Chapter 1082

That's right, the Third Prince plans to stay in Jingcheng; he's going to enroll in the Imperial Academy.

Great Ming has too many good things—he wants them all—but many things can't be bought privately, so he decided to enter the Imperial Academy to learn them all.

If Great Ming won't sell them to him, he'll learn them and build them himself.

The Emperor was delighted they'd stay to study, as it would strengthen ties between the Central Plains and the steppes; as soon as the Third Prince hinted at this idea, he immediately handed him over to Hu Ying of the Ministry of Rites and the Director of the National Academy to arrange everything immediately.

So Miaohé and Tao Yanbai's primary task now is not to translate for the Third Prince, but to teach him Chinese characters and the Chinese language.

Miaohé's temper grew visibly more irritable by the day.

After being driven out of the study again by the Third Prince, Miaohé stormed to the tree, raised her foot to kick it, but at the last moment remembered her senior brother's advice; she suppressed her anger and muttered: "Don't get angry, don't get angry, if I die of rage he'll be happy…"

After reciting it, Miaohé was still furious; she couldn't bear it anymore, turned around, and rushed back into the study, saying to the Third Prince, who was gazing blankly at Tao Yanbai: "Third Prince, why don't you return to the steppes? We'll escort you back and have Tie Liangguti send another prince to study at the Imperial Academy."

Third Prince: "Are you saying I'm stupid, inferior to my brothers?"

"It's not what I say—it's the truth!" Miaohé said. "How long have you been studying? You still can't write your own name, yet you want to learn how to build telegraphs, generators, and pedal cars? Let me be clear: learning these things is harder than my ascending to immortality!"

The Third Prince, both guilty and furious, erupted into a loud argument with Miaohé.

Tao Yanbai hurried to mediate, but ended up getting accidentally injured by both of them.

Pan Yun felt this wasn't sustainable, so she went to the Emperor again and said: "Your Majesty, from Tie Liangguti in the far west to Kuwu in the far east, all are tributary prefectures under Great Ming, and all belong to the Northern Hu tribes; if they unite, it will be extremely detrimental to our rule."

The Emperor had been eyeing Wang Cong, originally intending to speak with Pan Yun about recruiting him into the Imperial Astronomical Bureau as Director, but upon hearing her raise an urgent matter, he set that aside and asked: "What is the State Master's suggestion?"

"Annex the Nuergan Regional Military Commissioner, revoke its tributary status, and establish garrisons within its territory under direct imperial administration."

Zhu Qiyu pondered for a moment, then said: "Yu Qian once proposed this plan to me, but the northern wars have just ended—would raising this now provoke rebellion among the Nuergan tribes?"

Pan Yun: "Precisely because of this moment, we must act with authority to settle this without a single soldier. Otherwise, if we delay further, we'll have to fight a war to settle it."

Zhu Qiyu nodded solemnly, then remembered something and added: "The Nuergan Regional Military Commissioner has abundant timber and medicinal herbs—your nephew Wang Cong is always in the medicine trade; why not grant him the title of Imperial Merchant?"

Pan Yun said: "He has barely four ships and three shops—how could he possibly qualify as an Imperial Merchant?"

Wang Cong engages in commerce because he loves making money and enjoys the freedom of trade; becoming an Imperial Merchant might not please him at all.

Fearing the Emperor might turn to someone else, Pan Yun quickly added: "Your Majesty, my younger brother Pan Yu has talent in martial arts; haven't the battle reports from Korea arrived? He also shows talent in commanding troops. He once earned merit in the defense of Datong, and previously oversaw patrols along the Liaodong frontier; if we establish garrisons in Nuergan, he might be useful."

The Emperor's eyes lit up immediately; he nodded vigorously: "Yes, yes—I'll reward Pan Yu."

Zhu Qiyu brought up again: "Will you reward Pan Yu alone, and not help Pan Yue?"

He suspected—did the State Master and her eldest brother not get along?

The Emperor's thoughts were almost written on his face; Pan Yun: …

She said: "Pan Yu earned his reward through merit; Pan Yue has served as county magistrate without a single achievement—how could we reward him arbitrarily?"

She added: "Your Majesty, governing a region requires time to maintain policy and time to observe results. Metropolitan Graduate scholars endure ten years of bitter study—they are learned and wise, yet not necessarily capable of managing local affairs; they too must learn and accumulate experience. Suddenly granting them high rank isn't kindness—it's harm."

Zhu Qiyu pondered: "Pulling up seedlings to help them grow… indeed inappropriate."

He felt a pang of disappointment.

Seeing this, Pan Yun asked: "What's wrong, Your Majesty?"

Zhu Qiyu smiled awkwardly at her: "I wanted to send the Crown Prince to serve as your Daoist acolyte, so he could absorb your wisdom from childhood and become a wise ruler."

Pan Yun: "…Has the Crown Prince turned one yet?"

Zhu Qiyu hurriedly replied: "He's already one and a half—can walk, and speaks simple words."

Pan Yun rubbed her forehead: "Your Majesty… never mind. At least you realized it."

Zhu Qiyu seized the chance: "State Master, when the Crown Prince begins his studies, may I send him to serve you in the Imperial Astronomical Bureau?"

Pan Yun said: "Your Majesty wants him to become State Master—or Emperor?"

Zhu Qiyu had only one son; though young and likely to have more, with only this heir, he naturally wished to raise him as Emperor.

But he couldn't say it lightly.

The Emperor's word was law; if this were spoken, the court and harem would shake. If a legitimate son were born later, the brothers might feud—so he remained silent.

Pan Yun didn't demand an answer; she said: "If Your Majesty wishes him to become State Master, send him to me. If you wish him to become Emperor, you must raise him yourself, with the guidance of your wise ministers and virtuous chancellors."

Zhu Qiyu paused, then said: "The State Master is, once and for all, the State Master of Great Ming."

Pan Yun: "Then Your Majesty should carefully choose a tutor for the Crown Prince."

Zhu Qiyu whispered: "I thought the State Master is so brilliant—perhaps you could teach the Crown Prince as you taught me."

Pan Yun smiled faintly and shook her head: "I could teach Your Majesty, but I cannot teach the Crown Prince."

"Why?"

"My senior brother often says I'm not like a Daoist—I'm more like a Confucian," Pan Yun said. "Though since the Qin, the Hundred Schools have blended, each containing elements of the other, their core doctrines remain distinct."

"And one cannot embrace only one doctrine in life—especially since the Song, when scholars multiplied and books circulated widely. If one's life is divided into four stages, youth is Confucian, young adulthood is Legalist, middle age is Daoist, and old age is Buddhist."

Zhu Qiyu heard this conclusion for the first time.

Pan Yun said: "It's crude, but apt."

She said: "Most believe Confucians are rigid, but that prejudice stems from pedantic, bookish scholars. Confucianism is a human necessity—the principles one most desires and needs at birth; thus, youth is bold, unwavering, courageous even when the task seems impossible."

"In young adulthood, one learns rules, so law outweighs Confucianism; in middle age, edges soften, one realizes one cannot force outcomes, must follow nature, shifting from seeking outward to seeking inward; and in old age…"

Pan Yun shook her head: "I naturally hope the Crown Prince will follow Heaven's Dao and the people's will, becoming a great ruler for all ages—but if he begins studying with me at seven, he won't become a great ruler, and I won't become a great teacher. Let him come to me when he's thirty."

Zhu Qiyu listened, stunned, and asked: "Then… what about me?"

Pan Yun winked at him: "Your Majesty isn't old enough to reach the realm of contemplating Dao and enlightenment—but I, too, am a Daoist priest defined by my senior brother as a Confucian; thus, our meeting was Heaven's perfect match, mutually enhancing."