Chapter 119: Inspection

Hongwu Year Five, the third day of the seventh month.

At the Yan Wu Chang of Wu Wang Fu, Zhu Yong was swinging the Double Hammers shirtless.

A pair of drum‑beating, jar‑shaped golden hammers in his hands moved as light as nothing, dancing fiercely, and the gust they raised swirled the fallen leaves across the ground.

"Eeya! Eeya!"

A baby‑like, cooing call came from the corridor.

Zhu Yong heard the sound, set the hammers down, and turned to look.

He saw his daughter Zhu Huanhuan being held by Guanyin Nu; the little girl was shaking her tiny hands, constantly calling out something.

"The little girl seems to know that her husband is here, and has been fussing to come!" Guanyin Nu said to Zhu Yong with a smile.

Zhu Yong placed the Double Hammers on the ground, crouched, spread his arms, and walked toward them.

The little girl giggled and leapt into his arms, her tiny hand clutching his sweat‑damp collar.

"Do you miss Daddy…" Zhu Yong said, cradling his daughter and rubbing his beard against her little face.

Huan Huan, being brushed, turned away and laughed even louder.

Guanyin Nu took a towel from Xiao Zhu beside her, then came over, handed a sweat cloth, and scolded, "Prince, you're all sweaty; don't catch a chill."

"It's fine, I'm strong," Zhu Yong said, taking the sweat cloth and wiping haphazardly, then carrying his daughter back inside.

Just as they entered the main hall, Hu Bo reported, "Prince, someone from the palace has arrived, saying the Emperor summons you for a council."

Zhu Yong and Guanyin Nu exchanged a glance.

"I'll go change clothes," Zhu Yong said, handing his daughter to Guanyin Nu.

Two quarters of an hour later, Zhu Yong rode to the palace.

In Qianqing Palace, Zhu Yuanzhang was reviewing a Memorandum, with Zhu Biao sitting beside him.

"Father, elder brother," Zhu Yong saluted.

Zhu Yuanzhang set down the Memorandum, waved his hand and said, "Yong Er, you're here, sit."

Zhu Yong sat down at the lower seat, and a eunuch presented tea.

"Yong Er, the matters of Northern Yuan, Nüzhen, and Goryeo have all been settled; now only the Wa Country side keeps violating the border and remains unresolved."

"We've heard that the Wa pirates have been causing trouble again lately, with several raids reported along the Zhejiang and Fujian coasts," Zhu Yuanzhang said bluntly.

Zhu Biao continued, "Second brother, Imperial Father's intention is that the Wa Country must be attacked, but a sea campaign differs from land; we must first ascertain the navy's condition.

Tomorrow take a thousand Longxiang Army to Songjiang Prefecture to inspect the navy, examine the warships, troops, and grain and fodder, and report back."

Zhu Yong nodded, "I'll go. When shall we set out?"

"Early tomorrow morning. This time is mainly an inspection; we must get a clear picture. If we truly attack the Wa Country, we must be fully prepared—it's not a matter of one or two days."

Zhu Yuanzhang said.

"Your servant understands," Zhu Yong replied.

Zhu Yuanzhang then asked Zhu Biao, "Biao Er, how are the battles in the Western Regions concerning General Feng Sheng and Geng Bingwen?"

Zhu Biao replied, "Report to Imperial Father, General Feng has already led his troops out of Jiayuguan, General Geng set out from Lanzhou, the two routes advancing together; according to the schedule, they should now be arriving at Hami."

"These years the tribes of the Western Regions have outwardly submitted but occasionally rebel; with this great army pressing in, we should be able to fully recover the lands."

"Hmm, the Western Regions must be stable, and the Maritime Frontier as well; Great Ming must be resolute on land and sea," Zhu Yuanzhang said, tapping the table with his finger.

After concluding the formal discussion, Zhu Yuanzhang kept his two sons for a meal.

At the table, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly asked, "Yong Er, are your hammers still handy now?"

"Handy, Father," Zhu Yong said, shoveling his food.

"Warfare at sea differs from land; the ship rolls heavily. Can you still employ your skills on a ship?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked, somewhat worried.

Zhu Yong answered earnestly, "If the ship rocks, I'll just stand steady; it's fine."

Zhu Biao laughed, "Imperial Father, rest assured. When second brother landed at Pingrang, he leapt from the warship onto shore and smashed the city gate open with a single hammer; the ship's rocking didn't affect him."

"That's good," Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.

After the meal, Zhu Yong took his leave.

Leaving Qianqing Palace, Zhu Biao escorted him to Wu Men.

"Second brother, be thorough this inspection; the navy has been lax in training these years, and the warships are old. Go see exactly what the situation is, and when you return we'll figure out how to improve," Zhu Biao instructed.

"I understand," Zhu Yong replied.

"Also, the Jiangnan aristocratic families, although a previous purge cleared a wave, remnants remain; as you go to the coast, beware of anyone setting traps."

Zhu Biao said in a lowered voice.

Zhu Yong grinned, "Elder brother, rest assured; if anyone dares set a trap, I'll hammer them to death."

Zhu Biao chuckled, patted his shoulder, "Go then! The sooner you leave, the sooner you return."

The next morning, before dawn.

Outside Wu Wang Fu, a thousand Longxiang Army were already equipped and ready to depart.

These thousand men were veteran soldiers who had followed Zhu Yong in campaigns north and south; their armor was bright, their formation orderly.

Zhu Yong, clad in black armor and draped with the Wu Wang Great Cloak, walked out of the residence.

Guanyin Nu carried Huan Huan to the gate.

"Prince, go early and return early," Guanyin Nu said, handing him the prepared Dry Rations.

Zhu Yong took his daughter, kissed her, and said, "At home, obey mother's words; Daddy will be back in a little while."

"Eeya! Eeya!" the little girl said indistinctly.

Zhu Yong laughed, returned his daughter to Guanyin Nu, and swung onto his horse.

"Set out!"

A thousand iron cavalry left Yingtian Prefecture, heading east.

Songjiang Prefecture is only three hundred li from Yingtian; cavalry on fast horses push hard, and they arrive in two days.

The sixth day of the seventh month, afternoon.

Zhu Yong led his troops to the Songjiang Prefecture Navy Camp.

The Prefect of Songjiang Prefecture and the navy Commissioner had already received the news and were waiting outside the camp.

"I, the lower officer Songjiang Prefect Zhou Wenyuan, request an audience with Prince Wu."

"I, the commander of the Songjiang navy, Commissioner Liu Dahai, request an audience with Prince Wu."

Both men bowed and saluted.

Zhu Yong dismounted and said, "No need for formalities, take me to see the navy."

Liu Dahai hurriedly replied, "Please, Your Highness."

The party entered the navy camp.

The camp was built along the river, and dozens of warships were moored on the water.

The larger ones were three‑deck tower ships, the smaller ones were fast boats and patrol boats.

Zhu Yong walked to the riverbank and examined the warships closely.

Many hulls were damaged; some planks were cracked, some sails were torn.

The river wind blew, carrying a musty smell.

"How long have these ships gone without repair?" Zhu Yong asked.

Liu Dahai, sweating on his forehead, said, "Answering Your Highness, they were repaired once last year, but… the silver allocated by the court was insufficient; we could only patch the leaks, a major overhaul was unaffordable."

Zhu Yong said nothing and walked along the riverbank.

He arrived at the Training Ground, where navy soldiers were drilling.

But the numbers were sparse, the movements lazy; only when they saw Zhu Yong did they hurriedly form ranks.

"How many troops are there?" Zhu Yong asked.

"According to the register there should be five thousand, but in fact… there are three thousand two hundred," Liu Dahai's voice grew quieter.

Zhu Yong turned to him and said, "The shortfall is nearly two thousand; what's going on?"

Liu Dahai fell to his knees and said, "Your Highness, forgive me! The truth is… the military pay is insufficient; many soldiers have slipped away back to their hometowns to farm."

The commander had also reported it, but…

Zhou Wenyuan also knelt and said, "Your Highness, in recent years Songjiang Prefecture's taxes have been spent on the Northern Campaign and the recently built Fengyang Palace City, leaving us unable to fund the navy's provisions."

Zhu Yong frowned.

He knew Imperial Father had lately been focused on the north and the capital relocation, and had indeed neglected the navy.

"Get up! Take me aboard a ship to look," Zhu Yong said.

Liu Dahai quickly got up and led Zhu Yong onto a tower ship.

The ship was even more dilapidated.

The deck planks were loose, creaking underfoot.

The cabin was damp and dark, a musty odor hitting the nose.

"Can a ship like this go to sea?" Zhu Yong asked.

Liu Dahai forced himself to answer, "It can manage near‑sea patrols, but far‑sea… probably not."

Zhu Yong paced a circle on the ship, his complexion growing darker.

After disembarking, he said to Liu Dahai, "Line up all the warships; I want to inspect them one by one."

"Yes!"

The whole afternoon, Zhu Yong inspected every warship.

The result was disappointing.

Of the forty warships, fewer than ten could venture into the open sea; the rest could only circle the river.