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

Chapter 440 Progress of the Six Parts
Meanwhile, after returning to his ducal manor, Mu Sheng immediately summoned his two sons, Mu Lin and Mu Bin, to begin re-planning the future development of the entire Mu royal family.
While the Dragon Kingdom was making grand preparations to conquer the Joseon Kingdom, another major event was beginning to unfold in the Dragon Kingdom's court.

On this day, still in the Hall of Supreme Harmony in Longdu, Zhu Zhanhe summoned Xia Yuanji, Huang Zhonghe, and several ministers from the Grand Secretariat.

"Your Majesty, the first batch of students at the Military Academy are nearing graduation and are currently undergoing final military capability simulation and evaluation."

"Following this evaluation, the most outstanding students will be selected to come before the Emperor, as per His Majesty's request." Minister of War Qian Guozhong, a dark-skinned, square-cheeked middle-aged man, clearly well-versed in military affairs, respectfully reported to Emperor Longwu on the high platform.

Okay!

My Dragon Kingdom finally has a source of young strength to protect its territory!
After the Military Academy selects its best students, they are all arranged to participate in the Palace Examination.

"When the imperial examination is held and the top three scholars are selected, I will take down the three precious swords that I placed on the plaque of the Martial Arts Academy a few years ago. I will personally bestow these swords upon them in the Fengtian Hall!" Zhu Zhanhe was overjoyed upon hearing Qian Guozhong's words. In his delight, Zhu Zhanhe immediately declared that he would personally present the swords to the outstanding students of the Martial Arts Academy!

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Upon hearing Emperor Longwu's words, Minister of War Qian Guozhong was filled with excitement. He knew that if he received the sword personally bestowed by Emperor Longwu, it would be the greatest glory for the students of the Martial Arts Academy!
"Your Majesty, our Dragon Kingdom will hold its first nationwide imperial examination this year! The examination is currently underway."

After discussion, the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of War have tentatively decided to hold the palace examination for civil and military officials on the same day, and to announce the results on the same day! After the Minister of War finished speaking, Wang Fang, the Minister of Personnel, stepped forward and respectfully reported to Emperor Longwu on the selection of candidates for the Imperial Academy through the civil service examination.

"Excellent! Our Imperial Academy has finally produced its first batch of students! From now on, our Dragon Kingdom can finally select officials through the imperial examination with dignity!"
Just like at the Military Academy, after the palace examination, the top three scholars (Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, and Tanhua) will be selected. You, as the Minister of Rites, will personally go to the gate of the Imperial Academy and take down the imperial tablet that is placed there for me.

"I will bestow the Wenzheng tablets upon them together in the Fengtian Hall!" Zhu Zhanhe was overjoyed upon hearing Wang Fang's words and immediately spoke enthusiastically to Wang Fang.

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Wang Fang respectfully cupped his hands to indicate that he had received the order.

If there's one thing that's made Zhu Zhanhe happiest recently, it's not that another concubine in the palace has given birth to a prince. It's that the Military Academy and the Imperial Academy, to which he's poured countless efforts, are finally beginning to bear fruit!

This means that from this day forward, the court of his Great Dragon Kingdom will no longer be controlled by any powerful or aristocratic families!

He, Emperor Zhu Zhanhe of the Longwu Dynasty, will cultivate batch after batch of loyal ministers and generals who belong to him and the Long Kingdom!
"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue has completed the compilation of information on all rivers, lakes, farmland, mountains, and other natural features within the territory of our Dragon Kingdom."

In addition, all land details for each region have been compiled.

"From this day forward, all tax matters of our Dragon Kingdom will be governed by law." Li Youtian, the Vice Minister of Revenue, was a somewhat wrinkled-looking old man. Though called an old man, he was actually only in his fifties. However, he was very stingy! This was something that both troubled and pleased Zhu Zhanhe!

"Excellent! The Ministry of Revenue truly lives up to its reputation as the backbone of the nation! This time, it has indeed made a great contribution!" Zhu Zhanhe was overjoyed to hear the words of the old man Li Youtian!
After all, Li Youtian's words meant that from now on, all taxes in the Great Dragon Kingdom would be legally levied! No one could evade taxes anymore! Not even officials! Otherwise, wouldn't it have been a waste for Zhu Zhanhe to grant so much land to officials?
This Li Youtian may seem unremarkable, but as expected of the capable man recommended by his father-in-law Xia Yuanji, he is indeed very competent! In an instant, Zhu Zhanhe began to look at this old man in a completely different light!

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Works has invited Taoist priests to conduct a survey of Your Majesty's auspicious burial site. Several locations have been tentatively identified, awaiting Your Majesty's decision. Furthermore, the restoration work on the tributaries of the Longjiang River has extended to the central part of Hanting. The Ministry of Works will continue to survey all the tributaries of the Longjiang River to ensure that it can nourish the entire land of Hanting!"

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Works has dispatched officials to survey the major rivers throughout our Great Dragon Kingdom. Within a few years, the Ministry of Works will surely produce a water network to irrigate the entire Dragon Kingdom! The Vice Minister of Works, Zhang Dazhu, was truly going all out. Seeing his teammates working so hard, he immediately, after reporting on his work, began making cunning promises.

"Oh, very good! It seems that our Ministry of Works is also capable."

The development of Heilongjiang can be described as benefiting the present and lasting for generations!
Minister Zhang, if you can truly connect all the rivers in my Dragon Kingdom within your lifetime, forming a perfect irrigation network covering the entire Dragon Kingdom!

"I hereby promise you that after my death, you will be my attendant in the Imperial Ancestral Temple! Your blessed land will be right next to my mausoleum!" Looking at Zhang Dazhu, who was full of ambition, Zhu Zhanhe also gave him a solemn promise with a serious expression.

After all, if Zhang Dazhu could truly integrate the entire water conservancy system of the Dragon Kingdom, let alone burying him beside me and giving him a memorial tablet in the ancestral temple, I wouldn't even object to building a temple for him and offering incense!

Establishing a nationwide water conservancy network would truly be a great achievement for generations to come!
Clearly, the moment Emperor Longwu uttered these words, the Hall of Supreme Harmony fell into complete silence!
Even the officials in front of him had red eyes!
After all, being worshipped in the ancestral temple and buried in the imperial mausoleum is the highest honor for a subject! If Zhang Dazhu really manages to do this, he will definitely be a figure who occupies a unique place in the history of the Dragon Kingdom!

Their names will be etched in history! Their fame will endure forever!
"Your subject! I will give my life!" At this moment, Zhang Dazhu was completely stunned. He hadn't expected that his casual flattery would elicit such a strong reaction from the Dragon Emperor! After a moment of stunned silence, Zhang Dazhu solemnly kowtowed on the ground, his heart filled with excitement.

Zhang Dazhu never imagined that his casual remark would be taken seriously by the Emperor! Now, upon closer reflection, Zhang Dazhu realized that if he had truly lived up to his words, he would be just like Li Bing of the previous dynasty, a figure whose fame would bring prosperity to every household!
Thinking of this, for some reason, Zhang Dazhu suddenly felt a shiver run through his body, and his skin immediately broke out in goosebumps!
Immediately, Zhang Dazhu knelt down in excitement. At that moment, it seemed that Zhang Dazhu had found his direction in life!
"Minister Zhang, please rise." Seeing the extremely excited Zhang Dazhu, Zhu Zhanhe gently raised his hand, allowing the other party to stand up.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"I seem to have found my direction in life!" At this moment, Zhang Dazhu seemed to have undergone a spiritual transformation, and he respectfully said to Zhu Zhanhe.

"Then, Zhang Aiqing, keep up the good work!" Zhu Zhanhe was taken aback when he saw Zhang Dazhu's serious and determined appearance. Immediately, Zhu Zhanhe encouraged him with great joy.

After all, in Zhu Zhanhe's view, it's always good to have one more capable minister!

"Your Majesty, we have completed the preparations for the affairs following the death of the King of Ryukyu."
The process of people in China changing their surnames to Han surnames is also progressing in an orderly manner.
Currently, schools have been established in all areas above the county level.
Furthermore, with the support of the local county government, temple fairs and markets have gradually flourished in various places. "The Vice Minister of Rites, Chai Lan, also stepped forward and respectfully reported to Zhu Zhanhe.

"The matter concerning my second brother must be settled as soon as possible!"

My second brother's burial ground is still not finished. If all else fails, suspend the construction and preparation of my burial ground. Send all those officials and craftsmen to Ryukyu first!
"I can wait, but my second brother cannot!" Upon hearing the matter of his second brother Zhu Zhanqi being mentioned again, Zhu Zhanhe suddenly remembered that his second brother's mausoleum was not yet completed, and immediately made the highest demands.

(End of this chapter)