Chapter 1051

The three families brought back by Zhao Shizhu all spoke Chinese, even five-year-old children could communicate with them in Chinese.

They were all taught by Zhao Shizhu and Hu Ning.

Zhao Shizhu said: "At first, our intentions were indeed selfish—we wanted to train personnel—but after living with them for so long, we realized learning Chinese was immensely useful for them; if Great Ming merchants came, they could work as interpreters and earn money."

Children learn languages quickly; they've spoken Chinese since childhood with Zhao Shizhu and others, and even though they can't read, communication is no problem.

When Hu Ning brought them back, he said Pan Yun was a relative from their hometown, working for a trading house, and that the house's caravans would keep coming, requiring them to work—not only selling goods here but also selling them to the grassland tribes, even the neighboring Chahar Khanate.

Upon hearing this, the three young men all breathed a huge sigh of relief and patted their chests in agreement.

They knew it all along—how could a pie fall from the sky?

So it was about smuggling over to the other side to do business—something they were familiar with.

They weren't afraid Pan Yun would set conditions; they were afraid she wouldn't set any.

The three young men were very close to Zhao Shizhu and Hu Ning, calling them "Righteous Father," trusting them deeply, for they had all been raised by these Righteous Fathers.

Thus, Zhao Shizhu and Hu Ning went out during the day to find their former adopted sons and daughters, and at night they studied telegraph transmission and reception with Pan Yun.

The adopted sons and daughters who were brought back used the money Pan Yun gave them to buy things and completely redecorated the entire house.

Pan Yun also had them buy a shop: first, to ensure they had a livelihood that could fund this intelligence network after she left; second, to serve as a cover for gathering intelligence.

Pan Yun gave Zhao Shizhu and Hu Ning ample time to consider: "Do you wish to return to Great Ming, or stay here?"

Zhao Shizhu smiled bitterly: "The State Preceptor has taught us so diligently—he clearly hopes we stay here. And we know this place best; the children recognize only us. Staying here is best for Great Ming."

Hu Ning was more direct: he nodded and said, "We stay."

Pan Yun's heart swelled; after a moment's thought, she said: "I foresee heavy snowfall the day after tomorrow, with temperatures plummeting. After the snow, no one will go out. You can leave with me—I'll take you back to your homeland. Where was your military registration? Who remains in your family?"

The two men looked bewildered, silent for a long while before saying: "Over twenty years have passed—we don't know if they're still alive…"

Whether they're alive or not, going back will tell us.

Zhao Shizhu slowly shook his head: "A round trip might take one or two years…"

"One or two days is enough," Pan Yun interrupted them. "Besides, I've discovered some issues with the telegraph transmission—I need to return to prepare some things."

Zhao Shizhu and Hu Ning stared, dumbfounded.

Seeing Miao Zhen burst out: "Little Master Uncle, I want to go back too!"

Pan Yun glanced at her: "Why would you go back? Aren't you and the others diagnosing patients and fortune-telling in town?"

Seeing Miao Zhen: "Third Master and Miao He treat patients and still have clients, but when I do fortune-telling, no one believes me—they only trust their own gods. But I've figured out what's most lacking here—I'll go back to restock, bring more goods over, and make a fortune from the one-way trade."

Pan Yun thought for a moment and nodded: "Fine, come along. Go ask Miao He and Tao Yanbai—they're staying or leaving?"

Miao He and Tao Yanbai decided to stay.

They felt the locals' physical constitution differed from that of the Central Plains, and they'd discovered two unusual illnesses never seen before—so they wanted to stay and study them.

Pan Yun didn't care; she left them behind, and that night took the three up to the rooftop, then tossed the Three Treasures Cauldron from her waist.

Zhao Shizhu and Hu Ning watched in disbelief as the Three Treasures Cauldron grew larger, then landed before them.

Their eyes bulged out.

They'd known the State Preceptor was miraculous, but never imagined it could be this miraculous.

Seeing Miao Zhen, ever thoughtful, brought out a stool and helped them climb inside.

Pan Yun leapt into the Three Treasures Cauldron, activated its array, blocking the cold wind; she turned her Nascent Soul energy, injecting it into the cauldron's array diagram—the cauldron warmed up, and the three sat cross-legged on its bottom, no longer feeling the cold.

The Three Treasures Cauldron shot off with a whoosh—Zhao Shizhu clung to its side, trembling as he stood, peering out cautiously; slowly, his back straightened, his eyes brightening like stars high in the sky.

He turned his head—Hu Ning stood beside him, gazing at the vast, luminous world just as he was.

The cold wind was kept outside, but the rushing wind could still be heard as the Three Treasures Cauldron flew swiftly.

The journey that had trapped them for over twenty years was but a flick of the wrist to Pan Yun.

Zhao Shizhu felt as if he had died that night in the bitter cold, and all these days were a dream—now, his dream reached its peak; perhaps returning to Great Ming, to his homeland, to his family, his soul would find peace, and his ghost would vanish into heaven and earth.

Pan Yun watched their expressions closely; seeing their confusion, she thought for a moment and did not head directly to their hometown of San Bao Ding Prefecture, but first went to Datong Prefecture, where they had once served.

Datong Prefecture remained unchanged, just as it had been when they left.

Both men were incredulous, asking Pan Yun: "State Preceptor, why hasn't Datong changed at all?"

Pan Yun knew what they meant to ask: "The military is training a new technique, but it hasn't yet shown results. Previously, Dao cultivators could not appear among mortals, but now the restrictions are fading—that's why I reveal myself before you two."

After Zhao Shizhu and Hu Ning adjusted to Great Ming in Datong and found two old comrades-in-arms, confirming they were alive and hadn't died, Pan Yun took them back to San Bao Ding Prefecture.

Oh, upon rejoining the ranks, Pan Yun personally bringing them, Kuang Ye was quick to arrange repayment of their twenty-plus years of back pay—both men received a large sum of money.

Upon arriving in San Bao Ding Prefecture, Pan Yun dropped them off and told them to find their way home alone, while she and Seeing Miao Zhen went shopping.

Zhao Shizhu and Hu Ning first bought themselves two sets of new clothes, then several bolts of cheap yet beautiful fabric, bought meat and candy, and hired a cart to carry all their purchases home.

The Zhao and Hu families were military households; having been absent so long, with no news and no pay, and the army not declaring them dead, they'd simply been left in limbo.

After several years, the imperial court demanded another family member enlist, so they demanded compensation for their supposed deaths.

But since they had no death certificates—no body, no trace—they received no compensation.

Later, they contacted the Datong frontier troops, who only passed the news to the Ministry of War, which then informed the Zhao and Hu families—only then did they learn their sons were still alive.

But that was the only time; after that, no more news—any further inquiry was deemed classified.

Over twenty years, both families had long assumed them dead.

Today, a cart suddenly appeared at the village entrance; two elderly men, hair white as snow, faces lined with wrinkles, stepped down—villagers gathered, blocking them: "Who are you looking for?"

Military households and civilian households usually lived separately; military households' dwellings were called "tun," near their garrison posts.

"Is anyone from Zhao Ergang or Hu Xiang's family here?" A group of children exchanged glances, tightly blocking the cart: "We've never heard of them—did you get the wrong place?"

"Impossible—it's my home," Zhao Shizhu frowned. "There are no Zhao families in your village?"

"Of course there are—I'm a Zhao—but no one matching your description."

"Send for some older people to speak."

The children ran to find their fathers; soon several young men emerged: "Who are you looking for?"

Zhao Shizhu said, and the young men looked at each other, most of them saying, "Don't know him—did you get the wrong person?"

But one young man scratched his head and said uncertainly, "Sounds a bit like my grandfather's name."

Zhao Shizhu: "What's your father's name?"

"My father's name is Zhao Tiezhu."

Zhao Shizhu's eyes turned red; he choked out, "That was my elder brother. Back then, because he was weak, the family chose me to serve in the army."

The young man froze: "You—you're Second Uncle?"

Soon, the Hu family's youth recognized Hu Ning, and the whole village erupted; the young men clustered around the two and led them toward the village center.

The parents of the Zhao and Hu families were gone; only brothers and sisters remained.

They came out to greet them, saw how aged their brother had become, and burst into tears.

Pan Yun gave them ample time to reunite; only on the third day did she come to their door.

She returned to Jingcheng, discussed improvements to the telegraph machine with the Ministry of Public Works, raised many questions, and met with Yu Qian—of course, in the Emperor's presence.

Yu Qian declared: "Since winter began, Yexian has repeatedly sent scouts to probe our borders; clashes along the Datong frontier have been constant. I fear they won't wait until spring to strike."

Pan Yun: "Why rush to fight in the bitter cold? If they strike in spring, wouldn't that disrupt the spring plowing?"

Yu Qian: "Yexian has lost the people's support; his tribes constantly clash with him. He's suppressing rebellions within while still finding the strength to harass our borders—why?"

Pan Yun: "To divert internal conflict?"

"Spring plowing is vital to Great Ming, but it holds different meaning for the steppe too—provided Yexian can control the whole picture. If he can't, he'd better launch an attack on Great Ming, channel all those hidden dissenters to the front lines, and let them be consumed directly."

Pan Yun sat up straight: "So the imperial court has prepared for war?"

The Emperor said: "Since the State Master left Jingcheng, all departments have begun preparations."

His eyes gleamed: "We only wait for the State Master's intelligence network to be built—then we'll know exactly how they march!"

Pan Yun laughed: "Your Majesty, do you know how vast the steppe controlled by the Oirats is? With just a few intelligence points, can you really map their entire marching routes?"

Yu Qian said: "The Ministry of War has already dispatched scouts carrying portable telegraph machines into the steppe, but the Ministry of Public Works says whether the messages can safely return depends on your high-power signal reception station—after all, their portable telegraph machines have very low power and can only transmit short distances."

Pan Yun pondered: "Now that you say it, it might not be impossible."

Pan Yun wanted to try it too.

Yexian's ambition is too great—he won't give Great Ming time to breathe.

And how can one tolerate a sleeper in one's own bed? If Yexian isn't eliminated, he will surely obstruct Great Ming's technological and economic development.

If we can permanently resolve the northern threat, Great Ming can then focus on economy, technology, and education.

To be honest, for decades now, aside from some grassroots technological advances, Great Ming has hardly changed since the Hongwu era…

Oh, only the population has grown, and farmland has expanded.

Of course, on paper, there's been little change; since the late Hongwu period, population and farmland growth have all been hidden away.

The thought of so many people profiting behind her back while paying not a single cash in taxes—shifting their rightful tax burden onto poor folk like herself—made Pan Yun furious.

She couldn't help wanting to drag them all out and make them pay taxes like her, contribute to the state like her.

Only then would the anger in Pan Yun's chest finally dissipate.

Pan Yun nodded: "Alright, I'll speed things up."

Before leaving, Pan Yun turned back to the Ministry of Public Works and told Minister Hu: "Choose two craftsmen skilled in papermaking to study paper production. Here are several formulas I've copied—study them thoroughly. I need a new papermaking method that's cheap, low-pollution, and highly efficient."

Hu Cheng took it, bewildered: "Papermaking technology is already mature. Why do we still need to research this?"

"Because it's still not cheap enough," Pan Yun said. "Do you know how much a ream of the cheapest white paper costs on the market?"

Hu Cheng actually knew: "Four hundred and thirty-five cash from Guangxin Prefecture."

"And do you know how much official counterfeit white paper costs per ream?"

Hu Cheng said: "One tael one to one tael four per ream."

He paused, then added: "The official price is higher than the market price to protect the people's interests."

Pan Yun nodded: "That's logical—but it's still too expensive. The cost isn't just high officially; the market price is high too. I want the paper you produce to cost no more than ten cash per ream."

"What—" Hu Cheng's voice cracked; he asked in disbelief: "What did you say?"

"I said, the cost of the new white paper must not exceed ten cash!" Pan Yun said. "Do you know how many reams of paper are needed for a nationwide census of population and land? Do you know why policies for registering new population and farmland have been abandoned? Do you know why local governance can't function?"

"Do you know why Emperor Taizu, who once opened community schools widely, ended up closing them one by one, making education policy unworkable?"

Pan Yun said: "Because of paper! Because paper is still too expensive. Local offices spend enormous sums on paper each year, so policies that should register newborns and new farmland immediately have become mere paper promises—only a handful of wealthy counties can implement them."

Hu Cheng swallowed hard: "But lowering papermaking cost to ten cash? How is that even possible?"

"Why not?" Pan Yun said. "I'm not asking you to drop it that fast. First lower it to a hundred cash, then eighty, then fifty, then ten. There are many materials for papermaking—choose cheaper ones to cut costs."