Chapter 307: Arriving in the Western Regions

The sixteenth year of Hongwu, the ninth day of the fifth month.

Western Regions, outside Yumen Pass.

The sun had just risen from the horizon, dyeing the entire Gobi plain a golden‑red.

Zhu Yong stood on a sand dune, hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the rolling sea of sand in the distance.

Behind him stretched a winding column of troops several li long.

Three thousand Longxiang Army cavalry, five hundred artisans, and several hundred supply wagons formed a black long dragon in the morning light.

It had been exactly fifty‑five days since leaving Yingtian Prefecture.

The fleet entered the Han River from the Yangtze, changed to horse‑drawn carts at Xiangyang, and proceeded westward.

After crossing the Hanzhong Plain, traversing the Qinling Mountains, and passing through the He Xi Corridor, they finally set foot on the soil of the Western Regions today.

"Father! Father!"

Zhu Qiong Jiong's shout came from below the dune.

Zhu Yong turned his head and saw his son, like a little calf, climbing upward with hands and feet.

The six‑year‑old youngster, frighteningly strong, stepped on the soft sand, falling into a pit with each step, yet somehow managed to climb up.

"Father, look what I picked up," Zhu Qiong Jiong ran up and spread his palm.

It was a thumb‑sized stone, crystal clear, shimmering with a faint reddish glow in the sunlight.

Zhu Yong took it, examined it, and laughed, "An agate, a common find on the Gobi plain."

Zhu Qiong Jiong's eyes brightened as he asked, "Is it valuable?"

"It's worth a bit, but not rare; deeper in the Western Regions we'll see even better ones."

Zhu Qiong Jiong carefully slipped the agate into his chest and looked farther ahead.

"Father, this is the desert! So vast, all sand, nothing at all."

Zhu Yong looked at his son's sun‑kissed, slightly reddened face and smiled, "Disappointed?"

Zhu Qiong Jiong scratched his head and honestly said, "Not exactly disappointed, just… not what I expected."

"What did you imagine it to be?"

Zhu Qiong Jiong thought seriously and said, "I thought deserts were full of camels, dotted with oases, and even sand that sang…"

Zhu Yong chuckled.

The child has heard too many stories.

"Deserts do have oases and camels, but most places are just like this—nothing but sand, stone, and the sun. Look over there; do you see a patch of a different color?"

He pointed toward the distance.

Zhu Qiong Jiong followed his direction of pointing and looked.

In the distance, a faint dark outline appeared on the horizon, standing out amid the endless yellow sand.

"What is that?"

"An oasis—trees, water, a place where people live."

Zhu Qiong Jiong's eyes brightened again, "Can we reach it today?"

"We can; another hour's walk and we'll be there."

……

Below the dune, the column was resting.

Zhu Huanhuan sat beside a carriage, cradling the Book of Songs in her hands, though she was not reading.

She lifted her head, gazing at the endless sea of sand, her eyes a little distant.

The eleven‑year‑old girl had already grown into a graceful, poised figure.

Her brows and eyes resembled Guanyin Nu, with a touch of the prairie woman's openness, yet her temperament was more like Zhu Yong's—calm, restrained, and not quick to show emotions.

"Huan Huan sister!"

A crisp voice came.

Zhu Huanhuan turned her head and saw a little girl running over.

It was Xiao He, Xiao Zhu's nine‑year‑old sister, who served the princess consort together with her elder sister.

The girl ran, drenched in sweat, her face flushed red from the sun.

"Princess Huan Huan sister, the princess consort asks you to come over; we are preparing to set out."

Zhu Huanhuan nodded, closed the book, and rose to walk toward her mother's carriage.

Guanyin Nu stood beside the carriage, holding a straw hat; when she saw her daughter approach, she placed it on her.

"The sun is fierce; don't get burned."

Zhu Huanhuan obediently put it on and said softly, "Mother, this desert is truly vast."

Guanyin Nu nodded, gazing into the distance, her eyes somewhat complicated.

She had grown up on the prairie and had seen the most expansive Heaven and Earth.

It was also her first time seeing a desert, its boundless desolation more awe‑inspiring than the prairie.

"Your father said the Western Regions are larger than the prairie; we have a long way to go," she said softly.

Zhu Huanhuan was silent for a moment, then asked, "Mother, do you miss home?"

Guanyin Nu lowered her head, looked at her, and smiled.

"Where you are is home."

……

The column set out again.

An hour later, the oasis finally appeared before their eyes.

It was not a large place; its radius was only a few li.

In the middle lay a lake, deep blue like a gem set in the yellow sand. Along its shore grew a dense poplar forest, its golden leaves sparkling in the sunlight.

Between the trees one could vaguely see a few tents, and shadows of people moving.

Zhu Qiongjiong leaned against the carriage window, his eyes wide and round.

"Father, there really is an oasis, there really is water! And trees!"

Zhu Yong smiled, "Is this satisfactory now?"

Zhu Qiongjiong nodded vigorously, "Satisfied! I thought we'd have to sleep in the sand again today."

The party slowly approached the oasis.

Just as they entered the poplar forest, a burst of horse hooves sounded ahead.

A squad of cavalry galloped forward, led by a bright yellow banner embroidered with a large character "Yan".

Zhu Yong's mouth twitched slightly upward.

Fifth Brother arrived.

The cavalry halted their horses before the party; the leading commander dismounted and strode over.

"Your servant wishes to see Prince Wu!"

Zhu Yong waved his hand, signaling him to rise, and laughed, "Where's Fifth Brother?"

The commander clasped his fists and said, "Sir, Prince of Yan is waiting ahead; allow me to go ahead and greet him."

Zhu Yong nodded and said to those behind him, "Let's go meet our Prince of Yan."

……

After passing through the poplar forest, the view opened up brightly.

On the clearing by the lake stood several large tents.

In front of the tents stood dozens of people; the one at the front wore the dark princely uniform, standing tall with a composed expression.

It was Prince of Yan Zhu Di.

Beside him stood a woman, dignified and beautiful, dressed in a light teal gown, holding a three- or four-year-old child in her arms.

Zhu Yong stepped out of the carriage and strode over.

"Fifth Brother!"

Zhu Di also quickened his steps to meet him, his face full of joy.

"Second Prince!"

The two brothers met by the lake; Zhu Di grabbed Zhu Yong in a hug and gave his back a hearty pat.

"Second Prince, you finally came; I've waited a whole half month!"

Zhu Yong smiled, "The road was rough, it delayed us a bit."

Zhu Di released him and examined him from head to toe, his eyes slightly reddened.

"Second Prince, you've lost weight."

Zhu Yong chuckled, "You say that every time you see me."

Zhu Di also laughed.

At that moment, Guanyin Nu came over with the children.

Zhu Di hurriedly performed a bow, "Second Sister-in-law."

Guanyin Nu returned the bow and said with a smile, "Fifth Brother, after years apart you have become even more steady."

Zhu Di modestly replied, "Second Sister-in-law, you flatter me."

Xu Miaoyun stepped forward and gracefully bowed, "Your servant wishes to see Prince Wu, wishes to see Prince Wu Consort."

Zhu Yong gave a feigned support, smiling, "You younger sister-in-law need not be so formal; we are all family."

Guanyin Nu took Xu Miaoyun's hand, and the two women whispered something to each other.

Zhu Di also pulled the child behind him; it was a chubby five- or six-year-old, pale and smooth, eyes round and bright, curiously staring at Zhu Qiongjiong.

"Chi Er, call him Second Uncle."