When Pan Yun returned to the Capital City, their quarrel had reached its fiercest point.
Pan Yun did not even visit Father and Brother. She went straight into the palace with her three nephew-disciples and took up residence in the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.
No sooner had she entered the palace than she appeared before the Emperor.
Zhu Qiyu was somewhat anxious. Seeing her leisurely sipping tea, he hurriedly asked, "National Preceptor, is it truly all right to let them carry on like this?"
Pan Yun said, "Let them argue. When it comes to quarrelling, how could military officers possibly outtalk civil officials?"
Zhu Qiyu said, "But military officers can rebel."
"Datong's troops are in Kuang Ye's hands. His Majesty holds the Imperial Guards, Chen Huai has no leverage, Wang Ji is fiercely loyal, Jing Yuan now has considerable influence in the army, and as for Yang Hong... he values his reputation and has a brain. Shi Heng cannot talk him into it."
Zhu Qiyu slowly sat down. "Then..."
Pan Yun said, "His Majesty, the corruption of military officers and noble clans does not involve only those military officers and noble clans. They are often allied with local gentry and powerful families, while those local gentry and powerful families have countless threads of connection to civil officials. If a true investigation is launched, not one of them will escape. Their silence now is only because they think His Majesty cannot carry the investigation through to the end."
Thinking of last year's disastrous personal campaign, Zhu Qiyu's face turned livid. "The Ming Dynasty's military administration truly needs reform."
Pan Yun's gaze flickered slightly. "But reform cannot be achieved in a single stroke. It must first be tested on a small scale."
Zhu Qiyu asked, "Like the reform of the Fengyang imperial clan?"