The Ming Dynasty took an unconventional approach

Chapter 758

The Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa had just been supported to take the throne, but last year, his half-brother Ashikaga Yoshikatsu died of illness less than two years after taking the throne. He was only nine years old.

Afterwards, the position of general was left vacant, and the various guardian daimyo and governors were almost fighting each other to death.

One of the reasons why the Ouchi clan was defeated so quickly by Pan Yun and the Yamana clan was that he placed his main advisers and military forces in the capital.

Pan Yun acted too quickly and his men had no time to respond.

Oh, I forgot to mention that Ashikaga Yoshimasa had just become the shogun not long ago, and he officially ascended the throne a few days after Pan Yun defeated the Ouchi clan and Ouchi Hiroki "died of illness".

Ashikaga Yoshimasa, who was only nine years old, had an intuition that the suzerain country was benefiting him, and if he wanted to survive, he had to seize this opportunity.

Therefore, he did not wait for Oda and other governors to speak and directly agreed to Yang Shan.

Yang Shan's lips curled up slightly. After this round of testing, he had found an ally.

While Pan Yun and his colleagues were hiding in the mountains and continuing to study the silver refining production line, the news from the capital had been quickly delivered to Masuda's home in Onsenzu Town.

In order to strengthen ties with the suzerain state, the Shogun ordered that envoys from the suzerain state be allowed to set up envoy offices in Sakai Port and Onsenzumachi Port. This was because many Han people gathered in the Onsenzumachi area, and these Han people had contributed to the stability of the border between the two countries, and Japan should comfort them.

The general decided to keep Dasen Township as a Han Township to comfort the people of the upper country who were homesick.

Upon hearing this, Masuda Shinta stood up abruptly and asked, "What on earth is there in Omori Village that is worth them going to such great lengths to obtain it?"

Upon hearing this, the head of the Yitian family hesitated and said, "Perhaps you are overthinking it. The upper country may really just want to open up maritime trade, so it uses this place as a base."

"Impossible!" Masuda Shinta said: "If it is Pan Yun, it is believable. After all, she is a human being, but the Ming Dynasty..."

"The Ming Dynasty is a superior country. They sent angels here and were able to set up a envoy's office in Sakai Port. Why would they set up another one in Onsenzu Town?" He said, "What is Sakai Port? It is one of the largest seaports in Japan and the departure port for the Kanko trade designated by the shogunate."

Since we already have Sakai Port, why would we be interested in Tsu Town?
There must be something in Omori Township that attracts so many people.

Masuda Shinta felt as if he was being scratched by a cat: "The people we sent out couldn't find anything?"

The person next to him said, "They can only go to the village at the foot of the mountain. Once they enter the mountain, they will be discovered. But we can hear clanging sounds in the mountain, and occasionally the sound of gunpowder exploding in the mountain. When we ask, we find out that they are building a Taoist temple and quarrying stones to pave the road."

The other party paused and said, "Our people are also blasting the mountain road. Masuda-kun, the gunpowder they sold us is very useful. If it is used on warships, I'm afraid we can fight against the Ouchi family's escort fleet."

Shinta Masuda: "The gunpowder is easily affected by moisture when it is taken to the sea, so it is not as useful as on land. However, we can use this method to research cannonballs."

"Have you figured out the formula for gunpowder?"

"No, every time they just pulled it over to us on the road. We asked to go to the workshop where the gunpowder was refined to have a look, but they refused."

Kuang Ping also said that the gunpowder made by Miao Zhen was useful, and said: "It is safer and more stable than the gunpowder made by our Ministry of Industry. How did you develop your formula?"

Miao Zhen: "The formula of gunpowder is not difficult for us Taoists at all. It is equivalent to a public prescription, but the requirements are different. The ingredients and quantities are slightly different. We can figure it out by blasting the furnace a few more times."

Kuang Ping hesitated to speak.

Seeing him so troubled, Pan Yun asked casually, "Does your Ministry of Industry want a prescription?"

Kuang Ping said: "Several prescriptions from the Ministry of Industry have also been improved. Some are more powerful than this one, but they are unstable; some are stable, but far less powerful than this one. I think its medicinal properties are stable. Some workers accidentally smashed and dropped it, but it didn't explode. I think it is very suitable for making torpedoes and magic cannons."

Pan Yun became interested: "Magic Machine Cannon?"

"Yes, it is a new artillery developed by our Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of War. It has a firing rate of one round every thirty breaths and can shoot straight at a distance of sixty to sixty-five feet. However, it is very unstable and is prone to duds in rainy weather. If it is too bumpy during transportation, it will also explode and cause heavy casualties."

Pan Yun looked Kuang Ping up and down and asked: "Are you researching artillery in the Ministry of Industry?"

Kuang Ping smiled slightly: "I not only study artillery, but also fire guns, thunder cannons and hundred-shot muskets. Because these things have extremely strict requirements on materials, I also dabble in smelting..."

Pan Yun's face turned pale: "Why did the court send you here?"

"What?" Kuang Ping was a little confused and didn't understand why she was suddenly angry.

Pan Yun: "Shouldn't talents like you be protected so that you can concentrate on researching materials and artillery? They actually sent you to Japan!"

Is this Japan a good place?
Not to mention that the current relationship between the two countries is somewhat ambiguous, and unrest may occur at any time and people may die here. Just the huge strait in the middle and the possible acclimatization in a foreign country can be life-threatening.

The imperial court actually sent such an important person as Kuang Ping here.

Pan Yun was indignant.

Kuang Ping was stunned for a moment, then he smiled and said soothingly: "It is a blessing for me to be able to refine silver for Your Majesty. This is because the court sees that I am loyal and trusts me."

Pan Yun looked at him steadily.

Kuang Ping felt warm inside. Although he was still embarrassed, he had the courage to speak: "Master Pan, can you show me the formula for this gunpowder? I am willing to pay, but I don't have much money. But if I succeed in my research, I will definitely write a letter to ask for credit for Master Pan."

Pan Yun waved his hand and said, "This gunpowder formula is not mine, it belongs to my nephew Miao Zhen, you can ask her."

Miao Zhen nodded directly: "Okay, no need for money. If you want to ask for the credit, if Lord Kuang is willing, please give this credit to my master, Xia Guanzheng of the Imperial Observatory."

Kuangping happily agreed.

That’s great. It’s his great fortune that he can continue to study artillery here.

Pan Yun felt that this was the misfortune of the Ming Dynasty.

She cursed the dog emperor in her heart, and went to copy a stack of information that Pan Xiaohei had found. Only then did she feel better.

Pan Xiaohei: "...There are so many things. How long are you going to finish copying them?"

"These are all the crystallization of the wisdom of our predecessors. I just copied them directly. How could I complain that there are too many things? Will it take too long?" Pan Yun said, "Oh, right, let's look for the manufacturing of cannons and muskets, as well as the materials and parts for them."

Pan Xiaohei: "Do you want to find out the machine tool information as well?"

"Huh? Didn't you find it?"

Pan Xiaohei: ...

Pan Yun: "With the craftsmanship and material technology of the Ming Dynasty, it is entirely possible to produce more powerful cannons and more convenient muskets. I think their slow technological progress is entirely due to the lack of use."

Pan Xiaohei: "You are a bit fierce. Don't forget that you are a person who cultivates merits. If you get involved in this kind of military affairs, you will suffer."

Pan Jun responded, "I know, I know, I'm just giving you an introduction. Whether it can be done and what it will be like depends on the abilities of Kuang Ping and the others." Pan Xiaohei could only continue to help her find information.

As the sun was setting, Xue Shao came in with a few official documents and said, "I've compiled them. Together with the silver refined today, we already have 200,000 taels of silver. The new production line is already stable and very useful. The ore mined by the miners is not enough. Besides, it's getting cold. If we wait any longer, it will be inconvenient to sail on the sea."

Pan Yun put down his pen and pondered, "Is the Ming envoy still in the capital?"

Xue Shao said: "That's exactly what I want to say. I heard that they have already gone to Sakai Port and are going back from Sakai Port. Should we catch up with them and go with them?"

Pan Yun thought for a moment and nodded: "Okay, our ship will also need the army's protection when it sails back."

Two hundred thousand taels of silver is a considerable sum of money.

Wang Cong began to arrange people to transport silver bricks to the ship at Wenquanjinmachi Port in an orderly manner.

To this end, he spent money to buy a lot of local specialties, hid the silver under them, and sent them to the ship in boxes.

Upon seeing this, other forces accelerated their mining efforts, trying to ensure that Wang Cong and the imperial court's several silver refining production lines continued uninterrupted.

After all, the more ore they mine, the more money they will get in the end.

When the final accounts were settled, Xue Shao had more than 200,000 taels in his account. According to the initial agreement, after distributing the silver to the parties who sent the ore, Xue Shao recorded the remaining money in the public account and asked Kuang Ping and Wang Cong to use it for mining expenses.

Wang Cong also got a lot, but he did not keep any of it and distributed it directly to Song Dalin and others.

Then he went to find Kuang Ping and said with a smile: "My junior uncle and the court have reached an agreement. All the silver in this first ship will be shipped back to the court. From now on, we will each refine our own products and have nothing to do with each other."

Kuang Ping was stunned, knowing that they would have to rely on themselves from now on.

Song Dalin was allocated 48 taels of silver, of which 24 taels were wages. His monthly wage was 6 taels, but he also received 1 tael of fever allowance and 1 tael of homesickness allowance, so he received 8 taels per month.

They worked here for three months and were paid three months' wages. The remaining twenty-four taels were a reward from Wang Cong.

In Wang Cong's words, "We only have so few people, the furnace is newly built, everything is new. You can complete the court's task within three months during such a difficult time, and you deserve a reward!"

"After this, we will refine silver for ourselves. From now on, your basic wages will remain the same, but your dividends will be increased. The dividends will be calculated based on the total amount of silver refined each quarter and your personal contribution."

He said loudly: "I know that you followed my junior master across mountains and seas to a foreign country just to make money and live a good life! Since I have taken you over from my junior master, I will uphold the promise she made and share the hardships and wealth with you all!"

Song Dalin and the others held the cold silver in their arms, but their hearts were warm. They clenched their fists and responded loudly: "We share adversity! We share wealth!"

Kuang Ping, who was standing on a hilltop a hill away from here, looked into the distance and heard the faint whistling sound. He could not help but sigh: "If the court does not send a large army, we may not be able to rob Wang Cong of this silver mountain."

The Jinyiwei standing by thought he was overthinking it and said, "Once this ship of silver is shipped out, it won't be long before the Japanese here will notice it. Instead of worrying about Wang Cong, we should worry about these Japanese."

Kuangping said: "The Muromachi shogunate has already given us Omori Township as a Han Township."

Jinyiwei: "Sir, the shogun of the shogunate cannot rule over the local daimyo. Let's not talk about the chaotic Japan. Even in the Ming Dynasty, isn't it true that a strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake? Otherwise, why is the illegal mining of silver mines in Jiangxi, Zhejiang and Fujian so persistent despite repeated bans?"

Kuang Ping was silent.

Jinyiwei said: "Pan Yun presented this silver mountain to the court, but turned around and asked his nephew to dig for silver. He knew that we couldn't enjoy it alone. Including those people in the martial arts world, they all wanted to dig as long as they could."

So even though there is competition among them, everyone is very united because there are stronger opponents outside of them.

Wang Cong also knew that Pan Yun was dead, so he could safely hand over the matter of the silver mine to Song Dalin and Wang Xiaojing, and then he would follow a part of the imperial army to escort the silver back.

Pan Jun and the others were not in a hurry to leave. After all, they could fly back.

But they couldn't leave for too long because they had to protect the ships.

This silver is crucial to whether the maritime ban can be lifted.

Only when the emperor and the court see the benefits of this silver mountain will they be willing to take a step forward.

This time two ships returned, and Pan Yun, as usual, left one ship for the people in Japan.

It was also because of this ship that many people decided to stay and mine, and only a very small number of people took the money they received and went back with Wang Cong.

Xue Hua and Zhang Weiliang played rock-paper-scissors, and in the end Xue Hua was able to return to China, while Zhang Weiliang stayed to preach.

Yes, their mission had nothing to do with silver mining. When Pan Yun came, he brought a letter from the academy.

The commander ordered them to stay in Japan and spread the gospel of the Three Pure Ones.

Zhang Weiliang was very puzzled. Why did they spread this?
Does Taoism lack believers?

Aren’t they just going with the flow?
If the Dharma does not reach more than six ears, how can it be passed on to others everywhere?

He also came into contact with many Japanese during this period. He felt that they had no affinity with immortality and there was no need to preach here.

However, he was far away from Longhu Mountain, and it would take a very long time to send back the letter with all the words in his heart.

It had to be sent back by Pan Yunfei when he returned, and then sent to Longhu Mountain via the post office in Quanzhou.

Pan Yun has been obsessed with researching the silver refining production line recently and has only returned three times in total.

All his hopes were on this return trip, but in the end he lost the game of rock-paper-scissors.

Zhang Weiliang stood at the harbor, watching them leave with a bleak look on his face.

Tao Yanbai stood behind him, patted his shoulder sympathetically and said, "Don't be sad. With my senior brother's love of making money, he will be back soon. Then you can take the next boat back."

Zhang Weiliang said expressionlessly, "That's what you said when you left five months ago. You said I was injured and I would return on the next ship when I recovered. What happened now?"

Tao Yanbai felt a little embarrassed and took his hand back: "We didn't expect the academy to arrange it this way."

Zhang Weiliang snorted and said, "You don't know, but Pan Yun definitely knows. This Taoist temple is what she wanted to build, so she must also know that we need to keep people here to preach. Maybe it was her who proposed this."

Tao Yanbai remained silent because it was Pan Yun who really proposed this matter.

Zhang Weiliang knew it as soon as he saw his expression, and gritted his teeth and said, "She is taking revenge for her personal gain!"

(End of this chapter)