Chapter 1031: One Thread of Hope Is Enough

Pan Xiaohei: "You've nearly built a steam engine with the Ministry of Public Works—now you're still talking to me about necessity and chance?"

"So what if we built it? It's just a steam engine. Historically, the steam engine is recognized as having been invented in the late Ming and early Qing, yet at that time, China's technologies were still considered the best in the world, and the theoretical foundations for steam engines had already taken shape during the Yuan Dynasty—Wang Zhen's 'Agricultural Treatise' even contained diagrams of linked water-powered bellows and pumps. So with today's Great Ming technologies, building a steam engine is inevitable, not accidental."

Pan Xiaohei: "This thing could be achieved with a single array—why bother torturing the Ministry's craftsmen?"

"The Tian Shi Mansion's cultivation methods have been promoted among the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Imperial Guards, but not a single person has yet cultivated primordial qi—meaning there's still no widespread foundation for using arrays," Pan Yun said. "You're a Spirit Realm cultivator—haven't you calculated how much merit is needed to unlock all the Spirit Realm's seals?"

"Such vast merit can only be gained if the entire population of Great Ming—and even more people—benefit. Only when this good thing works for ordinary commoners can I gain more merit points."

Pan Yun said: "So the people make it, the people use it—primordial energy and arrays can replace mechanical power, but without a widespread foundation, it's all useless."

Pan Xiaohei fell silent at once. After all, this was all about merit.

No, that wasn't right—it glanced at Pan Yun, sensing she wasn't solely motivated by merit.

Perhaps, she also wanted the common folk of this timeline to live better, and even better still.

Even without the Spirit Realm, even without merit, wouldn't she still do this—if she had the ability?

Pan Xiaohei thought this, and asked it aloud: "If there were no Spirit Realm, no merit—would you still do this?"

Pan Yun lowered her gaze, meeting its glossy black eyes, and whispered: "A world of universal harmony, where the people live in peace and contentment—that is my heart's true desire."

The imperial court was in dire need of talent; the Emperor could not possibly allow Cao Nai and Hu Ying to resign.

The Emperor warmly reassured the two men, especially stroking Cao Nai's ego repeatedly, then adopted Hu Ying's suggestion: first reduce the craftsmen's labor service time and their pay, while postponing the abolition of the artisan registry for later discussion.

Of course, he didn't immediately cut labor service time nationwide—Great Ming was too vast; a policy implemented carelessly could trigger chaos and greater conflict.

This was the Emperor's newly learned way of ruling.

Ever since he hinted at reform, ministers had either directly or indirectly warned him: reform must not be rushed.

Even Pan Yun had reminded him: patience brings success.

Coupled with the initial success of the court's reforms targeting the imperial clan and lifting the sea ban—without triggering major opposition—the Emperor had seen the importance of pilot programs.

So for this reform of craftsmen's conditions, the Emperor chose gradual progress—he drew several circles on the map, selecting a few regions for pilot testing.

The officials understood: if the reform of artisan households proved effective and caused no major disruptions, the artisan registry would surely be abolished in the future.

Most officials did not oppose abolishing the artisan registry—integrating craftsmen into the commoner class—as long as it didn't halt court projects or increase burdens.

Class status, to most officials, was merely a matter of different trades.

Of course, there were inevitably some who held themselves above artisans and looked down on them.

But if someone looked down on artisans, wouldn't they also look down on officials of lower rank?

Those who are arrogant are also those who are insecure.

The happiest people in all this were the craftsmen themselves.

The craftsmen of Jingcheng gathered en masse on the day the imperial edict was issued, celebrating together, placing Pan Yun's portrait alongside those of their respective ancestral masters.

Carpenters, stone masons, and bricklayers hung Pan Yun's portrait beside Lu Ban's;

Blacksmiths hung Pan Yun's portrait beside Laozi's;

Textile workers hung Pan Yun's portrait beside Huang Daopo's;

Papermakers hung Pan Yun's portrait beside Cai Lun's…

In that moment, Pan Yun rose to the same stature as the ancestral masters of every trade.

Pan Yun was jolted awake by a torrent of merit gold light.

Pan Yun opened her eyes, watching the merit progress bar visibly inch forward, and murmured: "If the artisan registry is truly abolished, will this unlock another seal?"

Pan Xiaohei lay curled at her feet, happily gazing inward at its own body.

Since this was only a pilot, the court naturally made no grand announcement—only a single mention in the official gazette.

But under Hu Cheng's orders, the Ministry of Public Works' 'Techniques for the Common People' was printed in massive quantities and dispatched to every prefecture and province;

Local newspapers, too, were running sensational stories about Cao Nai and Hu Ying's competing requests to retire.

Of course, the emphasis differed.

Local papers focused on gossip about the two senior ministers, highlighting the Emperor's broad-mindedness and love of talent.

The story spread accordingly.

Craftsmen loved gossip, but they could also sense the hidden implications.

In an instant, countless beams of merit gold light flew toward Pan Yun from all corners of the empire…

This time, Jingcheng was also within the pilot circle.

The Emperor had drawn only five circles—one per prefecture.

Great Ming, excluding direct-administered and scattered prefectures, had one hundred and forty prefectures.

Currently, fewer than one in thirty craftsmen benefited—but the other twenty-nine saw hope in the one who did. Even without direct gain, they were willing to offer their belief and blessings.

Pan Yun, receiving the merit gold light streaming from every corner of the empire, murmured: "Even without the Spirit Realm, this is worth it."

That night, Pan Yun's spiritual platform cleared, golden light blazed—another seal of the Spirit Realm shattered. The Spirit Realm jade tablet opened and closed, transforming utterly. Within one fragment, Pan Yun's spiritual awareness glimpsed an entire world.

Her consciousness swept swiftly across the world: grasses growing, orioles flying, spring brimming; blazing sun, cicadas singing, water splashing against flowers; high skies, thin clouds, forests painted in autumn hues; winter plum blossoms standing proud, snow blanketing all…

It was a complete world, with distinct seasons.

Pan Yun snapped open her eyes, her spirit trembling.

She realized something, and looked down at Pan Xiaohei, curled at her feet.

Pan Xiaohei had only a single breath left—its years of cultivation had preserved this sliver of life after its spirit left the body.

Its spiritual awareness had long returned to its physical form.

Pan Yun suppressed the nearly overflowing primordial energy in her Upper Dantian, closed her eyes, and sank deeper into her consciousness.

The Spirit Realm jade tablet opened and closed slowly, rotating within her crown dantian. That world within seemed veiled by a thin mist—visible to her awareness, but inaccessible.

【Congratulations. You may now receive the most perfect cultivation method.】Pan Xiaohei's spiritual form appeared suddenly, manifesting on the Spirit Realm jade tablet as a jade-white cat, tilting its head to gaze at Pan Yun.

(End of Chapter)