Chapter Forty-Eight: Zheng He

Although Zhu Xiongying did not understand shipbuilding, what the young man said was indeed well reasoned. Even the master craftsman who had just claimed to come from a long line of shipbuilders was taken aback upon hearing it. This only proved that the young man’s words were correct.

“Hmm! Not bad…” Zhu Xiongying nodded approvingly and then continued, “What is your name?”

“Your Highness, I am Ma He,” the young man said, putting down the wood and cupping his hands respectfully.

“Ma He?” Zhu Xiongying shook his head. A pity—not Zheng He! Judging by his age, Zheng He at this time should have been about this old. Glancing sideways, he instructed the recording officer behind him, “My brewery needs a few craftsmen! They must be selected from the Directorate of Imperial Workshops, with a monthly salary of three taels of silver!”

“Three taels of silver?” “That’s quite a lot! Our master craftsmen earn less than one tael a month, and the prince offers three?” “If only I could go!” “Don’t even dream about it. With such a high salary, they must be looking for the most skilled artisans. We should step aside.” “What a shame…”

The craftsmen were dumbfounded upon hearing the salary offer. Zhu Xiongying glanced sideways and deliberately said, “I heard there’s a craftsman named Zheng He in the Directorate of Imperial Workshops with exceptional skills?”

“Zheng He…?” The recording officer thought carefully for a moment, then shook his head. “As far as I know, there is no one named Zheng He in the Directorate. Even the surname Zheng is rare.”

The craftsmen exchanged glances, seemingly unfamiliar with that name.

“None?” The young man’s heart sank. If Zheng He was not in the Directorate, where else could he be? Could he already have been sent to the mansion of Zhu Di as a eunuch at this age?

Zhu Di? No, that wasn’t right. He vaguely recalled from history lessons that Zheng He was not originally surnamed Zheng; he was granted that surname after entering Zhu Di’s service. What was his original surname? Ma! Right! Zheng He was originally Ma He. Ma He? Then isn’t this young man right here? Incredible! The system really got things done—it brought Zheng He right before him!

“Are you sure there’s no one named Zheng He?” Although he guessed the young man was indeed Zheng He, he had to cover his tracks.

“Your Highness, there truly isn’t!”

“Ah! I must have been mistaken! Perhaps he’s under the Ministry of Works then…”

Zhu Xiongying nodded, looking at Ma He with interest. “Would you be willing to follow me?”

Ma He was stunned and pointed at his own nose in disbelief. “Ah? Me?”

“Yes! You!”

Zhu Xiongying nodded confidently.

“I’m willing, I’m willing!” Ma He nodded repeatedly, afraid the prince might not see his eagerness.

Having received a satisfactory answer, Zhu Xiongying waited a while but received no reward from the system. What was going on? After some thought, he guessed that the name discrepancy meant that even if they found the right person, it wouldn’t count.

“I have one more condition: you must change your name to Zheng He.”

“Alright!” Ma He agreed without hesitation. A salary of three taels a month was worth ten months of his current pay—only a fool wouldn’t seize this opportunity. Changing a surname was nothing, especially since his parents had passed away. He needed to earn money first to support his siblings.

[Beep! Congratulations, host! Task completed. Reward: Strength to lift ten thousand jin!]

Before the system’s mechanical voice finished, Zhu Xiongying felt as if a fierce flame was burning through his body. His muscles and tendons seemed to be dismantled and reassembled.

But within moments, everything returned to normal. Clenching his fist, he could indeed feel more strength in his hand than before. Whether the system was exaggerating or not, could he really lift something weighing ten thousand jin? He would have to test it later.

Seeing he had only chosen Ma He and that there was no further reaction for a while, the recording officer took the initiative to ask, “Your Highness, are there other types of craftsmen you wish to recruit? I can help recommend some.”

Several craftsmen close to the recording officer immediately saw hope. If the prince allowed recommendations, they might have a chance to be selected. Even if the salary was paid out, sharing one tael with the recording officer would still be worthwhile.

“No need!” Zhu Xiongying waved his hand and refused outright. Their hopes were dashed instantly.

“Zheng He! You choose!”

Ma He, having just changed his name, seemed unaccustomed and didn’t realize he was being called. He looked around, watching the commotion.

It was only after a shipbuilder beside him nudged him that he reacted. “Ah? Me? Me?”

Zhu Xiongying clasped his hands behind his back and gave him a sideways glance. “Who else here would be called Zheng He?”

“Your… Your Highness, I…” Zheng He’s face twisted with hesitation.

He had always been a lowly laborer, doing whatever the master craftsmen told him to do. He had never had the right to choose. Now, suddenly being asked to select people made him fearful.

“Ma… er, no… Zheng He, I have taken good care of you before, choose me!” “I gave you two coarse grain buns just yesterday, choose me!” “Choose me! Choose me!”

One by one, all eyes turned to Zheng He.

Anyone with even a slight connection crowded around, hoping to gain favor.

Zheng He hesitantly asked, “Your Highness, you really want me to choose?”

“Is there any doubt? Thirty people—whomever you pick, I will take them all without question, with a monthly salary of three taels!” Zhu Xiongying nodded firmly, sitting back in the chair the recording officer had just brought him, leisurely waiting.

“All right!” Zheng He suddenly gained confidence, his eyes brighter than before. He pointed to the northeast corner where carpenters were still working. “Zhang Liang, Wu Han!” Then sweeping across the crowd, he named a few more: “Chen De, Ergou, Wang Si…”

Though it seemed random, these were the best craftsmen he had identified in various departments during his years in the Directorate. He didn’t choose those who had tried to cozy up to him.

The young prince nodded in satisfaction. As expected of Emperor Yongle’s careful selection—these were reliable people indeed. Ha! Fourth Uncle, your nephew has taken the lead!

“Everyone whose name I call, I will take with me first!” Having finalized the list, Zhu Xiongying slowly rose and said to the recording officer behind him, “Very well. Remember these names.”

“Understood! I’ve noted them all!” the officer replied.

Just as the young prince was about to leave with his chosen craftsmen, he suddenly turned and pointed at the master shipbuilder who had earlier claimed a lineage of shipbuilders. “You!”

Surprised to be singled out, the master craftsmaster’s face lit up, thinking he was also being recruited. “Your Highness!”

“Didn’t you say your family has been building ships for generations and that your skills are unmatched?”

“Yes, yes!”

“Then go home and build ships!”

“Ah…?”

The master craftsmaster thought he misheard. The prince called his name—wasn’t that an invitation?

Laughter erupted from the onlooking craftsmen. This man often bullied others, relying on his high status among artisans. Now, he was simply told to leave!

“Your Highness, I have elderly and young at home. Please don’t send me away!” The master craftsmaster fell to his knees. His whole family depended on his work in the palace to survive.

All that talk about generations of shipbuilding was made up. His ancestors were fishermen by the sea and at most could repair fishing boats. Without this job, he would have to return to fishing.

Clinging desperately to Zheng He’s leg, he begged, “Please ask Your Highness to let me stay. I won’t be a master anymore—I’ll carry wood! Just don’t send me away!”

This time, Zheng He showed no mercy. “Warships are the nation’s great weapon; they cannot be built carelessly.”

…