Chapter 1087

In Datong, he privately drew maps of Datong; when patrolling the borders, he privately drew maps of every frontier pass he passed through; and upon arriving at the Court of Diplomatic Reception, because Pan Yun often went out to sea and paid particular attention to the sea ban, he went to gather materials and draw sea charts...

Pan Hong was a remarkable man who could hand-draw maps.

Of course, this remarkable man himself didn't think it was anything remarkable; he simply calmly helped Pan Yun correct a few omissions on the sea charts.

He noticed quite a few manuscripts laid out beside him, so he picked one up and flipped through it.

Pan Yun said, "These are the supplementary charts Wang Cong drew on his voyage this time."

Pan Hong took one look, then took up the brush and systematically revised and added to them—extending the coastline on the existing sea charts, marking one by one the islands, Haigang, or unnamed lands that Wang Cong had found...

It was not until the sun slanted west that Pan Yun told him to rest a while and have some refreshments; only then did Pan Hong set down his brush and sit across the stone table from his daughter.

He lifted his tea, swept his gaze across the courtyard, and discovered that Wang Cong and Seeing Miao Zhen were nowhere to be seen—at some unknown moment, only father and daughter remained in the courtyard.

He took a big gulp of tea; Pan Yun immediately refilled his cup. After two cups in a row, his thirst was finally quenched.

"Your Majesty has already granted my resignation and return home. Your Pan Ershu and your third brother are coming to the capital—would you like to see them?"

Pan Yun thought for a moment, then shook her head: "I am a person who has left the household; each person has their own fate. I won't see them."

Pan Hong did not press the matter. After nodding, he said, "Your Pan Ershu's temperament is not suited to holding office in the capital, but Your Majesty intends to bestow grace upon the Pan family. Your Pan Ershu has his own ambitions. I think rather than keeping him in the capital, it would be better to send him to the localities as a magistrate."

Pan Yun thought it over, then nodded: "He is a Provincial Graduate. By regulation, he can serve as a county magistrate of a lower county, or as a county wu or county assistant of a middle or upper county."

What Pan Hong had come to discuss with Pan Yun was precisely this matter—and also to bid farewell.

He studied his daughter closely. Both sides were very calm, but Pan Yun could sense the reluctance in his eyes.

Once they parted this time, there was no telling when they might meet again.

Pan Hong's eyes grew slightly moist, on the verge of tears. Pan Yun looked at him in puzzlement: "Dad, if you miss me, just send me a telegram, and I'll come back to see you then."

Pan Yun said, "I still can't go back in a big way, and I can't put the Pan family on the grill, but I can sneak back—just like before, have a meal together as a family, chat a little, that's still possible. If you're not used to telegrams, you can write me a letter. The Ministry of Works has already decided to dredge the Jing-Hang Grand Canal again."

"The Grand Canal runs straight through Changzhou, so travel is especially convenient—whether sending letters or parcels, it's all very fast. Once I receive your letter, I'll go back to see you."

Pan Hong wiped the corner of his eye and asked in a choked voice, "State affairs come first—how could I let you rush about for private feelings?"

"It's not that much rushing about—just one hour's journey. After the meal, I can still come back."

Pan Hong's hand wiping his tears paused, and he raised his head: "How long?"

"About one and a half hours, I suppose. If I fly from Jingcheng back to Changzhou, that's about how long it takes. If I'm somewhere else at the time, the duration may vary."

Pan Hong lowered his hand, and his sorrow vanished in an instant. He thought it over seriously and asked, "If you're not in Jingcheng, and I send a telegram to Jingcheng, you won't receive it either."

Pan Yun smiled and said, "You can send it to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. This year the Ministry of Works will equip every department in the capital with a telegraph machine, and the Imperial Astronomical Bureau will have one too. That way, weather and climate changes from all regions can be reported into the capital daily, and the Bureau can also send observed climate changes out to all regions. I'll leave word with the Five-Sense Director at the Bureau—if a letter from you arrives, they'll help pass it along."

Pan Hong listened, dumbfounded, and murmured, "With things like this, how could the Imperial Astronomical Bureau's handful of staff possibly be enough?"

"It's not enough, so the Imperial Astronomical Bureau is going to recruit."

GLOSSARY:

【Pan Yun, Wang Cong, Pan Hong, Pan Ershu, Seeing Miao Zhen, Your Majesty, Haigang, Changzhou, Jingcheng, Imperial Astronomical Bureau, Five-Sense Director, Ministry of Works, Court of Diplomatic Reception, Datong, Jing-Hang Grand Canal】