Chapter 945
Finding the Ship
Kuangping's room was very simple, with only a bed, a table and a few chairs. There was a bookshelf against the wall, and next to the bookshelf were three or four boxes, all filled with books and various documents.
There were also a lot of documents piled up on the table. He originally wanted to put them away immediately, but when he thought of Pan Yun's abilities, he realized that the technology used in the silver refining workshop was all provided by them. So he gave up on that idea, casually pushed the things aside, cleared half a table, and invited Pan Yun to sit down.
He brought over a pot of water that had long since cooled down, casually placed three bowls down, poured a bowl of cold water for each person, and said, "The mountain dwellings are simple, please don't mind, Grand Preceptor."
Pan Jun drank the water in one gulp without hesitation and gestured for him to have another bowl.
Kuang Ping paused for a moment, then poured her another bowl of water. He wasn't so nervous anymore, and the two seemed to have returned to how they were before she became the Imperial Advisor.
Kuang Ping asked, "What important matter brings the Imperial Preceptor here so late at night?"
Pan Yun: "It's nothing important, but I'm leaving Hong Kong early tomorrow morning to return to the mainland, and I feel there are some things I need to discuss with you."
After a moment's thought, Kuang Ping asked, "Is it because of the conflict at Seven Tail Port?"
Pan Yun said, "Last year, when the late emperor died, the Japanese navy invaded the southeastern coast. Are you aware of that?"
Kuang Ping rubbed his hair and said, "Of course I know. They even sent people to surround Dasen Township. We thought we were going to die for our country."
After a moment of silence, Kuang Ping, his eyes still red, looked at Pan Yun and asked, "Your Majesty... how could you have met with such a disaster?"
Pan Yun remained silent for a long time before saying, "The border plans were flawed, the border generals deceived their superiors and subordinates, and the news was not circulating. Meanwhile, the emperor was headstrong and only listened to Wang Zhen. How could a eunuch who failed the imperial examinations and relied entirely on conjecture to lead troops into battle possibly defeat the well-prepared Oirat army?"
Kuang Ping wiped his eyes and asked in a low voice, "How is the new emperor?"
"At least he can listen to the advice of his officials."
Kuang Ping looked on with suspicion: "Then how did you become the Imperial Advisor? Was it announced to the world on the second day after the new emperor ascended the throne?"
Only Heaven and he knew how shocked and frightened he was when he received the news of the new emperor's ascension to the throne and the appointment of the national advisor on the same day.
Pan Yun glanced at him and said, "Lord Kuang, stereotypes are unacceptable. It's one thing for others, but you and I have worked together. How can you be afraid that the country will fall apart just because a Taoist priest became the national advisor? Am I such a wicked Taoist?"
Kuang Ping shifted uncomfortably in his seat and whispered, "People change."
Pan Yun said, "We cultivators value upholding our Daoist heart the most, so rest assured, even if you change one day, I will not change."
Kuang Ping immediately laughed and poured Pan Yun another bowl of water: "It was I who judged you by my own petty standards. I apologize to you."
He then steered the conversation back on track, saying, "Japan should have guessed that there is a silver mine here, but they don't yet know how big it is, and Japan is currently in a period of turmoil."
Kuang Ping said, "According to the intelligence gathered by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the daimyo in various regions do not submit to the rule of the Shogun. Last year, when the late emperor died, a Japanese man named Oda Nobu traveled around persuading the daimyo to respond to the Shogun and jointly launch a naval attack on Ming. After the defeat, their alliance broke down, and they continued to attack each other. Only then did Omori-go have a chance to catch his breath."
Pan Yun tapped his fingers lightly on the table and said in a deep voice, "There are advantages to chaos in Japan, but the harm is just as great."
Kuang Ping nodded: "The harm is considerable. When they commit crimes and attack us, we don't know who to turn to for justice. The shogunate can't control the local daimyo at all, and the local daimyo can't control their subordinates either."
Kuang Ping said, "We spent money to buy this mountain, but the Yamana clan wants to go back on their word. They have sent many people to Omori Township to force the Masuda family to send troops and resources, but the Masuda family has a close working relationship with us and has not obeyed the Yamana clan's orders."
If the Japanese government were unified and authoritative, and the Yamana clan went back on their word, they could file a complaint with the shogunate.
However, Japan was fragmented, and this period of Japan was somewhat similar to the Warring States period.
The various lords were like feudal lords, and they did not obey the king's orders at all.
As the saying goes, if the shogun cannot control the daimyo, then naturally the daimyo cannot control their own retainers.
Kuang Ping: "I have been thinking a lot these days. I think it would be better for Japan to be unified. Otherwise, it would be just as difficult for us Han Chinese to travel around here and change the rules in each place."
Pan Yun: "Although Japan is a vassal state of our Great Ming Dynasty, it is not as respectful and loyal as Ryukyu and Korea. They will not obey the imperial decrees of the superior country."
Pan Jun frowned slightly and said, "Moreover, their wolfish ambitions have never ceased. Do you really think they can communicate with us after unification?"
Kuang Ping's eyebrows twitched slightly: "Then we must..."
He made a gesture.
Pan Yun shook his head and said, "This is their internal affair. As long as they do not attack the Ming Dynasty or its vassal states, they can resolve it themselves. Heaven has its own rules."
Kuang Ping: "So, what does the Imperial Advisor mean?"
“They have no concept of a nation, nor do they have the same obsession with unification as we Han people. Since we have settled here, drink the water here, and cultivate the land here, we should treat the people here well.”
Kuang Ping's eyes flickered slightly, and he leaned forward, saying, "This humble official understands. Whether it is Omori Village, Onsenzu Town Port, or Nanao Port, we will protect them and safeguard the people who make a living here, whether they are Han Chinese, Japanese, or Koreans."
Pan Yun smiled slightly, stood up and said, "Then I won't disturb Lord Kuang's rest any longer."
Pan Yun went out, and the Imperial Guards waited until she was far away before pushing open the door to go in and find Kuang Ping.
Kuang Ping sighed and said, "Let's retrieve the letter. As for the chaos in Japan, let it be. We're not going to get involved."
The Imperial Guards acknowledged and withdrew to pursue the letter.
Ships set sail early, departing before dawn.
Because of the naval battle in which the Japanese invaded the Ming Dynasty just before the Lunar New Year, which resulted in the loss of several merchant ships, merchant ships traveling to and from Japan have preferred to travel in groups for the past six months.
Besides Wang Cong's three ships and the imperial court's five ships, there were also a fleet of twenty-four ships formed by a large number of merchants.
As the ship set sail, it was a magnificent sight, looking as if it were going to war.
Pan Yun took Wang Cong to Qiwei Port to retrieve the urn containing his ashes, then put Wang Cong on the ship before leading Miao Zhen and the other two on their way.
Wang Cong watched them disappear into the horizon, feeling quite envious.
Unfortunately, he had to escort the ship, so he couldn't come along.
However, Pan Yun and his group did not return directly to the Ming Dynasty. Instead, they flew along their flight path and explored the surrounding area.
The main purpose was to eliminate potential hazards for them, and incidentally, to explore the surrounding island environment. If they were lucky, they might be able to find a suitable ship for Wang Cong.
Unfortunately, the pirates seemed to be terrified by last year's great battle. Although some young pirates peeked around along the way, they dared not make a move.
Moreover, Pan Jun didn't think much of their boat, so he let them go.
Sure enough, upon seeing the fleet of twenty-four ships behind them, including the Ming Dynasty's navy escorting them, these young pirates did not dare to make a move.
Pan Yun had no choice but to fly south until she found Chen Wen.
Chen Wen has been promoted to the position of Assistant Commander of the Quanzhou Naval Office, and now he has more soldiers under his command.
He had just returned from training his troops. As soon as he pushed open the door, his body tensed up, and his hand rested on the knife at his waist.
Pan Yun chuckled and said, "General Chen, how have you been?"
Chen Wen recognized Pan Yun, his eyes lit up, and he immediately knelt on one knee: "This humble general pays his respects to the Imperial Preceptor."
When they met again, Chen Wen willingly took a step back and clung tightly to Pan Jun's coattails. He had no powerful backer, yet the merits they had earned in the battle against Japan last year were not taken away, and he was promoted to lieutenant general, while his men were also promoted.
Chen Wenlue quickly learned that someone above was wary of the Imperial Preceptor and, having heard of his close personal relationship with Pan Yun, dared not claim credit for him.
Thanks to Pan Yun, Chen Wen experienced fairness in the army for the first time.
He didn't ask for much, just fairness. They deserved their credit, but he wouldn't take what they didn't. He applied for war preparedness, and they got what they were entitled to. His greatest wish in life was for their military pay to be paid on time.
With Pan Yun by his side, half of his wish had been fulfilled.
How could he not kneel?
Pan Yun quickly helped him up.
After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Pan Yun inquired about news of the seagoing vessel.
Chen Wendao: "The Naval Office is short of funds, but the court has opened six ports in succession and the scope of the sea ban has been reduced again and again. The pressure on the navy to defend has increased, and the existing ships are not enough. The Naval Office has already placed orders with the shipyard. The timber needed for shipbuilding was all transported by the garrison soldiers. It is conservatively estimated that it will take at least two years for this batch of ships to enter the sea."
"If the Imperial Preceptor wants to cut in line, I'm afraid it will be difficult. This matter is the responsibility of the Ministry of War and Military Equipment, and I have no say in it."
Pan Yun: "I didn't intend to cut in line."
Chen Wen's eyes widened: "Does the Imperial Advisor intend to take the ship we ordered directly? This, this..."
Pan Yun rolled her eyes and said, "I've just become the Imperial Advisor, not a different person. Why do you all think of the Imperial Advisor as a corrupt official?"
Pan Yun said, "I just want to ask, what did you do with the Japanese ships you captured last year?"
After a moment of silence, Chen Wen said, "Grand Preceptor, you are too late. Those ships have already been dealt with by the Naval Office."
Pan Yun: "Who did you give it to?"
Chen Wen hesitated.
Pan Yun waved his hand and said, "Don't worry, I'm not going to hold anyone responsible. Those are your naval spoils of war. If you don't deal with them, hand them over to the Ministry of War, and someone above will take care of them. It doesn't matter who makes the money, you'll make it. At least you put in the effort, so something will at least slip through the fingers of the soldiers."
Chen Wen then relaxed and laughed, "Grand Preceptor, those ships are dilapidated, and only a few are usable. Besides, they were sold several months ago, and I estimate they've all been dismantled."
Pan Jun: "That's not necessarily true. Didn't you say that the shipbuilding industry is very busy right now? If they want to dismantle, they probably won't be able to find suitable people to do it. Give me the list, and I'll go find them."
This time, Chen Wen didn't delay and went to find her the list.
When he returned, he was carrying not only a piece of paper but also a food box.
He handed the bill to Pan Yun, laid out the food and wine, and asked, "Does Master Wang intend to expand the Wang family business?"
Pan Yun hummed in agreement, staring at the list and casually said, "He wants to go to Southeast Asia for a trip."
“Let’s form another caravan,” Chen Wen said after a moment of contemplation. “There are plenty of spices and gems in Southeast Asia, as well as many local specialties. It’s definitely more profitable than places like Japan and Korea, but…”
Pan Yun looked up at him: "But what?"
"But those ships can't go to the South China Sea, can they? They're covered in marks from swords and knives, and two of them even had corners destroyed by cannon fire."
Pan Yun pointed to the list and said, "It is inferior to the warships of our Great Ming Dynasty, but the materials are good. As long as we find craftsmen, we can repair the ship."
Chen Wen: "Now all the shipbuilding craftsmen have been incorporated into the imperial court. They are either in Quanzhou or sent to Suzhou and Tianjin. Since the imperial edict lifted the sea ban, they have not even seen their families. How could they possibly take on private jobs?"
Pan Yun laughed and said, "I won't look for them, I'll look for them among the common people."
"folk?"
Pan Yun said, "Don't underestimate the common people. Let me ask you, since the sea ban has been in effect, where do the fishermen who flee to Southeast Asia every year come from?"
Chen Wen remained silent.
"Even without good materials, as long as they are given the materials, I believe they can build ships that are no worse than those in shipyards."
Chen Wen: "The people in the community are of varying quality; some of them aren't even registered artisans. How can we trust them?"
Pan Yun said, "Not having a craftsman's certificate does not necessarily mean one is not a craftsman, and having a craftsman's certificate does not necessarily mean one can be a good craftsman."
Pan Yun wrote down the list and left two addresses for Chen Wen: "If you need to contact me in the future, just send the letter to these two addresses. You'll be able to reach me at one of them."
Chen Wen excitedly agreed.
Pan Yun said, "The Japanese are still up to no good. You must be careful and keep your troops in training. Once maritime trade develops, we will need you everywhere."
Chen Wen agreed.
Pan Yun found Miao Zhen and her two companions who were telling fortunes and treating illnesses on the street, and led them along the coast, searching from village to village.
As they searched, they found the former hideout of pirates, Dacen Village.
Cen Dachuan followed Chen Wen during the bandit suppression campaign. Many villagers were classified as accomplices, but thanks to Chen Wen's protection and cover-up, only some of their families were registered as military personnel and taken to sea.
Many more people hid in the village, while others went directly to the mountains.
It wasn't until last year, when the imperial court announced the lifting of the sea ban, that they dared to come out of the mountains, and every household pushed their hidden fishing boats out to sea.
When Pan Jun and his companions arrived at Dacen Village, women and children by the sea were drying and weaving fishing nets, while elsewhere, men were gathered together, clanging and banging as they worked on a boat.
Pan Yun stepped forward to look, and everyone looked at her warily. "Who are you? Where are you from? You look kind of familiar?"
"Doesn't that look familiar to me too?"
Miaohe muttered to herself, "Junior Uncle, will we get beaten up if we reveal our identities?"
Pan Yun's lips moved slightly, and she said in a very soft voice, "I was wearing makeup at the time, and now I'm wearing a Taoist robe, so they can't possibly recognize me."
Pan Yun looked at Tao Yanbai.
Tao Yanbai, quick-witted, immediately stepped forward and said, "We came to find shipbuilders. We saw you building a ship, so we came up to take a look."
"You're building boats?" The fishermen looked away and asked, "What kind of boats do you want to build? There are many kinds of fishing boats."
Tao Yanbai: "What we want to build is a large ship, a large ship that can sail the seas to transport goods."
The fishermen laughed and waved their hands, saying, "Go away, we can't build those big ships. You'll have to go to a shipyard and find skilled craftsmen who specialize in shipbuilding."
Pan Yun asked with a smile, "I have the blueprints, and I'll even provide the timber. Can't you still build it?" (End of Chapter)