Chapter 352: Proposal to Build a Railroad

Zhu Yong fell silent for a moment, then said, "Mother, this road is indeed too long; we can't build it all at once, but we can start with a section—from Yingtian to Lanzhou. That stretch is flat and easy to build."

Zhu Biao nodded, "From Yingtian to Lanzhou is about three thousand li, mostly plains and hills along the way, so the engineering difficulty is much lower. The Ministry of Works was planning this line last year, but it never got finalized."

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned, "Three thousand li? That must cost a lot of silver, right?"

Zhu Biao said, "The Ministry of Works calculated it, about a few million taels; that sum can be taken from the current treasury."

Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a moment, waved his hand and said, "Then build it! First to Lanzhou; when we have more money later, we can extend west."

Zhu Yong felt a warmth in his heart.

He knew his father did this to make his return home easier.

"Thank you, Father," he said softly.

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand, "Why thank me? You're our son; a trip home takes several months. What are you saying? Once the road is built, you'll be back quickly."

Empress Ma smiled, her eyes a little red, and said, "Good, good. Once the road is finished, Yong Er can come home often."

Zhu Gang chimed in from the side, "Imperial Father, will you also build one for the East Sea?"

Zhu Yuanzhang glared at him, "Your East Sea is out in the ocean; how do you build a road there? Are you going to put up a bridge for us to cross?"

Another round of uproarious laughter erupted in the hall.

Leaving the palace, it was already afternoon.

Zhu Yong walked back with his family.

Zhu Huanhuan held her mother's hand, whispering something.

Zhu Qiong Jiong ran ahead, chasing sparrows one moment and picking up stones the next.

Guanyin Nu walked beside Zhu Yong and said softly, "Prince Wang, are you really going to build that road?"

Zhu Yong nodded, "Mm."

"How much will that cost?"

Zhu Yong smiled and said, "As for the money, the elder brother will find a way. Besides, building the road isn't just for me; from Yingtian to Lanzhou passes through Henan and Shaanxi. Those places are now stable, but transportation is inconvenient and trade routes are blocked."

"With a railroad, cargo moves faster, and the people's lives can improve."

Guanyin Nu nodded and said nothing more.

Back at the mansion, Zhu Yong sat in the study and reviewed the blueprints for the mixed‑breed pig farm again.

After confirming they were correct, he had Zhang Wuhe send them to the Ministry of Works.

Zhang Wuhe took the blueprints, hesitated, and said, "Prince Wang, are you really leaving?"

Zhu Yong looked up at him, "What, you're reluctant too?"

Zhang Wuhe scratched his head, "I'm used to staying in Yingtian Prefecture; leaving suddenly feels… but wherever Prince Wang goes, I'll go too."

Zhu Yong smiled, "Don't worry, over at Tie Mu Er's estate, it already feels like home."

Zhang Wuhe nodded, took the blueprints, and left.

In the first month of the year, days flew by.

Zhu Yong entered the palace daily to talk with Empress Ma, occasionally went to the Eastern Palace to play chess with Zhu Biao, and sometimes was pulled by Zhu Gang to stroll in the streets.

The brothers rarely gathered, and they made a ruckus every day.

Zhu Gang somehow got a steam car and insisted on taking Zhu Yong for a ride outside the city.

The car was a new Ministry of Works creation, twice the size of the one at Zhu Yong's mansion, coal‑burning and smoking, roaring loudly as it ran.

Zhu Gang sat in the driver's seat, excited like a child, "Second Prince, take your seat!"

The car shot out with a "Vroom," and Zhu Gang fumbled with the steering wheel, nearly crashing into a pillar at the city gate.

Zhu Yong grabbed the steering wheel and steadied the car.

Zhu Yong asked, "Lao San, do you even know how to drive?"

Zhu Gang forced a laugh, "I can, I can, just a bit rusty."

Zhu Di, sitting in the back, turned pale, "Third Prince, with that skill, you'd better not drive."

Zhu Gang, unwilling to accept, insisted on trying again.

This time it was steady; the car leisurely left the city and ran a stretch on the highway.

Zhu Gang drove more smoothly, beaming, "How about it? I'm not bad, right?"

Zhu Yong was too lazy to respond.

The car circled outside the city, and on the way back Zhu Gang suddenly asked, "Second Prince, after you leave, who will look after you at Tie Mu Er's estate?"

Zhu Yong replied, "Zhang Wuhe and Chen Heng are with me; Wang Gui stays there to keep an eye on things."

Zhu Gang nodded and asked, "Do the people there obey you?"

Zhu Yong thought for a moment, "Whether they obey or not, a few battles will make them obey."

Zhu Gang chuckled, "That's true."

Zhu Di interjected from the back, "Second Prince, are you short of people? I have a few capable ones; shall I send them to you?"

Zhu Yong shook his head, "No need; your side isn't easy either—Western Regions just stabilized, you need to watch over it."

Zhu Di said nothing more.

On the twenty‑nineth day of the first month, Zhu Yong entered the palace for the last time.

In Kunning Palace, Empress Ma herself cooked a whole table of dishes.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the Main Seat, his complexion not very good, but he said nothing.

Zhu Biao arrived with Chang Wan and the children.

Zhu Xiongying was growing tall enough to match his father.

Zhu Wenwen, eleven, sat quietly beside her mother.

There were a few younger ones running around the hall, chattering.

Empress Ma served Zhu Yong some dishes, and while doing so said, "Eat more; the food on the road isn't good."

Zhu Yong laughed, "Mother, there are cooks on the road; we won't go hungry."

Empress Ma didn't believe it: "The food out there—how could it be as good as at home?"

Zhu Yong fell silent and lowered his head to eat.

Zhu Biao whispered from beside him, "Imperial Mother, the second brother isn't that he won't return; once the road is repaired, he'll be back quickly."

Empress Ma nodded, but her eyes remained red.

Zhu Yuanzhang set down his chopsticks, looked at Zhu Yong and said, "Yong Er, over at Tie Mu Er's estate, you must manage it well; reward those who deserve it, punish those who deserve punishment, and don't be soft‑handed."

Zhu Yong nodded, "Father, I understand."

Zhu Yuanzhang added, "If anything arises, send a messenger back; don't shoulder it alone."

"Understood."

Zhu Yuanzhang was silent for a moment, then said, "Your method of cross‑breeding pigs—people of the Ministry of Works have examined it and say it will work; in a few years pork will be cheap, and the common folk's lives will improve a bit."

Zhu Yong smiled, "That's good then."

The meal lasted two hours; by the time night fell, Zhu Yong finally rose to take his leave.

Empress Ma escorted him to the doorway, grasped his hand, and said, "Yong Er, be careful on the road; write back when you arrive."

Zhu Yong nodded, "Mother, rest assured."

Zhu Yuanzhang stood behind, silent, and merely waved his hand.

Zhu Yong knelt, kowtowed three times, then rose and left.

After exiting Kunning Palace, Zhu Biao caught up.

"Second brother," Zhu Biao called out to him.

Zhu Yong halted.

Zhu Biao took a letter from his bosom, handed it to him and said, "This is a document for the officials at Tie Mu Er's estate; take it with you."

Zhu Yong took it and slipped it into his chest.

Zhu Biao added, "As for the road, you needn't worry; the Ministry of Works has begun surveying, and if progress is swift, it can reach Lanzhou in two or three years."

Zhu Yong nodded, "Elder brother, you've worked hard."

Zhu Biao laughed, "What's hard for you? It's you who are struggling over there."

The two brothers walked side by side for a stretch.

Moonlight fell on the palace path, stretching their shadows long.

"Second brother," Zhu Biao suddenly asked, "Do you think this railway will truly reach Tie Mu Er's estate someday?"

Zhu Yong thought for a moment, "It can, as long as there's silver and time; sooner or later it will be built."

Zhu Biao nodded and said nothing more.

Reaching the palace gate, Zhu Yong halted, "Elder brother, return now!"

Zhu Biao looked at him, suddenly placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "Take care…"

Zhu Yong smiled, "Elder brother, you take care as well."

He turned, mounted his horse with his family, and vanished into the night.

Zhu Biao stood at the palace gate, watching that party fade into the distance until they disappeared, then turned and walked back.

Chang Wan, with the children, waited at the Kunning Palace entrance; when she saw him return, she asked softly, "Did the second brother leave?"

Zhu Biao nodded.

Zhu Xiongying asked nearby, "Father, when will the second uncle return?"

Zhu Biao patted his head, "Soon; once the road is repaired, he'll come back often."

Zhu Xiongying nodded, asking no further.

The nineteenth year of Hongwu, first day of the second month.

Outside Yingtian Prefecture, the dock was packed with people.

Zhu Gang, Zhu Di, Zhu Zhen, and Zhu Fu all arrived.

Lan Yu, Xu Da, Tang He—everyone who could come had come.

Zhu Yong stood at the bow, waving toward the shore.

"Second Prince! Write back when you arrive!" Zhu Gang shouted from the shore.

Zhu Yong smiled and nodded.

Zhu Di stood nearby, silent, merely waving.

Zhu Zhen and Zhu Fu, being younger, had red eyes.

The roar of the steam engine sounded, and the fleet slowly set off.

Zhu Yong stood at the bow, watching Yingtian Prefecture recede.

Guanyin Nu walked up to him and whispered, "Reluctant to part?"

Zhu Yong nodded, "A little."

Zhu Huanhuan and Zhu Qiongjiong stood beside their mother, also gazing at the distant city.

Zhu Qiongjiong suddenly asked, "Father, when will we return?"

Zhu Yong thought, "Soon; once the road is repaired, we'll be able to come back often."

Zhu Qiongjiong nodded, asking no more.

The fleet sailed out of the Yangtze River mouth into the East Sea. The figures on the shore grew smaller and finally vanished on the horizon.

Zhu Yong turned and looked west.

There, in that direction, was Tie Mu Er's estate.

It is his fief, the realm he conquered.

It is also his second home.

"Let's go, back home," he said softly.

The steam engine's roar grew louder, and the fleet cut through the waves, sailing toward the distance.

Spring of the 19th year of Hongwu, just beginning.