Chapter 488: Telegraph Machine

"It's arranged; the light bulb workshop has already begun mass production, the electric wire factory is also rushing work, and the power supply bureau is being prepared," Zhu Yong sat down on the chair.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "How will the electricity fee be collected?"

Zhu Yong explained the idea once.

Zhu Yuanzhang, after listening, was silent for a moment, then said, "Collecting electricity fees is fine, but the price must not be too high; the common folk can't afford it, and installing it would be pointless."

"Father is right, so I, your son, plan to install first on the main street of the city, let the people see the effect; after seeing it many times they'll naturally want to install, then set the price lower so every household can afford it."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "For those wealthy households, charge a bit more if they want to install; for poor families, charge less or not at all. Great Ming doesn't lack this money."

"Yes…"

Leaving Qianqing Palace, Zhu Yong went to the Eastern Palace.

Zhu Biao was standing at the Eastern Palace entrance, looking up as eunuchs installed light bulbs onto wooden poles.

"Second brother, take a look at this," Zhu Biao said, pointing at the newly installed lamp.

Zhu Yong walked over and looked at the lamp.

The glass cover was polished to a shine, the filament was neat, and the electric wire hung from the top of the pole, running along the wall straight into the room.

"Pull it once and try," Zhu Biao said to the eunuch beside him.

The eunuch pulled the switch wire.

The filament first glowed dark red, then grew brighter, finally emitting a dazzling white light.

The whole Eastern Palace entrance instantly became as bright as daylight.

Zhu Biao stared at the lamp, silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Second brother, do you know, when Imperial Father captured Yingtian Prefecture, at night he folded documents and lit candles; when the candles were insufficient, he had eunuchs hold torches beside him for illumination.

The torch filled the house with smoke, and Imperial Father's eyes were ruined at that time."

Zhu Yong said nothing.

"Now it's better; with electric lamps, Imperial Father won't need candles when folding documents at night. Your telegraph machines can transmit messages from thousands of miles away instantly; in the future, whenever the border passes have any news, the court can know immediately. Your merit surpasses everyone else."

Zhu Biao turned his head and looked at his brother.

"Second brother, tell me, in a few decades, what will Great Ming become?"

Zhu Yong thought for a moment and said slowly, "Trains will reach Europe, automobiles will reach America, every household will have electric lamps, everyone will have food to eat, clothes to wear, children will be able to read and write, and the elderly will have pensions."

Zhu Biao smiled.

"You are right. But that depends on you, on your White-bearded Old Man who gives good things year after year."

Zhu Yong also smiled.

At night, on the main street of Yingtian Prefecture city, dozens of electric lamps lit up simultaneously, illuminating the whole street as bright as daylight.

The common folk streamed in from all directions, standing under the lamps, looking up, their eyes dazzled.

"So bright! More than ten times brighter than a kerosene lamp!"

"Exactly, my kerosene lamp, when lit all night makes the whole house black, but this lamp doesn't smoke at all and has no smell."

"I heard this is an electric lamp, made by His Highness Prince Zhen Guo."

"His Highness Prince Zhen Guo truly is a godlike person; he can create anything."

"..." The voices of discussion rose and fell.

Zhu Yong stood at the entrance of Wu Wang Fu, watching the electric lamps on the street, a slight smile curling his lips.

The electric lamps are lit; will the telegraph still be far away?

The 25th year of Hongwu, Spring Festival.

The firecrackers in Yingtian Prefecture rang from the hour of the Rat until dawn without stopping.

Fireworks along both banks of Qinhuai River came in succession, making the whole river flicker, like a glowing snake.

Zhu Yong lay on the bed, listening to the bustle outside the window, and the familiar voice in his mind sounded punctually.

"Ding… The 25th year of Hongwu sign‑in is now open, would you like to claim a reward?"

"Claim."

"Congratulations, host, you have obtained: telegraph machine schematic + electric wire installation method (including transmitter, receiver, relay, Morse code table, electric pole installation standards, and the full set of technologies)."

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

Telegraph machine.

Transmitter, receiver, relay, Morse code…

Electric wire installation.

Electric pole, insulator, pull wire, ground wire…

A complete set of telegraph technology from nothing, clear and explicit.

Zhu Yong opened his eyes, gazing at the dust rack on the ceiling.

Telegraph machine.

This thing has been waited for a year.

Last year we worked on generators, this year on telegraph machines.

With electricity, the telegraph machine can be used.

With telegraph, messages from thousands of miles arrive instantly.

When the border passes have any movement, the court can know immediately.

Merchants conducting trade can also learn market conditions everywhere at any time.

This device is a hundred times faster than riding a horse.

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

"Mm." Zhu Yong replied, rolling over to sit up.

Xiao Zhu and Xiao Ying came in carrying hot water, attending to his dressing and washing.

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

Zhu Yong nodded, letting them fuss.

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

When this outfit is put on and stood before the bronze mirror, it looks truly imposing.

From the hungry simpleton in Fengyang mountain village to now the Great Ming king, the whole journey feels like a dream.

"Let's go, to the main courtyard."

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

The palace had already become lively.

Princes, grandsons, princesses' husbands—everyone who could come had arrived.

Zhu Biao and Zhu Yong, with their families, entered Kunning Palace to pay New Year respects to Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat at the head, wearing a dark red formal robe, looking very spirited.

Empress Ma wore a festive red palace outfit, smiling.

"Your servant offers New Year greetings to Father Emperor and Mother Empress," Zhu Yong said as he and his family knelt.

"Rise, rise, Yong Er, come sit," Empress Ma quickly gestured.

Zhu Yong walked over and sat beside Empress Ma.

Empress Ma took his hand and examined him from head to toe: "You've lost weight; eat more these New Year days."

Zhu Yong laughed, "Mother, I'm not lacking food."

Empress Ma, unconvinced, turned and ordered a palace maid to bring snacks.

Zhu Yuanzhang watched the scene, a smile at his mouth, and suddenly said, "Yong Er, that White‑bearded Old Man, did he give you something again this year?"

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Everyone looked at Zhu Yong.

Zhu Yong took a stack of Blueprint from his bosom and handed it over with both hands.

"Dad, this year's item is the Blueprint of a telegraph machine."

Zhu Yuanzhang took it, flipped through several pages, and frowned.

He recognized the characters and could read the diagrams, but when combined he didn't understand what they meant.

"Telegraph machine, what is that?"

"It's a device that can transmit messages across hundreds or thousands of li. Place a machine on each side; press a key here, a sound rings there, and based on the length of the tone it translates into text, sending the message," Zhu Yong explained.

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes brightened.

"Several hundred or several thousand li?"

"Yes, from Yingtian to Beiping, over three thousand li; press the telegraph once, it arrives instantly, a hundred times faster than riding a horse."