Chapter 384: Slimmer Again

At noon, the party stopped at an oasis to rest.

The oasis was small, but the water and reeds were abundant, and several old poplar trees spread huge canopies, casting dense shade under the scorching sun.

Beneath the trees lay a few flat, large stones that served perfectly as tables and chairs.

Zhu Huanhuan untied a bundle from the horse, spread a cloth, and laid out the dry rations and fruit she had brought.

There were steamed buns, roasted meat, grapes, melons, and a pot of milk tea.

Zhu QiongJiong plopped onto a stone, grabbed a piece of roasted meat and began gnawing.

Zhu Xiongying sat beside him, took the melon Zhu Huanhuan handed over, bit it, and squinted from the sweetness.

Zhu Gaochi sat at the far edge, still clutching the little notebook, jotting something down line by line.

Zhu Huanhuan walked over, sat beside him, and said softly, "Chi Er, eat first; record after you finish."

Zhu Gaochi lifted his head, smiled and said, "Just a moment, Sister Huanhuan, I'm calculating today's mileage; from Samarchan to now we've walked about sixty li."

Zhu Huanhuan was startled for a moment, then laughed, "You're actually being serious."

"Mother Consort said that one must have a clear sense of everything," Zhu Gaochi closed the notebook, took a steamed bun, and chewed slowly.

Zhu Biao sat on a large stone, watching the children, his smile widening.

"Second brother, tell me, in a few decades, how will these kids govern Great Ming?" he asked suddenly.

Zhu Yong thought for a moment, "They'll govern better than we did."

Zhu Biao turned his head to look at him.

Zhu Yong gazed at the distant sky and said lightly, "Elder brother, in our lifetime we've fought the wars we needed to, opened the roads we should, laid the railways we were to lay.

The rest, we'll leave to them."

Zhu Biao remained silent for a long while, then finally nodded.

After resting for about half an hour, the party continued westward.

After another hour's march, a small town appeared ahead.

The town was not large, but its walls were thick; at the gate people came and went—merchants hurrying with horse‑drawn carts, travelers leading camels, and a few Persians in long robes standing by the road chatting.

"This is our last stop for today."

Zhu Yong halted his horse and laughed, "Two hundred li west of Samarchan lies the largest town, called Katakurgan; it became a county last year, and a magistrate from Yingtian Prefecture was sent, surnamed Wang, a jinshi of the fifteenth year of Hongwu."

Zhu Biao swung off his horse and entered the town.

The Street was narrow but very clean, with shops lining both sides in orderly rows.

A stall selling roasted buns attracted a crowd; steam rose, and the aroma drifted far.

A few children, drawn by the scent, gathered to look.

Zhu QiongJiong took out several copper coins, bought a dozen‑plus roasted buns, wrapped them in oil paper, and handed them out.

Zhu Xiongying bit it; the heat made him grimace, yet he couldn't spit it out, mumbling, "Delicious."

Zhu Huanhuan also tried one, nodded, and said, "It's tastier than Yingtian Prefecture's, with more lamb inside."

Zhu Gaochi ate in small bites, then suddenly asked, "Brother QiongJiong, what's different about the roasted buns here compared to those of Samarchan?"

Zhu QiongJiong thought for a moment and said, "They use more cumin here, while Samarchan uses more pepper."

Zhu Gaochi nodded, took out his notebook, and recorded it.

Zhu Biao watched the scene, a faint smile curling his lips.

This kid has a great memory; he writes everything in his notebook.

In the future, he'll achieve great things.

After wandering for about half an hour, Zhu Yong took Zhu Biao to the county office in town.

The county office was modest, a three‑courtyard compound of blue bricks and gray tiles, much like those in Yingtian Prefecture.

Two stone lions crouched at the entrance, polished to a glossy shine.

The county magistrate, surnamed Wang, was in his early forties, thin and tall, with three long whiskers, dressed in seventh‑rank official robes, appearing refined and scholarly.

Seeing Zhu Yong and Zhu Biao, he hurriedly knelt and saluted, "I, the magistrate, present my respects to the Crown Prince, to Prince Wu, and to Prince Yan."

Zhu Biao helped him up, saying, "County Magistrate Wang, stand up! How are things here?"

County Magistrate Wang rose, speaking cautiously, "Your Highness, I took office last year; the locals are simple‑hearted and obedient, but …"

He paused, seeming a bit troubled.

"What is it?" Zhu Yong asked.

County Magistrate Wang forced himself to speak, "The people here don't believe our ways; they follow the True Lord, pray daily, and don't eat pork.

At first I didn't know, so I had people slaughter a few pigs and bring them to the market to sell, but no one bought them. After inquiring, I learned the locals don't eat pork."

Zhu Biao was taken aback, then laughed, "County Magistrate Wang, you've been in office a year and still haven't figured this out?"

County Magistrate Wang's forehead broke into sweat as he said, "I… I was negligent."

Zhu Yong waved his hand and said, "Alright, be more careful in the future; the people here differ from ours in customs, beliefs, and dietary habits.

You must first understand them before you can govern them well."

County Magistrate Wang nodded repeatedly.

Zhu Biao looked at the magistrate and sighed inwardly.

Second brother is right; this place lacks people, lacks scholars, and especially lacks officials who know how to deal with the locals.

Leaving the county office, night was already falling.

Zhu Yong took Zhu Biao to find an inn in the town to stay.

The inn was modest but tidy; in its courtyard stood a large locust tree, beneath which were stone tables and benches.

A few children played in the courtyard, Zhu Xiongying and Zhu QiongJiong sparred with fists and feet, Zhu Huanhuan sat by the stone table reading, and Zhu Gaochi crouched in a corner still taking notes.

Zhu Biao sat on the veranda, watching the scene, and a vague, indescribable feeling rose within him.

"Big brother, what are you thinking?" Zhu Yong walked over and sat down beside him.

Zhu Biao shook his head and said, "Nothing, just that life here is better than I imagined."

Zhu Yong laughed, "At first it was bad; when we captured it, the city was full of corpses, and the people were so frightened they wouldn't leave their homes. Later we gradually cleaned up, rebuilt the walls, repaired roads, allocated land, opened canals—doing it piece by piece. After more than two years, it finally looks like it does now."

Zhu Biao nodded, saying nothing.

The two brothers sat side by side on the veranda, watching the children in the courtyard.

Moonlight rose, bathing the whole courtyard in bright illumination.

In the distance, the faint chanting from a mosque drifted over, long and peaceful.

Zhu Yong leaned against a pillar, eyes closed.

Zhu Biao looked at his younger brother and suddenly said, "Second brother, you've lost weight."

Zhu Yong opened his eyes and laughed, "Big brother, you always tell me I've lost weight whenever you see me."

"Because you really have gotten thinner, and darker," Zhu Biao paused before adding.

Zhu Yong gave no reply.

Zhu Biao said again, "If mother saw you like this, she'd be worried."

Zhu Yong was silent for a moment, then softly said, "Once things settle here a bit more, I'll go back to see mother."

Zhu Biao nodded.

Night deepened, and the children each returned to their rooms to sleep.

Zhu Biao lay on his bed but couldn't fall asleep.

He thought of the land he had walked through today—the fields, the orchards, the pastures, and the villagers whose faces bore smiles.

His second brother spent more than two years turning this war‑torn land into a peaceful, prosperous home.

He suddenly recalled the line his younger brother wrote in a letter: "Big brother, when the railway is finished, take the train here and I'll show you the Adriatic Sea."

Now he was here; though he hadn't reached the Adriatic Sea yet, he had already seen the realm his brother had captured.

Outside the window, Moonlight was like water.

In the distance, the faint clatter of the night watchman's drum could be heard.

A new day will soon arrive.