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

"Not only that, when the Emperor inquired about the winter clothing and military pay for the nine border regions, Bai Gui actually stepped forward and reported that the Ministry of War had already made the necessary arrangements and that the Ministry of Revenue did not need to allocate any more funds."

"The Minister of Revenue was so shocked that his jaw almost dropped to the ground. He pressed Bai Gui for an answer, asking where the money came from. Bai Gui simply replied with a straight face that it was donated by loyal ministers and righteous men, and refused to say anything more."

At this point, Wantong was overjoyed.

"Brother, that million taels of silver you gave me really made a big splash! That stubborn old man Bai Gui took your money and didn't dare utter a single word in court."

"You weren't there, so you didn't see Li Xian's face. It was as black as the bottom of a pot, and the way he looked at Bai Gui was like he wanted to devour him whole!"

Pei Yuan simply smiled faintly after hearing this.

Using chopsticks, I picked up the cooked frozen tofu from the pot, dipped it in some sesame sauce, and ate it slowly.

By accepting the money, the Ministry of War effectively tore a hole in the otherwise monolithic civil service.

The civil officials considered themselves to be of high moral character.

But how could the imperial court function without gold and silver?

Even the strongest alliances can crumble in the face of real money, provided the benefits are distributed properly.

He has managed to stir up the political situation in the imperial court to his fullest extent.

"Let them be."

Pei Yuan put down his chopsticks.

"The winter days in the capital are too long; we need to find some entertainment to pass the time. Brother Wan, how's the matter with the Border Patrol and Anti-Smuggling Bureau going?"

When business was brought up, Wantong immediately stopped smiling and said seriously:

"Don't worry, brother. The several batches of elite guards I've sent out are all top-notch in the Garrison Command. With your title as Right Vice-General in charge, which general in the Nine Garrisons would dare to disrespect us?"

"Those Shanxi merchants were honest enough to pay their 20% tax in a timely manner, in accordance with the rules."

Wan Tong lowered his voice, a greedy glint flashing in his eyes.

"In just one and a half months, the amount of silver and fine furs transported back to the capital has reached a staggering 600,000 taels. As you instructed, I have already transported the lion's share directly to the construction site at Zhenhaibao in Tianjin."

"The remaining ten percent was left in the Zhenfu Division and distributed among the brothers."

"Well done."

Pei Yuan nodded in satisfaction.

This is the situation he wanted.

There's no need for him to do everything himself.

Once the rules are set, this massive imperial machine will operate continuously according to his will.

The snow outside the window was falling in a flurry.

This shrouds the bustling capital city in a pristine, tranquil whiteness.

Pei Yuan held his wine cup, listening to the bubbling sound of boiling water in the copper pot, his mind at peace.

A century has passed, and the world has changed dramatically.

Now, having abandoned the classics and taken up swords and silver, he deals with the demons and monsters in the court with surprising ease.

"Let's wait a bit."

Pei Yuan drank the warm wine in his cup in one gulp.

The maritime ban has been lifted, and commercial bureaus have been established.

The sails of the Ming Dynasty have been raised.

In the years that followed, he only needed to sit in this secluded mansion in the capital, brewing tea and wine.

I watched coldly as the giant ship sailed into the unknown distance.

The hot pot meal was a delightful experience for both host and guests.

Wan Tong, reeking of alcohol and feeling satisfied, took his leave.

Pei Yuan sat alone in the warm pavilion, ordering his men to remove the remaining mats and replace them with a pot of tea.

The room was filled with the faint aroma of charcoal and the fresh scent of mutton, creating a sense of languid comfort.

Just as he was about to take a short rest, Lu Zheng stepped into the warm pavilion.

"grown ups."

Lu Zheng's expression was slightly solemn.

"Just now, news came from the Eastern Depot that after Grand Secretary Li left the court, he did not return to the Wenyuan Pavilion, but went directly to the Baiyun Temple outside the city."

"Baiyun Temple?"

Pei Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Yes. I heard that Grand Secretary Li held a secret meeting at Baiyun Temple with several retired officials from Jiangnan. Among them was Wang Hua, the former Minister of Rites who was quite famous in Southern Zhili."

Lu Zheng lowered his voice.

"The agents of the Eastern Depot did not dare to get too close, but they vaguely heard that they seemed to be plotting to submit a joint petition."

Pei Yuan tapped his fingers lightly on the table, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"Go and investigate Wang Hua's background. Also, keep a close eye on Li Xian's residence; don't let a single pigeon slip by."

Pei Yuan's tone turned cold.

He doesn't care about his reputation.

But if anyone dares to jump out at this moment and disrupt the grand voyage he has painstakingly planned, it would be a disaster.

Then don't blame him for not returning his Emperor's Sword to its sheath until blood is drawn.

The snow in the imperial court doesn't look like it's going to stop.

But so what?

Let the winds blow from the east, west, south, or north, I remain steadfast and unmoved.

……

The snow in the capital city fell for three days before it began to subside.

The world was a blanket of white, with a thick layer of snow covering the glazed tiles.

A cold wind blew by, occasionally stirring up a fine mist of snow that settled inside the imposing and austere Right Vice-Governor's Mansion on the shore of Shichahai Lake.

The study in the backyard was warm and cozy, like springtime.

Two gilded bronze crane incense burners in the corner were slowly releasing the calming and soothing fragrance of galangal.

Pei Yuan was standing in front of the large sandalwood desk, holding a brush dipped in thick ink, slowly and methodically copying characters on the Chengxintang paper.

With graceful strokes and powerful lines, the calligraphy conveys a sense of vicissitude and open-mindedness that comes from a century of experience.

"My lord, your handwriting is truly excellent. Your skill in this stroke is perhaps even more refined than that of those old scholars in the Hanlin Academy."

Lu Zheng, a centurion of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, stood aside, grinding ink for Pei Yuan while sincerely praising him.

He was a martial artist and didn't understand anything about the "Yan-Jiang-Liu-Gu" style.

He felt that his commander's calligraphy was both menacing and had an indescribable freehand elegance.

Pei Yuan chuckled, placed the brush on the brush washer, and picked up a white cotton cloth to wipe his hands.

"These characters are like the minds of officials in the imperial court. They look upright, but inside they hide countless twists and turns and calculations."

"If one is too rigid, the strokes will easily break; if one is too smooth, the strokes will become like ink pigs, unsightly and unbearable."

Pei Yuan walked to the couch next to the charcoal brazier, sat down, and picked up the warm ginseng tea.

"Let's get down to business. I asked you to send people to keep an eye on Baiyun Temple the other day. What kind of treasonous scheme are Grand Secretary Li and that old man Wang from Jiangnan plotting?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Zheng's expression immediately turned serious, and he stepped forward, lowering his voice.

"Reporting to you, sir. The Eastern Depot and our Zhenfu Division's spies went through a lot of trouble to find out where they were having their secret meeting."

"The former Minister of Rites, Wang Hua, was a renowned Confucian scholar from Jiangnan, with students and former officials all over the court. He secretly came to the capital this time because he was invited by a secret letter from Grand Secretary Li."

"They were talking about the foundation of the nation."

Upon hearing the words "foundation of the nation," Pei Yuan paused slightly in his teacup.

He then let out a meaningful sneer.

The so-called "foundation of the nation" refers to the crown prince, the heir apparent of the Ming Dynasty.

The current emperor, Zhu Jianji, has several sons, but his eldest son, Zhu Youzhen, is only ten years old and still very young.

The emperor never formally appointed a crown prince.

Under normal circumstances, this would not be considered a matter of great urgency, after all, the emperor is in his prime.