Chapter 41: The Best State Between Father and Son

"The seven essentials of daily life: firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea! Among them, firewood even ranks before rice... The method of boiling water is not something our ancestors were unaware of; though they may not have understood microorganisms, through experience they realized its benefits. The 'Essentials of Nourishing Life' states: 'Whenever water is boiled for drinking, illnesses have no chance to arise.'

The real obstacle to promoting this policy is not the act of boiling water itself, but whether the people can afford to boil it.

You've surely heard of the charcoal seller, haven't you?"

Zhang Yi did not speak at length, but his words left Zhu Biao restless and uneasy. He was not a prince raised in luxury from birth, but the legitimate eldest son who had followed Zhu Yuanzhang through the arduous process of founding a dynasty.

He had witnessed the hardships of the people, though not suffered them as deeply as Zhu Yuanzhang. The common folk worked from sunrise to sunset, bound to their fields all day, and even then, mere subsistence was hard to come by.

Firewood does not simply appear before the stove; it must be gathered by the people themselves. Yet collecting firewood detracts from their productivity. Once or twice may not matter, but if they are to boil water day after day, the cost is unbearable.

Let alone boiling water—many times, people eat cold food simply because they cannot afford to cook.

Why? Because they cannot afford it!

Charcoal, in this era, is an essential resource.

Seeing Zhu Biao’s dawning understanding, Zhang Yi nodded inwardly. This imperial elder brother was indeed perceptive.

At the same time, Zhang Yi himself was moved. As a traveler from another world, he too had once thought to change something upon arriving here. Yet the longer he lived, the more he realized the ancients were not ignorant; they knew well enough which ways of living were better.

But change is so difficult. Even something as small as boiling water is a challenge.

The constraints of the times and the entrenched ways of thinking resist all change...

In time, Zhang Yi found himself unwilling to try anymore, unwilling to act. To implement so-called change, one must have power, yet Zhang Yi had no interest in crossing paths with the rulers who wielded the greatest authority in this world.

Anyone with some understanding of Ming history would know: no traveler would wish to make a living under Zhu Yuanzhang.

That man is the very image of a stingy, harsh employer!

To hope for a peaceful end under his rule—far too difficult!

Zhang Yi grumbled inwardly about old Zhu, while Zhu Yuanzhang watched Zhang Yi with an appreciative gaze; the more he interacted with this youth, the more he found Zhang Yi to be a treasure.

At first, Zhu Yuanzhang was merely curious about Zhang Yi; then he sought to exploit the 'immortal' behind him. But after visiting the Zhang family at Chang Mansion, he realized that Zhang Yi himself was a raw gem.

Sometimes, Zhang Yi’s views on the world were so mature, they hardly seemed those of a child.

Such maturity, contrasted against his age, combined with his identity as a Daoist, lent him a kind of reasonable mystique.

An immortal!

An absurd thought flashed through the emperor’s mind, but he quickly shook his head and pushed it aside.

At this moment, Zhu Biao rose and bowed to Zhang Yi.

“I was too presumptuous!” Zhu Biao said solemnly.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with satisfaction. He knew his own character was extreme, but that was shaped by his origins, not something he could simply change. Zhu Biao, however, had inherited much of Empress Ma’s gentleness; men like Zhu Yuanzhang were needed to conquer the world, but for the task of preserving the dynasty, Zhu Biao was far more suited.

“Do you know where you were wrong?” Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly asked.

Zhu Biao was taken aback, then shook his head.

“Zhang Yi’s background is better than yours, and he’s younger. He grew up in Dragon Tiger Mountain, not wandering as you did with me. This simple truth shouldn’t have to be taught! I know you feel pressured, so you model yourself after me in everything. But why do you keep your eyes fixed on your father? You’d do better to look down at the people!

The wealth of our merchants comes from the people, earned bit by bit!”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao flushed red.

At first, when Zhu Yuanzhang mentioned that his family background was inferior to Zhang Yi’s, he hadn’t reacted. But on reflection, when he was born, Zhu Yuanzhang was but the Prince of Wu, living under the shadow of Chen Youliang.

He’d been on the battlefield with his father, and seen his mother carry his wounded father away in desperate flight.

Back then, Zhu Yuanzhang was merely a rebel, his survival uncertain from day to day.

Compared to the Zhang family of Dragon Tiger Mountain, whose lineage remained prosperous for centuries, he truly could not compare.

Yet he failed to see the real issues he ought to notice.

“Father, your teaching is just!” Zhu Biao replied.

The emperor spoke of merchants, but his meaning encompassed the whole realm...

Emotion stirred in Zhu Biao: “In future, I will strive to let the people drink boiled water...”

Old Zhu saw his slip and casually picked up a book from the table, tapping Zhu Biao’s head.

He laughed and scolded, “Such grand words! If you have the ability, get yourself a degree first. You’re not even a seventh-rank official, and you’re worrying about the affairs of a prime minister?!”

Zhu Biao realized his error and secretly admired the emperor’s quick wit.

He bowed his head and smiled awkwardly, not daring to meet his father’s gaze.

The exchanges between father and son fell into Zhang Yi’s eyes.

Zhang Yi did not understand the subtleties of their relationship, but watching Zhu Yuanzhang rebuke his son, he felt a faint... envy.

Perhaps this was the best state between father and son; even centuries later, such relationships would be rare.

As for the tension with his own father, though it had eased, Zhang Yi still had a hurdle in his heart.

Old Zhu turned and caught the look in Zhang Yi’s eyes, smiling gently.

After all, he was still a child!

“If the people could freely drink boiled water, it would mark the dawn of a golden age for Ming!”

“But let us not dwell on that. Zhang Yi’s words hold truth; the people cannot achieve it yet, but our family must take it seriously. Pass the word: from now on, all our family members shall drink boiled water...

And our managers, too, should boil water for drinking!”

Zhu Biao was momentarily stunned; the emperor’s words meant he had decided to treat the drinking of boiled water as a national policy, akin to the vaccination method. Perhaps Ming could not yet guarantee boiled water for all, but it would be the goal for two generations of emperors.

Zhang Yi: ...

These two from the Huang family are truly something—just getting the merchants to drink hot water, and they speak as if they’re changing the world.

“Brother Huang, do you also aspire to official rank?” Zhang Yi asked after the father and son had finished speaking, with curiosity.

Ming differs from other dynasties; merchant children are allowed to pursue academic honors, though the imperial examination had yet to open, and the court still relied on recommendations—ordinary people had little chance to become officials.

Zhu Biao nodded in response: “Merchants are considered lowly, and I do wish to bring honor to the family. Only, the court has not yet opened the examinations. When it does, I will seek the chance to leave my name in history!”

Though he did not truly intend to take the exams, Zhu Biao’s words carried a sense of resolve.

Yet his passion was dampened by Zhang Yi’s reply.

“Brother, you’re really quite troubled!”

Zhang Yi smiled politely, though with a hint of awkwardness.