Chapter 525: Succession

Hongwu 28th year, Spring Festival.

The firecracker sounds of Yingtian Prefecture rang from midnight until dawn, and the fireworks on both banks of the Qinhuai River made the whole river flicker on and off.

Zhu Yong stood in the courtyard of Wu Wang Fu, gazing at the sky full of fireworks, when the familiar voice in his mind sounded right on time.

"Ding… the sign‑in for Hongwu 28th year is now open, would you like to claim the reward?"

"Claim."

"Congratulations, host, you have obtained: high‑voltage power transmission technology + insulation material formula (including transmission line installation standards, transformer structure, insulator manufacturing process, full set of switch equipment blueprints)."

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

High‑voltage power transmission, transformers, insulators, switch equipment…

A complete set of power‑delivery technology from the power station to the users, crystal clear.

Zhu Yong's mouth twitched slightly upward.

The generator has been built, the telegraph machine too, but the electricity doesn't travel far.

The electricity from the Zijin Mountain power station can only supply the Imperial City and a few main streets; places farther away cannot use it.

With high‑voltage power transmission technology, the cables drawn from the Zijin Mountain power station can be strung all the way to Suzhou, Yangzhou, Xuzhou, and even farther.

The common folk in those cities will be able to use electric lights, factories can use electric motors, and Great Ming's nights will no longer be dark.

He turned and walked back into the house.

Guanyin Nu had already gotten up and was combing her hair.

After taking the strong‑body pill in the 23rd year of Hongwu, her physique became much sturdier; a woman in her forties now looked like she was in her early thirties.

"Lord, has the White-bearded Old Man given more items again?"

"Hmm, high‑voltage power transmission technology, the electricity can now be sent farther."

Guanyin Nu smiled, looked at him from the mirror and said, "So later the people of Suzhou and Yangzhou will be able to use electric lights?"

"Hmm, not just electric lights; factories can also use electric motors, which are much more convenient than steam engines."

Zhu Yong sat down beside her, took the tea handed over by Xiao Zhu, and took a sip.

The sound of firecrackers outside the window was still echoing; the new year had begun.

Hongwu 28th year, March.

In Qianqing Palace, Zhu Yuanzhang sat behind the imperial desk, with the high‑voltage power transmission blueprints that Zhu Yong had just delivered spread before him.

He stared at them for a long time, not understanding a single character, yet his face bore a smile.

It doesn't matter that he can't read them; he knows it's a good thing.

"Biao Er, Yong Er, you two, look at this." He handed the blueprints to the Zhu Biao beside him.

Zhu Biao took them, examined them carefully, and handed them back to Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Father, if we get this done, the cables drawn from the Zijin Mountain power station can be strung all the way to Suzhou, Yangzhou, Xuzhou, and even farther."

"The common folk in those cities will be able to use electric lights, and factories can use electric motors."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and looked at Zhu Yong.

"Yong Er, you keep an eye on this; the Ministry of Works will demand people for people, silver for silver."

Zhu Yong nodded, "Father, rest assured, I'm on it."

Zhu Yuanzhang stood up and walked to the massive World Map.

The map marked all the regions that Great Ming now controls.

From Yingtian Prefecture westward to Europe, to Lisbon, to Paris, to Berlin, to Moscow.

Southward, to the South Sea, to Australia, to Africa, to the Cape of Good Hope.

Eastward, to Japan, to the Pacific, to the west coast of America.

Northward, to the Arctic Ocean.

Red markings covered every continent on the map.

"Biao Er, we have an idea." Zhu Yuanzhang turned around.

"Father, please speak."

"We want to pass the throne to you."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Zhu Biao was stunned, and Zhu Yong was also stunned.

"Father, you are at the height of your reign, the matter of succession…"

"What do you mean 'at the height of your reign'? I'm already sixty‑nine, and I've been on the throne for almost thirty years."

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand, walked back to the imperial desk and sat down, saying, "I want to go out with your mother, see the world, see the lands your second brother conquered, see how your third, fourth, and fifth brothers are governing, and see the Africa that Xiong Ying and his men have taken."

"Father…" Zhu Biao looked at his father, his eyes a bit red.

"Biao Er, you have been Crown Prince for so many years, you're already adept at state affairs; whether I'm on the throne or not makes no difference."

"If we leave, you can still run the court well; your mother has suffered a lifetime with me, and I want to take her out for a stroll."

Zhu Yong stood nearby, silent.

Father is right; the eldest brother has been Crown Prince for almost thirty years, and the administration is already in his hands.

Zhu Yuanzhang was stamping documents, Zhu Biao also stamped documents; the piles of stamped papers they made were taller than a person.

Even without Zhu Yuanzhang on the throne, the court would still turn.

"Biao Er, we have thought about this for a long time; it's not a spur‑of‑the‑moment decision."

"Last year Xiong Ying returned from Africa, told us about Africa, and we wanted to go out and see it—see the elephants, the giraffes, the sea at the Cape of Good Hope, and the monument that Xiong Ying and his men erected."

"Father…" Zhu Biao's voice was a bit strained.

"Don't call me 'Father' any more; call me 'Dad', I still prefer you call me 'Dad'."

Zhu Biao looks at his father, remains silent for a long time, then kneels.

"Father, I, your son, receive the command."

Zhu Yuanzhang bends and helps him up, pats his shoulder.

"Good, good, our fine eldest son."

Empress Ma walks in from outside the hall, her eyes red.

She heard it from outside.

"Zhong Ba, are you really going to pass the throne?"

"Girl, we want to take you out for a walk." Zhu Yuanzhang walks over, grabs his wife's hand.

Empress Ma looks at her husband, tears finally fall, but she smiles and nods.

"Alright, I'll go with you."

Zhu Yuanzhang looks again at Zhu Yong.

"Yong Er, you and your elder brother together, handle the succession matter properly."

Zhu Yong bows his fist and says, "Father, rest assured."

The twenty‑eighth year of Hongwu, the eighth day of the fourth month.

Fengtian Hall, the succession ceremony.

Zhu Yuanzhang sits on the imperial throne, wearing a brand‑new bright‑yellow dragon robe.

Zhu Biao kneels in the center of the hall, wearing the Crown Prince's crown and sash.

The civil and military officials line up on both sides, solemn and silent.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor declares: Since I ascended the throne in the first year of Hongwu, I have reigned for twenty‑eight years, relying on the spirits of Heaven and Earth and ancestors, and the strength of civil and military ministers; the realm is settled, the four seas are at peace."

"Crown Prince Biao, benevolent, filial, respectful, frugal, wise in governance, fit to inherit the Great Unity. Hence the throne is passed to Crown Prince Biao, and I abdicate to become the Retired Emperor."

"Seal this."

The eunuch finishes reading the edict, Zhu Biao kneels to receive it.

Zhu Yuanzhang stands, walks to Zhu Biao's side, bends and helps him up.

"Biao Er, from today onward, you are the emperor of Great Ming."

Zhu Biao kneels there, his eyes red, his voice a little trembling.

"Father, I, your son…"

"Don't cry; one who becomes emperor must not cry." Zhu Yuanzhang pats his shoulder.

"Go ahead, sit up there."

Zhu Biao stands, walks to the imperial throne, turns and sits down.

The civil and military officials all kneel together.

"May the Emperor live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years."

Zhu Biao sits on the throne, looks at the hall full of kneeling civil and military officials, takes a deep breath.

"All ministers, rise."

The officials rise.

Zhu Yuanzhang stands beside, watching the scene, a smile at the corner of his mouth.

Empress Ma stands at the hall entrance, watching husband and son, her eyes red, but she does not cry.

Chang Wan stands beside her, softly says, "Mother, don't be sad, Imperial Father is taking you out for a walk, it's a good thing."

Empress Ma nods.

Zhu Yong stands among the generals' ranks, watching his elder brother seated on the throne, feeling an indescribable emotion.

From today onward, elder brother is the emperor of Great Ming.

And he remains Great Ming's Guardian King, continuing to protect this realm for his brother.

After the succession ceremony ends, Zhu Yuanzhang returns to Qianqing Palace, takes the huge World Map from the wall, rolls it up, and hands it to the eunuch beside him.

"Take it, it'll be useful on the road."

Empress Ma, beside, packs luggage—clothes, shoes, combs, mirrors—large bundles piled like a bed.

"Girl, we're going out to travel, not moving house."

Empress Ma glared at him and said, "Bring more things, they'll be handy on the road."

Zhu Yuanzhang says nothing more, walks to the window, looks at the courtyard outside.

The setting sun descends, dyeing the entire Imperial City golden.

The roof of Fengtian Hall glints in the afterglow, and from the direction of Qinhuai River far away faint sounds of silk and bamboo instruments drift.

The twenty‑eight‑year reign as emperor ends today.