Chapter 774
Leading by Example
Pan Hong was completely unaware of what was happening. Since being urged to return to Beijing, he had been quite relaxed and safe.
He felt so safe that he started to panic.
Four months had passed since he discovered that someone in Datong was smuggling crossbows to the Oirat Mongols.
He was told he had been back in the capital for three months, but the censor sent by the Censorate to take over the case had made no progress and was still in Datong suffering from sandstorms.
Pan Hong looked down at the three items on the table, his fingers rubbing the corner of the table as he pondered silently.
Pan Yue slammed the door open, and Pan Hong immediately grabbed a book from the side, closed it, and asked with a stern face, "So impulsive! When did you become like your younger brother?"
Pan Yue glanced at the table and noticed two books in front of his father, with a piece of bronze peeking out from between them. He said speechlessly, "Dad, the bronze medal in your hand was brought back by me and my second brother."
Pan Hong moved the two books in front of him to cover the last gap, and said in a deep voice, "If you have something to say, say it. If not, go back to your room and read."
Pan Yue turned around and closed the door. He walked to the desk and stared intently at what was under the book: "Father, Chief Minister Li summoned me to speak today..."
After Pan Yue finished relaying what Li Jijiu had asked him to say, he said, "Li Jijiu said that this is the intention of several Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet."
Pan Hong: "The opinions of the cabinet ministers are not all the same. May I ask which minister?"
“Grand Secretary Chen was also aware of Chief Minister Yang’s proposal,” Pan Yue paused and then said, “and Minister Cao of the Ministry of Personnel was also involved.”
Pan Hong raised an eyebrow.
Pan Yue clenched his fists, his face grim, and asked, "Father, did they emphasize that your return to the capital was for this very day?"
Pan Hong smiled and shook his head. Although he was unwilling to involve his son, he still gently analyzed for him: "If they wanted to use me to deal with Wang Zhen, the best way would be to let me continue the investigation in Datong. The reason they brought me back was twofold: first, because Yun'er had performed meritorious service and had shown me favor; second, because they knew that even if I found something, His Majesty would not severely punish Wang Zhen."
Pan Yue clenched his fists so tightly they cracked, and said in a deep voice, "Back then, when my younger sister sought justice for you and Lord Xue, all these people turned a blind eye..."
Pan Hong raised his hand to interrupt him, and said gently, "Yue'er, I hope you remember the two primary principles for an official: first, to serve the country and the people; an official who only seeks personal gain is a parasite; second, an official should focus on the matter, not the person; focusing on the person is forming a faction, and those who engage in factional strife are treacherous officials."
Pan Yue remained silent.
Pan Hong smiled slightly and said gently, "I know you resent their past indifference, but Yue'er, if we refuse them today because of this and miss this opportunity to expose the Datong arms smuggling case, wouldn't that also be turning a blind eye to the people and soldiers of Datong?"
Pan Hong finally removed the two books in front of him, revealing the three items underneath.
A broken arrow wrapped in a handkerchief, a Jinyiwei token from the Southern Garrison Command, and a confession.
Pan Hong opened the handkerchief that was wrapped around the broken arrow: "Have you forgotten? This was dug out of a soldier's chest. Two people died to get these things, and eight others hid among the Datong garrison, living in constant fear every day."
“If we reject them because of a momentary impulse, how are we any different from those people in the past?” Pan Hong asked him. “How will we face those who have such high expectations of us when we return to Datong in the future?”
Pan Yue thought of the promise they made to Qin Baihu when they left Datong, his fist loosened slightly, and he said dejectedly, "I understand."
Pan Hong knew he had come to terms with it and smiled with relief.
"Dad, you're going against Wang Zhen again. You won't go to jail again this time, will you?"
In fact, Pan Hong himself was also afraid, but no matter how afraid he was, he had to do it. Moreover, the situation was much better than last time. He comforted Pan Yue: "With the support of Chief Minister Yang and the others, this time it shouldn't be worse than last time. Even if I really go in, you and Yu'er don't need to worry. Just act according to the situation outside."
Pan Yue: "How should we act according to the circumstances?"
“Go find Xue Shaoqing. If he says I can save him, then you should give me some money to bribe him so that I can have a better time in prison. If he says I can’t save him, don’t hesitate, leave Beijing and go back to your hometown, or go directly to Quanzhou to find your little sister.”
Pan Yue: "..."
Pan Hong said very seriously, "I am serious. I estimate that even if I lose the battle, I will not be exiled. I will most likely be imprisoned, which will not implicate you."
Pan Yue: "Jie Jin froze to death in prison."
Pan Hong laughed and scolded, "Get out! Can't you wish your father well?"
Pan Yue snorted and went out to cook, which was a way of acknowledging his father's plan.
Pan Yu was practicing his swordplay in the courtyard when he saw his brother come out. He immediately yelled and swung his broadsword at him, shouting, "Take this!"
Pan Yue dodged and ran to the kitchen: "Let Dad find a way to get you into the army. You're so energetic every day that I want to beat you up."
Pan Yu brandished his broadsword behind him, shouting, "I don't need Dad's help! I've already decided to participate in the martial arts examination next spring. Big brother, just you wait, maybe I'll become the top scholar before you do!"
Pan Yue simply snorted in response.
He even became the top scholar in the imperial examination; it would be good enough if he wasn't implicated by his father and exiled again.
A storm is brewing in the capital.
No one expected that Pan Hong had real expertise. The cabinet initially only wanted Pan Hong, who knew more about the inside story, to present the Datong arms smuggling case to the court, in order to force Wang Zhen to make concessions.
Finally, Wang Zhen, along with the cabinet ministers, strongly urged the emperor to establish a new system of national rites and to revise the regulations on armory repairs. However, the Datong arms case still resulted in the punishment of two military commanders, and the supervising officer Guo Jing was reprimanded. At the same time, the Ministry of War sent people to Datong to inspect the border.
When the matter was settled, 200,000 taels of silver from Quanzhou were escorted to the capital.
The emperor, out of curiosity, took several ministers to the treasury to see the silver. They all said that the silver from Japan was of high quality, and the refined silver was as white as snowflakes. He wanted to see if it was true.
Then the emperor and his ministers saw the largest and heaviest silver brick in history.
The boxes were made according to the volume of silver, so two silver bricks were arranged in a row, three rows in total, with almost no gaps. The Imperial Guards couldn't get the silver bricks out for a long time because they were too tight.
Under the emperor's watchful eye, one of the imperial guards in charge of the escort was sweating profusely. He had clearly seen Pan Jun pry it up with a single finger, so why was it so difficult for him to take it?
Finally, a craftsman brought up a hook, poked it into the gap, and pried open a silver brick. He lifted it slightly, and the Imperial Guard immediately grabbed it with two fingers, then pried it up little by little and pulled it out.
Holding thirty catties of silver bricks in his hands, the Imperial Guard knelt before the Emperor and presented them with both hands.
It was indeed snow-white, so beautiful that it was impossible to look away.
Seeing that he took it so easily, the emperor tried to take it with one hand, almost dropping it to the ground, and quickly grabbed it with both hands.
Such a heavy, such a large silver brick… (End of Chapter)