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

Outside Datong Town, rows of military camps were faintly visible in the wind and snow.

Inside the commander's tent, several large charcoal burners glowed red-hot.

Prince Zhu Qiyu of Cheng, wearing a worn sheepskin cloak, sat upright before the general's desk.

Four years of hardship on the frontier had long since washed away any trace of the effeminate and scholarly air that had been cultivated in the Tenth Prince's mansion.

His once fair complexion became rough and slightly dark, and he grew a short beard on his chin.

In the flickering candlelight, his eyes shone with a sharp and cold light, like those of a hawk.

"Pat-pat, pat..."

Inside the command tent, apart from the howling wind and snow outside, only the monotonous and crisp sound of the abacus could be heard.

To Zhu Qiyu's left were a dozen or so newly completed records of the autumn grain harvest in Xuanfu.

On his right was a large abacus made of sandalwood, a gift from his elder brother, which he had worn smooth and shiny from handling.

"Your Highness."

A general clad in heavy armor lifted the thick felt curtain and strode into the tent.

It brought in a biting cold wind.

The visitor was none other than Shi Heng, the General Commander of Datong.

Over the past four years, Shi Heng has been completely subdued by the Prince of Cheng before him.

Back then, relying on his command of a large army, he even tried to manipulate the accounts to deceive the imperial envoy.

As a result, Zhu Qiyu, with his iron shovel and abacus, managed to dig them up from Datong to Xuanfu.

Not only were all the hidden military settlements exposed, but a number of stubborn officers and soldiers were also executed according to the roster.

From then on, Shi Heng and other fierce border generals understood a principle:

Before this imperial envoy, swords and spears were useless; account books were the real threat.

"General Shi, what is it?"

Zhu Qiyu paused slightly, but did not look up.

"Your Highness, the winter fodder has been distributed to all the garrisons in accordance with the amount approved by Your Highness. The soldiers not only have enough to eat this year, but also have received sufficient winter clothing. They are all grateful for Your Highness's kindness in the camp."

Shi Heng reported respectfully, his tone carrying a hint of genuine awe.

Zhu Qiyu nodded slightly and adjusted the beads on the abacus to zero.

"The imperial court does not owe the soldiers any rations or pay, so the soldiers naturally have to guard this border for the Ming Dynasty. This is their duty, and there is no question of any favor owed to them."

Zhu Qiyu's tone was flat.

"Pass down the order to all battalions to intensify their training and not slacken their efforts because of the winter snow. Although the Oirat people were fooled by Gu Xiang's few carts of rotten tea leaves, a hungry wolf is still a hungry wolf, and we must be on guard."

"Your humble servant obeys!"

Just as Shi Heng was about to leave, a series of rapid hoofbeats suddenly came from outside the command tent.

Immediately following was the shouting of the soldiers guarding the camp.

"Who goes there! This is restricted camp territory; trespassers will be killed!"

"The Northern Garrison of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, acting on a secret order from Grand Secretary Gu, has dispatched an urgent message to His Highness Prince Cheng! Any obstruction will be considered treason!"

A hoarse yet chillingly murderous voice pierced through the wind and snow, reaching the commander's tent.

Zhu Qiyu suddenly raised his head, his brows furrowing slightly.

Gu Xiang's secret order?

In the four years since he left the capital, all imperial edicts have been issued by the Ministry of War or the Office of Transmission.

Gu Yannian rarely bypassed the cabinet and directly used the Embroidered Uniform Guard's undercover agents to send him messages.

Moreover, the messenger's desperate, hoarse voice, delivered through the night, must indicate that a tremendous upheaval had occurred in the capital.

"Let the messenger in!"

Zhu Qiyu said in a deep voice.

The tent flap was lifted, and a Jinyiwei guard, covered in snow and with ice crystals even on his eyebrows, stumbled into the tent.

He was panting heavily when he pulled a copper tube, tightly wrapped in oiled paper, from his bosom and raised it high with both hands.

"Your Highness... a sudden upheaval in the capital... Prime Minister Gu's secret order..."

The strongman had been running wildly for days and had long since exhausted himself. Before he could finish speaking, his eyes rolled back and he fainted.

Shi Heng was shocked and immediately ordered his personal guards to carry the man away for treatment.

Zhu Qiyu stood up, took three steps in two, walked to the table, and took the copper tube that was still warm from his body.

He twisted open the copper lid and poured out a thin roll of silk.

There were only a few words on the silk, and the handwriting was not the neat and formal official script.

Instead, it exudes a carefree and unrestrained spirit, like a hermit in the wild.

Zhu Qiyu immediately recognized that it was written by Gu Yannian himself.

However, the content between the lines was like a bucket of ice water poured over Zhu Qiyu's head:

The Emperor is gravely ill and on the verge of death. Prince Xin secretly allies with the capital's garrison, intending to forge an imperial edict to seal the gates. Your Highness, commanding the armies of the nine border regions, must use iron fist to cleanse the court of treacherous officials and stabilize the realm. An abacus can manage the wealth of the realm, but only a sharp blade can bring peace to the hearts of the people.

Zhu Qiyu stared intently at the piece of silk, his breathing instantly becoming heavy.

My elder brother is critically ill!

Prince Xin is plotting a rebellion!

These sixteen short characters shattered the image of peace and prosperity he had painstakingly cultivated over the past four years.

The image of his hot-tempered older brother, who had driven him to the border and was prone to hitting people with paperweights, flashed through his mind.

Although he has suffered greatly in the sandstorms over the past four years.

But he knew in his heart that without his elder brother's pressure from the entire court in the capital, and without the continuous military support from the Taicang granary, he would not have been able to achieve this.

His iron pry bar couldn't dig through the military settlements along the nine borders at all.

That was his own elder brother, the rightful emperor of the Ming Dynasty!

Now, we have been forced into this desperate situation of life and death!

"Your Highness... has something happened in the capital?"

Seeing that Zhu Qiyu's face was ashen and his body was trembling slightly, Shi Heng tentatively asked.

Zhu Qiyu took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes.

Gu Yannian's words, "An abacus can manage the wealth of the world, but only a sharp blade can bring peace to the hearts of the people," echoed repeatedly in his mind.

With the Grand Tutor's skill, suppressing Prince Xin would be as easy as turning his hand over.

However, the Grand Tutor deliberately allowed Prince Xin to rebel, sending a message all the way to Datong, ordering him to lead troops back to quell the rebellion.

Zhu Qiyu's mind, which had been immersed in account books for four years, was working at lightning speed.

He instantly understood the profound meaning behind this powerful minister's words.

Since the Emperor has no sons, if the throne is to be passed on, the ministers will surely have their own agendas.

Although Zhu Qiyu had the emperor's favor, in the eyes of the court officials and the princes of the land, he was nothing more than a prince who checked accounts with an abacus, without any benevolence or authority.

The Grand Tutor intends to use Prince Xin's head and the blood of this rebellion to pave a path to the throne that will silence the entire world!

"Impressive methods... The Grand Tutor truly possesses ruthless methods!"

Zhu Qiyu muttered to himself, then suddenly opened his eyes.

Those eyes, which had initially held a hint of shock, had now turned into a bottomless, icy pool.

Now that the Grand Tutor has set up the stage, the Emperor's life hangs by a thread in the capital.

If he doesn't continue this play, he'll be letting down the sand he's swallowed at the border over the past four years!