Chapter 132: Investigation

Hongwu 6th year, the tenth day of the second month.

The atmosphere in Qianqing Palace was so oppressive that one could barely breathe.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat behind the imperial desk, his complexion ashen.

Several memorials were spread before him, the topmost a folded report secretly presented by the Jinyiwei Commissioner Mao Xiang.

Zhu Biao and Zhu Yong stood at the lower end, while Zhu Shuang, Zhu Gang, and Zhu Di had also been summoned, hands hanging, standing behind their two elder brothers.

"Take a look yourselves," Zhu Yuanzhang tossed the folded report onto the desk.

Zhu Biao stepped forward, picked it up, skimmed it quickly, his brows furrowing tighter.

After reading it, he handed it to Zhu Yong; Zhu Yong glanced at it a few times, and finally his complexion also turned sour.

"Father, this is…" Zhu Biao's voice was low.

"Last September, we allocated five hundred thousand taels of silver, ordering the Fujian Provincial Administration, Quanzhou Prefecture, and Fuzhou Prefecture to each build warships for coastal defense, also constructing warships for future preparations.

Only half a year later, Mao Xiang reported that the actual amount spent at the shipyards was less than two hundred thousand taels." Zhu Yuanzhang rose slowly, his fingers tapping the desk as he began to speak slowly.

Three hundred thousand taels of silver vanished without a trace.

Zhu Shuang couldn't help but gasp sharply.

He was fifteen this year and already understood that three hundred thousand taels could sustain a ten‑thousand‑strong army for a year.

"Embezzling ship‑building funds is digging at the foundation of Great Ming. Biao, what do you think should be done?" Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was as cold as ice.

Zhu Biao pondered briefly and said, "Father, this matter requires a thorough investigation, but Fujian is two thousand li from Yingtian; if we only send an Imperial Censor, local officials might collude, making it hard to uncover the truth.

The son‑minister suggests…"

He lifted his head and said, "The son‑minister will go investigate personally."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him, saying nothing.

Zhu Yong immediately said, "Father, I'll accompany the elder brother."

"And us! Imperial Father, the son‑minister also wishes to go, to see what those corrupt officials look like; the son‑minister also wants to help Father and the elder brother share the burden..."

Zhu Di also stepped forward; he was thirteen this year and had already grown considerably taller.

Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang exchanged a glance; though their hearts were uneasy, they forced themselves to say, "The son‑minister is willing to go with Crown Prince brother."

Zhu Yuanzhang stared at his five sons for a long while, then nodded.

"Very well, Biao, you lead; Yong Er, you assist; Lao San, Lao Si, Fifth Prince go along to see for yourselves. Remember, on this trip to Fujian, first, uncover the corruption; second, keep yourselves safe.

Yong Er…" Zhu Yuanzhang finally fixed his gaze on Zhu Yong.

"Father, I understand. I will protect the elder brother and the younger brothers," Zhu Yong said solemnly.

"Mao Xiang will send a Jinyiwei detachment to accompany you; there will be covert protection as well, but officially you may only bring Wang Fu Imperial Troops. Biao, this is your first time handling such a case; remember, when cruelty is required, you must not be soft‑handed."

Zhu Yuanzhang stepped down, patted Zhu Biao's shoulder and said.

"The son‑minister understands," Zhu Biao said, his gaze firm.

The twelfth day of the second month, early morning.

A contingent of over a hundred people set out from Yingtian Prefecture, heading south to Fujian.

Zhu Biao and Zhu Yong's carriage led, while the carriages carrying Zhu Shuang, Zhu Gang, and Zhu Di followed behind.

Zhang Wu and Chen Heng led eighty Wang Fu Imperial Troops from Wu Wang Fu as guards, with an additional twenty Jinyiwei posing as attendants.

The group moved slowly, covering eighty li each day.

The first night they lodged at Zhenjiang Prefecture.

At the post station, Zhu Biao called his three younger brothers into a room.

"Shuang Er, Gang Er, Di Er, this time I'm taking you out; it's not a sightseeing tour. The Fujian case involves the Provincial Administration, prefectural and county officials, and may even have ties to the capital.

On this journey, you must observe more, listen more, speak less," Zhu Biao said with a solemn expression.

Zhu Di nodded seriously, "Elder brother, I understand; we are going to investigate the case."

Zhu Shuang, however, was somewhat indifferent, saying, "Crown Prince brother, with the Second Prince present, what dare those corrupt officials do? One hammer each!"

Zhu Biao glared at him, "Nonsense! Investigations rely on evidence, not brute force. If you keep this mindset, tomorrow I'll send you back to Yingtian."

Zhu Shuang drew his neck back, no longer daring to speak.

Zhu Yong said naively, "Elder brother is right; I don't understand investigations, but I will follow you. Who dares to move you, I'll beat them again."

Zhu Biao helplessly glanced at his second brother, then turned to Zhu Di and said, "Fifth Prince, you are the youngest but the most steady; on the road keep an eye on your third and fourth brothers, and don't let them cause trouble."

"Yes, elder brother," Zhu Di replied.

During the subsequent journey, Zhu Biao began explaining his investigative approach to his younger brothers.

"Embezzlement of ship‑building funds takes only a few forms: inflating material prices, substituting inferior goods, skimming craftsmen's wages, forging accounts. To investigate, we start from these points."

Zhu Biao spread paper and brush on the carriage, writing as he spoke.

Zhu Di listened attentively and asked, "Elder brother, if local officials have already colluded and forged accounts, what then?"

"Good question. Therefore we cannot rely solely on ledgers; we must inspect the shipyards, question the craftsmen, trace material sources. A deficit of two hundred thousand taels cannot be flawlessly concealed; there will always be traces."

Zhu Biao looked approvingly at his fifth brother.

Although Zhu Yong didn't grasp the complexities, he listened earnestly.

He recalled vague memories from a previous life: the Ming Dynasty's corruption had always been severe; Zhu Yuanzhang punished with harsh statutes, skinning and cutting grass, yet it persisted.

The cause, perhaps, lay in his father's meager salary.

In this life, with him present, at least he could help his elder brother clear some obstacles.

The party passed through Zhejiang into Fujian, and on the twenty‑eighth day of the second month arrived at Fuzhou Prefecture.

The Fujian Provincial Administration's office had long received the report; Provincial Administrator Li Wenyun, Inspector General Tu Jie, and Grand Commander Li Zhi led officials of all ranks to greet them outside the city.

Li Wenyun was in his fifties, with a pale face and short beard, dressed in a second‑rank peacock‑embroidered official robe, his smile affable.

"I, Li Wenyun, Provincial Administrator of Fujian, respectfully welcome Crown Prince, Prince Wu, and all Your Highnesses," he bowed deeply.

The officials behind bowed and greeted in unison.

Zhu Biao dismounted, gave a pretended support, and said, "Lord Li Wenyun, no need for formalities. I am here southward to inspect the Coastal Defense and to check the Warship construction progress."

Li Wenyun smiled, "Crown Prince, your concern for the Maritime Frontier truly benefits the people of Fujian. I have prepared a welcome banquet in the office; please proceed."

"No need… I will first go to the Quanzhou Shipyard to take a look," Zhu Biao waved his hand and said.

Li Wenyun, upon hearing this, momentarily paled, but quickly restored his smile and said, "Prince, your journey has been tiring; perhaps rest a day and go tomorrow?"

"Right now," Zhu Biao replied evenly, leaving no room for doubt.

Li Wenyun could only say, "Then… I will guide you, Prince."

The Quanzhou Shipyard at the Minjiang River Mouth spans several hundred mu, with dozens of Warships under construction moored along the riverbank.

When Zhu Biao and his party arrived, it was already afternoon.

Inside the shipyard, craftsmen were busy; the sounds of sawing, hammering, and shouts rose and fell.

Li Wenyun pointed to the largest vessel by the river and said, "Prince, look there—that is a Fortune Ship under construction, fifteen Zhang long, three Zhang wide, capable of carrying two hundred soldiers and equipped with eight guns."

Ships of this type, the Quanzhou Shipyard plans to build ten this year.

Zhu Biao stepped closer to examine.

The hull was already largely formed, using fine pine and camphor wood.

But he noticed that some timber varied in color and the joints had relatively large gaps.

"What kind of wood is used for this ship?" Zhu Biao asked.

"Reply, Prince, the keel is made of century‑old ironwood, the planks are pine, the bulkheads are camphor wood, all premium materials," Li Wenyun answered.

Zhu Biao reached out, touched a plank, his fingertip gathering some sawdust, which he brought to his nose to sniff.

"Pine… I smell it like fir," he said, looking at Li Wenyun.

Li Wenyun's face instantly stiffened.

Pine is sturdy and rot‑resistant, suitable for shipbuilding.

Fir is soft and prone to decay, costing only half as much as pine.

"Perhaps I misremembered; you have a keen eye, Prince," Li Wenyun said with a dry smile.

Zhu Biao did not press further, instead asking, "What are the wages for the shipbuilders?"

"Skilled craftsmen receive fifty wen per day, apprentices twenty wen, all paid according to imperial regulations."

"I wish to see the craftsmen," I said.

Li Wenyun hurried, "Prince, the craftsmen are coarse; I fear they might collide with you…"

"No problem." Zhu Biao headed straight toward the work shed.

Inside the work shed, a dozen or so craftsmen were eating.

Seeing a group of officials enter, they hurriedly set down their bowls and utensils and knelt on the ground.

Zhu Biao instructed them to stand, then asked an elderly craftsman, "Sir, how long have you worked at the shipyard?"

The old craftsman replied timidly, "Reply… Reply, Sir, I have been at the shipyard for twenty years."

"Are the wages paid on time?"

"Yes… they are."

"How much per day?"

"Four… forty wen."

Zhu Biao's gaze turned cold as he looked at Li Wenyun, "Lord Li, didn't you just say fifty wen?"

Li Wenyun's forehead broke into sweat as he said, "Perhaps that old craftsman misremembered…"

The old craftsman collapsed in a kneel, "Forgive me, Sir! I misremembered; it is fifty wen! Fifty wen!"

Zhu Biao looked at the terrified craftsman and understood.

He did not press further, turned, and left the work shed.