanzhang and said, "Grandfather, I request that a competition be held in the court. Let the students of the Imperial Academy and the graduates of the Xiaoling Academy compete in practical government affairs."

This proposal left the civil servants looking at each other in bewilderment.

Ren Hengtai forced himself to say, "No! The way of sage learning cannot be measured by childish competitions."

"Since your sacred teachings are so profound," Su Ning sneered, "why don't you dare accept the challenge?"

Just as the two sides were deadlocked, Zhu Yuanzhang finally spoke up: "Shut up, all of you!"

The old emperor stood up, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials: "I will make the decision regarding the education system. Court adjourned!"

Upon returning to the Jinshen Hall, Zhu Yuanzhang left Su Ning behind alone.

"Yunyi, do you realize that your actions today have offended all scholars in the world?"

Su Ning said frankly, "Grandson knows. But grandson knows even more that if we do not boldly reform, the Ming Dynasty will eventually fall behind the times."

Zhu Yuanzhang remained silent for a long time, then suddenly asked, "Where did you get all that knowledge from?"

This was the first time Zhu Yuanzhang had directly asked this question that had troubled him for many years.

Su Ning was prepared: "Your Majesty, didn't I confess back in the fifteenth year of Hongwu? These principles were all taught to me by my grandmother in a dream."

When Empress Ma was mentioned, Zhu Yuanzhang's expression softened slightly.

“Your imperial grandmother was indeed extraordinary.” He sighed, “but this reform is too radical, and I cannot implement it immediately.”

“Grandson understands.” Su Ning bowed and said, “But please, Your Majesty, give me a chance to conduct a pilot program in Nanjing first.”

"This……"

“There are some things that you, the founding emperor, were unwilling to do, and subsequent rulers will be even less capable of doing them.”

"..."

Three days later, Zhu Yuanzhang issued an edict: the new school system was permitted to be implemented on a trial basis in Yingtian Prefecture, but the imperial examination system remained unchanged.

Two universities, the Great Ming Yingtian Academy and the Great Ming Royal Military Academy, were established, and students were recruited in Yingtian and the Xiaoling Academy throughout the Great Ming.

At the same time, university graduates were permitted to participate in special examinations set up by the Ministry of Personnel.

Although the decree was somewhat compromised, it still caused a huge shock in the court and among the public.

Although the civil officials were dissatisfied, they could only temporarily quell their protests once they saw that the emperor had made up his mind.

However, the impact of this debate over the education system is far from over.

Academies across the country submitted petitions in opposition, and some scholars even gathered in Nanjing to protest.

"Your Highness, the situation is very unfavorable for you," Mahe reported worriedly. "I've heard that some civil officials are contacting the feudal lords, hoping to exert pressure together."

Standing atop the high tower of the Wu Prince's Mansion, Su Ning gazed at the scholars gathered in the distance, his tone resolute: "The road to reform is never smooth. But the more fiercely they oppose it, the more it proves that we are doing the right thing."

"But why bother doing that?"

"You don't understand! Even though I could clearly see a cliff in front of me, I still had the determination to jump."

"..."

"Mahe, don't overthink it! Just do what I've been told. I will never fail."

"Yes! Your Highness."

At this moment, a secret report from Beiping caught his attention.

Prince Zhu Di of Yan submitted a memorial to the throne, expressing his support for the reform of the education system and believing that "talent should be broadened and not confined to one particular path."

"Fourth Uncle played this move brilliantly!" Su Ning sneered. "He both curries favor with the Emperor and sows discord among the civil officials."

The battle for educational reform has spread from the imperial court to the entire Ming Dynasty.

This cultural contest will determine the future direction of this ancient empire.

...(End of chapter)