The Ming Dynasty took an unconventional approach

Chapter 1042 Persuaded Again
Pan Yun wanted to first establish a telegraph signal receiving station in the north to build a complete intelligence system.

After discussions between the cabinet and the emperor, it was finally decided that the intelligence system would be managed by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, with the Eastern Depot providing assistance.

Yu Qian and the others were unwilling, but the emperor insisted that the technology was provided by Pan Yun, and that only Pan Yun could bring the telegraph machine to the entire northern border in the short term. So even if they disagreed, they could not persuade the two of them.

Pan Yun took out a map from the Imperial Study, spread it out, drew several circles on it, and said to Tao Yanbai, "We need to go to all these places."

Tao Yanbai pointed curiously to a point in the west and asked, "Where is this?"

"Yining is the political center of Yilibali. The imperial court has an intelligence team there. We need to send them a telegraph machine and teach them how to use it."

Tao Yanbai pointed his finger far north and asked with wide eyes, "Where is this now?"

Pan Jun: "Tieliangut, next to the Irtysh River, is the garrison of the Oirat army. The Northern Army has scouts here to gather intelligence. We also need to send them a telegram."

Tao Yanbai: "Are they also going to join the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Pan Yun shook his head: "They belong to the army, not the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

She said, "The Embroidered Uniform Guard can cooperate with all departments and agencies in the court, especially with external intelligence. It should be updated in a timely manner to the Cabinet, the Ministry of War, and the Court of State Ceremonies. However, the army still needs to have its own intelligence agency."

Tao Yanbai noticed that her junior uncle had a fondness for the army. She wanted the court to control the army, but she also hoped that the army could have a degree of independence so that it could not be restricted by the civil officials in the court in critical moments.

Pan Yun drew several small dots on the map, extending west to Yangyi, which was outside the territory of Yilibali. Tao Yanbai used his limited geographical knowledge to make a judgment and asked weakly, "Junior Uncle, is this also part of the territory of our Great Ming?"

Pan Yun glanced at him and said, "Not yet."

Tao Yanbai's fingers trembled, and he moved to the right, speaking even more softly: "I vaguely remember that the Eastern Chagatai Khanate was a vassal state of our Great Ming Dynasty, but it seems that there were no troops stationed there."

“There are no troops stationed there,” Pan Yun said. “The Ming Dynasty does not station troops in Yilibali, does not interfere in its internal affairs, and does not levy taxes. The other side only acknowledges its vassal status and pays tribute, while our Ming Dynasty only bestows titles and rewards upon them.”

Yilibali was the Eastern Chagatai Khanate.

"As long as they abide by the alliance, our Great Ming will also keep its promise. We will be rulers and subjects for generations. However, we must be prepared for danger even in times of peace. We still need to take necessary precautions. At the very least, we must do a good job of basic intelligence."

Therefore, an intelligence agency is indispensable.

Pan Yun nodded at Kobdo, sighed regretfully, and finally withdrew her finger to point at Hami Weidao: "Esen is ambitious. The Oirat people, no, not just the Oirat, but all the Mongols are thinking of the former Yuan Dynasty. After the Yongle Emperor, they lay low for twenty years, and now, they can no longer hold back."

The Mongols once enjoyed a glorious period, not only dominating the entire Central Plains dynasty, but also controlling Central Asia as their westernmost vassal, and even controlling the area north of Lake Baikal in the far north.

After being overthrown by the Ming Dynasty, they were naturally unwilling to admit defeat.

It was only because Cao Guogong Li Wenzhong had killed so many people back then, and because the Yongle Emperor had been waging war against the north, that they dared not move south and had no choice but to submit to the Ming Dynasty.

However, after Yongle, the two emperors Renzong and Xuanzong were overconfident in the border defenses and wanted to allow the people to rest, so they neglected to guard the borders and the border defenses became lax. Later, a young emperor ascended the throne, and the Three Yangs also reduced their border defenses.

Ten years was enough for them to recover the last vestiges of their power from the Yongle era, and another ten years was enough for them to nurture their ambitions. That's why the Oirats gradually tested the Ming Dynasty's bottom line.

Pan Yun pointed at the map and said in a low voice, "Therefore, vassal states alone are not enough. Such a large area must be under our actual control. Otherwise, war every year will not be good for the court or the people."

"The Imperial Advisor and I are of the same mind." Yu Qian strode in, not knowing how long he had been standing at the door watching and listening.

Tao Yanbai silently got up and gave the small stool to Yu Qian, then squatted down to watch the fire.

Pan Yun raised her chin and said, "You've come all this way. Sit down and talk, but no matter how much you say, it's useless. I won't help you persuade the emperor."

Yu Qian sat opposite her, feeling dejected, and obediently lifted the map and placed it on his lap.

The two men talked while covering the map: "Since you also want to take back this land, why don't you think about the lessons of the Tang Dynasty? If the army, especially the border troops, is not controlled, won't we repeat the mistakes of the Tang Dynasty in the future? Too much power in the border towns is not a good thing."

Pan Yun certainly knew, but he could never have imagined that the Ming Dynasty would ultimately perish due to factional strife, with its army controlled by civil officials and eunuchs, a situation not much better than that of the Tang Dynasty.

Pan Jun: "I am not against strengthening the supervision of the military, but I also hope that when the time comes, the military can be self-sufficient and have the power to turn the tide."

Yu Qian frowned: "You seem to have never really trusted civil officials."

"Jie'an, I like spicy food, and the disciples of Sanqing Mountain all like spicy food. We are all Taoists, so all Taoists in the world like spicy food; I am charitable and generous, and the disciples of Sanqing Mountain come from the Taoist medical school, so they are all gentle in nature, so all Taoists in the world are gentle in nature; do you think these two statements of cause and effect are correct?"

Yu Qian pursed his lips: "That's not right."

“So your question is wrong,” Pan Jun said, spreading his hands. “I have no prejudice against civil officials, nor do I favor military generals. In our position, we should abandon all prejudices, stand in a neutral position, and consider all the worst possible outcomes without being sad or happy, and then use the system to prevent the worst outcome from occurring, and when the worst outcome does occur, how to leave a way out for future generations.”

Pan Yun pointed to the map lying between the two of them and said, "This map depicts the Ming Dynasty, but apart from the changed border lines, the mountains, rivers, and cities are largely unchanged. This map was previously called the Great Yuan Dynasty Map, the Great Song Dynasty Map, and the Great Tang Dynasty Map..."

"Dynastic changes are a historical law and are inevitable. Only the people living on this land have never changed. They have worked hard to live generation after generation. What we need to do is to ensure that they can live and work in peace and contentment, and that talented people can explore the universe and life with peace of mind. We must leave a glimmer of hope for future generations even in the worst-case scenario."

Yu Qian stared intently at Pan Yun, and after a long while, he was persuaded by Pan Yun once again.

He sighed, carefully rolled up the map and handed it to her, then stood up, bowed respectfully, and left.

Tao Yanbai sat to the side, watching in a daze. Only after the person had disappeared from sight did he remember to ask, "Junior Uncle, was he persuaded or not?"

Pan Yun laughed and said, "With my silver tongue, of course I was persuaded."

Tao Yanbai casually asked, "What were you convinced of?"

Pan Yun: "Never mind that, is your chicken and turtle soup ready yet?"

Tao Yanbai immediately opened the lid, stirred it, and exclaimed happily, "It's done!"

(End of this chapter)