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

In the depths of winter of the eighth year of the Zhengtong reign, the Forbidden City was blanketed in a heavy snowfall that lasted for several days.

The fluttering snowflakes shrouded the streets and alleys of Shuntian Prefecture in a silvery white.

In the freezing cold, ordinary people stay indoors early in the morning, gathering around charcoal braziers to keep warm.

However, in this seemingly quiet winter, a secluded alley in the south of the capital city is bustling with activity.

This is the back room of "Huitong Money Shop," one of the most prestigious money shops in the capital.

Wang Zhen, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, had at this moment shed his conspicuous eunuch attire from the palace.

He changed into a gray squirrel fur cloak often worn by wealthy merchants, and put on a felt hat, which covered most of his fair and beardless face.

He sat upright in a rosewood armchair, holding a cup of hot tea in both hands, but his palms were sweating profusely.

Opposite him, the head manager of the money shop was holding a golden nanmu abacus, making a clicking sound as he fiddled with it.

On the table, a stack of land deeds bearing the official seal of the Imperial Household Department were prominently displayed.

These are the deeds to four imperial estates in the suburbs of Beijing, plus the property deeds to more than a dozen fine shops in the capital.

"Sir, I have examined all the deeds you brought. They are all for top-quality permanent properties."

The head manager pushed up his tortoiseshell reading glasses, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes, but his face was plastered with a shrewd smile.

"However, 300,000 taels of silver is simply too large an amount. At the end of the year, merchants from all walks of life need to withdraw silver for cash flow, and money shops are facing a shortage of cash. What do you think of the interest rate…?"

Wang Zhen cursed these bloodsucking merchants inwardly, but on the surface he could only pretend to be calm and said in a low voice:

"Shopkeeper, let's not beat around the bush. My master urgently needs this money to start a big business in the south. The interest is negotiable, according to market rates, it's three percent per month! As long as the money can be withdrawn today, the land deed will be held as collateral here with you."

"The principal and interest will be returned in three months!"

Upon hearing this, the head manager's eyes flashed with a hint of cunning, then he sighed as if in difficulty and suddenly slapped his thigh.

"Fine! Considering I'm a straightforward man, Huitong Money Exchange will take the deal! Someone, go to the treasury and get the silver notes, plus 100,000 taels of cash to pack into boxes!"

An hour later, a dozen or so horse-drawn carriages arrived, each loaded with heavy wooden crates.

Under the cover of wind and snow, it silently drove out of the alley and sped towards Daningwei outside the city.

Wang Zhen sat in the carriage, touching the thick stack of silver notes in his arms, trembling with excitement.

"Your Majesty, I've borrowed the initial capital for you! Now we can finally turn our losses around!"

Qianqing Palace, East Warm Pavilion.

Zhu Qizhen listened to Wang Zhen's report.

Seeing the three hundred thousand taels of silver, he was so excited that he swept the memorials on his desk to the ground.

"Good job, Wang Banban!"

The young emperor's eyes were bloodshot, like a gambler who had lost everything.

They finally found the last piece of the puzzle to turn the tide.

"With this money, those troublemakers causing trouble in the imperial estate can be appeased. The remaining 200,000 taels should be used immediately to purchase the finest silks and porcelain from the Suzhou and Hangzhou area in Jiangnan."

"Remember, be quick! Before that old scoundrel notices, under the guise of imperial procurement, head straight for the South Seas by sea and transport the goods to Annam!"

Zhu Qizhen became more and more excited as he spoke, pacing back and forth in the warm pavilion.

It was as if he could already see countless mountains of gold and silver beckoning to him.

"Annam's spices, rhinoceros horn, and gemstones are incredibly valuable in the Ming Dynasty! That old scoundrel used the Taicang's silver to do business and made a fortune. Why can't I do the same?"

"If this trip goes smoothly, I will not only be able to pay off the debts to the banks, but also make a net profit of over a million taels! At that time, I will recruit 30,000 private soldiers and see what Gu Yannian will use to intimidate me!"

Wang Zhen was also deeply moved and immediately knelt down and kowtowed.

"I'll get on it right away! I'll make sure this deal is done discreetly, and we bring back Annam's gold and silver for His Majesty!"

A massive smuggling operation, personally planned by the emperor and escorted by eunuchs, quietly unfolded on this snowy night.

However, the master and servant, who thought they had gotten away with it, were completely unaware of the truth.

Just as Wang Zhen stepped out of the gate of Huitong Money Shop, the shop's head manager changed into a blue robe.

He slipped out through the back door and went straight into the Chief Minister's office next to the Wenhua Hall.

The duty room was warm and cozy.

Gu Yannian, dressed in a moon-white casual robe, was holding a scroll of "Essential Techniques for the Common People," reading it with great interest.

The spring water on the small red clay stove was bubbling just right.

[Ding! Today's attendance complete. Attribute point gained +1.]

"Add to intelligence."

With a thought, Gu Yannian's mind became instantly clear.

He put down his book and looked up at the bank manager who stood respectfully before the desk.

Zhao Si.

"Your Excellency, the fish has taken the bait."

Zhao Siqiang suppressed a laugh and bowed to report.

"Wang Zhen obtained the imperial estate deeds from the inner palace and borrowed 300,000 taels of silver from our Huitong Money Exchange, at a monthly interest rate of 3%. The contract is legally binding, in black and white."

"If they don't come out in three months, those land deeds will belong to the money house."

Gu Yannian picked up the teacup, brushed away the foam, and took a small sip.

The smile at the corner of his mouth was as gentle as a spring breeze, yet it revealed a profound sense of control over all living beings.

"For a mere three percent profit, this young emperor is truly willing to go to great lengths. It seems those freeloaders have pushed him to the limit."

Gu Yannian put down his teacup, making a crisp sound as it touched the cup.

"Prime Minister, the Emperor is most likely borrowing this money to smuggle goods to Annam. Shouldn't we order the checkpoints along the route to seize their caravans?"

"According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, anyone who goes to sea without permission shall be beheaded. Your Majesty is leading the way in breaking the law."

Zhao Si cautiously asked for instructions.

"Why deduct it?"

Gu Yannian opened the plain folding fan in his hand and shook it gently.

"It's better to guide than to block. Since His Majesty wishes to learn the ways of commerce, I, as the Grand Tutor, will naturally help him achieve that."

"At all checkpoints along the way, any ships bearing the flag of the Imperial Household Department shall be allowed to pass without any obstruction."

Zhao Si was taken aback, his face full of confusion.

"Prime Minister, if they really manage to transport the silk to Annam and exchange it for spices, wouldn't the Emperor's private treasury double? With that money, the private army on the imperial estate can truly be trained."

Gu Yan chuckled lightly, a hint of world-weary mockery in his laughter.

"Zhao Si, you only know one side of the story. The business world is like a battlefield; money alone doesn't guarantee profits. In business, it's all about momentum."

Gu Yannian stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the heavy snow falling outside.

"The market prices of silk from Jiangnan and spices from Annam have always been determined by the Ministry of Revenue. Does Your Majesty think that by taking secret routes you can circumvent the court's rules?"

"He's too naive. Send my order immediately to the Jiangnan Provincial Administration Commission and the Textile Bureau."

A chilling glint flashed in Gu Yannian's eyes.

"Wang Zhen went to collect silk, so let him do it. However, starting today, the price of raw silk on the market will increase by 20%."

"If the Imperial Household Department wants to buy, then buy at the increased price. In addition, send an urgent message to Chen Dingyuan, the Naval Commander-in-Chief, and Fan Wenqiao, the Military Governor of Annam."

"When the Imperial Household's merchant ships arrive in Annam, they are all allowed to pass and trade. However, the rules of trade need to be changed."

Gu Yannian closed his folding fan, tapped on the window frame, and said, word by word:

"Annam levies a 40% tariff on foreign merchant ships that are not registered with the Ministry of Revenue. The price of spices is increased by 30% when they are purchased."

"In short, let them leave half of the silver they brought in Jiangnan and half in Annam."