Chapter 1087
Chapter 1087
In Datong, he secretly drew a map of Datong; while patrolling the border, he secretly drew maps of all the border passes he had passed; and when he arrived at the Court of State Ceremonial, because Pan Yun often went to sea and paid particular attention to the maritime ban, he went to collect data and draw nautical charts...
Pan Hong is a genius who can hand-draw maps.
Of course, this remarkable person didn't think it was anything special; he simply helped Pan Yun correct a few omissions on the nautical chart in a very ordinary way.
He saw a lot of manuscripts on the side, so he picked them up and flipped through them.
Pan Yun said, "It was drawn and supplemented by Wang Cong during this voyage."
Upon seeing this, Pan Hong took the pen and helped her systematically revise and add to the existing nautical chart, extending the coastline and marking the islands, harbors, or unnamed landmasses that Wang Cong had found...
As the sun began to set, Pan Yun told him to rest for a while and have some tea and snacks. Only then did Pan Hong put down his pen and sit with his daughter on either side of the stone table.
He picked up his teacup and glanced around the courtyard, only to find that Wang Cong and Miaozhen were nowhere to be seen. At some point, only the father and daughter remained in the courtyard.
He gulped down a cup of tea, and Pan Jun immediately refilled it for him. He drank two cups before his thirst was quenched.
"His Majesty has granted my request to resign and return to my hometown. Your second uncle and third brother have come to the capital. Would you like to meet them?"
Pan Yun thought for a moment and then shook his head: "I am a monk. Everyone has their own destiny, so I will not see you."
Pan Hong did not force him. He nodded and said, "Your second uncle's temperament is not suitable for serving as an official in the capital. However, His Majesty intends to bestow favors upon the Pan family, and your second uncle also has his own ambitions. I think it would be better for him to serve as a local official rather than stay in the capital."
Pan Yun thought for a moment and then nodded: "He is a Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations). According to the regulations, he can serve as the magistrate of a lower-level county or as the county lieutenant or assistant magistrate of a middle or upper-level county."
Pan Hong came to Pan Yun to talk about this matter and to say goodbye.
He looked at his daughter carefully. Both of them were calm, but Pan Yun could feel the reluctance in his eyes.
This parting may be the last.
Pan Hong's eyes were slightly moist, and he looked like he was about to cry. Pan Jun looked at him in confusion: "Dad, if you miss me, just send me a telegram, and I will come back to see you."
Pan Yun said, “I still can’t go back in a big way, nor can I put the Pan family in the spotlight. But I can go back quietly and have a meal and chat with my family as before. If you are not used to sending messages by telegram, you can write to me. The Ministry of Works has decided to dredge the Grand Canal again.”
"The Grand Canal goes directly to Changzhou, making travel very convenient. Whether it's sending letters or goods, it's very fast. I'll go back to see you as soon as I receive your letter."
Pan Hong wiped his eyes, choking back tears as he asked, "National affairs are of utmost importance; how can I let you run around for personal matters?"
"It's not that much of a journey, just an hour or so. I can come back after I've eaten."
Pan Hong paused in wiping away his tears, then looked up and asked, "How long?"
"It will take about an hour and a half. If I fly back to Changzhou from the capital, it will take about that long. If I am in another place, the time may be different."
Pan Hong put down his hand, his sadness vanishing instantly. He thought for a moment and asked seriously, "If you're not in the capital, you won't receive a telegram I send to the capital."
Pan Yun smiled and said, "You can send it to the Imperial Observatory. This year, the Ministry of Works will equip all departments in the capital with a telegraph machine, and the Imperial Observatory will also have one. In this way, weather and climate changes in various places can be reported to the capital every day, and the Imperial Observatory can also send the observed climate changes to various places. I left a message for the five officials of the Imperial Observatory. If you have any letters, they will help to pass them on."
Pan Hong was stunned and muttered, "In that case, how could the Imperial Observatory possibly have enough manpower?"
"It's not enough, so the Imperial Observatory needs to recruit people." Pan Hong immediately asked, "I heard that the Court of State Ceremonial also needs to add people, and the Six Ministries have reported many more positions. With all these increases, is the court going to hold a special imperial examination?"
Pan Yun shook his head: "The Ming Dynasty has a serious problem with redundant officials. This expansion will not be carried out through special examinations. Instead, the court will make use of those who have been in Houguan. They will be required to take the civil service examinations. After passing the examinations, they will be sent to various ministries and regions. Not only will there be no special examinations, but some officials will also be laid off during this opportunity."
"Layoffs? Isn't it because we're short-staffed?"
"There is a shortage of manpower, but there are also many people drawing salaries without working. The imperial court must find and eliminate all of them."
Pan Hong worried: "Wouldn't this offend a lot of people?"
Pan Yun said, "This was not my suggestion; it was Cao Nai who submitted a memorial to the throne."
Pan Hong: "Since the new emperor ascended the throne, Grand Secretary Cao has submitted three memorials that were all rejected. How come they were approved this time?"
"Wouldn't it be better to lay off those who are receiving salaries without working and those who are not qualified for their positions?"
"It's a good idea, but I'm afraid outsiders will think it was your idea and then they'll resent you."
This matter was made possible because Pan Yun spoke up for Cao Nai.
Pan Yun smiled slightly and said, "They won't resent me. I am now the Imperial Advisor, and this is the interest of a very small number of people. Reducing their numbers is in the interest of the majority. Even if there are those who resent me, there will be even more who praise and commend me."
"I'm afraid someone might spread rumors and mislead the public, causing a big fuss over a small matter, and then accuse you of interfering in governance..."
"Dad, when did you become so hesitant and indecisive?"
Pan Hong: "If I had done it, I would naturally not be afraid, but what you did was probably out of parental concern. I always hope that you will live a peaceful and carefree life."
Pan Yun couldn't help but laugh and said, "Father, your wish is too big. Who in this world can live a carefree life?"
Seeing that Pan Hong was still frowning, Pan Jun said, "Now is the best time. The Northern Barbarians have been pacified, the borders are stable, the maritime ban is showing initial results, the economy is gradually picking up, and the court will invest a lot of money in education. People's livelihood and public opinion are both improving. Even the officials in the court, influenced by the late emperor's personal campaign, are now in a period of enlightened reform. If we do not take strong action now, after this period, the ministers will be dead and only seek stability and profit, and such measures will be even more difficult to implement."
In fact, the reason why Cao Nai had to submit four memorials was because there were many obstacles in the court.
Who doesn't have a relative who got an official position through favoritism or who is receiving a salary without working in the court?
Especially nobles and officials of the fourth rank or above in the imperial court.
In noble families, those who received imperial favors were guaranteed entry into the Embroidered Uniform Guard. In addition to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, there were also the Imperial Guard and the Five Military Commands. It can be said that there were many noble families who were only nominally noble.
Meanwhile, the hereditary privileges of the civil service were also taking away places in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, in addition to the places available for admission to the Imperial Academy.
Well, on the surface they may seem to be taking fewer positions, but once they find an opportunity to enter officialdom, they will cling to the joints of various departments like a bone-deep leech, climbing up step by step, impossible to shake off.
It's easy to spot the Nth generation of nobles who are just drawing salaries without doing any work, and their harm is generally not that great; they are just misappropriating a portion of state property.
The talents of civil officials are frightening; a large number of incompetent and immoral people are actually doing the work.
Once they start doing something, the imperial court has to spend two or even three times the manpower to clean up after them.
It's better to be a ghost employee than someone who doesn't earn a salary. (End of Chapter)