Chapter 383: Inspection 2

Zhu Biao listened patiently, nodding from time to time.

The old man, at the end of his story, wiped his tears and said, "Prince, this commoner's life has been worthwhile."

Zhu Biao patted his shoulder, saying nothing.

Coming out of the town, Zhu Xiongying suddenly asked, "Second Uncle, is the Fengxiang Prefecture the old man mentioned located in Shaanxi?"

"Yes."

"Then how long did he travel from Fengxiang to here?"

"It took more than three months; the road was hard, but it was fine once he arrived."

Zhu Yong swung onto his horse and said, "Xiong Ying, remember, every inch of Great Ming's land was walked out by the people. When you sit in Yingtian Prefecture, you see a map, but every city, every road, every mu of field has living people behind it."

Zhu Xiongying was silent for a long time, then finally nodded.

The party continued westward.

After passing Xin City, the farmland gradually thinned, replaced by vast stretches of pasture.

In the distance, flocks of sheep grazed on the grass, a white expanse like clouds fallen to the ground.

Several shepherds rode horses, brandishing whips, weaving among the flocks.

"This is a pasture."

Zhu Yong pointed at the pasture and said, "We imported many sheep from Persia; they're a size larger than our local ones, and their wool is longer."

"Last year we sheared two batches of wool and sent them to Yingtian Prefecture's textile mill; the woven napped cloth is thick and soft, and Imperial Father said it keeps you warm in winter."

Zhu Biao looked at the pasture and suddenly asked, "Second Brother, what else is lacking here?"

Zhu Yong thought and said, "We lack people, we lack scholars; the land is there, the cattle and sheep are there, the roads are built, but no one governs. Zhang Wu is good at war but not at administration."

"Chen Heng is the same."

He paused, then continued, "Elder Brother, the officials you brought this time, I have looked at them, they are fine; some are Jinshi graduates, some were promoted from the bottom, all have drive."

"I plan to assign them to each city, let them train for a few years; the capable stay, the incapable are sent back."

Zhu Biao nodded and replied, "You arrange as you see fit."

The two brothers rode side by side, traveling far.

Zhu Xiongying and Zhu Qiong Jiong fell behind, the two youths huddled together, chattering.

"Brother Xiong Ying, look over there," Zhu Qiong Jiong pointed at a distant mountain.

Zhu Xiongying looked in the direction he pointed; the mountain was not high but steep, and atop it stood a dilapidated castle, glowing a dull yellow in the sunlight.

"What place is that?" he asked.

"It was once an Ottoman outpost, captured by my father last year. It stored a lot of grain and weapons, and a few bronze cannons, which we all moved away," Zhu Qiong Jiong said lightly.

Zhu Xiongying looked at the castle, and an indefinable feeling rose in his heart.

He recalled his childhood, when Imperial Father told him stories of Second Uncle's battles.

"Three hammers broke the gate beneath Kaiping City, one hammer burst open the gate outside Helin City, and a battle at Bu Yu Er Hai settled the Northern Yuan."

He had heard those stories countless times, each time his blood boiled, yet those tales were far from him.

Now, standing on this land, watching the cities his Second Uncle captured, the farms built, the people settled, those stories suddenly felt close, within reach.

"Qiong Jiong, how many times have you been on the battlefield..." Zhu Xiongying asked.

Zhu Qiong Jiong glanced at him and said, "I've been on it many times, charging with father, killing a few hundred."

Zhu Xiongying fell silent.

He is three years older than Zhu Qiong Jiong, but has never been on a battlefield.

He studied, trained, and learned governance in Yingtian Prefecture; his days were as steady as a still pond.

Yet his cousin, at twelve, had already killed enemies on the battlefield.

"Brother Xiong Ying, don't overthink; everyone has their own path. I was born strong, suited for the battlefield; your mind is sharp, destined to be emperor, no need to compare with me."

Zhu Qiong Jiong suddenly said.

Zhu Xiongying was startled for a moment, then smiled, "You're quite open-minded."

Zhu Qiong Jiong grinned, "My father said, he gives the war matters to him, the governance to the elder uncle, and in the future to you."

Zhu Xiongying looked at his thin black cousin, and a warmth rose in his heart.

Zhu Huanhuan rode over, glanced at the two younger brothers, and softly said, "Hurry, Elder Uncle has already gone far."

Several people hurried their horses to catch up.

After about two hours, a river appeared ahead.

The river was narrow but swift, and its rush sounded far across the open plain.

Zhu Yong halted his horse, turned to Zhu Biao and said, "Elder Brother, this river is called Zhalafushang River, flowing from the eastern mountains all the way to Samarhan."

"In the past two years we built canals upstream, diverting water to the fields; the wheat harvest is several times what it was when we relied on rain."

Zhu Biao swung off his horse, walked to the riverbank, and crouched to scoop a handful of water.

The water was cool and clear, and the riverbed pebbles were visible.

"Second Brother, what you've done here exceeds my expectations," he said, standing and flicking the water from his hand.

Zhu Yong also dismounted, stood beside him and said, "It's not just my merit; Zhang Wu, Chen Heng, Wang Gui followed me, Fifth Brother also helped a lot."

Zhu Di shouted from behind, "Second Brother, stop being modest; I was just watching in the Western Regions, didn't really help."

Zhu Yong glanced back at him and said, "Your help was little? Last year at Tie Mu Er Prefecture grain and fodder were insufficient, you brought three thousand shi of grain from the Western Regions, don't think I don't know."

Zhu Di chuckled, then fell silent.

Zhu Biao looked at the two younger brothers, and an indefinable feeling rose in his heart.

He recalled his childhood in Yingtian Prefecture, when several younger brothers gathered around him, calling "Elder Brother."

At that time, Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang were the most mischievous, Zhu Di the most steady, and Zhu Su the quietest.

In the blink of an eye, they all grew up.

Zhu Gang is in the East Sea, keeping everything there in perfect order.

Zhu Di is in the Western Regions, subduing those tribes, and the trade routes run smoothly without obstruction.

Zhu Su buries himself in medical research, saving more lives than he takes in war.

There's also Zhu Zhen and Zhu Fu—one in Goryeo, the other in the South Sea—both doing quite well.

If it were according to Zhu Bo's childhood temperament, he'd just avoid disturbing his fief, because two older brothers loom over him, which keeps him from acting recklessly.

And this elder brother can only sit in Yingtian Prefecture, staring at a map and thinking of them.

"Elder brother, what are you thinking?" Zhu Yong's voice interrupted his thoughts.

Zhu Biao shook his head and said, "Nothing much, let's go! Let's head ahead and take a look."