Chapter 302: The Journey

In the sixteenth year of Hongwu, the twentieth day of the third month.

The fleet has been five days since it left Yingtian Prefecture.

Zhu Yong stood at the bow, facing the river wind, gazing at the villages on both banks gradually thinning.

Here the Yangtze widens, its current slows, the hills along the banks rise and fall, and occasional villages with curling smoke can be seen.

On the deck behind him, Zhu Qiongjiong was chasing a parrot brought back from Australia, running back and forth.

That parrot was the one brought from Australia last time, could say a few simple human words, and Zhu Qiongjiong treated it as a treasure, chasing it every day.

"Stop, don't run!" Zhu Qiongjiong shouted.

The parrot flapped its wings, flying while squawking, "Help! Help!"

Zhu Huanhuan sat on a chair by the rail, cradling a book, occasionally looking up at her younger brother with a smile at the corner of her mouth.

Guanyin Nu stepped out of the cabin, carrying a bowl of tea, and handed it to Zhu Yong.

"Lord, have a sip of tea to warm yourself; the wind on the river is strong."

Zhu Yong took it, drank a mouthful, his gaze still fixed on the distance.

"What are you thinking?" Guanyin Nu asked softly.

Zhu Yong shook his head, laughing, "Nothing, just feel that it's been a long time since I've traveled so leisurely."

Guanyin Nu looked at him and smiled as well.

These years, Zhu Yong has either been fighting battles or on the way to a battle.

From Northern Yuan to Nüzhen, from Goryeo to Wa Country, from South Sea to Australia, he has been on the move all year round.

Like now, traveling slowly with his wife and children, it's truly his first time.

"Dad, dad, that parrot won't listen, I can't catch it!" Zhu Qiongjiong ran over and clutched Zhu Yong's leg.

Zhu Yong lowered his head to look at his son; the little fellow ran with sweat on his forehead, his face flushed, but his eyes shone brightly.

"If you can't catch it, stop chasing; when it gets tired, it will naturally stop." Zhu Yong said, smiling as he patted his head.

Zhu Qiongjiong pursed his lips, unwilling, but still nodded obediently and ran off again.

Guanyin Nu watched her son's silhouette and said softly, "This child is just like you when you were young."

Zhu Yong was startled, laughing, "How do you know what I was like as a child?"

Guanyin Nu smiled, "I heard it from big brother; he said you, as a child in Fengyang mountain village, could eat a dou of food in one meal, scaring the whole village."

Zhu Yong chuckled.

That big brother, he says everything.

……

At noon, the fleet docked at a small town's pier to replenish fresh water and food.

Zhu Yong led his family ashore and walked around the town.

The town was small; the main street could be walked from end to end in the time it takes a incense stick to burn.

On both sides were shops selling sundries, food stalls, and a few tea houses with awnings.

There weren't many people on the street; occasionally a few peddlers with shoulder poles passed by, glancing curiously at their party.

Zhu Qiongjiong was curious about everything; he would squat at the candy seller's stall without moving, then dash to the clay figurine seller's stall, staring at the colorful little figures.

"Dad, I want this!" he said, pointing at a clay‑molded monkey.

Zhu Yong took out money and bought it.

Zhu Huanhuan didn't buy much, just quietly followed, occasionally glancing at a stall selling rouge and powder, but only looking.

After half an hour of strolling, Zhu Yong led his family back onto the ship.

The fleet continued westward.

……

At dusk, the fleet anchored at a large city called Wuchang.

Calling it a large city is relative; it was just a bit bigger than the town from the morning, with low walls and a shabby gate that looked aged.

Zhu Yong didn't plan to disembark, so he let the fleet spend the night at the pier.

Dinner was prepared on the ship; the fish had been freshly caught from the river that morning, very fresh.

There were a few side dishes, a bowl of rice—simple but tasty.

Zhu Qiongjiong ate with oil on his mouth, asking while he ate, "Dad, will we stop tomorrow?"

Zhu Yong looked at him, smiling, "What, you want to stay stopped forever?"

Zhu Qiongjiong nodded, saying, "Stopping is fun; getting off the ship lets us see many things."

Zhu Huanhuan whispered beside him, "You fool, we're here on business, not to play."

Zhu Qiongjiong glared at her and kept his head down, eating.

Guanyin Nu smiled while serving dishes to the two children, saying nothing.

After the meal, night had already fallen.

Zhu Yong stood at the bow, watching the speckled lights on the shore.

Wuchang City was small, yet in the night it possessed a certain tranquil beauty.

Footsteps came from behind; it was Guanyin Nu.

"Lord, it's getting late; let's go back and rest."

Zhu Yong nodded, about to turn, when he suddenly saw several dark silhouettes running toward the pier from the shore.

He squinted, hand pressing the short knife at his waist.

The dark silhouettes reached the pier edge, stopped, and waved toward the ship.

"Boatman! Boatman! Can we hitch a ride? We're heading to Yuezhou!"

They were a few traveling commoners, whose accents sounded like locals.

Zhu Yong relaxed his breath and said to Zhang Wu beside him, "Let them board the boat at the rear and inquire about the situation."

Zhang Wu responded and went.

A moment later, he returned to report.

"Prince, they are a few merchants on a trade run to Yuezhou for supplies; they say the journey has been fairly peaceful, with no major incidents."

Zhu Yong nodded and said nothing further.

……

March 25, the fleet passed Yueyang and entered Dongting Lake.

The lake's surface was broad and endless, more magnificent than the Yangtze.

Zhu Qiongjiong perched on the rail, watching the waterbirds on the lake, so excited that he kept shouting.

"Dad, what kind of bird is that? So big!"

"That's a cormorant, it catches fish."

"What about that one! The white one!"

"That's a white egret, it eats fish."

Zhu Qiongjiong kept asking, and Zhu Yong patiently answered each question.

Zhu Huanhuan also came over, pointing at a small island in the distance, and asked, "Dad, what place is that?"

Zhu Yong looked and laughed, "Junshan, there's a temple atop it, I've heard it's quite spiritual."

Zhu Huanhuan's eyes brightened as she said, "Can we go up and take a look?"

Zhu Yong thought for a moment and nodded.

The fleet docked at a small pier, and Zhu Yong led the family up Junshan.

The hill wasn't high, but the woods were lush and the setting tranquil.

Mid‑way up, there indeed was a temple, modest in size but with fairly strong incense.

Zhu Huanhuan held her mother's hand, walking while looking around.

Zhu Qiongjiong had already vanished, chased by Xiao Zhu and Xiao Ying, sprinting swiftly along the mountain path.

Zhu Yong walked slowly, gazing at the mountains and water, feeling a sudden surge of emotion.

In a previous life he had visited Dongting Lake, but that was tourism—crowded with throngs of visitors everywhere.

Now Dongting Lake was quiet, like a painting.

"Prince, look over there..." Guanyin Nu pointed into the distance.

Zhu Yong followed her gaze and saw a patch of sail shadows on the lake, fishermen's boats.

The setting sun sank in the west, dyeing the whole lake a golden hue.

It was so beautiful it intoxicated the heart.

……

After descending Junshan, it was already dusk.

Zhu Qiongjiong grew tired from running and fell asleep curled in Xiao Zhu's arms.

Zhu Huanhuan also felt sleepy, and, led by Xiao Ying, walked slowly back to the boat.

Zhu Yong and Guanyin Nu walked last.

"Prince, this road is truly beautiful," Guanyin Nu whispered.

Zhu Yong nodded and smiled, "If we have the chance later, we'll go out again for a walk."

Guanyin Nu looked at him, her eyes full of tenderness.

"Alright."

……

March 28, the fleet entered the Han River, heading north against the current.

The mountains on both banks grew higher, and the villages grew sparser.

Zhu Qiongjiong woke up and began chasing that parrot again.

The parrot, chased by him, darted across the boat, squawking, "Help! Help!"

Zhu Huanhuan sat in the cabin reading, occasionally looking up annoyed when her brother disturbed her, and shook her head helplessly.

Guanyin Nu was in the cabin stitching, sewing new clothes for the two children.

Zhu Yong stood at the bow, gazing at the faint outline of distant mountains.

There, Xiangyang.

Beyond Xiangyang, heading west leads to Hanzhong, then Guanzhong, then out through Yumen Pass into the Western Regions.

Beyond that lies the farther Timur Empire.

He did not know what they would encounter along the way.

But he knew that whatever they faced, he could handle it.

From behind came Zhu Qiongjiong's shout.

"Dad, the parrot flew away!"

Zhu Yong turned back, saw the parrot flapping its wings, landing atop the mast and looking down at the little one below.

Zhu Qiongjiong hopped below, unable to reach it no matter what.

Zhu Yong smiled and strode over.

"Come, Dad will help you."

He bent down, lifted his son, and with a light leap, climbed onto the mast.

Zhu Qiong Jiong reached out, grabbed that parrot in one hand, and smiled smugly.

The parrot struggled in his hand, still squawking, "Help! Help!"

Zhu Yong held his son and jumped down, landing steadily.

Zhu Qiong Jiong wrapped his arms around his neck, laughing happily.

"Dad's the strongest!"

Zhu Yong patted his head, feeling warmth in his heart.

The setting sun sank in the west, dyeing the whole river surface a Jin yellow.

The fleet continued onward, sailing toward that unknown distant horizon.