Chapter 943

Pan Yun set down her teacup and stood up: "Alright, I'll go take a look."

Miao He watched her with wide, pleading eyes.

Pan Yun patted her head: "Don't worry, I'll be back tonight."

From Onsen Jintinggang to Zhang Weigang isn't far; for Pan Yun, leaping onto the Three Treasures Cauldron and flying for two quarters of an hour was enough.

After all, it was a catapult launch—speed self-regulated.

When Pan Xiaohei stepped out of the cauldron, his eyes were dizzy; he glanced at Pan Yun's unflinching face and couldn't help asking: "Aren't you afraid of heights anymore?"

Pan Yun shot him a glance: "I'm afraid of heights, not airsick."

Zhang Weigang was being cleaned; martial artists used wooden buckets to haul seawater and washed the bloodstains straight into the sea. Over a dozen corpses lay lined up along the shore, each carefully covered with coarse cloth.

Pan Yun frowned slightly, stepped forward, and lifted the cloth—inside were men dressed in Japanese style; she exhaled softly in relief.

"Hey, what are you doing?" A female martial artist sweeping up blood hastily blocked her: "Miss, you're not from around here, are you? I've never seen you before."

Her voice drew many eyes ashore. Tao Yanbai, crouched by the bucket, turned his head—and upon seeing her, his eyes lit up. He forgot about the water splashing, grabbed the full bucket, and ran over: "She's my family, my family…"

Seeing it was Tao Yanbai, everyone dropped their suspicions, smiled at Pan Yun, and turned back to their tasks.

Tao Yanbai dropped the bucket and rushed over, whispering excitedly: "Little Master Aunt, are you here to take us back?"

Pan Yun nodded: "Yes. Where's your Senior Brother?"

Tao Yanbai pointed to a spot and led her to find him.

Wang Cong was smiling warmly as he spoke with two Japanese men, two brocade-clad guards trailing behind him.

Pan Yun paused slightly, didn't approach, and pulled Tao Yanbai aside: "Did we win?"

"We won," Tao Yanbai scratched his head, "but Senior Brother doesn't seem happy—especially today, after driving out the Uchida clan, his face has been grim."

Pan Yun fell into thought.

Soon, Wang Cong dismissed the two Japanese men and came over with the brocade guards.

Seeing Pan Yun, his expression brightened considerably; his steps grew lighter. He led her into the checkpoint to speak.

The two Japanese men watched from afar, puzzled: "Who is that? Why is he wearing a veil hat?"

Ming women are fierce—yesterday and today, when fighting broke out, no woman on the battlefield wore a veil hat. This one's clothes are spotless; clearly from somewhere else.

"Probably from Da Sen Village."

That's the Han people's stronghold; this time, Wang Cong pulled many men from Da Sen Village.

As soon as they entered the room, Pan Yun removed her veil hat. The two brocade guards immediately bowed: "Your servants pay respects to the State Tutor."

Pan Yun waved her hand and asked Wang Cong: "How did the fight start?"

"This is the second time," Wang Cong said. "At the beginning of the year, when the new emperor ascended, the Japanese navy attacked Korea and then intruded into Great Ming waters, secretly colluding with Japanese pirates. Fortunately, our Great Ming navy won decisively. At that time, both Da Sen Village and Zhang Weigang were attacked."

The two brocade guards immediately added: "State Tutor, it seems the silver mine in Da Sen Village has been leaked. Some Japanese ministers may have found out."

"Let them know," Pan Yun said. "Da Sen Village was first given to me by the Yamana clan, then my Great Ming envoy paid real gold and silver to purchase it from the Japanese shogunate—the land deeds are in hand; it is Great Ming territory!"

She added: "Onsen Jintinggang is split half-and-half between me and the Masuda family. My share has already been presented to the imperial court, so half of Onsen Jintinggang is also Great Ming's state treasury. Zhang Weigang is even clearer—it was ceded to me by the Uchida clan after their defeat, because they massacred our coastal civilians. I presented this port to the court. On Great Ming soil, it is naturally protected by Great Ming soldiers, governed by Great Ming law—any violator shall be executed!"

The brocade guards exhaled in relief; Wang Cong also let out a breath and smiled: "I told you there was nothing to worry about—you all feared the court would punish us."

"We're defending our homeland—how could the court punish us?" Wang Cong patted their shoulders. "Go tell Lord Kuang and the others to rest easy. If the court asks, my little aunt will plead for you."

Pan Yun: "Plead? The Emperor's bones are too hard—he'll only reward you for this."

The two brocade guards grew even happier and immediately said: "We'll go tell the soldiers this good news right away."

Knowing the master and his nephew had just met and surely had much to discuss, they left them alone.

As soon as the brocade guards left, Wang Cong began grumbling: "Little Aunt, the Yamana clan has lost their minds—they dared collude with the Uchida clan to seize Zhang Weigang while we were unprepared."

The two brocade guards hadn't gone far; hearing this, they exchanged glances and quickened their pace to leave.

Pan Yun: "Do they want to seize the port—or the silver and goods?"

She said: "If I wanted to seize the port, I'd wait until a typhoon hit after you'd left—wouldn't that be better?"

"They didn't know a storm was coming," Wang Cong said. "In Japan, typhoons don't hit every year, and even when they do, they don't always strike here. They just heard we'd be leaving yesterday, so they struck—wanting both the port and the silver and goods."

Fortunately, the soldiers guarding Zhang Weigang were alert—when they noticed many strangers suddenly appearing in town, they went on high alert.

After last year's battle, the soldiers were more cautious, and the crew members had become careful too.

When the conflict erupted, the soldiers held the port, while the ships immediately sailed out to sea. Plus, a group of martial artists were aboard to return home, so they weren't at a disadvantage from the start.

And as soon as Wang Cong received word, he immediately boarded a fast ship and rushed to reinforce them.

"Were casualties heavy?"

Wang Cong whispered: "Eighteen wounded—twelve soldiers, six dead: three soldiers, two martial artists, and one crewman."

Pan Yun exhaled softly: "Use the best medicine to heal them. All the dead are to be cremated and brought home."

Fallen leaves return to dust—they must be taken back to their homeland.

Wang Cong agreed.

Pan Yun turned in place and asked: "So now, the Japanese official in charge of Zhang Weigang is from the Yamana clan—not the Masuda clan?"

"Yamana is the head of the Masuda clan. Since last November, all the Masuda-affiliated men we trusted have been removed and replaced by Yamana, Fukuya."

"Then find the evidence and drive them all out. From now on, Zhang Weigang will be fully under Han control."

"Huh?" Wang Cong blinked. "But didn't you sign a contract with Masuda Shintai?"

"They colluded with the Uchida clan—that's them breaking the contract first. We used them initially because we were short-handed. Now we have imperial troops stationed here and countless martial artists—what's there to worry about?"

Do they really think martial artists came here just to mine silver?

Their work opportunities are endless—forget distant matters; just serving as guards for merchants alone could earn them plenty.

Wang Cong frowned: "But we know this is true—we just haven't caught any proof."

Pan Yun glanced at him: "Let the brocade guards handle this."

"They've interrogated them—the ronin were stubborn. As soon as they were captured, they killed themselves."

Pan Yun: "Hand it over to the Embroidered Uniform Guard—they have their own methods."

Tao Yan Bai mumbled: "What methods could they possibly have? The man's dead—can't even extract a false confession through torture."

"There's no need for us to trouble ourselves. Each profession has its experts. Just tell them the result you want, and they'll naturally produce it." Pan Yun looked at Wang Cong with exasperation. "Do you really think the imperial court sent the Embroidered Uniform Guard here just to handle your petty little affairs?"

Wang Cong: "Didn't the late emperor send the Embroidered Uniform Guard to keep an eye on Lord Kuang and the others? To stop them from embezzling silver."

Pan Yun spoke with deep meaning: "Regardless of the late emperor's original intent, here, our interests align with the Embroidered Uniform Guard—we should act as one. What's the point of infighting? You're close to Lord Kuang and the others. Try to advise them. People must think long-term. Look outward."

Wang Cong murmured: "Look outward?"

He turned his gaze toward the direction of Heian-kyō in Japan.

Pan Yun slapped his head with a sharp crack: "Where are you looking? I said look outward—but not so obviously!"

Wang Cong felt that Pan Yun had said all the good and bad words already.

To avoid another beating, he quickly changed the subject: "Little Master Shu, why did you come all the way to meet us?"

Pan Yun cleared her throat softly and asked: "Over the past half year, how much silver have we earned on this side?"

Wang Cong instantly understood: "Little Master Shu is short on cash, huh~~"

Pan Yun rubbed her nose.

Wang Cong reported: "As of this May, the account held 120,000 taels of silver. After deducting thirty percent for labor and fifteen percent for consumables, I withdrew 66,000 taels total."

Pan Yun frowned: "So little?"

Wang Cong stared at her, speechless: "Little Master Shu, you don't even care about 66,000 taels in half a year anymore?"

He exclaimed: "No wonder you're the State Advisor."

Tao Yan Bai: "No wonder you're the State Advisor!"

Pan Yun: "Shut up. I've done several big things at home—I need money."

Wang Cong asked: "How much?"

Pan Yun sighed: "At least 100,000 taels."

Wang Cong grinned: "If we relied only on the silver mines, it would certainly not be enough. But Little Master Shu, don't forget—I have three ships."

Wang Cong pulled out a stack of ledgers and handed them to her, proud: "Take a look."

Pan Yun flipped through them, scanning ten lines at a glance, then paused: "This…"

Wang Cong said: "I invested all the money I withdrew from the mine accounts into maritime trade. The Dao Ancestor and Mazu blessed us—this past half year, everything went smoothly: returning to port, to Japan, to Korea, even south to Ryukyu and north to Jianzhou. Every time I landed, I didn't go far—just traded directly with local merchants. One round trip brought substantial profit, plus…"

He patted the two jade pendants hanging at his waist, smiling: "Plus these—I've made no less than what I earned from the mines."

Pan Yun marveled: "Maritime trade is so profitable—it makes silver mines look like nothing. This is pure gold and silver mountains. The imperial court really shouldn't have kept the seas closed all this time."

Wang Cong, who had felt this most deeply over the past year, wholeheartedly agreed. He looked at Pan Yun with hopeful eyes: "Little Master Shu, I've collected several fine pieces of jade. Could you carve me a few more space jade artifacts? That way, even without adding ships, we can carry more cargo."

Pan Yun studied him, stroking her chin: "Now that you mention it… how do you pay taxes on things inside the space?"

Wang Cong's eyes darted away, glancing up at the ceiling, silent.

Pan Yun pondered: "It seems that if Daoist arts ever become widespread, we'll need to install a device at customs capable of detecting space arrays."

Wang Cong: "... No, that's unnecessary, right? How many cultivators in this world can even generate Yuan Qi? And how many can transform their internal strength into Yuan Qi? Not to mention those who can afford space artifacts."

Pan Yun glanced at him: "Can't now doesn't mean can't later. We must think long-term."

Wang Cong leaned in: "Then these jade…"

"Give them to me. What kind do you want? My cultivation has advanced further—I'm steadier now. I can shrink the space array even more."

Pan Yun scanned him: "Still pendants or jade rings? Can't be a bracelet—rings are fine too…"

"Rings, rings," Wang Cong said. "I picked these jade pieces carefully—their spiritual energy is far stronger than what we bought before."

Pan Yun nodded.

Wang Cong pulled out the jade, and the three immediately gathered around the table to design.

As they discussed enthusiastically, the door slammed open. Seeing Miao Zhen stood in the doorway, backlit.

Tao Yan Bai leapt up, panicked: "Oh no—I forgot to tell my sister."

Seeing Miao Zhen glared at them.

Wang Cong remembered too, embarrassed: "Sister, you didn't wait for us by the shore the whole time, did you?"

Seeing Miao Zhen said coldly: "You said we must return to Da Sen Village tonight and depart tomorrow without fail."

Seeing Miao Zhen turned to Pan Yun.

Pan Yun stood immediately: "I'll go meet the garrison commander here, then fly you straight back to Da Sen Village. I've already seen Miao He—she's overseeing the cargo loading."

Seeing Miao Zhen's expression softened slightly, then she looked at Pan Yun with a hint of grievance, eyes slightly red: "Little Master Shu, can we finally go home?"

Pan Yun smiled and nodded: "Yes, we can go home."

The garrison commander stationed at this port was only a hundred-man captain, also under the command of Lord Kuang in Da Sen Village—his rank was even lower than that of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

So Pan Yun met with both the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the captain together.

According to Pan Yun, they would come tomorrow to collect the remains of the fallen soldiers. In addition to the imperial court's compensation, Pan Yun would provide an additional sum.

"This is the Great Ming's overseas frontier. You have no reinforcements—you face greater hardship than other border garrisons. In the future, any soldier who dies defending the Great Ming in Japan, I, Pan Yun, will personally add a compensation to honor their spirits."

The captain's eyes welled with tears. He pounded his chest: "State Advisor, give any order—I will die without hesitation!"

Pan Yun: "Hold onto Zhang Weigang!"

The captain roared: "Yes!"

And so, when he heard Pan Yun instruct the Embroidered Uniform Guard to "find" evidence linking the Yamana clan of Zhang Weigang to the Uesugi clan, he didn't curse them as traitors as he once would have—he merely thought: The State Advisor is truly the State Advisor—unconstrained by petty formalities.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard instantly understood Pan Yun's unspoken meaning—they were being asked to do the dirty work.

But they felt no moral burden, for aside from lacking proof, the Yamana clan had indeed colluded with the Uesugi clan.