Chapter 698

Pan Yun paused slightly: "So soon? I thought he'd live until autumn."

He was indeed very heavy in his injuries; she was certain he wouldn't survive the year, but with proper care, living until autumn should be fine.

Li Wenying looked at her with complex eyes: "I heard internal power struggles within the Uchida clan, rebellions by retainers—Dainai Jiaohong died of rage amid the chaos, or some say he was murdered by his own retainers."

Pan Yun raised an eyebrow, curiously asking: "Across an entire ocean, how did you get this news?"

Li Wenying: "In the past, because the imperial court didn't value Japan, news was delayed, but civilian channels were far more informed."

Pirates, fishermen who fled the sea, smuggling ships… there were always ways to get word back."

Li Wenying said: "People from Great Ming who go abroad are both arrogant and insecure; arrogant because Great Ming is a mighty empire, with all seas submitting to it; insecure because they know fleeing the sea is a crime—if trouble strikes, the court won't defend them, and they can't even reveal their origins, lest they drag their relatives into trouble."

"This time, the Wu Lin Alliance and the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion joined forces to sail out and suppress pirates—not only were the escaped fishermen delighted, but some Han pirates were overjoyed too."

Pan Yun: "They were overjoyed?"

"Yes," Li Wenying nodded. "They never come ashore to plunder civilians, so they're not even on our list. In fact, their own families are victims of Japanese pirates landing ashore. With the Wu Lin Alliance and Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion sailing out to suppress pirates, it must mean imperial support—they see hope that the court will lift the sea ban, and hope that the court intends to manage the seas."

Pan Yun fell silent, gazing toward the sea.

Here, the sea itself was invisible, but the clear, deep blue sky above it could be seen.

"I've never understood why the court abandoned the sea," Pan Yun said. "That sea is as vast as land, filled with endless wealth and resources. What are a few Japanese pirates, a few sea bandits? Not worth mentioning."

"When the Taizu Emperor first stabilized the realm, the ban was unavoidable—but after that?" Pan Yun said. "Did you really just abandon such vast resources and wealth?"

Li Wenying said: "The Taizong Emperor sent the eunuch Zheng He on voyages to the Southern Seas, at enormous cost…"

Pan Yun sneered: "That's because they tightly restricted maritime trade to the imperial clan's control. Such a vast market, and they only let the Zhu family profit from it. If the sea ban were lifted and private enterprise allowed in, maritime trade would never lose money!"

Li Wenying: "If you say that to the Emperor and the court, the sea ban will never be lifted."

Pan Yun: "I'm not that foolish."

Li Wenying led her to the study, paused slightly, and whispered: "You have three burning hot potatoes—you can't hold them all with two hands. You must give up at least one."

Silver mine, port, sea vessels—each of these three is desperately needed by everyone.

Pan Yun gave Li Wenying a look, then pushed open the door.

Lu Mingzhe looked up, smiled, and rose to greet her: "Daoist Pan has arrived—please, take your seat."

In comparison, Gong Xia was a beat slower, but he too stood up.

Pan Yun bowed in return and sat across from them.

Zhang Weiyi and the others had already reported most of the matter yesterday, but Lu Mingzhe still asked Pan Yun again, then formally thanked her.

Thanking her for her righteous heart, avenging the people of Quanzhou massacred last year;

Expressing concern for her hardships—she had brought everyone she took along back safely, truly a feat of great labor and merit;

Finally, praising her virtue: not only had she avenged deep hatred, but she had discovered a silver mine and secured half a port's usage rights, laying a solid foundation for Great Ming's next phase of development.

Pan Yun accepted all his praise, then said directly: "I'm willing to open the silver mine in Dasen Village. When will the court send troops to begin mining?"

Lu Mingzhe asked: "But that's still Japanese territory—can you make that decision?"

"I own two plots of land on the mountain, deliberately chosen to avoid people. We can mine secretly. I've observed—the neighboring mountain can mine stone. We can use stone mining as a cover to mine silver."

Lu Mingzhe: "What if they discover the stone mine is actually silver?"

Pan Yun gave him a blank look: "My lord, would you allow someone to pull meat out of their own mouth after swallowing it?"

Lu Mingzhe froze, silent.

Pan Yun: "So what if they find out? What can they do? Is our Great Ming's strength weaker? Or are our soldiers inferior?"

Lu Mingzhe hesitated: "During Taizu's reign, the navy launched an expedition against Japan—and returned defeated…"

"They didn't lose to Japan—they lost to the weather. Who in their right mind sails out to war during a typhoon?" Pan Yun said. "Couldn't you send troops ahead to garrison? I've already prepared the ports for you."

Pan Yun turned to Gong Xia: "General Gong, do you need the Yaowo Sect's navy for warfare?"

Gong Xia scowled: "No need! As long as our soldiers can reach there, we will win!"

Pan Yun: "If pirates and smugglers can go, so can you! Just choose the right moment."

Pan Yun paused, then added: "If you can't determine the timing, ask the Daoist Priests of the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion."

Pan Yun turned to the silent Zhang Ziming: "Zhang Yuanzhu, doesn't your Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion offer this service? How much for weather divination?"

Gong Xia immediately said: "The Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion falls under imperial authority—inter-departmental cooperation shouldn't cost anything, right?"

Zhang Ziming smiled: "As long as Your Majesty issues an edict, the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion will cooperate fully."

Lu Mingzhe quickly steered the topic back: "The court needs formal procedures to dispatch troops—it won't be decided overnight. But we still have people stranded in Japan, and you have three sea vessels out at sea—this… we should first solve the immediate problem."

Pan Yun leaned forward, interested: "What do you mean, my lord?"

"Submit a memorial!" he said. "I can submit a memorial on your behalf, offering the silver mine and port to the Emperor. While we wait for the court's decision, we can send a vanguard team to Japan to manage the port and protect the silver mine."

"Protect," he said—of course he meant to mine first—but she liked his selfishness.

Pan Yun smiled and said: "My ships won't sail out empty and return empty…"

Lu Mingzhe smiled: "Your ship will lead the fleet, guiding our Great Ming soldiers—treated like an official vessel, exempt from naval inspections. Isn't that right, General Gong?"

Gong Xia paused a moment, then nodded: "Yes."

Pan Yun: "I promised the heroes who stayed behind in Japan—I'd tell their families they'd be sent to join them…"

Gong Xia frowned.

Lu Mingzhe laughed: "That's only right. Your three ships will need crew—bringing extra people is only natural."

Pan Yun finally nodded and smiled: "Then I rely on you, my lord, to submit the memorial to His Majesty."

Of course, this was only a preliminary intention.

Then Lin Mengzhu arrived, and the door closed.

The imperial court representative: Lu Mingzhe. The navy representative: Gong Xia. The Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion representative: Zhang Ziming. The Wu Lin Alliance representative: Lin Mengzhu. And Pan Yun herself.

They held a five-party meeting, discussing in detail how to promote the court's lifting of the sea ban, focusing on developing the Dasen Village silver mine, and managing relations with Japan…

In short, as the vanguard force, how would they divide this cake?

Without imperial court orders, the navy cannot privately mobilize troops; all they can do is turn a blind eye, open the maritime ban, and let the martial artists leave.

Using martial artists as soldiers, the navy will send several personnel with command and combat experience to accompany them.

The Prefect of Quanzhou will provide them escort and protection, and also dispatch several capable administrators to take over port management and lay the groundwork for the advancing army.

The Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion will assist.

Pan Yun provides the silver mine and the port.

Each side has contributed strength, personnel, and resources—how should this be divided?

They discussed until nightfall, finally reaching a preliminary consensus, and only then did the door open.

Lu Mingzhe warmly bid farewell to Pan Yun; as he turned to leave, he remembered something and turned back to ask, "How is your relationship with Commissioner Xue?"

Pan Yun smiled: "Why does my lord ask this?"

Lu Mingzhe chuckled: "Commissioner Xue has traveled at your side, sharing life and death for over a month—I assumed your bond was strong. When he enters the capital, won't he present the silver mine and port to Your Majesty?"

Pan Yun: "My lord need only write your memorial in peace—Commissioner Xue may even thank you."

Lu Mingzhe understood: both Xue Shao and Pan Yun knew full well—they could not handle such overwhelming wealth.

He laughed heartily: "Commissioner Xue is indeed clever, and Pan Daochang is truly perceptive."

After watching Lu Mingzhe and Gong Xia walk away, Lin Mengzhu turned to Pan Yun: "If Daochang Sanzhu needs anything, speak freely—our Wu Lin Alliance also has connections; we can plead on Commissioner Xue's behalf."

"I do have a favor to ask of Lin Mengzhu," Pan Yun said, requesting Lin Mengzhu's help to procure large quantities of grain and medicine for delivery to Yushan County.

The Wu Lin Alliance has members of every kind—shop owners, merchant guild managers, bodyguards for wealthy merchants—through his connections, buying grain and medicine is not only fast but also exceptionally cheap.

So, as China has always been a society of guanxi, putting these personal networks to use saves her countless hours and gold.

Had she not feared exposure, Pan Yun would have used Lin Mengzhu to sell off all her treasures for cash.

Fortunately, her reason held firm, and she suppressed the thought.

She planned to sell them off in batches: one batch to entrust to Qu Le, yes—she would warn him not to tell Lin Mengzhu, not even his own grandfather;

one batch to entrust to the Qian Elder of Yushan County;

the final batch to leave to Wang Cong…

Pan Yun had Seeing Miao Zhen bring a box of gold and hand it to Lin Mengzhu: "This is the deposit."

Lin Mengzhu took the box and solemnly accepted: "I'll arrange it tonight, Pan Daochang—rest assured, within five days at most, the grain and medicine will reach Yushan County."

Pan Yun nodded: "Thank you."

After Lin Mengzhu departed, Zhang Ziming frowned and asked her: "You're returning to Yushan County? Didn't you say you wouldn't get involved…?"

"Rebels? I certainly won't get involved," Pan Yun said. "I'm just going back to see my senior brother, and to deliver some food to the villagers."

Zhang Ziming asked directly: "When will you return to the Academy? Once you two come back, this matter is over—we plan to depart for the Academy at dawn tomorrow."

Pan Yun said: "We'll return once the grain is delivered."

Zhang Ziming warned: "You have ten days. After ten days, you must return to the Academy. Pan Yun, do not participate in rebellion—that is beyond our reach."

Pan Yun nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Li Wenying waited until Zhang Ziming had left before asking her: "Where did you get the money?"

Pan Yun kept her expression calm: "I went to Japan, fought my way in and out—do you think I came back empty-handed?"

She said: "I now own three sea vessels, Senior Brother Li—can't you imagine me as stronger?"

Li Wenying had no reply.