Chapter 232: Unexpected

…

Early February, the stationed troops in each area were basically in place, and officials began to take up their posts on horseback.

Zhu Yong, with Chang Yuchun and Wang Baobao, sailed to inspect each location.

First they arrived at Manzhe Boyi.

A prefectural office had already been set up here; the Prefect, surnamed Chen, was a civil official in his forties, currently measuring the land and registering the population.

"Prince, Manzhe Boyi has about 300,000 people, most of whom are Buddhist, with many temples. I intend to first communicate with the temple heads to win their support," Prefect Chen reported.

Zhu Yong nodded and said, "Lord Chen is thorough. By the way, how are the stationed troops?"

"There are three thousand troops, commanded by General Zhang, and a camp has been built outside the city with daily drills," Prefect Chen said.

Zhu Yong looked at Zhang Wu, one of his Royal Guard Captains, the dark‑faced one.

"Zhang Wu, any issues with the stationed troops?"

Zhang Wu replied, "Prince, everything is going smoothly. The locals were initially fearful, but after seeing we do not disturb them and instead help repair roads and treat illnesses, they gradually accepted us."

Zhu Yong nodded, "Continue, and do not let your guard down."

"Yes!"

Then to Java.

Two county offices and one prefectural office had been established here; the Prefect, surnamed Wang, was also transferred from Shandong.

"Prince, Java has about 200,000 people, most of whom follow Islam. Several sultans have already been wiped out by us. The remaining local chieftains mostly are willing to submit," Prefect Wang reported.

Zhu Yong nodded, "Treat those who are willing to submit well; for those who are not, observe them first and do not rush to act."

"Understood," the subordinate said.

Then to Siam.

This place had only recently been captured, and the city walls still bore the marks of cannon fire.

The Prefect, surnamed Li, was a young man in his thirties, full of vigor.

"Prince, Siam has about 150,000 people, they are Buddhist, with many temples and monks. I intend to first communicate with the temple heads to win their support. At the same time, we will build a school outside the city to enroll local children and teach them Chinese language and characters."

Zhu Yong nodded, "Lord Li is thorough. By the way, how are the stationed troops?"

"There are two thousand troops, commanded by General Chen, and a camp has been built outside the city," Prefect Li said.

Zhu Yong looked at Chen Heng… the pale‑faced one.

"Chen Heng, any issues with the stationed troops?"

Chen Heng replied, "Prince, everything is going smoothly. The locals were initially resistant, but after seeing we cause no harm, they gradually accepted us.

There are also a few local youths who want to join our army; I will have them work in the camp first and observe before deciding."

Zhu Yong nodded, "That's right; don't rush to recruit locals, observe for a while first."

"Yes!"

…

Mid‑February, Zhu Yong returned to Borneo.

Xu Da was waiting for him at the dock, his expression somewhat grim.

"Prince, something has happened," Xu Da said.

Zhu Yong furrowed his brow, "What is it?"

"The fleet sent south to scout, two ships haven't returned. Out of five, three came back, and those three reported that they encountered a storm in the southern seas; two were blown apart and their whereabouts are unknown," Xu Da said.

Zhu Yong was silent for a moment, then asked, "How many people were on the missing ships?"

"Each ship carried fifty people, so the two ships had a hundred people," Xu Da said.

Zhu Yong clenched his fist, then released it.

"Have people been sent to look for them?"

"We sent three ships; they rested for two days and then went out to search, but there is still no news," Xu Da said.

Zhu Yong looked toward the distant sea.

The sea and sky were one color, boundless.

Those two ships, a hundred brothers, vanished like that into the endless ocean.

"Send more people to search, dispatch several more ships, bring Dry Rations and fresh water, search for a month; if still not found…" Zhu Yong said.

He paused, then said, "If they cannot be found, send compensation to their families."

Xu Da nodded, "Understood, sir."

Chang Yuchun cursed beside him, "This damned weather changes on a whim, truly…"

Zhu Yong waved his hand, "Chang Shu, it's not the weather's fault, it's our carelessness. The South Sea has many storms; we must be more cautious when sailing in the future."

Wang Baobao said, "Prince, I have a suggestion."

"Go on."

"When the fleet sails, could we bring that… what was it you mentioned, the thing that can detect storms?" Wang Baobao said, scratching his head.

Zhu Yong was momentarily stunned, then understood.

He was referring to meteorological observation.

In his previous life, he had seen on television that before a sea storm there are certain signs: atmospheric pressure drops, wind direction shifts abruptly, and waves become abnormal…

However, he hadn't had time to organize that knowledge.

"Elder Brother, your reminder is good. Later I'll write down some methods for observing storms, as well as what I learned from those fishermen, so future sailors can study them first," Zhu Yong said.

Wang Baobao nodded.

…

Late February, the missing fleet was found.

One ship drifted to an uninhabited island, ran aground, but the people were unharmed.

Another ship's mast broke; it drifted at sea for over ten days until the dispatched fleet located it and towed it back.

Two ships, a hundred people, not a single death.

Zhu Yong let out a sigh of relief and went to the pier himself to greet them.

On the ship that was towed back, the soldiers were grimy and dusty, but their spirits were fine.

Seeing Zhu Yong come personally to receive them, they knelt down in succession.

"Your servant is incompetent and has made the Prince worry!" the leading Captain of the Guard bowed his head and said.

Zhu Yong helped him up and said, "It's not your fault; it's the weather's doing. Just return, that's fine, just return."

He turned to Xu Da and said, "Uncle Xu, credit them with a merit, award each twenty taels of silver, and let them rest for half a month."

Xu Da nodded.

The soldiers were momentarily stunned, then burst into cheers.

"Long live the Prince!"

"May the Prince live a thousand years!"

Zhu Yong waved his hand: "Don't shout randomly; 'Long live' is reserved for the Imperial Father. Go back, rest well, recover, we still have great tasks ahead."

……

At the beginning of the third month, news from Yingtian Prefecture arrived.

This time it wasn't Zhu Biao's letter, but Zhu Yuanzhang's own handwriting.

The letter was brief, yet every word conveyed concern.

"Yong Er, we heard from Biao that you've won many battles in the South Sea, which makes us glad, but we've also heard that the South Sea has many storms and heavy miasma; you must take care of your health, don't just focus on fighting and forget yourself."

"The family is all fine, Guanyin Nu and the children are also fine; that boy Qiong Jiong is full of spirit and strong, and lately we've been considering whether to let him learn martial arts."

"Take the South Sea matters steadily, don't rush; both I and your elder brother support you."

"Father's own hand"

Zhu Yong finished reading and felt his eyes grow a bit warm.

His father was a man with a short temper, who would kill at the slightest provocation.

But toward him and Zhu Biao, he was truly kind.

He carefully folded the letter and tucked it into his chest.

……

On the tenth day of the third month, the last batch of the withdrawing fleet set off.

Five steamships and twenty sailing ships, carrying twenty thousand soldiers and a great haul of spoils—spices, ivory, gems, sandalwood, and tribute items from various nations.

At the pier, Zhu Yong, Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, and Wang Baobao stood on the gangway, watching the fleet sail away slowly.

Xu Da spoke from beside him: "Prince, Your servant will report the situation here in the South Sea to His Majesty in full detail."

Chang Yuchun said nearby: "Brother Xu, don't forget to tell His Majesty when you return that our Prince's presence in the South Sea brings honor to Great Ming."

Wang Baobao added: "And those captive kings, let them also witness Great Ming's might."

Xu Da nodded and said, "Rest assured, it's all noted."

The fleet gradually moved farther away, eventually disappearing beyond the horizon.

Zhu Yong stood on the pier, gazing at the vast sea, silent for a long while.

"Prince, what are you thinking about?" Chang Yuchun asked.

Zhu Yong shook his head: "Nothing, just that this South Sea will become Great Ming's in the future."

Chang Yuchun laughed: "Isn't that great? We've fought so many battles, all for this, right?"

Zhu Yong nodded, turned, and walked back.

"Let's go, there's a heap of matters awaiting us. The garrison needs patrols, the settlement must be built, officials coordinated, the natives pacified…"

Chang Yuchun and Wang Baobao exchanged glances and both smiled.

The Prince remains the same Prince; after a battle he's busy with aftermath, never idle.

In the distance, the setting sun sank, spreading golden afterglow across the sea.

The outline of Zhenhai City grew clearer in the twilight.

Pier, gangway, barracks, city walls…

Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.

The sea breeze brushed by, carrying a salty, briny scent and a vibrant vitality.

This land is awakening.

It is becoming part of Great Ming.

It awaits more Han People arriving, more children being born, more stories unfolding.

And Zhu Yong, he stands at the very starting point of all this.

He looked at the boundless sea, at the rising city, at the bustling soldiers, and suddenly recalled a line from Zhu Biao's letter.

"Second brother, our generation conquers the realm, holds it, so that the next generation can live peacefully and steadily."

Indeed.

Their generation's task is to seize and guard the realm.

Only then can the next generation live peacefully and steadily.

He lifted his gaze to the sky.

At the horizon, the last sliver of afterglow was fading.

Night was coming.

But tomorrow, the sun will still rise.

A new day, a new journey, are both waiting for him.