Chapter 231: Arrangement

On the tenth day of the first month, Chang Yuchun led a group of people in a small boat to a nearby large island.

The island was a bit smaller than Borneo, but not small; its forests were dense, and several active volcanoes smoked.

Zhu Yong told Chang Yuchun to check whether there were any people on the island, whether there was fresh water, and whether it was suitable for stationing troops.

Chang Yuchun spent three days there, returned with a tanned complexion, but his spirits were high.

"Prince! There are natives on the island! Dark‑skinned, wearing grass skirts, they ran as soon as they saw us!" he shouted as soon as he entered the barracks.

Zhu Yong, interested, asked, "Where did they run to?"

"They ran into the mountains; we chased them for a while but didn't catch up. However, the island has fresh water, several rivers with good quality. By the sea there are large flat areas suitable for building a city," Chang Yuchun said after taking a sip of water.

Zhu Yong nodded, spread out the map, and marked it.

"Brother Chang, you worked hard. Record the island for now; after we finish here, we'll send people to explore it thoroughly."

Chang Yuchun leaned over to look at the map and found it covered densely with symbols.

"Prince, your map is truly detailed."

"It was drawn by people from the Ministry of Works; I only marked the places we visited," Zhu Yong said.

Chang Yuchun stared at the vast blank sea area on the map, clicking his tongue, "The South Sea is truly huge; after fighting for so long, we've only claimed such a tiny piece."

"Take it slowly; first master this piece, then move south," Zhu Yong folded the map, "

The fifteenth day of the first month, Lantern Festival.

In the camp, lanterns and streamers were strung; the soldiers fashioned simple lanterns from bamboo splints, lit candles, and hung them at the barracks doors.

The Kitchen prepared tangyuan, sesame‑filled and peanut‑filled, giving each person a bowl.

Zhu Yong held a bowl of tangyuan, sat on a Wooden Stake by the pier, and gazed at the moon reflected on the sea.

Tonight the moon was full and bright, laying a silver road across the sea.

In the distance, several warships floated silently on the sea, their lanterns reflected in the water, swaying gently with the waves.

Chang Yuchun, Wang Baobao, and Xu Da also came holding bowls and sat beside Zhu Yong.

"Prince, you miss home, don't you?" Chang Yuchun asked.

Zhu Yong nodded, "I miss Guanyin Nu and my daughters a bit; I have no idea what they're doing now."

"They must be eating tangyuan too, thinking of you!" Chang Yuchun laughed.

Wang Baobao said, "I also miss my younger sister and niece; that child Qiong Jiong could barely walk when I left, now I'm afraid they've started running."

Xu Da smiled and said, "Having been out this long, missing home is natural; I also miss home a bit..."

Zhu Yong looked at Xu Da and said, "Xu Shu, you should take another wife, find a young one."

Xu Da nearly spat out his tangyuan, "Prince, please don't make a joke of this old man!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

The laughter drifted over the sea, startling the seabirds perched on distant rocks.

Zhu Yong watched the flapping seabirds and suddenly asked, "Xu Shu, what expression would Imperial Father have upon receiving our battle report?"

Xu Da thought for a moment and said, "His Majesty would certainly be pleased, but also feel sorrow."

"Sorrow?"

"He would feel sorrow for you and the soldiers; although His Majesty is quick‑tempered and fierce, he is sincere toward his troops. When he fought Chen Youliang and so many brothers died, His Majesty wept for three days.

Now that you lead the soldiers on an expedition to the South Sea, His Majesty surely thinks of you every day," Xu Da said.

Zhu Yong was silent for a moment, then nodded.

Xu Da was right.

His father, that man, is harsh to outsiders but truly kind to his own.

……

On the twentieth day of the first month, a steam clipper raced in from the north.

From the ship came the official in charge of the Ministry of War, carrying a thick stack of documents.

"Report to Prince Wu, His Majesty's Imperial Edict, Crown Prince's directive, Ministry of War orders, Ministry of Revenue grain allocations, Ministry of Personnel appointments, Ministry of Works city‑building Blueprint, all are here," the official said, bowing.

Zhu Yong took it, first opening Zhu Yuanzhang's Imperial Edict.

The edict was short, but each word weighed a thousand pounds.

"Prince Wu, expedition to the South Sea, conquering nations one after another, expanding borders, achievements for the state; immediately establish prefectures and counties, station troops to guard and secure the frontier. By imperial command."

Zhu Yong finished reading and handed the edict to Xu Da.

Xu Da, after reading, remarked, "His Majesty intends to treat the South Sea as a proper prefecture and county."

Zhu Yong nodded, then opened Zhu Biao's letter.

The letter was longer than the last, rambling on about a great many things.

It recounted the family situation: Guanyin Nu was fine, just missing him; Xiong Ying asked second uncle daily when he would return; Qiong Jiong would run, chasing after Xiong Ying, crying when unable to catch up; Huan Huan had learned to recite poems and write characters.

Finally it mentioned official business: the dispatched officials had already set out, expected to arrive around March; the Ministry of Revenue allocated another one million taels of silver for the South Sea garrison and city construction; the Ministry of War was recruiting new soldiers, preparing a second rotation.

Zhu Yong finished reading, a smile curling his lips.

"This older brother is really more nagging than one's own mother,"

But, I like him.

……

In the latter part of the first month, the first batch of officials arrived in Borneo.

Leading them was a man in his early forties, surname Liu, given name Wenyuan, who had served as Prefect in Shandong with outstanding achievements.

"Your servant Liu Wenyuan, requesting audience with Prince Wu," Liu Wenyuan knelt and saluted.

Zhu Yong helped him up, "Lord Liu, no need for formalities; the journey has been arduous."

Liu Wenyuan rose and said, "Serving the court is no hardship, Prince; I have brought seventy‑three officials, all experienced capable officers."

This is the roster; please review it, Prince.

Zhu Yong took the roster, skimmed it roughly, and nodded, "Lord Liu, you have worked hard; how should these officials be assigned, and do you have a regulation for it?"

Lord Liu said, "I think we should first prioritize the three kingdoms of Manzhe Bo Yi, Java, and Siam; these three have large populations and vast territories, so establishing prefectures and counties there will quickly stabilize them."

The remaining small states can temporarily have Post Stations; once they are stable, we can gradually set up prefectures and counties.

Zhu Yong nodded and said, "Lord Liu, your thinking is thorough; we will proceed as you suggested."

Lord Liu added, "Prince, I have another matter."

"Speak."

"The local populace speak different languages and have different customs; how shall we govern them?"

Zhu Yong was silent for a moment, then said, "Lord Liu, what do you think we should do?"

Lord Liu thought for a moment and said, "I believe we should focus on pacification, letting the local chieftains continue to manage affairs while we assign people to supervise them."

At the same time, we should establish schools to teach the Chinese language and characters; after one or two generations, they will naturally become loyal.

Zhu Yong nodded, then shook his head.

"Lord Liu is right, but we cannot let the chieftains govern forever; some of them are willing to follow Great Ming, while others are resentful."

Those willing can continue to hold office, even be promoted to serve in Yingtian; those unwilling can be gradually replaced.

Lord Liu was momentarily stunned and said, "Prince, you are wise."

Zhu Yong waved his hand, "Whether you are wise or not is another matter; Lord Liu, these regions are now entrusted to you. I do not understand governance; I only know how to fight. If you can manage them well, it will be a great achievement."

Lord Liu bowed and said, "I will certainly not disgrace the order."