Chapter 1086

They married, but later divorced and returned home.

This matter is somewhat related to Pan Yun.

Dainai Yazi, cousin of Dainai Jiaohong, was married off by Dainai Jiaohong for alliance purposes.

Because Dainai Yazi was a mountain spirit's servant, and the Dainai family thrived under Dainai Jiaohong's leadership, Dainai Yazi's first marriage was advantageous.

But after Dainai Yazi had her neck snapped by Pan Yun and Dainai Jiaohong "died of illness," the Dainai family plummeted; within a year, she crossed the gates of death three times, and on the last, she could no longer endure it, fleeing back to the Dainai clan with a maid and a warrior.

The Dainai clan originally intended to return her to her husband's family; they had even dragged her to the front gate, but she persuaded the family to keep her—according to reports from the Jin Yi Wei stationed in Japan, she now wields considerable influence within the Dainai clan.

And three years ago, when the new Emperor ascended the throne, the uprising in Zhang Weigang was very likely orchestrated by her.

A woman who rose to power through wit—Pan Yun liked such people; leaving her in the Dainai clan would be a waste.

Pan Yun did not want her to keep watching Zhang Weigang and Dasen Township, so she planned to send her to Heian-kyo.

An enemy, if used well, can also become a tool against other enemies.

Struggles among humans are never merely one-sided or two-sided; under multi-directional conflict, the clever seize the primary contradiction.

Win the war, and you win; but fixating on secondary contradictions—even if you win the battle, you still lose.

Pan Yun never feared clever opponents; as long as Dainai Yazi remained clever, once she reached Heian-kyo, she would discover her greatest enemy was not Great Ming, not the Han people of Dasen Township, nor Pan Yun—but Taneyama Motokuni, who controlled the shogunate.

In political struggle, the ministers seated below were all Pan Yun's seniors; their hearts and cunning need not be too abundant—in an instant, all understood without words.

Only the envoys of foreign states remained bewildered.

Some envied Japan, since the Emperor of Great Ming himself had arranged the marriage, with the choice made by the State Preceptor;

Some looked skeptical, suspecting Great Ming intended to draw closer to Japan;

Others were truly confused, eyes vacant, understanding nothing.

Only the Japanese envoy felt uneasy; his own people knew their own affairs—Taneyama Motokuni and the Dainai clan were at such odds; how could the shogunate remain peaceful if Dainai Yazi became Lady?

But didn't the State Preceptor and the Dainai clan also have grievances?

Had the two sides already reconciled without his knowledge?

The Japanese envoy, uncertain and alarmed, had not yet figured it out when the Honglu Temple official rebuked: "Bold! The Emperor has bestowed this marriage—how dare Japan refuse?"

The Japanese envoy clenched his teeth, finally stepped forward despite the hostile gaze of the Korean envoy, and knelt to receive the imperial decree.

The Korean envoy was deeply resentful and immediately knelt to declare that his king's princes were still unmarried, hoping the Emperor would grant them a marriage alliance.

Granting Japan a marriage was for politics; he was no matchmaker, but considering he would soon act against the Regional Military Commissioner of Nuerkan and might need Korea's aid, and that future strategies against Japan must account for Korea, Zhu Qiyu agreed—but the bride would be decided later.

The Korean envoy was pleased, feeling the Emperor had not favored Japan and forgotten them.

Pan Tao sat below Pan Hong and could not help whispering: "This isn't a birthday banquet—it's a grand court assembly."

Pan Hong whispered: "She's so young; she shouldn't even be celebrating a birthday. The Emperor is using her as an excuse to proclaim the nation's prestige—and that's good; after this, the border will be stable for ten years."

Pan Tao's gaze swept quickly over the Emperor's face, then lowered his eyes and whispered: "I hope so…"

But the Emperor's physiognomy did not suggest longevity; he trusted Pan Yun—he must live longer, but not too long…

Pan Tao's mind raced with thoughts; seeing them finish calling the Japanese and Korean envoys, then several other vassal states' envoys, he lost interest and leaned closer to his brother, whispering: "Brother, you truly resigned your post?"

Pan Hong nodded: "I've met the Emperor privately; with Yun'er speaking for me, he has agreed to let me return home—I only need to submit one more petition of resignation."

"Good. Now that she is State Preceptor, under the gaze of all, the Pan family is riding a firestorm; returning home to cool down is wise—let the fire burn slower, so the fuel lasts longer."

Pan Hong whispered: "I came to court in haste and forgot to tell you—the Emperor intends to appoint you to office. I leave, you enter."

Pan Tao frowned.

Pan Hong looked up at him and whispered: "Do you have any interest?"

Pan Tao pondered long, his gaze sweeping over each vassal envoy called by Pan Yun, each respectfully stepping forward to kneel in the main hall, then slowly shook his head: "I've taught for a lifetime… I truly wish to enter office, but this is not what I want. Better to take Bai'er back home and continue studying."

Pan Hong studied his brother for a long while, then lowered his eyes and drank a cup of wine: "Staying in the capital achieves little, but serving as an official in the provinces can benefit the people."

Pan Tao was slightly surprised.

Pan Hong said: "I cannot leave the capital because of Yun'er, but you have no such obstacle. If the Emperor intends to use you, petition for a provincial post."

"Will the Emperor let me leave the capital?"

Pan Hong: "Try. If refused, I'll stay in the capital to teach—you go out."

Pan Yun called out, and reached Ryukyu.

Ryukyu was represented by its crown prince himself—the last person Pan Yun wished to meet.

The birthday banquet had truly become a grand court assembly—a gathering where Honglu Temple and Great Ming's border strategists finalized policy.

Ryukyu, known in later eras as Okinawa, was the place Japan invaded and forcibly annexed as a colony in the late Qing dynasty.

Before being forcibly renamed, it had always been the Ryukyu Kingdom, with the surrounding Ryukyu Islands under its dominion.

Since the Ming dynasty, this archipelago had been a vassal state of Great Ming, and the Ryukyu royal family maintained exceptionally close ties with Great Ming—among all vassal states, their intimacy rivaled, even surpassed, that of Korea.

Once, a Ryukyu king came to Ming as an envoy, fell in love with Ming, chose to remain, and died in Great Ming—his tomb still lies within its borders.

Even today, during Qingming Festival, Okinawan people still travel to China to pay respects to this old king.

And at this very moment, it was precisely the peak of Ming-Ryukyu relations in history.

In another timeline's history, due to Ming's maritime ban, over eighty percent of ships trading with Ming passed through Ryukyu, stopping to resupply before proceeding to Ming.

Great Ming also granted Ryukyu many privileges and favors, so the Ryukyu royal family treated Ming with deep reverence.

In this timeline, since Ming lifted its maritime ban, the Ryukyu royal family rescued Ming's silver fleet twice, and cooperated with Ming's navy to expel pirates to enable the opening of the seas—so relations between them were now especially friendly.

Pan Yun also shifted her tone from prior warnings and threats to other vassal states, lavishing praise upon Ryukyu—then turned to the Emperor above and said: "The Ryukyu royal family shows such reverence—why does Your Majesty not reward them?"

The Emperor found the State Preceptor's words reasonable, and decided to jointly build a port with Ryukyu—Great Ming would provide most of the labor and materials; after construction, half would be yours, half mine…

The Ryukyu royal family joyfully kowtowed and accepted.

Beside them, the Japanese envoy clenched his fists, his heart feeling as if squeezed by a hand.

If Great Ming built a great port in Ryukyu, it would steal business from Haigang, and make Great Ming's voyages to Japan far more convenient and swift.