Chapter 1043: Repaying Kindness with Kindness

Yu Qian was stubborn; apart from him, all other ministers had ceased pressing their case once the Emperor and the State Preceptor had taken a firm stance.

Thus, convincing him was equivalent to convincing the entire Grand Secretariat.

The Northern Surveillance Office formally separated its intelligence division into a larger department; upon Pan Yun's suggestion, it established the State Security Investigation Bureau, appointing Bi You, Commandant of the Northern Surveillance Office, to oversee it, and promoting An Chen to Deputy Commandant as his deputy.

Pan Yun met only with Bi You, then took away An Chen's team, their faces glowing with delight.

She went to the Ministry of Public Works to collect the telegraph machines and materials prepared and delivered from various regions.

Seeing her wave her hand, the stacked boxes on the ground vanished—officials and craftsmen of the Ministry had seen this before, yet still wore expressions of admiration.

Hu Cheng, however, acted as if he saw nothing, pulling Pan Yun aside to complain of poverty.

Pan Yun thought for a moment, then pulled out a large box, opened it, revealing neatly stacked gold bars inside.

"This is the final payment for this batch of telegraph machines; the surplus counts as advance payment for the next order—I'll settle the balance when I return next time."

At the sight of gold, Hu Cheng beamed, took the box, and handed it casually to his assistant.

Pan Yun waited.

Hu Cheng gestured for her to leave.

The two stood locked in silence.

Pan Yun: "Hu Minister, a receipt."

"Oh, oh," Hu Cheng snapped to attention, hurriedly ordering his assistant to weigh the gold and issue a receipt. "I haven't handled such matters in so long, I forgot—State Preceptor, forgive me."

"No need to apologize," Pan Yun glanced around and asked, "What are all of you gathered here for?"

"A meeting," Hu Cheng beamed. "By chance, the steel workshop of Guangning Garrison has smelted superior steel—seamless, hard, and heat-resistant. I tested it; if used as cannon barrels, this steel could extend the range of our Great Ming cannons by fifty meters."

"So I summoned these men to study precisely how this steel was smelted, to improve the furnace design and technique—not only for mass production, but to push the technology further."

Pan Yun: "Good."

Hu Cheng rubbed his hands and asked, "State Preceptor, do you still have any relevant ancient texts? No need to age them—in our eyes, they're already ancient."

Pan Yun: "..."

Remembering that technological advancement would ultimately benefit herself, Pan Yun generously asked, "Which area do you want? I'll dream up the heavens and copy them for you tonight."

Hu Cheng froze, stealing a cautious glance at Pan Yun.

Pan Yun raised an eyebrow; Hu Cheng immediately brightened, grinning: "State Preceptor, you're serious?"

Pan Yun: "I, a Daoist, do not lie."

Hu Cheng rolled up his sleeves: "Then I won't be polite—I'll make you a list."

Pan Yun nodded slightly: "I leave the palace at dusk."

Hu Cheng immediately said: "Before dusk, I'll deliver the list to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau."

Because Pan Yun came and went so easily, the Emperor felt little sense of parting, unlike others whose departures resembled farewells before death.

Still, he ordered the Imperial Kitchen to prepare many delicacies for her to take away.

Indeed, Seeing Miao Zhen and Miao He's frequent visits to the Imperial Kitchen for snacks had become so unusual that the news had reached the Emperor and Empress.