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

Qiao Shouye trembled violently, having no doubt about the living Yama's determination to keep his word, and immediately swore an oath to the heavens.

"I swear to Heaven! All the guilds of Shanxi merchants will never smuggle an inch of ironware out of the pass! If we break this oath, may we be struck by lightning and our entire clan be wiped out!"

"Very good."

Pei Yuan nodded in satisfaction and pushed the sandalwood box full of land deeds back in front of Qiao Shouye.

"I will not accept this gift. I have no shortage of land or shops."

Pei Yuan stood up, walked to the entrance of the hall with his hands behind his back, and looked at the dazzling summer sun outside.

"His Majesty ordered me to oversee the construction of the Tianjin Wei Imperial Palace. This wood and earthwork project is extremely expensive."

"Go back and tell the eight major Shanxi merchant guilds that 20% of the tax revenue should be directly converted into cash, and that top-quality timber and stone should be continuously transported to Tianjin for me."

"Your caravans cannot rest until the palace is completed."

Qiao Shouye respectfully held the box and repeatedly agreed.

He was completely in awe of Lord Pei's methods.

This powerful minister did not covet private property, but instead amassed all the wealth of the nation into national projects and the imperial treasury.

With such charisma and skill, it's no wonder he could suppress the entire court of officials to the point of being unable to raise their heads.

After Qiao Shouye left the governor's mansion with profuse thanks, Lu Zheng approached him, his face full of admiration.

"Your Excellency is brilliant. In this way, all the money for building the Tianjin Wei Imperial Palace will come from the north. The escort fees for the ships in Jiangnan can then be used entirely for shipbuilding and artillery."

"With such a steady stream of wealth flowing in from both the north and south, if His Majesty were to find out, he would surely reward you handsomely."

Pei Yuan shook his folding fan and chuckled softly.

"A generous reward is fine. I am now at the pinnacle of my official position. If I were to reward them further, I would have to grant them a noble title, which would drive these civil officials crazy."

"Go and make preparations. Tomorrow morning, I will be leaving the capital for Tianjin. I need to personally inspect the site of this imperial palace."

"To prevent those incompetent officials in the Ministry of Works from ruining my grand plan to pacify the sea."

The next morning.

Pei Yuan's grand procession left the capital through Zhengyang Gate and headed straight for Tianjin.

In addition to thousands of elite Imperial Guards, the group also included a large number of geomancers and artisans from the Ministry of Works.

In addition, hundreds of artillery instructors were forcibly transferred from the Ministry of War.

This entourage clearly indicates they are heading to the border to build a military town.

Tianjin, located on the coast of the Bohai Sea, was the gateway to the capital.

At that time, Tianjin was still a somewhat desolate saline-alkali flatland.

Apart from a few dilapidated garrisons and scattered fishing villages, there was little sign of prosperity.

Pei Yuan's entourage arrived at a high point at the mouth of the Haihe River.

The sea breeze howled, carrying a strong salty smell, causing Pei Yuan's python robe to flutter loudly.

He stood atop a high cliff, gazing into the distance.

Ahead lies the magnificent Bohai Bay, while behind lies the flat and expansive hinterland of the capital region.

"What a strategically important location."

Pei Yuan's eyes gleamed with fanaticism.

He ordered someone to bring him the imperial approval of the imperial palace sketch, then casually tore it to shreds and threw it into the vast sea breeze.

Upon seeing this, the accompanying officials from the Ministry of Works were terrified and immediately knelt down.

"Your Excellency! These are blueprints that His Majesty has personally reviewed!"

Pei Yuan burst into laughter.

"What His Majesty desires is grandeur, the exhilarating feeling of standing atop a high place overlooking the sea. How could such petty pavilions and towers be worthy of the Emperor of my Great Ming Dynasty?"

He turned around and pointed to the rolling hills at his feet.

And looking at the bay ahead, which formed a natural semi-circle, he gave a loud order.

"Issue my order! The main body of the palace should not be built against a mountain or near water. Instead, construct a ten-mile-long, five-zhang-high bluestone wall following the contours of the coastline! The outer perimeter of the wall should be reinforced with molten iron!"

"Erect a gun emplacement every hundred paces. Dig deep underground bunkers, hidden troop shelters, and gunpowder depots for me."

The Ministry of Works officials were stunned, and one of them boldly offered his advice.

"My lord, this... this is clearly being built to the standards of a first-class military town along the Nine Garrisons! If His Majesty were to blame us..."

"Even if something terrible happens, I will take the blame!"

Pei Yuan interrupted him sharply.

"His Majesty wishes to see the sea, so I will build him a magnificent sea fortress! This wall must not only block the sea winds, but also be able to mount a hundred heavy cannons!"

"If any barbarian fleets dare to covet the capital of our Great Ming Dynasty in the future, Tianjin will be their final resting place!"

Pei Yuan drew his sword and planted it into the hard, alkaline ground.

"From this day forward, all the stones brought by the Shanxi merchants shall be used to fill this foundation. I intend to transform Tianjin into the most impregnable northern home port for the Ming Dynasty's navy."

"It shall be named Zhenhai Fort, and it must live up to its name, guarding the maritime borders of our Great Ming Dynasty for a hundred years without fear!"

"Yes, sir!"

Lu Zheng and the group of Imperial Guards roared in unison, their anger overwhelming.

In the following months.

This once desolate tidal flat in Tianjin was transformed into the largest construction site in the entire Ming Dynasty.

Hundreds of thousands of laborers and artisans were conscripted.

Unlike previous imperial construction projects, these workers were not only provided with food and drink, but also received a steady stream of silver from Shanxi merchants to pay their wages.

For a time, merchants flocked to the area surrounding Tianjin, and the city became bustling with activity.

It was even showing signs of surpassing the outer city of the capital.

The massive city walls, constructed of bluestone and rammed earth, rose up along the coastline at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The city wall was wide enough for eight warhorses to gallop side by side.

Inside the city walls, several magnificent palaces were also built for the emperor to inspect and rest.

However, the vast majority of the buildings were barracks, armories, and huge shipyards.

This is a war fortress disguised as a palace.

In late autumn, the sea breeze grows cold.

Pei Yuan stood atop the nascent fortress, looking down at the deep-water harbor being dredged and widened at the mouth of the Haihe River.

"My lord, an urgent report has arrived from Jinling."

Lu Zheng strode up to the gun emplacement and handed over a sealed document.

"Old Yan said that the second and third treasure ships, each with a capacity of 1,000 liang, have completed their sea trials, and their cannons are fully equipped. He asked when the lord would dispatch them north?"

Pei Yuan took the folding book but did not open it.

He simply leaned on the railing, gazing at the surging waves of the Bohai Bay, a thoughtful smile playing on his lips.

"The lair of Zhenhai Fortress is now complete, so it's time to lure the dragon into the sea. Order Jinling to send two treasure ships, leading fifty armed Fujian ships, to set sail north immediately."

"Before October, I want to see the fleet of our Great Ming Dynasty anchored in the harbor of Tianjin."

Pei Yuan turned around, his bright red cloak billowing like waves in the autumn wind.

"The day the fleet arrives will be the day I submit a memorial to the Emperor requesting him to tour Tianjin. In this grand scheme of the Ming Dynasty's coastal defense, the most crucial piece has finally been laid."

As for the rumors and gossip circulating in the imperial court.

For him, it was nothing but fleeting smoke, adding only a touch of mockery.