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

He had just finished reviewing dozens of memorials, his chubby cheeks were covered in sweat, and his eyes revealed a hint of barely concealed irritation.

"Recorder Gu, how's the account reconciliation going in Shandong?"

Zhu Gaochi sat down on the cool couch next to him, picked up a bowl of chilled mung bean soup and drank it all in one gulp.

Gu Yannian closed the account book, placed it aside, got up and walked to Zhu Gaochi, respectfully handing him a handkerchief soaked in cold water.

"Your Highness, the accounts are largely correct."

Gu Yannian said calmly, "But this reconciliation of accounts reminded me of an interesting incident."

"Oh? What an interesting story! Tell me about it, just to relieve your boredom."

Zhu Gaochi wiped the sweat from his face and looked at him with great interest.

Gu Yannian bowed slightly and said, "Back in my hometown, I once saw a noodle shop owner keeping accounts. He was an honest man; he remembered exactly how much flour he bought and how many bowls of noodles he sold each day. But at the end of the month, he was always in the red."

"He was completely baffled. Later, after observing secretly, he discovered that it was the worker who kneaded the dough who secretly hid a small lump in the gap of the kneading board every time he kneaded the dough."

"Over time, it adds up to a considerable sum."

Zhu Gaochi was an exceptionally intelligent man.

Upon hearing this, his expression changed slightly, and the handkerchief in his hand froze in mid-air.

Gu Yannian continued in a casual, conversational tone:

"The shopkeeper questioned the employee, who protested his innocence, saying that it was rainy in the height of summer, and the flour was bound to get damp and moldy, resulting in inevitable losses. The shopkeeper then checked the old almanac and found that although it had rained that month, it was mostly sunny. The flour warehouse was located on high ground, so how could it have gotten 20% damp? This lie naturally fell apart."

A deathly silence fell over the main hall.

Zhu Gaochi's eyes, which had been tired, now became incredibly sharp.

He stared intently at Gu Yannian, his breathing growing heavier.

"Recorder Gu, I understand your amusing story."

Zhu Gaochi spoke in a low voice, pointing to the account books on Gu Yannian's desk.

"Bring me that old almanac to take a look."

Gu Yannian didn't say much, and turned to look at the account books of the Shandong Provincial Administration Commission.

Along with the geomantic records of the Imperial Observatory, it was presented to Zhu Gaochi.

Zhu Gaochi quickly flipped through the two booklets.

After comparing the loss report from Jinan Prefecture with the meteorological records from the Imperial Observatory...

The veins on the back of his chubby hand bulged as he slammed his hand hard on the small table on the cool couch.

"You scoundrel! With the nation in peril, how dare you pull such a deceptive trick right under my nose!"

Zhu Gaochi gritted his teeth, his low voice filled with boundless rage.

"They're cutting off the lives of the soldiers on the front lines, in order to cut off my own retreat!"

Gu Yannian took a half step back, looking down at his nose, as if the person who had just told the story was not him at all.

"Gu Yannian, you did very well. Excellent."

Zhu Gaochi took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger, and looked at this usually unassuming seventh-rank official with a complicated expression.

"If it weren't for your meticulous attention to detail, I would have suffered a major setback this time."

"This humble official was merely fulfilling his duty and making wild guesses; he is unworthy of Your Highness's praise."

Gu Yannian cupped his hands in greeting.

Zhu Gaochi stood up, picked up the two booklets, and strode towards the main hall.

He ordered an immediate and secret deployment of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Censorate to thoroughly investigate the Shandong grain supply case with swift and decisive action.

Since the King of Han's men have extended their claws, he, as the eldest brother, shouldn't blame them for chopping them off directly.

Gu Yannian watched Zhu Gaochi's departing figure and sat back down at his desk.

He picked up a pen, drew a small circle on a piece of scrap paper, then crumpled it up and threw it into the wastebasket next to him.

He didn't want to get involved in the power struggles within the imperial court.

But this doesn't stop him from subtly shifting the beads of fate's abacus without even realizing it.

As for how big the ripples will be, that's up to the player who makes the move.

Autumn of the eighth year of the Yongle reign.

The cool autumn breeze dispelled the sweltering heat that had lingered in Nanjing for months.

A messenger also arrived with an urgent report that brought joy to the entire nation.

"A great victory! A great victory at the front! His Majesty personally led his iron cavalry to a crushing defeat of the Tatar Khan Bunyashiri on the banks of the Onon River! Tens of thousands were beheaded, and countless cattle and sheep were seized!"

The victorious cavalry, with red flags on their backs, charged into the gates of Nanjing, shouting as they went, their hooves shattering the tranquility of the morning.

The entire capital city instantly erupted in excitement, with people flooding the streets, cheering and jumping for joy.

Having suffered a crushing defeat last year, the Ming Dynasty desperately needed this resounding victory to wash away the humiliation and restore the prestige of the Celestial Empire.

Inside the Wenhua Hall, Zhu Gaochi held the victory report in his hands, trembling with excitement, his eyes reddening.

"May the Emperor's might prevail! May the Ming Dynasty triumph forever!"

The crown prince, who had been overseeing the country for more than half a year, finally had the heaviest burden lifted from his heart.

For the past six months, he has been walking on thin ice, raising military supplies and dealing with hidden attacks, and now he has finally made it through.

Gu Yannian stood under the corridor of the side hall, watching the palace maids and eunuchs weep with joy, a faint smile on his face.

This victory was within his expectations. Zhu Di's military talent ranks among the best in Chinese history. An army of 500,000 against the long-declining remnants of the Mongol Empire was inherently a crushing defeat.

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

The familiar mechanical voice rang out in my mind right on time.

Gu Yannian allocated his attribute points to "Constitution".

He closed his eyes, feeling the increasingly unfathomable power within him, his mind as lofty and clear as the autumn sky.

The army's triumphant return was scheduled for early October.

That day, the entire city of Nanjing was deserted.

Gu Yannian did not join the crowd outside Chengtian Gate to welcome the emperor.

He simply asked for leave from the Wenhua Hall in advance and returned to his quiet little courtyard.

In the corner of the yard, the chili pepper plants were growing vigorously, their branches and leaves laden with bright red, sharp little peppers that pointed straight to the sky.

Under the autumn sun, they resembled clusters of dancing flames.

Gu Yannian took a small bamboo basket, moved a small stool, and sat down on the ground.

Patiently pick the ripe peppers one by one.

His movements were very gentle, as if he were handling some rare treasure.

From the direction of the city gate, the deafening shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" could be faintly heard.

That was Emperor Yongle, Zhu Di, receiving the worship of all people with unparalleled glory.

One can imagine that Zhu Di must have been in high spirits at this time.

He felt that the immortal achievements he had built were comparable to those of Emperor Wu of Han and Emperor Taizong of Tang.

"One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand; the imperial ambitions are but a joke."

Gu Yannian tossed a bright red chili pepper into the bamboo basket and hummed an unknown tune softly.

He possesses an endless lifespan, so he can see outcomes that ordinary people cannot.

The victory at the Onon River was glorious, but it was only the beginning.

Zhu Di's remaining years would be spent in endless wars against the Mongols.

Five Northern Expeditions, and in the end he would fall on the banks of the Yumu River on his return from the fifth Northern Expedition.

The rise and fall of dynasties and the succession of emperors are but fleeting ripples in the long river of time.

Gu Yannian spread the picked chili peppers in a winnowing basket and placed it in the center of the yard to dry.

The air was filled with a pungent yet enticing spicy aroma.

He turned around and went back inside, lit a small red clay stove, placed a ceramic teapot on it, and brewed a pot of aged Pu'er tea.

Boiling water bubbles, and the aroma of tea fills the air.

Gu Yannian picked up his teacup, walked to the eaves, and quietly watched the autumn leaves falling in the courtyard.

Outside, there was the hustle and bustle and glory that belonged to Zhu Di.

This small courtyard, however, is his own private haven of tranquility and eternal life.

During his six months of service at the Wenhua Hall, he witnessed the cruelty of power and also managed to resolve the Crown Prince's crisis.

But he did not become addicted to the thrill of strategizing.

Tomorrow, the 500,000-strong army will be rewarded for their merits, and the imperial court will face another round of reshuffling.

But Gu Yannian remained the same seventh-rank clerk who was always on time for his shift.

The warm tea soothed his throat, and Gu Yannian let out a satisfied sigh.

Time flows on, and good things happen one after another.

The Ming Dynasty is still far from over.