Chapter 212: Plastic

After the officials left, Zhu Yuanzhang pulled Zhu Yong to sit down and said with emotion, "Yong Er! The things you've produced over the years have become more and more useful: the Spinning Wheel lets the common folk have clothes to wear, the white sugar fills the treasury with money, the Flintlock Gun makes the army unbeatable, the steam engine lets the Gongfang operate day and night."

Now we have this plastic…

He paused, looked at Zhu Yong with eyes full of satisfaction, and said, "Sometimes I think, perhaps Heaven lost our son for fifteen years just to let him learn these skills abroad, then return to help us?"

Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to picture a steamship and the steam carriage his son mentioned sailing on the sea, traveling on the imperial road.

What kind of scene would Great Ming be like then?

Zhu Biao laughed beside him, "Imperial Father, you are right; second brother is the lucky star of Great Ming."

Zhu Yong scratched his head, chuckled, "Dad, big brother, I'm just lucky; I dreamed of the White-bearded Old Man, and whatever he gave me, I took."

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed loudly, "What luck! With this luck, the ancestral tomb of our old Zhu Family is spewing green smoke."

Just then, a eunuch outside reported, "His Majesty, Empress Ma has arrived with several young imperial grandchildren."

As soon as the words finished, Empress Ma entered, followed by a long line of children.

Zhu Xiongying ran to the front, wearing a red little robe, the fastest, "Grandfather! Grandson wishes you a Happy New Year!"

Behind him followed Zhu Huanhuan, and Zhu Wenwen was being held by a wet nurse, as was Zhu QiongJiong.

The little ones were all dressed plump and round, like a group of dumplings.

Zhu Yuanzhang's face blossomed with a smile; he bent down, lifted Zhu Xiongying and said, "Good grandson, didn't you already pay your respects yesterday?"

"Yesterday was the New Year's grand ceremony; today I'm the grandson who wants to wish Grandfather a Happy New Year," Zhu Xiongying said sweetly.

Empress Ma walked over, smiling, "These children were clamoring to come early, saying there were too many people yesterday, so they didn't get a proper chance to speak with Grandfather.

So I brought them over."

Zhu Biao took Zhu Wenwen, kissed his daughter's cheek.

Zhu Yong also lifted Zhu Huanhuan, letting her sit on his lap.

The family sat together, chatting and laughing.

Zhu Xiongying clung to Zhu Yong, asking, "Second Uncle, when will you take me hunting again?"

Zhu Yong laughed, "When you're two years older, Second Uncle will take you into the mountains to hunt a big tiger."

"Really?" Zhu Xiongying's eyes lit up.

"Really."

Zhu Huanhuan pouted beside them, "Dad, take me too!"

"All of you, all of you," Zhu Yong pinched his daughter's little cheek.

Zhu Yuanzhang watched this scene, feeling warm inside.

He turned to Empress Ma, "Sister, sometimes I think this life has been worth it: the empire has been taken, the son has achieved, the grandson is lively, the whole family is together and orderly."

Empress Ma grasped his hand, smiling, "Zhong Ba, this is just the beginning; the days ahead are still long."

Zhu Biao said beside them, "Imperial Father, a few days ago I had people sort out last year's taxes from all regions, which are twenty percent higher than the year before.

The Jiangnan textile Gongfang, the Northern Region iron‑refining Gongfang, and the silver brought back from the Eastern Sea Office have all filled the treasury nicely."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, "Good! With money, things are easy to handle. We think, once the steam engine is further improved, these roads should be built.

From Yingtian to Suzhou, then from Suzhou to Hangzhou, linking Jiangnan together."

Zhu Yong interjected, "Dad, building roads requires massive labor; we still need to wait. The new grain varieties have just been distributed; once the people become more prosperous, it's not too late to build roads."

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Right, right… Yong Er, you're thoughtful; we must wait until the people are richer, fed, and have strength."

Zhu Biao added, "Imperial Father, I have another matter. The fleet sent to the South Sea returned, bringing many reports. Several small states there, hearing that Great Ming is powerful, wish to send envoys to pay tribute.

I think we can use this to open trade routes, selling our white sugar and porcelain there in exchange for their spices and gems."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, "Handle this. Remember, business is business; the rules must be set, and they must not be allowed to take advantage."

"I understand," the son replied.

The family chatted, and before they knew it it was near noon.

Empress Ma said, "Alright, it's time to return for a meal. Yong Er, will you and Minmin have lunch in the palace today?"

Zhu Yong nodded, "Fine…"

……

The noon meal was set in Kunning Palace; the whole family sat around, lively and bustling.

Zhu Shuang, Zhu Gang, and Zhu Di, who had already been assigned to fiefs, returned for the New Year. Their experiences over time have made them look much more steady, and perhaps because they didn't go to Guanyin Nu, Zhu Shuang no longer exhibits the historical cruelty.

Zhu Su, Zhu Zhen, and Zhu Fu, the younger ones, were still in the palace, chattering nonstop.

Zhu Yong looked at these younger brothers and sisters, feeling emotional.

In his previous life, reading history books, each of these princes had their own fates—some met a good end, others met a bad death.

In this life, everything has changed.

Eldest brother is still that black‑heart rice dumpling, but he pours his heart out for me.

Father, though quick‑tempered, protects the family tightly.

Mother is still so gentle and kind.

The younger brothers, though mischievous, are kept in line, not daring to act out.

And the meritorious officials, Chang Yuchun, Xu Da, Li Wenzhong, are all living well, continuing to serve Great Ming.

Those foreign foes—Northern Yuan, Nüzhen, Goryeo, Wa Country—are all gone, becoming part of Great Ming's territory.

This empire, stable now.

"Second Uncle, what are you thinking?" Zhu Xiongying tugged his sleeve beside him.

Zhu Yong snapped back, chuckling, "Nothing, just thinking of taking you all kite‑flying this afternoon."

"Really?" Zhu Xiongying's eyes lit up.

"Really."

After lunch, Zhu Yong took several children to the Imperial Garden to fly kites.

Zhu Xiongying ran the fastest, Zhu Huanhuan chased behind, Zhu Wenwen was held by a wet nurse, stretching her little hand to try to catch.

Zhu QiongJiong lay on a small blanket, watching the multicolored kites in the sky, laughing "giggling" nonstop.

Zhu Yong stood nearby, watching the children, and couldn't suppress the smile at the corner of his mouth.

In the distance, Zhu Biao came over and stood beside him.

"Second brother."

"Elder brother."

The two brothers stood side by side, watching the children frolic.

"Today the plastic blueprint was taken by the Ministry of Works for study; we expect results soon. Imperial Father asked me to tell you, you've worked hard all these years."

Zhu Biao said with a smile.

Zhu Yong shook his head and said, "Hard work? I'm just handling the blueprint; the real labor is done by the Ministry of Works' craftsmen."

"You can't put it that way; without your blueprint, even if they're capable they have no direction. Imperial Father is right; you are Great Ming's lucky star."

Zhu Biao patted his shoulder and said.

Zhu Yong gave a simple laugh, saying nothing further.

Zhu Biao suddenly asked, "Second brother, have you ever thought about what you want to do when the world is at peace?"

Zhu Yong was startled, thought for a moment and said, "I haven't thought about it; maybe… just stay with father and mother, stay with you, stay with Minmin and the children, farm, hunt, and live a peaceful life!"

Zhu Biao laughed, "You, still that simple‑hearted fellow, but that's fine."

He paused, looked into the distance and said, "When Xiong Ying gets older, I want to take him out more, to see the lands of Great Ming."

"Let him know how vast the realm his grandfather and second uncle conquered is."

Zhu Yong nodded and said, "Elder brother is right; the children need to see the world."

Sunlight streamed into the Imperial Garden, warm and gentle.

The distant kites rose higher, and the children's laughter rang clear and bright.

In the first month of the eleventh year of Hongwu, it began just like that in an ordinary yet warm day.

…

In the days that followed, the Ministry of Works devoted all effort to researching plastic manufacturing.

Zhu Yong visited every few days to take a look, offering occasional pointers.

The people of the Ministry of Works already respected him; now they even worshipped him like an immortal. The techniques on the blueprints, when they followed them, truly could be produced.

Two months later, the first batch of plastic sealing rings debuted.

Installed on the steam engine, the leakage problem was solved effortlessly.

The steam engine's efficiency rose by thirty percent, its service life extended from a few months to over a year, and it could run continuously rather than intermittently.

Zhu Yuanzhang was overjoyed, personally inspected the Ministry of Works, and on the spot rewarded all the craftsmen involved in the research.

"Great! Excellent! With this, Great Ming's machines can run day and night without stopping! Yong Er, tell me, what should we do next?"

Zhu Yuanzhang patted the steam engine and asked the Zhu Yong beside him.

"I don't know either; I need father and elder brother to decide…" Zhu Yong scratched his head and said.

"You!"

Pointing at Zhu Yong, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but shake his head.