Chapter 1074

The Ainu lie to the north of Japan, in what would later be Hokkaido Island; at this time, the land was still inhabited by tribes and belonged to wild territory.

North of the Ainu lies Kuye, which belongs to the Great Ming and falls under the jurisdiction of the Nuerkan Regional Military Commissioner—that is, what would later be Sakhalin Island.

Between Sakhalin and the Ainu, and between the Ainu and Japan, only a narrow strait separates them; from a map, it looks like a mere hop away.

In reality, even a small fishing boat can cross both straits.

Thus, if the Great Ming wishes, it can bring the Ainu under its control, placing them under the Nuerkan Regional Military Commissioner, or establish a new prefecture directly on the land.

If the Ainu also become part of the Great Ming, then reaching Japan will truly be the distance of a single fishing boat.

"I hear this is the State Preceptor's intention; don't tell me you don't understand the meaning behind it—clearly, the State Preceptor's interest in Japan extends far beyond just Mount Daosen." Li Song's eyes gleamed with ambition: "The imperial court sent you to inspect northern military affairs, yet the State Preceptor raised not a single objection; how long can the Nuerkan Regional Military Commissioner remain a tributary prefecture?"

Pan Yun was stunned: "You want the Great Ming to directly administer the Nuerkan Regional Military Commissioner?"

"Why not?" Li Song said. "Within the Nuerkan Regional Military Commissioner, Jurchen tribes are scattered everywhere; though they appear respectful now, their hearts long for rebellion. Once given the chance to grow strong, they will become the next Wala or Tatar, even the former Yuan."

Pan Yun: "Judge by deeds, not intentions—this is all conjecture."

Li Song sneered at him: "They say literati have twisted intestines because you act in roundabout ways; they say you're naive because you're so lenient toward foreign peoples, thinking so little."

He said: "What do you mean 'judge by deeds, not intentions'? Who in this world doesn't act for profit? Look at how the entire Korean kingdom reveres the Great Ming today—it's because they begged for aid, and the Great Ming came, leaving their people untouched. But if they begged and we didn't come, or if our soldiers violated them, would they still be so reverent?"

Pan Yun stared at him, speechless: "Brother Li, are you even listening to yourself?"

Li Song looked innocent: "What did I say?"

Pan Yun: "Your example shows that when the Great Ming acts with benevolence, vassal states respond with respect—that's a positive example. If the Great Ming treated the Jurchen tribes this way…"

"That's different," Li Song paused, unable to find a better analogy, then slapped his own head: "The Jurchens are a branch of the Mongols, just like the Wala and Tatar—they will seize land, expand territory, invade south like the former Yuan, and reduce all other ethnic groups to subhumans, enslaving them forever."

Li Song's eyes flickered: "So we must turn the Nuerkan Regional Military Commissioner into a directly administered region. I've held this idea for years, but the court's frontier strategy was neglected, and I had no channel to speak up. Now the court has revived frontier strategy—both the Emperor and the State Preceptor, along with all ministers, are paying attention. If not now, when?"

Pan Yun glanced left and right; seeing his bodyguards far behind, he leaned in and whispered, placing a hand on Li Song's shoulder: "Do you know why the court has suddenly taken such strong interest in Liaodong and the Nuerkan Regional Military Commissioner?"

Li Song lowered his voice too: "Why?"

Pan Yun's voice was barely audible: "Because there are vast deposits of iron, copper, and petroleum in Liaodong and the Nuerkan Regional Military Commissioner."

Li Song stared at him, wide-eyed; after a moment, he suppressed his excitement and asked: "What is petroleum?"

"Flaming oil," Pan Yun sneered at him. "Read more books—flaming oil's scholarly name is petroleum; it's detailed in the Dream Pool Essays."

Li Song: "... So its scholarly name is petroleum, yet why does the Military Equipment Bureau have a 'Flaming Oil Workshop' and not a 'Petroleum Workshop'?"

Pan Yun: "Probably because 'petroleum' sounds too tame and unimpressive."

Li Song clapped his hand on Pan Yun's shoulder with a snap, delighted: "Perfect! The Nuerkan Regional Military Commissioner has so many valuable resources—it can't be left unattended. Brother, I can arrange for you to return to the capital by sea openly—just meet the State Preceptor and ask her to change the Nuerkan Regional Military Commissioner from a tributary prefecture to a directly administered region…"

Pan Yun moved to pull his arm away, but Li Song gripped it tightly.

Pan Yun sighed: "It's not that I refuse—I'm from the Pan family, and we've long sworn never to involve my younger sister in state affairs. I can submit a memorial to the Ministry of War."

"I hold a higher rank than you—do you think I can't write the memorial?" Li Song said. "What I lack is a channel to get it into the Grand Secretariat, so the Grand Secretaries can see it, and so it can be debated on the imperial court."

"Still no. Once you start, there'll be a second time—you're trying to ruin my Pan family."

"Tsk, are you even my brother? We've faced death together twice—you agree with my views. This is a great benefit to the state and people. You refuse the shortcut and insist on the winding path—if that path doesn't reach the goal, you'll be a traitor to history."

Pan Yun stared at him, speechless.

Li Song wrapped his arm around Pan Yun's neck, pressing: "I'll ask you one last time—will you take the shortcut? Will you?"

Seeing him still silent, Li Song's eyes darted: "How about this—you introduce me to the State Preceptor. I'll speak to her myself."

The more he spoke, the better the idea sounded; he grew excited: "We're brothers—you introducing your little sister to me is perfectly natural. What we discuss privately is our own business—it doesn't violate your Pan family's ancestral rules, does it?"

Pan Yun: "You're quite calculating."

He pulled free Li Song's arm, stretched his neck: "How will you send me back to the capital?"

Li Song assumed he agreed, beaming: "Easy! I'll say we won the battle, and the King of Korea, grateful beyond measure, has sent a special envoy to the capital to pay homage and celebrate with the Great Ming—just in time for the State Preceptor's birthday. I'll assign you and a few men to escort them by sea."

Li Song added: "And you don't even need to worry about ships—I've already arranged for merchant vessels from a trading caravan. We depart at dawn tomorrow."

Pan Yun: "You planned this all along."

Li Song smiled faintly, clapped his shoulder: "Brother, to be a general, you only need to know how to fight and command troops. But to become a Regional Commander, you must look beyond the army—you must look farther, even farther still."

Pan Yun fell into thought.

Li Song patted his shoulder, then laughed loudly and walked away.

Li Song proposed to the King of Korea that a delegation be sent to the capital to report the victory; the king agreed immediately and urgently summoned his ministers to hastily assemble a state gift.

Unfortunately, they could gather little.

The ministers said: "The Great Ming is powerful and rich in resources—what treasures haven't they seen? If the capital hadn't been looted, we might have gathered some valuables, but now…"

Li Nang was deeply saddened; in the end, he placed only his own treatise—the scholars' compiled "Hunmin Jeongeum"—into a chest and sent it along to the capital.

Time was short, the task urgent; the delegation reached the coast at dawn the next day.

Pan Yun led a detachment of bodyguards, half of whom were the Imperial Guard and officials from the Court of Judicial Review who had accompanied him to inspect military affairs, the other half Li Song's trusted men.

All wore military uniforms; once aboard, they retreated to the cabins to catch sleep.

The fleet consisted of temporarily requisitioned merchant ships, but they weren't disadvantaged—the ships were fully loaded with cargo.

Li Song promised them: since officials were aboard, the merchant ships could be treated as official vessels; upon reaching Tianjin Port, they would pay no customs duties.

Had Pan Yun's face not been so cold, they'd have preferred to split the men—two per ship—so the entire fleet could be declared official, avoiding all customs fees.

Of course, that was pure fantasy; after mentioning it to Li Song and receiving a withering glare, they cut the idea in half.

The other half vanished when they saw Pan Yun's expressionless face.

Fine—these generals are rich but don't know how to make money. What can you do?

Sigh—these frontier soldiers still lack the cunning of court officials.

They say ships traveling the Japan route can hitch rides on silver fleets and never pay customs duties—pure profit.

They were so envious, tears nearly dripped from their mouths.

Unfortunately, not just anyone can join the silver fleet.