Chapter Two My name is Zhu Zhanhe. I have just returned from the battlefield, bearing the title of Crown Prince.

With his newfound discoveries, he continued to observe every movement around him, exploring new worlds, while constantly pondering the unsettling sensation he had whenever he fell asleep—that feeling of being trapped within a confined space.

Lately, a terrifying sense had taken hold of him: he was about to break free from an egg! The very thought was utterly terrifying!

Finally, on a clear, starry night, as he once again drifted into sleep, he dreamt of breaking through the eggshell. But what appeared before him was a horrendous maw filled with sharp fangs. Before he could react, he was swallowed whole by that monstrous mouth.

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In the year 1402 AD, Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, stormed the capital city of the Ming Dynasty, Nanjing. He ascended the throne, proclaiming himself emperor, marking the first year of the Yongle era.

In 1404 AD, the Yongle Emperor bestowed titles upon his three sons. His second son, Zhu Gaoxu, was made Prince of Han, and Zhu Gaoxu’s eldest son, Zhu Zhanhe, was named heir to the Han princedom. This was the second year of the Yongle reign.

Note: As this is a fan work inspired by the Ming Dynasty, some ages and timelines of characters may vary. Please be aware.

Time passed swiftly, and ten years slipped away in the blink of an eye.

By now, our protagonist, Zhu Zhanhe, had grown accustomed to his current identity.

He was Zhu Zhanhe, the legitimate grandson of Zhu Di, the Yongle Emperor of the Ming Dynasty; the eldest legitimate son of Zhu Gaoxu, Prince of Han.

Of course, he was also the historical figure recorded as the son of Zhu Gaoxu who died young.

However, none of the historical events had truly been experienced by him. Even when his grandfather Zhu Di led his father Zhu Gaoxu in rebellion, initiating the Jingnan Campaign, he was but a child and was kept safely at the rear, spending the entire time idling with his mother without any involvement.

He never even saw his grandfather and father storm into Nanjing (Yingtianfu). Only after the victory did he enter the now clean and orderly capital as a member of the victorious royal family, accompanied by his mother, Lady Wei, and the other noble families.

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Yet, despite all this, he remained the sole Dragon Rider in the Ming world—a realm devoid of magic and advanced martial arts. Of course, his dragon was not a mythical beast but a crocodile, known colloquially as the “pig dragon,” scientifically a crocodilian.

As for the species, it was speculated to be a saltwater crocodile. Why speculation rather than certainty? Because he himself was unclear of the exact species, only knowing it was one of the larger kinds—and among large crocodiles, he was only familiar with the saltwater variety.

Recollecting his earliest memories, when he was still a swaddled infant, one night he suddenly heard a crackling sound nearby. Instinctively, he felt he was about to break free from his egg.

With all his might, he struggled and finally shattered the shell. But then he was seized by a huge, bloody mouth.

Just as he thought his life was over, believing he had been devoured by some beast, he realized that was not the case at all. He had not been swallowed but merely held gently in that mouth. Through faint light, he observed a group of small crocodiles around him. Looking closely at himself, he found that he, like those around him, had scales, four legs, and a tail. The shock almost made him leap up.

From then on, he lived with his crocodile mother, growing up and learning to recognize his surroundings. Indeed, he had to identify where he was because he had no idea where his crocodile self was on the Blue Planet, or even if it was in the same world as his human body. He could only wander tirelessly, searching for clues. That search spanned more than ten years, and now he was still on his way to the Ming Dynasty.

Yes, currently on the journey to the Ming.

As for how he found his way back to the Ming, it was a matter of sheer luck. While aimlessly drifting on the sea in search of a destination, he unexpectedly spotted Zheng He’s fleet. Once he confirmed it was Zheng He’s fleet, he was almost certain his crocodile self and human self inhabited the same world. So he decided to follow Zheng He’s fleet closely. Though unaware of their destination, he knew their ultimate goal must be the Ming.

Moreover, this crocodile was linked to him in thought and sight, able to understand his words. It grew larger over time and was now certainly over ten meters long.

Exactly how long was uncertain—no one had measured it—but it probably did not exceed twenty meters. If asked why, he could only say it was a guess.

As for Zhu Zhanhe himself, of course, he was no weakling, with a special edge. At sixteen years old, he already stood over eight chi tall—well beyond that, actually. According to the Ming measurement of one chi equals 23.3 centimeters, he was about eight chi and four cun, roughly translating to nearly two meters tall.

His stature was not just tall but perfectly inherited his father Zhu Gaoxu’s muscular build—a true tiger’s back and bear’s waist. His weight easily exceeded 180 jin (around 90 kilograms). This was no beer-bellied fat man but a genuine mass of muscle and strength, reminiscent of the heroic figure Xiang Yu as played by Peter Ho.

He ate more in one meal than most people did in a whole day. Luckily, he was born into a royal family; otherwise, supporting such an appetite would have been impossible.

Beyond his physique, his memory was also quite good. Not photographic, but after several readings, he could still recall details.

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Since becoming Zhu Zhanhe, he had been contemplating how to change his fate. He devoted himself to studying historical texts, hoping to find answers and, naturally, to cultivate the image of a diligent scholar.

At the same time, to maintain good health and survive in an era without antibiotics, he persuaded his father to find him a Daoist master skilled in health cultivation to teach him breathing and energy control techniques—partly to fulfill his dream of becoming a martial hero.

The Daoist master, a Zhang from the Zhengyi Sect, was very dedicated. He taught Zhu Zhanhe the legendary Dragon-Tiger Elixir method from Mount Longhu, a secret passed down from the first ancestor Zhang Daoling—a method said to grant the immortal path.

However, after years of practice, Zhu Zhanhe saw no tangible changes—no internal energy sensation—only a calming effect. Still, he persisted, clinging to even the smallest hope.

His father, the Prince of Han, and his mother were worried he might pursue immortality or monastic life, so they arranged for someone to watch over him. He did not object, knowing it was out of deep love and care.

For instance, now he was riding with his grandfather, the Yongle Emperor Zhu Di; his father, Prince of Han Zhu Gaoxu; and his uncle, Prince Zhao Zhu Gaosui, returning from the campaign against Arutai. His father rode ahead, smiling broadly, with his equally spirited uncle by his side.

They led the procession, followed by the emperor’s dragon carriage and rows of armored guards.

He himself rode behind his father, clad in black heavy mountain-patterned armor, draped with a matching black cloak embroidered with a magnificent python motif.

The horse beneath him was named Tàxuě—“Snow Treader”—a beautiful, robust steed. Its original name was known only to his grandfather Zhu Di. Zhu Zhanhe grew fonder of the horse with each glance, secretly marveling at his grandfather’s generosity in gifting such a splendid mount. Of course, he would never admit that he and his father had “borrowed” the horse together.

Speaking of the horse, it had required great effort to acquire. Due to his large build and safety concerns, he had procured the heavy mountain-patterned armor from his father. Most horses would be unable to carry him, let alone charge into battle or gallop swiftly.

Thus, he had earnestly requested his father’s assistance. The Prince of Han initially thought his son’s first battlefield experience would be just a formality to earn some merit, and that the heavy armor was unnecessary. If danger truly came, his wife would surely be furious if anything happened to their son.

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