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

"My lord! Such a large quantity of these contraband items... if the imperial court discovers them..."

Wan Dafu was terrified.

"If anything goes wrong, I'll take the blame. You just need to make the trip."

Pei Yuan stood up, resuming his nonchalant demeanor.

"I can forgo your tribute of 300,000 taels of silver. But if you delay the deadline for the cannon-making materials, I will personally lead the Imperial Guards to your Wan family's salt warehouse to investigate the accounts."

"I know very well how much salt tax your Wan family has evaded over the years. Will you pay to avoid trouble, or will your entire family be executed?"

"Boss Wan is a smart man, you choose for yourself."

Wan Dafu slumped to the ground, his face ashen.

He finally understood.

I'm not here to build relationships or pay protection money.

This is clearly like lambs to the slaughter, delivering themselves to become laborers for this living devil!

This imperial envoy not only wanted to build ships, but also to cast cannons.

He didn't want his own money, but forced himself to risk his life to smuggle military supplies for him.

These unconventional corrupt officials are a hundred times more terrifying than those upright censors!

"This humble subject...this humble subject obeys. Within half a month, 50,000 catties of red copper will surely be transported to Longjiang Shipyard."

Wan Dafu kowtowed, his voice carrying a hint of resigned despair.

"Very well. I enjoy dealing with intelligent people. Take care, and don't bother seeing me off."

Pei Yuan waved his hand.

Supported by his confidant, Wan Dafu staggered away from the waterside pavilion, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

After Wan Dafu left, Lu Zheng stepped out from the shadows.

"My lord, Wan Dafu is a prominent figure among the salt merchants of Lianghuai. Aren't you afraid that by pressuring him like this, he might resort to desperate measures and join forces with officials in Jiangnan to impeach us?"

Lu Zheng was somewhat worried.

Pei Yuan picked up the wine pot, tilted his head back, and gulped down a large mouthful of strong liquor.

"He wouldn't dare. If he submits a memorial, I will be executed for accepting bribes; if he offers bribes and smuggles copper, he will be sentenced to death."

"Merchants value profit more than life, so he had no choice but to obediently serve this official."

Pei Yuan turned around and looked at the cold crescent moon in the night sky.

"Go. Take those two eighteen-foot bronze Buddha statues to the shipyard tonight. Have those thirty blacksmiths stoke the furnace fires. Melt the statues first thing tomorrow morning!"

"Melting Buddha statues?"

Lu Zheng was startled.

This was considered extremely disrespectful at the time.

"If Buddha truly has a spirit, he should know that the Ming Dynasty cannot be preserved by chanting scriptures."

Pei Yuan sneered.

"Only strong ships and powerful cannons can protect the Ming Dynasty for a hundred years of peace. Using Buddha statues to cast cannons—that would be a truly meritorious deed!"

The next morning.

On a remote, open space in the Longjiang Shipyard, a huge furnace was built.

The two exquisitely carved bronze Buddha statues, each weighing tens of thousands of kilograms, were bound together with thick hemp ropes.

With the combined efforts of hundreds of craftsmen, it was slowly lifted and suspended above the furnace.

Pei Yuan, dressed in a bright red flying fish robe, stood in front of the furnace, feeling the scorching heat waves rushing towards him.

Old Yan, accompanied by several experienced master foundries, stood aside, looking at the two Buddha statues.

He put his hands together in prayer and silently recited Amitabha Buddha's name a few times.

"Just keep Buddha in your heart."

Pei Yuan chuckled twice.

"ignition."

At a command.

Several pyrotechnicians threw burning torches into the pile of charcoal at the bottom of the furnace.

The bellows were pulled violently, and flames shot up several meters high, scorching away the morning river mist.

Under the terrifying heat, the two originally benevolent-looking bronze Buddhas gradually turned red.

Its face melted, turning into drops of crimson copper that dripped into the furnace.

Pei Yuan stared at the churning molten copper, his eyes gleaming with fanaticism.

He took out a roll of blueprints from his pocket and handed it to a master foundry worker standing nearby.

Those were blueprints for a new type of heavy artillery that he improved upon by relying on his memory and combining them with the existing firearms technology of the Ming Dynasty.

Its range and power far exceed the old-fashioned muskets and bowl-shaped muskets currently equipped by the Shenji Battalion.

"Cast cannons for me according to the specifications on these blueprints!"

"This cannon must not only have a long range, but also high accuracy. If any of it explodes and becomes a defective piece, I will hold you accountable!"

The craftsmen received the blueprints, all looking surprised, and readily agreed.

They had never seen such an exquisite yet massive artillery design.

The river wind howled.

The flames from the furnace illuminated Pei Yuan's young yet devilish face.

In the dry dock not far away, the skeleton of the thousand-ton treasure ship was already taking shape.

The main keel of the golden nanmu wood gleamed with a rich luster under the sunlight, resembling a giant dragon about to awaken.

This immortal guest, amidst the misty rain of Jiangnan, played the role of a corrupt official soliciting and accepting bribes, while mocking those bloated salt merchants.

On the one hand, they used the most ruthless methods to gradually forge these ill-gotten gains into the sharpest fangs of the Ming Dynasty.

The day will come when the treasure ship is launched and heavy cannons are arrayed.

The people of the world will eventually know what kind of immortal iron wall this infamous traitor left for the Ming Dynasty.

……

Several days later, Nanjing was still in the height of summer.

Cicadas clung to the thick, weeping willow branches in Xichun Garden, their long, drawn-out chirping irritating everyone.

The bamboo blinds of the open pavilion were rolled up high, and four burly servants stood at the four corners, working hard to pull the fan cords hanging from the roof.

Huge silk fan blades stirred up gusts of breeze, blowing through several large ice cauldrons placed in the corner of the room.

A touch of coolness is sent to the center of the pavilion.

Pei Yuan lay on a bamboo rocking chair, fanning himself with a folding fan and his eyes slightly closed.

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

"Add to Agility."

As I silently recited this in my heart, a cool breeze flowed from the depths of my bones and blood, instantly dispelling the oppressive summer heat.

The many wonderful uses of this longevity system are not limited to prolonging life.

It can also keep this body in a state of peak clarity at all times.

Sweating profusely, Lu Zheng strode from the outer courtyard into the open pavilion and knelt on one knee.

"Sir, a messenger from Longjiang Shipyard has arrived with news that Old Yan and his thirty blacksmiths, after more than three months of hard work, have finally cast their first bronze heavy cannon. They request that you come and inspect it."

Upon hearing this, Pei Yuan snapped his folding fan shut, his eyes snapped open, and a sharp glint flashed in his pupils.

"Good! These craftsmen are quite efficient. Prepare the horses, let's go to the shipyard."

Half an hour later, Pei Yuan, accompanied by a group of Imperial Guards, rode into the Longjiang Shipyard under the scorching sun.

In the dry dock, the skeleton of the thousand-ton treasure ship had been fully formed. On the huge golden nanmu keel, rows of thick ribs resembled the skeleton of a giant beast, pointing straight to the sky.

Countless craftsmen are clinging to the scaffolding, sweating profusely as they lay the ship's planks.

On a vacant lot overlooking the river at the edge of the shipyard.

A colossal structure, completely covered by tarpaulin, stood silently.

Old Yan led a group of blacksmiths, their skin blackened from the furnace fire.

They stood around that enormous creature, their eyes filled with awe and fervor.

Upon seeing Pei Yuan arrive, Old Yan hurriedly stepped forward and bowed deeply.

"Your Excellency, look! This is the heavy cannon that was forged according to the blueprints you provided, by melting down those two bronze Buddha statues, using a full six thousand catties of red copper and refined iron, and undergoing countless hammerings and forgings!"

Old Yan's voice trembled with excitement as he turned and ripped off the thick layer of oilcloth.

Sunlight poured down.

A massive red bronze cannon, over ten feet long and with a barrel as thick as a water vat, was displayed prominently before everyone's eyes.