Chapter 438: Seine River

"Second Prince, that's the palace!" Zhu Di spurred his horse and caught up.

Zhu Yong rushed to the palace gate; several guards brandishing spears charged; he swung a hammer, sending five or six of them flying.

Another hammer struck the door, and the great gate collapsed with a roar.

He burst into the palace; inside it was empty and desolate, not a single person.

"Search..."

Longxiang Army rushed into each room, searching room by room.

Soon a soldier ran out of the basement, cupping his fist and said, "Prince, there are people below."

Zhu Yong followed him down into the basement.

The basement was vast, piled high with crates.

When the crates were opened, they were filled with Gold and Silver jewelry, dazzling gold light that made eyes ache.

In the corner of the wall, a few people crouched—men and women, old and young—trembling all over.

An elderly woman in an ornate robe held a seven‑ or eight‑year‑old boy, muttering something as if praying.

"Prince, these are the so‑called queen and prince," Wang Gui said, stepping forward from behind.

The king had fled.

Cha Li Liu Shi was not in the palace; where had he run off to?

"Ask them where the king went."

Wang Gui asked a few questions in Latin.

The old woman trembled and spoke at length.

"Prince, she says the king fled north to Saint‑Denis, where there is a church, saying God will protect him."

Zhu Yong's mouth twitched upward slightly.

God will protect...

"Send men to pursue."

Li Wenzhong entered from outside, cupping his fist and said, "Prince, I will lead men to chase."

"Take five thousand Longxiang Army, ride out; if you can't catch up, don't come back."

Li Wenzhong replied with a nod, turned, and strode out.

Zhu Yong stepped out of the palace and stood on the steps.

The fighting in Paris had essentially ended.

On the Street, surrendered French soldiers knelt everywhere, hands clasped over their heads.

Longxiang Army soldiers were collecting weapons, and groups of captives were being escorted out of the city.

The air was thick with the smell of blood and gunpowder, mingling with the lingering stench of Paris, making people grimace.

Zhu Di spurred his horse over, dismounted with a flip.

"Second Prince, the city's garrison has surrendered, probably still over ten thousand."

"Absorb them, don't kill. Those who surrender join as auxiliary troops; those who refuse are sent to mine."

Zhu Di nodded, then asked, "What about those nobles?"

"Detain them, wait for the cousin to bring the king back, then deal with them together."

Zhu Di replied, turned, and left.

Feng Sheng rode in from another Street, cupping his fist and said, "Prince, the city has a dozen or so churches, more than Toledo, Gold and Silver vessels piled like mountains; just Notre Dame alone could cast tens of thousands of taels of silver ingots."

Zhu Yong nodded, his expression calm.

The European Church was richer than he had imagined.

All this Gold and Silver was stripped from the people.

"Move the Gold and Silver, keep the churches, later convert them into schools, lock up the priests; those who wish to return to lay life get land to farm, those who refuse are sent to Australia."

Feng Sheng replied, turned, and left.

Zhu Qiong Jiong carried a Wolf Fang Club out of a street corner, blood covering his body and splattered on his face, yet his eyes shone terrifyingly.

The twelve‑year‑old boy killed with a fierceness even harsher than his father's.

"Dad, up north we caught an official dressed in a gold‑thread embroidered robe, riding a white horse, faster than a rabbit, and I caught up."

"Bring him here."

Soon, a few Longxiang Army soldiers escorted a middle‑aged man forward.

The man was in his fifties, sporting a large beard, wearing a dust‑covered brocade robe, his complexion ghastly pale, trembling all over.

He knelt on the ground, muttering something incoherent, his voice shaking.

"Prince, he says he is Paris's governor, named Jean de Berri, Cha Li Liu Shi's younger brother," Wang Gui said, stepping forward from behind.

Zhu Yong looked at him and said coolly, "Tell your brother, Great Ming's army has arrived; France must either submit or be destroyed."

Wang Gui translated, and the governor's complexion grew even whiter.

He opened his mouth to speak, then swallowed it back.

"Take him down, lock him up."

When the governor was being taken away, his legs still trembled.

At dusk, Li Wenzhong returned.

He rode his horse, with a Longxiang Army unit behind him, a man on the horse.

Cha Li Liu Shi was bound on the horse, his complexion ashen, trembling all over.

His Gold Crown was askew, the blue cloak smeared with mud and blood, and his scepter was long gone.

"Prince, I captured him at Saint‑Denis Church; he was hiding behind the cathedral altar, thinking God would protect him," Li Wenzhong dismounted, cupping his fist and said.

Zhu Yong looked at Cha Li Liu Shi.

This French king was about fifty, sported a big beard, was rather burly, but at this moment crouched on the horse like a frightened mouse.

"Bring him down."

Cha Li Liu Shi was dragged down from the horse and knelt on the ground. He lifted his head, looked at Zhu Yong, his eyes filled with fear and bewilderment.

"Tell him that from today, France belongs to Great Ming."

Wang Gui translated it.

Cha Li Liu Shi's complexion grew even paler. His lips trembled, wanting to speak, but no words came out.

Zhu Yong no longer looked at him, turned and walked into the palace.

The palace in Paris was larger than he imagined.

The main hall was paved with stone slabs, and several oil paintings of France's successive kings hung on the walls.

At the far end of the hall stood a stone staircase leading to the second floor.

He ascended to the second floor and pushed open a door.

Inside was the king's bedchamber, a large bed with silk bedding that was crumpled, clearly the owner had left in haste.

Beside the bed stood a dressing table with several combs and a bronze mirror.

He walked to the window, opened it, and looked out.

The whole of Paris lay before his eyes.

The buildings were densely packed, crowded together like a beehive.

The Street was narrow and winding, with no end in sight.

In the distance lay the Seine River, its surface glittering.

This largest city in Europe, from today, had a new master.

Footsteps sounded behind him.

Zhu Di walked in and stood beside him.

"Second Prince, Paris is taken, what's the next move?"

Zhu Yong looked at the city outside the window and fell silent for a moment.

"First secure Paris, clean up France, then strike north."

"Strike north, England?"

"Yes, England. Isn't Henry V planning to send troops to aid Portugal? If he doesn't come, we'll go find him."

Zhu Di's eyes brightened.

"Second Prince, I'll lead the charge!"

Zhu Yong gave him a glance, his mouth slightly curved.

"No rush; we'll fight when we have the forces. England lies across the sea, and a crossing requires many ships and Grain and Fodder. First secure France, bring the fleet over, then strike north."

Zhu Di nodded and asked no further.

At night, Zhu Yong sat on the palace steps in Paris, watching Moonlight.

The Moonlight was round and bright, shining on this unfamiliar city.

In the distance, the Seine River's water roared, carrying far through the night.

Zhu Qiong Jiong crouched nearby, wiping the Wolf Fang Club with a rag.

The blood scab on the club's head was cleaned, glinting iron‑gray in the Moonlight.

Zhu Yong looked at his son, his mouth slightly curved.

"Send the order: the whole army rests in Paris for three days; after three days, advance north, target Calais."

"Calais…" Zhu Di was momentarily stunned.

"Calais is the largest port city in northern France, also England's last foothold on the French mainland; taking Calais would cut off England's link to France."

Zhu Di nodded, turned and left.

Zhu Yong stood up and walked to the window.

Paris's night was very quiet.

In the distance, the Seine River shimmered silver under Moonlight, with a few small boats drifting on its surface.

This largest city in Europe, from today, belonged to Great Ming.