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

"Your subordinate obeys!"

Lu Zheng accepted the order and strode away.

Before long, the front hall of Xichun Garden was crowded with dozens of wealthy merchants who were well-known in Jiangnan.

These men, who usually wear gold and silver and act all haughty, were now frozen and their faces were ashen.

His expensive mink cloak was covered in snow.

They entered the warm, spring-like hall, but none of them dared to reach out and warm themselves by the fire in the charcoal brazier.

They all stood in two rows, trembling with fear, heads bowed, not daring to breathe.

In the very center of this front hall stands a large armchair.

A series of calm footsteps came from behind the screen.

Pei Yuan wore the imperial crimson python robe and a jade belt around his waist.

Surrounded by a group of fierce-looking Imperial Guards, he slowly walked into the hall and sat down in the grand chair with an air of authority.

"We, your humble servants, pay our respects to Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, Right Vice-General, and Imperial Envoy, Lord Pei!"

All the merchants knelt down in unison, kowtowing repeatedly.

Pei Yuan picked up the hot tea on the table, slowly brushed away the foam, took a small sip, and did not immediately tell them to get up.

The hall was deathly silent, with only the faint crackling sound of burning silver charcoal in the brazier.

The merchants kneeling on the ground had their inner garments soaked with cold sweat from their backs.

They had heard that this Lord Pei had used heavy artillery to turn hundreds of Japanese pirates into mincemeat on the East China Sea, and even cut off their heads and sent them to Wan Dafu.

This bloodthirsty madman, now with the added title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, wields immense power.

If he sets his sights on a family's property, it's just a matter of a word.

"I have heard that it snowed heavily in Jinling City today."

A full half-cup of tea's time passed before Pei Yuan's lazy yet chilling voice finally rang out above everyone's heads.

"Gentlemen like you are all wealthy gentlemen, why don't you stay in your mansions, enjoying the snow by the fire, listening to music, and indulging in courtesans, but instead come to my desolate Xichun Garden to be chilled by the cold wind? What is the reason for this?"

"Do you perhaps think the snow in my garden is more beautiful than the snow in your mansion?"

Everyone was terrified.

The leading silk merchant, mustering his courage, raised his head and said with a fawning expression:

"Your Excellency is too kind. We have heard of His Majesty's boundless grace in bestowing upon you the title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince. This is a blessing for Jiangnan, a blessing for the entire nation!"

"We, your humble servants, are deeply grateful for your hard work in suppressing the Japanese pirates in Jiangnan and overseeing the construction of the treasure ships. We have prepared a small gift to congratulate you on your success. We hope that you will not refuse it."

After saying this, the merchant took out a thick red-sealed gift list from his pocket, put his hands above his head, and respectfully presented it.

Seeing this, the other merchants followed suit.

In an instant, dozens of gift lists were handed to Lu Zheng like snowflakes.

Lu Zheng gathered the gift lists and placed them on Pei Yuan's desk.

Pei Yuan didn't even glance at them, only glancing at the obese bodies kneeling on the ground out of the corner of his eye, and let out a soft sneer.

"A small gift? You all are very thoughtful."

Pei Yuan stood up, walked to the merchants with his hands behind his back, his boots clicking silently on the expensive Persian carpet.

"However, I've heard that we're still short quite a bit of timber for building the treasure ship. Old Yan was complaining to me about it yesterday."

"It is said that although the thousand-ton treasure ship has been launched, the next few Fujian ships have not even had enough cedar wood for their masts."

Pei Yuan stopped and looked at the silk merchant with a half-smile.

"Boss Wang, I heard that in your villa in the south of the city, there is a grove of excellent ancient cypress trees that are over a hundred years old? The wood there is hard and would be quite good for making ship planks."

Upon hearing this, Boss Wang was so frightened that he kowtowed to the ground, his voice trembling with sobs.

"My lord! My lord, please be wise! The few trees in my humble abode are truly useless! I... I have sent a gift list with 80,000 taels of silver! That's more than enough..."

"That's enough to buy the finest timber from the Huguang region! I beg you, sir, to have mercy and spare my humble dwelling some dignity!"

Pei Yuan then turned his head to look at another salt merchant.

"Boss Li, your newly built ancestral hall..."

"grown ups!"

The boss, Mr. Li, was even more straightforward; he simply lay down on the ground and wailed loudly.

"This humble subject offers 100,000 taels! This humble subject is willing to offer another 100,000 taels! The cash is on the carriage outside the mansion, and can be carried into Xichun Garden immediately! This humble subject's ancestral hall is the resting place of our ancestors, and it truly cannot be demolished!"

In an instant, the entire hall was filled with cries of despair, and merchants took the initiative to increase their bets.

They feared that this evil spirit would actually lead the Imperial Guards to forcibly demolish their house.

Pei Yuan looked at the ugly scene unfolding before him and chuckled to himself.

This is the effect he wanted.

He didn't shed a single bullet, nor did he utter many harsh words.

In order to protect their private residences, these merchants willingly parted with large sums of real gold and silver.

"Alright, stop howling, everyone."

Pei Yuan frowned and gave a cold shout, instantly silencing the entire hall.

He turned and walked back to the armchair, sitting down with his expression regaining its unfathomable majesty.

"I have seen your sincerity. Although I am an unreasonable person, I am not without human feelings."

"Since you are all so generous, I will temporarily put aside the matter of demolishing the house."

The merchants felt as if they had been granted a pardon, and they kowtowed to express their gratitude, finally putting their minds at ease.

"but."

Pei Yuan's sudden change of tone made everyone's hearts jump again.

"Shipbuilding is a long-term project approved by the Emperor. Money alone is not enough. Tung oil, pig iron, saltpeter, sulfur, and top-quality redwood from overseas are all needed. Without any of these, the ship cannot even be launched."

Pei Yuan leaned forward slightly, his gaze sweeping across the entire room with piercing intensity.

"I know that you people have connections everywhere in Jiangnan, and you've been involved in every kind of maritime smuggling business."

Upon hearing this, all the merchants turned pale and trembled with fear.

Smuggling is a capital offense. Is this imperial envoy planning to settle scores later?

To everyone's surprise, Pei Yuan suddenly laughed.

"Gentlemen, there is no need to panic. I don't care what dirty deeds you have done in the past; that's the business of the Nanjing government, and I don't have time to concern myself with it."

Pei Yuan picked up the gavel from the table and tapped it gently.

"I have summoned you here today to show you a clear path—a path that will both make you rich and keep your heads."

The merchants looked at each other, all bewildered.

Pei Yuan declared loudly, "From this day forward, all overseas materials needed by the Longjiang Shipyard shall be procured and transported by you merchants. Whether you smuggle or engage in trade, I will not question you."

"I only care about the results. As long as you can deliver the gunpowder, pig iron, and redwood I need to the shipyard in a continuous stream."

Pei Yuan paused for a moment, then threw out a huge bait that was enough to drive everyone crazy.

"I will purchase the supplies you brought at 20% of the market price. But you don't need to feel cheated by the 80% difference in price."

"When the Ming Dynasty's navy is fully formed and the maritime ban is lifted in Southeast Asia, I guarantee that every one of your businesses will be able to sail with the fleet to trade!"

"The spices and gems of Southeast Asia, the silks and porcelain of the Ming Dynasty—the enormous profits from these are enough to make you rich."

"Furthermore, the Ming Dynasty navy will escort you, and none of the foreign pirates along the way will dare to lay a finger on you!"