Chapter 1038

Only Hu Cheng, Minister of Public Works, and Kuai Xiang, Vice Minister of Public Works, looked excited; the rest were bewildered. Pan Yun saw they didn't understand, so she casually explained: "The telegraph machine transmits short-wave signals via natural reflection, but if the distance is too great, the transmission speed slows, becomes chaotic, and information is lost."

"Previously, signals in the heavens and earth were clean. But with too many telegraph machines, plus interference from other waves, if we don't build telegraph transmission towers, accuracy will suffer—fine for short distances, but the longer the distance, the lower the accuracy: from Yunnan's south to Jingcheng, from Waiguo to Jingcheng, from Nanyang to Jingcheng…"

"Wait," Yu Qian interrupted her, his eyes fixed sharply on her: "Waiguo? Nanyang?"

"Of course," Pan Yun tilted her head. "The sea ban's been lifted—aren't you preparing twenty ocean-going ships to restart Nanyang maritime trade? Such distances—won't you bring one or two telegraph machines?"

Yu Qian's lips moved slightly. "Is that possible?"

Pan Yun raised an eyebrow. "Of course!"

Yu Qian immediately bowed deeply. "I, Qian, thank the State Master for your great righteousness!"

The ministers followed suit, offering their thanks.

Zhu Qiyu was overjoyed. He waved his hand grandly. "My Great Ming's eternal prosperity is equally worthy of celebration! Bring me the imperial edict—I shall grant a general amnesty across the realm!"

Xue Xuan, Minister of Justice, immediately stepped forward. "Your Majesty, bandits, rapists, murderers, and traitors must not be included in this pardon."

Zhu Qiyu quickly replied: "Naturally. The State Master said sparing evildoers harms the harmony of heaven and earth. These are grave offenders—all excluded from pardon. This amnesty applies only to minor offenses: brawling, unpaid taxes, petty theft, and the like."

Xue Xuan was satisfied and stepped back.

Cao Nai seized the opportunity to propose: "Your Majesty, why not reduce taxes across the realm and let the whole nation rejoice?"

Zhu Qiyu hesitated. Chen Xun's heart leapt. He hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, the imperial treasury…"

Pan Yun gave the Grand Secretaries a sly smile. "The treasury is strained. Last year, several disaster-stricken regions had taxes reduced. This year, drought in the northwest and central plains has already led to partial tax cuts. If we cut taxes nationwide, where will Minister Chen find the funds?"

Exactly, Chen Xun secretly glared at Cao Nai—he could just open his mouth and demand tax cuts, without ever considering what the Ministry of Revenue had to endure.

Pan Yun urged Zhu Qiyu: "If Your Majesty feels an amnesty alone isn't enough, why not draw from your private treasury to do good deeds?"

Zhu Qiyu's private treasury had received several windfalls this year—he truly had funds. He immediately asked: "State Master, where do you suggest the money be used?"

"The High Emperor Taizu always honored scholars. To enlighten the people, I too believe the nation's future lies with its children—and the children's future lies in education."

Zhu Qiyu instantly declared: "Very well! I shall donate one hundred community schools!"

Pan Yun's lips curled upward. Her gaze turned to the other ministers.

Yu Qian, suddenly enlightened, immediately said: "I, your servant, shall donate one hundred taels of silver toward the construction of community schools."

One hundred taels was not much to other officials, but for Yu Qian, it was a substantial sum.

Now that Yu Qian had led, the other ministers had no choice but to follow.

Excellent—the combined donations would suffice to establish about twenty community schools and sustain them for roughly ten years.

Good. Donating a community school isn't just about building a building—it requires funding to hire Mr. teachers and provide startup capital sufficient to sustain the school for at least ten years before it can be considered truly established.

The Emperor's involvement makes this far easier—his funds can be directly allocated to counties, supervised and implemented jointly by county magistrates and school instructors.

Everyone returned to the palace in high spirits.

Empress Wang also heard of the Emperor and State Master's benevolent acts. She immediately waved her hand and added: "In my name, I shall establish textile academies in ten locations, along with textile workshops, and enroll female workers free of charge."