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

In the late autumn of the eleventh year of the Zhengtong reign, the winds from the north carried coarse yellow sand.

It cuts across the undulating wasteland outside Datong Town like a knife.

On the official road leading to Datong City, two hundred Imperial Guards escorted several carriages, struggling through the cold wind.

Inside the large carriage in the center, Prince Zhu Qiyu of Cheng did not, as is the case with other nobles, lean against a soft cushion, close his eyes to rest, or hold a warm stove and sip tea.

He sat upright in the slightly bumpy carriage, with a thick book, "Datongwei Tuntian Yulin Supplementary Register," on the small table in front of him.

His hands, which were originally used to hold a purple-tipped paintbrush to depict distant mountains and clear waters, were now tightly gripping a large, scarred sandalwood abacus.

"Pat...pat..."

The crisp clinking of the abacus beads echoed through the carriage, somewhat drowning out the howling north wind outside the window.

Zhu Qiyu's eyes were focused and held a chilling coldness.

The journey of more than half a month allowed him to completely bid farewell to the comforts and pleasures of the capital.

The wind and frost of the north had stained his originally fair face with a layer of tan, but it had also stripped away the last trace of his fragility.

"Your Highness, Datong City is another ten miles ahead."

Outside the carriage window, a Jinyiwei commander accompanying the group reported in a low voice.

Zhu Qiyu paused slightly as he manipulated the abacus beads, then looked up, a sharp glint flashing in his clear, cold eyes.

"Datong" (Great Harmony).

He carefully chewed on those two words between his lips and teeth.

Before his departure, the emperor shouted angrily from the Meridian Gate tower, and the chief minister Gu gave him the instruction to "measure with your feet and dig with your hands".

It echoed in his ears day and night like a curse.

He knew that Datong City appeared to be a formidable pass against the Tatars.

However, in the matter of land reclamation, a pack of ravenous wolves was lurking within.

Shi Heng, the commander-in-chief of Datong, had just been hit in the face with an abacus by his elder brother, the emperor, in the Wenhua Hall a few days ago, and had 100,000 taels of silver deducted from his pay. He must be full of resentment at this moment.

"Pass down the order: upon entering the city, no unauthorized personnel will be seen, and no visiting cards will be accepted. The convoy shall proceed directly to the General's Office in Datong."

Zhu Qiyu coldly gave the order.

"Your subordinate obeys!"

At this time, outside Datong City, there was a ten-mile-long pavilion.

Liu Ju, the deputy commander of Datong, was leading a group of officers and guerrillas of all ranks in Datong Town, eagerly awaiting their arrival in the cold wind.

Since returning from the capital, Shi Heng has been claiming illness and staying home.

He lost face before the emperor.

Now that he heard that the imperial court had sent an imperial envoy to inspect the military farms, he was even more furious.

However, he dared not openly defy the imperial decree, so he pushed the task of receiving the imperial envoy to Deputy Commander Liu Ju.

Liu Ju was a seasoned veteran who had spent two or three decades working on the border.

He rubbed his hands, which were a little stiff from the cold, and looked at the dust rising from the official road in the distance.

A dismissive smile played at the corners of his lips.

"Deputy Commander Liu, this imperial envoy sent from the capital, I've heard, is that famously wealthy and idle man, His Highness Prince Cheng?"

A lieutenant general leaned forward and asked in a low voice.

"This fellow spends all his time tending to flowers and plants in the Tenth Prince's mansion. How could he possibly understand the hardships on our frontier? The Emperor sent him to inspect the military farms; is it just a formality?"

Liu Ju sneered, his eyes full of contempt.

"What does a fifteen-year-old know about land reclamation? If he did, pigs would fly! These royal relatives are the easiest to fool."

"As long as we provide him with good food and drink, give him plenty of money as a tribute, and take him to some abandoned salt flats outside the city to complain about his troubles, he will surely obediently return to the capital to report back."

"General, you are absolutely right! I have prepared a welcome banquet at the best restaurant in the city, Zuixianlou. Roasted whole lamb, aged liquor, and several courtesans from Jiangnan are all ready."

"I guarantee this Prince Cheng will be so happy he'll never want to leave!"

As the two were talking in hushed tones, the Imperial Guard's escort cavalry arrived at the pavilion.

Liu Ju quickly put on a fawning smile and led his generals forward to greet them with a grand salute.

"This humble general, Liu Ju, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Datong, along with the generals of Datong, respectfully welcomes His Highness Prince Cheng! Your Highness has had a long journey, and we have prepared a modest feast within the city to welcome you and wash away the dust of your journey!"

Liu Ju shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice filled with boundless enthusiasm.

The carriage slowly came to a stop.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Zhu Qiyu stepped down from the carriage with the help of the Imperial Guards.

Liu Ju raised his head and secretly sized up the prince who was rumored to be powerless.

Zhu Qiyu was dressed in a black casual suit, his face expressionless, but his posture was ramrod straight.

There was no fear of the harsh cold of the border region in his eyes as he had expected.

Instead, it reveals a shrewdness and discernment honed from years of immersion in the accounting office.

Where is General Shi?

Zhu Qiyu ignored Liu Ju's welcoming remarks and went straight to the point.

Liu Ju's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly smiled apologetically.

"Your Highness, General Shi caught a cold while inspecting the border wall a few days ago, and his old injuries have flared up. He is currently bedridden. He has specially ordered me to greet Your Highness on his behalf."

"Your Highness, please enter the city first for the banquet. After resting for a day, I will accompany Your Highness to visit the General's Mansion."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Qiyu's lips curled into a mocking sneer.

Have you caught a cold?

Perhaps she's heartbroken over the 100,000 taels of silver that her elder brother withheld, and that's why she's acting out.

"Since General Shi is ill, I will not disturb him any longer. Where shall we hold this welcoming banquet?"

Zhu Qiyu asked calmly.

When Liu Ju heard the Prince of Cheng inquire about the banquet, he immediately felt relieved.

As expected of a young master raised in the deep palace, he forgot all about his business as soon as he heard there was food and drink.

"Your Highness, it will be held at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion in the city. That is the best restaurant in our Datong Town."

"Lead the way."

The group entered Datong City in a grand procession and headed straight for Zuixianlou.

The Drunken Immortal Pavilion had already been booked out.

In the most spacious private room on the second floor, the floor heating was blazing hot.

The eight-immortal table was laden with delicacies from land and sea, with a whole roasted lamb, golden and crispy, emitting an enticing aroma in the center.

Several graceful maids stood to one side, holding warm wine in their hands.

Liu Ju welcomed Zhu Qiyu to the seat of honor, while he himself sat in the lower seat to accompany him, and the other trusted officers took their seats in turn.

"Your Highness, Datong is cold and harsh, unlike the bustling capital. Please forgive our simple meal. Come, let me offer you a toast!"

Liu Ju picked up his wine cup, his face beaming with smiles.

Zhu Qiyu sat upright in the main seat and did not reach for the cup of wine.

His gaze slowly swept over the table full of delicacies, and his brows gradually furrowed.

Seeing this, Liu Ju assumed that the prince was disgusted by the food and quickly gave him a wink.

A lieutenant understood immediately, stood up, took out a mahogany box from his pocket, and respectfully presented it to Zhu Qiyu, gently opening it.

Inside the box, ten gleaming gold ingots, totaling over a hundred taels, were neatly stacked!

"Your Highness, this is a small token of our appreciation from the generals of Datong. Your Highness has traveled a long way to inspect this place, and your journey must be arduous. This small amount of gold is intended to help you purchase some calming tonics."

The adjutant spoke in a grand and dignified manner.

This is a common tactic used by border generals to deal with imperial envoys.

First, numb them with fine wine and meat, then seal their mouths with a large sum of money.

If it were an ordinary censor, seeing such a display, he would most likely accept it with a mix of reluctance and acceptance.

Then everyone would be nice to each other and work together to fool the imperial court.

Liu Ju looked at Zhu Qiyu expectantly, waiting for him to reach out and take the wooden box.

However, Zhu Qiyu's next move sent a chill down the spines of all the border generals present.

Zhu Qiyu didn't even glance at the gold in the box.

Instead, he reached into his wide sleeve and slowly pulled out the large sandalwood abacus.

"Bang."

The heavy abacus landed on the octagonal table, causing the several exquisite dishes to tremble slightly.

Liu Ju and the other generals were all stunned.

abacus?

Why is this imperial envoy bringing an abacus to the banquet?