Chapter 484: Principle of the Generator

The twenty‑fourth year of Hongwu, Spring Festival.

The firecracker blasts from Yingtian Prefecture rang from the hour of the Rat until dawn without stopping.

Fireworks along both banks of the Qinhuai River came in successive bursts, making the whole river flicker, like a luminous snake.

Zhu Yong lay on the bed, listening to the bustle outside the window, a faint smile curling his lips.

Another year has passed.

The familiar voice in his mind sounded right on schedule.

"Ding… The Hongwu 24th‑year sign‑in is now open. Claim reward?"

"Claim."

"Congratulations, host! You have obtained: Generator Principle + Small‑Scale Power Plant Blueprint (including hydroelectric generator structure, coil winding method, magnet manufacturing process, power transmission line installation standards, and the full set of techniques)."

In an instant, a flood of information surged into his mind.

Generator.

Rotor, stator, coil, magnet, commutator…

Hydroelectric power station.

Water wheel, pressure pipeline, tailwater pipe, dam…

A complete set of power‑generation technology from nothing, clear and explicit.

Zhu Yong opened his eyes, staring at the dust‑laden ceiling.

He had been waiting for this thing for an unknown length of time; ever since he managed to produce plastic, Zhu Yong had been dreaming of electricity, for only with electricity could other devices follow.

The Hongwu 23rd‑year sign‑in yielded a Strong Body Pill.

The Hongwu 22nd‑year sign‑in was oil extraction.

The Hongwu 21st‑year sign‑in was the seafood preservation method.

The Hongwu 20th‑year sign‑in was an internal combustion engine.

The Hongwu 19th‑year sign‑in was a crossbred pig.

The Hongwu 18th‑year sign‑in was a rear‑mounted breech‑loading cannon.

The Hongwu 17th‑year sign‑in was an improved horse breed.

They've been signing in year after year, never missing a single one.

But the generator is different…

If this thing is accomplished, the nights of Great Ming will no longer be pitch black.

Electric lamps shine more than ten times brighter than kerosene lamps and won't blacken the ceiling.

Telegraphs deliver messages across a thousand miles instantly, hundreds of times faster than horseback.

Electric motors can drive all kinds of machinery, far lighter than steam engines.

All of these require electricity.

And the generator is the first step in turning the invisible, untouchable "electricity" into reality.

"Prince, are you awake?" Xiao Zhu's voice called from outside.

"Hmm…" Zhu Yong replied, rolling over to sit up.

Xiao Zhu and Xiao Ying entered carrying hot water, assisting him with dressing and washing.

Both girls had been sent by Empress Ma back then; now they were in their early thirties and very steady.

"Prince, the princess said today is the first day, and she wants you to wear that newly made woven‑gold python robe," Xiao Ying said while handing him a towel.

Zhu Yong nodded, letting them fuss with him.

The woven‑gold python robe had a dark base, gold thread embroidered with a five‑claw cloud python, a jade belt at the waist, and a gold crown on the head.

The moment he donned the outfit and stood before the bronze mirror, he looked truly imposing.

He was now in his thirties, with thick eyebrows, large eyes, a square‑shaped face, a full forehead, the prime of his youth and strength.

From the hungry, simple boy of Fengyang Mountain Village to the present Great Ming's King, the journey felt like a dream.

"Let's go to the main hall..."

The family first went to the Eastern Palace to wish Zhu Biao a Happy New Year, then followed the elder brother's family to the Imperial Palace.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma, among others, had stayed in Europe only briefly before returning; the two elders were very pleased after coming back, after all they had gone out to broaden their horizons.

Not long ago the two elders had just returned, and each day they gathered a few children to recount what they had seen.

In Kunning Palace, Empress Ma was doing her makeup.

Seeing her two sons bring in their wives, grandchildren and great‑grandchildren, she smiled with her eyes narrowed to a slit.

"Come in, come in, quick, come in and warm up!"

Everyone performed the salute, and Empress Ma pulled each of them up in turn.

"Jiong Jiong has grown taller, half a head taller than your brother Xiong Ying," Empress Ma said, pulling Zhu Qiong Jiong's hand and examining him.

Zhu Qiong Jiong grinned, "Grandma Empress, I train in the camp every day; I not only grew taller, I also put on flesh."

Zhu Xiongying laughed beside him, "Jiong Jiong can now eat six big bowls of rice, even more than Second Uncle could back then."

The hall erupted in laughter.

Empress Ma then took Zhu Qiongwu's hand, laughing, "Qiongwu has also grown taller; when your father was your age, he was still hunting wild boars on Fengyang Mountain."

Zhu Qiongwu looked up, his voice childlike, "Grandma Empress, I can also hunt wild boars; Father said he'd take me in spring."

Empress Ma smiled and patted his head.

Zhu Yong walked over, paid his respects to Empress Ma, and then to Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat behind the imperial desk, dressed in a dark red formal robe, looking vigorous.

Since taking the Strong Body Pill in the twenty‑third year of Hongwu, his health had improved greatly; his hair had darkened, and the wrinkles on his face had faded.

"Father, the White-bearded Old Man gave us something again this morning," Zhu Yong pulled a thick stack of Blueprint from his chest and handed it over with both hands.

Zhu Yuanzhang took it, opened the first page, glanced at it a few times, and furrowed his brows.

The paper depicted some odd shapes—some circular, some square, and also winding, curvy lines.

He stared for a long while and didn't understand a single character.

"What is this?"

"It's a generator, that is... a thing that turns the force of flowing water into electricity," Zhu Yong explained.

Zhu Yuanzhang was even more confused: "Electricity... what is electricity?"

"Father, have you ever seen thunder and lightning? It's that thing—lightning can split a tree, can set a house on fire; its power is great."

"A generator is a device that turns the force of flowing water into that kind of power, only smaller, so people can use it."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded as if he half understood.

"What use does this thing have?"

"Illumination, transmitting sound over a thousand li, powering machines... it's ten times brighter than a kerosene lamp, lighter than a steam engine, and can deliver news from a thousand li instantly," Zhu Yong said, counting on his fingers.

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes lit up.

He rose from his chair, walked to the massive World Map, stared at it for a while, then turned around.

"Yong Er, if this generator really gets built, what will Great Ming become?"

"Father, Great Ming will never have darkness again; in cities and countryside, every household will light electric lamps, shining like daytime."

"From Yingtian to Beiping, a telegram sent with a press will arrive instantly, no longer waiting ten days or half a month."

"The machines in factories, equipped with electric motors, are much faster than steam engines and far more convenient."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Zhu Yuanzhang took a deep breath, then patted the table.

"Good, good, good..."

He said three "good"s in a row.

Empress Ma laughed beside him: "Zhong Ba, why are you so excited? The thing hasn't been built yet."

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted and said, "Our sons, when have you ever disappointed us? Biao Er, Yong Er, keep an eye on this generator; the Ministry of Works wants people, give them people; wants silver, give them silver."

"Anyway, now Great Ming has conquered such a vast territory and has also discovered many gold and silver mines, so we are far from lacking money."

Zhu Biao replied, "Imperial Father, rest assured, I will keep watch."

Zhu Yong also nodded, "Father, rest assured, I'll go to the Ministry of Works to urge them."