Chapter 351: Hybrid Pig

The nineteenth year of Hongwu, Spring Festival.

Before dawn, the Yingtian Office already rang with firecrackers.

Zhu Yong lay on the bed, and the familiar voice in his mind sounded right on time.

"Ding… The sign‑in for Hongwu year 19 is now open, would you like to claim the reward?"

"Claim…"

"Congratulations, host, you have obtained: Hybrid Pig Breeding Method (including breeding stock selection, feed formulation, and full set of disease‑prevention techniques)."

In an instant, a flood of information surged into his mind.

Breeding stock selection, feed formulation, pen design, disease prevention… a complete breeding system, crystal clear.

Zhu Yong opened his eyes, looked at the dust on the ceiling, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

Hybrid pig.

This comes at just the right time.

Great Ming hasn't lacked grain these years, but meat remains scarce.

Ordinary commoners can hardly afford a few meals of meat all year.

With this breeding method, in just a few years pork will be on the tables of ordinary folk.

He rolled over and sat up.

Guanyin Nu was still asleep, breathing shallow and even.

Zhu Yong slipped out of his clothes quietly and walked out of the room.

In the courtyard, Zhu Qiongjiong was already practicing martial arts.

The ten‑year‑old boy, shirtless, lifted a 150‑jin Stone Lock repeatedly, his face unmoved and breath steady.

Seeing Zhu Yong come out, he set down the Stone Lock and ran over, saying, "Father, you're up so early again."

Zhu Yong looked at his son, feeling a touch of emotion.

The child inherited his Divine Strength; at ten he could lift 150 jin, and in a few years he'll be a fierce warrior.

"It's the New Year; no need to train so hard today."

"It's fine; I can't sleep anyway, Father, that White‑bearded Old Man… gave you something again?" Zhu Qiongjiong wiped his sweat and suddenly lowered his voice.

Zhu Yong gave him a glance.

Zhu Qiongjiong grinned, "I saw you spacing out in the room earlier, just guessing."

"You're so clever, go wake your mother and sister; we have to go to the palace to pay New Year's respects today," Zhu Yong patted his head and said.

Zhu Qiongjiong replied, turned and ran off.

At the Chen Hour, the family finished preparations and headed for the Imperial City.

Zhu Huanhuan, fifteen, was graceful and slender, wearing a goose‑yellow jacket‑skirt, quietly staying by her mother's side.

Zhu Qiongjiong changed into fresh clothes and ran back and forth, never idle for a moment.

The palace had already become lively.

Princes, imperial grandsons, princesses and prince consorts who could make it all arrived.

Zhu Gang, after rushing back from the Eastern Seas, had stayed, now comparing with Zhu Di over whose gift was more rare.

Zhu Zhen and Zhu Fu also returned, and the few of them gathered, chattering noisily.

The farthest one, Zhu Shuang, still hadn't returned; he'd already been removed from the Great Ming brothers' chat group…

"Second Prince! Happy New Year! What have you prepared for the Imperial Father this year?" Seeing Zhu Yong enter, Zhu Gang was the first to greet him.

Zhu Yong smiled and said, "You'll know in a moment."

Zhu Gang's eyes lit up, "What good thing is it this time?"

Zhu Yong ignored him and, with his family, went to pay New Year's respects to Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma.

In Kunning Palace, Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma sat at the head, while Zhu Biao and Chang Wan sat beside them.

Empress Ma wore a festive red palace outfit, looking very spirited.

Zhu Yuanzhang wore a dark‑red formal robe, a smile on his face.

"Your servant offers New Year's greetings to the Imperial Father and Imperial Mother," Zhu Yong, with his family, knelt and paid respects.

"Rise, rise, Yong Er, come sit," Empress Ma quickly beckoned.

Zhu Yong walked over and sat beside Empress Ma.

Empress Ma took his hand, examined him from head to toe, and said, "You've gotten thin; eat more these New Year days."

Zhu Yong laughed, "Mother, I'm not lacking food."

Empress Ma, unconvinced, turned and ordered a palace maid to bring some snacks.

Zhu Yuanzhang watched the scene, a smile at the corner of his mouth, and suddenly said, "Yong Er, that White‑bearded Old Man… gave you something again this year?"

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Everyone turned to look at Zhu Yong.

Zhu Yong pulled a stack of Blueprint from his chest, handed them over with both hands, and said, "Father, this year's item is the hybrid pig breeding method."

Zhu Yuanzhang took them, flipped through a few pages, and frowned.

He recognized the characters and could read the diagrams, but together he couldn't grasp the meaning.

"Hybrid pig, what is that?"

"It means cross‑breeding different pig breeds to produce better pigs—fast‑growing, good meat, disease‑resistant. If this method is used, in a few years pork will become cheap enough for ordinary folk to afford," Zhu Yong explained.

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes lit up.

These years Great Ming, though not lacking grain, still finds meat scarce.

A pig takes a year to reach market, and ordinary folk can hardly eat meat even a few times a year.

If this method can really make pork cheap…

"Good, good! Biao, take a look." Zhu Yuanzhang handed the blueprint to Zhu Biao.

Zhu Biao took it and examined it carefully.

Though he wasn't well‑versed in farming, he also knew the weight of this thing.

After looking for a while, he raised his head and said, "Second Prince, if this thing truly works, it will be a legacy for millennia."

Zhu Yong shook his head and said, "Elder brother, I only brought back the blueprint; how to actually do it still requires the Ministry of Works to test."

Zhu Biao nodded and carefully put the blueprint away.

Zhu Gang came over, grinning, and asked, "Second Prince, what's the story behind your white‑bearded old man, who brings good things every year?"

Zhu Yong glanced at him and said, "If you're interested, I can have him send you a dream as well."

Zhu Gang hurriedly waved his hand and said, "No, no, no, in my dream I only want to see a maiden."

Laughter erupted in the hall.

Empress Ma smiled and shook her head, "This child, already grown, still has no proper conduct."

Zhu Yuanzhang also laughed, then suddenly asked, "Yong Er, you've been back for half a year this time; when do you plan to leave?"

The hall fell silent again.

Zhu Yong was silent for a moment and said, "A bit later. Although Tie Mu Er's residence is stable now, it can't go unwatched forever."

Empress Ma's smile faded a little, and she tightened her grip on Zhu Yong's hand.

She said nothing, but Zhu Yong knew she was reluctant to let go.

Zhu Biao whispered from beside him, "Second Prince, there's no rush. With Zhang Wuhe and Chen Heng watching over there, nothing serious will happen."

Zhu Yong nodded, "I know. Stay another month, keep mother company."

Empress Ma finally smiled, "Alright, mother will make you something tasty."

Zhu Gang muttered nearby, "Second Prince, your Tie Mu Er residence is farther than the Eastern Sea; a round trip is truly hard."

Zhu Di also nodded, "From Yingtian to the Western Regions takes two months, then to Tie Mu Er's residence another month and a half."

Zhu Zhen and Zhu Fu also echoed.

The several younger brothers exchanged remarks, all talking about the distance.

Empress Ma listened, then suddenly said, "Zhong Ba, tell me… can we build a road to Yong Er's side?"

The hall quieted for a moment.

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned, "Girl, what did you say?"

Empress Ma said, "Build a road, an iron road. Didn't Yong Er say last time that the cars on such iron roads can run several hundred li a day?"

"If we build one to Tie Mu Er's residence, won't Yong Er's return be convenient?"

Zhu Yong was stunned.

He hadn't expected mother to bring this up.

Zhu Yuanzhang was also stunned, thought a moment, then looked at Zhu Biao: "Biao, what do you think?"

Zhu Biao was silent for a moment, "From Yingtian to Tie Mu Er's residence is about ten thousand li. The route passes through the Western Regions, Gobi, desert, and requires crossing mountains and valleys. Building this railway would consume massive manpower and resources…"

"How much money would it cost?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked directly.

Zhu Biao calculated, "The Ministry of Works estimated last year that laying one li of railway, just the iron rails, costs several thousand jin, plus sleepers, subgrade, bridges; a li costs at least several thousand taels of silver."

"From Yingtian to Tie Mu Er's residence, over ten thousand li…"

He didn't finish, but everyone understood.

That was an astronomical figure.

Empress Ma fell silent.