Chapter 256: Steam Carriage…

Hongwu year 13, Erchu Ba.

West of Yingtian Prefecture city, outside Taiping Gate.

Dawn was just breaking, and the official road was already packed with people.

Whether the townsfolk hurrying to market or the caravans leaving the city, looking down from the city gate tower the sea of people stretched along both sides of the newly paved cement road for two li, men, women, old and young, all craned their necks to look toward the city.

"Is it here yet? Is it here yet?" a middle‑aged man tiptoed, rubbing his hands anxiously.

"Not yet, not yet! Why are you in such a hurry? Prince Wu's residence is several li away, and that iron contraption has no horse pulling it, so it can't go fast." the old man selling baked flatbreads said slowly.

"The iron contraption can move without a horse? Lao Zhang, have you seen it with your own eyes?" the man asked, skeptical.

The old man stroked his beard proudly and said, "I haven't seen it, but my nephew works in the Ministry of Works. He told me it burns coal, belches black smoke from the top, and when it moves it goes 'boom—rumble—rumble', faster than a carriage!"

"You're just bragging." the man sneered.

"Believe it or not, fine." the old man wasn't annoyed and continued selling his baked flatbreads.

Among the crowd, a few youths in silk shirts stood out.

They were the scions of several great families of Yingtian Prefecture, accustomed to silk robes and fine meals, and today they had come to join the excitement.

"Did you hear? Prince Wu is going to drive that iron carriage out, from the Wang Fu all the way to Chaoyang Gate."

"Is that true? That thing has always been sitting in Wu Wang Fu's courtyard gathering dust, hasn't it?"

"They say it's because the road is improved. Look at this new road; it's smoother than stone slabs. Prince Wu said it's a cement road—when it rains it doesn't get muddy, and the vehicle won't wobble."

"Cement… what a strange name."

"What's so strange about it? As long as it works, that's fine. The lane by my house was paved a couple of days ago, and my mother said it feels comfortable under the feet."

…

Zhu Yong had once lifted that vehicle out, so many people knew that Zhu Yong owned a small wooden cart.

Just then, a muffled 'boom—rumble—rumble' came from afar.

The crowd fell silent instantly.

The sound grew nearer and clearer.

"It's coming! It's coming!" someone shouted.

Everyone's gaze turned toward the western side of the city.

At the end of the cement road, a massive black behemoth was slowly rolling in.

It had no horses pulling it, nor anyone pushing, yet it moved forward on its own.

A slender iron pipe stood on its top, spurting black smoke.

Below were four huge iron wheels; each rotation made the ground tremble slightly.

"My heavens…" the baked‑flatbread seller's flatbread fell to the ground, and he didn't even notice.

The silk‑shirted youths opened their mouths wide, unable to utter a single word.

Someone in the crowd led the way and knelt down.

"A miracle, this is a miracle!"

"Long live Prince Wu!"

One after another, the common folk knelt.

But the bold kept their heads raised while kneeling, eyes bulging like copper bells.

The steam automobile rolled in slowly, its speed modest, yet its heft and power inspired dread.

At the front, Zhu Yong sat in the driver's seat, one hand on the steering wheel, the other waving toward the crowd by the road.

He wore a teal everyday robe, draped with a Black Great Cloak; the wind lifted its hem, giving his plain, honest face a touch of majesty.

"Father! So many people are watching us!" inside the carriage, Zhu Qiongjiong leaned against the window, his little face flushed with excitement.

Zhu Huanhuan tugged at her brother's hem, fearing he might tumble out, and called, "Brother, be careful, don't lean out!"

Guanyin Nu sat in the carriage, watching the two children, a smile at the corner of her mouth.

Zhu Yong turned his head toward the co‑driver Guanyin Nu and, laughing, asked, "How's it? No wobble, right?"

Guanyin Nu nodded and said, "Indeed no wobble, steadier than a carriage."

Zhu Yong laughed, "Exactly, a cement road with a steam engine—a perfect match."

He turned his gaze outward, watching the kneeling commoners, and felt a sudden surge of emotion.

In his past life, he had only seen such a scene in movies.

This life, he had created it with his own hands.

The steam automobile kept moving forward.

It passed through Taiping Gate, along the newly laid cement main road, heading straight toward the Imperial City.

Where it passed, the people knelt en masse.

But after kneeling, they all rose and ran after it.

"It moved! It really moved!"

"It runs so fast, faster than a horse!"

"Catch up, catch up, look again!"

…

For a moment, the whole street boiled with excitement.

……

In Qianqing Palace, Zhu Yuanzhang was speaking with Zhu Biao.

"Biao, the second son is going to drive that iron car today; will you go watch?"

Zhu Biao heard that and, smiling, asked, "Father, aren't you also not going?"

Zhu Yuanzhang hummed and said, "We are the Emperor, running off to see oddities—what kind of talk is that?"

The words just fell, and hurried footsteps came from outside.

A eunuch rushed in, his face both startled and delighted, shouting, "Emperor! Crown Prince! Prince Wu's iron carriage… has arrived! It's already outside Cheng Heavenly Gate!"

Zhu Yuanzhang sprang to his feet.

Zhu Biao was also stunned, realizing it had come to the palace: "Cheng Heavenly Gate? So fast?"

From Wu Wang Fu to Cheng Heavenly Gate is at least seven or eight li.

That's only a short while?

Zhu Yuanzhang could no longer mind his imperial image, lifted his leg and walked out, anxiously shouting, "Let's go, see it!"

Father and son hurried out of Qianqing Palace, heading toward Cheng Heavenly Gate.

Before reaching the gate, they heard a rumbling from outside.

The sound was low and powerful, like a muffled thunder rolling across the ground.

Zhu Yuanzhang quickened his pace.

In front of Cheng Heavenly Gate, a huge steam automobile had just stopped.

Black smoke was still billowing, steam hissed, and the patterns on the four large iron wheels were stained with the gray‑white dust of the new road.

Zhu Yong jumped down from the vehicle, saw Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao, and couldn't help laughing, "Dad, big brother, you're here too—look, how's it, handsome or not..."

Zhu Yuanzhang ignored him, walked around the steam automobile three times.

He reached out to touch an iron wheel, then knocked on the car body, and finally stood at the front, staring at the smoking smokestack for a long while.

"This thing… can it really run by itself?"

"It can! Dad, didn't you just see it?" Zhu Yong replied.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, then suddenly said, "Can we get on it?"

Zhu Yong was startled, then laughed, "Sure! You get on, I'll take you for a ride."

Zhu Yuanzhang said nothing, stepped on the pedal and got onto the vehicle.

Zhu Biao followed up onto it.

Zhu Yong had Guanyin Nu let the two children get off first, and he himself would be Zhu Yuanzhang's driver.

"Dad, stand steady, I'm about to drive."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, hand on the steering wheel.

Zhu Yong pulled the valve, and the steam engine roared louder.

The wheels turned slowly, and the steam automobile started again.

From Cheng Heavenly Gate eastward, along the newly laid cement road, they drove straight to Chang'an Street.

Zhu Yuanzhang stood at the front, watching the palace walls on both sides rush backward, feeling the wind hitting his face, and suddenly burst into laughter.

"Good, good, good..."

He said "good" three times in a row.

Zhu Biao stood beside him, his eyes also full of awe.

This thing is truly faster than a horse‑drawn carriage.

And it looks very stable, too.

A hint of envy also showed in Zhu Biao's eyes.