Chapter 942

In the first year of Jingtai, on the first day of the sixth month, government offices across Great Ming gradually received the Emperor’s edict.

Tools serve the people, benefiting commerce and the economy; now, the State Tutor, for the welfare of all, promotes technological advancement, has allocated one hundred thousand taels of silver, and regardless of whether one is a Great Ming subject, a foreigner, or a scholar, farmer, merchant, artisan, or slave, anyone who makes an invention may report it to local tool workshops, county offices, or Daoji Offices; once verified as a valid invention, the minimum reward is twenty taels of silver, the maximum one hundred.

The edict also listed examples: waterwheels have existed since ancient times, but Hu Wei of the Ministry of Works improved them by harnessing both wind and water power; each received twenty taels of silver, totaling forty.

It further cited an elderly farmer in the imperial estate who modified a single wooden piece on his plow, enabling it to dig two inches deeper into the soil, and received twenty taels of silver.

Anyone with a similar invention, once verified, shall receive a silver reward.

The edict was copied and posted on notice boards at every government office, and alongside it came a message from the State Tutor.

“This humble Daoist cultivates merit and detests broken promises; whoever undermines my merit, I shall curse them for life.”

Provincial Governors, Prefects, and County Magistrates who received this message silently copied the edict word-for-word and posted it on notice boards; some, to curry favor with Pan Yun, plastered it on both walls outside the city gates and summoned village heads to loudly promote it.

They declared: “This is not like before—this is the State Tutor paying from her own pocket; she seeks merit and will keep her word.”

So there is no need to worry that you will give something and receive no reward.

Pan Yun was already renowned among the people, especially in Jiangnan; after last year’s northern campaign, she was revered as a deity in the military and the north; since becoming State Tutor, her fame has soared; today, the people of the realm may doubt the Emperor and the court’s promises, but they will surely believe Pan Yun.

Pan Yun seems unafraid of overshadowing the sovereign; this time, she directly took charge of the matter and loudly leveraged the court’s channels for promotion.

The Grand Secretariat permitted it because Pan Yun said: “When technology rises, industry flourishes; with maritime trade growing, commerce across the realm will thrive. Yet our Great Ming suffers severe silver shortages; copper coins are impractical for transport, and paper currency is inevitable. But after the Baochao affair, the imperial household and court have lost all financial credibility. Paper currency must never be fully controlled by private banks; to develop court-issued paper currency, we must restore trust.”

Yu Qian had long known her; they had discussed this very topic during the Jiangxi famine relief. He stirred and said: “When this succeeds, will you cede the credit to the court?”

“Cede it to the court? How many would believe?” Pan Yun looked at Zhu Qiyu.

The Grand Secretaries followed his gaze, their eyes flickering with interest: “That is one method, but doing only this is insufficient.”

“Indeed insufficient,” Pan Yun said. “He who wins the people’s hearts wins the realm. The rest—gaining the people’s trust—is your duty, my lords. I care only for tools, and I am skilled only in tools.”

“To win the people’s hearts, we must reform officialdom, combat corruption,” Yu Qian said gravely. “The people ask for nothing but fairness.”

The ministers all responded; Zhu Qiyu struck the gavel, and they set to work.

Indeed, because of Pan Yun’s reputation, as soon as the notice spread, people began straining their minds, wondering what invention they might offer.

And the next notice would not be the only one.

Soon, another edict arrived at every locality.

Starting from the first day of the sixth month of Jingtai’s first year, the court will no longer add new artisan registers; thus, scholars, merchants, and commoners who make inventions will not be enrolled as artisans.

Existing artisan registers remain unchanged.

The edict strictly stipulated that slaves who invent tools shall retain at least half the profits; masters may not seize their earnings.

As soon as the edict was issued, more people across the realm submitted inventions; outside county offices, the crowds grew as bustling as marketplaces.

Most places lacked tool workshops, so county offices relied on their engineering bureaus and officials to verify inventions; thus, local governments invited Daoists and skilled artisans to serve as judges.

Many genuine inventions were indeed screened out.

By the time Pan Yun helped Sun Yuanzhen locate a suitable site for the harbor in Ningbo and drew the harbor construction plans with the painter he hired, 168 inventions had been reported to the Ministry of Works; even at the minimum reward of twenty taels, over three thousand taels had already been paid out.

The account supposedly holding one hundred thousand taels of silver actually held only ten thousand.

Pan Yun was frantic; after confirming the harbor plans were sound, she planned to leave that very night.

Sun Yuanzhen hurriedly stopped her: “State Tutor, why such haste? I’ve prepared a banquet at my private residence tonight, and I’ve invited Master Yu to celebrate.”

Master Yu was the man who drew the plans with Pan Yun; he excelled in detailed brushwork, selling a single painting for a hundred taels, yet his true talent lay in architecture.

Many gardens in Jiangnan were designed by him.

Those who build architecture are essentially half-Daoists; their feng shui knowledge is impeccable; Pan Yun got along with him exceptionally well.

His senior brother is Kuai Xiang, currently a director in the Ministry of Works, who helped design the Chengtian Gate—later known as Tiananmen—and the Three Great Palaces of the Forbidden City.

They both studied under Cai Sicheng of Changshu.

Had she not been short on funds, she would have gladly spent more time with this new friend; but now she was short on funds.

Her credibility was teetering; she absolutely would not allow her boasts to collapse so quickly, so she refused: “I have matters to attend to. When I return, Master Sun, you may invite me again.”

Sun Yuanzhen: “State Tutor, you are a busy person; once you leave, who knows when you’ll return? Please grant me the chance to host you.”

Pan Yun looked torn, then frowned: “Then just pay me the cost of the meal as silver—I’ll count it as if I ate.”

Sun Yuanzhen paused, then recalled rumors from the capital; he burst into laughter, waved to his secretary, and called out cheerfully: “The State Tutor has traveled tirelessly for Zhejiang, exhausting herself to select a seaport—she has truly worked hard.”

The secretary brought forward a tray.

Sun Yuanzhen lifted one corner slightly; inside lay gleaming gold bars.

He pushed it toward Pan Yun and smiled: “A small token of appreciation—please accept it.”

Pan Yun raised an eyebrow and took it without hesitation.

Seeing her accept it, Sun Yuanzhen sighed in relief and no longer insisted she stay for dinner; he personally escorted her to the door.

Pan Yun turned and flew to Hangzhou, handing the tray of gold to the Hangzhou Tool Workshop staff: “Send two-thirds of this to the Ministry of Works in Nanjing; tell them: for inventions simple enough to verify on the spot, pay them immediately.”

Everyone in the Hangzhou Tool Workshop were Daoists—all senior and junior disciples from the Long Hushan Academy.

Seeing Pan Yun hand over so much gold without blinking, they gasped: “State Tutor, you’re so rich.”

Daoists, when indirect, are truly indirect; when blunt, they are truly blunt—they asked outright: “State Tutor, may we know your method of earning money? We too are desperate to escape poverty.”

Pan Yun replied calmly: “Go abroad and mine unclaimed gold and silver mines.”

Everyone: …

Pan Yun looked at them encouragingly: “There are many opportunities overseas; senior brothers and sisters, work hard. Once you break through the First Marquis realm and gain the ability to fly with objects, even if you find no unclaimed mines, you can still legally earn vast sums.”

One senior brother mused: “What if it’s not legal?”

Pan Yun: “I hear the Dao Registration Office is tightening control over monks and Daoists; because of me, many Daoists have recently taken to the world, and with them, many monks and nuns have left their seclusion—even recluses. To prevent these people from fighting and harming civilians, or swindling them for wealth, the Dao Registration Office is consulting with the Celestial Masters’ Office, the Monk Registration Office, and the State Protection Temple on improved regulations.”

Pan Yun showed her teeth: “You go ahead. If this falls on me, I won’t go easy.”

The other shuddered and declared solemnly: “I am a distinguished graduate of the Long Hushan Academy—how could I sacrifice great righteousness for petty gain? State Tutor, rest assured: not only will I not do such a thing, I will also watch over my junior brothers and sisters and never allow anyone near me to do so.”

Pan Yun nodded in satisfaction, patted his shoulder, and encouraged: “I knew I didn’t misjudge you, senior brother. I leave this to you—strictly review every submission; don’t miss a single one, but don’t hand out rewards recklessly either.”

Li Xiangdao sighed deeply: “I know—State Tutor’s money isn’t blown in by the wind.”

Pan Yun’s money wasn’t blown in by the wind—it was swept back by a typhoon.

The Imperial Astronomical Bureau predicted that starting June 21, Zhejiang and Nanzhili might face a typhoon landing.

Pan Yun observed the heavens at night, calculated for hours, and marked two locations—one of them was Ningbo.

Because Jiangnan suffered a major storm last year, Sun Yuanzhen had begun preparations early upon receiving the news.

Pan Yun was in such a hurry because today was already the fifth of the sixth month, and the silver ships from Japan had yet to arrive.

She decided to go see for herself.

Pan Yun departed that night and arrived at the Onsen Jintinggang harbor by the afternoon of June 6.

She crouched on the harbor’s edge and looked down: the port was bustling, people hauling cargo.

Pan Yun raised an eyebrow slightly.

Pan Xiao Black said: “You arrived just in time—right as they’re preparing to depart.”

Pan Yun scanned the ships moored inside and outside the harbor, thoughtful: “Why are so many ships gathered here?”

Onsen Jintinggang was only a small port; it shouldn’t attract so many seafaring vessels.

Pan Yun flew over, landed in a hidden spot, changed clothes, donned a veil hat, strapped on her sword, then stepped out.

This attire—the veil hat, narrow sleeves, neat and elegant, sword held on back or hand—was the most common look for Ming dynasty female martial artists in Japan; Japanese ronin would retreat upon seeing it.

Thus, Japanese women recently began imitating Ming martial women’s dress; Tang style shifted toward Ming style.

Even their walking style changed; if they walked well, no one could tell if they were Japanese or Han women, and ronin kept their distance—useful protection indeed.

As soon as Pan Yun entered the town, vendors and merchants on both sides waved warmly; passersby smiled at her; everyone’s expressions were friendly.

Pan Yun could tell their friendliness was genuine—their smiles were unfeigned.

She walked straight to the harbor’s edge, glanced once, and quickly spotted the person she sought.

Miao He sat stiffly on a stool, clacking away on her abacus; beside her stood a Japanese man in short tunic and shorts, bowing low and speaking in Japanese: “We can finish loading on time.”

Miao He replied irritably in Japanese: “You said the same thing yesterday—and because of your delay, we can’t sail on schedule today.”

The Japanese man bowed lower: “Yesterday, many ships arrived suddenly; we lacked manpower. I deeply apologize, so I summoned many workers overnight—look, they’re working hard today. Please keep hiring them; otherwise, they’ll have come for nothing.”

Miao He was angry, but her gaze swept over the men behind him—all wearing short tunics and shorts, some without even tunics, barefoot, their feet caked in mud; clearly, they had rushed here overnight from villages.

She softened, sniffed, and nodded, letting them load the cargo.

Pan Yun chuckled.

Miao He heard the familiar laugh, looked up sharply, and saw a figure standing gracefully outside the thatched shed; though veiled, she instantly leapt up, ecstatic.

Pan Yun raised a finger to her lips; Miao He suppressed her excitement and asked haughtily: “Who are you? What do you want?”

Pan Yun smiled: “Passing through your fine land, I seek a cup of water.”

Miao He immediately ordered someone to bring water.

Subordinate: … There was water right on the table.

Still, he fetched a teapot, brought up a fresh pot of boiling water.

Miao He pulled Pan Yun to sit beside her, glanced around, and whispered: “Little Master, where’s Pan Xiao Black?”

“Everyone in Japan knows I have a black cat with me, so I told it to hide.”

Miao He puzzled: “Why hide your identity?”

Pan Yun: “I’m State Tutor now—I have an official status, so I can’t freely enter and leave Japan. By the way, where are Wang Cong and the others?”

Miao He: “Big Brother and the others went to fight.”

Pan Yun raised an eyebrow: “Fight?”

“Yes. The Uesugi clan is trying to seize another harbor; they clashed two days ago, so Big Brother led men to support them.”

Pan Yun murmured: “No wonder so many ships are here.”

“Yes—all from that side, even several Korean ships,” Miao He said. “You wouldn’t believe how delighted the Masuda family is—they’re hoping the fighting never ends.”

Pan Yun smiled and asked, “When Japan launched its war, how was it here?”

“Several groups attacked Da Sen Village, but the Masuda family did not join them. Though they sent no fighters, they sold us plenty of intelligence. Tao Battalion Commander said he knew his limits—even if he suspected there truly was a silver mine in Da Sen Village, he was certain the Great Ming would win.”

“Since the Great Ming will win, he can never seize the silver mountain from us. It’s better for him to focus on developing the port and maritime trade.”

Pan Yun nodded with a smile: “Tao Battalion Commander is right. Masuda Shintai has always been a clever man, very pragmatic.”

She liked to cooperate with pragmatic people.

Pan Yun finished her cooled tea and asked, “Has the fighting ended?”

Miao He shook her head: “I don’t know. No news has come back, but I think it’s probably over—Senior Brother gathered many martial heroes to go there.”