Chapter 398: Zhu Shuang Has Also Slimmed

The two brothers walked side by side to the gate of Qianqing Palace and saw Empress Ma standing on the corridor, looking this way.

She saw her two sons, waved her hand and said, "Biao Er, Yong Er, come over, Shuang Er is about to arrive; Imperial Father is waiting inside."

Zhu Yong and Zhu Biao walked in.

Inside Qianqing Palace, Zhu Yuanzhang sat behind the imperial desk, holding a pamphlet in his hand but not looking at it.

He leaned against the back of the chair, his eyes half‑closed, his fingers lightly tapping the tabletop.

Hearing footsteps, he opened his eyes, glanced at his two sons and said with a smile, "They're here, quickly, sit…"

Zhu Yong and Zhu Biao sat down on the chairs beside him.

Empress Ma entered, sat beside Zhu Yuanzhang, and still held a needle and thread in her hand.

"Shuang Er, when will you arrive?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

Zhu Biao replied, "A letter just came from Tongzhou saying that Shi Jing can enter the city now; it should be about time now."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, saying nothing.

Zhu Yong looked at his father, and a sudden feeling of emotion rose in his heart.

Father was fifty‑nine this year, most of his hair had turned white, the wrinkles on his face had deepened, yet his spirit was still fine and his gaze remained as sharp as ever.

In recent years, several younger brothers were enfeoffed abroad—Australia, the Eastern Seas, Western Regions, Goryeo, South Sea—each farther than the last.

Father never said it aloud, but kept it in mind.

Zhu Shuang had not returned for five years; father said outwardly, "That kid is mischievous, even when he comes back he'll cause a ruckus," yet upon hearing that Zhu Shuang was returning, he kept mentioning it for several days.

From outside the hall came the eunuch's announcement, "Prince Qin has arrived…"

Zhu Yuanzhang sat up straight.

Empress Ma set down the needle and thread, and her eyes brightened.

Zhu Yong and Zhu Biao stood up and looked toward the hall's doorway.

The footsteps grew nearer.

A man strode in.

Zhu Yong looked at the man and almost didn't recognize him.

Zhu Shuang wore a dark‑coloured ordinary robe, a jade belt at his waist, and a Gold Crown on his head.

He was much darker than five years ago, also much thinner, but his spirit, qi and demeanor were completely different.

The previously carefree, smiling face was gone; a few touches of steadiness appeared between his brows, and his gaze deepened.

He no longer walked with the previous hop‑and‑skip; his steps were steady, his back straight.

He walked into the hall, knelt and saluted, "Your son offers his respects to Imperial Father and Imperial Mother."

His voice was also deeper than before.

It was not the crispness of a youthful voice, but the steadiness earned after trials.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him, was silent for a moment, then said, "Rise!"

Zhu Shuang stood, then turned to Zhu Biao and saluted, "Elder brother…"

Zhu Biao helped him up, scanning him from head to toe, "You're thinner, and darker."

Zhu Shuang grinned, "The sun over in Australia is fierce, it baked me; elder brother, you're still the same…"

He then looked at Zhu Yong, his eyes a little red, and said, "Second Prince…"

Zhu Yong looked at him, nodded and asked, "Returned?"

"Returned." Zhu Shuang's voice was a bit strained.

Empress Ma descended from above, took Zhu Shuang's hand, examined him from head to toe, and tears kept falling, "You're thinner, darker, you must have suffered out there!"

Zhu Shuang clasped his mother's hand and said softly, "Mother, it wasn't hard; it's fine there, just far away, so I can't come back often to see you."

Empress Ma wiped her tears, laughing and crying, "It's good you're back, it's good you're back."

Zhu Yuanzhang sat above, unmoving, but his eyes stayed fixed on Zhu Shuang.

After Empress Ma finished crying, he finally spoke, "How are things over in Australia?"

Zhu Shuang turned, spoke earnestly, "Answering Imperial Father, everything in Australia is peaceful; the new city has expanded threefold, housing over twenty‑thousand households, both Han People and natives reside there.

Seventeen mines have been opened—copper, iron, coal, gold—all present; last year alone, more than thirty‑million jin of ore were shipped back to Great Ming."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "The natives—are they honest?"

"They are honest; those who disobey were killed, the rest were tamed, now they help us mine, farm, build roads, and work quite diligently.

Your son follows the method Second Prince taught, allocating land and grain to them; once life improves, they stop causing trouble."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Yong.

Zhu Yong said, "Third brother is doing well in Australia; those mines were all discovered by him leading people to explore."

Zhu Shuang hurriedly said, "Second Prince, please don't praise me; most of those mines were discovered by you back then, I just continued the work."

Zhu Yong smiled faintly and said nothing further.

Zhu Yuanzhang asked again about Australia's agriculture, commerce and taxes, and Zhu Shuang answered each in turn.

His reasoning was clear, the figures accurate; the Zhu Shuang who once couldn't even balance accounts now seemed like a different person.

Empress Ma listened beside him, and tears fell again.

She recalled the days when Zhu Shuang was in Yingtian Prefecture, skipping school all day to fight crickets, being struck on the hand by Zhu Yong, punished by Zhu Biao to copy texts, crying with a runny nose and tears.

Now standing in the hall, answering Imperial Father's inquiries fluently, his back stood perfectly straight.

"Good, good, you manage Australia well. Both your mother and I are relieved," Zhu Yuanzhang finally smiled and said.

Zhu Shuang's eyes reddened again, but he held back and did not speak.

He inhaled deeply, pulled a pamphlet from his chest, handed it up with both hands and said, "Imperial Father, this is your son's 'Australian Strategic Plan'; please review it."

Zhu Yuanzhang took it, flipped through, handed it to Zhu Biao and said with a smile, "Biao Er, take a look."

Zhu Biao took it and flipped through page by page.

The pamphlet was written in great detail: Australia's terrain, climate, products, population, mineral distribution, and future development plans.

The handwriting was neat, the logic clear.

"Third brother, this pamphlet is well written," Zhu Biao said, closing the pamphlet.

Zhu Shuang said, "Elder brother, I spent three months writing in Australia, revised it seven or eight times; please see if there are any parts that need changing."

Zhu Biao nodded and replied, "Later I will examine it carefully."

Zhu Yuanzhang stood up, walked two steps in the hall, then suddenly stopped and said, "Shuang'er, you have stayed in Australia for five years; what do you think is the biggest problem there?"

Zhu Shuang thought for a moment and said, "Imperial Father, the biggest problem is a lack of people. Australia is vast, not much smaller than our Great Ming, but there are too few people, and Han People are even fewer."

"Our officials have been there for five years, altogether moving fewer than one hundred thousand households; the land cannot be cultivated, the mines cannot be opened."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked toward Zhu Yong.

Zhu Yong said, "Father, I have discussed this with elder brother; in recent years the domestic population has grown rapidly, land is insufficient to allocate. We can relocate some people from Henan, Shandong, Shaanxi—places with many people and little land—to there."

"The court will provide travel expenses, seeds, and farming tools; the first three years will be tax‑free. Those willing to go, once they go, become landlords."

Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a moment, nodded and replied, "Alright, Biao'er, later discuss with the Ministry of Revenue and draft a regulation."

Zhu Biao gave a single response.

The atmosphere in Qianqing Palace gradually relaxed.