Chapter 396: Petroleum

In the twentieth year of Hongwu, mid‑February.

Winter in Yingtian Prefecture hasn't fully left, yet the willows along both banks of the Qinhuai River have already begun to bud.

Zhu Yong stood under the corridor in the rear courtyard of Wu Wang Fu, holding a bowl of tea, staring blankly at the old locust tree in the yard.

He had been back for three days; he had met everyone he needed to, kowtowed where he should, and said all the words he was supposed to.

But his mind was still full of matters that wouldn't let go.

Internal combustion engine.

He had tucked that stack of blueprints in his bosom the whole way, from Samarkand to Yingtian Prefecture, nearly ten thousand li, keeping them close, never parting even in sleep.

Steam engines are too large; they can only be used on trains and ships.

Internal combustion engines are different—small, light, can be mounted on vehicles, running on roads that aren't railways.

In his previous life he had seen automobiles: four wheels, an iron shell, burning oil, running at great speed.

Back then it seemed natural; now, thinking back, that thing could move only thanks to this gadget.

"Prince, what are you thinking?" Guanyin Nu stepped out of the house, her belly already showing, walking slowly.

Zhu Yong snapped back, placed the tea bowl on the railing, and helped her sit down on the corridor.

"I'm not thinking of anything, just pondering that blueprint. It's the thing the White-bearded Old Man gave, we must quickly send it to the Ministry of Works."

Guanyin Nu gave him a glance, saying nothing.

She had followed him all these years, knowing he had something on his mind.

But he didn't speak, and she didn't ask.

That was their tacit understanding.

"You rest, I'll go into the palace for a while." Zhu Yong stood up, took the stack of blueprints from the house, and carefully tucked them back into his bosom.

Guanyin Nu nodded, reminding him, "Come back early; mother said she's making dumplings tonight."

Zhu Yong replied with a sound, and strode outward.

From Wu Wang Fu to the Imperial City was not far, a ride of about a cup of tea's time.

The guard at Wu Men saw him and hurriedly saluted.

Zhu Yong waved his hand and marched inside.

Inside Qianqing Palace, Zhu Yuanzhang was reviewing documents.

Empress Ma sat beside him, stitching, occasionally looking up at her husband.

"Father, Mother..." Zhu Yong entered, bowing properly.

Zhu Yuanzhang set down his brush and gave him a glance.

"Come in, sit..."

Empress Ma set aside her stitching, gesturing for him to come forward.

"Yong Er, come sit, your father was just mentioning you."

Zhu Yong walked over and sat beside Empress Ma.

"What was he mentioning?"

"He was talking about that White-bearded Old Man—has he given you anything again this year?" Empress Ma smiled and glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang hummed, not replying.

Zhu Yong pulled the stack of blueprints from his bosom and placed them on the table.

"Here it is, internal combustion engine..."

Zhu Yuanzhang picked up the blueprints, flipped through them, and frowned.

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

"What is this?"

Zhu Yong thought for a moment and explained in the simplest terms: "It's smaller than a steam engine, can be mounted on a vehicle, doesn't need coal, burns oil, and runs faster than a steam engine."

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned for a moment.

"Burning oil—what kind of oil?"

"Petroleum, the kind dug from underground, black, can be used for lamps and also burned."

Zhu Yuanzhang became even more confused.

He had seen petroleum, brought by Ministry of Works people from Shaanxi, black and smoky when lit, and no one wanted to use it.

Could that stuff power a car?

"Father, this thing can't be explained quickly; I'll take it to the Ministry of Works for them to study." Zhu Yong retrieved the blueprints.

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand.

"Go on, go on, we don't understand it anyway."

Zhu Yong stood up, about to leave, but Zhu Yuanzhang called him back.

"Yong Er, can you build that automobile?"

Zhu Yong thought, then nodded: "Yes, but it must be done slowly; internal combustion engines are more complex than steam engines, and the Ministry of Works must first master the blueprints before they can start building."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, asking no further.

Leaving Qianqing Palace, Zhu Yong went straight to the Ministry of Works.

The Ministry of Works' office was on the south side of the Imperial City, not far from the Grand Temple, a courtyard with three gates.

The stone lions at the entrance were polished to a shine, and the gilded characters "Ministry of Works" on the lintel glittered in the sun.

Zhu Yong had just reached the doorway when he saw a middle‑aged man in official robes emerge from inside.

The man, seeing him, immediately knelt and saluted.

"I am Vice Minister of Works Zhou Deqing, requesting audience with Prince Wu."

Zhu Yong waved his hand, indicating him to get up.

"Zhou Shilang, where is your Minister?"

"Yes, Prince, the Minister is inside, reviewing the Blueprint of the steam engine," Zhou Deqing said carefully.

Zhu Yong strode inside.

In the main hall of the Ministry of Works, a man of about fifty was leaning over a table, a large stack of Blueprints spread before him, a magnifying glass in hand, studying intently.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up, saw Zhu Yong, and quickly rose to salute.

"I, Song Li, Minister of the Ministry of Works, have the honor to see the Prince."

Zhu Yong waved his hand, sat on the chair, took the stack of Blueprints from his bosom and placed them on the table.

"Minister Song, take a look at this…"

Song Li took the Blueprint, opened to the first page, and his eyes lit up.

He read a few pages, and his hand began to tremble.

He flipped a few more pages, could no longer sit still, stood up, sat down again, and stood again.

"Prince, this… this is…"

"Internal combustion engine…" Zhu Yong leaned back in his chair and said lightly.

Song Li inhaled deeply, forced himself to stay calm, and turned the pages one by one.

He had been a craftsman for thirty years and a Minister of the Ministry of Works for ten, from improving the Spinning Wheel to sun‑drying sea salt, from Flintlock Gun to steam engine; he had examined every Blueprint and participated in the making of every item.

Yet he had never seen a Blueprint like this.

Four‑stroke principle, carburetor structure, ignition system, gearbox, driveshaft, steering mechanism…

Each component was drawn clearly, and every process was explained in detail.

This is not a single Blueprint; it is an entire set of equipment.

"Prince, this thing…" Song Li raised his head, his voice trembling, "If this can be built, it will be more than ten times as powerful as the steam engine."

Zhu Yong nodded.

"Can it be built?"

Song Li fell silent for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "Yes, but it must be done slowly; this is far more complex than the steam engine. Few of the Ministry of Works' craftsmen can read the Blueprint; we must first select a group to study it specially."

"You handle the arrangements; if you need anything, tell me."

Song Li nodded repeatedly.

Zhu Yong stood, walked to the doorway, then turned back and said, "Minister Song, this is not urgent; take your time to work it out, and don't make mistakes."

"Yes, Prince, rest assured."

Upon leaving the Ministry of Works, it was already afternoon.

Zhu Yong rode his horse back, still thinking about the internal combustion engine.

He didn't recall the exact details of how automobiles developed in his previous life, but he knew the general direction.

First came the internal combustion engine, then automobiles, then roads, gas stations, step by step.

Now many cement roads have been paved, from Yingtian to Lanzhou, from Yingtian to Beiping, from Yingtian to Guangzhou; the main thoroughfares are all connected.

With roads, cars can run.

But those are matters for later; now the most urgent thing is to build the internal combustion engine first.

Returning to Wu Wang Fu, the sky was almost dark.

Guanyin Nu was packing dumplings with Zhu Huanhuan, while Zhu Qiong Jiong squatted in the courtyard lifting a Stone Lock, a 150‑jin stone, as if playing with it.

"Father!" Seeing Zhu Yong enter, Zhu Qiong Jiong set the Stone Lock down and ran over.

Zhu Yong glanced at his son, a twelve‑year‑old boy, thin and dark, his arms full of muscle.

"What did you practice today…"

"Lifting the Stone Lock, shooting arrows, and I also sparred a while with Uncle Zhang Wu on swordsmanship," Zhu Qiong Jiong grinned.

Zhu Yong nodded, patted his shoulder. "Alright, go wash up, and we'll eat soon."

Zhu Qiong Jiong replied and ran into the house.

Zhu Huanhuan peeked out from the kitchen, saw Zhu Yong, and laughed, "Father, you're back; the dumplings will be ready soon."

Zhu Yong sat on the corridor steps, looking at the old locust tree in the courtyard.

The setting sun sank in the west, dyeing the whole courtyard golden.

In the distance, toward the Qinhuai River, faint sounds of silk and bamboo instruments drifted.

He leaned against a pillar and closed his eyes.

His mind still turned over those Blueprints.

Internal combustion engine, automobile, road…

These matters cannot be rushed.

Must proceed step by step.

"Prince, what are you thinking about?" Guanyin Nu carried a bowl of tea over.

Zhu Yong opened his eyes, took the tea bowl, and took a sip.

"Thinking about the internal combustion engine."

Guanyin Nu sat beside him and said softly, "Can the Ministry of Works' people understand it?"

"They can; Song Li said they can, but it must be done slowly. This is more complex than the steam engine. Few of the Ministry of Works' craftsmen can read the Blueprint; we must first select a group to study it specially," Zhu Yong paused, then added.

Guanyin Nu nodded and asked no further.

She didn't understand these things, but she knew that her husband's work was always of great importance.

"Father, mother, dinner's ready," Zhu Huanhuan called out from the house.

The family sat around the table, steaming dumplings were served, and the fragrance wafted into the nose.

Zhu Qiong Jiong ate ravenously, his cheek pouches puffed out roundly.

Zhu Huanhuan ate elegantly, chewing in small bites.

Zhu Yong looked at the two children, then at Guanyin Nu, and a vague, indescribable sense of satisfaction rose in his heart.

His wife and children by his side, the household was peaceful.

It was enough.

At night, Zhu Yong sat in the study, a map spread out before him.

It was the complete map of Great Ming, from Yingtian Prefecture to Samarhan, from Samarhan to Constantinople; every city, every river was marked clearly.

This land was conquered by his own hand.

It was also governed by his own hand.

He leaned against the chair back, eyes closed.

In his mind he thought of internal combustion engines, of automobiles, of roads, of those great deeds yet undone.

The door opened.

Guanyin Nu walked in, carrying a bowl of soup in her hand.

"Lord, the night is deep; have a bowl of soup to warm your body."

Zhu Yong opened his eyes, took the bowl, and took a sip.

It was chicken soup, very fresh.

"Lord, still thinking about the internal combustion engine?" Guanyin Nu sat down opposite him.

Zhu Yong nodded.

"If this thing can be built, then traveling from Yingtian to Samarhan won't take so long; even if the train hasn't reached Tie Mu Er yet, it will still save a lot of time, since our side is already paving roads now."

Guanyin Nu was startled for a moment.

"That fast?"

"Fast, faster than a train."

Guanyin Nu asked no further.

She didn't understand these things, but she knew that what her husband said was always true.

Outside the window, Moonlight was like water.

In the distance, the faint clang of a night watchman's gong drifted.

Zhu Yong stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the night outside.

The night in Yingtian Prefecture was quiet and peaceful.

This land was guarded by him and countless others.

What he protected was not only this land, but also the people upon it.

"Lord, it's time to rest," Guanyin Nu came over, speaking softly.

Zhu Yong nodded, turned, and walked out of the study with her.

The night deepened, and the lights of Wu Wang Fu went out one by one.

In the distance, a few dog barks could be heard faintly.

A new day will arrive soon.