The Young Dragon of the Ming Dynasty: Bound to an Industrial Blueprint from the Start

Inside the study, the aroma of tea wafted through the air, but the atmosphere was not as peaceful as the fragrance of tea suggested.

Zhu Gaochi had already removed his cloak and sat imposingly in the guest seat, twirling a teacup in his hand:

"Father's intention is that we must leave Juyong Pass by February next year at the latest. This time it will be different from the past. We will go deep into the northern desert to intimidate those restless chieftains of the Tatars. Before the troops move, the supplies will be sent first."

"Brother, you must expedite the requisitioning of warehouses, roads, and laborers in Beiping, Xuanfu, and Datong."

Zhu Gaochi sat in the main seat, several scrolls of maps spread out in front of him, his brows slightly furrowed:

"What my second brother said is absolutely right. However, the transportation of grain and fodder is extremely costly. Li Qing of the Ministry of Revenue keeps complaining to me about being poor. The expenses for moving the capital are already stretched thin. The army that is on the northern tour numbers tens of thousands. The cost of feeding the people and horses and supplying them along the way is even greater. If we rely entirely on the Beijing granary, I'm afraid it will not last long."

"The matter of money and provisions will be decided by Father Emperor. We just need to do our job well."

Zhu Gaoxu's tone was somewhat impatient, "The key is the road! From Beijing to Xuanhua, and then to Xinghe, some sections of the road have been in disrepair for many years, making it difficult for carriages and horses to travel. From what I've seen along the way, the section from Tongzhou to Beijing is passable, but further north it's going to be a real challenge."

The bridges and inns along the way also need repair and reinforcement. That old man Chen Gui from the Ministry of Works is so slow!

"Minister Chen also has his difficulties; there is a shortage of craftsmen and problems with material allocation..."

"Big brother!" Zhu Gaoxu interrupted him, leaning forward with a burning gaze.

"This is not the time for bargaining. The Northern Inspection Tour is a major event for the nation, and more importantly, it is a time for Father to test whether we brothers can shoulder the heavy responsibility of the northern frontier! The roads must be open, the inns must be functional, and the provisions must be in place! If we botch this task, neither of us will have any face in Father's eyes!"

These words were extremely serious, and the study fell silent for a moment.

Zhu Gaochi remained silent for a moment, then slowly exhaled, his weariness deepening: "Second brother is right. As your elder brother, I will do my best to supervise. However, the north is bitterly cold; is it too early to send troops out in February? Soldiers..."

"Speed ​​is of the essence in war!" Zhu Gaochi declared resolutely.

"We have to catch them off guard! Are the soldiers afraid of the cold? Not a single soldier in my Prince Han's army is a coward! Brother, you've gotten used to the comforts of Beijing. Don't forget how our Zhu family came to power!"

These words were already somewhat harsh, and Zhu Zhanji, standing in the corridor, could imagine his father's barely composed expression.

"My second brother is more valiant than I am," Zhu Gaochi said calmly, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger.

"In that case, we shall prepare according to the Emperor's decree. The specific route still needs to be discussed in detail. Look at this map. If we go out from Juyong Pass, through Huailai and Xuanhua, to the old city of Xinghe, this route..."

The two brothers lowered their voices again and began to discuss the specifics of the route, the location of their encampment, and the support from various garrisons.

Zhu Zhanji listened intently, memorizing each key place name, time point, and type of required supplies.

Only when Zhu Gaochi's voice came from the study instructing that the meal be served did Zhu Zhanji pick up his books and leave quietly.

Dinner was held in the front hall, a small family banquet, but it was arranged by Madam Zhang herself and was quite exquisite.

Besides Zhu Gaochi and his wife, Zhu Gaoxu, and Zhu Zhanji, Zhu Gaochi also invited two important subordinate officials from his household to accompany him. One was Yang Pu, the Right Grand Secretary of the Spring Palace who was in charge of documents and confidential matters, and the other was Gu Xingzu, the commander in charge of the Crown Prince's Palace guards.

The candlelight was bright, and cups were clinking.

On the surface, everything was harmonious; brothers reminisced about the past, and subjects flattered each other.

But Zhu Zhanji, sitting below Zhang Shi and sipping the soft soup specially prepared for him, could sense the undercurrents beneath the calm surface.

Inside the flower hall, silver candles burned brightly, illuminating the varied expressions on the faces of the people at the table.

As the host, Zhu Gaochi raised his glass first, his smile warm: "Second brother, you've come a long way and must be tired. This first cup is to welcome you and wash away the dust of your journey."

"Thank you, Brother!" Zhu Gaoxu downed his drink in one gulp, revealing the bottom of his cup. His gaze swept across the table. "It's so much more enjoyable to be home! Drinking with those bookish old men in the Nanjing Palace was so stifling!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Pu, the Grand Secretary of the Right Spring Palace, stroked his beard and smiled: "Your Highness Prince Han is truly a man of character. His Majesty's northern tour needs a valiant general like Your Highness to lead the way and deter the disobedient."

Yang Pu was about forty years old, with a lean and refined appearance. He was one of the few close advisors to the Crown Prince who was both well-versed in classics and history and practical and capable. He spoke with neither servility nor arrogance.

Zhu Gaoxu laughed, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, and then looked at Gu Xingzu, the commander in charge of the guards:

"Commander Gu, I've heard your men are quite well-trained? How about we bring them out another day for a friendly sparring match with the men I've brought?"

Gu Xingzu was a general with a rugged appearance. Upon hearing this, he immediately clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice booming like a bell:

"Your Highness commands a highly skilled and battle-hardened army. How could I, a mere general, dare to offer my humble abilities? However, if Your Highness is inclined to provide guidance, my subordinates and I will do our utmost to live up to Your Highness's expectations!"

Zhu Gaochi seemed oblivious to the subtle implications and said gently, "It's a good thing to spar and encourage each other. Commander Gu, please make the arrangements, but remember to stop when you've made your move."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere seemed to warm up a bit.

Zhang occasionally spoke softly to urge him to eat, and inquired about the well-being of the several imperial concubines in Zhu Gaochi's Nanjing palace, displaying the demeanor of an elder sister-in-law.

Zhu Gaoxu seemed to relax a bit and told some interesting stories about Nanjing and his experiences on the frontier, which drew bursts of laughter from the audience.

He especially enjoyed teasing Zhu Zhanji, who was sitting opposite him.

"Nephew, just drinking soup won't do. Here, try this deer tendon. It's chewy and will give you strength!" Zhu Gaoxu picked up a piece with his chopsticks and handed it to him across the table.

Chun Tao quickly reached for it, but Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand, saying, "Let him do it himself. Are there any men in the Zhu family who can't even use chopsticks properly?"

Zhu Zhanji had no choice but to get up, reach out his little hand, and clumsily but steadily catch the trembling deer tendon, saying in a childish voice, "Thank you, Second Uncle."

"Hmm, not bad, no more spillage." Zhu Gaoxu nodded in satisfaction, then suddenly seemed to remember something and asked, as if casually...

"By the way, brother, I heard that Zhanji's estate has produced some new-style stoves, and even Father heard about it in Nanjing? That kid's got some skills; he's so young and already knows how to tinker with these things?"

There was a moment of silence at the table. Yang Pu lowered his eyes and drank his wine, while Gu Xingzu slowed down his chewing.

Zhang's smile remained unchanged, but her fingers curled slightly inside her sleeve.

Zhu Gaochi put down his chopsticks, picked up a handkerchief and wiped the corner of his mouth, his smile still gentle, even tinged with a hint of helplessness:

"Second brother, you've heard about it too? It's just a child's prank. The craftsmen in the village made some firewood-saving earthen stoves to cheer him up, and they're just a bit unusual in design."

He happened to make a few, and his mother, finding them interesting, sent some to acquaintances to try. Unexpectedly, word spread, all because the servants exaggerated the story to curry favor.

Zhu Gaoxu's gaze swept over Zhu Gaoxu's calm face, then glanced at Zhu Zhanji, who was struggling with the deer tendon and looked innocent and bewildered, and grinned:

"I knew it! What would a little baby know about building a furnace? But it's good that the reputation spreads; it makes our Zhu family descendants seem intelligent, haha!"