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

As dusk fell, the setting sun shone like blood.

A small blue sedan chair quietly stopped outside the corner gate of Xichun Garden.

Wan Dafu was dressed in an inconspicuous long gown and was leaning on a sandalwood cane.

Supported by a trusted servant, he discreetly entered the mansion that struck fear into the hearts of officials in Jiangnan.

Although he was over fifty years old, he was slightly overweight.

But in those eyes, weathered by time, lay the shrewdness and sophistication unique to businessmen.

Lu Zheng personally led the way, taking Wan Dafu to a waterside pavilion in the back garden.

The pavilion was surrounded by lanterns, and several exquisite dishes and wines, all prepared by famous chefs from Nanjing, were laid out on the stone table.

Pei Yuan was not wearing official robes, but a loose blue robe. He was sitting at the table, holding a pot of aged daughter's red wine, and drinking it by himself.

Hearing footsteps, he didn't even raise his head, but simply pointed to the stone bench opposite him.

"Boss Wan, please have a seat."

Wan Dafu felt a chill run down his spine.

He traveled all over the country and met countless high-ranking officials and dignitaries.

But the young Jinyiwei deputy commander in front of him exuded an air of authority without anger, and a nonchalant demeanor that seemed to see through everything, which unconsciously made him feel a little afraid.

"This humble citizen, Wan Dafu, kowtows to Your Majesty the Imperial Envoy."

Wan Dafu did not sit down immediately, but instead performed a proper bow.

"Alright, I won't stand on ceremony here. The 100,000 taels of tea money that Boss Wan gave me was too hot to drink. Let's sit down and talk."

Pei Yuan put down the wine pot, looked up at Wan Dafu, and a half-smile appeared on his lips.

Wan Dafu then sat down cautiously on the edge of the stone bench, only daring to occupy about a third of the space.

"You flatter me, sir. This small gift is only to acknowledge your hard work in overseeing the construction of the treasure ships. Your sir has brought glory to the nation in Liaodong, and we merchants from Jiangnan hold you in the highest esteem."

Wan Dafu greeted him with a beaming smile.

"Let's skip the formalities."

Pei Yuan picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of vinegar fish, and put it in his mouth.

After chewing and swallowing carefully, he slowly opened his mouth.

"I have examined the two bronze Buddha statues you sent. They are of excellent quality. If they are enshrined in a temple, they will surely bless Boss Wan with abundant wealth."

Pei Yuan picked up his wine cup, his gaze piercing Wan Dafu like a sharp blade.

"I'm just a little curious. The Ming Dynasty strictly forbids the private hoarding of copper and iron. Where did Boss Wan obtain these tens of thousands of catties of red copper from some overseas mythical mountain?"

"Could it be that Boss Wan's ships are even more powerful than the imperial navy?"

A layer of cold sweat instantly seeped out from Wan Dafu's forehead.

He knew that dealing with this guy indirectly wouldn't work.

He gritted his teeth, lowered his voice, and revealed the businessman's trump card.

"Your Excellency has discerning eyes. This humble subject would not dare to deceive you. Although we Lianghuai salt merchants deal in official salt, the waterways of Jiangnan are extensive, and we occasionally smuggle some goods from overseas."

"That red copper was acquired at a high price from the foreign lands of Southeast Asia."

Wan Dafu leaned closer, his tone slightly seductive.

"My lord, shipbuilding is a difficult task, and the meager funds allocated by the Ministry of Revenue are far from enough to fill that bottomless pit. I humbly request that you, my lord, help me to establish a good relationship with us."

"If only the naval treasure ships that you are supervising in the future could take care of the merchant ships of all families that fly the Jiangfeng flag when they go out to sea, so that they will not be robbed by the pirates."

"Our family is willing to offer you 300,000 taels of silver annually! We will also supply 30% of the tung oil and timber needed for shipbuilding, and we will absolutely not put you in a difficult position!"

Three hundred thousand taels annually.

Such a massive bribe, if it were to reach the capital, would be enough to shock the old ministers of the cabinet.

Upon hearing this, Pei Yuan threw his head back and laughed loudly.

The laughter echoed far and wide in the waterside pavilion under the night sky.

"Good! Excellent! Boss Wan is indeed a man of big business. Three hundred thousand taels for the imperial navy's escort, that's a shrewd calculation."

Pei Yuan stopped laughing and reached out to pick up the wine pot.

He even personally refilled the empty wine cup in front of Wan Dafu.

Wan Dafu was flattered and immediately held the cup with both hands, finally feeling relieved.

Once you've taken the money, things become much easier; what corrupt officials fear most is not being corrupt.

"This humble subject thanks you, sir, for the wine!"

Wan Dafu drank it all in one gulp.

"Boss Wan."

Pei Yuan sat back down in his chair, his arms resting on the armrests, his eyes appearing particularly deep in the night.

"I will accept the 100,000 taels of silver you sent. I will also keep the thirty blacksmiths."

He paused, and the smile on his lips suddenly turned cold.

"But about escorting them..."

Wan Dafu's heart skipped a beat, and the smile on his face froze.

"What are your concerns, sir?"

"I don't have much to worry about. But if His Majesty knew that I used the silver allocated by him from the Taicang Granary to build a navy, I would end up serving as bodyguards for salt smugglers in Jiangnan."

"Do you think the Emperor will chop off my head first, or confiscate the entire Wan family's property first?"

Pei Yuan's voice wasn't loud, but every word struck Wan Dafu's heart like a heavy hammer.

"My lord! This humble subject's tribute is truly a token of filial piety! This is the custom in Jiangnan..."

Wan Dafu panicked and tried to bring up the old excuse about collusion between officials and businessmen.

"Bang!"

Pei Yuan slammed his hand on the stone table, causing the remaining wine in the wine cup to spill all over the floor.

"In Jinling, I am the only rule!"

Pei Yuan suddenly stood up and looked down at Wan Dafu, who was trembling with fear.

"Wan Dafu, listen up! I am a greedy and treacherous official. If you want to send me money or gifts, I will accept them all."

"But the Ming Dynasty's navy is the nation's sharpest weapon, sent to the vast oceans to expand the emperor's territory and subdue foreign lands! Not to be a watchdog for rats like you!"

Wan Dafu fell to his knees with a thud, his back soaked in cold sweat.

He never expected that the imperial envoy, who had accepted the money, would turn on him faster than flipping through a book.

Moreover, these words were spoken in a way that was even more dignified and respectable than those of loyal ministers in the imperial court.

"Then... then what does Your Excellency mean...?"

Wan Dafu asked in a trembling voice.

Pei Yuan crouched down and looked directly into Wan Dafu's terrified eyes.

"I don't want those two eighteen-foot bronze Buddha statues. I only want the bronze."

A mad ambition gleamed in Pei Yuan's eyes.

"No matter how big the treasure ship is, without cannons, it's nothing more than a sitting duck floating at sea. The Ministry of War's warehouses are full of shoddy, substandard cannons that are prone to exploding."

"I want cannons cast, heavy bronze cannons capable of firing three miles away!"

Pei Yuan patted Wan Dafu's chubby cheeks.

"Since you can procure tens of thousands of catties of red copper, then go and procure some for me. I need fifty thousand catties! Not only copper, but also pig iron, saltpeter, and sulfur."

"Get your smuggling channels running at full speed! Transport all the copper from Southeast Asia to the Longjiang Shipyard!"

Wan Dafu was stunned.

Fifty thousand catties of red copper? And also pig iron and raw materials for gunpowder?

This number is enough to equip an army of tens of thousands!

Is this Imperial Envoy Pei planning a rebellion?!