Pan Yun wanted to first establish telegraph signal receiving stations in the north and build a complete intelligence system.
After deliberation between the Grand Secretariat and the Emperor, it was ultimately decided that this intelligence system would be managed by the Imperial Guards, with the Eastern Depot assisting from the side.
Yu Qian and the others were unwilling, but the Emperor insisted. The technology had come from Pan Yun, and only Pan Yun could bring telegraph machines across the entire northern frontier in the short term. So even if they disagreed, they could not prevail against the two of them.
Pan Yun took out the map she had brought from the imperial study, spread it open, and drew several circles on it. She said to Tao Yanbai, "We need to go to all these places."
Tao Yanbai curiously pointed to a spot in the west and asked, "Where is this?"
"Yining. It is the political center of Yilibali. The Imperial Court has an intelligence unit stationed there. We need to deliver a telegraph machine to them and teach them how to use it."
Tao Yanbai's finger moved a great distance northward. Eyes wide, he asked, "And where is this?"
Pan Yun said, "Tielian Guti. The Irtysh River is beside it. This is where the Oirats have troops stationed. Northern army scouts are undercover there, gathering intelligence. We need to send them a telegraph machine too."
Tao Yanbai asked, "Will they also come under the Imperial Guards?"
Pan Yun shook her head. "They belong to the military, not the Imperial Guards."
She said, "The Imperial Guards can work with every department and institution in court. In particular, intelligence from outside must be promptly updated to the Grand Secretariat, the Ministry of War, and the Court of State Ceremonial. But the military