Chapter 944

Pan Yun flew Wang Cong and the other three back to Daisen Village, while the rest either stayed behind to guard the dock or sailed back to Onsen Jintinggang on their own ships.

When they returned, the sun was just about to set, and Seeing Miao Zhen was still supervising the loading of goods.

Pan Yun kicked at a crate at her feet and asked, "What's inside?"

Wang Cong glanced at the crate and said, "It's medicinal herbs from Korea; the corners are painted green, and all the herbs inside are wrapped in oil paper."

"What kinds of herbs?"

"Mostly ginseng, plus white-flowered platycodon, ten-thousand-year wormwood, tiger bone, rhinoceros horn, and musk as well."

Korean ginseng is famous, and white-flowered platycodon and ten-thousand-year wormwood are their specialties; the other herbs are precious, and with so many Chinese people, no amount is ever enough.

Some medicines are hard to buy in Great Ming even with money, but in Korea, because Wang Cong is from the suzerain state and carries a travel permit, he can buy them whenever he has silver.

Wang Cong said proudly, "Last year and this year I made a trip to Korea and befriended local officials and gentry; I can get many herbs with little effort."

Pan Yun: "Do you trade in silver?"

"We can use Great Ming copper coins, silk, or porcelain. You wouldn't believe how popular Great Ming copper coins are there—their own currency is as unstable as ourbao notes, made of copper and iron but full of impurities, so Great Ming copper coins are highly sought after."

Wang Cong said, "Silk can be used directly as currency."

Chinese silk has long served as currency, not just in tributary states but in foreign lands as well.

Seeing Pan Yun's curiosity, Wang Cong led her aboard while explaining, "Besides silk and porcelain, we also export books and prepared medicines."

These were Wang Cong's unique goods, his own discovery.

Ever since he learned that Great Ming books were rare in Japan and sold for high prices, he began selling books there.

He sold all kinds of books.

Japan is a tributary state of Great Ming and likes them; Korea has even closer ties to Great Ming, so he assumed they'd like them even more.

Indeed, when he shipped a batch of books over,

the people who had been fighting over silk rushed to grab the books instead.

Later, Wang Cong discovered that Great Ming medicines were just as popular as books.

All kinds of pills and tinctures—any prepared medicine from Great Ming—was revered as divine medicine, its value doubling.

As an agent of Mount Sanqing, Wang Cong was closely connected to major herbalists, pharmacies, and physicians; moreover, as a Daoist physician himself, he could assess the efficacy of prepared medicines, write instructions, and deliver them to those who needed them…

Among all the trading houses, this business seemed made solely for him.

Wang Cong said, "I've decided our trading house should reduce exports of silk and porcelain and focus more on herbs, prepared medicines, and books. Little Uncle, don't think it's niche—I'm certain that among all trading houses exporting this year, few will earn more than I do."

"Fine, since you're confident, go ahead," Pan Yun paused, then said, "Great Ming is the Celestial Kingdom; previously, Zheng He sailed the Western Oceans to display our might, and all nations look up to Great Ming. In this circle, you can add more cultural elements."

"Culture?"

Pan Yun tapped the crate. "Aren't the books and prepared medicines you sell full of culture?"

"Your father reveres Immortal Ge; whenever he sees anything tied to him, true or false, he gets carried away. Foreigners revere Great Ming, so anything from here naturally draws admiration—if you subtly infuse it with uniquely Great Ming culture, don't you think your goods' value will rise, and will you sell them faster than others?"

Wang Cong's eyes brightened slightly.

Pan Yun leapt onto another ship and found the hold had been modified, now piled high with crates and sacks; she paused mid-step: "This hold… wasn't meant for crates. Why did you change it?"

Wang Cong said, "Our caravan travels short distances—we can return home twice a year: once in May–June, and again between October and December. Then we can carry grain on board."

Pan Yun fell silent.

Wang Cong said, "Grain's unit price is lower than other goods, but in recent years, Great Ming has suffered constant natural disasters; every winter and spring, grain prices rise, so I want to bring back more grain from abroad."

Pan Yun said, "Grain, especially rice, is more abundant in Luzon, Ly Dynasty, Laos, and Brunei; I recall Ly Dynasty had a famous variety called Champa rice."

Wang Cong's eyes sparkled: "Little Uncle, you're thinking exactly what I am! More merchants are coming to Japan now, and the maritime ban has only been lifted for half a year; I estimate within three years, Japan will become a maritime trade hub. But east, north, and south of here, there are only so many countries to trade with. Beyond Japan, the map shows only endless ocean and scattered islands. So I plan to form another caravan and shift to the South China Sea."

Wang Cong's eyes grew brighter as he spoke: "Rumors say Your Majesty plans to open a seaport in Guangzhou. Little Uncle—is that true?"

"It's true," Pan Yun said. "Guangzhou has a seaport left over from the Song and Yuan dynasties; though abandoned for years, like Quanzhou Port, it once thrived. In recent years, it still occasionally hosted tributary states from the South Seas, so with a little cleanup, it's usable. Once maritime trade revives, expansion will naturally restore its former glory."

Wang Cong: "So after we return, I'm going to Guangzhou!"

Pan Yun's lips curled slightly: "You've picked a good place."

Wang Cong, proud and self-assured, said, "I know you sent Seeing Miao Zhen and the other three to Japan because you feared that, as newly appointed State Advisor, they'd try to control you through them. Now that you've come to fetch them, clearly you've already secured your position."

"But I'm different from Seeing Miao Zhen and the others—they only need to train and cultivate. I can't abandon my business. If all my wealth is in Quanzhou, I'm too vulnerable. But Lingnan is a land of miasma and dampness; the court officials and imperial clan have less reach there," Wang Cong said confidently, "I can establish myself there by my own merit!"

Pan Yun asked, "Have you ordered a ship?"

Wang Cong's shoulders slumped: "I visited the shipyard before the New Year; the orders were already booked three years ahead, since the maritime ban had just been lifted."

Pan Yun asked, "What do you want? Just say it."

Wang Cong asked, "There's been pirate activity lately—has the navy planned to suppress them?"

Pan Yun shot him a look, thought for a moment, then said, "I'll ask on your behalf when I return."

Wang Cong grew excited, mapping out the future: "I'm taking Wang Xiaojing and Song Dalin back with me. Before the new caravan is ready, I'll take them on several trips—eventually, I'll hand this route over to them."

"The South China Sea will bring greater challenges. I've read accounts saying you can reach a place of extreme heat there, where there's no winter and crops grow year-round."

Pan Yun's gaze flickered: "Africa. Go around it, and you'll reach Western Europe."

Wang Cong: "Huh?"

Pan Yun said, "I'll find Zheng He's journals for you. Study them. First, retrace his routes. Then I'll get you a sea chart—you can follow it and fill in the blanks."

Pan Yun slapped his shoulder, eyes gleaming: "Good nephew, Han had Zhang Qian; Ming has you, Wang Cong. I believe you'll go farther than Zheng He and gain more. While you trade, don't forget Zhang Qian—bring back good seeds from every land, and record their customs and geography in detail!"

Wang Cong's shoulder ached, nearly knocked to the ground; seeing his little uncle even more excited than he was, he clutched his shoulder and reminded her, "Little Uncle, the ship…"

Pan Yun waved a hand: "I'll find a way for you!"

Wang Cong grew excited.

Both uncle and nephew had eyes gleaming with unmistakable ambition, so as they stepped off the ship, their robes fluttered as if the wind might lift them into the sky.

The sea wind slapped the veil Pan Yun had just put on across her face, nearly knocking her into the sea; fortunately, her stance was solid, and she caught her veil in time.

Sada Nobutaka stood below the ship, watching the veiled woman beside Wang Cong, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

But Pan Yun acted as if she saw nothing, stepped ashore, and immediately took Seeing Miao Zhen's hand and walked away.

Wang Cong smiled warmly and stepped forward to greet Ide田 Shinpei, clasping his fists: "Ide田-san, what brings you here?"

Ide田 Shinpei tore his gaze from the veiled woman and displayed just the right amount of curiosity: "Who is that young lady?"

"Oh, she's a new friend of my junior sister's, and she wishes to return home with us. It's already late—why are you seeking out Wang Mou tonight?"

Ide田 Shinpei's attention immediately returned to the matter at hand. He pulled Wang Cong aside and sighed: "Wang Cong-san, I heard you had a clash with the Uchimura clan in Seven Tails Port…"

The voices faded behind them. Outside the thatched shed, a long line had formed. Seeing Miao Zhen swiftly counted on her abacus while recording accounts; Tao Yan Bai calculated the payments and handed out coins to the laborers after her figures.

The vast majority of those loading and unloading cargo at the harbor were Japanese; a small number were Koreans.

Pan Yun was surprised when she learned this: "There are Koreans too?"

Seeing Miao Zhen took copper coins from a box, untied the ropes, and said: "Most were captured by Japanese pirates. After the imperial court crushed several pirate dens, last year the imperial navy clashed with the Japanese navy and pirates—and won decisively. The Japanese shogunate was forced to send troops to crush them again. These Koreans had nowhere to go, so they gathered near the harbor, earning money by loading and unloading goods for merchants."

Seeing Miao Zhen pointed to a spot: "Those thatched sheds over there are where they live."

Pan Yun had sharp eyes; though night had fallen, she could still see the thatched sheds hidden behind a small grove of trees.

She didn't need to go closer. Just by seeing the uneven, swaying roofs, she could imagine the chaos and crampedness within.

Pan Yun pressed her lips together and asked: "Are there any Great Ming subjects among them?"

"Yes. But once freed, they either board merchant ships to return home, or, like the others, settle at the harbor. Since Onsen Jintinggang and Seven Tails Port are under imperial control, any Great Ming captive who can state their name and household registration receives a resettlement stipend. It's not much, but enough to rent a place."

Thus, as long as they weren't exceptionally lazy, Han people could sustain themselves well at these two ports.

Han people preferred hiring Han workers. As long as they didn't cheat or slack off, Great Ming merchants liked to appoint them as minor supervisors—and paid them more than others.

Pan Yun's gaze swept over the waiting laborers.

Seeing Miao Zhen said: "Whether Japanese or Korean, anyone who comes to load or unload cargo is poor. Most wear short shirts and shorts; some don't even have shirts, and go barefoot. We pay by the piece, depending on the cargo. A healthy adult who doesn't slack off can earn at least thirty-five cash a day—the highest recorded is one hundred and eight cash."

Pan Yun raised an eyebrow: "That impressive?"

"He has no surname. His given name is just 'Meshi'—they say his family thought he ate too much, so they abandoned him on the street at age six. Big Brother found him the next day, took him on as a guard, and gave him a surname. Since we met him at Onsen Jintinggang, he's called Onsen Meshi. In the Seven Tails Port clash, he killed six men and earned great merit."

Pan Yun: "... Good name!"

Most Japanese surnames are like this. Before the Meiji Restoration, the vast majority of Japanese commoners had no surnames.

At this time, surnames belonged only to the nobility.

Pan Yun could imagine how deeply moved a child abandoned by his family would be upon receiving a surname.

Pan Yun tore her gaze from the laborers and asked: "Where's our manager? Why are you handling the accounting and payments?"

Seeing Miao Zhen's face darkened. "Big Brother said we can't eat for free. So after we arrived, he sent the manager off to do other tasks. We've been left here to manage his business at the port."

They waited in the thatched shed until the moon rose above the willows. Only then did Wang Cong return, and Seeing Miao He had finished distributing that day's wages.

The five of them then returned to Da Sen Village.

Pan Yun told Seeing Miao Zhen and the others to rest, then took Wang Cong to knock on Lord Kuang's door.

Lord Kuang had already taken off his clothes and fallen asleep.

So even after Pan Yun knocked for a long time—even as the Embroidered Uniform Guards had pulled on their robes and leaned against the wall watching them—Lord Kuang's room remained dark.

Under the Embroidered Uniform Guards' stares, Pan Yun muttered: "Even this loud, Lord Kuang doesn't wake up… Could something have happened?"

She increased her force, nearly smashing the door down.

Just as the Embroidered Uniform Guards' temple veins bulged and they could barely hold back, a voice finally came from inside: "Coming, coming…"

After rustling sounds, a light flickered on. A hunched figure shuffled over to open the door: "Who is it at this hour?"

The door opened. Pan Yun smiled at him, gently saying: "The night is still young—I thought Lord Kuang hadn't slept yet."

Lord Kuang silently looked up at the moon's position, then stared at her without speaking.

Wang Cong had to remind him: "Lord Kuang, my little auntie is now the State Preceptor."

Lord Kuang forced a smile, stepping aside: "The State Preceptor's arrival brightens this humble abode! Please, come in!"