Chapter 285: What Are These Things?

The fifteenth year of Hongwu, the ninth day of the third month.

In Yingtian Prefecture, the spring chill was biting.

Just after the Chen Hour, the morning sun climbed over Zijin Mountain, tinting the river surface a golden red.

The dock on the Yangtze was already packed with people, not the usual sparse porters and merchants, but a massive black mass stretching from the dock all the way along both sides of the official road outside the city gate.

Those selling steamed cakes lugged their baskets through the crowd, tea sellers set up stalls and shouted their wares, and many wealthy households in silk robes with servants craned their necks to look over the river.

"Here it comes! The mast! I see the mast!"

Someone let out a shout, and the crowd instantly stirred.

At the far end of the river, a patch of sail shadows gradually became clear.

It wasn't one or two ships, but a vast black expanse, masts like a forest, sails covering the sky.

Leading the fleet was a gigantic steamship, its hull more than twice the size of a typical Fortune Ship, the bow sheathed in iron, and a row of black gaping cannon openings protruding from both sides.

Bright wheels on both sides of the hull turned slowly, churning the river into a froth, and the roar of the steam engine could be heard for miles.

"Wu Wang Hao! It's Wu Wang Hao!"

The dock erupted with deafening cheers.

Crown Prince Zhu Biao stood at the front of the dock, followed by Minister of Works Dan Anren, Minister of Rites Tao Kai, and a host of other officials.

Zhu Biao wore a bright yellow court robe, standing with his hands behind his back, a faint smile on his face.

Next to them, Chang Wan held Zhu Wenwen, while Xiong Ying stood behind.

Xiong Ying had grown a good deal taller, dressed in a sapphire robe, straining on his tiptoes to look over the river.

"Father, Uncle's ship!" Xiong Ying exclaimed excitedly, pointing ahead.

Zhu Biao smiled, patted his head and said, "I see it, don't be impatient."

A few steps further, Guanyin Nu stood under a specially erected canopy with two children.

Ten‑year‑old Huanhuan wore a goose‑yellow jacket and skirt, standing quietly beside her mother, while five‑year‑old Zhu Qiong Jiong resembled a little calf; each time she tried to rush forward, Xiao Zhu and Xiao Ying pulled her back.

"Mother, I want to see Father's ship!" Zhu Qiong Jiong struggled.

Guanyin Nu lowered her head, glared at him and said, "Stand still, the ship won't run away."

Zhu Qiong Jiong pursed his lips, dared not move, but his eyes still darted toward the river.

Huanhuan pursed a smile, took her brother's hand, and whispered, "Don't be impatient, Father will come down soon."

Zhu Qiong Jiong muttered, "I want to see the kangaroo; Uncle Zhang Wu said the kangaroo is huge and can kick people."

Xiao Ying couldn't help but laugh out loud.

On the river, the fleet drew ever closer.

The leading Wu Wang Hao slowed gradually, its steam engine's roar deepening.

The following sailing ships also lowered their sails, and experienced boatmen busily prepared to dock.

Half an hour later, the first ship steadied itself against the dock.

The gangplank lowered, and a dust‑caked Zhang Wu strode down, followed by several generals whose skin had tanned a shade darker.

"Your Majesty, I, the junior general, have the honor to appear before the Crown Prince!" Zhang Wu knelt on one knee.

Zhu Biao stepped forward, helped him up and said, "General Zhang, you've worked hard. How is your second brother?"

Zhang Wu replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. The Prince is fine, only… only a bit thinner; the food there isn't as good as at home."

Zhu Biao nodded, his gaze passing over Zhang Wu to the ships behind.

On the gangplank, soldiers carefully lifted large wooden cages one by one.

When the first cage was lowered, the crowd burst into exclamations.

Inside the cage was a gigantic creature, with two thick hind legs, a long thick tail dragging behind, short fore‑limbs, and a pair of glossy black eyes staring at the crowd.

"What is this thing?"

"Heaven, such a huge rabbit?"

"Nonsense, rabbits never get that big, this is… this is…"

The soldiers lowered a second and a third cage, each holding similar animals, some large, some small, some gray, some brown.

Next came a cage with a rhea; the large bird had a slender neck and legs, ran swiftly, and flapped its feathers wildly inside the cage.

Further back were spiny moles, their bodies covered in sharp spikes, curled into a ball like a massive thorny sphere.

Finally came dozens of cages holding parrots, their plumage vivid—red, green, blue—and they chattered incessantly.

The crowd went completely wild.

"My Heaven, what are these things?"

"From Australia! Wu King brought them back from Australia!"

"What's that huge one? A kangaroo? Can we eat it?"

"Eat? That's an auspicious sign! It should be presented to the Emperor!"

"..."

Xiong Ying had already rushed to the nearest cage, staring at the kangaroo inside, his eyes wide and round.

"Father! Father! This kangaroo is huge!"

The kangaroo also stared at him, and perhaps from the jostling hunger, it stuck out its tongue to lick its lips.

Xiong Ying jumped back a step, then, curious, leaned forward again.

Zhu Biao walked over, looked at the animals, and his face showed surprise as well.

Zhang Wu said beside him, "Your Majesty, the Prince said these kangaroos and rheas are native to Australia and can be bred. Those parrots can speak human language; they've already learned a few court phrases."

As soon as he finished, a red‑feathered parrot suddenly croaked, "Meal! Meal!"

The people around froze for a moment, then burst into uproarious laughter.

The parrot, startled by the laughter, flapped its wings and cried again, "Prince auspicious! Prince auspicious!"

The laughter grew louder.

Zhu Biao couldn't help but laugh, "That bird is indeed clever."

Zhang Wu said, "There are even cleverer ones; later we'll have a special demonstration."

Next, the most shocking scene unfolded.

A large ship slowly docked, the gangplank was lowered, and squads of dark‑skinned aboriginals were forced down by soldiers.

The men were bare‑chested, wearing only a beast hide around their waists; their hair was curly, skin dark, and their eyes showed terror and numbness.

The women wore grass skirts, cradling children, heads bowed, daring not to look at anyone.

The children were so thin they were skin‑and‑bone, clutching tightly onto their mothers' hems.

The crowd was silent for a moment, then erupted into louder chatter.

"Is this a human?"

"Why do they look like this? Black as coal—could they also be Kunlun slaves..."

"Australian aboriginals, Wu Wang Xin mentioned."

"..."

Zhu Biao looked at those aboriginals, his brows briefly furrowed, but soon relaxed.

Zhang Wu walked to his side and whispered, "Prince, the Prince has asked your junior to convey a few words to you."

"Speak."

Zhang Wu said, "The Prince says these aboriginals may not intermarry with us Great Ming people; otherwise the children born would also be black, causing future trouble."

"They also cannot be raised by Great Ming civilians; they can only be slaves, working their whole lives to atone."

Zhu Biao nodded and said, "Second brother has thought this through thoroughly."

Zhang Wu continued, "The Prince also says these aboriginals are skilled workers; there are many mines over in Australia, all relying on them to dig."

The first batch of ore shipped back is enough for the Ministry of Works to use for several years.

Zhu Biao looked toward the ships behind, their holds packed to the brim with copper ore, iron ore, and boxes of coal samples.

"How many in total?"

"Prince, there are eight million jin of copper ore, three million jin of iron ore, countless other samples, and also the animals: twenty‑six kangaroos, thirteen rhea, seven shrew moles, fifty‑three parrots."

"There are 2,300 aboriginals: 800 men, 900 women, and 600 children."