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

Chapter 463 Resignation 2
"Does Your Majesty still remember the last time when Your Majesty asked us, several officials from the Six Ministries, to report on the progress of various matters?"

"To be honest, at the time, I was just speaking off the cuff about the matter of repairing the river in my Dragon Kingdom," Zhang Dazhu said with a look of reminiscence, as if recalling the scene of the audience between the emperor and his minister.

"I remember saying back then, Minister Zhang, if you can really complete the repair and integration of the rivers of my Dragon Kingdom in your lifetime, I will allow you to be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple and sleep with me after your death!" Upon hearing Zhang Dazhu's words, Zhu Zhanhe's mind went blank for a moment, and he remembered that some time ago Zhang Dazhu had said that he wanted to integrate the water conservancy of the Dragon Kingdom.

At the time, Emperor Longwu was merely acting on impulse, believing Zhang Dazhu's words and simply responding with a single sentence. Now it seems this upright Minister of Works took it seriously!

However, to be fair, if Zhang Dazhu truly succeeded in planning and repairing the rivers within the Dragon Kingdom's territory, not only would he be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple and buried in the imperial mausoleum, but Emperor Longwu would even be willing to establish a temple and deify him!

After all, Li Bing and his son were instrumental in the construction of the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, which transformed the entire Sichuan Basin into the Land of Abundance! For this achievement, both father and son were deified!
If Zhang Dazhu truly succeeds in coordinating and repairing the waterways within the Dragon Kingdom, then Emperor Longwu will have no objections and will establish temples and bestow divine titles upon Zhang Dazhu throughout the country!

"Your Majesty, I have a narrow perspective. I have come here specifically for this matter!"

I wish to resign from my position as Minister of Works and be demoted to an official in the Water Conservancy Bureau to oversee the repair of water conservancy projects in my Dragon Kingdom.

To be frank with Your Majesty, I have recently used my position as Minister of Works to issue requests to various regions of the Dragon Kingdom, instructing them to compile and report water conservancy information.

"This can also be considered as me seeking some personal gain for myself!" Zhang Dazhu was an honest man. Now that he had come to resign, he said whatever was on his mind without hiding anything.

After hearing Zhang Dazhu's words, the eldest prince Zhu Qiyu, who was standing behind Emperor Longwu, also looked shocked!

After all, this was the first time Zhu Qiyu had ever heard anyone say that an official was willing to be demoted to do more work! In Zhu Qiyu's view, it was always the officials who strived for higher positions and greater power.

"Lord Zhang, why is this?" For a moment, Zhu Qiyu was also somewhat puzzled. He couldn't understand why this Minister of Works would insist on going to a small Waterways Bureau under the Ministry of Works to repair waterways!

After all, even the Water Department Director of the Water Conservancy Office was only a fifth-rank official position, which was far inferior to the current Minister of Works, a second-rank official position!
"Replying to Your Highness, the First Prince!"

Firstly, this can be considered my ideal, my true pursuit; perhaps this is what the ancients meant by "realizing one's true self in a single moment." I wish to repair the river!

Secondly, this could also be considered the old minister's attempt to gain fame and recognition. After all, today, the Crown Prince announced the establishment of the Dragon Scale Pavilion. Who knows, once I complete the repairs to the entire Dragon Kingdom's waterways, I might be able to enter the inner chambers of the Dragon Scale Pavilion, and even be deified after death, accompanying the Emperor on his dragon journey!

"Such a pursuit, let it be, is a great deed I, this old minister, have done for my legacy and for my descendants." Zhang Dazhu said, his resolute face now showing a hint of embarrassment. After all, it was somewhat embarrassing for an ancient person to openly admit that he was doing something great for his reputation. Especially for a high-ranking official like the Minister of Works!
To be honest, the eldest prince, Zhu Qiyu, had never imagined that there could actually be officials in the world so selfless. To be willing to give up their high positions and work like laborers to build water conservancy projects for their ideals!

"Lord Zhang, I still need to consider your resignation."
"However, if you really resign, who do you think would be suitable to take over the Ministry of Works?" Looking at the determination and seriousness on Zhang Dazhu's face, Zhu Zhanhe knew that this old minister who had followed him for many years was serious now! In view of this, Zhu Zhanhe wanted Zhang Dazhu to recommend a Minister of Works for him.

After all, Zhang Dazhu's resignation was so sudden that Emperor Longwu hadn't really considered candidates for the position of Minister of Works yet!
Of course, according to the regulations of the imperial court, the left and right vice ministers under the Minister of Works would be the most suitable candidates to succeed him! However, Emperor Longwu still wanted Zhang Dazhu to recommend someone himself!
"Your Majesty, I recommend Lord Liang Dayu, the head of the ocean-going merchant fleet!" After thinking for a long time, Zhang Dazhu had an excellent candidate in mind.

Liang Dayu, the head of China's foreign trade and the country's biggest source of trade revenue!
After all, Liang Dayu had been traveling at sea since the establishment of the ocean-going merchant fleet, carrying out ocean trade and continuously supplying the Dragon Kingdom with various materials. He was definitely the emperor's absolute confidant!
Furthermore, due to his expertise in transporting construction materials to various regions, Liang Dayu possesses an intimate knowledge of the construction progress across the Dragon Kingdom! Therefore, there should be no problem in appointing him as the Minister of Works!

"Da Yu is also a good candidate!"

"Also, your Left Vice Minister is a good candidate!" After hearing Zhang Dazhu's recommendation, Emperor Longwu nodded silently. Furthermore, after Zhang Dazhu's resignation, Liang Dayu was also one of Emperor Longwu's backup options!

"I humbly request Your Majesty's wise decision!" Seeing that his recommended candidate was also on Emperor Longwu's list of considerations, Zhang Dazhu breathed a sigh of relief and quickly offered a light but not overt compliment!
"Minister Zhang, have you thought this through? If you resign from this position, you'll have to return a portion of your salary-granted land to the court!" Zhu Zhanhe finally advised Zhang Dazhu, bringing up the issue of his salary-granted land.

The so-called "salary land" refers to the land allocated for official salaries! In the Dragon Kingdom, in addition to the fixed monthly salary, officials also receive salary land based on their positions! After all, when the territory was first expanded, so much land couldn't possibly be given to just one family forever.

Therefore, a portion of the land granted to officials was distributed as a form of salary. The higher the rank, the more land was granted! For example, a high-ranking official like Zhang Dazhu would have received no less than 100,000 mu of land as salary! Of course, both salary land and granted land were subject to taxes paid to the imperial court.

However, even so, the income from the official land still constituted the vast majority of the official's income!
Now that Zhang Dazhu is resigning from his position as Minister and requesting to be demoted to the position of Assistant Minister of Water Resources, the amount of land he will receive will naturally be the same as that of an Assistant Minister! Compared to the position of Minister, it will be significantly less!
Therefore, using this incident to offer advice can be somewhat effective!
Uh~!

Your Majesty, I am naturally aware of this matter.

"That's why I've been discussing this with my family for so long!" Emperor Longwu began, and Zhang Dazhu's face clearly showed some embarrassment when he mentioned the matter of the stipend land. After all, it was because of this stipend land that he and his wife had been discussing it until today!
Otherwise, as the Minister of Works, he would have already made the decision on this matter!

Hehe~!

"It's good that Minister Zhang has thought it through!" Seeing Zhang Dazhu's somewhat embarrassed expression, Emperor Longwu felt a little embarrassed. After all, it was rumored throughout the capital that Minister Zhang of the Ministry of Works had a shrew at home! The fact that Minister Zhang was henpecked at home had long been known throughout the entire capital!

The thought of Zhang Dazhu having to repeatedly negotiate and communicate with his wife about this matter made Emperor Longwu find it very interesting!
(End of this chapter)