Zhu Yuanzhang: My second son is invincible!

It was already dark when we returned to the Kyoto Royal Palace.

As soon as the flying boat landed, they saw that the palace was brightly lit and there were many more people.

Xu Da came out from inside, smiling, and said, "Your Highness, Your Highness, the craftsmen and Taoist priests have arrived!"

"So fast?" Zhu Li jumped off the flying boat.

"The first batch consisted of three hundred craftsmen, fifty Taoist cultivators, and twenty talisman masters from Longhu Mountain. They all arrived by the fastest flying boat. Zhang Tianshi personally led the team, saying he wanted to see just how big Japan's silver mountains really were."

Xu Da led them inside and said.

The main hall was indeed full of people.

The craftsmen were dressed in coarse cloth shorts, while the Taoists were all in Taoist robes. The leader was an old Taoist with white hair and beard, who was Zhang Yuchu, the contemporary Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain.

"This humble Taoist greets Your Highness, Prince Wu, and Your Highness's Consort." Zhang Yuchu rose and bowed, his attitude much more respectful than when he was at Fengtian Hall last time. Having witnessed the man who split the mountain, it was hard not to be respectful.

"You've worked hard, Celestial Master, traveling so far during the New Year." Zhu Liang waved his hand and sat down in the main seat.

Guanyinnu sat down next to him, and Qingmei brought him hot tea.

"Your Highness, you are too kind. Serving the country is my duty. I have brought fifty cultivators who are proficient in techniques such as 'mineral exploration,' 'soil strengthening,' and 'transportation,' which will help make mining twice as efficient."

Zhang Yuchu stroked his beard and said.

Xu Da picked up the conversation and said, "Your Highness, the craftsmen from the Ministry of Works say that the mines at Iwami Silver Mine are extremely rich. If they are mined at full capacity, the monthly output of silver could reach 500,000 taels."

The gold mine at Sado Gold Mine is also of high purity, and producing 50,000 taels of gold per month shouldn't be a problem.

Zhu Hui did the math and said, "Five hundred thousand taels a month... that's six million taels a year?"

"Yes, this is just a preliminary estimate; the actual amount could be much higher." Xu Da's eyes lit up. "Moreover, Japan has copper mines, sulfur mines, coal mines... it's a treasure trove."

Zhang Yuchu added, "Your Highness, according to my observation of the feng shui of this place, although the dragon vein is weak, the earth energy is abundant, especially in the southwest direction where precious energy soars into the sky, there must be a large mineral vein there."

He was referring to the direction of Iwami Ginzan.

"Then hurry up and dig, our brother is waiting for the money," Zhu Li said.

Xu Da nodded and said, "The arrangements have been made. Tomorrow morning, the craftsmen and Taoist priests will set off separately. Also... the Ministry of Revenue has sent a document regarding the resettlement of Japanese women."

He took out a scroll from his sleeve and handed it to Guanyin Nu, saying, "Your Highness, this is a regulation drafted by the Ministry of Revenue. His Highness the Crown Prince specifically instructed us to review it."

Guanyin Nu took it and unfolded it for a closer look.

The document, written in elegant small regular script, divided the captured Japanese women into three classes based on age, appearance, and skills. The first-class women were assigned to meritorious generals as wives and concubines, the second-class women were assigned to soldiers, and the third-class women were centrally settled to learn Chinese language and etiquette. After three years, they could marry on their own.

All women are required to adopt Han surnames, wear Han clothing, and are forbidden from speaking Japanese.

The rules and regulations were written in great detail.

After reading the document, Guanyin Nu remained silent for a moment, then said softly, "General Xu, what about these women... if they already have husbands and children?"

Xu Da paused and said, "Your Highness, according to the rules... all adult men in Japan are executed, so even if they have husbands, they are now widows."

As for children, those under ten years old will be raised in a centralized care facility, and those over ten years old... boys will live with their fathers.

This was said in a very euphemistic way, but the meaning was very clear: Japanese boys over the age of ten do not survive.

Guanyin Nu gripped the document tightly, his knuckles turning white.

She recalled the scene after the tribal war on the grassland, where the victors plundered everything from the losers—women, children, cattle, sheep…nothing was different.

"Wife?" Zhu Li noticed her unusual behavior.

"It's nothing," Guanyinnu replied, shaking her head.

……

After everyone had left, it was already 9 PM.

Zhu Hui and Guanyin Nu returned to their bedchamber, where the palace maids had already prepared hot water.

The royal palace of Japan has a large bath filled with hot spring water, and it is shrouded in mist.

Guanyin Nu was soaking in the water, her long hair spreading out and floating on the surface like black water plants.

Zhu Hui leaned against the edge of the pond, her head resting on the rim, her eyes closed.

"Husband," Guanyin Nu suddenly spoke.

"Um?"

"If... I mean if, one day the Ming Dynasty is defeated and I am captured by the enemy, will I end up like those Japanese women?" she asked softly.

Zhu Li opened her eyes and turned to look at her.

Her face was somewhat blurred in the mist, but her eyes were bright.

"No," he said.

Why?

"Because I am here, no one can defeat the Ming Dynasty. Even if I die, my axe will protect you," Zhu Hui said matter-of-factly.

Guanyin Nu laughed, tears welling in her eyes, and said, "Nonsense, how can you protect someone who's dead?"

"Then I will live, live on, until no one can beat me. Honey, don't think nonsense. With me here, no one can touch a hair on your head."

Zhu Li sat up in the water, splashing water everywhere.

Guanyin Nu swam over and leaned against him.

The water was warm, and his chest was even warmer.

……

The next day was Lunar New Year's Eve.

As expected, the army received extra food, with each person receiving two ounces of meat and a pot of wine.

Zhu Li brought out all the sake stored in the palace and distributed it to the soldiers. Although it wasn't enough for each person to have a jug, it was still a token of his appreciation.

Xu Da, Li Wenzhong, Zhang Yuchu, and others accompanied Zhu Li and his wife for a simple New Year's Eve dinner.

The dishes were prepared by a chef brought from Goryeo, including braised pork, stewed mutton, steamed fish, and Japanese-style sashimi. Zhu Li took one bite and spat it out, saying it was fishy.

During the meeting, Xu Da reported on the battle situation in various regions.

Kyushu and Shikoku have been largely pacified. There is still resistance in eastern Honshu, but it is not a significant threat.

Mining has begun at the Iwami Silver Mine. The first batch of 5,000 miners are all Japanese prisoners of war. The Taoist priests have set up "sturdiness talismans" and "ventilation talismans" in the mine, and the efficiency is higher than expected.

"At this rate, the first batch of silver can be transported back to the Ming Dynasty before the fifteenth day of the first lunar month," Xu Da said.

Zhang Yuchu stroked his beard and said, "Last night, I observed the stars and saw that the Japanese nation's fate has run out, while the Ming Dynasty's fortune is on the rise. This is the will of Heaven."

Zhu Hui, gnawing on a lamb leg, mumbled, "I don't know anything about fate or anything like that. Anyway, I'll chop down anyone who gets in my way."

Everyone laughed.

After the meal, Zhu Li led Guanyin Nu to the top of the palace's highest tower, the castle tower.

This place was originally where Ashikaga Yoshimitsu viewed the scenery, but now the Ming Dynasty dragon flag is flying over it.

The night sky was clear, and the stars were visible. In the distance, there were sporadic firecrackers, as Ming soldiers celebrated the New Year.

"Wife, look over there. My elder brother said that beyond the sea lies Goryeo, and further east is the Ming Dynasty," Zhu Li said, pointing eastward.

Guanyin Nu looked in the direction he pointed, but there was only the vast darkness of night.

"Missing home?" she asked.

"A little, I miss my mother's braised pork," Zhu Li said honestly.

"Once the silver is transported back, Mother will definitely cook a big pot for you," Guanyinnu said with a smile.

Zhu Hui suddenly remembered something, took out the small bronze statue from his pocket and said, "Wife, this is for you."

"Give me..."

"Yes, you can wear it to ward off evil spirits. The bronze statue said it is the embodiment of the God of War and can protect the holder. I don't need it for protection, but I feel at ease if you wear it." Zhu Hui said, placing the statue into her palm.

Guanyin slave gripped the statue tightly; the bronze was cold, but it was quickly warmed by his body heat.