In the first year of the Shengwu era, at the Ming imperial research institute’s test field, Zhu Yuanzhang looks at a flying car hovering three feet above the ground and suddenly grabs Zhu Xiongying by the wrist. “Can this thing let my cavalry travel ten thousand li in a day?”
In the third year of the Shengwu era, when the last tusi presses his fingerprint onto a document appointing a civil official, Zhu Xiongying stands on the flying car and gazes down at Cangshan and Erhai. He remembers the scene from his dream, where Zhu Yunwen was driven by Zhu Di to leap into the flames. This time, he will make sure the Zhu family’s descendants are no longer trapped in a struggle for imperial power. Instead, they will conquer the vast reaches of outer space.
In the seventh year of the Shengwu era, the Ming representative to the Galactic Council smiles and opens the Interstellar Colonization Act. “Remember, the Ming dynasty’s mercy is reserved for stars willing to kneel and pay tribute.”
