Chapter 520: Does Great Ming Really Exist?

Zhu Zhu Yijun was a bit surprised, surprised at Great Ming's ability to accept new things.

The roaring steam engine was not seen as a monster spewing black smoke; water fertilizer was not seen as supernatural; large-scale mining was not seen as destroying the dragon vein; the steam engine whistling past the imperial mausoleum did not disturb the ancestors; the fast sailing ship was not seen as a centrifugal force for unification but as a tool for maritime trade; enclosure-style animal husbandry was not seen as going against the heavens and was quickly accepted by the border people. Not planting grain but planting grass in the fields was a very strange production, but it was quickly accepted.

It's funny to say, the way Great Ming scholars determined that water fertilizer is fertilizer is that it smells the same as compost, or to be precise, it smells even worse than compost. Therefore, the fact that water fertilizer is fertilizer did not cause the scholars' doubts.

Zhu Zhu Yijun came to Great Ming and was hit by Wang Dalong's assassination attempt. Soon, because of dissatisfaction with the Jin Party's interests, Zhang Zhang Siwei burned the palace, and a group of people were bold enough to assassinate him at the Yicheng Earl's Mansion in the Western Hills. Zhu Zhu Yijun personally led troops to charge and kill. These made Zhu Zhu Yijun develop the habit of expecting the enemy to be generous. In the present when these new things are constantly appearing, Zhu Zhu Yijun has always been vigilant.

But Great Ming accepted new things very quickly. Even the "cheap Confucians" did not shout about dragon veins, monsters, or disturbing the imperial mausoleum, but shouted about coal smoke.

The coal smoke problem was not a script made up by the "cheap Confucians." Talking about this problem was also based on practice. After all, the coal smoke produced by the Western Hills coal washing and coking steelmaking was real, making Great Ming's haze a norm. Every autumn and winter, every household had to close their doors and windows tightly; otherwise, it would be a layer of black ash, and they had to wear masks when going out.

Zhu Zhu Yijun attributed this to the simple pragmatism prevalent in Great Ming. Li Li Chengliang shelling the Dragon King Temple was a portrayal of this pragmatism.

And Great Ming's vassal kings also showed this pragmatism. Zhu Zhu Yijun wrote to the major Great Ming prince mansions to consult on the edict of moving the vassal kings. The vassal kings were enthusiastic and decided to support it, while most concerned about when they could move to the capital.

Zhu Zhu Yijun was very honest, telling the many prince mansions that moving the vassal kings meant abolishing the vassal kings. From then on, there would be no more vassal enfeoffment in the Great Ming hinterland. After arriving in the capital, they still had to abide by the vassal prohibitions and could no longer indulge and shield the cunning, could no longer hide farmland under the prince mansion's door, and would strictly restrain the clan. Later, they would further control the number of clan vassals through the method of lowering the rank of inheritance.

The system of hereditary rank reduction means that, except for Princes of the Blood, titles are reduced generation by generation; after five generations, they are no longer recorded in the imperial genealogy and no longer enjoy the special privileges of the imperial clan. Although the imperial court has not explicitly stipulated this, it has actually been in effect for a long time. There were still over 100,000 imperial clan members on the register during the Emperor Longqing reign who received stipends.

But Zhu Zhu Yijun also promised that there would be overseas enfeoffment. The new overseas colonies opened by Great Ming would be enfeoffed after being safe and stable; the Emperor would give enough salary, and the clan salary of the Zheng Prince's mansion was four hundred shi. Great Ming's Princes of the Blood and Commandery Princes, taking the Zheng Prince's mansion as an example, would have full salary, and there would be a fixed salary every year; the Ten Kings Mansion would have schools. Those not in the clan genealogy who were successful in their studies could seek their own livelihood and were allowed to take the imperial examination to obtain merit;

There were restrictions and treatment. Zhu Zhu Yijun explained the reason for doing so very honestly: local hiding of farmland.

Zhu Zhu Yijun honestly told the princes of various places, and the princes of various places expressed their support in their replies. They wanted to build the Ten Kings City quickly. It was just a prince mansion, and they didn't want to stay for a single day. Zhang Juzheng's Kao Cheng Fa did not assess the issuance of clan salaries, and many prince mansions were unable to maintain them.

It all sounded very nice, supporting the Emperor's resolution, but Zhu Zhu Yijun was still a bit worried. Even though countless people had told Zhu Zhu Yijun that the clan vassals did not have the ability to rebel now, when the Yan Prince rebelled, he didn't have the ability to rebel either. He had eight hundred soldiers in total, and he rebelled just like that, and finally won, entering the capital to become Emperor.

"I hope so, I hope the clan can make the right choice." Zhu Zhu Yijun said with some emotion.

Zhang Juzheng said with great certainty: "The Zheng Prince's mansion moved to the Ten Kings City from the De Prince's mansion before the New Year. The Zheng Prince's mansion was extremely satisfied with the Ten Kings City. Once the news is out, the vassal kings in various places will make the right choice. It's not a reprimand, but an honorable support."

"Does the Emperor have a book called 'Imperial Record of Non-Virtuous Acts' in the palace?"

Zhang Juzheng asked about an old book. This book was a collection of criticisms written by Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang in the twentieth year of Emperor Hongwu. The content of the criticism was that the Great Ming Taizu High Emperor angrily scolded the vassal kings for their lawless behavior.

It was full of the beastly acts of Great Ming vassal kings abroad. Family scandals should not be spread, but this "Imperial Record of Non-Virtuous Acts" was widely circulated, and there were copies in the Yongle years.

The "Imperial Record of Non-Virtuous Acts" recorded the evil acts of the major Great Ming vassal kings, killing people like hemp. For example, the eighth son, Tan Prince Zhu Zi, forced soldiers to fight tigers and other wild beasts, fighting beasts without weapons. Tan Prince Zhu Zi later, because he was too absurd and involved in the Hu Hu Weiyong case, was summoned to the capital by Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang. Tan Prince Zhu Zi was terrified and burned the prince mansion to the ground, and burned himself to death in the palace.

The evil acts recorded in the "Imperial Record of Non-Virtuous Acts" could basically be matched with other historical materials such as the Ming Veritable Records, and it could be basically confirmed that it was written by Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang himself.

The implementation of vassal prohibitions starting from the Yongle years was also related to the excessive lawlessness of the vassal kings in the Emperor Hongwu years.

"Indeed, I have read it." Zhu Zhu Yijun said with a smile: "Even the Emperor Chengzu Wen Emperor and the Ning Prince are in it."

In the common edition of the Record of Non-Virtuous Acts, there were no black materials about the Yan Prince and the Ning Prince of Danning Guard, because they were deleted in the Yongle years. Zhu Di was the Emperor, and the Ning Prince had the merit of following the dragon, so naturally, they had to be maintained, and they were deleted together. However, the original in the imperial palace recorded it very clearly. The biggest black materials of the Yan Prince and the Ning Prince were that they were recruiting soldiers and buying horses.

The Ning Prince recruited soldiers, which was to appease the Hu people outside the Great Wall, and appointed Hu officials to form cavalry.

Zhu Di asked Korea for horses, but was reported by the Korean envoy. Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang was extremely angry after knowing it and questioned why the Yan Town had 170,000 horses and still wasn't enough for you, and why you asked Korea for horses. What was your intention?

"If the Crown Prince's mansion had followed the Record of Non-Virtuous Acts when cutting the vassal kings, there wouldn't have been so many things. Unjustly reprimanding the Xiang Prince was truly unwise." Zhang Juzheng reminded His Majesty that Jianwen Jun had no political wisdom when cutting the vassal kings.

These words of Zhang Juzheng were already very polite. Saying Jianwen Jun had no political wisdom was polite. In fact, Zhang Juzheng wanted to say that Jianwen Jun was truly stupid and bad.

During the Jianwen years, the vassal king who died was Xiang Prince Zhu Bo.

Zhu Bo did not do evil. His greatest pleasure in life was practicing Daoism. In the twenty-first year of Emperor Hongwu, Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang called Zhu Bo to the capital and scolded him well because Zhu Bo practiced Daoism and did not have children.

Zhu Bo's second greatest hobby was suppressing bandits. He and the Chu Prince plowed through the banditry in the Hubei area well. These were his two greatest hobbies.

Zhu Bo had no descendants. According to Great Ming's inheritance law, Zhu Bo would have his kingdom abolished after death, so Zhu Bo belonged to the most harmless kind in the tide of cutting vassal kings in the Jianwen years because he would be abolished naturally after he died, so where was the need to cut?

But in the first year of Jianwen, Jianwen Jun Zhu Zhu Yunwen still sent troops to Jingzhou, and even disguised them as timber merchants, surrounding the Xiang Prince's mansion by surprise.

Zhu Bo indignantly set the palace on fire, jumped into the fire on a white horse, and the whole palace followed, with no one surviving.

Zhu Zhu Yunwen announced that the Xiang Prince rebelled, which was equivalent to Yan Song and Xu Xu Jie announcing: "The number one corrupt official in Great Ming is Hai Rui!"

If the Xiang Prince had done many evil things, if the one who died was really a wicked imperial uncle, if Zhu Zhu Yunwen had called out names one by one according to the "Imperial Record of Non-Virtuous Acts," and was reducing the harm of the vassal kings to the local area, there wouldn't have been so many things.

Zhu Zhu Yunwen didn't deal with so many beasts, but forced a harmless Xiang Prince to death. After the Xiang Prince committed suicide, the major prince mansions understood immediately: Jianwen Jun intended to get rid of all his uncles without distinction.

Zheng Prince's heir Zhu Zhu Zaiyu was also an imperial uncle, although not a close one, and was even outside the five degrees of mourning, but what was the treatment of Imperial Uncle Zhu Zhu Zaiyu? Dean of the Royal Institute of Physical Research, able to explode gold coins from this stingy Emperor for all kinds of specious reasons, and Great Ming, who could get money from the Emperor without distinction, and it was millions of taels at every turn!

Zhu Zhu Zaiyu was enfeoffed as a Prince of the Blood and lived in the Forbidden Garden. It only took two steps to see His Majesty.

Every time His Majesty had any major event, he would take Imperial Uncle Zhu Zhu Zaiyu with him to show his affection, and he would be rewarded during festivals.

Zhu Zhu Yijun had no way to deal with the current Zhu Zhu Zaiyu. Every time Zhu Zhu Yijun could only say: "Imperial Uncle, look at the white silver."

The Yan Prince's mansion rebelled because Jianwen Jun clearly stated that he would get rid of all his uncles without distinction. If you don't have children, you will be dealt with; the Han Prince rebelled because of Zhu Di's promise; the Ning Prince rebelled because Emperor Wu Sect had no descendants.

Great Ming indeed had a stage for vassal kings to rebel, but it was not without any preconditions. For no reason, Zhu Zhu Zaiyu's treatment was a banner for the Emperor to express his affection, which had a very strong effect on stabilizing the uneasy hearts of vassal kings in various places.

The Zheng Prince had already entered the capital and moved into the Ten Kings City, and was extremely satisfied with the many facilities of the Ten Kings City.

The Yan Prince's case was a living example. When others accuse you of rebelling, you had better really be rebelling and have the strength to rebel.

Great Ming's "cheap Confucians" dared to climb on the Emperor's nose and face to scold him. What else did they dare not do? Great Ming's "cheap Confucians" never criticized Qi General Qi Jiguang Jiguang. Even when Qi General Qi Jiguang Jiguang was conquering abroad, the "cheap Confucians" didn't dare to name him even if they were sarcastic.

Because the Duke of England Qi General Qi Jiguang Jiguang really had the strength to rebel, so the "cheap Confucians" always praised Qi General Qi Jiguang Jiguang's loyalty.

Zhu Zhu Yijun issued an edict ordering Henan local vassal kings to move. This edict arrived in Henan on the twelfth day of the first lunar month. The Viceroy of Shandong and Henan, Ling Governor Ling Yunyi, received the imperial edict. The eunuch who came to Henan this time was Li Li Yougong, the third-ranking person in the palace. This move was of great importance and could not be missed.

"The Zheng Prince's mansion is already empty. Among the Zhou, Tang, Yi, and Zhao prince mansions, the Zhou Prince's mansion in Kaifeng has the largest number of people, with 5,235 people. If you want to move, start from the most difficult one." Ling Governor Ling Yunyi's eyes showed a fierce light. He liked to chew hard bones the most. Chewing soft bones was boring!

Ling Governor Ling Yunyi only had 1,500 guest soldiers. The number of clan vassals in the Zhou Prince's mansion was more than Ling Governor Ling Yunyi's guest soldiers, and it involved the clan, which was very troublesome. A slight carelessness would be a big problem. These were imperial relatives. If it went wrong, it would be a crime of exterminating the nine clans.

"This time, don't use force if you don't have to." Li Li Yougong said: "After arriving at the prince mansion, I will go in first to declare the edict. If I die, it won't be too late to take action."

Li Li Yougong's identity was the Emperor's envoy, an angel. If he died in the Zhou Prince's mansion, it would mean that the Zhou Prince had substantially rebelled. Then suppressing the rebellion would be appropriate and reasonable.

The Emperor gave Li Li Yougong repeated instructions, telling him not to stimulate the kings in Henan, to move them with emotion and reason, to explain the pros and cons clearly, to understand the thoughts and demands of the vassal kings in various places, and if they really didn't want to move, to find out the reason for the resistance.

Zhu Zhu Yijun showed sufficient patience in the edict of moving the vassal kings, starting from moving Zhu Zhu Zaiyu to the capital, and then to the Zheng Prince's mansion, bit by bit. He had the intention of moving and abolishing the vassal kings, but didn't want to cause a rebellion. This was typical "wanting both."

Of course, if they really didn't want to move, they could discuss it many times. If they rebelled to resist the imperial order, Zhu Zhu Yijun would not be lenient.

When talking, talk well. If they really wanted to fight, Zhu Zhu Yijun could only play the card of the Beijing Camp elite soldiers. The court also had some military force.

Ling Governor Ling Yunyi took 1,500 guest soldiers and swaggered through the streets toward the Zhou Prince's mansion. The Zhou Prince's mansion was much richer than the Zheng Prince's mansion, but it was limited. The water in the moat was smelly and no one took care of it. The guest soldiers soon surrounded the prince mansion. After Li Li Yougong showed his letter, the Iron Forest Army opened the city gate.

"What's wrong with this door?" Li Li Yougong looked blankly at the door in front of him.

The Iron Forest Army guarding the prince mansion sighed and said: "It broke in the Hongzhi years. We asked for silver to repair it, but the court didn't give it, so it dragged on until now."

One half of the Zhou Prince's mansion's gate could open and close normally, while the other half was supported by wooden frames behind it. Obviously, it was broken, but it had never been repaired, so it could only be supported like this.

The Zheng Prince's mansion was nine out of ten collapsed. The Zhou Prince's mansion was better, although it was not dilapidated and desolate, it could be seen that weeds were growing and it lacked repairs.

"The last repair was the Yellow River flood in the seventh year of Tianshun. The Zhou Prince's mansion was flooded. After that repair, it was never repaired again." The Iron Forest Army let the angel enter the city gate.

Li Li Yougong had just passed the screen wall, which was the Noon Gate of the outer city wall. When he walked to the Dragon Pavilion, he heard a shout: "Is the angel here? The angel is finally here!"

Li Li Yougong looked up and saw a figure on the Five Phoenix Tower of the Duanli Gate on the inner city wall.

The Zhou Prince, wearing a python robe, waved his hand, then ran down the Five Phoenix Tower and disappeared on the city wall.

Great Ming's vassal prohibition was not to forbid the outer city, but the inner city. That is to say, after the vassal kings were enfeoffed, they could not leave the inner city gate without an edict. They truly did not step out of the big door or the second door. If they stepped out, they would be reprimanded, or they would be imprisoned in the high walls of Fengyang. Zhu Zhu Zaiyu's father, Zheng Prince Zhu Zhu Houwan, submitted a memorial saying that the Daoist priest was practicing Daoism, and was thrown into the high walls for fifteen years.

The inner city gate opened slowly, and Li Li Yougong walked in.

The aging Zhou Prince Zhu Zaiting, after Li Li Yougong stepped into the Duanli Gate, grabbed Li Li Yougong and asked eagerly: "Has the Emperor finally remembered us vassal kings? That old Zheng Prince, just because he has a good son, can escape the confinement earlier than us old bones! When are we leaving? Now? Immediately?"

Walking the dog, playing with birds, fighting crickets, supporting actors! Such good days were coming soon!

Zhu Zaiting was old, with the Zhou Prince's heir, and was truly full of expectation. This sincere appearance did not look fake.

"Let's leave today. Don't delay for a moment. Hurry, hurry, hurry." Zhou Prince Zhu Zaiting was still urging.

Li Li Yougong was also confused by this enthusiasm. The Viceroy Ling Governor Ling Yunyi was besieging the city outside, but inside the prince mansion, they were so eager to move. Who was advocating moving the vassal kings to the capital?

Li Li Yougong had to say to Zhu Zaiting: "Zhou Prince, receive the edict."

Zhu Zaiting then slapped his forehead and said: "Ah, forgot this. Receive the edict, receive the edict."

The edict was very, very long. Zhu Zhu Yijun explained very clearly why he wanted to move the vassal kings, mainly because of the contradiction between people and land. If they didn't move again, these local virtuous gentry would hide farmland under the prince mansion's door, and Great Ming would perish in the long run. If one is damaged, all are damaged. If Great Ming perishes, the clan vassals would not have a good end, etc. The imperial edict talked about contradictions, but the Zhou Prince didn't care about these at all. He only cared about when to move.

When he heard that he had to prepare for three days, the Zhou Prince was obviously disappointed.

"It's okay, it's okay. Waited for so many years, it's not impossible to wait for three more days. Can wait." Zhu Zaiting grabbed his son Zhu Zhu Suqin and said: "Son, after three more days, we will go out."

"Dad, are there really many, many people and many, many cars outside?" The twenty-year-old Zhu Zhu Suqin said with some confusion.

Zhu Zaiting said with some confusion: "I don't know either."

"Like you, I have lived in the prince mansion since I was born. It's just this little place. I have never been out. Your grandfather was the same, and your grandfather's grandfather was the same. We have lived in this prince mansion for generation after generation. What it's like outside, your grandfather didn't tell me either."

Li Li Yougong's eyelids jumped!

He finally knew why the Zhou Prince was so eager!

They were born here generation after generation, and only on the day they died would they walk out of this Duanli Gate. Generation after generation, it was like this. This is not a prince mansion, it is clearly a prison. The place where they lived generation after generation was just within these four gates.

Man is the sum of social relations, but the social relations of Zhu Zaiting and Zhu Zhu Suqin were limited to this square city. Social relations were not simple, but isolated from the world. The tenant farmers and servants were servants generation after generation, and these prince mansions were isolated from the outside world generation after generation.

Zhu Zhu Suqin said with great certainty: "I think so. I heard from the palace maids who entered the palace that there are really many people and many cars outside."

The Emperor was worried about the vassal kings rebelling, and the vassal kings were worried that the Emperor would go back on his word. They said they would move to the capital, but suddenly they wouldn't move. They waited and waited, and finally waited for the Emperor's mercy after the New Year.

That old Zheng Prince submitted a memorial scolding the Daoist priest for practicing Daoism and was locked in the high walls. At least he went on a long trip to Fengyang. But the Zhou Prince's mansion had not gone out since it was re-established in the Yongle years. What is the difference between being locked in high walls and being in the prince palace? It seems there is no difference.

Li Li Yougong came out of the prince mansion and explained the situation to Ling Governor Ling Yunyi. Ling Governor Ling Yunyi was also blank.

It is very, very difficult to put oneself in another's shoes. The Emperor, Zhang Juzheng, Ling Governor Ling Yunyi, Li Li Yougong, from the court to the local government, were all worried that the prince mansion would not return to the capital, but they didn't know that this Great Ming vassal prohibition, forbidding leaving the inner city gate, was terrible.

Even if the future of moving to the capital was uncertain, and they didn't know what actions the Emperor would have, they were still willing to go out. At least they could see the outside world, which was not a regret. For Zhu Zaiting and Zhu Zhu Suqin, they first had to determine one thing, and that was whether Great Ming really existed.

They were in the prince mansion from birth to death. For them, the existence of Great Ming was hearsay. They had never seen mountains, had never seen big rivers. Everything in the books was just words in books and other people's words for Zhu Zaiting and Zhu Zhu Suqin.

The white-haired Zhou Prince had seen less of Great Ming in his life than the two-year-old Zhu Zhu Changzhi. Zhu Zhu Changzhi often lay on the window of the carriage and asked questions, like a "one hundred thousand whys."

Does Great Ming really exist?

When the carriage slowly drove out of the Zhou Prince's mansion, this question finally had a definite answer: it exists. When the carriage drove through the streets of Kaifeng Prefecture, there were people everywhere, Great Ming exists; when passing the Yellow River, seeing the Yellow River still frozen in early spring, Great Ming exists; seeing the Taihang Mountains in the distance, they saw mountains for the first time, Great Ming exists.

Great Ming is real, the Emperor is real, and everything is real.

The carriage of the vassal kings moving to the capital in Henan drove into the capital on the twenty-seventh day of the first lunar month and went directly to the Ten Kings City.

The layout of the Ten Kings City was different from the Northern Earth City. The Ten Kings City was an irregular bastion. The moat only had ditches and no water. The elite soldiers of the Beijing Camp were stationed in the Ten Kings City. Inside the Ten Kings City, it was based on the Eight Trigrams: the outer Eight Trigrams, the inner Two Instruments. The Commandery Princes and below lived in the outer Eight Trigrams, while the Princes of the Blood lived in the inner Two Instruments.

Zhu Zhu Yijun's arrival was actually a bit sudden, causing some trouble. The five kings of Henan gathered in the Ten Kings City, and it was time to pack up. Zhu Zhu Yijun's arrival meant everyone had to put down what they were doing and come to see the Emperor.

"Your subjects pay homage to Your Majesty, long live, long live, long live." Five Princes of the Blood led many Commandery Princes to pay homage.

Zhu Zhu Yijun waved his hand and said with a smile: "No need for ceremony, no need for ceremony. Zhou Prince, are you satisfied with this Ten Kings City?"

"Satisfied, satisfied." Zhu Zaiting nodded repeatedly: "The pillars in that room are harder than stone. The Chief Steward told me that this thing won't collapse. It won't collapse, that's good, it won't collapse. And the windows are bright and clean, with glass on the windows. Very good, very good."

Several vassal kings stated their reasons for being satisfied. Each had their own reasons. Some were satisfied with the living environment, some were satisfied with the school, some were satisfied that the servants became respectful, and some were satisfied that they didn't have to worry about firewood, rice, oil, and salt anymore.

The servants became respectful. Everyone felt this deeply because before moving to the capital, the servants were lawless. Anyway, the vassal kings couldn't do anything to them. Now that they were in the capital, it was different.

Zhu Zhu Yijun let the vassal kings go to do their own things. He walked around the Ten Kings City. It had to be said that the grand project supervised by Wang Wang Chonggu was truly strong. The entire Ten Kings City was built magnificently, even more imposing than Zhu Zhu Yijun's Tonghe Palace.

Outside the Ten Kings City was Great Ming's Royal Institute of Technology. Tomorrow was the day the Institute of Technology officially started school.

Compared to the smooth execution of the edict of moving the vassal kings, the enrollment of the Royal Institute of Technology was not so smooth. It was originally scheduled to start school on the sixteenth, but it was delayed until the twenty-fourth.

It was mainly a matter of affiliation. The Libationer of the Imperial Academy hoped to include the Royal Institute of Technology in the supervision of the Ministry of Rites, that is, the Royal Institute of Technology and the Imperial Academy were set up together, or more clearly, the Royal Institute of Technology was renamed the Great Ming Institute of Technology.

The Royal Institute of Physical Research was a research institute, the Emperor's private instrument, and the Institute of Technology was a school, a public instrument.

This sparked some controversy, but Zhu Zhu Yijun was ultimately very tough and did not subordinate it to the Imperial Academy under the Ministry of Rites, but to the Inner Secretariat.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 521 =====

Zhu Zhu Yijun waved his hand and said with a smile, "No need for formalities, no need for formalities. Prince Zhou, are you satisfied with this Ten-Prince City?"

"Satisfied, satisfied." Zhu Zaiting nodded repeatedly and said, "The pillars in the rooms are harder than stone. The Chief Clerk told me that this structure will not collapse. It is good that it will not collapse. Moreover, the rooms are bright and clean, with glass in the windows; it is very good, very good indeed."

Several other feudal princes stated their reasons for being satisfied, each with their own preferences; some were satisfied with the living environment, some with the schools, some with the fact that their servants had become respectful, and some with the fact that they no longer had to worry about firewood, rice, oil, and salt.

The servants becoming respectful was something everyone felt deeply, because before they arrived in the capital, their servants had been incredibly audacious, as the princes could not do anything to them anyway. Now that they were in the capital, it was different.

Zhu Zhu Yijun let the princes go off to attend to their own affairs. He walked around Ten-Prince City and had to admit that the grand construction project supervised by Wang Wang Chonggu was truly impressive. The entire Ten-Prince City was built with such magnificence and grandeur that it was even more imposing than Zhu Zhu Yijun's own Tonghe Palace.

Outside Ten-Prince City lay the Great Ming Royal Institute of Technology, and tomorrow was the day the Institute would officially begin classes.

Compared to the smooth execution of the order to relocate the feudal princes, the enrollment for the Royal Institute of Technology did not seem as smooth; originally scheduled to open on the 16th, it had been delayed until the 24th.

The main issue was the question of subordination. The Libationer of the Imperial Academy hoped to bring the Royal Institute of Technology under the supervision of the Ministry of Rites—that is, to have the Royal Institute of Technology and the Imperial Academy established side-by-side, or more explicitly, to rename the Royal Institute of Technology as the Great Ming Institute of Technology.

The Royal Academy of Investigation of Things was a research institute and the Emperor's private instrument, while the Institute of Technology was a school and a public instrument.

This sparked some controversy, but Zhu Zhu Yijun remained very firm in the end, not placing it on par with the Imperial Academy under the Ministry of Rites, but instead placing it under the Inner Secretariat.

(End of chapter)