Chapter 780
Annoying
Seeing that he was so angry he was about to burst into flames, Gong Xia quickly persuaded him to sit down and tried to mediate between the two of them, her head throbbing.
Gong Xia invited Steward Jiang to take a seat.
Jiang's steward also sat down in the main seat without any politeness. He was probably angry and began to list Commander Jiang's family background, connections, achievements and resume.
Commander Jiang is only 59 years old, and he is already the third-rank commander of Quanzhou Guard. Looking at the world, he can be considered an outstanding person.
This Commander Jiang was also from a distinguished family. His father was a meritorious official in the Jingnan Campaign, and he had also made military achievements, but they were in the north. Years ago, when the Japanese came to pay tribute, two teams came, each holding a tally and claiming that they were the real ones.
The tally order has a name and half of the seal. The other half is kept by the Ming Dynasty. By comparing the two, it can be determined which one is genuine and which one is fake.
The imperial court could distinguish between them, but at the time it did not want to break off relations, so it decided to accept both envoy teams' tributes. Indeed, both envoy teams accepted the tributes and gave the same return gifts.
The imperial court has already severely reprimanded Japan, and such a situation must not be allowed to happen again.
The Ming Dynasty thought that the matter was over and that they had given Japan face.
As a result, the two teams returned to Quanzhou, just one step away from crossing the border, but they started arguing and attacking each other.
Just as the imperial court was about to send someone to persuade them, one of the envoys turned around and began plundering the people of Quanzhou.
Finally, the imperial court sent people to quell the rebellion, but two military officers died in the process.
Commander Jiang was the second wave of generals dispatched. He drove the two envoy teams out of Quanzhou, and then the emperor rewarded him by appointing him as the commander of the Quanzhou Guard.
Steward Jiang became extremely excited when he brought up the matter, emphasizing Commander Jiang's bravery. As he spoke, he glanced sideways at Pan Yun.
Pan Yun took a sip of tea, noticed Steward Jiang's gaze, and looked up curiously to ask, "Commander Jiang is so brave, why didn't you wipe out the two groups of Japanese pirates, and instead let them leave?"
Butler Jiang frowned slightly: "That's an envoy team, not Japanese pirates..."
"They come without summons, kill my people, and plunder my wealth. What are they if not bandits?"
Steward Jiang said with slight anger, "The imperial court has already treated the delegation with the proper courtesy. Could His Majesty be wrong?"
“Anyone who dares to forge documents and deceive His Majesty shall be punished even more severely, and shall be exterminated,” Pan Yun said. “Otherwise, it is the Japanese who are plotting a rebellion and should be punished by military force.”
Butler Jiang: ...
Gong Xia coughed lightly and whispered, "His Majesty was only eleven years old at the time, and had only recently ascended the throne. The priority should be maintaining stability in the court..."
Butler Jiang realized what was happening and quickly nodded, "That's right. Our lord was only following the orders of the Empress Dowager and the three Grand Secretaries to expel them from the country. How could he kill them on his own?"
Steward Jiang finally regained his confidence and said seriously, "Important matters of the court are not resolved by chivalry or fighting. Master Pan is still too young and impetuous."
Pan Jun smiled and said, "If we were to be like you old stubborn folks, what would be the point of living?"
Butler Jiang said meaningfully, "Master Pan, the world is so vast. A person is like a blade of grass. If you follow the rules, you can gather a whole grassland. If you don't follow the rules, you are just a lonely blade of grass. No matter how well it grows, it is still just a blade of grass."
Pan Yun: "What if I were a tree?"
“That’s just one tree, it won’t do any good,” Butler Jiang said. “His Majesty is the heavens. No matter how tall or big a tree is, it can’t touch the heavens. If the heavens want you to die, you will die.”
Pan Yun narrowed her eyes slightly and tapped her fingers lightly on the table: "Did Butler Jiang come to see me specifically just to say these words?"
Butler Jiang pressed, "Does Master Pan think what I said makes sense?"
Pan Yun nodded: "That makes sense, absolutely right. My respect for His Majesty is like a surging river, endless and unending, and I would never dare to slacken it." Butler Jiang's eyes swept up and down her face, as if trying to determine whether she was telling the truth or not.
But Pan Yun's expression didn't change at all from beginning to end, so it was really hard to tell.
However, this also suggests that there may not be much truth in it.
Steward Jiang was indignant; how could there be someone in this world who dared to disrespect the emperor?
"Master Pan, please follow my proper etiquette. I do have something I need you to do."
Wang Cong spat out a mouthful of tea, nearly choking himself to death.
Butler Jiang turned his head and glared at Wang Cong.
Wang Cong quickly apologized and stole a glance at Pan Yun.
Gong Xia quickly chimed in, "Master Pan, this is also the order from above. Since you respect His Majesty, you should serve him."
Pan Jun was stunned, as if she was just coming to her senses, and nodded blankly: "You say."
Steward Jiang snorted and said arrogantly, "If it weren't for Master Pan saving the envoy team back then, this matter wouldn't have been yours. Being able to serve His Majesty is a blessing you have earned through three lifetimes of good deeds."
Pan Yun nodded repeatedly: "Butler Jiang is right."
Seeing her like this, Gong Xia felt uneasy and hesitated whether to stop Butler Jiang.
Steward Jiang has already said: "This maritime robbery was an act of revenge by the Japanese pirates. Please ask Master Pan to go and explain to Prefect Lu that you have heard the pirates talking about their collusion with the Japanese pirates."
Pan Yun: "These pirates are all people from our Great Ming Dynasty, how could they collude with Japanese pirates?"
"Aren't there plenty of pirates and Japanese pirates colluding? When Master Pan went to suppress the pirates before, weren't a considerable number of them Han Chinese people posing as Japanese?"
Pan Yun opened his mouth, and after a while nodded: "That's true, but this time it was definitely not collusion with the Japanese pirates, at least I didn't hear about it."
Butler Jiang said coldly, "The commander said you heard it, so you heard it."
Pan Yun: "Since the Commander is so capable, why don't you speak on my behalf to Prefect Lu, His Majesty, and all the officials?"
"You!" Steward Jiang was furious. "Master Pan, you just said you must strictly abide by the etiquette of a subject and obey His Majesty's orders..."
"Steward Jiang!" Pan Jun interrupted him loudly, displeased, "You say this is His Majesty's order, what evidence do you have? From beginning to end, it's just you talking, empty words. Even if the Commander himself were here, I wouldn't believe it without His Majesty's order or decree!"
Pan Jun lowered his eyes and looked the man up and down, then said arrogantly, "Although I am young, I am very wary of being deceived. Just because someone says they are acting on the emperor's orders doesn't mean they are actually acting on the emperor's orders."
"You!" Butler Jiang stood up abruptly in anger, pointing at Pan Yun, speechless.
Gong Xia quickly got up to comfort him, but her eyes flickered with suspicion.
Right, how can we be sure this is the emperor's order?
Jiang's steward wasn't even a commander; he was just a steward.
Seeing the suspicion in Gong Xia's eyes, Steward Jiang felt extremely frustrated and could only say in a low voice, "The people from the palace are currently at our residence. The reason I came to see you instead of our master is simply to keep a low profile and avoid attracting attention." (End of this chapter)