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

On the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.

On the wide expanse of water, a 500-ton official ship with five-colored sails is sailing downstream, cutting through the waves.

A large black banner with gold lettering reading "Jinyi" was hanging high at the bow of the ship, fluttering in the wind.

Merchant ships, passenger ships, and even patrol boats from local prefectures and counties along the way.

Upon seeing this large banner from afar, everyone avoided it as if it were a plague.

They brought the boats to shore early and lowered the sails.

They were afraid of disturbing the imperial envoy from the capital.

Inside the luxurious cabin on the top deck of the official ship, thick velvet carpets covered the floor, and fine benzoin incense burned in the four corners.

Wisps of smoke curled up, filling the cabin with a warm and pleasant fragrance.

Pei Yuan, wearing a loose-fitting robe with dark gold thread cloud patterns, leaned against the soft couch.

He closed his eyes slightly, listening to the rhythmic rocking of the oars and the white waves lapping against the side of the boat outside the window, looking relaxed and content.

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

Pei Yuan's heart stirred slightly.

A refreshing aura, like the melting snow of early spring, slowly spread from the depths of the mind, nourishing every part of the body.

A very soft knock came from the cabin door.

Then, a Jinyiwei commander dressed in a flying fish robe bowed and entered.

This man was named Lu Zheng, and he was a trusted confidant personally promoted by Pei Yuan after Pei Yuan took over the Northern Garrison Command.

He was ruthless and meticulous, and extremely loyal to Pei Yuan.

"grown ups."

Lu Zheng strode to the soft couch, knelt on one knee, and presented a secret letter with both hands.

"A message just arrived by carrier pigeon from the Nanjing Garrison Command. The officials in Jinling City are in complete chaos upon hearing that the lord has gone south to oversee the construction of treasure ships."

Pei Yuan did not get up.

He simply stretched out a hand lazily, took the secret letter, and casually opened it.

He skimmed the tiny characters on the letter paper.

The smile at the corner of his mouth gradually became unfathomable.

The Yongle Emperor's seven voyages to the Western Ocean were a testament to his immense power and prestige.

At that time, the Nanjing Longjiang Shipyard brought together skilled craftsmen from all over the country, and its magnificent ships, weighing thousands of tons, were as numerous as carp crossing the river.

However, after the Xuande Emperor's reign, the imperial court abolished the voyages to the Western Ocean, and the shipbuilding industry gradually declined.

During the Zhengtong and Jingtai reigns, in order to save national funds, the shipyards were practically non-existent.

Over the decades, the once-grand Longjiang Shipyard has become a lucrative but ultimately worthless piece of meat.

The shipyard boasts top-quality nanmu wood, ironware, and even skilled shipbuilders.

All of them were secretly sold off and divided up by Nanjing's Ministry of Works officials and local gentry.

Now, Emperor Chenghua has suddenly issued an edict to restart the navy and even ordered Pei Yuan to personally supervise its construction.

These Nanjing officials were naturally terrified, fearing that their past deficits would be discovered.

"Complete chaos?"

Pei Yuan placed the secret letter on a low mahogany table to the side.

I picked up the white jade teacup on the table and took a small sip of the pre-rain Longjing tea.

"They're afraid I'll take their heads."

"Lu Zheng, tell me, if we arrive in Jinling, where should we start this first fire?"

Lu Zheng pondered for a moment, then answered in a deep voice.

"Your Excellency. The Longjiang Shipyard is now under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Works in Nanjing, and the current Minister of Works is named Wang Wenxian. Although he is merely a figurehead, the shipyard supervisor under his command, Sun Youcai, is a man with immense influence and connections."

"Most of the silk and timber merchants in Jiangnan are in cahoots with him. If we can capture Sun Youcai, we can uncover a corner of the shipyard's mess."

"Sun Youcai..."

Pei Yuan carefully considered the name, a chilling glint of mockery flashing in his eyes.

"It is a good name. But once the wealth of the world has entered the treasury of the Ming Dynasty, it cannot be allowed to be embezzled by these rats."

"Give the order to slow the boat down further. Let the adults in Nanjing enjoy the river breeze at the dock."

"If this wind blows for too long, your bones will soften, making them easier for me to squeeze."

"Your humble servant obeys."

Lu Zheng understood immediately and bowed as he withdrew.

The official boats kept stopping and starting on the canal, which extended the journey from five days to ten days.

This leisurely and deliberate journey had thoroughly whetted the appetites of the Nanjing officials.

This also pushed their fear to its extreme.

Ten days later, at noon.

At the Yangtze River wharf in Nanjing, the river wind was strong, stirring up layers of turbid waves.

At this moment, there was neither the clamor of peddlers nor the sight of merchant ships or passenger boats on the dock.

The entire dock was completely sealed off by hundreds of Jinlingwei soldiers.

And right in the center of the dock.

The ministers and vice ministers of the six ministries in Nanjing, along with dozens of officials of all ranks, stood in two rows in the river breeze, all dressed in neat court robes.

Wang Wenxian, the Minister of Works in Nanjing who was in charge, had a fine layer of cold sweat on his forehead.

He wiped it with his sleeve from time to time.

They received a report from the Imperial Guard's fast ship at dawn that the Imperial Envoy's official ship had arrived that day.

These pampered officials from Jiangnan stood in the river breeze for more than four hours.

Their legs were already sore and numb, but no one dared to utter a single complaint.

Pei Tongzhi, who slaughtered tens of thousands of Jianzhou Jurchens in Liaodong in one night and then forced the Minister of Revenue to hand over three million taels of silver after returning to the capital.

His infamous reputation was so great that it could stop children in Jiangnan from crying at night.

"They're here! The Imperial Envoy's official ship is here!"

A sharp-eyed official pointed to the rolling waves in the distance and exclaimed in a low voice.

Everyone simultaneously stood on tiptoe.

A huge, five-colored sailing official ship, like a giant beast cutting through the waves, was slowly sailing toward the dock.

The large banner with its black background and gold lettering was so bright in the sunlight that it was hard to open one's eyes.

The official boat docked smoothly and a gangplank was set up.

Two rows of Jinyiwei guards, each wielding a stern-faced embroidered spring knife, disembarked first and lined up on either side of the gangplank.

The oppressive atmosphere made the officials from Jiangnan on the dock involuntarily hold their breath.

After a long while, a scarlet hem of clothing slowly appeared at the bow of the boat.

Pei Yuan, dressed in a bright red flying fish robe and with a jeweled longsword bestowed by the emperor at his waist, calmly stepped off the diving board.

He was handsome and devilishly charming.

But when those seemingly smiling eyes swept over the crowd, it was like a blade scraping against the skin, sending chills down their spines.

"Your humble servant, Wang Wenxian, Minister of Works in Nanjing, along with the civil and military officials of Jinling, respectfully welcomes Imperial Envoy Pei!"

Despite the soreness and numbness in his legs, Wang Wenxian led the way by bowing deeply to the ground.

"Welcome, Your Excellency!"

Dozens of officials knelt down in unison.

Pei Yuan stood at the end of the diving board, but did not call out immediately.

He simply stood with his hands behind his back, observing with great interest these high-ranking officials from Nanjing kneeling in the river breeze.

Time passed by, one breath at a time.

The sound of the waves crashing against the rocks was exceptionally clear at that moment.

Wang Wenxian and the others' foreheads were almost touching the cold bluestone slab, and their backs were soaked with cold sweat.

This silent oppression is more devastating than having a real knife or gun at your throat.

After a full half-cup of tea time, Pei Yuan finally let out a soft laugh.

"My lords, please rise. The winds of Jiangnan are indeed refreshing, but prolonged exposure can lead to illness. If this delays your duties to the court, I cannot bear the consequences."

Wang Wenxian and the others breathed a sigh of relief and stood up shakily.

"My lord, you must be tired from your journey. We have prepared a welcome banquet in the city. Please come and join us."

Wang Wenxian approached with a broad smile.

Pei Yuan waved his hand, his expression arrogant.

"A welcoming banquet is unnecessary. I grew rather bored on the boat, and I've heard that the painted boats on the Qinhuai River are a marvel of Jiangnan. If Lord Wang truly wishes to welcome me, then..."

"Let's charter a pleasure boat tonight, and we can listen to music while we discuss the shipbuilding business."

Wang Wenxian was taken aback, then readily agreed.

"Yes, yes, yes! This humble official will make the arrangements immediately! I will ensure your enjoyment is complete!"