Chapter 162: Returning Fully Laden

The seventh year of Hongwu, the seventeenth day of the tenth month.

On the surface of the East Sea, a massive fleet is cutting through the waves westward.

The fleet consists of more than thirty vessels of various sizes; five are treasure ships laden with gold and silver, drawing deep drafts and sailing slowly. The rest are escort warships, their masts bearing Great Ming flags.

Zhu Yong stands at the prow of the flagship, the sea wind whistling, stirring the black cloak on his shoulders.

Behind him, Zhang Wuhe and Chen Heng stand on either side.

"Prince, at this speed, we'll reach Ningbo in another five or six days," Zhang Wu says, looking west.

Zhu Yong nods, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon.

It has been nearly half a month since leaving Wa Country; the fleet set out from Shijian Port, passed through the Tsushima Strait into the East Sea, and has been heading west.

The first shipment of gold and silver returning to Great Ming is astonishing in quantity.

Gold alone from the Sado Gold Mine filled two whole ships, each carrying three thousand boxes, each box weighing a hundred taels, totaling six hundred thousand taels.

Silver from the Shijian Silver Mine was even more, loading three ships, each with five thousand boxes, each box a hundred taels, totaling one million five hundred thousand taels.

There was also mixed ore from Lingari Mine, loaded onto one ship, valued at about three hundred thousand taels of silver.

In total, six hundred thousand taels of gold and one million eight hundred thousand taels of silver; at Great Ming market rates, one tael of gold exchanges for ten taels of silver, amounting to seven million eight hundred thousand taels of silver.

And this is only the first batch.

The three major gold and silver mines of Wa Country have just begun large‑scale extraction, and such output will occur each year thereafter.

"My cousin said, once these gold and silver are brought back, Father will surely be pleased," Zhu Yong chuckles.

Chen Heng interjects, "Not just pleased—His Majesty will probably laugh himself awake in his dreams. Great Ming's annual revenue is so modest that this trip brings back nearly eight million taels, equivalent to two years of treasury income."

"With this gold and silver, the court can accomplish many things," Zhang Wu adds.

Zhu Yong looks at the sea surface, his mind recalling memories of a past life.

He knows that in later Great Ming history, fiscal difficulty stemmed largely from a shortage of silver.

The Shijian Silver Mine in Wa Country, in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, was once one of the world's largest silver mines, producing several million taels of silver annually, sustaining the entire colonial expansion of Western Europe.

In this life, this silver belongs to Great Ming.

The fleet continues sailing.

……

On the twenty‑third day of the tenth month, the fleet arrives at Ningbo Port.

The port had already received word; Zhejiang Vice Minister of the East leads officials to greet them at the dock.

The fleet slowly comes to berth.

"I, Fang Guozhen, Zhejiang Vice Minister of the East, respectfully welcome Prince Wu's triumphant return," Fang Guozhen leads officials in kneeling.

Zhu Yong steps ashore, waving his hand, "No formalities. Unload the gold and silver, handle them gently, assign troops to guard them, and let nothing be lost."

"Understood!" Fang Guozhen replies, immediately dispatching personnel.

On the dock, soldiers line up and begin unloading.

Boxes of gold and silver are lifted from the ships onto pre‑prepared wagons.

Each wagon is drawn by four horses, with reinforced axles and iron‑banded wheels.

Each wagon carries twenty boxes, escorted by ten soldiers, and slowly rolls toward the city's warehouses.

Unloading continues for the entire day.

By evening, all gold and silver are stored, with three layers of guards surrounding the warehouses, watching day and night.

Fang Guozhen hosts a banquet to welcome Zhu Yong.

At the banquet, Zhu Yong briefly inquires about Zhejiang's recent affairs and does not linger.

Early the next morning, he leads the Personal Guard Unit and sets off, urging fast horses toward Yingtian.

The gold and silver are escorted by Fang Guozhen's men, who follow shortly after.

The seventh year of Hongwu, the twenty‑ninth day of the tenth month.

A massive fleet is sailing upriver, led by a three‑decked ship whose mast bears the Ming Dragon Flag and Prince Wu's banner.

Zhu Yong stands at the bow, watching the Yingtian dock draw nearer.

In the morning light, flags flutter on the dock, and a sea of people stands densely packed.

"Prince, look! His Majesty and the Crown Prince have arrived!" Zhang Wu exclaims, pointing ahead.

Zhu Yong squints and looks.

On the dock, Zhu Yuanzhang wears a bright‑yellow dragon robe, a winged crown atop his head, standing at the forefront.

Zhu Biao is dressed in Crown Prince ceremonial attire, standing beside his father. Civil and Military Officials line both sides, while the Imperial Guard stands in strict formation.

Further away, crowds of common folk flood the area, all coming to see the triumphant army.

"Dock," Zhu Yong orders.

The fleet slowly approaches the dock, dropping anchor.

The gangplank is lowered.

Zhu Yong steps off first; today he deliberately wears the Prince Wu python robe, over it a black Great Cloak.

Half a year of campaigning has sharpened his facial features and made his gaze keener.

"Your son Zhu Yong, may I have an audience with Father Emperor!" Zhu Yong steps before Zhu Yuanzhang, kneeling on one knee.

"We, your servants, have an audience with His Majesty—May the Emperor live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten ten thousand years! We have an audience with the Crown Prince—May the Prince live a thousand years, a thousand years, a thousand thousand years!" The generals behind them kneel in unison.

Zhu Yuanzhang steps forward, personally lifts Zhu Yong, scrutinizes him, and with a look of satisfaction says, "Good! Good! Yong Er, you have returned safely; we are relieved!"

Zhu Biao also steps forward, patting his younger brother's shoulder, saying joyfully, "Second brother, you have worked hard."

"Not hard; the campaign is over," Zhu Yong laughs.

Zhu Yuanzhang turns, looks at the generals, and says, "Generals who distinguished themselves in the campaign against Wa, all rise!"

"Thank you, His Majesty!"

The generals rose.

Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze swept over Liao Yongzhong and the others, finally resting on Zhu Yong and said: "We have seen all the battle reports of the Wa Country war. Yong Er broke Hakata with three hammer blows, slew Kikuchi Takehikari in battle, his might shook the Wa Country, the contribution was indispensable!"

"Imperial Father, your praise is excessive; it is the soldiers who risked their lives," Zhu Yong said.

"The Gold and Silver on the ship, bring them all down," Zhu Yuanzhang instructed the officials behind him.

Immediately, Ministry of Works officials, with laborers, boarded the ship and began moving the cargo.

Boxes of Gold and Silver were lifted out of the hold and piled into small hills on the dock.

In the sunlight, the gold ingots and silver ingots glittered brightly.

The onlooking common folk let out waves of astonishment.

"So much Gold and Silver…"

"I heard they were all mined from the Wa Country…"

"Prince Wu truly is heroic…"

"...."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the Gold and Silver, his smile deepening: "Yong Er, this Gold and Silver will be enough for Great Ming for several years."

"Father, this is only a part; the Sado Gold Mountain and Ishimi Silver Mountain are still being mined, and in future each year we can bring back this much," Zhu Yong said.

"Good! Good!" Zhu Yuanzhang nodded repeatedly.

At this moment, Zhejiang Deputy Chancellor Fang Guozhen stepped forward and saluted: "I, Fang Guozhen, request an audience with His Majesty, request an audience with the Crown Prince."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him and said: "Minister Fang, Zhejiang has been governed well these years."

"I dare not accept the credit; it is all His Majesty's great blessing," Fang Guozhen hurriedly replied.

"Very well, we'll discuss it back at the palace," Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand.

The imperial carriage has already been prepared.

Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Biao, and Zhu Yong boarded the imperial litter; the Civil and Military Officials followed, the Imperial Guard cleared the way, and they proceeded grandly toward the Imperial City.

Along the way, the common folk knelt, praised and cheered, all hoping to catch a glimpse of Prince Wu's bearing.

Zhu Yong sat in the imperial litter, looking at the familiar street scene outside the window, feeling considerably more at ease.

Home is still the best.