Chapter 276: Going to Australia

Leaving the Qianqing Palace, it was already evening.

The setting sun dyed the palace path golden, and Zhu Biao and Zhu Yong walked side by side.

"Second brother, just now on the hall, did you already have this idea?" Zhu Biao asked.

Zhu Yong nodded and said, "Hmm, I've thought about it for a long time. The copper mines at home are insufficient; sooner or later we must look abroad. Australia has plenty of copper and is close, it'd be a pity not to mine there."

Zhu Biao looked at him, then laughed, "Second brother, you're getting less naive these days."

Zhu Yong gave a simple smile, "Elder brother, I'm still simple‑minded, just have seen more and know a bit more."

Zhu Biao patted his shoulder and said nothing more.

The two reached the Fengtian Gate, and Zhu Biao suddenly asked, "Second brother, do you think Australia can really yield that much copper?"

"It should be possible. The map given by the White-bearded Old Man marks places he himself stepped on; in Australia, just the marked copper deposits number seven or eight."

"Dig any one of them, and it will supply us for decades," Zhu Yong nodded.

Zhu Biao was silent for a moment, then softly said, "Second brother, how many places in this world are still unknown to us?"

Zhu Yong thought for a while, looked toward the dimming evening glow and said, "Plenty. Much more than we imagine."

Zhu Biao nodded and asked no further.

The two brothers part ways outside the Fengtian Gate, one heading toward the Eastern Palace, the other toward the Wu Men.

……

In the Wu Wang Fu, Zhu Huanhuan was teaching her younger brother Zhu Qiong Jiong calligraphy in the courtyard.

When Zhu Yong returned, Zhu Qiong Jiong dropped his brush and ran over, exclaiming, "Father! Father! We have guests today!"

Zhu Yong lifted his son and asked, "Who?"

"Brother Xiong Ying! He brought a gift—a small bow! He said Auntie gave it to him!" Zhu Qiong Jiong said excitedly.

Zhu Yong looked toward his daughter.

Zhu Huanhuan came over, performed a proper bow, and said, "Brother Xiong Ying arrived this morning, said he learned archery at the Dabentang and wants Jiong Jiong to learn as well."

Zhu Yong nodded, cradling his son as they went inside.

In the main hall, Guanyin Nu was reading a letter.

Seeing Zhu Yong enter, she rose and said, "Prince has returned, elder brother's letter has arrived."

"Wang Baobao?" Zhu Yong took the letter and skimmed it quickly.

The letter said Wang Baobao was doing well up north, and the remaining people of the Northern Yuan all obeyed his rule.

It also mentioned he has been training troops lately, preparing to attack the Timur Empire, and told Zhu Yong not to worry too much.

Zhu Yong smiled and returned the letter to Guanyin Nu.

"Elder brother seems concerned; Prince entered the palace today—does he have business?" Guanyin Nu folded the letter, glanced at Zhu Yong's expression, and asked.

Zhu Yong nodded and said, "The copper mines are insufficient; the Ministry of Works' senior clerk is crying with urgency. Father told me to take a fleet to Australia this autumn to find new copper deposits."

"Australia? What kind of place is that?" Guanyin Nu was startled.

"South Sea, further southeast, there's a continent rich in copper; it's marked on the map the White-bearded Old Man gave," Zhu Yong said.

Guanyin Nu was silent for a moment, then softly asked, "How long will the Prince be gone?"

"I don't know—perhaps half a year at least, up to a year. Rest assured, I'll definitely return early," Zhu Yong looked at his wife and gave a simple smile.

Guanyin Nu gave him a white‑eyed look, but the corners of her mouth were curved.

……

May 15, morning court.

Zhu Yuanzhang officially issued an edict to form the South Sea Mining Expedition Fleet, led by Prince Wu Zhu Yong, with Vice Minister of Works Zhao Mian assisting, commanding twenty vessels of various sizes, two hundred craftsmen, and three thousand soldiers, to set out after autumn for Australia to prospect copper.

The news spread, shaking court and society.

Those praising said Prince Wu was valiant, daring to lead the world.

Those doubting asked whether the vast seas around Australia could truly yield copper.

Those resentful claimed Prince Wu relied on the emperor's favor and dared to attempt any bizarre scheme.

Zhu Yuanzhang ignored them all and ordered the Ministry of Works to prepare with full force.

Early June, the first batch of supplies arrived.

Mid June, the second batch of ships was launched.

July, the fleet completed assembly and moored at Quanzhou Port awaiting orders.

……

July 15, Kunning Palace.

Empress Ma held a Family Banquet to see Zhu Yong off.

Zhu Biao arrived with Chang Wan and Zhu Xiongying.

Zhu Shuang, Zhu Gang and a few others were stationed abroad and could not come.

Zhu Su, Zhu Zhen and the younger ones sat at the lower seats, orderly.

Zhu Huanhuan and Zhu Qiong Jiong also came; the two children sat beside Guanyin Nu, each quieter than the last.

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his wine cup and said, "Come, let us toast Yong Er. May his journey be smooth and may he return victorious soon."

Everyone raised their cups.

Zhu Yong drank it in one gulp, gave a simple smile, and said, "Father, rest assured, I'll definitely bring back the copper."

Empress Ma held his hand, her eyes slightly red, and said, "Yong Er, be careful on the road, don't overexert yourself."

"Mother, I understand,"

Zhu Xiongying suddenly stood, walked before Zhu Yong, and said earnestly, "Second uncle, we'll wait for you to return; then we'll go hunting together."

Zhu Yong patted his head and said, "Alright, when Second Uncle returns, I'll take you to hunt tigers."

Zhu Qiong Jiong ran over, looked up and said, "Dad, let's go to Australia!"

Zhu Yong lifted him up and said, "You're still young; wait until you grow up before you go."

Zhu Qiong Jiong pursed his lips, displeased, but he didn't cause a scene.

The Family Banquet ended, and the guests dispersed.

Zhu Yong took Guanyin Nu's hand and walked slowly toward the outside of Wu Men.

The moon rose, round and bright.

"Prince, when you get there, remember to write a letter," Guanyin Nu whispered.

"Hmm, write every month," Zhu Yong said.

Guanyin Nu looked at him and suddenly asked, "Prince, you said, is Australia really that wonderful?"

Zhu Yong thought for a moment, shook his head and replied, "No, it's very barren; probably only a few people live there, but it has copper, iron, and things Great Ming needs."

He paused, gazing at the bright moon above, and said softly, "For Great Ming to move forward, we need these things; if copper is insufficient, we will go find copper.

If iron is insufficient, we will go find iron; someday, Great Ming's ships will be able to sail to every place on the map."

Guanyin Nu looked at him, her eyes a little moist.

This man, usually simple‑minded, had eyes that shone brighter than anyone's when he spoke these words.

"I'll wait for you to return," she said.

Zhu Yong nodded and tightened his grip on her hand.

Moonlight spilled onto the palace path, stretching the two shadows long and long.

In the distance, on the Qinhuai River, the smokestacks of several steamboats were still billowing smoke.

Farther away, the outline of Zijin Mountain flickered faintly in the night.

The autumn of the fourteenth year of Hongwu was about to arrive.

And Prince Wu Zhu Yong's fleet was also about to set sail, heading toward the southern continent that no one had ever set foot on.

There, there is copper that Great Ming needs.

There is a future.