Zhu Yuanzhang: My second son is invincible!

The group ascended the Meridian Gate tower of the Forbidden City.

The sight before them stunned everyone.

Zhengyang Street, the main thoroughfare of Yingtian Prefecture, was packed with people.

The people held torches, beat drums and gongs, and danced with dragons and lions.

The sound of firecrackers rose and fell, and the air was filled with the smell of gunpowder and laughter.

"May the Great Ming Dynasty prosper!"

"His Highness the King of Wu is mighty!"

"We destroyed the Northern Yuan, destroyed Goryeo, and now we've destroyed Japan! Giving us an end to future troubles!"

The shouts came in waves, one after another.

Many people had tears on their faces; they were tears of excitement.

Families along the coast who had suffered at the hands of Japanese pirates would turn out in their entire families to kowtow to the east.

An elderly man with white hair, supported by his children and grandchildren, said with tears streaming down his face, "My three sons... all died at the hands of the Japanese pirates... that's why I fled to Yingtian. Today... today His Highness Prince Wu has finally avenged me!"

A woman nearby cried out, "My daughter... my daughter has been kidnapped for eight years... Your Highness! If only Your Highness could find her..."

The sound was drowned out by a sea of ​​cheers.

Zhu Yuanzhang stood on the city wall, watching all this, and remained silent for a long time.

Zhu Biao said softly, "Father, you see, this is the will of the people."

"Yes! We've fought wars our whole lives, all for what? Wasn't it so that these people could live in peace, without having to live in constant fear of the Japanese pirates?"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, his voice slightly hoarse.

Empress Ma wiped her eyes and said, "Li'er... has done a great thing."

Holding Zhu Xiong Ying in her arms, the little child stared wide-eyed at the lights and crowds below, exclaiming, "Mommy, there are so many people!"

"They are happy for your second uncle," Madam Chang said softly.

Zhu Biao suddenly pointed into the distance: "Father, look over there."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked in the direction he was pointing.

That was the direction of the Imperial Academy, where hundreds of students, holding lanterns, were arranged in the shape of the characters "Da Ming" and reciting them in unison:

"Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the king; on the shores of the earth, all people are subjects of the king!"

The sound was clear and resonant, piercing through the night sky.

Further away, along the Qinhuai River, red lanterns were hung on all the painted boats and barges, and singing girls played and sang the newly composed "Song of Defeating the Japanese Pirates," the music drifting along the river.

The entire city of Yingtian was filled with joy.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at it for a long time, then suddenly turned around and said, "Biao'er."

"father."

"Draft an imperial edict."

"Yes."

"King Zhu Hui of Wu has rendered meritorious service in the campaign against the Japanese pirates, captured the capital, and brought peace to our nation and our people. He is hereby specially promoted to the title of 'King Wu who protects the country,' granted a fief of 10,000 households, and bestowed with 10,000 taels of gold and 1,000 bolts of silk."

His wife, Guanyin Nu, was granted the title of "Princess of Virtue and Wisdom" and was bestowed with a phoenix crown and one hundred pearls.

Zhu Yuanzhang paused, then continued, "Those soldiers who have rendered meritorious service in the campaign against the Japanese pirates will be richly rewarded, and those who died in battle will be generously compensated. The Ministry of Rites is ordered to prepare a grand victory ceremony, so that the entire nation may celebrate upon the return of the Martial King!"

"Your subject obeys the decree." Zhu Biao bowed.

Empress Ma said softly, "Zhongba, isn't this...a bit too much of a reward?"

"Chong, sister, do you know how many years the coastal people will be able to live in peace after this battle? Ten years, twenty years... no, as long as Japan is defeated, at least a hundred years, the coast will no longer have to worry!"

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head and said.

He looked eastward, his gaze seemingly able to pierce the night sky and see that land across the sea.

"This battle was worth it!"

……

The wind on the city wall was a bit cold, but no one felt cold.

The cheers from the crowd below continued, and firecrackers went off one after another.

Zhu Xiong Ying leaned over the battlement and whispered, "Grandpa Emperor, when will Second Uncle be back?"

Zhu Yuanzhang patted his grandson's head and said, "It'll be soon. He'll be back once he's dug up all the silver from Japan."

"Then...then I want my second uncle to bring me seashells!"

"Bring it! Have him bring you a boatload of seashells!"

Zhu Biao stood beside his father, looking at the city lights, but he was thinking about something else.

The mining of silver requires more craftsmen and Taoist monks.

The resettlement of Japanese women is also a troublesome matter; the Ministry of Revenue must keep a close eye on it to prevent any mishaps.

He thought about everything, but always wore a gentle smile.

Empress Ma suddenly asked, "Biao'er, what are you thinking about?"

Zhu Biao snapped out of his reverie and smiled, "Mother, I'm thinking about what kind of celebration banquet I should throw for my second brother when he comes back."

"Keep it simple, Li'er doesn't like extravagance."

"No, that won't do. This is a matter of national importance, but also a family matter. We need to handle it properly. We should call back the fourth, fifth, and sixth sons so that our family can have a proper get-together."

Zhu Yuanzhang interjected.

Madam Chang said softly, "Guanyin Nu has been with my second brother on this expedition. They've really worked hard."

"Yes! When they come back, they need to be properly nourished. Look, the letter said that Li'er lost weight in Goryeo and Japan," Empress Ma sighed.

"That's because he misses his mother's cooking," Zhu Biao said with a smile.

The family chatted and laughed as the celebrations continued below the city gate.

As night deepens, the lights of Yingtian Prefecture will surely remain lit tonight.

……

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in Kyoto, Japan.

Zhu Li had just finished dinner and was squatting in the palace courtyard watching several Imperial Guard soldiers roast sweet potatoes.

Guanyinnu sat on the veranda, sewing a fur coat in her hands. It was made from the leather armor captured from a Japanese general. She said that Japanese winters are damp and cold, so she should wear more clothes.

"Your Highness, the taro is ready!" a soldier handed it over.

Zhu Li took it, scalded his left hand, then switched to his right, finally breaking it in half and giving one half to Guanyin Nu: "Wife, try it, the taro from Japan is not bad."

Guanyin Nu took it, took a small bite, nodded and said, "Hmm, although it's not as delicious as the ones from the Ming Dynasty, it's still alright."

Li Wenzhong walked in from outside, smelling of blood, but his face was flushed with excitement.

"Your Highness, today we swept through the north of the city, beheading 3,700 people, capturing 2,000 women, and discovering three silver vaults totaling 800,000 taels of silver."

Zhu Li, munching on a taro, said, "Oh, thank you for your hard work."

Li Wenzhong hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Your Highness, what if people in Yingtian... think we've killed too many?"

Zhu Hui looked up and thought for a moment: "I don't know. My elder brother didn't write to say to kill less, so it's alright."

"This subordinate understands." Li Wenzhong breathed a sigh of relief, then added, "By the way, the flying boat will carry a message that the craftsmen from the Ministry of Works will arrive in three days, and the Taoist cultivators will be here soon as well."

"Once they arrive, tell them to start mining right away. Big Brother is waiting for the money," Zhu Li said.

"yes!"

Li Wenzhong withdrew.

Guanyin Nu asked softly, "Husband, how much longer... shall we stay here?"

Zhu Li scratched his head and said, "Big brother said he'd conquer all of Japan, which will probably take a few more months! What's wrong, missing home?"

"Yes, I miss my mother's cooking." Guanyinnu nodded.

"We'll go back after we're done fighting, and Mom will cook you a delicious meal then," Zhu Li grinned.

The night sky is clear, and you can see the stars.

The starry sky in Japan is not much different from that in Japan, except that it is brighter due to the lack of lights.

Guanyin Nu leaned on Zhu Hui's shoulder and whispered, "Husband, seeing those Japanese people who were killed today... I feel a little sad."

Zhu Hui was silent for a moment, then said, "Wife, do you know, before I came here, my elder brother took me to see the coastal villages that were ravaged by Japanese pirates."

"Um?"

"There was a village with thirty-seven households, which was slaughtered by Japanese pirates, leaving only three old people. When they saw me, they knelt down and cried, asking me to avenge them."

Zhu Hui said calmly, "At that moment, I thought, what would I do if my family were killed like this?"

Guanyin Nu looked at him.

"I will kill all my enemies, leaving none alive, so what I'm doing now is helping those people take revenge," Zhu Hui said.

Guanyin Nu squeezed his hand: "I understand."

"You don't blame me for killing so many people?"

"It's not my fault, you're right. It's the same on the grasslands. Revenge must be taken, otherwise the souls of the dead will not find peace," Guanyin Nu said, leaning closer to him.

Zhu Li smiled sheepishly: "Wife, you really understand me."

The two sat quietly, gazing at the stars.

The sounds of the search could still be faintly heard in the distance, but the area around the palace was quiet.

The aroma of roasted taro wafted through the yard.

Winters in Japan aren't actually that cold.