The Ming Dynasty took an unconventional approach

Enduring the pain, he mobilized his Yuan Power, letting it flow through his meridians. The Yuan Power impacted every acupoint, squeezing out the explosive lightning contained within his meridians, bones, and blood, and then using the Yuan Power to carry it back to his Dantian...

She continuously drew out the lightning from her meridians and blood, and once she had tamed a batch, she would bring it out with her Yuan Power and re-press it into her blood.

From the outside, it appears as if fragmented blue-white lightning flashes intermittently on Pan Yun's face, neck, and arms, only to be quickly pulled back and disappear beneath her skin.

Pan Yun went into seclusion for three months.

The officials in the Imperial Observatory were alright; half of them were Taoist priests, and the other half, even if they weren't, were very knowledgeable about the field, knowing a great deal about astronomy, geography, Taoist methods, and mathematics.

So it's not surprising. Every day, I would put a bowl of rice in her room. No one would eat it, so I would take it back and cook it into porridge for a late-night snack.

However, the emperor and his ministers couldn't help but worry.

Why is the Imperial Preceptor so quiet after his tribulation?

You're afraid you'll get struck by lightning and suffer serious injury, but you're too proud to say anything, are you?
If it weren't for Miaozhen and the other two repeatedly assuring them that everything was alright and that it was just ordinary seclusion to consolidate their cultivation, and if they hadn't been so relaxed, spending their days either studying at the Ministry of Works or the Imperial Medical Academy, or going out of the palace to tell fortunes and treat patients, they would have been living a fulfilling and carefree life, and it would have been impossible to see any worry about them.

So... not eating or drinking for three months?

After not eating or drinking for three months, Pan Jun felt as light as a feather, as if she could fly away, and she couldn't think of eating at all.

Therefore, Pan Yun emerged from seclusion with an inscrutable expression.

The emperor was delighted upon seeing this and, with a wave of his hand, ordered a state banquet to celebrate Pan Yun's success.

Pan Yun didn't want to do anything so superficial. She would definitely have many more opportunities to advance in her cultivation in the future. Holding a state banquet every time would be too costly.

Moreover, if those below her feel that the emperor and she are extravagant and follow suit, all the resulting consequences will be attributed to her.

For example, back then, her master caused the natural disaster, but some other chaotic things that happened at the same time were even worse due to the disaster, so Heaven attributed all the life and death grievances of those living beings to him.

As a result, he was rejected by God, and his debts piled up. With this as a warning, she must not make the same mistake as her master.

She hates getting involved in unnecessary cause and effect because of meaningless things like eating, drinking, and having fun.

So Pan Yun directly refused and instead advised him to be frugal, then asked how the promise she made to celebrate her breakthrough was going.

The emperor stated that the list of those to be granted amnesty had been finalized and distributed last month, and those who were pardoned should have already been exonerated and returned home.

The funding for the new community schools he wanted to build has been secured, and 39 schools have already reported that they are completed and the teachers are ready, just waiting for the books to arrive so that classes can begin.

Pan Yun was very satisfied.

The emperor then spoke on behalf of the two empresses, saying that the workshops they had promised to set up were under construction, but the textile academy they had opened for the workshops was already built and was recruiting apprentices.

Pan Jun was even more satisfied and casually said, "Since the textile workshop has not been built yet, why not give them more classes? In addition to textiles and embroidery, teach them to read and do arithmetic. They don't need to know a lot; just be able to recognize one or two hundred commonly used characters and be able to do addition and subtraction within one hundred is enough."

Officials: ...

That's not much, Grand Preceptor. Do you want to hear what you're saying?
Two hundred commonly used characters and addition and subtraction within one hundred are the current educational goals for three years of community schooling.

This means that female workers graduating from textile colleges had at least three years of social education and possessed skills to earn a living independently.

Among the officials, many had a flash of insight and were about to speak when Yu Qian was faster than anyone else. He clasped his hands in agreement with Pan Yun's proposal and said, "This matter is of immeasurable merit, and the Empress is the role model for all women in the world. It is most appropriate for Empress Wang to be the one to do it."

Hu Ying stroked his beard and said, "This is the virtue of education, and also the duty of the Empress. It is excellent, truly excellent."

The officials then joined in singing praises and all agreed with the method.

Even if one or two people showed disapproval, they dared not speak out against it when the majority agreed.

See, doing good deeds is the same as doing bad deeds; as long as there are enough followers, the other side won't dare to say a word.

Over time, the government will become more transparent and honest, just like when corrupt officials hold power in the court, the government will become more and more corrupt over time.

Pan Yun glanced around the room before asking Hu Cheng with great interest, "Minister Hu, how is the telegraph machine I ordered coming along?"

Hu Cheng said, "I have distributed the equipment to the local military workshops that are capable of producing it. According to reports, one-third of the order has already been completed."

Pan Yun asked, "Where are the materials I requested?"

"Following your drawings, the Ministry of Works has studied them day and night and they have all been completed."

Pan Jun nodded in satisfaction and said to the emperor, "Your Majesty, I will now build a high-powered telegraph signal receiving station. If you need to contact me, you can do so using the old method, or by telegram."

Zhu Qiyu quickly asked, "So soon? The Imperial Preceptor has just emerged from seclusion. Shouldn't he rest a little longer?"

Pan Yun: "Didn't Grand Secretary Yu just say there was some unusual activity in the north?"

“Yes,” Yu Qian said with a serious expression, “It’s snowing outside the pass. Kuang Ye reported that the veterans and herdsmen on the border all say that this year is going to be a harsh winter. The Oirat people are just as experienced as we are, so they must know that too.”

"Now that Esen has usurped the throne, he must appease his people. With the harsh winter on the grasslands, he will surely send his army south to plunder. We must prepare defenses in the northwest, north, and even the northeast."

Pan Yun said, "I have not forgotten the humiliation of the late emperor's personal campaign, and Your Majesty should not forget it either. Therefore, we must make preparations early. A high-powered telegraph signal receiving station can ensure that messages are transmitted and received faster and more accurately."

Zhu Qiyu understood and stopped trying to stop him.

Not only that, but the Ministry of Works was also instructed to prioritize Pan Yun's requests and the Ministry of War's military preparations.

Just then, the northern soldiers were also holding their breath, a breath they had been holding for two years. As soon as they realized that a major battle was imminent, the border soldiers began to prepare.

Yu Qian, of course, also wanted to redeem himself.

From last year to this year, the military has been thoroughly investigated and cleaned up. Isn't this the day that soldiers in all regions, especially those who are diligently training on the border, have been waiting for?

The meeting, ostensibly to congratulate Pan Yun but actually a grand court assembly, ended with Yu Qian immediately getting up to catch up with Pan Yun, preventing the emperor from even having a private conversation with him.

Yu Qian wanted the Taoist cultivators from the Celestial Master's Mansion to join the battle.

That year, Pan Yun's achievements in the war were evident to all.

Pan Yun refused, but said, "The Celestial Master's Mansion can send people to support us, but they only target those with extraordinary abilities. If the other side does not use such people, they will not take action."

Yu Qian: "But back then, the Imperial Advisor was the one who struck first..."

"So I suffered retribution and was reborn as the national advisor."

Yu Qian: ...

Emperor: …… Pan Yun explained gently: “Grand Secretary, I cultivate merit. Few people practice this method. Therefore, Taoist cultivation does not necessarily require entering the world. Those who do not cultivate merit but enter the world will only increase their karma. It will be harmful to them in every way.”

Pan Yun: "For example, there was that Master Zhang in the palace. He guarded the palace for seventy years, and during that time he could neither break through nor advance. He only had one ending."

Yu Qian frowned: "How about we start training people now? Have them practice your techniques."

Pan Yun: "Unless you have a talent as great as mine, accumulating merit in this world is tantamount to courting death."

Yu Qian: "What do you mean?"

"He died of old age, without making any progress in his cultivation."

Yu Qian: "Is this skill so difficult to master?"

"Of course! Otherwise, why do you see me so busy? Isn't it all to benefit the people, to gain some of their love and respect, and to accumulate merit?"

Pan Xiaohei, who was in the Niwan Palace, heard these words as soon as he woke up and couldn't help but sneer: "Isn't your difficulty in accumulating merit because you chose a bad master from Sanqing Mountain?"

"A teacher for a day is a father for life; this is something you can't choose, just like being born. But you have to admit that cultivating virtue and character is very difficult, much slower than entering the Dao through martial arts or enlightenment."

That's true, Pan Xiaohei said no more.

Pan Yun said, “When two countries are at war, cultivators should not participate. Once this rule is broken, demons and monsters will also be unrestrained. That year, the country's fortune was not good, but we were lucky. We only attracted a few demons and cultivators. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable. But in the following two years, there were still many demons and monsters on the northern battlefield. As far as I know, after the personal expedition, the Celestial Master's Mansion sent as many as seventy-eight disciples to the north. The Taoist Records Office and the Buddhist Records Office also sent people to the battlefield twice to perform rituals for the dead. That's why we didn't cause too much trouble.”

Yu Qian sighed and had no choice but to accept this method.

Zhu Qiyu asked with some concern, "Grand Preceptor, Minister Yu, do we really have to go to war?"

Yu Qian said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, the Oirat are ambitious wolves, and Esen is even more so. If we don't take action, they will."

Pan Jun was even more direct, saying to the emperor, "Let's take action while there are no major disasters this year, the national treasury is still in surplus, and the morale of the army is high. Otherwise, if we miss this opportunity, it will be even harder to find another one."

The emperor's face fell, and he whispered, "Minister Chen said that wasn't a surplus, but rather funds set aside for next year..."

Pan Yun: "Anyway, the national treasury is empty every year, and there is always a shortage of money during the Spring Festival. So let's just continue to be short of money this year."

Yu Qian immediately replied, “Your Majesty, although we are short of money, we have silver mines in Dasen Township, as well as tax revenue from several customs offices. Commercial taxes have also increased this year, making us more hopeful than in previous years. We are not afraid of running out of money next year.”

Pan Yun: "Morale is a very strange thing. This year, once the generals and soldiers sensed that the leaders were retreating, their morale would immediately disappear. They would instinctively fight ten against one, but in the end, ten would not even be one. There is a difference of a hundredfold in this."

Yu Qian: "Has Your Majesty forgotten the shame and grief of the late Emperor's tragic death in the enemy camp?"

The two men took turns speaking, and Zhu Qiyu was not only completely convinced, but also became so excited that he puffed out his chest higher and higher, wishing he could send troops out right now.

These two people were his most respected imperial advisor and his most trusted cabinet minister.

Both of them were advocates of war, so how could Zhu Qiyu possibly back down?
He immediately decided to prepare for war.

He was fired up for a moment, then belatedly realized, "What if Esen doesn't send troops?"

Didn't they prepare for nothing?
Yu Qian said in a deep voice, "Esen usurped the throne of the Oirat Khan. Your Majesty should uphold justice for the late Khan and order him to return the throne to him."

Regardless of whether the Oirat Mongols are currently under the actual control of the Ming Dynasty, legally they belong to the Ming Dynasty, and therefore they must obey the Ming Dynasty.

The Khan of the Oirat Mongols was also the Khan of the Ming Dynasty's Oirat Mongols. When the Khan died, the next Khan not only had to be appointed by the Ming Dynasty, but also had to be selected by the Ming Dynasty.

If Esen doesn't follow this rule, then he should be punished.

Pan Yun gave Yu Qian an approving look and spread his hands toward the emperor: "You see, we have a legitimate reason for sending troops. This kind of thing can be left to the Ministry of War, or if that doesn't work, there's the Ministry of Rites. At worst, we can send an official from the Court of State Ceremonial to the Oirat Mongols. They will definitely be able to find a reason to send troops."

Yu Qian said with a serious expression: "Grand Preceptor, please be careful with your words. Our Great Ming is a land of etiquette, how could we do such a shameless thing? Our Great Ming's decision to send troops is absolutely justified."

"Fine, you're well-read, so you get to decide." Pan Yun was too lazy to worry about such trivial matters, so she waved her hand and left.

Zhu Qiyu waved behind her: "Grand Preceptor, stay and have dinner with me."

Pan Yun refused, saying she wasn't hungry at all.

When she returned to the courtyard where she lived in the Imperial Observatory, Tao Yanbai was stewing chicken soup with a medical book in one hand and firewood in the other.

The aroma of the chicken soup wafted from the earthenware pot, making Pan Jun's stomach rumble for a while.

She was taken aback, then looked down at her stomach: "I'm actually hungry?"

Tao Yanbai saw his junior uncle, tucked the book into his clothes, and ran out: "Junior Uncle, the chicken soup is almost ready, I even chopped up a turtle and put it in..."

Pan Yun: "It sounds delicious, and it's also good for longevity."

She swallowed hard and asked, "Where are Miaohe and Miaozhen?"

“They went to the Imperial Kitchen to beg. We even got this chicken from the Imperial Hospital. The small kitchen doesn’t have many ingredients and can’t make many dishes. We thought you hadn’t eaten for three months and must be starving, so we went to the Imperial Kitchen to beg for some good food for you.”

So why did she come back from the emperor?
However, the warmth coming from one's own small kitchen is really tempting.

Pan Yun and Tao Yanbai sat down in the small kitchen, together tending to the chicken and turtle soup: "I'm leaving the palace tomorrow, will you come with me?"

Tao Yanbai: "Where to?"

"I'll go anywhere, to the ends of the earth."

Tao Yanbai nodded without hesitation, saying, "My junior sister and I really want to go out and gain experience. We've seen all the patients in the capital, and our cultivation has stagnated. We both think we should go out and gain experience."

Tao Yanbai and Miaohe are Taoist doctors. Besides meditation and taking medicine, the way to increase their cultivation is to improve their medical skills and Taoist heart. The better their medical skills, the higher their cultivation.

For example, Tao Ji was not good at martial arts, but he still became the first marquis.

He's not good at fighting, but his cultivation level has improved entirely because of his advancements in medical skills and Daoist heart.

Therefore, Taoist medicine needs to constantly engage with the world.

The practices at Sanqing Mountain have always been worldly.

Pan Yun pondered for a moment: "If you think about it that way, cultivating merit is also a worldly practice, and Fourth Senior Sister's path of killing is also a worldly practice..."

Pan Yun groaned, "If you think about it that way, only Second Senior Brother and his lineage don't cultivate worldly methods. Yet they insist on becoming powerful figures for Sanqing Mountain and also want to enter the world as officials. Tsk, they really are all worldly practitioners." (End of Chapter)