Da Ming: The system granted me immortality; I clock in every day.

Jian Yi fell to his knees with a thud, his face as white as paper, his lips trembling.

But he couldn't utter a single word.

The evidence is irrefutable, leaving no room for further denial.

His seemingly flawless conspiracy was thwarted by this terrifying Grand Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue.

It was like a child's clumsy trick, stripped bare.

Zhu Zhanji looked at the corrupt officials kneeling on the ground, his heart burning with rage, and his eyes revealing murderous intent.

"Traitors! Corrupt officials! Bloodsuckers!"

The emperor roared and kicked over the golden crane incense burner next to the dragon throne.

"Issue the imperial decree! Dismiss Jian Yi from his post, arrest him, imprison him in the imperial prison, and subject him to a severe trial by the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

"Officials in Shandong involved in the case, those of the third rank or above, will be executed immediately, their families confiscated and exterminated! Those below the third rank will be exiled to Lingnan and never be employed again!"

The imperial guards stormed into the main hall like wolves and tigers, dragging Jian Yi and those usually aloof and righteous officials who spouted platitudes about benevolence and morality out of the palace.

Their desperate pleas for mercy echoed across the square, but they could not avert their doom.

"Prime Minister Gu."

Zhu Zhanji calmed his breathing and looked at Gu Yannian.

"Although the problems in Shandong have been solved, how will we solve the food shortage for the border troops? It will take time for the confiscated silver to be put into the treasury, and the soldiers on the border cannot wait."

Gu Yannian bowed slightly and calmly replied, "Your Majesty, please do not worry. When I sent Chen Jian to Shandong, I had already mobilized the Pingzhun Silver Bureau in Jiangnan. Since those grain merchants dared to buy military rations, I made them return what they had taken, with interest."

"Your Majesty has ordered the establishment of checkpoints along the Grand Canal, and all grain transport ships bound for Jiangnan will be forcibly purchased at 30% of the market price."

"Currently, 300,000 shi of new grain are already on their way to Dezhouwei. The border will not descend into chaos."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhanji breathed a long sigh of relief, his eyes filled with admiration and relief.

With a capable minister like Gu Yannian, whose wisdom is as deep as the sea, assisting the Ming Dynasty, how could it not prosper!

"Prime Minister Gu's strategic planning and ability to turn the tide have greatly pleased me. From this day forward, I entrust all appointments and removals of officials in the court, as well as the nation's finances, to you."

Zhu Zhanji said solemnly.

After the court session ended, the officials looked at Gu Yannian with a gaze that was no longer filled with jealousy and resentment, but with deep awe.

The sky over the imperial court has completely changed color.

Back in the warm pavilion of Jianji Hall.

Gu Yannian took off his heavy python robe and changed into a comfortable set of casual clothes.

He walked to the small red clay stove. Today, instead of tea being brewed, a small copper pot was placed on the stove.

The pot was bubbling with a bright red broth, emitting a rich, spicy aroma.

He picked up a slice of mutton, thinly sliced ​​like a cicada's wing, with bamboo chopsticks and dipped it three times in the boiling red broth.

Once the slices of meat turn white and curl slightly, dip them in the sauce and put them in your mouth.

Fresh, fragrant, numbing, and spicy flavors burst on the tongue in an instant.

"The mutton from the north is truly exceptional in winter."

Gu Yannian nodded in satisfaction.

Bloodshed and turmoil in the imperial court, the downfall of corrupt officials, and the changing of the guard among emperors.

It was as if everyone was shut out by the steaming heat of the hot pot.

For him, an immortal being with endless lifespan, scheming and plotting were nothing more than a pastime to pass the time during these long years.

It's quite amusing to watch those self-proclaimed brilliant mortals struggle in the trap he set.

The last rays of the setting sun shone through the window and onto the floor tiles.

Outside the door, Linghu An, the chief steward of the inner court, tiptoed in and respectfully reported.

"Prime Minister Gu, the preliminary calculation of the confiscation of the property of the Jian family and officials at all levels in Shandong over the past few days has been completed. A total of 5.2 million taels of silver, 100,000 mu of fertile land, and countless antiques and paintings have been seized."

"Please advise, Prime Minister Gu, on how to handle this?"

Gu Yannian put a piece of cooked cabbage into his mouth, chewed and swallowed it, and then slowly wiped his mouth.

"Half of the silver will be deposited into the Taicang treasury for the construction of the border wall next year. The other half will be allocated to the Ministry of Works to continue expanding water conservancy projects."

Gu Yannian spoke in a steady tone.

"As for those fertile fields, they shall be confiscated by the imperial court and distributed to landless refugees and retired elderly, weak, and disabled military households. Inform the officials under the Ministry of Revenue."

"This account must not be wrong by even a single penny."

Linghu An nodded repeatedly, secretly marveling to himself.

This prime minister was not only good at making money, but also at confiscating property.

With this inflow and outflow, the Ming Dynasty's national treasury was practically bursting.

"Yes, ma'am."

Just as Linghu An was about to leave, he suddenly heard a low drumbeat coming from the Drum Tower in the distance.

"Thump, thump, thump,"

The evening drum at dusk echoed softly over the snow-covered capital.

Gu Yannian put down his chopsticks, stood up, and naturally straightened his sleeves.

"Chief Steward Linghu."

"This servant is here."

That's enough for today.

Gu Yannian glanced at the sky outside, which was gradually darkening.

"Don't remove the remaining hot pot broth. Keep it, reheat it tomorrow morning, and it'll be perfect for adding noodles. This official... should leave the office now."

Under Linghu An's gaze, this powerful minister, who had just wiped out the entire court of upright officials and confiscated millions of taels of silver from their family, was now in a state of shock.

He simply opened an oil-paper umbrella and leisurely stepped into the wind and snow.

Snow was falling heavily on the long street.

Gu Yannian's back was as straight as a pine tree, appearing exceptionally otherworldly in this vast天地 (heaven and earth).

……

In the spring of the second year of the Xuande reign, a fine, dense rain enveloped the capital.

The yellow tiles of the Forbidden City were washed until they were exceptionally bright.

Inside the Wenhua Hall, the animal-shaped charcoal in the brazier was burning brightly, radiating a warm and cozy feeling.

However, this could not dispel the solemnity on the faces of the several important officials in the hall.

"Your Majesty! The traitorous general Le Loi of Jiaozhi has gathered 100,000 rebel troops and has repeatedly harassed our Ming garrison. Marquis Liu Sheng of Anyuan has been defeated and killed in battle, and the capital of Jiaozhi is in imminent danger!"

"This old minister requests permission to mobilize another 200,000 elite troops, personally led by this old minister, to march south and quell the rebellion. We will surely tear Lê Lợi to pieces to uphold the might of our Great Ming Dynasty!"

The speaker was Zhang Fu, the Duke of Ying, who was wearing a python robe.

This veteran of four dynasties, who had pacified Jiaozhi several times, now had his beard and hair bristling and his voice booming.

The vibrations caused the glass palace lanterns inside the hall to buzz loudly.

Yu Qian, a senior official in the Ministry of War, stood to one side with a furrowed brow.

Holding a thick stack of official documents from the Ministry of War, he looked troubled.

"Duke of England, it's not that the Ministry of War is unwilling to send troops. It's just that Jiaozhi is far in the southern border region, with high mountains, dense forests, and rampant miasma."

"If this army of 200,000 were to march south, the grain and fodder transported along the way would be extremely difficult; for every ten loads of rice transported to Jiaozhi, eight would be lost en route. Moreover…"

Yu Qian turned to look at Gu Yannian, who was sitting in the head seat, slowly peeling a Jinhua tangerine, and lowered his voice.

"The provisions and pay for this large army's march still need the Ministry of Revenue's approval."

Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, sat behind his desk, his fingers lightly tapping the tabletop, his expression shifting constantly.

He was martial from a young age, and the iron will of Emperor Taizong flowed in his veins.

With the death of Marquis Anyuan, the Ming Dynasty has lost a great general.

Such a humiliating disgrace made him wish he could immediately lead the army into battle.

But after these years of experience, he has come to know that war is a war that empties the national treasury.

He turned his gaze to the Grand Secretary, who seemed completely oblivious to the somber atmosphere that filled the hall.

"Prime Minister Gu."

Zhu Zhanji said slowly,

"The British have requested 200,000 troops. In your opinion, is the Ministry of Revenue able to justify this?"

Gu Yannian broke off a segment from the peeled orange, put it in his mouth, and chewed it carefully, savoring its sweet and slightly sour taste.

After swallowing, he picked up the silk handkerchief on the table, wiped his hands, and raised his deep, serene eyes.

"Return to Your Majesty."

Gu Yannian spoke in a calm tone, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

"It's not fair."