Chapter 264: The Busy Big Brother

In the thirteenth year of Hongwu, the eighth day of the sixth month.

Half a month has passed since the Hu Weiyong case was settled, the bloodstains outside Wu Gate have been washed clean, yet the atmosphere in Yingtian Prefecture remains tense.

These days, the Jinyiwei and the troops of the Daxing County magistrate shuttle through the streets day and night, and arrest warrants are pasted all over the city gates.

Officials, family members, retainers, and servants implicated in the case are taken to the imperial prison in batches.

Zhu Yong stands by the window of the study in Prince Wu's residence, watching his son Zhu Qiongjiong in the courtyard brandishing a small Stone Lock and sweating profusely, a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth.

The four‑year‑old youngster can already lift a thirty‑jin Stone Lock; though he wobbles, his unyielding spirit is a perfect seed for an invincible war general.

"Dad! Look!" Zhu Qiongjiong sees Zhu Yong, raises the Stone Lock excitedly, his little face flushed bright red.

Zhu Yong pushes the door open and steps out, takes the Stone Lock, weighs it with one hand, and laughs, "Not bad, stronger than your father at four years old."

"Really?" Zhu Qiongjiong's eyes sparkle.

"Indeed, go play, don't train too hard, you have to go to Dabentang for study tomorrow," Zhu Yong pats his son's head and says.

Zhu Qiongjiong's little face instantly droops, and he whines, "Dad, can we not go…"

"No, Xiong Ying brother goes every day, why can't you?" Zhu Yong says sternly.

Zhu Qiongjiong pouts, reluctantly follows the maid Xiao Ying back to change clothes.

Guanyin Nu walks from the corridor, carrying a bowl of mung bean soup, and smiles, "Prince, it's hot, have a bowl to cool down."

Zhu Yong takes the bowl, gulps down most of it, wipes his mouth and asks, "Any news from big brother's side?"

"Crown Prince sent someone to convey a message: today's minor court meeting, you should attend at Wei Hour," Guanyin Nu whispers.

Zhu Yong nods.

Although the Hu Weiyong case is closed, the ensuing mess is considerable.

Over two hundred officials are implicated, and with families and servants, the number of people involved reaches tens of thousands.

Those who must be executed are executed, those to be exiled are exiled, and the confiscated estates must be inventoried and stored one by one.

These matters have kept Zhu Biao and his few cabinet members busy for half a month.

……

At Wei Hour, in Wenhua Hall.

When Zhu Yong arrives, a circle of people is already seated in the hall.

Zhu Biao sits on the Main Seat, beside him are several young faces: Ministry of Revenue Vice Minister Xia Yuanji, Ministry of Personnel Director Jian Yi, Ministry of War Director Ru Chang, Ministry of Justice Director Bao Zhao, Ministry of Works Director Zhao Yi, and a junior officer in charge of document organization named Jie Jin.

These people constitute the cabinet that Zhu Biao personally assembled.

In name they are merely a staff assisting the Crown Prince with state affairs, but in reality they can intervene in the affairs of all six ministries.

"Second brother has arrived, sit," Zhu Biao gestures to the seat beside him.

Zhu Yong sits down, glances at the pile of dossiers forming a small mountain on the table, and laughs, "Big brother, how many days have you all been busy?"

Xia Yuanji lifts his head, dark circles under his eyes, and smiles wryly, "Prince Wu, we have not closed our eyes for three days."

"Three days?" Zhu Yong looks at Zhu Biao.

Zhu Biao replies calmly, "The case must be concluded, the accounts cleared, officials replaced; there are too many matters. They are young; a little more endurance won't hurt."

Young…

Xia Yuanji is twenty‑five, Jian Yi twenty‑three, Ru Chang twenty‑seven, Bao Zhao twenty‑six, Zhao Yi twenty‑four, and Jie Jin only twenty‑one.

Indeed young.

Zhu Yong chuckles inwardly, realizing his big brother truly uses people as draft animals.

"I summoned second brother today to discuss several matters. First, the inventory of Hu Weiyong's estate is complete: a total of 1,230,000 taels of silver, 80,000 taels of gold, 23,000 mu of farmland, and 47 shops have been seized."

Zhu Biao picks up a dossier and says.

Zhu Yong whistles, "One chancellor, greedy for so much?"

"Not only that... his party members together have been confiscated 3,700,000 taels of silver, 150,000 taels of gold, 80,000 mu of land, and over 160 shops."

Zhu Biao flips open another file and says.

Zhu Yong does the math: over five million taels of silver, over two hundred thousand taels of gold, plus the lands and shops…

"Enough to fund a year's war," he says.

"Enough for two years... and this is only liquid silver; the discounted lands and shops could double the value," Zhu Biao corrects.

Xia Yuanji adds from the side, "Prince, we think these taels of silver should not all be poured into the imperial treasury; a portion can be allocated for new policies."

"What new policies?" Zhu Yong asks.

"Road repair, using the cement you previously supplied. The roads of Yingtian Prefecture have already been repaved with cement, and the cement highway from Yingtian to Suzhou, thirty Li long, works excellently.

Carriages travel on it fast and steady, even in rain they are not muddy," Zhu Biao says.

Zhu Yong nods.

The cement production method was signed off on the first day of the first month of Hongwu's thirteenth year, and he handed it over to the Ministry of Works at that time.

"The Ministry of Revenue proposes using this batch of silver to rebuild the three official roads—from Yingtian to Suzhou, Yingtian to Yangzhou, and Yingtian to Taiping Prefecture—entirely as cement roads, estimated to cost two million taels of silver," Zhu Biao says.

"A grand expenditure, but worth it; with roads open, merchants travel faster and taxes increase," Zhu Yong says.

Zhu Biao smiles, "Second brother is understanding these more and more now."

Zhu Yong gives a simple smile, "Taught by big brother."

Jie Jin looks up from beside, glancing at Prince Wu.

This prince, though his speech seems simple, is not at all naive in action.

Jie Jin has been observing for several days.

"Second matter: the officials implicated in the Hu Weiyong case have left too many vacancies across the six ministries; the Ministry of Personnel has drafted a list for you to review."

Zhu Biao picks up another dossier and says.

Jian Yi takes the floor, reciting a string of names: "The Ministry of Personnel Vice Minister is proposed to be succeeded by former Director Chen Qia; the Ministry of Revenue Left Vice Minister is proposed to be filled by Shandong Provincial Administrator Yu Xin; the Ministry of Rites Right Vice Minister is proposed to be promoted from Hanlin Academy Lecturer Fang Xiaoru…"

Zhu Yong listened, then suddenly said, "Fang Xiaoru… is his father Fang Keqin…?"

Zhu Biao asked with some surprise, "Second brother, do you know him?"

"Don't know him, have heard… his father was a Hongwu Year Four jinshi, now Prefect of Jining, Shandong, and is said to be an upright official," Zhu Yong said.

Jie Jin's eyes lit up.

This Prince Wu even remembers a local official?

Zhu Biao also glanced at his brother, said nothing, and continued, "Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, proposed to be concurrently held by Deputy Commander Lan Yu."

"Lan Yu… isn't he training troops in Beiping?" Zhu Yong said, startled.

"He's been recalled; Imperial Father's wish is that the capital camp needs someone capable in battle. Second brother, although you are Grand General Zhenglu, you can't handle everything yourself; Lan Yu is brave and can share the burden," Zhu Biao said.

Zhu Yong nodded, having no objection.

Lan Yu is an old acquaintance of his; he is indeed fierce in battle, but his temper is explosive and needs someone to keep him in check.

……

Coming out of Wenhua Hall, the sky had already turned dark.

Zhu Yong was not in a hurry to return to his residence; instead, he went to the Ministry of Works.

He wanted to go see that steam car.

Since his wooden steam car had taken a round, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao were both envious, each wanting one, and finally both wanted a steam car.

In the end, Zhu Biao had the Ministry of Works set up a steam car factory.

The villagers outside Yingtian Prefecture all entered the several factories built by the Ministry of Works.

The steam car factory built by the Ministry of Works, located outside Yingtian Prefecture, occupied a sizable area, and the plant was filled with all sorts of strange and exotic objects.

When Zhu Yong entered, several craftsmen were busy around a four-wheeled iron contraption.

The device resembled a carriage, but lacked an axle; beneath the carriage body was an iron frame holding a round boiler, with two large wheels in front and four small wheels behind.

"Your Highness!" the lead craftsman shouted upon seeing Zhu Yong enter, hastily bowing.

"How is it? Can it run?" Zhu Yong asked.

"It can run, it can run! Just now we tested it for a circuit, it covered three li, but…" the craftsman said excitedly.

"But what exactly?"

"It's just too shaky," the craftsman scratched his head, "The cement road is smooth, but the wheels are iron, so the vibration is severe. I was wondering if we could wrap a layer of plastic on the wheels?"

Zhu Yong's eyes lit up and said, "Plastic?"

It's plastic.

The plastic manufacturing method signed off in Hongwu Year Eleven had long been handed to the Ministry of Works, but it had never been put to great use.

"Yes, that material is soft and elastic; wrapping it on the wheels will surely dampen the shock," the craftsman said.

Zhu Yong patted his shoulder and said, "Good idea, go do it; when it's finished, I, the King, will reward you."

The craftsman was overjoyed, repeatedly thanking him.

Zhu Yong walked around the steam car twice, calculating in his mind.

Once the wheel issue is solved, he can let his father sit on this contraption.

The old man will definitely like it.