Ming Dynasty: The Crocodile King of Han Prince Zhu Gaoxu's Family

Chapter 280 Work Deployment of the Six Departments
Zhu Zhanhe was unaware of what was happening inside Chengyun Hall, because after leaving Chengyun Hall, he took Xiao Xizi straight to the Taoist temple to find the old Taoist priest.
Early the next morning, led by Zhu Zhanyi, the Third Prince of the Han Prince's Mansion, along with Xia Yuanji, Minister of Revenue and Minister of Personnel, Mu Sheng, Minister of War, Zhang Dazhu, Vice Minister of Works, Song Zhegui, Vice Minister of Justice, Chai Lan, Vice Minister of Rites, and others, personally saw off the many officials who were going to Annam at the city gate.

The group heading to Annam included not only 197 scholars and officials taking up their posts, but also over 500 Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) officials, and a group of dozens of abbots from Taoist temples led by the old Taoist priest Zhang Zhengheng. Of course, there were also two new dragon-taming warriors led by Wei Jizhong. It was a large group, so much so that the area outside Dali city was completely blocked by the crowd.

However, the alligator dragon did not appear directly at the scene; instead, it was hidden beforehand, as its large size would have been too conspicuous. Therefore, the alligator dragon could only accompany the traveling party, secretly heading to Annam as a surprise.

As for the old Taoist priest Zhang Zhengheng who led the group, after leaving Chengyun Hall yesterday, Zhu Zhanhe went straight to the Taoist temple to persuade the old Taoist priest not to run around anymore, since he was already old. However, after trying to persuade him for a long time, Zhu Zhanhe not only failed to persuade him, but was also scolded by the old Taoist priest. Afterwards, Zhu Zhanhe could only slink back to the Prince's Mansion.

Although Zhu Zhanhe left in a huff yesterday and vowed not to see the scholars off today, early this morning, at his wife's insistence, he gently took her hand and, facing the rising sun, went to the top of Dali city to watch the scholars and officials leave.

Although he didn't know what the people below the city wall were saying, Zhu Zhanhe realized that all the scholars must have noticed his presence. Before leaving, they all bowed and gestured respectfully towards his location before departing one by one.

"The world's turmoil begins here!" Zhu Zhanhe murmured with a smile as he watched the pioneering team gradually disappear into the distance, facing the rising sun.

"Your Highness, the scholars have already left. Let's go back to the manor." Princess Xia looked at her husband, who was staring blankly into the distance, gently took his arm with one hand, and supported her belly with the other, saying to him with a happy smile.

"Okay, let's go back now." Zhu Zhanhe, of course, wouldn't refuse his wife's request and readily agreed.

"Xiao Xizi, summon the officials of the Six Ministries to the Chengyun Hall." Zhu Zhanhe, who was in high spirits, was awakened by his wife. He glanced at the departing pioneer team and, while responding to his wife's words, immediately instructed Xiao Xizi to arrange for the summons of officials and prepared to start a busy new day.

"Yes." Xiao Xizi respectfully responded to Zhu Zhanhe's words. When the Crown Princess Xia heard that her husband had to go to work again, she only showed her reluctance, but she sensibly did not say anything. She just looked at her husband quietly, her eyes full of his presence.

"Let my third brother go and listen too." Looking at Xiao Xizi who was about to leave, Zhu Zhanhe thought for a moment and decided to call his third brother along as well, just to train him in advance.

"Yes." Xiao Xizi stopped in his tracks, turned around, and respectfully replied to Zhu Zhanhe again. Seeing that the young master had no further instructions, he hurried off to intercept the people below the city wall. Zhu Zhanhe gently helped his wife down from the city wall.
"Greetings, Your Highness!" Inside Chengyun Hall, a group of officials bowed respectfully to Zhu Zhanhe on the high platform after entering the hall. Xiao Xizi had successfully intercepted the officials escorting the scholars at the city gate and brought them all into Chengyun Hall.

"No need for formalities, please rise." Zhu Zhanhe looked at the growing procession in front of him and happily gestured for everyone to stand up.

"I have summoned you all here today because I have some work to assign you." Zhu Zhanhe, being a competent boss, gestured for everyone to rise, but without offering them seats, he immediately began assigning tasks.

"Please give your orders, Your Highness." Upon hearing that there was work to be assigned, Xia Yuanji and the others could only nod respectfully and begin to listen to their leader's instructions.

"Firstly, the Ministry of Works will take over the Prince's Palace's Construction Office and, as appropriate, draw upon local artisans to build the Prince's own cannons, swords, and other weapons. Speed ​​is not the primary concern; steady progress is essential. As for any missing helpers, they are allowed to recruit independently, but proper supervision is necessary." Zhu Zhanhe assigned tasks to the newly appointed Vice Minister of Works on his second day in office. "Your Majesty, I receive the decree!" Upon hearing Zhu Zhanhe's instructions, the newly appointed Vice Minister of Works, Zhang Dazhu, immediately bowed respectfully to accept the order. At the same time, he thought to himself: The Ministry of Works was indeed the right choice; it's the most important department! Look, a huge project has arrived!
"Secondly, another group of scholars will be heading to Yunnan soon, and we will conduct another evaluation of the scholars in Yunnan. The Ministry of Rites should make preparations for all matters, and is allowed to recruit assistants on its own, but supervision should also be strengthened."

At the same time, we must expedite the drafting of a plan for the layout of schools in Annam and the future expansion areas. We must comprehensively Sinicize the foreign peoples! Zhu Zhanhe also focused on this crucial task and began assigning it to the new Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites.

"Your subject receives the imperial edict!" The newly appointed Vice Minister of Rites, Song Zhegui, happily accepted the task. After all, being tasked with recruiting manpower was a testament to His Highness's absolute trust in them!

"Thirdly, the Ministry of Justice will take over the trial office of the Prince's Palace and, in conjunction with the laws of the imperial court, establish relevant laws for Yunnan, especially for the newly developed areas, where all laws must be strictly enforced."

In addition, he also needs to handle some recent cases in various parts of Yunnan. Similarly, he is allowed to recruit his own helpers if needed. Zhu Zhanhe has also arranged some demanding work for Chai Lan of the Ministry of Justice.

"Your subject receives the imperial edict!" Chai Lan thought to himself, "My job isn't easy either. We're all in the same boat." So he decisively accepted the task.

"Fourth, the Ministry of Revenue should establish a detailed list of acreage based on the upcoming land survey, and thoroughly investigate the land of Annam. At the same time, some unreasonable administrative divisions in Annam should be adjusted and optimized."

The planning for the construction of the Yunnan Ocean Shipping Fleet also needs to begin; a plan needs to be developed first.

The taxation of newly developed territories also needs a plan. My suggestion is that the royal palace should reclaim all the land, and apart from the land granted as rewards, the remaining land should be leased to all the people for cultivation. This would prevent the displacement of people caused by land sales among them. The royal palace can then set the tax rate.

Regarding the Ministry of Personnel, the remaining scholars should first fill vacancies in the six ministries of the Prince's Palace. Those who wish to pursue careers in the military should be sent to the army and navy. The rest should fill vacancies in various parts of Annam.

Furthermore, the Prince's Cabinet is officially established today, with Minister Xia and Minister Mu tentatively appointed as cabinet ministers. The remaining cabinet members are yet to be determined, and this news will be disseminated to the Guangdong and Guangxi regions.

"Recruit help yourselves to fill the gaps in personnel in both departments." Zhu Zhanhe assigned his father-in-law a mountain of work without any hesitation. The workload was so heavy that Xia Yuanji couldn't help but frown. The three newly appointed vice ministers, however, looked at Xia Yuanji with envy, because the more work he did, the more trust His Highness had in him!

"Your subject obeys the imperial decree!" Xia Yuanji was already numb to his son-in-law's overly demanding work arrangements. For his daughter, for his unborn grandson, and for the future generations of the Xia family, Xia Yuanji could only helplessly agree.

Of course, Xia Yuanji could tell from Zhu Zhanhe's assignment that his son-in-law was once again using the cabinet position as bait, this time targeting the Guangdong and Guangxi provinces! And for the sake of a cabinet position, the officials in Guangdong and Guangxi would certainly respond enthusiastically to the policies issued by Yunnan. Going forward, whether it was arranging overseas merchant fleets or sending scholars to Annam, the Guangdong and Guangxi provinces would do everything in their power. After all, the cabinet was an unsolvable, open scheme for the officials of Guangdong and Guangxi!
(End of this chapter)