Chapter 1060

Pan Yun was playing chess with the Emperor.

As he played, the Emperor stole glances at her.

Pan Yun: "What would Your Majesty like to say?"

Emperor: "The State Master divined a great victory in this war—and indeed, it was a great victory. I thought the State Master would intervene to aid the army, yet since that divination, you have said nothing. Why?"

Pan Yun: "Among all the court officials, who did not fight through five passes and slay six generals to rise to their positions? Their wit and talent are no lesser than mine. Your Majesty should trust your own judgment."

Seeing Pan Yun take no power for herself but instead encourage him to rule according to his own will, he was moved, his voice thick with emotion: "None of my ministers have ever had this faith in me—not even Yu Qian—yet he constantly urges me to be cautious and careful."

Pan Yun said gently: "Grand Secretary Yu's heartfelt wish is for Your Majesty to become a timeless enlightened ruler."

Emperor: "Does the State Master not wish me to become a timeless enlightened ruler?"

Pan Yun smiled: "My definition of a timeless enlightened ruler differs from that of all the court officials."

The Emperor grew curious, straightening his posture: "Oh? What kind of timeless enlightened ruler does the State Master envision?"

Pan Yun: "One who clearly understands that the people are the foundation of the realm, who draws near virtuous ministers and keeps away from sycophants, who recognizes his own flaws, who listens and learns when faced with the unknown, and who refrains from meddling blindly—that is an enlightened ruler."

Zhu Qiyu widened his eyes: "Is that all it takes to become a timeless enlightened ruler?"

Pan Yun said: "Yes. If Your Majesty can achieve this—and sustain it—then you will be a timeless enlightened ruler."

Zhu Qiyu pondered: "The people are the foundation—so the princely clans must no longer seize the people's wealth; my personal desires must never override the people's welfare; drawing near virtuous ministers enables beneficial governance; keeping away from sycophants eliminates corrupt officials and tyrants; recognizing one's flaws and refraining from blind interference means listening widely to be wise and avoiding wrongful policies..."

Pan Yun nodded with a smile: "Doing these things is easy for a day, not hard for half a year, difficult for a year, challenging for three years, and far harder still for five or ten. No emperor in history has ever sustained them for a lifetime. So, Your Majesty—if you can do this for twenty years, and then, when you near the point of losing control over your mistakes, abdicate the throne—you will become a timeless enlightened ruler surpassing Emperor Taizong of Tang."

In the eyes of scholars, Qin Shi Huang and Han Wu Di were tyrants who waged endless wars; the most revered were Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing of Han, and Emperor Taizong of Tang.

To surpass Emperor Taizong of Tang—how many emperors had dreamed of that?

Zhu Qiyu fell silent, realizing the State Master's standard for a timeless enlightened ruler was indeed not simple—it resembled the natural Dao of Laozi and Zhuangzi: the baseline seemed easy, yet sustaining it day after day for ten years was exceedingly hard.

And upon closer thought, the rigid rules Yu Qian and others had set for him were also meant to guide him toward these very points.

Yet, allowing him to err—when compared side by side—appeared more attainable.

Thus, the timeless enlightened ruler had a formula: once all conditions were met, the rest depended on fortune.

Zhu Qiyu's gaze flickered as he regarded Pan Yun thoughtfully.

Fortune—he already possessed it.

The mysteriously appearing Pan Yun, Yu Qian who turned the tide, the exceptionally capable Xue Shao, the united and mutually encouraging ministers—he needed only to avoid mistakes, and Great Ming would advance, advance, and advance further.

Zhu Qiyu clenched the chess piece between his fingers: "State Master, after this war, I have avenged my elder brother, and Great Ming has washed away its past shame. Half of my lifelong wish has been fulfilled; the other half is what you once said—that the people of the realm should know no hunger or cold, have more than enough to eat and wear, children receive education, the sick receive care, and the elderly are cared for."

Pan Yun said: "To achieve this, beyond the baseline above, Your Majesty must foster all industries."

"Foster all industries?"

"Yes. Warmth, food, housing, travel, medicine, education, and elder care—do these not encompass all industries?"

All industries require technological advancement.