Chapter 1086
Chapter 1086
They got married, but then divorced and went home.
This matter is somewhat related to Pan Yun.
Yoshiko Ouchi, Ouchi Norihiro's cousin, was used by Ouchi Norihiro for a political marriage.
Because Masako Ōuchi was a servant of the mountain god, and the Ōuchi family was thriving under the leadership of Kōhō Ōuchi, Yoshiko Ōuchi's first marriage was quite successful.
However, after Masako Ōuchi's neck was broken by Pan Yun and Ōuchi Norihiro also "died of illness," the Ōuchi family fell into decline. In just one year, she was on the verge of death three times. The last time, she could no longer bear it and fled back to the Ōuchi clan with a maid and a samurai.
The Ouchi family originally intended to send her back to her husband's family. They had even dragged her to the gate when she managed to persuade the family to let her stay. According to the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) who remained in Japan, she now wields considerable influence within the Ouchi family.
And the riot that occurred in Seven Tail Harbor three years ago when the new emperor ascended the throne was very likely orchestrated by her.
Pan Yun liked women who rose to power through their intelligence; it would be a waste to keep such people in the Imperial Household Department.
Pan Yun didn't want her to keep focusing on Nanao Port and Omori Village, so he planned to send her to Heian-kyo.
Enemies, if used well, can also become tools for them to defend themselves.
The struggle between humans is never one-way or two-way; in multi-directional battles, wise people will grasp the main contradiction.
Winning a battle is victory; but if you keep fighting over secondary contradictions, even if you win the battle, you lose.
Pan Yun was never afraid of clever opponents. As long as Yoshiko Ouchi was smart enough, she would find out when she arrived in Heian-kyo that her greatest enemy was not the Ming Dynasty, not the Han people of Omori-go, and certainly not Pan Yun, but Tayama Mochikuni, who controlled the shogunate.
In political struggles, the senior officials sitting below were all senior figures like Pan Yun. They were all shrewd and calculating, and in an instant, everyone understood each other without saying a word.
Only the envoys from various countries were still in a daze.
Some people envied Japan, after all, the Ming emperor personally bestowed the marriage, and the candidate was chosen by the imperial advisor.
There was a hint of doubt in his eyes, as he felt that the Ming Dynasty was going to get closer to Japan.
Some were genuinely bewildered, their eyes filled with confusion, understanding nothing at all.
Only the Japanese envoy felt uneasy. The Japanese knew their own country's affairs. With Tayama Mochikuni and the Ōuchi clan having such a falling out, and Ōuchi Yoshiko becoming his wife, how could the shogunate still be at peace?
But didn't the Imperial Advisor and the Ōuchi clan also have a feud?
Did the two sides reconcile without their knowledge?
The Japanese envoy was bewildered and hadn't even had time to figure it out when the official from the Court of State Ceremonial rebuked him: "How dare you! His Majesty has bestowed this marriage upon you; do you, Japan, dare not accept it?"
The Japanese envoy gritted his teeth, but in the end, he still stepped forward, staring at the Korean envoy's resentful gaze, and knelt down to receive the imperial decree.
The Korean envoy was very unwilling and immediately knelt down to express that the princes of their Korean king were also unmarried and hoped that the emperor could grant them marriages.
The marriage arrangement with Japan was for political reasons; he wasn't a true matchmaker. However, considering that he might need Korea's help to take action against the Nurgan Regional Military Commission later, and that he would also need to consider Korea when formulating strategies against Japan, Zhu Qiyu agreed, though the choice of the bride would have to be decided later.
The Korean envoy was pleased, realizing that the emperor had not favored Japan and forgotten about them.
Pan Tao, sitting below Pan Hong, couldn't help but mutter, "This is no birthday banquet; it's more like a grand court assembly."
Pan Hong whispered, "She's so young, she shouldn't even be celebrating her birthday. His Majesty wants to use her as an excuse to promote the nation's prestige, which is excellent. After this, the border can be peaceful for ten years."
Pan Tao's gaze swept quickly across the emperor's face, then he lowered his eyes and whispered, "I hope so..."
But the emperor's appearance didn't suggest longevity. He trusted Pan Yun, so it would be good if he lived a long life, but not too long...
Pan Tao's mind raced with various thoughts. After they finished selecting the envoys from Japan and Korea, they selected envoys from several other vassal states. Pan Tao then looked away with disinterest, leaned closer to his elder brother, and asked in a low voice, "Brother, you really resigned from your official post?"
Pan Hong nodded: "I have already met with His Majesty in private. With Yun'er pleading on my behalf, His Majesty has agreed to let me return to my hometown. I just need to submit another memorial requesting resignation."
“That’s fine. Now that she’s the Imperial Advisor, she’s the center of attention. The Pan family is on the verge of collapse. It’s good for her to go back to her hometown and slow things down. Let the fire burn slower so that the fuel can last longer.”
Pan Hong said in a low voice, "I was in such a hurry to get to the palace that I forgot to tell you. His Majesty intends to let you enter officialdom. I'll leave, you can go in."
Pan Tao frowned.
Pan Hong looked up at him and asked in a low voice, "Do you have this intention?"
Pan Tao pondered for a long time, his gaze sweeping over the vassal envoys who had been called by Pan Jun and were kneeling respectfully in the main hall. Finally, he slowly shook his head: "I have taught all my life... I do want to serve in government, but this is not what I want. Forget it, let's take Bai'er back to our hometown to continue her studies."
Pan Hong looked at his younger brother for a while, then lowered his eyes, drank a cup of wine, and said, "Staying in the capital won't get you much done, but serving as an official in the provinces will bring benefits to the local people."
Pan Tao was slightly surprised.
Pan Hong said, "I am unable to serve as an official outside the capital because of Yun'er, but you are not hindered. Since His Majesty intends to use you, you should ask for an official position outside the capital."
"Will His Majesty order me to leave the capital?"
Pan Hong: "You can give it a try. At worst, I'll stay in Beijing to teach, and you can just go out."
Pan Yun pointed to Ryukyu.
The Ryukyu Kingdom's eldest prince came in person, and he was the last person Pan Jun wanted to see.
The birthday banquet truly turned into a grand court assembly, a grand assembly where the Court of State Ceremonies and the Ming Dynasty's border strategies were determined.
Ryukyu, later known as Okinawa, was a place that Japan invaded and forcibly incorporated into its colony at the end of the Qing Dynasty.
Before being forced to change its name, it was called the Ryukyu Kingdom, and the surrounding Ryukyu Islands belonged to it.
This archipelago has been a tributary state of the Ming Dynasty since the Ming Dynasty, and the Ryukyu royal family has an extremely close relationship with the Ming Dynasty. Among the many tributary states, its closeness is similar to that of Korea, or even greater.
A Ryukyu king once came to Ming as an envoy and took a great liking to Ming, so he stayed in Ming and eventually died there. His tomb is located in Ming.
In later generations, during the Qingming Festival, people from Okinawa will still come to China to pay tribute to this old king.
At this very moment, the relationship between the Ming Dynasty and Ryukyu was at its best in history.
In another timeline of history, due to the Ming Dynasty's maritime ban, more than 80% of the ships that came to the Ming Dynasty for trade would pass through Ryukyu, stop there for supplies, and then continue on their way to the Ming Dynasty.
The Ming Dynasty also bestowed many preferential policies and rewards upon Ryukyu, so the Ryukyu royal family treated the Ming Dynasty with great respect.
In this timeline, after the Ming Dynasty lifted the sea ban, the Ryukyu royal family twice rescued the Ming Dynasty's silver fleet and cooperated with the Ming Dynasty's navy to expel pirates in order to lift the sea ban. Therefore, the relationship between the two sides was particularly friendly at this time.
Pan Yun also changed her tone from the previous one, which was mostly threatening and intimidating towards the various vassal states. Instead, she praised Ryukyu repeatedly. Finally, she turned to the emperor on the throne and said, "The Ryukyu royal family is so respectful. Why doesn't Your Majesty reward them?"
The emperor found the imperial advisor's words very reasonable, so he decided to jointly build a port with Ryukyu. The Ming Dynasty could provide most of the labor and supplies, and after the port was built, the two would share the remaining half.
The Ryukyu royal family happily kowtowed and accepted.
The Japanese envoy standing to the side clenched his fists, his heart feeling as if it were being twisted.
If the Ming Dynasty were to build a large port in Ryukyu, it would not only steal business from Japanese ports, but it would also make it much more convenient and faster for Ming ships to travel to Japan. This is not a scenario that Japan wants to see.
With Korea to the west and Ryukyu to the south, wouldn't the Ming Dynasty be able to go to Japan whenever it wanted?
The palace banquet lasted two hours, with state affairs discussed for an hour and a half. The remaining half hour was spent drinking, enjoying songs and dances, and witnessing the prosperous culture of the Ming Dynasty.
Including but not limited to singing and dancing, swordsmanship, wrestling...
Finally, to fit the theme of the banquet, before the banquet ended, the emperor ordered a large number of fireworks to be set off, and everyone moved outside the palace to watch the fireworks.
The fireworks of the Ming Dynasty had developed many varieties, and when they exploded in the sky, they came in not only various colors but also various shapes.
The fireworks display tonight featured lotus flowers of various colors as the highlight.
With a whoosh, a huge cluster of blue lotus flowers bloomed in mid-air with a bang, and then fell vertically.
Not to mention the envoys from the various vassal states who had never seen the world, even Pan Yun, who had been bombarded by modern civilization for a long time, was stunned. Then, she belatedly realized what was happening and asked, "Why are they all lotus flowers?"
The emperor said happily, "The Bodhisattva sits on a lotus. The Imperial Preceptor will become an immortal in the future, and he will surely sit on a lotus as well."
Pan Yun opened her mouth.
The empress elbowed the emperor and whispered, "Are you stupid? The Bodhisattva is a Buddhist, and the Imperial Preceptor is a Taoist."
"Oh..." The emperor quickly looked at Pan Yun.
Pan Yun: "It's alright, I can sit on the lotus too."
She's become a goddess, so who cares what kind of flowers she sits on?
The emperor knew she genuinely didn't care, and his mood brightened again. He even asked Pan Yun, "What kind of fireworks does the Imperial Advisor like? We'll set them off during the New Year."
Pan Yun thought for a moment and said, "Let the people set off whatever kind of fireworks they like. The fireworks set off by the palace can be seen by the whole city, so this can be considered as sharing the joy with the people."
"Yes, the imperial city will be open tonight, and tomorrow the gardens in the palace and the imperial gardens in the capital will also be open to the public for enjoyment."
That's right. The Forbidden City of the Ming Dynasty would be opened to the public from time to time, allowing ordinary people to visit and enjoy the park.
Of course, it's not free, but it doesn't cost much either; generally, it ranges from eight to twenty coins.
The area being looked at.
This is a tradition left over from when Zhu Yuanzhang was emperor. At that time, the palace was still in Nanjing. It was small, and Zhu Yuanzhang liked to share the joy with the people. Not only would it be open to the public during festivals, but sometimes, when he was in a good mood, he would also temporarily choose a day off to open the palace.
When Emperor Taizong moved the palace to Beijing, the frequency of this activity decreased.
Although the number has decreased, it has remained the same, and it is basically only open during major holidays.
Since Zhu Qiyu ascended the throne, it was only opened once, during the Spring Festival in the second year of the Jingtai reign.
This is the second time; it's under the pretext of celebrating Pan Yun's birthday, to share the joy with the people.
He knew that Pan Yun cared a lot about the people's hearts. The Imperial Preceptor had said more than once that her cultivation was like that of a deity in a temple, requiring the people's will to accumulate merit.
He felt that the Grand Preceptor would be happy if the garden was opened, and sure enough, the Grand Preceptor was very happy.
Zhu Qiyu felt that the birthday banquet had not been a waste of time. The evening was mostly spent discussing state affairs, which made it feel like a mere formality. Now, he finally felt like he was celebrating the birthday of the Grand Tutor.
The Zhu family members are generally stingy, but they also have one characteristic: if they like someone, they will do everything they can to please them, wishing they could give them all the good things in the world.
At this time, Zhu Qiyu was very fond of the Imperial Advisor. Of course, it was the kind of fondness one has for a business partner, the kind of fondness a ruler has for a subject, and it also carried a kind of mortal's fondness for a deity.
It's very complicated.
In order to please Pan Yun, Zhu Qiyu wanted to reward the Pan family handsomely, but he also did not want to have any disagreement with Pan Yun on this matter.
Therefore, after the palace banquet, Zhu Qiyu received Pan Hong's resignation again and reluctantly approved it.
He then issued an imperial edict, saying that Pan Hong had given birth to a fine daughter named Pan Jun, who had made outstanding contributions to the country, and thus bestowed upon her a series of honorary titles, the highest of which was Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince.
Pan Hong was completely stunned when he received the imperial edict.
Cheng Jing personally led a group to deliver the imperial edict. As soon as he finished reading it and handed it to Pan Hong, Cheng Jing immediately helped the still dazed Pan Hong up and said with a smile, "Lord Pan, prepare to go to the palace to express your gratitude."
Pan Hong was under immense psychological pressure, feeling as if the imperial edict in his hand weighed a ton. He asked, "The Grand Secretaries actually approved it?"
Cheng Jing smiled and said, "The elders all praise His Majesty's wisdom."
He gently comforted Pan Hong: "The Imperial Preceptor's birthday banquet two days ago was entirely about state affairs. His Majesty felt very bad about it. All the officials also know that the Imperial Preceptor is concerned about state affairs. Therefore, when His Majesty issued the decree, everyone readily agreed and said it was thanks to Lord Pan that he had taught such a good talent as the Imperial Preceptor who is wholeheartedly devoted to the country, the people, and the emperor."
Pan Hong's lips twitched slightly, and he said modestly, "She left home at a young age, and it is all thanks to the good teaching of her teachers. This is the credit of Sanqing Mountain, and I dare not take credit for it."
"It's also because Lord Pan is born well. This is called 'a father's status rising with his daughter's.' Lord Pan, please don't be so modest. None of the officials in the court have any objections, which shows that you truly deserve your title."
Pan Hong couldn't refuse, and since the imperial edict had already been issued, he had no choice but to go to the palace to express his gratitude.
Fortunately, these were all nominal positions, so they didn't prevent him from teaching.
Moreover, with this string of nominal positions, his path was clear whether he stayed in Beijing to teach or returned to his hometown to teach.
After thanking the emperor in the palace, Pan Hong left the main hall, thought for a moment, and then turned and went to the Imperial Observatory.
Pan Yun and Miao Zhen were hunched over the table, writing and drawing, when the young Taoist brought them in, bowed, and slipped away.
Pan Yun raised her neck and twisted it, waving happily at her father: "Dad, come and see the sea chart I drew."
Pan Hong stepped forward and saw a mat spread out under the sycamore tree behind the two men. A young man was lying on the mat, his chest and belly exposed, fast asleep.
He frowned involuntarily: "This is..."
“Oh, Father has met him before, this is my eldest nephew Wang Cong. He just came back from the sea and is very tired, so I let him go to sleep,” Pan Jun said. “Don’t worry about him, he won’t wake up even if it thunders now. Let’s talk to ourselves.”
Pan Hong stepped forward, glanced at the nautical chart, and then picked up his pen to make some corrections for her: "This is wrong, there are two more islands here..."
Pan Hong served as an inspector for a long time. In addition to investigating cases, an inspector also needed to be knowledgeable about various miscellaneous matters.
In particular, he mainly patrolled the northern border.
Pan Hong had lofty ambitions, and while in exile, he developed another hobby: map drawing.
Pan Yu learned his map-drawing skills from him. (End of Chapter)