Chapter 217: Expedition

Zhu Yuanzhang squinted and said, "You mean using steamships to transport troops?"

"Hmm, steamships are fast; from Yingtian Prefecture to Champa it takes half a month. They think we need at least one or two months, so they won't have time to prepare."

"By the time they react, we'll already be at the foot of the city," Zhu Yong said.

Xu Da's eyes lit up as he said, "Exactly… strike them by surprise, attack when they're unprepared! Good idea!"

Li Wenzhong also nodded and asked, "How many people can a steamship carry at once?"

Zhu Yong thought for a moment and said, "A ship like the Hongwu can hold five hundred soldiers; with other retrofitted ones we can gather twenty ships, moving ten thousand at a time."

"That's enough—ten thousand Longxiang Army, equipped with Flintlock Guns and rifled cannons; that can defeat ten nations. However, the key is to have troops follow up, so we can secure the territories captured by the second brother," Zhu Biao said softly.

Zhu Yuanzhang stood up and walked into the hall.

He looked at Zhou Dahai kneeling on the ground and said gravely, "You go recover first; the court will give an account to you and your fallen brothers."

Zhou Dahai kowtowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty! I am willing to guide the great army! I recognize those beasts' faces!"

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand, ordering someone to take him away.

The hall fell quiet again.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Yong and asked, "Yong Er, you think five thousand is enough?"

Zhu Yong replied, "Father, five thousand Longxiang Army, plus twenty steamships and ten transport ships, fully loaded with ammunition and gunpowder, is enough; more would only slow us down."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "Then you go."

"Yes."

"Wait… Imperial Father, your son has a plan that might achieve twice the result with half the effort," Zhu Biao suddenly said.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him and said, "Speak."

Zhu Biao said, "Since Champa and Java are colluding, we could first send people to Champa, pretend we don't know, claim the fleet is in distress, and ask them for help locating it."

At the same time, the main force quietly bypasses and strikes Java first.

He flashed a cold light in his eyes and said, "When the news of Java's destruction reaches Champa, they'll either surrender in terror or gather troops to defend; either way, their formation will be thrown into chaos."

Then the second brother can go over later, and it will be a piece of cake.

Chang Yuchun slapped his thigh and said, "Brilliant! This is called… called…"

"Feint east, strike west," Li Wenzhong interjected.

"Right, feint east, strike west!"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Yong and asked, "What do you think?"

Zhu Yong chuckled and said, "Big brother, this idea is good, saves effort."

Zhu Yuanzhang pondered briefly, then decided, "Then it's settled: Yong Er as commander‑in‑chief, Xu Da as deputy commander, Chang Yuchun and Wang Baobao as escorts, mobilize ten thousand Longxiang Army, twenty steamships, twenty transport ships."

The Ministry of Revenue will procure supplies, the Ministry of War will allocate weapons, and we depart in ten days!

"As you command!" the group shouted in unison.

……

After the audience ended, Zhu Yong and Zhu Biao walked side by side out of Qianqing Palace.

The sky had already darkened, and lanterns lit the palace corridors.

"Second brother, this time you must bring more people who understand the local language; after the battle we still have to govern, we can't just leave," Zhu Biao said.

Zhu Yong nodded and said, "I understand, big brother, don't worry."

Zhu Biao stopped, looked at his brother's simple face, and said softly, "Second brother, this time is not like fighting Northern Yuan; the South Sea is humid and hot, with much miasma, and the unfamiliar climate easily causes illness. Have the Imperial Troops' doctors prepare more medicine."

"Hmm, we still have the anti‑miasma prescription from last time; bring more."

Zhu Biao reminded, "Also, for the people of those small states, accept surrender if possible; don't kill too many. Later, when we establish prefectures and counties in the South Sea, we will need people to work."

Zhu Yong laughed, "Big brother, I know; I just look simple, but I have it in mind."

Zhu Biao also laughed, patting his brother's shoulder.

The two brothers reached Wu Men, Zhu Yong mounted his horse, turned back and said, "Big brother, tell father and mother I will definitely bring back those beasts' heads."

Zhu Biao nodded and said, "Go, speak kindly to Guanyin Nu, don't let her worry."

……

Wu Wang Fu.

When Zhu Yong returned to the residence, Guanyin Nu was already waiting at the door.

She saw Zhu Yong's complexion was off, asked nothing, and simply told a maid to take the children downstairs.

Entering the inner hall, Zhu Yong gave a brief account of the matter.

Guanyin Nu was silent for a moment, then asked, "How long will the trip take?"

"If all goes smoothly, three to four months; if not, half a year," Zhu Yong said in a low voice.

Guanyin Nu nodded and said, "Then bring extra change of clothes; the South Sea is hot, don't wear too much."

"Hmm!"

"Bring plenty of anti‑miasma medicine, and also the daily rations; have the Imperial Troops test them first, those people use narcotics, be careful," Guanyin Nu added.

Zhu Yong grasped her hand and said, "Don't worry, I have it under control."

Guanyin Nu looked at him, then laughed, "Actually I'm not worried about you; those barbarians, no matter how many, aren't your match. I just… can't bear it."

Zhu Yong pulled her into his arms and said, "I also can't bear to lose you, can't bear the children, but this matter I must go; those over four thousand lives cannot die in vain."

Guanyin Nu leaned against his chest and said softly, "I understand, go! The home has me."

……

Ten days later, the nineteenth day of the ninth month, the eleventh year of Hongwu.

Longjiang Dock.

Ten thousand Longxiang Army had boarded, and twenty steamships and twenty transport ships were ready to set sail.

At the pier, Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma personally saw them off.

Empress Ma clasped Zhu Yong's hand, her eyes slightly reddened as she said, "Yong Er, be careful over there, don't be reckless."

"Don't worry, Mother, I know."

Zhu Yuanzhang patted his son's shoulder and said, "Yong Er, we await your swift report at Yingtian."

Zhu Biao came over, handed Zhu Yong a wooden box and said, "This is a telescope newly made by the Ministry of Works, crafted from the formula written by those foreign tribes. Take it with you."

Zhu Yong took it, replying earnestly, "Thank you, elder brother."

In the distance, Guanyin Nu stood among the crowd with two children.

Zhu Huanhuan waved vigorously, and Zhu Qiong Jiong, cradled in her arms, also mimicked his sister's wave.

Zhu Yong waved at them, then turned and boarded the Hongwu.

The steam whistle blared long, and the bright wheel turned.

Twenty steamships led the way out of the harbor, slowly sailing into the Yangtze.

Zhu Yong stood at the bow, watching the crowd on the shore shrink, watching the Yingtian Prefecture City where he had lived for eight years.

The wind came from the southeast, carrying the salty, briny scent of the sea.

The blood debt of over four thousand lives must be repaid.

He brushed his hand over the pair of 1,200‑jin drum‑jar golden hammers standing rigidly beside him; his simple face showed no expression, but his gaze was as cold as a blade.

"Java, Champa, I'm coming," he whispered those two names.

The fleet drifted downstream, gradually vanishing into the horizon.

At the pier, Zhu Biao stood until the ship's silhouette disappeared completely.

"Biao'er, go back," Zhu Yuanzhang said.

Zhu Biao nodded and followed Imperial Father back.

After a few steps, he suddenly turned back and glanced again at the vast river surface.

"Second brother, return safely."

He whispered silently to himself.