The Ming Dynasty took an unconventional approach

Chapter 639 Testing each other
Japan still maintains the habit of eating at separate tables, a custom somewhat similar to that of the Tang and Song dynasties.

Pan Yun sat alone in the seat of honor. The other heroes were very obedient and found a table downstairs, sitting in pairs, which further highlighted her prestige as a leader.

The heroes had just picked up their chopsticks to take the first bite of the food and were feeling happy, but when they heard Chen Liutao's question, which seemed a little strange, they paused and all looked up at Pan Jun who was sitting upstairs.

Pan Yun swallowed the food slowly, then looked up at Chen Liutao: "What's the problem?"

Chen Liutao frowned: "After all, these people are the families of the Japanese pirates, and they are relatives of the prisoners..."

"Do you want to implicate them?" Pan Jun interrupted him and asked.

Chen Liutao frowned, "Some people were abducted to the island without their own will. Whether they are implicated or not, we need to interrogate their actions in recent years..."

"Are you Jinyiwei here to interrogate me?"

When Chen Liutao heard her directly point out his identity, he couldn't help but look quickly at other people.

Everyone else looked calm. Obviously, although he and Qu Zhixing had never revealed their identities, their identities were no longer a secret.

Chen Liutao calmed down, thought carefully and said, "This is the business of the local government."

Pan Yun said directly: "Quanzhou Prefecture does not have the financial resources to support so many people, so they can slowly interrogate and judge.

Guess why Li Wenying gave me the person as soon as I asked for him? And the Jiangnan Inspector General didn't say a word?"

The Jiangnan Inspector, who was sitting below her, ate silently with his head down, without saying a word.

Pan Yun: "Because it's troublesome and useless."

"It is enough to deter the pirates from the sea and kill the Japanese pirates who are taken back. The families of these pirates come from complicated places and are difficult to verify. There are also many children under the age of twelve. Although the laws of this dynasty are strict, they will not implicate even young children. If we send them back, how do you want Quanzhou Prefecture to settle them?" Pan Yun said, "I am willing to take them away. I don't know how much Quanzhou Prefecture loves me. I am afraid that the prefect and the county magistrate are now thanking me with three incense sticks every morning and evening."

Chen Liutao: "That being said, but..."

Chen Liutao didn't know what to say and hesitated.

Pan Yun rested her elbows on her knees, leaned forward, and stared at him with sharp eyes: "Master Chen, why don't you just speak frankly about what you are worried about?"

Chen Liutao pursed his lips for a moment, then asked, "Master Pan, are you going to do the Japanese pirate thing in Japan?"

Pan Yun frowned and said unhappily, "Am I such a cruel and treacherous person in Lord Chen's mind?"

Seeing that she was unhappy, Chen Liutao was relieved and said quickly: "Of course not, Taoist Pan has a chivalrous heart, but I have seen you train these slaves with all your heart recently, and I am a little worried."

After these captives decided to stay, Pan Yun gave them the status of slaves on the spot.

Then he asked Miaozhen and others to learn Japanese from these slaves, and also asked Miaozhen and others to teach them writing.

Teaching characters is a great favor to domestic slaves even in the Ming Dynasty.

Chen Liutao had a vague feeling that Pan Yun wanted to make important use of these slaves.

But didn’t they come to Japan to kill people and take revenge?
After killing the culprit who massacred the village, they should go back, right?

Chen Liutao's eyes swept across the darkness outside. Although he, Qu Zhixing and her had crossed the sea to Japan to collect information about Japan, just in case...

But based on his understanding of His Majesty and the court officials, he was afraid that he would never see the day when the emperor would send troops to attack Japan.

We even have to guard against Pan Yun being too radical. We should only define this revenge as a matter of civilians and absolutely not involve the imperial court, so as not to cause a dispute between the two countries... But if Pan Yun raises a force in Japan and commits evil in Ming Dynasty like the Japanese pirates...

Should he stop it or not?

If we don't stop them, this group of people should be able to cause chaos in Japan, making them also taste our pain and unable to invade the coast of Ming Dynasty again;
But if we don't stop it, won't it anger Japan and give it an excuse to start a war with the Ming Dynasty?
Seeing his tangled expression, Pan Yun seemed to be able to read his mind and asked directly, "Master Chen, when you weighed the pros and cons, did you consider the option of 'stopping'?"

Chen Liutao's body stiffened.

Pan Yun spread his hands towards him and said, "Look, deep down you don't want to stop me, and you don't even have this option. If that's the case, why bother yourself? It would be better to just pretend you know nothing."

Chen Liutao opened his mouth and wanted to speak several times, but he didn't know how to refute her, so he looked at Qu Zhixing who was sitting next to him.

When Qu Zhixing saw him looking at him, he lowered his head and continued eating.

Chen Liutao: …

As he gained momentum, he suddenly looked up and went to look for Xue Shao.

Xue Shao did not avoid his gaze, but nodded and said, "Master Chen, don't worry."

Seeing that he knew what was going on, Chen Liutao's anger subsided and he became more confident: "It's good that Xue...Mr. Xue and Taoist Pan know what is going on."

Gao Zhiming and Ah Xin had long suspected Xue Shao's identity. Upon hearing this, they looked at Xue Shao and asked, "Master Pan, who is the Jiangnan Inspector you just mentioned?"

Pan Yun said casually: "He was a middle-aged man with untidy beard who was mixed in with the bandits. He pretended to be a chivalrous warrior, but he was very ugly and his martial arts skills were average..."

Gao Zhiming was a little skeptical: "Really?"

"Yes," Pan Jun raised his eyes to look at him and asked directly, "Do you suspect Xue Shao is the inspector of Jiangnan? At his age, he is such a pretty boy?"

Gao Zhiming was a gangster, not a court official. He didn't know that this year's candidate for the imperial examination was a young man, and he didn't know that he had offended someone and was exiled to Jiangnan to gain experience and die.

He looked Xue Shao up and down, and Xue Shao looked at him frankly, and the doubts in his heart disappeared immediately.

Yes, it is so difficult to pass the Jinshi exam. If Xue Shao passed it at his age, he would be very proud and triumphant. Why would he be so frustrated and run around to fight bandits?
Thinking of this, Gao Zhiming comforted Xue Shao: "Mr. Xue, I heard that it is very difficult to pass the imperial examination. It is rare for you to pass the imperial examination at your age. If you fail the imperial examination, you can just wait for another three years. Why worry about it?"

Xue Shao nodded gently: "What Mr. Gao said makes sense. I'll take note of it. When I get back, I'll study behind closed doors and prepare for the next imperial examination."

Chen Liutao and others who knew the inside story: …

They lowered their heads and ate in silence without saying another word.

Seeing that they had finished speaking, Pan Yun said, "I have to go out tonight, so you should be more alert."

Wang Cong looked up almost immediately: "Where are you going?"

Pan Yun pointed outside and said, "Across the street."

Zhang Weiyi also put down his chopsticks. "When I was moving my luggage today, I stood outside and heard from the people here that Ichibata Temple is not only inhabited by monks, but also by Shinto. They seem to have magical powers. Junior Sister Pan, why don't we make plans after a formal visit tomorrow?"

Pan Yun: "Your aunt, my fourth sister seems to be across the street, I'll go check it out."

Zhang Weiyi stopped talking immediately.

(End of this chapter)