Chapter 129: Competing for Favor

That night, the Su Zhou Guard.

Chang Yuchun held a banquet to receive Zhu Yong.

After three rounds of wine, Chang Yuchun patted Zhu Yong on the shoulder and said, "Prince, this trip has brought great honor to our Great Ming, conquering the Western Regions across ten thousand li in a single strike, and even building three cities!"

"Your father is in Yingtian; I heard he's been so delighted he hasn't closed his eyes for three days!"

Zhu Yong chuckled naively: "Chang Shu, you flatter me; it was all the soldiers risking their lives."

"Stop the act. You've spent half your life fighting, Chang Shu, and you still don't know that if the commander is incompetent, even the bravest troops are useless. Come, drink!"

Chang Yuchun laughed heartily.

Everyone raised their cups and drank heartily.

During the banquet, Chang Mao stared at Zhu Yong, his eyes full of admiration.

Chang Mao rubbed his head and, excitedly, shouted: "Father, next year I also want to go to the Western Regions!"

"Go where the hell! Stay honestly in Suzhou!" Chang Yuchun glared.

Zhu Yong smiled: "It's good that Chang Mao wants to fight; when the next expedition goes, I can take him along."

"Really?" Chang Mao's eyes lit up.

"Indeed." Zhu Yong nodded.

Chang Yuchun looked at his son, then at Zhu Yong, sighed, and said, "Prince, you dote on him more than his own uncle does!"

The crowd burst into laughter.

After resting in Suzhou for two days, they continued eastward.

They passed Lanzhou, crossed the Yellow River, and entered Guanzhong.

On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, the minor New Year, the army arrived at Tongguan.

Beyond Tongguan lies Zhongyuan.

Zhu Yong stood on the city wall, gazing at the vast plain to the east, and a homesick anxiety rose in his heart.

"Prince, in seven more days we'll reach Yingtian," Zhang Wu said beside him.

Zhu Yong nodded, saying nothing.

He recalled that before departing, Guanyin Nu had held Huanhuan to see him off.

Huanhuan was just over three months old, still unable to speak, only cooing and reaching out for him to hold.

Now more than five months have passed, and he doesn't know how Huanhuan is doing.

"Come back soon," Guanyin Nu had said then, her eyes reddened.

"Hmm, when the Western Regions are pacified, I'll return," he promised.

Now, the Western Regions are pacified.

The thirtieth day of the twelfth month, New Year's Eve.

Yingtian Prefecture is already filled with festive atmosphere.

Every household hangs spring couplets and lanterns; the streets are teeming with people, and the cries of vendors never cease.

The palace is even more illuminated with lanterns and banners, brimming with joy.

Zhu Yong's army is stationed outside the city; he only brings Zhang Wu, Chen Heng and a dozen other personal guards into the city.

Entering the palace through Zhengyang Gate, they head straight toward Kunning Palace.

Just after passing Qianqing Palace, they see a group of people ahead.

Zhu Yuanzhang, Empress Ma, Zhu Biao, and Guanyin Nu holding a child.

"Father, Mother, elder brother…" Zhu Yong hurried forward, about to pay his respects.

Zhu Yuanzhang grasped Zhu Yong and said, "Enough, enough, you still have so many formalities when you return home!"

Empress Ma's eyes were already reddened; she held Zhu Yong's hand and examined him up and down: "You've become thinner, and darker… the Western Regions were harsh, weren't they?"

"Not harsh, Mother, I'm doing fine," Zhu Yong chuckled naively.

Zhu Biao walked over and punched his shoulder: "Second brother, well done! The swift news from the Western Regions has shaken the court! Father says this is the greatest achievement of a Zhongyuan dynasty in the Western Regions since the Han and Tang."

"It's all thanks to the elder brother's coordination and support in the court," Zhu Yong said earnestly.

"Stop the flattery!" Zhu Biao laughed scolded.

At this moment, Guanyin Nu, holding the child, stepped forward.

Huanhuan is now over eight months old, chubby and fair, with big bright eyes.

She looked at Zhu Yong, suddenly opening her little hand and calling: "Father… Father…"

Zhu Yong shivered all over.

"Huanhuan can call father now?" he said, his voice trembling.

"She'll start in these few days; these days she's been calling your portrait every day," Guanyin Nu's eyes were also red.

Zhu Yong carefully took his daughter and held her in his arms.

Huanhuan's little hand touched his face, giggling continuously.

"I'm back," he said to Guanyin Nu.

"Hmm." Guanyin Nu nodded vigorously.

That evening, a family banquet at Kunning Palace.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma, the Zhu Biao couple and the Zhu Yong couple, and Zhu Xiongying; the little fellow is already over nine months old.

The little fellow, seeing Zhu Yong, was not afraid; he even stretched out both tiny hands toward Zhu Yong.

Zhu Yong, seeing this, couldn't help but pick him up, then placed him on his lap and laughed: "Xiong Ying misses his second uncle…"

"Eeya! Eeya!"

Just then, the Huanhuan in Guanyin Nu's arms became displeased, reached out and grabbed Zhu Yong's sleeve, her little face looking as if about to cry.

And Zhu Xiongying in Zhu Yong's arms was also gesturing.

The way the two vied for favor inevitably made the crowd burst into laughter.

Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but laugh and exclaim, "Our second son is so popular!"

Empress Ma also laughed beside him, "That's because Yong Er is that popular."

"Yes, yes, our Yong Er is the most popular!"

Zhu Yuanzhang raised the wine in his hand and spoke.

The Family Banquet did not disperse until the hour of the Rat.

Zhu Yong and Guanyin Nu, holding the sleeping Huanhuan, returned to Wu Wang Fu.

Wang Fu was the same as before, but now had many of Huanhuan's toys: a small rocking cart, a cloth tiger, a rattle drum…

"When you're not here, I tidy these up every day, thinking that when you return I'll be able to see them," Guanyin Nu said softly.

Zhu Yong felt warmth in his heart, embraced her shoulder and said, "You've worked hard."

Guanyin Nu leaned on his shoulder and, after a long pause, asked, "Has everything in the Western Regions settled?"

"Yes, three cities, thirty thousand troops, each division has returned its loyalty."

The last day of Hongwu Year Five passed amid reunion and celebration.

The next day, Hongwu 6th year, Spring Festival.

Before dawn, Zhu Yong was already awake.

He rose silently, not waking the sleeping Guanyin Nu and Huanhuan, and went alone to the study.

Closing the door, he whispered to himself.

"Check‑in."

A familiar translucent panel appeared before his eyes, its light swirling.

【Hongwu 6th year check‑in successful】

【Obtained: Flintlock Gun prototype Blueprint + ammunition molds (full set)】

【Item stored in system space, available at any time】

Zhu Yong took a deep breath.

The Flintlock Gun has finally arrived.

He understood its significance: the Huogi revolution, the change in warfare.

He retrieved the Blueprint from system space.

A thick stack, containing firearm schematics, ammunition production processes, mold design drawings, and even a schematic of a simple production line.

He couldn't read all the characters on the Blueprint, but he could understand the diagrams.

Barrel, firing mechanism, ammunition molds… each part was drawn clearly.

Zhu Yong studied them for a while, then returned the Blueprint to space.

This item must be given to the right person.

It would be best to give it to his Imperial Father and elder brother; it's too important.

After the morning court, he went to Qianqing Palace, where his own father and elder brother were reviewing Memorandums today.

"Yong Er, why are you here? Today is the first day, has Huanhuan arrived…" Zhu Yuanzhang, seeing his second son arrive, couldn't help but ask with a smile.

"Father, elder brother, I've brought the good items for you."

Zhu Yong took the Blueprint from his bosom and placed it before the two, saying.

"Again, it's from that White-bearded Old Man…"

Seeing the Blueprint before him, Zhu Yuanzhang swallowed, then said.

"What kind of Blueprint is this?" Zhu Biao, curious, reached out to take the Blueprint and asked.

"Flintlock Gun prototype Blueprint + ammunition molds…"

As Zhu Biao read the words on it, his pupils involuntarily began to constrict.

After a long while, Zhu Yong finally left the palace, preparing to return to Wang Fu and bring Guanyin Nu and Huanhuan to the palace for a meal.

At the start of the new year, the streets were bustling, and the common folk wore smiles.

Candy sellers, sugar‑painting artists, monkey‑performers… the scene was extraordinarily lively.

He recalled the desolation of the Gobi in the Western Regions, the cold wind atop Anxi City, and the hopeful gazes of the surrendered tribal leaders…

"Prince, returning to the residence?" Zhang Wu asked.

"Yes, returning to the residence," Zhu Yong nodded.

The spring of Hongwu 6th year began just like that.

And in a secret room of the Ministry of Works, a technological revolution that would change the world had quietly been set in motion.