Persuasion

Pan Yun said, "There's no need to be so formal with me. Official Cao invited me here, so if you have something to say, please speak plainly. Just as you said, whether it's people or goods, anyone going out to sea must pass through the Maritime Trade Office. Even if I have no use for it now, my Senior Martial Nephew will need it later. I don't want to ruin my relationship with Official Cao either—but I, Pan Yun, am not someone to be bullied at will."

She gave Cao Jixiang a thorough once-over and said, "Fortunately, I've met Official Cao before and know what kind of person you are. In terms of character, you're more than a little better than that Wang Zhen. That's why I was willing to bring people from my sect here to speak with you."

After pondering for a moment, Cao Jixiang said, "I heard Daoist Priestess Pan's three ships are about to depart for Japan. How many people will the Navy government office and the Prefectural Yamen send over this time?"

Pan Yun smiled faintly. "Official Cao wants me to take your people over too?"

Cao Jixiang said gravely, "The Maritime Trade Office cannot procure seagoing ships for the moment. Daoist Priestess Pan, whether that silver mountain in Japan will be handed to the Navy government office for mining, to the Maritime Trade Office, or to some newly established department is still unknown. Isn't it a little early to choose sides now?"

"I don't care about any of that," Pan Yun said. "I'm opening the silver mountain to all. So long as they are citizens of the Ming Dynasty, I don't care whether they belong to some Imperial Court office, are people of the martial world, gentry, merchants, or even Sea Pirates. As long