Chapter 268: Sent to East Japan

Zhu Di said angrily, "Elder Brother, this kind of person should be torn to pieces! If we keep him, who knows who else he might go on to deceive?"

Zhu Biao nodded, about to speak, when Zhu Yong suddenly spoke up.

"Elder Brother, I have an idea."

Zhu Biao looked at him and said, "Second Brother, speak."

Zhu Yong pointed at Yao Guangxiao and said, "This man is detestable, but his mind should be quite sharp; look at his words just now, flawless. If it weren't for the Fifth Prince's loyalty, with someone else he might have truly been duped."

Zhu Biao, pondering, said, "Second Brother's meaning is…"

"I recall that some officials previously sent to the East Japan Office fell ill from the climate and died halfway; this monk looks healthy, why not send him to the East Japan Office to help the court civilize those Japanese?" Zhu Yong said innocently.

Zhu Di was startled and said, "Second Prince, this… is too cheap on him, isn't it?"

Zhu Yong shook his head, "Fifth Prince, think about it: the East Japan Office region, the Japanese have just submitted and are unsettled; sending a persuasive monk might be more effective than sending troops."

Let him go to teach the Japanese Buddhist sutras and spread Great Ming's civilizing influence; that's certainly more useful than killing him.

Zhu Biao's eyes lit up.

He understood the Second Brother's meaning.

Yao Guangxiao can speak eloquently and is deep‑minded; keeping him in Great Ming would indeed be a disaster.

But sending him to the East Japan Office to plague the Japanese is a good idea.

Although the East Japan Office has already submitted, no one knows what the Japanese truly think inside.

Sending a monk who can deceive them, letting them spend all day pondering Buddhist sutras, leaves them no mind to plot rebellion.

And moreover…

Zhu Biao looked at Yao Guangxiao, a hint of a profound smile curling his mouth.

The monk dared to say those words just now, showing his ambition is not small.

Sending him to the East Japan Office, keeping him far from Zhongyuan, he'll never think of returning in this lifetime.

Even if he causes trouble at the East Japan Office, the sea separates them, and no waves will reach us.

"Second Brother's words are reasonable; killing him would just be a pool of blood, sending him to the East Japan Office to let him civilize the Japanese for Great Ming makes full use of him," Zhu Biao said, nodding.

Yao Guangxiao's face turned ash‑white.

He never imagined that his scheming would result in such an outcome.

Sent to the East Japan Office? What kind of place is that? I've heard the Japanese there are extremely barbaric, committing seppuku at a moment's notice…

"Crown Prince, spare me! This poor monk wishes to serve Great Ming and will never harbor a second thought…" Yao Guangxiao struggled to kneel.

Zhu Biao waved his hand and said, "Master need not say more; I grant you the opportunity to go to the East Japan Office to propagate the Dharma, which is a great grace.

Do your best; perhaps you may return someday."

He looked at the escorting Imperial Troops and said, "Take him down; set out at dawn tomorrow, send him to the East Japan Office, inform the officials there to settle him well, and let the Master focus on lecturing."

"As you command!"

The Imperial Troops dragged the pallid Yao Guangxiao down.

Zhu Di, still a bit indignant, said, "Elder Brother, Second Prince, you just let him go like that?"

Zhu Yong patted his shoulder and said, "Fifth Prince, this is harsher than killing him; think about it, the East Japan Office region eats raw fish, sleeps on straw mats, bathes men and women together… can this monk adapt?"

Zhu Di thought for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh, "Second Prince is right; letting him suffer is more satisfying than killing him!"

Zhu Biao also laughed, but his smile carried a hint of coldness.

This monk's thoughts are too deep; keeping him will sooner or later be a disaster.

Sending him to the East Japan Office, ensuring he never returns in this life, is the best outcome.

"Fifth Prince, you handled this correctly today; when such matters arise, come to Elder Brother first—that's true brotherhood," Zhu Biao said, looking at Zhu Di with a smile.

Zhu Di, in a serious tone, said, "Elder Brother, the younger brother may be reckless, but he knows what can be done and what cannot; the monk's words made the younger brother want to strike someone."

"Elder Brother treats me like a brother, Second Prince taught me martial arts; if I, Zhu Di, entertain such thoughts, am I still a human?"

Zhu Biao nodded, his eyes full of satisfaction.

This Fifth Brother, your care was not in vain.

……

After seeing Zhu Di off, the two brothers returned to the study.

Zhu Yong lifted his tea cup, took a sip, and suddenly said, "Elder Brother, do you think my suggestion just now was a bit unfair?"

Zhu Biao laughed, "Unfair? Second Brother, that's not a loss; that's a masterstroke."

He stood up, walked to the window, and watched the sky outside.

"That monk, deep‑minded, would eventually become a disaster if kept in Zhongyuan; sending him to the East Japan Office to plague the Japanese is just right, since the East Japan Office has only recently submitted, and those Japanese appear obedient on the surface, but who knows what they think inside?"

Having a monk who can deceive go, letting them study Buddhist sutras every day, leaves them no time to plot rebellion.

Zhu Yong nodded, "Elder Brother, your thoughts are thorough."

Zhu Biao turned his head to him and said, "Second Brother, you're becoming less like a simpleton."

Zhu Yong was startled, then gave a simple smile, "Elder Brother, I'm still a simpleton; it's just that after staying with you so long, I've learned a bit of cleverness."

Zhu Biao shook his head and said nothing more.

He knew the Second Brother had secrets.

Those strange and bizarre blueprints, those never‑seen items, and the occasional glint of… an eye that shouldn't belong to a simpleton.

But Zhu Biao didn't ask.

No matter what secrets the Second Brother had, he was his own younger brother.

That was enough.

……

At the end of July, an official ship set out from Taicang Port, sailing into the boundless sea.

A monk in a black robe is aboard the ship.

The monk stands at the stern, watching the land recede, his complexion gray and defeated.

He mutters to himself, "Can this poor monk ever return in this lifetime?"

No one answers him.

The sea wind lifts his robe, rustling.

In the distance, where sea meets sky, a red sun is setting.

That is the direction of the East Japan Office.

It is also the direction where his remaining life lies.

……

Yingtian Office, Wu Wang Fu.

Zhu Yong sits in the study, holding Yao Guangxiao's documents, a smile tugging at his mouth.

Historically, that monk helped Zhu Di rebel; in this life, sending him to the East Japan Office to trouble the Japanese is also a good thing.

"Father!"

Zhu Huanhuan hops in, followed by the wobbling Zhu Qiongjiong.

"Father, Xiong Ying brother is here, saying he'll take us to see the steam car!"

Zhu Yong puts away the documents, smiles and stands, "Alright, let's go see the car."

In the courtyard, Zhu Xiongying stands before the wooden steam car, studying it intently.

Seeing Zhu Yong emerge, he looks up and smiles, "Second uncle, can this car run today?"

"It can. Today I'll show you what a car that runs without horses looks like." Zhu Yong pats the car's front and laughs.

He calls the craftsmen to start heating water and adding coal.

Soon the steam engine starts, pistons driving connecting rods, the wheels turning slowly.

"It's moving, it's moving!" Zhu Huanhuan claps and cheers.

Zhu Qiongjiong's eyes widen, staring fixedly at the turning wheels.

Zhu Xiongying watches with rapt attention.

The car is slow, it's bumpy, and after a few steps it must stop to add water and coal…

But it really is moving!

No horses needed; it runs on its own!

"Second uncle, if we later build a smooth road, will this car run faster?" Zhu Xiongying suddenly asks.

Zhu Yong looks at him approvingly.

The child's mind is sharp; a little goes a long way.

"Right, that's why the Ministry of Works is now paving cement roads; once the roads are finished, this car will be able to run."

Zhu Xiongying nods thoughtfully.

Zhu Huanhuan has already climbed aboard, shouting excitedly, "Father! Take me for a lap!"

Zhu Yong smiles, gets on the car, and cradles his daughter in his arms.

Zhu Qiongjiong reaches up from below, "Father! I want one too!"

Zhu Yong lifts his son up as well, holding each in one arm.

"Let's go!"

The steam car lets out a screech and slowly drives out of the courtyard.

Zhu Xiongying stands where he is, watching the car's silhouette recede, suddenly recalling his father's words earlier in the Eastern Palace.

"Xiong Ying, you must remember, your second uncle may look simple, but he understands everything; half of Great Ming's changes over these years were brought by him.

In the future, you should learn more from your second uncle."

Zhu Xiongying nods.

He has known that for a long time.

Second uncle taught him martial arts, showed him those strange Blueprint, and guided him to ponder things he had never seen.

Second uncle says nothing, but his heart contains all of Great Ming.

"Xiong Ying brother! Come up quickly!"

From afar comes Huan Huan's shout.

Zhu Xiongying smiles and hurries after.

As the sun sets in the west, the laughter of three children mingles with the steam car's screech, drifting far away.

The summer of the thirteenth year of Hongwu is about to end.