Chapter 469: Blackened, Slimmed

Half a month later, the west coast of America.

A crowd stood on the pier, and at the front was the chief whose surname was Qian.

Having not seen each other for two years, he had put on a layer of fat, wore a seventh‑rank official robe, and stood on the pier grinning ear to ear.

"I, your servant, have the honor to appear before Prince Wu!" Chief Qian knelt on the ground, trembling all over.

Zhu Yong waved his hand and laughed, "Get up! Chief Qian, after two years you've really put on weight."

Chief Qian rose carefully and said, "Your Highness is joking, I eat well and sleep well here, have no worries, just got a bit plump.

Your Highness, everything here is fine, the natives are honest, the warehouse's grain can feed the army for three months, and fresh water is well stocked."

Zhu Yong nodded, sat on a Wooden Stake by the pier, took the Water Bag handed over by Chief Qian, and took a sip.

"Chief Qian, have there been any news these two years?"

Chief Qian thought for a moment and replied, "Your Highness, last year a group of immigrants from Australia passed through here and said Prince Qin had discovered several gold mines over in Australia, of very high quality."

Zhu Yong's mouth twitched slightly. That kid Shuang Er had done quite well in Australia.

After resting two days at the supply point, the fleet continued westward.

The winds and waves on the Pacific Ocean were smaller than those on the Atlantic Ocean, but the sea was larger and seemed endless.

After a full month's travel, the outline of land appeared ahead.

"Your Highness, ahead is Australia," Wang Gui shouted as he climbed down from the mast.

Zhu Yong squinted and stared for a while.

He recognized that land's outline; it was the north bank of Australia.

New City lay there.

The fleet slowly docked.

The pier was packed with people, and at the front was Zhu Shuang.

He wore a dark‑colored regular robe, a jade belt at his waist, a Gold Crown on his head, and stood on the pier looking this way.

"Second Prince!" Zhu Shuang rushed forward and hugged him tightly.

Zhu Yong patted his younger brother's back and laughed, "Alright, alright, you're already an adult."

Zhu Shuang released him, looked him up and down, his eyes rimmed with red.

Zhu Shuang had returned early, a step ahead of Zhu Yong.

"Second Prince, you've slimmed down."

Zhu Yong chuckled, "You always say that when you see me. How's Australia?"

"It's great! New City has tripled in size, we've opened over a dozen more mines—gold, copper, iron, all of them. Last year we shipped more than fifty million jin of ore back to Great Ming."

"Second Prince, how did you fare in Europe?" Zhu Shuang grinned.

"It's done; the whole of Europe is now Great Ming's."

Zhu Shuang was stunned for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter.

Zhu Yong rested in Australia for three days, looking at New City, the mines, and the tamed natives.

Zhu Shuang managed Australia quite well; New City was several times larger than when he left, the streets were orderly, houses sturdy, and the people lived peacefully.

Three days later, the fleet set off westward again.

West of Australia lies the South Sea.

The South Sea is Mu Ying's territory, but Mu Ying is already in Europe; a young general has taken over its defense.

The fleet anchored at Java for a day, replenished fresh water and food, and continued west.

After half a month, the coastline of Great Ming appeared ahead.

"Your Highness, ahead is Great Ming!" Wang Gui's voice trembled.

Zhu Yong looked at the land drawing nearer, and an indescribable feeling welled up inside him.

After two years away, he finally returned.

The pier was filled with people.

A sea of black bodies stretched as far as the eye could see.

At the front was Zhu Yuanzhang, dressed in a dark‑red regular robe, standing on the pier and looking this way.

Empress Ma stood beside him, wearing a plain palace outfit, her eyes rimmed with red.

Zhu Biao stood behind them, clad in a moon‑white regular robe, a smile on his face.

The roar of the steam engine faded, and the ship slowly docked.

Before the gangway was steadied, Zhu Yong took a big stride and leapt down.

"Father, Mother!"

Zhu Yuanzhang rushed forward, grabbed him in a hug, pounded his back hard, his throat choked as if something were stuck, unable to speak.

Empress Ma, beside him, was already weeping, holding his hand and examining him from head to toe.

"You've slimmed, you've darkened, Yong Er, you suffered over there…"

Zhu Yong laughed, "Mother, I'm fine, eating well and sleeping well, just missed you."

Empress Ma laughed through her tears.

Zhu Biao came over, looked at him and smiled.

"Second Brother, you're back."

Zhu Yong looked at his elder brother, stepped forward suddenly, and gave him a strong hug.

"Elder brother, I'm back."

Zhu Biao patted his back, saying nothing.

Chang Wan stood at the back with the children; Zhu Xiongying had grown into a sturdy youth, wearing a brocade robe, his back straight as a pole.

Zhu Wenwen stood beside him, looking slender and graceful.

Zhu Huanhuan stood by her mother, already a grown girl, wearing a light‑blue jacket and skirt, standing there quietly, her eyes rimmed with red.

Guanyin Nu held a three‑ or four‑year‑old boy, standing among the crowd.

"Father!" Zhu Huanhuan ran over and hugged him tightly.

Zhu Yong patted his daughter's back and laughed, "Huan Huan, you've grown taller, you're a real lady now."

Zhu Huanhuan laughed through tears, "Father, I'm already nineteen, how could I not grow taller?"

Zhu Qiongjiong leapt from the boat, shouldering his Wolf Fang Club, walked to his mother and grinned, "Mother, I'm back."

Guanyin Nu looked at this thin, dark‑skinned son, and her eyes instantly reddened.

"You've gotten thin, dark, must have suffered out there!"

"Not suffering, Mother, I've killed many enemies!" Zhu Qiongjiong grinned.

Guanyin Nu shook her head and handed the child in her arms to him.

Zhu Qiongjiong took the child, lowered his head and looked at the three‑ or four‑year‑old little fellow, fierce‑looking.

"You are Qiongwu?"

Zhu Qiongwu looked up at him.

"Brother..."

Zhu Qiongjiong grinned, "Hmm..."

Zhu Yong came over, bent down and lifted Zhu Qiongwu, laughing, "Qiongwu, have you missed father?"

Zhu Qiongwu clung to his neck, in a childish voice, "I miss him; Mother keeps saying father is at war."

Zhu Yong smiled.

At the dock, Zhu Yuanzhang turned and strode toward the city.

"Let's go home!"

Empress Ma took the hands of Zhu Huanhuan and Zhu Qiongjiong, following behind.

Zhu Biao and Zhu Yong walked side by side at the rear.

"Second brother, this trip was hard," Zhu Biao said.

Zhu Yong shook his head and said, "Not hard, elder brother, it's you who is weary."

Zhu Biao laughed, "What am I working hard at? I spend every day at Yingtian Prefecture processing documents."

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

Inside Qianqing Palace, Zhu Yuanzhang sat behind the imperial desk, looking at the complete map of Europe that Zhu Yong had brought back.

From Portugal to Poland, from Italy to Northern Europe, from Moscow to Crimea, most of it was marked in red.

"Yong Er, you fought this battle splendidly," Zhu Yuanzhang lifted his head and said.

Zhu Yong laughed, "Father, it's not that I fought well; it's that Great Ming's army is strong. Flintlock Guns, plate armor, rear‑mounted breech‑loading cannons—all forged day and night by the craftsmen of the Ministry of Works."

Zhu Yuanzhang hummed and said, "Even the finest gear needs someone who can wield it; you are that person."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

"Biao Er, store these maps safely; they'll be useful later," Zhu Yuanzhang stood and walked to the window, gazing at the western sky.

Outside the window, the setting sun turned the entire Imperial City golden.

From Yingtian Prefecture westward to Lanzhou, to the Western Regions, to Samarkhand, to Constantinople, then to Paris, Berlin, Moscow.

Tens of thousands of miles, his son has traversed.

"Yong Er, the European specialties you brought back are all fine. The animals will be sent to the Beast Garden for breeding. The fruit seeds will be given to the Ministry of Works for trial planting," Zhu Yuanzhang turned and smiled.

Zhu Yong nodded, "Father, there are also some European gold and silver treasures—five million taels of gold and twenty million taels of silver—already delivered to the Ministry of Revenue."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes brightened, then he returned to calm.

"Good, good, Biao Er, make the arrangements, grant the soldiers reward silver, and double the compensation for the fallen."

Zhu Biao responded.

Leaving Qianqing Palace, it was already afternoon.

Zhu Yong and Zhu Biao walked side by side along the palace corridor.

Zhu Biao added, "Also those European specialties—melons, fruits, vegetables, etc. You brought back some seeds; Sixth Prince saw them and said there are many good things. We already have potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, but these European fruits are truly fresh."

Zhu Yong laughed, "Sixth Prince over there will probably be busy for a while again."

The two brothers reached the palace gate, and Zhu Biao halted.

"Second brother, go back and rest well; tonight Kunning Palace will hold a banquet to welcome the third brother and you."

Night fell, and the lights of Wu Wang Fu lit up one by one.

Zhu Yong sat in the study, a sea chart spread before him.

From Yingtian Prefecture westward to Europe, tens of thousands of miles.

Zhu Qiongjiong entered from outside, shouldering his Wolf Fang Club, its head polished to a shine.

"Father, aren't you sleeping?"

Zhu Yong glanced at his son and said, "Can't sleep? You aren't sleeping either?"

"Can't sleep."

Zhu Qiongjiong sat on a chair, leaning his Wolf Fang Club against the wall.

"Father, do you think those Europeans will be honest?"

Zhu Yong thought for a moment and said, "They won't, but Fifth Brother is watching over there, so nothing major will happen."

Zhu Qiongjiong nodded.

"Father, are we still at war?"

Not fighting anymore, I'll rest for a few years first.

Zhu QiongJiong grinned.