Chapter 191: Granary 3

"Jie Jin." Zhu Biao said softly again.

"I am here."

"You are right."

He paused.

"What I think, indeed, is grain."

He stood up and walked to the window.

Outside the window, the night was deep; in the courtyard of Wenhua Hall, the old locust tree had lost most of its leaves, its bare branches reaching toward the night sky.

"Second brother said we should turn the South Sea into Great Ming's granary; I think he's right, but I have an extra concern."

Zhu Biao turned his head and said to Jie Jin.

"Granaries can be built, but not just one."

Jie Jin was startled for a moment.

"Prince's meaning is…"

"Jiangnan is a granary, Huguang is a granary, Bashu is a granary," Zhu Biao said.

"Now there's also the South Sea," he paused and then said.

"If one day something happens in the South Sea, the sea route is cut, rice can't be shipped, what will Great Ming's people do?"

Jie Jin was stunned.

He hadn't considered that layer.

"So…" he hesitated.

"Therefore, the South Sea must be expanded, but not hastily," Zhu Biao said.

"The Ministry of Works must build steamships, the Maritime Trade Office must open trade routes, the conditions of overseas nations must be clarified; at the same time, Jiangnan's waterworks must be repaired, Huguang's wastelands must be reclaimed, and the Northern Region's wheat fields must be improved."

He looked out the window.

"When the granaries are full, the world is at peace. I've recited this since childhood, but truly understanding its meaning has only come in recent years."

Zhu Biao said no more.

Jie Jin also did not ask.

He just stood there, watching the Crown Prince's profile.

Candlelight flickered, reflecting on the young face.

"Prince," Jie Jin said softly.

"Mm."

"I…" he could not speak.

Zhu Biao did not turn around.

"No need to say more," he said.

"Go back and rest! Tomorrow you still have duty."

"Yes."

Jie Jin bowed and left the duty room.

As he reached the doorway, he couldn't help but glance back.

The Crown Prince still stood at the window, motionless.

Outside, the moon rose.

The cool moonlight spilled into the courtyard, bathing the bare old locust tree.

Jie Jin gently closed the door behind him.

He did not return to the duty room.

Instead he stood in the corridor, looking up at the moon.

Tonight's moonlight is truly cool.

……

Wu Wang Fu.

Zhu Yong had not fallen asleep yet.

He sat in the study, a map spread before him.

It was not a Great Ming map.

It was the World Map he presented last year.

Guanyin Nu entered carrying tea, saw he was still looking, and said softly, "Prince, it's time to rest."

"Mm, I'll look a bit longer," Zhu Yong said.

Guanyin Nu placed the tea on the desk and stayed.

She glanced at the map; the South Sea was a scattering of islands and peninsulas, labeled Annam, Champa, Siam, Java, Malacca…

She had heard those names during the Northern Yuan era, but had never been there.

"Prince, what are you thinking?" Guanyin Nu asked curiously.

Zhu Yong gave no reply.

He stared at that sea area, silent for a long time.

"Guanyin Nu," he suddenly said.

"Mm."

"When I was a kid in Fengyang, I couldn't get enough to eat; my biggest wish was to be full every meal. Later I joined the army, fought under General Chang, won battles and received silver rewards; silver could buy grain, and grain could fill the belly."

"Later, I found a father and mother, became a Prince, and never worried about food or clothing again."

He paused.

"But I still think of those who can't get enough food."

He looked at the map.

"I was in Jurong, saw an old woman receiving disaster‑relief grain; she clutched the sack of rice tightly to her chest, walked out a dozen steps, then turned back and knelt toward the Capital City."

"I was in Changzhou, saw an old farmer squatting on a cracked ridge, pulling the withered rice seedlings with his finger, placing them in his palm, and staring for a long time."

"I was in Wenzhou, saw a long queue outside the porridge stall; a child held a bowl, and the few grains at the bottom of the bowl, he counted three times."

He turned his head and looked at Guanyin Nu.

"I know I can't save everyone alone, but I still want to try."

Guanyin Nu looked at him.

She watched him change from a simpleton who only knew how to swing a hammer into the person he is now.

He would think, would ask, would worry, would scheme.

But he is still that man.

The man on the bridal chamber's candlelit night who told her, "I will be good to you," but he was simple, a simpleton who couldn't speak.

"Prince," she said softly.

"Hmm."

"You are not alone."

Zhu Yong looked at her.

"You have the Emperor, the Empress, Crown Prince, General Chang, General Xu, General Lan, General Wang… the Longxiang Army's thirty thousand soldiers, and several hundred people from Wu Wang Fu."

She paused, then continued: "There is your servant, and Huan Huan."

"The things you wish to do, many people will help you."

Zhu Yong said nothing.

He reached out and grasped his wife's hand.

Guanyin Nu's hand was a bit cold.

He held it tightly.

"Thank you," he said softly.

Guanyin Nu was stunned for a moment.

After several years of marriage, he had never said thank you to her.

"Prince…"

"I don't say those flattering words; I just know that with you there, I feel at ease."

Guanyin Nu said nothing.

She simply leaned lightly on his shoulder.

……

In the eighth year of Hongwu, the tenth day of the tenth month.

Zhu Yong formally presented to Zhu Yuanzhang in Qianqing Palace:

"Please open the South Sea trade fleet, promote commerce, and explore the sea routes."

Zhu Yuanzhang approved.

"The Maritime Trade Office will select officials, interpreters, merchants, and prepare three sea vessels, to set sail south after next spring, to visit Annam, Champa, Siam, Zhenla and other countries."

"This expedition is not under the pretext of flaunting national power, nor for the purpose of conferring titles on vassals."

"In the name of merchants, we actually explore the routes."

"This is Great Ming's first time turning its gaze toward that warm sea region."

In the eighth year of Hongwu, the fifteenth day of the tenth month.

Yingtian Prefecture experienced its first winter rain.

The rain was light, fine and dense, pattering on the tile eaves with a rustling sound.

Zhu Yong stood at the study window of Wang Fu, looking at the osmanthus tree in the courtyard.

The seedlings planted this spring were transplanted from Fengyang's old home.

The old village chief's letter, delivered by Wang Gui, said this tree was dug up by Shi Laosan on the mountain back then, planted in his own courtyard, and cultivated for over ten years.

After Shi Laosan died, the tree was unattended and almost died.

Villagers moved it to another spot, and it revived.

When Wang Gui brought the sapling to Yingtian, its roots were still wrapped in Fengyang soil.

Zhu Yong personally planted it in the courtyard.

He came to see it every morning and evening.

"Prince," Chen Heng reported from outside the door.

"Someone from the Ministry of Works said the fifth trial of the steam engine succeeded," Zhu Yong turned around.

"Succeeded…"

"It succeeded; the Vice Minister of Works personally tested it, saying the cylinder sealing issue was solved, allowing continuous operation for an hour."

Zhu Yong said nothing.

He stood at the study doorway, looking at the osmanthus tree in the courtyard.

Fengyang soil nurtured a Fengyang tree.

Yingtian's craftsmen produced the steam machine.

"Understood."

"Go tell the Ministry of Works to add the dishes tonight and charge it to my account."

"Yes."

Chen Heng took the order and left.

Zhu Yong turned around and walked back to the desk.

The map was still spread out.

He lowered his head and stared at that stretch of South Sea.

Annam, Champa, Siam, Java, Malacca…

One place after another, strange and distant.

He reached out and lightly tapped the map.

Not these places.

It's farther away.