Chapter 37: The Third Year of Hongwu

The noon meal is taken in the Eastern Palace.

Zhu Biao specifically had the Imperial Kitchen make stewed lamb for Zhu Yong to replenish his body.

"Second brother, how was Mr. Song's talk today?" Zhu Biao asked.

"It was fine, just some points I didn't quite understand," Zhu Yong said as he ate.

"What's unclear? Older brother will explain to you."

Zhu Yong pointed out a few places, and Zhu Biao explained patiently.

He spoke more plainly than Song Lian, and Zhu Yong gradually began to understand.

"So that's how it is…" Zhu Yong exclaimed, enlightened.

Zhu Biao laughed, "Second brother isn't stupid, just lacks a foundation; take it slowly."

After the meal, Zhu Yong headed to the Left Military Governor's Office.

Zhu Biao escorted him to the palace gate and instructed, "Cousin Wen Zhong is busy with military duties; you should listen and watch more, speak less, write down what you don't understand, and ask me when you return."

"I've got it."

The Left Military Governor's Office lies on the western side of the Imperial City, not far from the Five Armies Governor's Office.

When Zhu Yong arrived, Li Wenzhong was reading a military report.

"Cousin." Zhu Yong entered.

Li Wenzhong looked up, smiling, "Prince Wu has arrived, have a seat."

He set the report aside, took a map from the shelf and spread it out: "Today we're discussing grain and fodder dispatch. Look, this is Yingtian Prefecture, this is Beiping. If the main army departs from Yingtian, how should the grain and fodder be moved?"

Zhu Yong stared at the map, vague memories from his previous life surged up.

He knew that the Ming Dynasty later had canal transport and post stations, but he didn't know the exact procedures.

"Use the water route?" he probed.

"Right, but not entirely. In spring and summer we use canal transport—it's indeed fast—but in winter the waterways freeze, so we must take the land route, which consumes more grain because the laborers and beasts also need food…" Li Wenzhong pointed to the canal line.

He explained in detail, and Zhu Yong listened attentively.

Halfway through, Li Jinglong rushed in.

"Father! Prince Wu's cousin uncle!" the little fellow shouted, hopping about.

Li Wenzhong frowned, "Jinglong, I'm busy."

Li Jinglong tucked his chin, but his eyes fixed on Zhu Yong.

Zhu Yong fished a piece of candy from his pocket; he now habitually carries candy, giving it to his younger brothers and to little Jinglong.

Li Jinglong took the candy, cheerfully saying, "Thank you, cousin uncle!"

"Go play, don't disturb father," Li Wenzhong said.

Li Jinglong ran off.

Li Wenzhong shook his head, "This child just loves to cling to you."

"Jinglong is quite well‑behaved," Zhu Yong chuckled.

He continued the lesson.

Li Wenzhong not only taught theory, but also had Zhu Yong take part in actual military duties—verifying the Grain Register, calculating losses, and arranging escort routes.

Zhu Yong found the learning somewhat arduous, but he didn't give up.

In his previous life he had no great talent; this life he has a system and relatives, and he wants to do more.

Since he's arrived here, Zhu Yong thinks of changing some things, at least to let the Han People stand at the world's summit.

In the evening, Zhu Yong left the Governor's Office, didn't return to Wang Fu, but went to the Shence Guard Camp.

He kept Chang Yuchun and Lan Yu in mind.

Within the camp, Chang Yuchun was watching soldiers drill at the Training Ground.

"General Chang!" Zhu Yong called out from a distance.

Chang Yuchun turned, laughing heartily, "Prince! Why have you come?"

"Came to see you," Zhu Yong ran over.

Lan Yu was also there, now quite close to Zhu Yong, patting his shoulder, "Prince Wu, didn't you study today?"

"I did; this afternoon I studied military affairs, just finished," Zhu Yong replied honestly.

"What's the point of learning that! War is just charging in, but… you're a prince now, so learning is fine," Chang Yuchun said with a sneer.

Zhu Yong chuckled.

The three entered the Military Tent, and Wang Gui brought hot tea.

"Prince, I heard you're busy every day?" Chang Yuchun asked.

"Hmm, I read in the morning, study military affairs in the afternoon, and sometimes in the evening older brother asks me to attend state affairs," Zhu Yong said.

"Are you tired?"

"Tired, but father, mother, and older brother want me to learn, so I do."

Chang Yuchun and Lan Yu exchanged a glance, both feeling a bit emotional.

"Prince has grown up," Chang Yuchun sighed.

"I wasn't small to begin with," Zhu Yong scratched his head.

Lan Yu laughed, "Yes, yes, our Prince is a swift and fierce general on the battlefield!"

After chatting about recent military affairs, Chang Yuchun brought up Kuokuo: "That kid has gathered fifty thousand men in Shen'er Valley; next year there will be a fierce battle. Prince, when the time comes, you'll charge with me!"

"Good!" Zhu Yong's eyes brightened.

Wang Gui interjected, "Prince, the items you asked me to send to Fengyang have already arrived."

Zhu Yong was startled, then recalled.

A few days ago, he had Wang Gui send Imperial Troops to Fengyang, delivering some silver and gifts to the village where he grew up: one hundred taels of silver, ten bolts of cotton cloth, and also specialties from Yingtian Prefecture.

"What did the villagers say?" Zhu Yong asked.

"They were overjoyed; the old village chief even wept, pulling our men, saying Shiniu had made a name for himself and hadn't forgotten his fellow villagers. When we left, the whole village came to see us off and even sent back a lot of mountain goods."

Zhu Yong felt warm inside.

He was simple‑minded, but he knew how to repay kindness.

Shi Laosan had raised him for fourteen years, and the villagers had helped him with meals; he remembered all of that.

"Next time we go, bring more things," Zhu Yong said.

"Yes!"

Leaving the Military Camp, night had already fallen.

When Zhu Yong returned to Wu Wang Fu, Zhu Shuang was already waiting for him.

"Big brother?" Zhu Yong exclaimed in surprise.

"Came to see how you learned today," Zhu Shuang said with a smile.

"It's okay; cousin Wen Zhong taught me Grain and Fodder Dispatch, it's a bit hard, but I wrote it down," Zhu Yong said as he sat.

Zhang Wuhe brought out the evening meal, and the two brothers ate together.

Because Zhu Yong disliked being attended by maidservants, his Wu Wang Fu had only a steward, a few menial servants, and a cook, and no one else.

And Zhang Wuhe and Chen Heng often doubled as maidservants.

Zhu Shuang spoke of court affairs: "Those few in Zhejiang who were greedy for disaster relief silver have already been arrested; Father said they should be exterminated three families. I said exterminating three families is too severe; just punish the chief evildoer and his whole family, and exile the rest. All officials say the Crown Prince is merciful."

Zhu Yong listened and understood that his big brother's mercy was built upon their father's severity; without Father's decree to exterminate three families, his brother's talk of exterminating an entire family would not seem merciful.

That is the art of rulership.

"Big brother did the right thing," Zhu Yong said naively.

Zhu Shuang looked at him and suddenly asked, "Second brother, do you think Father is harsh?"

Zhu Yong thought for a moment and replied, "Father is harsh to villains, good to the common people, and even better to our own family."

Zhu Shuang laughed, "Well said! So we must do the same: be good to the people, good to our own, and to villains… be harsh when we must be harsh."

"I'll follow big brother's lead."

"You! A proper Wu Wang Fu can't be without a single maidservant. Look, even when I come, I need Zhang Wu to scout; after all, Zhang Wu is your Commander of the Imperial Guard, he can't be made to do these chores.

Moreover, Zhang Wu and his men are rough and can't attend to people; it's better to have Mother give you a few maidservants to attend to you."

Zhu Shuang looked at the empty Wu Wang Fu and couldn't help but say with a helpless laugh.

"But..."

"No 'but', this time listen to big brother..." Zhu Shuang cut off Zhu Yong's words.

"This... alright!"

Zhu Yong looked at Zhu Shuang's stern expression and could only agree.

Although he wasn't used to being attended, he could manage after a short while.

After the meal, Zhu Shuang tested Zhu Yong on today's military affairs; seeing he answered well, he felt at ease and returned.

This time, handling matters at Wu Wang Fu pleased the Crown Prince greatly; after all, it was a task assigned by his own mother.

At night, Zhu Yong lay on his bed.

The day was tiring but fulfilling.

Studying, learning military affairs, watching General Chang, and receiving big brother's teachings…

These were things he lacked in his previous life.

In his past life he was alone, but this life he has parents, a big brother, a younger brother, an uncle‑cousin, and elders like General Chang and General Lan.

He wants to protect them.

Thinking of them, he fell asleep.

Days passed like this, one after another.

Zhu Yong's daily routine was very regular.

In the early morning he paid his respects, studied in the forenoon, learned military affairs in the afternoon, and in the evening sometimes accompanied Zhu Shuang for council, sometimes went to the Training Ground to practice hammering, or visited Empress Ma.

He progressed quickly.

Although his studies were still rudimentary, he could already recite the Great Learning and the Doctrine of the Mean.

In military matters, Li Wenzhong praised his insight, saying he grasped concepts at a glance.

Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang were still mischievous but dared not act wildly before Zhu Yong; once the two skipped school to fight crickets, and Zhu Yong caught them red‑handed, striking each three times on the palm, making them grit their teeth in pain.

Zhu Di became Zhu Yong's little follower, constantly pestering his second brother with battlefield stories whenever he had a moment.

In the twelfth month, Zhu Yuanzhang summoned Zhu Yong to Wu Ying Hall.

"Yong Er, how's your learning going?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

"It's okay, Father," Zhu Yong replied honestly.

Zhu Yuanzhang handed him a military report: "Take a look."

Zhu Yong took it; it was from the frontier, noting that Kuokuo was training troops frequently in Shen'er Valley, seeming to have intentions to move south.

"For the battle this spring, we plan to let Chang Yuchun be Supreme Commander, Xu Da to hold Beiping as support, and you to be the Vanguard; are you not afraid..." Zhu Yuanzhang said.

"Not afraid," Zhu Yong shook his head.

"Good! Study hard these months, and in spring let the world see that our old Zhu family's Wu Wang possesses not only bravery but also strategy!" Zhu Yuanzhang patted his shoulder and said.

"I'll definitely study well."

On the twentieth day of the twelfth month, Zhu Yong again had Wang Gui send people to Fengyang to deliver New Year goods.

This time they sent even more.

Five hundred taels of silver, fifty bolts of cloth, and also rice, flour, oil and salt, enough for the whole village to have a good New Year.

When the Imperial Troops returned, they said the old village head led the whole village to bow toward Yingtian Prefecture, saying Shiniu… saying Prince Wu is a great benevolent person.

Zhu Yong heard that, and his heart became much steadier.

Before they knew it, it was New Year's Eve.

A family banquet was set up inside the palace; Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma sat at the head, and below them were Zhu Biao, Zhu Yong, and Zhu Shuang, Zhu Gang, Zhu Di, Zhu Su, Zhu Zhen, Zhu Fu—these younger brothers—a large family bustling with merriment.

Among them, Zhu Yong also saw the nine‑year‑old Lin'an Princess and the one‑year‑old Anqing Princess.

Zhu Yuanzhang, drunk, grabbed Zhu Yong's hand and said, "Yong Er, in the year you returned, Father is happy, Mother is happy, your elder brother is happy… our Zhu family is reunited!"

Empress Ma wiped tears beside him.

Zhu Biao smiled and urged more wine.

Zhu Yong laughed foolishly, his heart warm as a furnace.

When the banquet dispersed, it was already the hour of the Rat.

Zhu Yong returned to Wu Wang Fu, just as he lay down, he suddenly remembered that tomorrow is New Year's Day, the day for the system's sign‑in.

He was somewhat looking forward to it.

What will the sign‑in this year bring?

With that thought, he fell into a deep sleep.