Chapter 255: Cement

After three rounds of wine and five flavors of dishes, Zhu Yuanzhang set down his chopsticks and looked at Zhu Yong: "Yong Er, today is the Spring Festival, has your White-bearded Old Man given you anything yet?"

When those words were spoken, the room fell silent.

Everyone knows that every Spring Festival, Zhu Yong receives a "celestial gift", sometimes a Blueprint, sometimes seeds, sometimes a medicinal formula.

These years, Great Ming's rapid development has been inseparable from those gifts.

Zhu Yong set down his chopsticks and pulled a roll of Blueprint from his bosom.

"It's given, Father, take a look at this."

Zhu Yuanzhang took the Blueprint and unfolded it.

The Blueprint depicted various furnace structures, with dense annotations.

He stared for a while, frowned, and said, "What is this… for burning what?"

"Cement," White-bearded Old Man said. "Mix this with water, spread it on walls; when dry it's harder than Stone and can be used to build roads, fortify cities, and construct piers," Zhu Yong explained.

"Harder than Stone?" Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes lit up.

Zhu Biao leaned in, interested: "Second brother, if this thing is real, the imperial road from Yingtian to Yangzhou wouldn't need annual repairs."

"Not just the road; city walls, piers, dikes, bridges can all use it. The old man said this cement can be mixed with sand and gravel, poured into a slab, tougher than Stone," Zhu Yong said.

Zhu Yuanzhang grew more excited as he listened, slapping the table: "Excellent! The Ministry of Works people have been tinkering with steam engines these years, getting a mess; this is perfect to make them change their thinking."

Zhu Biao laughed: "Imperial Father, if the Ministry of Works learns of another new gadget, they'll probably weep."

"Why cry? Our Great Ming craftsmen should be tinkering with these. Keep it, send it to the Ministry of Works tomorrow, let them rush to prototype," Zhu Yuanzhang handed the Blueprint to the eunuch behind him.

"Understood," the eunuch said, taking it.

Empress Ma, laughing beside them, said: "Yong Er, you bring a treasure each year; in a few more years, won't Great Ming be soaring into the heavens?"

Zhu Yong chuckled: "Mother, we can't fly, but the roads will be smooth, carts will run fast; later when you leave the palace to stroll, you won't feel the bumps."

Speaking of that, Zhu Yong recalled the wooden steam carriage that had never been used because the roads were poor, fearing it would fall apart after a single run.

Now that cement exists, once the roads are repaired they can finally run it.

Empress Ma nodded, her eyes full of satisfaction.

The child, though simple, carries his family in his heart.

The Family Banquet continued.

Zhu Yuanzhang brought up the South Sea again: "Yong Er, the territories you secured in the South Sea were previously guarded by Tiande; recently Xu Shu sent a letter saying he's unwell and needs a replacement. Who do you think should take over?"

"Xu Shu is unwell… is he ill?" Zhu Yong frowned, recalling that Xu Da had died from a back abscess.

Could it have already started? It's only Hongwu Thirteenth Year now; historically Xu Da didn't die until Hongwu Eighteenth Year.

Zhu Yuanzhang was also deeply worried; after all, Xu Shu had been a close childhood friend, and now his illness was unknown.

They must wait for Xu Da's return to know; he has already dispatched an imperial physician to the South Sea.

"Father, I think we can send Lao San or Fourth Prince to garrison the South Sea, and also Wa Country; once they have trained their troops, they can capture the lands beyond the South Sea."

Zhu Yong thought for a moment, then voiced the idea he had long kept in his heart.

Otherwise he wouldn't have taken Lao San, Fourth Prince, and Fifth Prince to war.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao exchanged glances; both had already entertained the plan, never expecting their second son/second brother to think likewise.

Indeed, they were worthy of father and son, twin brothers…

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at him and laughed: "Biao Er, what do you think of the Second Prince's suggestion?"

Zhu Biao smiled: "Your son only feels that we've fought too much these years; the people should get a breather, though altering vassal territories can still be considered."

Zhu Yuanzhang was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Well said. These years, indeed we've fought too much. From Hongwu First Year to now, a full thirteen years, Great Ming has gone from a shabby stall to what it is today; it's not easy."

As for sending Lao San to the South Sea or Wa Country, we'll discuss it when they return!

Then he turned to Zhu Yong and asked: "Yong Er, you've also fought for over ten years; are you tired?"

Zhu Yong thought, then smiled: "It's a bit tiring, but when fighting, thinking that after the battle I can return home makes it not tiring."

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed: "Good, good. In a few years, when the world is truly peaceful, we few will truly enjoy happiness."

Everyone laughed.

……

After the Family Banquet ended, Zhu Yong and Zhu Biao left Kunning Palace together.

Walking the palace corridor, Zhu Biao suddenly said: "Second brother, is the cement really that useful?"

Zhu Yong nodded: "Elder brother, rest assured, the old man's stuff is reliable."

Zhu Biao mused: "If we can truly build roads harder than Stone, transporting grain and troops will be much easier."

"Yes, and we can also repair piers. The piers along the Yangtze River need yearly repairs; with cement reinforcement, they won't need work for ten or eight years," Zhu Yong said.

Zhu Yong laughed: "Elder brother, when steam engines can run carriages, with steel we can ride iron cars to Fengyang in a day."

Zhu Biao also laughed: "That sounds great."

The two brothers reached the East Palace gate, and Zhu Biao asked: "Shall we go in and sit?"

"No, I need to go back and check on the little ones; just now Qiong Jiong ran out, I don't know how he's playing with Xiong Ying," Zhu Yong said.

Zhu Biao nodded: "Alright, let's talk another day."

The two said farewell, and Zhu Yong turned toward the palace gate.

Halfway, he saw Zhu Huanhuan leading two younger brothers back.

Zhu Xiongying and Zhu Qiong Jiong's faces were dirty, but they smiled happily.

"Father! The younger brother and big brother Xiong Ying were playing wildly, falling in the Imperial Garden," Zhu Huanhuan shouted as he ran over.

Zhu Yong lowered his head to look at his youngest son.

Zhu Qiong Jiong lifted his small face, eyes sparkling: "Father, I knocked big brother Xiong Ying down!"

Zhu Xiongying said helplessly from beside: "Second Uncle, he's too strong; I can't hold him down."

Zhu Yong laughed heartily, bent down and lifted his little son, saying with a grin, "Good kid, you're even fiercer than your dad was when he was young."

Zhu Qiong Jiong was lifted up, his small hand clutching his father's neck, and suddenly said, "Dad, when I grow up I'll fight wars with you!"

Zhu Yong was momentarily stunned, then laughed, "Alright, when you grow up, dad will take you to war."

Zhu Huanhuan, standing nearby, pouted, "Dad is playing favorites, only taking the younger brother to war."

Zhu Yong laughed, "You go too; the whole family will go."

The several children all laughed.

As the setting sun slipped westward, the family's shadows stretched long across the palace road.

In the distance, on the eaves of Fengtian Hall, a few pigeons flapped and rose, sweeping past the outline of Zijin Mountain.

The first day of the thirteenth year of Hongwu passed just like that.

……

Three days later, news came from the Ministry of Works that the cement trial production succeeded.

The first batch of Sample was used to pave a section of road in Imperial City; after it set, it was as hard as stone, and no matter how hard one struck it, it would not break.

Zhu Yuanzhang went to inspect personally, and on the spot gave the order for nationwide promotion.

From Yingtian to Yangzhou, the official road became the first cement road.