Chapter 978

Chen Xun was convinced and immediately took him to select a site.

First, choose the location for the textile factory.

The textile factory must be divided into two parts: one for research and manufacturing of spinning and weaving machines, the other for spinning thread and weaving cloth.

Cloth alone is fine, but weaving and spinning machines require great power, so placing them in Jingcheng is unsuitable.

The two of them discussed and decided Tianjinwei was more suitable.

First, Tianjinwei is not far from Jingcheng; second, Tianjinwei has a port.

Now that the sea ban has been lifted, even goods for domestic sale can be transported by sea.

As for the steel factory…

Honestly, none of the areas near Jingcheng are suitable; the better locations are still Shandong, Jiangxi, and Fujian, where iron ore is abundant.

The two could not agree on the steel factory's location, so since the blueprints were provided by Pan Yun, they went to ask her opinion—of course, to avoid suspicion of factionalism, they had the Emperor summon her and asked her in his presence.

"At the outset of the National Teacher's plan, did you intend to place the steel factory anywhere in particular?"

Pan Yun: "You just said where iron ore is most abundant?"

Hu Cheng said: "Currently, government-run iron mines are mainly in Shandong, Jiangxi, Fujian, and Yunnan; there are also some near Jingcheng, in Jinghai, but the output is low."

Pan Yun said: "If we speak of the richest iron ore deposits in Great Ming, none compare to Liaodong Regional Military Commissioner."

Emperor and Yu Qian and others were startled; Chen Xun sat up straight: "Where?"

Pan Yun: "Liaodong. You didn't know?"

Everyone turned to look at Minister of Works Hu Cheng.

Hu Cheng's face grew grim; under their gazes, a light sweat broke on his brow: "The Ministry of Works has not surveyed the iron ore situation there."

Pan Yun spoke softly: "Not only Liaodong Regional Military Commissioner, but also Nuergan Regional Military Commissioner has vast iron ore deposits, as well as coal and copper mines."

Yu Qian suddenly understood—no wonder, no wonder Your Majesty treated all other barbarian tribes and tributary states with a mix of benevolence and authority, yet for the Jurchens, who had committed grave offenses last year and were suspected of colluding with the Oirats, your benevolence outweighed your caution, and you even specially dispatched envoys to pacify them.

This was called pacification, but in truth, it was reconnaissance, wasn't it?

Yu Qian: "If so, Nuergan Regional Military Commissioner cannot be left as lax as during Emperor Xuanzong's and the former Emperor's reigns. Your Majesty, I humbly request sending someone to inspect Liaodong Regional Military Commissioner, reorganize the Liaodong garrisons, and revise border policy."

Zhu Qiyu frowned: "Who would be suitable?"

Yu Qian pondered: The border policy in Datong had failed; the situation in Liaodong could only be worse. The man sent to Liaodong must be of high rank, capable, and ruthless enough—otherwise, he could not control them, nor would he have sufficient support within court.

After long thought, Yu Qian proposed: "I believe General Wang Ji is suitable."

"General Wang is sixty-eight years old."

Yu Qian: "Your Majesty may ask him: Is Lian Po too old?"

He paused, then looked at Pan Yun: "Perhaps ask the National Teacher—she knows physiognomy, surely she can tell?"

Pan Yun smiled: "I see General Wang Ji is in excellent health—he still needs three bowls of rice."

This was a recommendation.

Zhu Qiyu began to ponder.

Last year, Wang Ji still led troops to hold back rebel forces and Burmese incursions in Luchuan.

He was the former Emperor's most relied-upon general; since the new Emperor's ascension, those favored in court were Yu Qian, Chen Huai, and Kuang Ye, who had stood with the new Emperor against the Oirats in Datong.

For the past half year, he had been largely idle, not even consulted on military or court affairs.

Wang Ji knew this was not merely due to the new Emperor's preference for his predecessor's men, but also because he had a grudge against Pan Yun.

In the matter of gentry-official collusion with southeastern pirates to smuggle, someone from Wang Ji's clan had participated; whether he knew or not, to outsiders, he was the one shielding his kin—or even orchestrating it all.

His nephew had also been killed in last year's pirate collusion case; in the eyes of court officials, he was an enemy of Pan Yun and Xue Shao.

Pan Yun was the new Emperor's favorite; even if she did not target him, many in court would ostracize and attack him to curry favor with her.

Moreover, he bore the charge of being a Wang Zhen ally.

On the surface, the Luchuan campaign was one Wang Zhen had consistently supported; court literati had fiercely opposed the Luchuan campaign; his ability to fight three times was entirely due to clinging to Wang Zhen's coattails.

Thus, when Wang Zhen died, this remnant ally should have vanished with him.

Yet he remained unharmed, merely marginalized, because during the former Emperor's northern campaign last year, unrest flared in the southwest and Burma stirred; Wang Ji and the Mu family suppressed the unrest, preventing escalation and loss of control.

But he had a premonition: if he remained marginalized any longer, he would surely be purged.

If he could not break this deadlock, he would surely slide into the abyss.

Were the lessons of the previous dynasty not enough?

Wang Ji was an old general, and also a man of letters—he remained calm. While several subordinates and his sons grew anxious, he knew now was no time to rush; haste would bring error.

At his position, one misstep meant irreversible ruin.

On the fourteenth day of the eighth month of JingTai Year One, a group of eunuchs, accompanied by Embroidered Uniform Guards, arrived at the estate of the Marquis of Jingyuan with a pile of gifts.

They were the Emperor's Mid-Autumn Festival gifts to Marquis Wang Ji of Jingyuan.

Wang Ji was deeply moved; after receiving the gifts, he immediately entered the palace to thank the Emperor.

After Wang Ji left the palace, a new imperial decree was issued: the Emperor ordered Wang Ji to inspect Liaodong and reorganize military affairs.

No one in court knew that Wang Ji's inspection party included a Ministry of Works official and a student from the Imperial Academy.

One was skilled in mineral prospecting; the other had a keen interest in geology and had assisted the Hanlin Academy in compiling related texts during his time at the Imperial Academy.

In addition, the Daoist Registry had assigned a man to accompany them—a ninth-rank official of Daoist origin, equally proficient in mineral deposits.

Wang Ji spent the Mid-Autumn Festival at home; on the morning of the sixteenth, he led his party out of the city.

His son rode alongside him; his horse overtook two carts and galloped to the front, riding beside Wang Ji, asking: "Father, they say this assignment was jointly recommended by Yu Qian and the National Teacher. Lord Yu is your former subordinate—his recommendation is understandable. But why would the National Teacher recommend you?"

Wang Ji: "Because I am useful to the state."

"But our family has old grievances with her."

Wang Ji glanced at him: "During the former Emperor's reign, the court became corrupt precisely because of people like you who could not separate public duty from personal grudges."

His son's forehead darkened with exasperation—what did that have to do with him?

Wang Ji gripped the reins tightly and said sternly, "Issue the order: we march only for the nation. Whoever dares to abuse power or pervert justice, I shall punish him by military law!"

"Yes, Father."

"What did you call me?"

"Father?"

Wang Ji stared darkly at his son; his son suddenly understood and corrected himself: "General!"

Wang Ji said expressionlessly, "In the military, there is no father—only general."

"Yes, General!"

Wang Ying felt that not only had the imperial court changed, but his father had changed too—changed into someone he no longer understood.

When Wang Ji inspected Liaodong, the final site for the steel mill was settled: the area around Miyun Mountain.

Pan Yun said there were iron ores there.

The Gongbu Sect sent people to survey the site, and indeed, they unearthed iron ore within days.

Thus, they demarcated the wastelands around Miyun Mountain and planned to establish an official iron smelting kiln there.

Then select a nearby site to build the steel mill.

As soon as the news spread, the magistrates of Miyun County and Fengning County sprang into action. Their lawsuits first went to Shuntian Prefecture, then all the way to the Emperor.

Of course, they clashed through memorials sent from afar.

One argued that Miyun County was closer to the capital and had better conditions—therefore, the steel mill must be built on Miyun's side;

the other insisted that Miyun Mountain lay on Fengning's side, and so did the iron ore—so to save on transportation costs and labor, the steel mill must be placed in Fengning County.

Though neither magistrate knew what the joint Gongbu and Hubu steel mill was primarily meant to do.

But they knew one thing: profits would go to the state treasury—and that meant it was a money-making enterprise.

If it made money, it might benefit the local economy.

How could they not fight for their own county?

The Emperor, driven mad by their bickering, summoned Chen Xun and Hu Cheng and asked: "Where do you think the mill should be built?"

Hu Cheng said: "Your Majesty, I will not favor anyone. I will send men to conduct a thorough survey. To build a mill, transportation, water, and labor are all indispensable. Tell them—no matter how much they quarrel, it won't matter."

Chen Xun had his own preference, but dared not say it openly, especially after Hu Cheng had already spoken; so he said: "Rather than argue here, let them improve their conditions. If they meet the requirements, the Gongbu Sect will consider them."

The Emperor had the Grand Secretary convey this reply.

Upon seeing the vermilion annotations, both magistrates immediately returned to surround Miyun Mountain, building roads and launching rural development projects, determined to make the Gongbu officials choose their county during the survey.

Pan Yun paid no attention to these mundane affairs. She delivered the blueprints, served as a technical advisor, then stepped back to pursue her own interests.

She first secretly returned home to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival with her father and brother, then the imperial examination results for the special provincial exam were posted.

Her four disciple-nephews rarely left the palace, so they came out to watch the commotion.

They squeezed among the candidates, listening as they discussed state affairs.

Pan Yun heard that, besides debating the exam questions, most were discussing the land survey policy and military reorganization.

For the provincial exam, candidates must return to their registered hometowns to sit the test; when Pan Yue passed as a Provincial Graduate, he took the exam in Changzhou Prefecture.

Because it was a special exam, fewer Licentiates from the Northern Directly Governed Region could return in time to sit the provincial exam compared to previous years—but precisely because it was special, many Provincial Graduate who had failed in past exams had already arrived in Jingcheng early to await next year's metropolitan exam.

All were former unsuccessful Provincial Graduate.

These men closely followed the questions of this year's special provincial exam, hoping to deduce the imperial court's and examiners' inclinations.

After discussing the questions, they naturally turned to state affairs.

"I think next year's exam will likely test border strategy and defense."

"I agree. I heard the Emperor sent General Wang Ji to inspect Liaodong, and after his birthday, he dispatched an envoy mission to the Nuergan Regional Military Commissioner—clearly, the imperial court values the frontier."

"If we don't value it, the Tartars will ride right over our heads!"

"They're already on our heads—don't forget how the late Emperor perished."

"Shh, are you trying to get yourself killed? Don't speak of this!"

"Why not speak of it? This great humiliation must be spoken of—loudly and often—to spur us forward, so we may one day avenge the nation and the late Emperor!"

"Hmph, our Great Ming has strong troops and sturdy horses. Now that the Oirats are in civil strife, why not avenge ourselves now? If we don't, it's because some people don't want to—or dare not!"