Chapter 912
Chapter 912
The reforms that feudal dynasties could think of were related to taxes and land.
Pan Yun knew with her toes that it would be a bloodbath.
The new emperor has just ascended the throne; he lacks prestige and is inexperienced in handling matters, so he is simply incapable of accomplishing anything.
Just like generals, emperors also needed to achieve something and win battles to build prestige.
Zhu Qizhen's insistence on fighting the Battle of Luchuan was also due to his desire to build up political prestige.
Pan Yun clearly did not want Zhu Qiyu to go to war; at the very least, he would absolutely not initiate a war or escalate it.
Then let's start from somewhere else.
For example, with overwhelming military strength, if an enemy launches a war, they can achieve victory at a low cost. Pan Jun also wants to set sail and go global.
For example, agricultural tools, fertilizers, and seeds can increase agricultural output and free up more labor from the land;
For example, handicrafts, textiles, and even steam—with the current industrial technology of the Ming Dynasty, they are certainly worth a try.
"To ensure that people have land to cultivate, food to eat, clothes to wear, and medical care, we must increase productivity..."
Once productivity has increased to a certain level, it will be much easier to propose reforms. By then, not only Yu Qian but also the emperor's prestige will have been accumulated.
In another timeline, Zhu Qiyu's political abilities were no less than Zhu Qizhen's; he was simply weak-willed, indecisive, narrow-minded, and somewhat hypocritical.
He was so insecure that he was afraid.
Pan Yun believes that neither Zhu Qiyu in this timeline nor Zhu Qizhen in another timeline ever intended to replace Zhu Qizhen as emperor.
They truly aspired to be wise kings from a young age, and only to be wise kings.
But the Tumu Crisis, with the emperor captured, forced them to take that position.
People naturally don't want what they can't have, but once they do, how many would willingly step down from the throne?
Moreover, Zhu Qizhen had such a huge stain on his reputation that even if Zhu Qiyu still held him in high esteem when he returned to the capital, he wouldn't survive.
Empress Dowager Zhang's youngest son, Prince Xiang, was recommended to be emperor twice, but he remained timidly in Xiangyang and never moved.
Zhu Qiyu did indeed serve as emperor.
Therefore, the officials of the Ming Dynasty would never dare to suggest that Zhu Qiyu return power to Zhu Qizhen.
Unfortunately, Yu Qian understood this point, as did all the other officials, but Zhu Qiyu failed to see it.
He was actually afraid that Zhu Qizhen would return to the capital and seize power, so he suppressed and humiliated Zhu Qizhen at every turn, ruining a good hand.
Of course, this is Zhu Qiyu from another time and space.
Zhu Qiyu in this timeline doesn't have this problem.
Zhu Qizhen died before he ascended the throne. He ascended the throne at a time of crisis, protected the borders of the Ming Dynasty, and shouldered the responsibility of avenging his brother. His inherent inferiority and cowardice could be gradually forced out and crushed, and he developed in the direction that Pan Yun hoped for.
Sure enough, after a heartfelt conversation, both the emperor and empress were greatly encouraged.
Both of them devoted themselves wholeheartedly to national development.
The Imperial Advisor said that agriculture was important, so one of them went to pressure the Chief Steward of the Imperial Household Department for money, while the other pressured the national treasury to squeeze out a little more money to give to the Ministry of Agriculture for experiments.
If there wasn't enough money, the emperor would use the imperial estates. Experimental fields and manpower were provided by the imperial estates, and even craftsmen and tools were transferred from the imperial estates whenever possible.
Finally, the emperor even found it too troublesome, so he simply selected an imperial estate in the suburbs of the capital and handed it over to Pan Yun and the Ministry of Agriculture for them to handle.
Pan Yun was very satisfied, and then told the emperor: "The imperial estates in the capital are only suitable for research on northern crops, not for experiments on southern crops such as rice."
Upon hearing this, the emperor pondered for a moment and then said, "There are also imperial estates near Nanjing. I recall that there are also some in the Suzhou, Yangzhou, and Hangzhou areas. Should the Imperial Advisor choose one of these places?"
Pan Yun then chose one outside Nanjing city.
Because Nanjing also had a government bureaucracy, which included the Ministry of Agriculture.
The emperor instantly understood and immediately said, "I order the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Works in Nanjing to fully cooperate with the Imperial Preceptor."
Pan Yun smiled and nodded, then immediately suggested going to Nanjing: "It's the beginning of spring, the perfect time for selecting and sowing seeds. Moreover, the newly manufactured water-powered looms, waterwheels, and windmills from the Ministry of Works should also be promoted in the south."
The emperor panicked: "The Imperial Advisor is leaving me?"
Pan Yun then took out a book of yellow talismans and gave it to him, saying, "This book of Thousand-Mile Communication Talismans is a new talisman I came up with. I've tried it and it works very well. I also have a copy. You just need to write something on it, and I will receive it simultaneously from another location. For minor questions, Your Majesty can ask me on the talisman. If it is a major matter and Your Majesty wishes to see me in person, you can also state it on the talisman, and I will return to the capital to see Your Majesty immediately."
Pan Yun laughed and said, "Even if I go to the easternmost or northernmost part of Japan, it will only take two days to get back to the capital."
For her, it was so easy!
The Empress, who had been listening intently, turned her head sharply and stared intently at the yellow talisman in the Emperor's hand, her eyes filled with envy and... a determination to win!
Empress Wang stared intently at Pan Yun.
Pan Jun understood immediately. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I have only made two copies. The Yellow Talisman must have two copies, the main one and the duplicate. I cannot make a second set at the moment. Why don't you and His Majesty share one copy?"
The emperor quickly clutched the yellow talisman to his chest.
Empress Wang felt wronged, her eyes filled with tears, and she glared angrily at Zhu Qiyu.
The couple's relationship is still okay right now. She doesn't know if they will part ways halfway through their marriage now that the threat of choosing a different heir has been removed.
However, harmony between the emperor and empress is beneficial to the development of the country.
Empress Wang, in particular, was a very decisive empress with a kind heart and a strong sense of morality. She could assist Zhu Qiyu and also advise him.
Pan Yun was happy that the couple's relationship was better, and she immediately advised Zhu Qiyu: "Your Majesty, why be stingy? After I leave, I will start making a second set of yellow talismans. Once this set is used up, I will send another one back."
Zhu Qiyu then stopped being so possessive of his food, smiled at Empress Wang, and whispered to her, "We'll write it together later."
After appeasing the Emperor and Empress, Pan Yun visited her favorite Ministry of War's Armaments Department, Ministry of Revenue's Agriculture Department, and Ministry of Works, offering numerous suggestions and collecting a lot of blueprints before returning to the Imperial Observatory.
Pan Yun handed over the affairs of the Imperial Observatory to four officials, ordering them to assist her. Then she announced her seclusion and that very evening she squatted down at Zhang Zijin's door to say goodbye.
Zhang Zijin felt that he had spoken and appeared in public more in this year than in the previous five years combined.
He sighed helplessly, raised his hand, and slammed the door open.
Pan Jun scurried in and sat down opposite him without any hesitation: "Senior, I've come to say goodbye. I'll have to ask for your help in the palace from now on."
Zhang Zijin: "If you don't come, the palace will be very safe."
“You can’t say that…” Pan Yun quickly said, “I’m going back to Longhu Mountain this time. Is there anything or anything you need me to take back with me?”
After a moment of silence, Zhang Zijin said, "I have nothing to say, but I do have something to say."
Pan Yun stared intently at him, adopting an attitude of listening attentively.
Zhang Zijin looked at her expressionlessly and said, "Tell them not to make too much of a fuss. I hope the Zhang family will still exist after I leave the palace."
Pan Yun blinked.
Zhang Zijin looked at her expressionlessly: "You've finished transmitting, aren't you leaving?"
Pan Yun scratched his head, looked him up and down, then glanced nervously left and right before leaning closer and asking, "Senior, with your current cultivation level, when you leave the palace, won't the Ming Dynasty be finished?" Zhang Zijin: "Huh?"
Pan Jun wiped it on her neck.
Zhang Zijin raised an eyebrow, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes: "That's a vivid description."
He nodded without hesitation: "That's right, barring any unforeseen circumstances."
Pan Yun humbly asked, "What was the accident?"
"For example, if a cultivator with a higher cultivation level than you suddenly decides to visit the palace, or if he, like you, wants to become the Imperial Preceptor, then I might not be able to die of old age."
Pan Yun blinked frantically: "I'm here to be the Imperial Advisor, why don't you kick me out, senior?"
Zhang Zijin glanced at the merits that were still accumulating on her body and said calmly, "You are the national advisor recognized by the people of the world."
It was not approved by the emperor, nor by the court officials, but by the people of the world.
Pan Yun was stunned for a moment before she finally found her voice: "Me, I've been recognized by the whole world?"
Zhang Zijin: "When you returned, the merits on your body were almost condensed into a golden seal, and you carried the aura of a golden spear, which means that you were worshipped by the three armies. Afterwards, your merits and aura became even stronger, and you gained the recognition of the world."
He glanced down at Pan Yun and said meaningfully, "Fortunately, you have no interest in the throne; otherwise, if you had raised your voice, the Ming Dynasty would have been in grave danger."
Pan Yun snorted without any politeness: "Praise to death, absolutely praise to death! Go ahead and praise me to death. Although the Ming Dynasty has many problems, it is impossible for it to rebel successfully now. On the contrary, if it had not been able to defend the border and the capital, it might have repeated the predicament of the Song Dynasty."
Zhang Zijin then asked her, "If you had the chance, would you accept the position of emperor?"
Pan Yun immediately shook his head: "What's the point of being an emperor? For the sake of the new emperor, I've been squatting in the palace, one, two, three, four..."
Pan Yun counted on her fingers and said sadly, "It's been more than four months. The only time I can stay in one place quietly is when I'm at school. Every day is filled with all sorts of trivial matters, and I can't even concentrate on my cultivation."
Pan Yun listed the palace's shortcomings: "It's cold in winter and hot in summer, stuffy, windy and dusty, and lacks spiritual energy..."
“There’s dragon energy here,” Zhang Zijin interrupted her directly, “Your cultivation has slowed down this April?”
"No, but I'm not happy!" Pan Jun said, "I like looking at the green mountains, I like listening to the clear springs, and I also like the gentle breeze on my face, the surrounding spiritual energy, the dragon energy..."
Pan Yun shook her head.
She can achieve the same speed in cultivating spiritual energy, okay?
Zhang Zijin: "That's why I didn't stop you. Although you are a cultivator, you have no intention of harming the Zhu family and have not violated the agreement between me and Emperor Taizu Gao."
Pan Yun's eyes darted around: "Then..."
"If one day you change your mind and use your cultivation methods to harm people in this palace, I will definitely send you to see the Three Pure Ones."
Pan Yun: "Thank you."
Pan Yun patted his bottom, got up and left. As soon as he stepped out the door, he threw out the Three Treasures Cauldron, grabbed Pan Xiaohei, and leaped onto it, heading straight for Longhu Mountain.
Pan Xiaohei clung to her shoulders, enjoying the breeze that seeped in through the array, and asked, "Aren't you really going back to Sanqing Mountain first?"
Pan Yun: "Our senior brother is probably hiding in some cave in seclusion. Sanqing Temple is definitely empty. What would I do if I went back? It's more important to go to Longhu Mountain to find my senior brothers and sisters."
She only knew that Zhang Liuzhen had become the new Celestial Master, but she didn't know what had happened at Longhu Mountain.
She had been trying to contact Longhushan for a while, but hadn't received any news.
Even the imperial court couldn't get in touch with Longhu Mountain.
The emperor kept suppressing his decree to bestow the title of "True Man" upon Zhang Liuzhen.
If the Celestial Master's Mansion of Longhu Mountain wants to change its head of household, it must request permission from the imperial court.
Just like the change of princes and titles.
The difference is that the succession of princes and titles involves more political factors, so the emperor has the final say.
The succession of the head of the Celestial Master's Mansion is usually decided by the Zhang family. After the Zhang family selects a candidate, they report to the emperor and the court, who then stamp and issue an imperial decree.
It's been quite a while since Master Zhang ascended to heaven, and the emperor has been on the throne for four months now. Why hasn't the memorial from the Zhang family requesting the title been sent yet?
Pan Jun was filled with doubts when he suddenly flew close to the territory of Longhu Mountain.
Just as it reached the edge, the Three Treasures Cauldron slammed into a wall with a loud bang. Because it flew so fast and with such force, the Three Treasures Cauldron was sent flying, spinning 360 degrees in the air. Pan Jun rolled around in the pot like a helpless piece of clothing in a washing machine, until it crashed through branches and leaves, slammed into a tree trunk, and then slammed to the ground with a thud.
After a while, Pan Xiaohei jumped out of the pot, staggered three steps like a cat, and finally landed face down with a thud, lying motionless on all fours.
After a while, a hand reached out from the pot, and Pan Yun climbed out of the pot with her eyes closed.
She was clever; she lay on the ground for a while before tentatively opening her eyes, and finally rolled over to lie down.
She looked at the swaying sky and leaves, covered her forehead with her hand, and murmured, "I feel like I died once."
Pan Xiaohei: "Why does Longhu Mountain need to set up a protective barrier?"
"Something terrible must have happened!"
Thinking this through, Pan Yun didn't dare to rest. She got up, reached out and shrunk the Three Treasures Cauldron back to her waist, then stood up unsteadily, barely managed to discern the direction, and headed unsteadily toward Longhu Mountain.
They were thrown quite a distance; if she hadn't been so dizzy, she could have flown to the edge and stopped.
Pan Yun endured the nausea and walked from dawn until sunrise, finally entering the territory of Longhu Mountain.
The second day of the second lunar month has passed, and people are working in the fields.
Pan Yun stood by the field for a while, when an old man asked her, "Taoist priest, are you going to Longhu Mountain?"
Pan Yun nodded; she was dressed in a Taoist robe and clearly a Taoist priest.
The old man didn't mind and pointed ahead, saying, "Longhu Mountain is over there. It'll be another hour's walk to Shangqing Town."
Pan Yun asked, "Old man, has anything happened in Shangqing Town recently?"
"What could be wrong? What could possibly be wrong?"
"I heard that Master Zhang has passed away."
"Everyone dies eventually. Master Zhang has been dead for more than four months. It happened before the Lunar New Year, so it's not exactly a recent event, is it?"
Pan Yun: "Is that new Zhenren his son?"
"Yes, the new Emperor has taken the throne, and the ceremony was quite grand."
Pan Yun's lips curled slightly: "Then I wonder if the grand ceremony will be presided over by the new master on the second day of the second month?"
"Huh?" The old man then remembered and scratched his head: "The Zhang family didn't hold a sacrificial ceremony on the second day of the second lunar month this year."
Pan Yun smiled faintly: "I see~~"
How can we not hold a festival on the second day of the second lunar month? (End of Chapter)