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

Shen, the philanthropist, was struck dumb and screamed in agony.

"My lord! This is against the laws of the Ming Dynasty! Forcing a confession under torture is a crime punishable by heaven!"

"The laws and regulations of the Ming Dynasty?"

Pei Yuan stood up, walked up to Shen Dashanren, and grabbed his hair.

He slammed his face hard against the icy floor tiles.

"In this Northern Garrison Command, the Embroidered Spring Blade in my hand is the law! Who do you think you are, daring to reason with the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Pei Yuan turned his head and gave the captain behind him a wink.

"Let's get started. Begin with his newborn son, who's just a month old."

The heart-wrenching cries and the screams of the women instantly echoed through the night sky.

Before the Imperial Guard's blade could even touch the child's fingers.

Shen, the philanthropist, had completely collapsed, defecating and urinating uncontrollably.

"I confess! I confess everything! The secret room is hidden in the bluestone slab under the outhouse! I not only smuggled ironware, but I also gave bribes to the generals of the Beijing Garrison!"

"Please, Your Honor, have mercy and spare my entire family's lives!"

Pei Yuan released his hand, wiped it on the servant's clothes with disgust, and a chilling sneer appeared on his lips.

"Go to the outhouse and dig. Anyone who resists will be killed on the spot."

In less than two hours, boxes of well-sealed smuggling ledgers, along with hundreds of thousands of taels of silver hidden in the Shen family's cellar, were all emptied by the Imperial Guards.

The next morning, when Pei Yuan placed the thick confession and the list of confiscated property on Wantong's desk.

The commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was so shocked that he couldn't close his mouth for a long time.

"You...you got it all done in one night? Didn't you check the accounts?"

Wantong asked incredulously.

Pei Yuan bowed his head respectfully, his face displaying a treacherous and wicked expression.

"Sir, dealing with such a cunning merchant by settling accounts with him is doing him a favor. As long as we have a knife to his throat, he'll surely cough up real money."

"The total amount of silver confiscated from the Shen residence is 300,000 taels. I have already ordered 100,000 taels to be loaded onto a separate cart, which is currently parked at the back gate of your residence, sir. Consider it a token of my respect for your tea money."

Upon hearing the words "ten thousand taels," Wantong's eyes widened instantly.

The way he looked at Pei Yuan was as if he were looking at a rare treasure.

This kid is not only ruthless and efficient, but also a sensible person who knows how to be filial!

With this vicious dog in hand, wouldn't the wealthy merchants and tycoons in the capital be completely at my mercy?

"Good! Pei Yuan, you truly are my good brother!"

Wan Tong was overjoyed and stepped forward to pat Pei Yuan on the shoulder.

"From this day forward, you are the Commander of the Northern Garrison! From now on, handle all cases in the capital with confidence. If anything serious happens, I will cover for you!"

Pei Yuan knelt on one knee and loudly agreed.

"This humble servant is willing to go through fire and water for you, sir, even unto death!"

The moment he lowered his head, Pei Yuan's eyes were full of mockery.

Vantone, that fool, was nothing more than a stepping stone for him to enter the center of power.

His target was the magnificent Qianqing Palace.

It was the Chenghua Emperor, Zhu Jianji, who dreamed of becoming the greatest emperor in Chinese history.

Riding on the coattails of Wantong, Pei Yuan's rise in the Embroidered Uniform Guard was meteoric.

In just six months, he had become the most powerful and influential commander in the Northern Garrison.

He acted eccentrically and used cruel methods.

She was responsible for doing dirty and tiring work for the emperor and Consort Wan that the court officials were unwilling or afraid to do.

The upright censors in the court hated him to the core, and the memorials impeaching him piled up like mountains.

But to the master in the palace, it was an extremely handy knife.

In the early spring of the fourth year of the Chenghua reign.

Qianqing Palace, East Warm Pavilion.

Zhu Jianji stood with his hands behind his back in front of the huge map of the territory, his face gloomy.

Although Yu Qian died, the position of Grand Secretary was taken over by Li Xian, who was equally mature and prudent.

These civil officials seemed to have inherited the stinginess of the Jingtai era, hoarding the silver in the imperial granary.

He repeatedly proposed a major northern expedition against the Oirat Mongols.

Li Xian rejected all of them, arguing that "although the national treasury is full, we should not recklessly wage war and waste the people's strength."

"These pedantic scholars! What use is this silver in the imperial granary to me! Am I supposed to let it breed in the storeroom?!"

Zhu Jianji kicked over the charcoal brazier in front of him.

Sparks flew everywhere, startling the eunuchs and palace maids who were standing nearby, causing them to kneel on the ground.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger."

Wang Zhi, a eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial, cautiously stepped forward.

"Those civil officials spout platitudes about benevolence and morality, but in reality, they don't want His Majesty to achieve unparalleled feats and overshadow them. Why doesn't His Majesty bypass the cabinet and find another swift and decisive force?"

"A swift blade? Of all the officials in the court, who dares to challenge the cabinet on my behalf?"

Zhu Jianji snorted coldly.

Wang Zhi rolled her eyes and lowered her voice, saying, "I've heard that Pei Yuan, the newly appointed commander of the Northern Garrison, is ruthless and doesn't care about formalities. He only knows how to be loyal to His Majesty."

"Recently, he has even confiscated the property of several corrupt officials on behalf of the court, filling the imperial treasury. This man is a thoroughly treacherous minister, and all the upright officials in the world despise him."

"But wouldn't using such sycophantic officials at this time be exactly what Your Majesty desires?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Jianji raised an eyebrow, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes.

"Pei Yuan? Summon him to the palace to see me."

Half an hour later, Pei Yuan entered the East Warm Pavilion as ordered.

Dressed in a flying fish robe with an embroidered spring knife at his waist, he walked with composure to the emperor and paid his respects with great ceremony.

"Your humble servant, Pei Yuan, Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, pays his respects to Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Zhu Jianji looked the Embroidered Uniform Guard up and down, a man whom the entire court had cursed as a mad dog.

Seeing his handsome face, but with eyes that revealed an undisguised ambition and ruthlessness, he nodded inwardly.

This is exactly the knife he needs.

"Rise."

Zhu Jianji walked behind the imperial desk and sat down, his tone tinged with a hint of probing.

"Pei Yuan, I've heard that your reputation is extremely poor. The memorials from officials impeaching you are practically bursting through the roof of the Ministry of Justice. Do you know your crime?"

Pei Yuan stood up, not only without fear, but also straightened his back, a wicked smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Your humble servant knows not what crime I have committed. I am the Emperor's Imperial Guard, and I receive the Emperor's salary."

"The officials of the world curse me because I keep a close eye on their purses for Your Majesty. I would rather be scorned by the world than fail to be loyal to Your Majesty."

This extremely nauseating yet incredibly straightforward declaration of loyalty made Zhu Jianji feel completely at ease.

He was fed up with those civil officials who talked about the country and the world all day long.

It's always more pleasant to hear the words of such a petty person.

"What a loyal minister."

Zhu Jianji clapped his hands and laughed.

"Since you are so loyal, I will ask you this question. I intend to send an army of 100,000 to the north to attack the Oirat Mongols and achieve unparalleled merit. However, Li Xian and others in the cabinet are holding onto the imperial granary tightly and are unwilling to allocate grain and provisions."

"Can your blade cut through this obstacle for me?"

Pei Yuan chuckled inwardly.

We've finally gotten to the main point.

The young emperor's desire to attack the Oirat Mongols was common knowledge.

But in Gu Yannian's script, the Oirat were nothing more than penniless paupers in the desert.

Going there to fight would be a real waste of national strength.

If we're going to fight, we have to fight in that dangerous region of the white mountains and black waters!