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

In the sixth year of the Chenghua reign, in late autumn, the frost and snow in the north came earlier and were much fiercer than in the south.

At the mouth of the Haihe River in Tianjin, the cold wind, carrying the salty smell of the sea, swept across the newly built, tall city wall.

However, in just a few short months...

What was once a desolate salt flat has now been transformed into a majestic and imposing sea fortress.

The ten-mile-long bluestone city wall was reinforced with molten iron on the outside.

Under the dim autumn light, it gleamed with a cold and indestructible dark light.

Every hundred paces along the city wall is a protruding gun emplacement.

Beneath the cannon cover, the thick, reddish-copper barrels were faintly visible, resembling giant beasts lurking on the edge of the sea.

Zhenhaibao, a military stronghold built under the guise of a "summer palace," is already beginning to take shape.

At the highest point, on the Wanghai Tower, the doors and windows were tightly shut, and the floor heating was blazing hot.

Pei Yuan, dressed in a black sable fur coat, leaned back in a chair covered with a thick white tiger skin.

On the table, a gilded Boshan incense burner was emitting wisps of incense, completely isolating the bitter cold outside.

Lu Zheng, a centurion of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, lifted the heavy cotton curtain and strode into the building, bringing with him a chill in the air. He then clasped his hands in greeting and reported the news.

"News from Jinling indicates that Old Yan personally led the second and third thousand-ton treasure ships, along with fifty armed Fujian ships, which have already passed the waters off Dengzhou."

"If the wind direction doesn't change, we should be able to reach the deep-water harbor of Tianjin by noon tomorrow."

Pei Yuan picked up the hot tea on the table, gently brushed away the foam, took a small sip, and a deep smile appeared on his lips.

"Good. Have the managers of the eight major Shanxi merchant guilds who delivered stone and timber been waiting in the city these past few days?"

Lu Zheng grinned, revealing a set of white teeth.

"Reporting to you, sir, they are all here. Qiao Shouye has personally led several top managers, and they've been overseeing the construction site every day for the past two weeks. Those wealthy Shanxi landlords are terrified by your methods, sir."

"All the materials transported here are the finest old mine bluestone and red pine from beyond the Great Wall; we wouldn't even dare to use a single broken tile."

"Right now, they are gathered in the large tent below the city, warming themselves by the fire, waiting to report to their superiors."

Pei Yuan put down his teacup, stood up, walked to the window, and pushed open half of the window.

A biting wind rushed in instantly, whipping up the hem of his black sable fur coat.

He gazed at the hazy horizon, a calculating glint in his eyes.

"Go and summon Qiao Shouye and the others to this Wanghai Tower. Tomorrow the fleet will enter the port. Such a grand occasion, which is rare in history, needs a few knowledgeable spectators to make it truly exciting."

"I will take care of it immediately."

Before long, Qiao Shouye and several other Shanxi merchants, led by the Imperial Guards, cautiously ascended the Wanghai Tower.

These wealthy men, though dressed in thick fox fur coats, were all incredibly rich.

But standing before this powerful Right Vice-Governor, he still felt his legs go weak and didn't even dare to lift his head.

"We, your humble servants, pay our respects to Your Excellency the Governor."

Qiao Shouye led the way, kneeling down and kowtowing respectfully.

"Rise, all of you. Please take a seat."

Pei Yuan did not turn around, but remained with his hands behind his back, gazing at the churning waves of the Bohai Bay.

The shopkeepers declined the seats and only dared to sit lightly by the edge of the embroidered stools.

Looking at this magnificent and breathtaking "palace," they all felt a chill run down their spines.

This doesn't look like a palace where the emperor would escape the summer heat at all!

This Lord Pei is truly audacious beyond belief.

They dared to use the Emperor's private funds to build such a military town right under the nose of the capital.

"Boss Qiao, over the past few months, your Shanxi Merchants Guild has done an excellent job in procuring the stone and timber for Zhenhai Fort. I have seen it all, and you have a firm grip on the customs clearance tax business."

Pei Yuan turned around, walked slowly to the main seat and sat down, his tone calm.

Upon hearing this, Qiao Shouye felt a huge weight lifted from his heart after months of worry, and he quickly bowed and smiled obsequiously.

"Being able to serve the Governor is a blessing that we commoners have accumulated over several lifetimes."

"Let alone some stones and timber, as long as the governor gives the order, we commoners will not even flinch, even if it means going through fire and water."

"Forget about going through fire and water. I've summoned you here today to bestow upon you a great opportunity."

Pei Yuan pointed to the sea outside the window.

"Tomorrow, the main fleet of the Ming Dynasty navy will arrive at Zhenhai Fort harbor. I grant you permission to ascend the city wall and witness this spectacle."

"You Shanxi merchants have been doing trade in the Nine Borders for a long time, and you've seen the wind, sand and fast horses of the North. You should also see what our Great Ming's invincible fortress at sea looks like."

Qiao Shouye and the others looked at each other, completely bewildered.

But since the imperial envoy had spoken, they had no choice but to repeatedly agree.

The next day at noon.

The sky cleared, but the sea breeze grew even stronger.

On the towering walls of Zhenhai Fort, Imperial Guards stood guard every three steps and sentries every five, their banners fluttering in the wind.

Qiao Shouye and several other Shanxi merchants stood hunched over in a corner of the city wall, looking towards the horizon in the direction Pei Yuan was pointing.

At first, there were only a few small dark shadows on the sea.

As time went by, the shadow gradually grew larger.

As the long, mournful sound of horns pierced the air, a scene that these inland merchants would never forget slowly unfolded over the Bohai Bay.

The first thing that catches the eye is two magnificent treasure ships, each weighing a thousand liters, that resemble mountains on the sea.

Huge, rigid sails blotted out the sky and cleaved through the rolling waves.

With an overwhelming and majestic momentum, it sailed towards the deep-water harbor of Zhenhai Fort.

On the towering superstructure of the treasure ship, carved beams and painted rafters, a dragon flag with the character "Ming" in gold on a black background fluttered in the wind.

On both sides of the ship's hull, rows of dark gun ports were open.

The heavy cannon, cast in red bronze, gleamed with a chilling luster under the winter sun, as if it could unleash devastating thunder at any moment.

Behind these two giant ships, fifty armed Fujian ships lined up like wolves protecting their master.

The entire fleet, lined up end to end, filled the wide estuary to the brim.

"hiss"

A collective gasp of astonishment rippled through the city walls.

Qiao Shouye's eyes widened, and his legs trembled involuntarily.

He had been to Datong and seen the 10,000-strong square formation of the Ming Dynasty's border army.

He had also been to the area beyond the Great Wall and had seen the vast army of the Tatars.

But in the face of these inhuman behemoths of steel, wood, and stone, those so-called cavalry charges were utterly laughable, like ants.

With this cannon fire, what kind of city wall wouldn't collapse?

What kind of cavalry formation can't be torn apart?

"Boss Qiao, what do you think of the quality of my fleet?"

Pei Yuan had somehow walked up to Qiao Shouye's side, his hands tucked into the sleeves of his fur coat, and asked in a relaxed tone.

"Seizing...seizing the creation of heaven and earth! This divine vessel truly reflects the divine might of the Celestial Empire. This humble subject has had his eyes opened today, and can die without regret!"

Qiao Shouye's voice trembled, and he could not even speak a complete sentence.

Pei Yuan looked down at the massive fleet that was slowly anchoring and entering the port, and the smile on his lips deepened.

"This navy can not only fight pirates, but if we aim these cannons at the passes along the nine borders, do you think those Tatars who are entrenched outside the pass and who are always thinking about going south to raid for grain, can withstand a few volleys?"

Upon hearing this, Qiao Shouye and the others were instantly struck dumb.

They finally understood the real reason why this living devil had summoned them to see the fleet!

This is a warning shot!

The Shanxi merchants engaged in border trade, and behind their backs were more or less entangled in some unclear and ambiguous interests with the Tatar nobles.

Pei Yuan was giving them a blatant warning.

The Ming Dynasty now possesses not only swords, but also giant cannons capable of moving mountains and filling seas.

Anyone who dares to engage in shady dealings at the border trade markets, smuggling prohibited weapons to the enemy, will be punished.

This invincible navy can unleash a barrage of cannonballs from the sea at any time on any disobedient military town!