Chapter 1077: Military Academy

"Move?" Pan Yu's eyes widened: "How do you move it?"

Pan Yun grinned at him: "Just use your hands to move it, isn't that how you move it?"

Pan Yu had no reply—he finally understood why these two rockeries were sold so cheaply.

Taihu stone is considered the finest among rockeries, but in its place of origin, it's not worth much.

What's truly valuable is the transportation!

Some rockeries are worth only a thousand or ten thousand taels when dug up, but once transported to Jingcheng, their value soars to hundreds of thousands, even a million taels.

Where does the value lie?

In the transportation!

And Pan Yun simply used one palm to move the rockery from the palace straight into the buyer's home—naturally, the price dropped.

Pan Yu felt deeply aggrieved and resentful, convinced his little sister had been cheated by the Qin Wang and Hu San.

But he couldn't say anything to his delighted little sister, lest he ruin her mood.

So he vented his frustration on the soil, thudding his hoe into the ground.

Pan Yun sat beside him and asked about his border patrol: "Along the way, did you find anyone usable?"

Pan Yu: "Usable?"

Pan Yun nodded: "Currently, military power is monopolized by the noble families. The Grand Secretariat is pushing the Emperor to appoint civil officials as military supervisors. The Emperor, thinking further, believes that if supervision is needed anyway, it's better to use his own trusted eunuchs."

Pan Yu was startled: "Eunuchs? Won't that bring another Wang Zhen?"

Pan Yun smiled: "I think this solution treats symptoms, not the root cause. Better to promote lower-ranking military officers. Whether civil or military, stability and progress require keeping promotion channels open and talent selection as fair as possible."

As long as promotion channels remain open and aren't monopolized by any group or class, everyone has hope of advancement—and then the entire nation and society move forward, avoiding major crises.

Pan Yun had also raised this issue with the Emperor and Yu Qian.

Of course, this is a broad direction; in detail, the Grand Secretariat wants greater involvement in military affairs, using anti-corruption as an excuse to dispatch supervisors;

and the Emperor wants to retain direct control of the military, so he wishes to replace supervisors with eunuchs—both are, to Pan Yun, mere details.

What she wants is smooth promotion channels, and professional matters handled by professionals.

Pan Yun used Wang Zhen as an example to tell the Emperor and Yu Qian how dangerous it is for someone ignorant of military affairs, unfamiliar with marching and warfare, to supervise and control the army.

Of course, if they still insist, she can do nothing.

After Tribulation Crossing, Pan Yun saw things more clearly: do your utmost, leave the rest to Heaven's will.

Pan Yu lowered his eyes, thought for a moment, then said: "Li Song, Commander of Liaodong, is very capable…"

Then, over the next fifteen minutes, Pan Yu gave a detailed introduction to Li Song and several of his Captains and Deputy Commanders.

"Liaodong?" Pan Yun smiled: "That's a good place to set up a Military Academy."

"Military Academy?"

"Yes," Pan Yun said: "Civil officials have the imperial examinations; military officers have the military examinations. Civil officials have the Imperial College; military officers should have a corresponding academy."

"But most soldiers in the military come from military households…" Pan Yu paused.

Military household sons can all attend school—at the very least, they must complete three years of elementary education; after that, it's up to individual ability.

Military promotion mostly depends on battlefield merit, but above them are sons of nobles, and below them are hereditary military officers—ordinary military household sons have little chance of rising.

Even if one is lucky enough to earn battlefield merit, rewards go first to superiors, and only lastly to the individual himself.