Chapter 192: New Baby

In the ninth year of Hongwu, the first day of the new year.

Just after the hour of the Rat, sporadic firecracker sounds rang out in Ying Tianfu City.

Inside Kunning Palace, the lamps shone brightly and warmth suffused the hall.

The earth‑dragon fire burned vigorously; three or four pots of charcoal were placed in the hall, all premium silver‑frost charcoal, smokeless and odorless, leaving only warmth.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat at the head, cradling his seven‑month‑old daughter Zhu Wenwen in his arms, smiling so broadly it could not be contained.

"Our granddaughter looks far prettier than Biao when he was a child."

Zhu Biao laughed beside him and said, "Father, how am I to conduct myself after hearing that?"

"To be frank, you were all wrinkled as a little old man when you were young; Wenwen is so delicate," Zhu Yuanzhang said without even lifting his head.

Empress Ma walked over, took Zhu Wenwen, and said, "Enough, you've held her so long; let Wenwen rest."

Zhu Yuanzhang, still lingering in his thoughts, released his hold and turned his head to the other side.

Zhu Yong sat at the foot, cradling three‑year‑old Zhu Huanhuan in his arms.

The little girl reached for the snacks on the table, but Zhu Yong gently restrained her.

"Father, can Huanhuan eat it?" Zhu Huanhuan asked in a milk‑like voice.

"No, it's too sweet," Zhu Yong replied.

"But Grandfather just gave sister Wenwen some candy."

"Wenwen hasn't grown teeth yet; she can't eat it."

Zhu Huanhuan blinked, looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and said, "Grandfather, I've grown teeth now; can I eat it?"

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed heartily, "You can! Come, come to Grandfather here!"

Zhu Huanhuan immediately wriggled out of Zhu Yong's arms, trotted with her short legs over, and climbed onto Zhu Yuanzhang's lap.

Empress Ma said helplessly, "Zhong Ba, just spoil her."

"Our granddaughter, don't spoil anyone; eat slowly, don't choke," Zhu Yuanzhang held Zhu Huanhuan securely, gave her a piece of osmanthus cake and said.

Zhu Huanhuan nibbled the osmanthus cake bite by bite, her face covered in sugar frosting.

Guanyin Nu whispered softly beside them, "Huanhuan, thank you, Grandfather."

"Thank you, Grandfather," Zhu Huanhuan said, her mouth full of cake, indistinct.

"Hey!" Zhu Yuanzhang answered loudly.

The hall was filled with harmonious merriment.

Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang sat at the foot; the two had only returned from their fief on the twentieth day of the twelfth month.

Zhu Yuanzhang specially summoned them back to the capital for the New Year, saying that in the eighth year of Hongwu a severe natural disaster had struck, and the family needed to gather together for a meal.

Zhu Shuang leaned toward Zhu Gang's ear and whispered, "Fourth brother, look at Imperial Father holding Huanhuan and Wenwen; he doesn't even glance at the two of us."

Zhu Gang whispered, "We wouldn't know how to act cute."

"Indeed."

Zhu Di sat nearby; hearing his two older brothers mutter, he couldn't help rolling his eyes.

Although he was young, he was already far more steady than his two brothers.

"Third brother, fourth brother, keep your voices down; Imperial Father heard you," Zhu Di said softly.

Zhu Shuang was about to retort when Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze swept over.

"Shuang'er, Gang'er, what are you two murmuring about?"

Startled, Zhu Shuang quickly said, "Imperial Father, I have told Fourth brother that this year's calamities are so severe, the people suffer, and I worry day and night in my fief, wishing I could share their burdens."

Zhu Gang, beside him, nodded vigorously and said, "Yes, yes, I think the same."

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at them and said lightly, "Oh! Then how is your worry?"

"Uh…" Zhu Shuang was at a loss for words.

Zhu Biao let out a light laugh nearby, saying nothing.

Empress Ma defused the tension, "Alright, it's the New Year; don't frighten the children. Shuang'er, Gang'er, sit properly; the banquet is about to begin."

The two brothers, as if pardoned, promptly sat upright and solemnly.

Three banquet tables were set.

At the central table sat Zhu Yuanzhang, Empress Ma, Zhu Biao, Zhu Yong, along with Guanyin Nu and Chang Wan holding two children.

The two side tables were occupied by princes Zhu Shuang, Zhu Gang, Zhu Di, Zhu Su, Zhu Zhen, and Zhu Fu.

The youngest, Zhu Guicai, was only two years old, sitting on a chair that couldn't reach the table, his legs shaking anxiously.

Zhu Gang, seeing his plight, lifted him onto his side and offered him a piece of meat.

"Thank you, fourth brother," Zhu Gui said in a baby voice.

"You're welcome," Zhu Gang replied, then turned his head and exchanged a glance with Zhu Shuang, "Be honest tonight, don't anger Imperial Father."

Zhu Shuang nodded in understanding.

After three rounds of wine, the atmosphere gradually became lively.

Zhu Yuanzhang set down his chopsticks, looked at Zhu Yong and said, "Yong'er, today is the first day of the new year; what's that… what was it again?"

Zhu Yong knew what his father was asking.

Every first day of the new year, he would sign for certain items.

"Father, I dreamed of the White-bearded Old Man again this year," Zhu Yong muttered inwardly, then answered honestly.

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes brightened as he said, "Oh? What did you dream of?"

Everyone in the hall turned to look.

Every first day of the new year, Prince Wu would "dream," and each time his "dream" would bring some strange and wondrous items.

In the fourth year of Hongwu, he dreamed of a Loom Diagram; now that loom has been promoted throughout Jiangnan, tripling weaving efficiency.

In the fifth year of Hongwu, he dreamed of sea‑salt drying and white‑sugar refining; now the price of salt in Jiangnan has fallen by thirty percent, and white sugar has even become the court's flagship export, bringing back hundreds of thousands of taels of silver each year.

In the sixth year of Hongwu, he dreamed of some gun Blueprint.

In the seventh year of Hongwu, he dreamed of some plate armor and steel‑forging method.

In the eighth year of Hongwu, he dreamed of a steam‑engine schematic; the Ministry of Works studied it for a whole year, and although they had already built one, it was still not usable.

This year…

Everyone looked at Zhu Yong with anticipation.

Zhu Yong scratched his head and said, "Father, the things I dreamed of are a bit many."

"Many… tell me." Zhu Yuanzhang showed interest.

"The White-bearded Old Man gave me several pieces of paper and some seeds, saying they were potatoes, corn and sweet potatoes, and the papers described the planting methods."

"Potatoes… corn… tomatoes…"

"Yes, that's what it's called… The White-bearded Old Man said potatoes are cold‑tolerant and suitable for planting in the Northern Region, sweet potatoes are drought‑tolerant and suitable for mountainous areas, and corn tolerates drought and poor soil, suitable for the Northwest." Zhu Yong nodded.

"He also said that the yields of these three crops all surpass those of rice and wheat."

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately asked anxiously.

"How much higher is the yield?"

"A mu of potatoes can harvest twenty shi, sweet potatoes fifteen or sixteen shi, and corn over ten shi."

The hall fell silent.

Zhu Shuang's chopsticks almost fell to the floor.

Twenty shi (about 2,400 jin)…

In Jiangnan's premium paddies, with two harvests a year, rice and wheat together yield only five or six shi.

Can this lump of earth yield twenty shi?

"Yong Er, are you sure?" Zhu Yuanzhang's voice changed.

"It's what the White-bearded Old Man said; I'm not sure either, we'll only know after planting." Zhu Yong said naively.

"What about the seeds?"

"They're in the manor outside the city; I had the Longxiang Army guard it, not even a fly can get in."

Zhu Yuanzhang sprang to his feet.

"Biao Er!"

"Your son is here." Zhu Biao rose.

"Tomorrow—no, today—we must see those seeds with our own eyes!"

Zhu Biao glanced at his father and said softly, "Father, it's the first day of the Spring Festival, before dawn; the manor's main gate outside the city is closed, and the guarding soldiers are also celebrating the New Year.

When daylight comes, I'll accompany you."

Zhu Yuanzhang took a deep breath and sat down slowly.

"Alright, we'll go at daybreak."

Zhu Yuanzhang paused, then looked at Zhu Yong, "Yong Er, where are those blueprints?"

"They're also in the manor, but the White-bearded Old Man said those papers could help Great Ming solve its food problem." Zhu Yong said.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, said nothing more, but everyone could see that the Great Ming Emperor's mind had already flown to the manor outside the city.