Chapter 744: Zhu's Realization

Haozhou City, the King of Wu's mansion.

This so-called palace was merely the main hall of the former county office, with its sign changed.

The small courtyard behind the hall became Zhu Yue's (Zhu Yuanzhang's) temporary residence and study.

Night was deep.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) did not sleep.

Before him on the table lay three items.

A detailed map of the area within a hundred li around Haozhou.

A lump of dark, strange iron.

And a stack of records about recent abnormal celestial phenomena, just delivered by Liu Ji.

The records are fragmentary.

Most are oral accounts from night‑watch soldiers or patrolmen.

"At the third watch of zi hour, a faint light flashed three times on the northeastern horizon, pale white."

"At the start of chou hour, there seemed to be an extremely thin whistling sound sweeping across the high sky, vanishing in an instant."

"After halfway through yin hour, dogs in the city barked incessantly, all facing north and howling."

Zhu Yue's (Zhu Yuanzhang's) fingers lightly tapped the tabletop.

These phenomena are concentrated in time.

They all occurred last night.

Moreover, they point in the same direction—

North.

"It's no coincidence."

He muttered softly to himself.

After the defeat at Dingyuan, he became unusually sensitive to any abnormality.

Especially those coming from the north.

He picked up that lump of strange iron.

It was still warm to the touch.

These past few days, he ordered the artisans to try hammering it with various methods.

He found that this thing not only has extremely high hardness, but also reacts strangely to "blue water."

When soil stained with blue water is brought near it, the blue in the soil gradually fades.

Although it is slow.

But it is indeed purifying.

"Energy neutralization..."

The phrase flashed through Zhu Yue's (Zhu Yuanzhang's) mind.

It is a concept he dug up from the memories of his own era.

If youn energy is a polluting form of energy.

then that strange iron might be some kind of "catalyst" that can neutralize it.

But having a catalyst alone is not enough.

A method is also needed.

A systematic method is needed.

As he pondered, footsteps sounded outside the door.

"King of Wu."

It was Liu Ji's voice.

"Come in."

Liu Ji pushed the door open and entered, holding a freshly drawn star chart.

"I have stayed up all night cross‑checking the celestial observations and the watch‑post records, and I have discovered something."

He spread the star chart on the table.

It pointed to a certain area in the north.

"Last night's phenomena were not random and disorderly."

"The faint light flickered: three short flashes and one prolonged one."

"The intervals were almost uniform."

"Moreover, the direction of every phenomenon precisely pointed to our Haozhou."

He lifted his head, his gaze solemn.

"This is not a natural celestial phenomenon."

"It resembles rather… some kind of artificial, directed reconnaissance or signaling effort."

Zhu Yue's (Zhu Yuanzhang's) pupils contracted slightly.

"Artificial? Directed?"

"Yes."

Liu Ji nodded.

"I am not versed in the arcane arts."

"But seeing its order like military drumbeats and its direction like an arrow piercing through, it could hardly be the work of natural forces such as wind, rain, thunder, or lightning."

He paused.

Combining this, our army had inexplicably obtained that 'East Come Warning' thought.

I dare to speculate that last night's anomaly perhaps came from the other side of the light barrier, attempting contact again.

But its method is unfathomable, neither sound nor light, hard to comprehend.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) stared at the star chart.

Fragments in his mind began to collide.

East Come Warning.

Regular directional anomaly.

The neutralizing property of the strange iron...

If it is truly a transmission.

He said slowly.

Then what do they want to tell us?

Liu Ji pondered.

After the warning, it should be a method to repel enemies.

But this method obviously cannot reach directly.

Perhaps... the transmission itself is extremely difficult, only one in ten.

Perhaps... our ability to receive and comprehend is still inadequate.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) rose and walked to the window.

The message may have already shattered.

It might even be just some remnants.

But the direction, perhaps has already been given.

He turned around.

Their previous warning pointed to yin energy, the northern demon troops.

Then this time, even if the specific method cannot be transmitted, the emphasized focus must certainly be related to this.

A flash of realization passed through Liu Ji's eyes.

Is the King of Wu saying... that last night's anomaly itself is reminding us that the northern threat is more imminent?

Not only that.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) walked back to the table, his finger heavily tapping on 'strange iron'.

It is reminding us that we should use this.

We should truly study it and utilize it.

Relying solely on intuition and sporadic experiments is not enough.

We need a system, need theory, need to turn it into weapons and armor.

His eyes burned brightly.

If we cannot comprehend this ourselves, even if the other side forces the method upon us, we cannot receive it.

Liu Ji took a deep breath.

I understand.

Then now...

Now, do what should be done.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) put away the star chart and records.

Train the troops.

Stockpile grain.

Mine.

And also...

He lifted a lump of strange iron.

Establish an 'Investigation of Things Institute'.

You take the lead, gather all artisans who understand smelting, know minerals, are versed in medical arts, and even those who can practice alchemy.

No inquiry into origins, no questioning of background.

The sole mission: make clear this thing and its reaction with yin energy.

Record every phenomenon, summarize every law.

His words had not yet fallen.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps came from outside the door.

Report—!

A personal guard rushed into the courtyard, kneeling on one knee.

Urgent report from the northern gate watchtower!

Ten li outside the city, traces of a small cavalry unit were discovered!

About twenty riders, all clad in black armor, moving slowly, as if scouting the terrain!

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) and Liu Ji exchanged a glance.

They have come.

The tendrils of Baihe Town, indeed are not idle.

Who is on the city wall?

The Left Minister Xu and the Commander Chang.

Issue the order.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang)'s voice was cold and stern.

Close the city gates tightly and heighten vigilance.

But do not leave the city to engage in battle.

Let Chang Yuchun send out capable scouts to keep watch on them.

Record their movement routes, stopping points, and pay special attention to any suspicious actions—such as digging, burying, or dumping something.

Yes!

The personal guards hurried away.

Liu Ji's expression was grave.

Prince Wu, this is a probe.

I know.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) walked toward the gate.

Let them scout.

We happen to also want to observe the movement patterns of these demon troops.

Every piece of information is a future chance of victory.

He pushed open the courtyard gate.

Outside the gate, dawn light faintly appeared.

From the direction of the city wall, a horn call sounded faintly.

A new day.

Battle has never been far away.

And in the gaps of this battle.

That fragmented message from afar may already be like a seed.

It has fallen into the promised land.

Whether it can sprout.

It depends on the master of this land, how they cultivate.