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

"Your Majesty, this is called being pragmatic."

Gu Yannian fanned himself with a palm-leaf fan, gazing at the misty drizzle outside the courtyard, his voice drawn out.

"The Ming Dynasty's territory was built from real land and people. If an emperor couldn't even figure out how many acres of land or how many rivers his own family owned, then he would truly be a ruler who brought about the downfall of his country."

"Once this 'Comprehensive Gazetteer of the World' is completed, it will be as difficult as climbing to heaven for officials in all parts of the country to falsify accounts for flood relief and wasteland reclamation."

Shopkeeper Wang was slightly taken aback by these words, then gave a thumbs up.

"Brother Gu's insights are truly profound! No wonder you've amassed such a large fortune. It's just a pity you went into business in your early years; if you had entered the court as an official, you would surely have been a trusted minister by the Emperor's side!"

Gu Yannian laughed heartily, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Did he enter the imperial court as an official?

If he hadn't "died," the entire court, along with that iron-fisted emperor, would probably have had to sleep with one eye open.

The two chatted idly under the eaves for another half an hour.

As the rain finally stopped and the clouds dispersed, a bright ray of sunshine appeared.

Seeing that the sky had cleared, Manager Wang got up to take his leave.

"Brother, the weather's cleared up. I'm sure we'll have some customers coming to the shop, so I have to go back and keep an eye on things. Keep these copies of the official gazette for yourself. I'll come back and chat with you another day when I get some good tea."

"Take care, Manager Wang."

After seeing Manager Wang off, Gu Yannian lay back down in the rocking chair.

The early summer sun dappled his body through the gaps in the damp leaves, casting warm rays.

He reached out and picked up the official gazette from the stone table, reading it line by line.

Besides employing Yu Qian and compiling the "Universal Gazetteer," this gazette also contained numerous detailed records of local government affairs, both large and small.

The Ministry of Revenue reported that the Governor of Zhejiang had confirmed the concealment of 30,000 hectares of farmland and ordered the payment of 200,000 taels of silver in back taxes owed over the years.

The Emperor issued a vermilion edict: The Governor of Zhejiang will be awarded half a year's salary, but he will be punished by being sent to repair the Qiantang River seawall for one month, as a warning to others.

The Ministry of War reported that Shi Heng, the General of Datong, requested an allocation of 30,000 taels of silver to repair weapons.

The Emperor's imperial edict: "A new blacksmith's camp was established in Datong last year, and the Ministry of Works has already allocated 100,000 catties of refined iron. Order Shi Heng to remelt and reforge it himself. If he dares to ask for money again, he will be beheaded."

The Ministry of Rites reported that the envoy from Annam had presented fragrant wood and rhinoceros horn as tribute, requesting an annual gift.

The Emperor's imperial edict: Chop the fragrant wood and burn it as firewood to keep the guards of the imperial granary warm; put the rhinoceros horn into the Imperial Medical Academy's pharmacy. Award the Annamite envoy ten copies of *Elementary Mathematical Studies of the Ming Dynasty*, ordering him to return home and study them diligently.

Looking at these vermilion annotations, each one brimming with Zhu Qiyu's personal style.

Gu Yannian could almost see the young emperor sitting in the Wenhua Hall, holding a sandalwood abacus, staring intently at the account books, looking for faults.

This kind of behavior is like trying to scrape off two ounces of flesh from a mosquito's leg.

The entire court of officials has probably been tortured to the point of losing all their temper.

However, it is undeniable that under such high pressure and meticulous calculations...

The massive machine that is the Ming Dynasty is operating at an unprecedented level of efficiency.

Corruption was suppressed to a minimum, and the national treasury had so much silver in its coffers that the Ministry of Revenue didn't know where to spend it.

Gu Yannian covered his face with the official gazette to block the somewhat glaring sunlight.

He listened to the sounds of oars and the boatwoman's melodious Jiangnan tunes coming from the canal outside the courtyard wall, and felt a sense of peace in his heart.

It travels from the first year of the Jianwen reign, through the Yongle, Hongxi, Xuande, and Zhengtong reigns, to the present Jingtai reign.

He held that high position in the temple, maintaining his airs for decades.

Every word spoken and every move made must be calculated in light of the overall situation and the emperor's mind.

Now, he can finally shed that heavy pretense and become a true, carefree spectator.

The misty rain of Jiangnan, the Suzhou storytelling, the spring breeze and autumn moon, the summer rain and winter snow.

That is the true essence of his long and endless life.

After an unknown amount of time, Uncle Fu tiptoed to the porch.

He didn't speak, but respectfully held a blue and white porcelain plate containing several thinly sliced ​​lotus roots, freshly picked from the canal and glazed with rock sugar and honey.

Gu Yannian removed the official gazette from his face and sat up.

He picked up a bamboo skewer, stuck a piece of lotus root in it, and put it in his mouth.

The sweet and crisp taste instantly spread between the lips and teeth, sweetening the heart.

"Uncle Fu, go and dig up that jar of Daughter's Red wine buried under the osmanthus tree."

Gu Yannian was in a great mood and gestured to Uncle Fu as if he were drinking.

"Today the weather is fine and the water is warm, I am very happy. The world is at peace, the country is prosperous and the people are safe, let's have a big toast."

Uncle Fu nodded repeatedly, his wrinkled face beaming with a kind smile, and turned to get the shovel.

Gu Yannian watched Uncle Fu's busy figure, then glanced at the official gazette on the stone table, filled with the news of the court's affairs.

He smiled slightly and used a palm-leaf fan to sweep the gazette into the bamboo basket beside him.

No matter how high the court, how turbulent the winds and clouds, or how fierce the battles.

He, Gu, lived a carefree life far from the world, enjoying a pot of tea and half a pot of old wine, idly watching the flowers bloom and fade, and calmly observing the clouds drift and gather.

Uncle Fu was an extremely honest and dutiful old servant.

Although he could neither speak nor hear, his hands and feet were very nimble.

Before long, he used a shovel to dig out a black glazed wine jar covered in mud from under the old osmanthus tree with lush branches in the corner of the yard.

Uncle Fu, carrying the wine jar, walked to the stone table under the eaves and took a clean, damp cloth.

Carefully wipe the loose dirt off the outside of the jar.

Then he took a small wooden mallet and gently tapped the mud seal on the mouth of the jar.

"Tap, tap, tap."

After a few muffled thuds, the mud seal shattered.

Uncle Fu uncovered the red cloth sealing the bottle, and a rich, mellow aroma of wine, carrying a hint of osmanthus and earthy fragrance, instantly filled the cool early summer air.

Gu Yannian leaned back in the bamboo rocking chair, inhaling the alluring aroma of the wine.

A hint of contentment flickered in his previously calm eyes.

"Good wine."

He sat up, took the wine jar from Uncle Fu, and personally filled two white porcelain wine cups.

The wine is amber in color, viscous like honey, and clings to the glass for a long time without dripping.

Gu Yannian picked up a cup, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.

The rich liquor slid down my throat, like a warm fire slowly spreading in my stomach.

He glanced at the empty bamboo chair opposite the stone table, his expression shifting slightly.

In the past, there were very few people in the office of the Grand Secretary in the capital who could drink with him like this.

Those emperors who were high and mighty were all manipulated by him like beads on an abacus.

His learned colleagues mostly respected him as if he were a god, and even their words were carefully considered before they came out.

Now, having shed that crimson python robe, I drink alone in the misty rain of Jiangnan.

Although he lost some of the imposing power he once held, he gained a great deal of freedom.