Chapter 527: The Grand Finale

Having returned from Europe, it was already the 29th year of Hongwu.

The fleet rounded the Cape of Good Hope and entered the Indian Ocean.

On the west coast of Africa, Zhu Yuanzhang disembarked and looked at the monument erected by Xiong Ying.

The inscription read: "Great Ming's State-Stabilizing King, imperial great-grandson Zhu Xiongying, led his army here in the 27th year of Hongwu, September."

Zhu Yuanzhang stood before the monument and remained silent for a long time.

"Girl, look, that child Xiong Ying has also grown up."

Empress Ma stood beside him and said softly, "Yes! Has grown up."

Departing from Africa, the fleet sailed east, passed through the South Sea, and arrived in Australia.

Zhu Shuang guarded Australia for more than twenty years, developing the continent quite well.

The new city had become several times larger than when Zhu Yong left; the streets were orderly, the houses sturdy, and the people lived peacefully and prosperously.

Dozens of mines were opened—copper, iron, coal, and gold—and they were continuously shipped back to Great Ming.

Zhu Shuang knelt before Zhu Yuanzhang and kowtowed three times.

"Father, Mother, I have been unfilial, unable to return often to see you."

Zhu Yuanzhang bent down, helped him up, and patted his shoulder.

"Shuang-er, you have done well here; both your mother and I are at ease."

Leaving Australia, the fleet sailed east and reached the Americas.

Chang Yuchun guarded the Americas for more than twenty years, from Alaska in the north to Tierra del Fuego in the south, and Great Ming's flags were planted everywhere.

Lan Yu built a new city on the former lands of the Inca Empire; the streets were orderly, the houses sturdy, and the people lived peacefully and prosperously.

Chang Yuchun knelt before Zhu Yuanzhang, tears streaming down his old face.

"His Majesty, I have not disgraced the mission; the Americas are now entirely Great Ming's territory."

Zhu Yuanzhang helped him up and said with emotion, "Bo Ren, you have worked hard."

Chang Yuchun shook his head and said, "His Majesty, I am not the one who suffered; it is Your Highness who toiled, it is the State-Stabilizing King, Your Highness, who laid the foundations in Europe and the Americas."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said nothing more.

After staying in the Americas for a month, Zhu Yuanzhang toured the entire continent.

From Alaska in the north to Tierra del Fuego in the south, from the Pacific coast in the west to the Atlantic coast in the east.

Every inch of land bore Great Ming's mark.

The 30th year of Hongwu, the first day of the Spring Festival.

The fleet was sailing on the Pacific Ocean, heading toward Australia.

Zhu Yong stood at the bow, gazing at the boundless sea, when the familiar voice in his mind sounded right on time.

"Ding… The Hongwu 30th year sign‑in has opened; would you like to claim the reward?"

"Claim."

"Congratulations, host, you have obtained: Premium Iron Smelting Method (special steel formula, includes the full process for steel rails, boiler steel, and tool steel)."

Zhu Yong's mouth twitched slightly upward.

Special steel.

This came at just the right time.

The railway extended farther, and the demand for steel rails grew larger.

More boilers were built, and the need for high‑temperature, high‑pressure steel also increased.

With special steel, railways last longer and boilers operate more safely.

He turned and walked back to the cabin.

Zhu Yuanzhang was looking at a map in the cabin, while Empress Ma sat beside him doing needlework.

"Father, the White-bearded Old Man has given us something again," Zhu Yong said as he entered.

Zhu Yuanzhang lifted his head, his eyes brightening as he said, "What…"

"Premium iron smelting method, special steel for rails and boilers, better than the steel we have now."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled.

"Good, good, another good thing."

The 30th year of Hongwu, February.

The fleet returned to Yingtian Prefecture.

Zhu Biao, accompanied by Civil and Military Officials, greeted them on the dock, kneeling on the ground.

"Your son respectfully welcomes Father Emperor and Mother Empress back to the capital."

Zhu Yuanzhang helped him up and surveyed him from head to toe.

"Biao-er, you have become thin."

"Father, I am fine; I just missed you and Mother," Zhu Biao said with a smile.

Empress Ma held Zhu Biao's hand, her eyes reddened.

The 31st year of Hongwu, the first day of the Spring Festival.

Yingtian Prefecture, Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Yong stood in the courtyard of Qianqing Palace, watching the sky filled with fireworks.

After Zhu Yuanzhang passed the throne, this palace changed owners, and Zhu Biao moved in.

But Zhu Biao still, as before, worked on paperwork until midnight, and several strands of his hair had turned white.

"Ding… The Hongwu 31st year sign‑in has opened; would you like to claim the reward?"

"Claim."

Congratulations, host, you have obtained: Longevity Pill ×20 (each pill can extend life by a hundred years, no side effects).

In an instant, twenty pills appeared in the system backpack.

Zhu Yong stood there, unmoving for a long while.

Longevity Pill, twenty pieces, each extending life by a hundred years.

Father, mother, elder brother, elder sister‑in‑law, Xiong Ying, Xiong Ying's wife and children, several younger brothers, several younger sisters‑in‑law, Guanyin Nu, Huan Huan, QiongJiong, Qiongwu……

He counted, enough to divide.

"Prince, what's wrong?" Guanyin Nu stepped out of the house and saw him standing dazed in the courtyard.

Zhu Yong turned around and took her hand.

"The White-bearded Old Man gave the Longevity Pills, twenty of them, each capable of extending life by several hundred years."

Guanyin Nu was stunned.

One hundred years...

She looked at Zhu Yong and suddenly smiled.

"Prince, then we can live a long time."

"Mm, a long time."

Hongwu Thirty‑first Year, Spring Festival, Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Biao sat on the throne, with twenty Longevity Pills placed before him.

Zhu Yong stood beside him, and Zhu Xiongying stood behind his father.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma sat nearby, having already taken them.

After the elderly couple took the Longevity Pills, they felt light all over, their waists not sore, legs not aching, walking as if they were twenty years younger.

"Brother, let's distribute them," Zhu Yong said.

Zhu Biao nodded and handed out the Longevity Pills to the family members present.

Zhu Biao, Chang Wan, Zhu Xiongying, Zhu Wenwen.

Zhu Yong, Guanyin Nu, Zhu Huanhuan, Zhu QiongJiong, Zhu Qiongwu.

Zhu Shuang, Zhu Gang, Zhu Di, Zhu Su, Zhu Zhen, Zhu Fu.

One pill per person.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the descendants who received the Longevity Pills, a smile at the corner of his mouth.

"Sister, we can live a long time."

Empress Ma clasped her husband's hand and laughed, "Mm, a long time."

Zhu Biao rose and walked to the window, gazing at the courtyard outside.

The electric lights in the courtyard shone, making the whole Qianqing Palace bright as daylight.

In the distance, the telegraph line's indicator lights flickered like stars.

Further away, the painted boats on the Qinhuai River glimmered, and the faint sounds of silk and bamboo drifted over.

"Second brother, what do you think Great Ming will become in another hundred years?"

Zhu Yong stood beside him, thought for a moment, and said, "Brother, trains will reach America, cars will reach Africa, every household will have electric lights, 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 and patted his shoulder.

"Second brother, you are right."

Zhu Yong looked at his elder brother and also smiled.

Hongwu Thirty‑first Year, March.

Yingtian Prefecture, Fengtian Hall.

Zhu Biao sat on the throne, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe.

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

"Transmit the edict."

The eunuch unfolded the Imperial Edict and read: "By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Since the founding in Hongwu First Year by the High Ancestor Emperor, Great Ming has now passed thirty‑one years, the world is settled, the four seas are at peace.

Now a special decree is issued, announcing to the world: Great Ming's territory extends east to the farthest east, west to the farthest west, south to the farthest south, north to the farthest north.

The lands illuminated by sun and moon are all Ming lands.

Respectfully, this.

The civil and military officials knelt together.

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

Zhu Biao sat on the throne, looking at the officials kneeling throughout the hall, his gaze sweeping over Zhu Yong standing among the military ranks, a slight curl at the corner of his mouth.

"All ministers, stand down."

The officials rose.

Zhu Biao stood up and walked to the entrance of Fengtian Hall, looking at the sky outside.

Sunlight bathed the entire Imperial City, golden and resplendent.

In the distance on the Qinhuai River, painted boats passed by, and the faint sounds of silk and bamboo drifted over.

Further away, the telegraph line's indicator lights flickered.

"Second brother, look."

Zhu Yong walked to his side and followed his gaze.

In the plaza before Fengtian Hall, a group of children were flying kites.

They were Zhu Xiongying's son, Zhu Wenwen's daughter, Zhu QiongJiong's son, and Zhu Qiongwu's son.

They wore brightly colored clothes, ran around the plaza, and their laughter was crisp.

"Brother, look, that's Xiong Ying's son, named Zhu Yu, five years old, just like his father when he was young," Zhu Yong pointed at the child running at the front.

Zhu Biao smiled.

"As good as Xiong Ying, as steady as Xiong Ying."

Zhu Yong also smiled.

"Brother, you say that in another hundred years, what will these children make Great Ming into?"

Zhu Biao thought for a moment, then said slowly, "They will govern it better than we do."

Zhu Yong looked at his big brother and nodded.

The two brothers stood side by side at the entrance of Fengtian Hall, gazing at the distant sky.

Sunlight poured over them, stretching their shadows long.

In the distance, toward the Qinhuai River, faint children's laughter drifted.

Mixed with the beeping of telegraph wires, the whistle of steam trains, and the hum of electric lights.

The sun and moon, mountains and rivers endure forever; the Ming Empire stands firm eternally.