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

Wang Hua was stunned and speechless for a long time.

Such methods of manipulating people's hearts and exploiting the greed of merchants are called "deceitful ways" in those classic texts.

This is something that scholars and officials despise.

Ironically, this method proved more effective in reality than any imperial edict.

A light shone in Zhu Youzhen's eyes, as if a door to a new world was slowly being pushed open in front of him.

"So... if there's food, the disaster victims can survive, right?"

The young prince asked eagerly.

"Not enough."

Pei Yuan shook his head.

"A small favor is appreciated, but a large favor breeds resentment. Free food doesn't cultivate grateful citizens, but rather lazy people who squander their wealth."

"The imperial court's disaster relief grain cannot be given away for nothing."

Pei Yuan pointed out the window.

"The Yellow River has breached its banks, and the official roads are in disrepair. If I were in charge, I would organize the able-bodied men and women of the disaster-stricken people into a work-for-relief program. Whoever carries stones to repair the dikes, and whoever digs ditches to repair the official roads, I would provide them with rations."

"The amount of work done determines the amount of grain given. The elderly, weak, sick, and disabled receive porridge from the imperial court. In this way, after the disaster, the Yellow River dike was as solid as a rock, the official roads were unobstructed, and the disaster victims survived by their own strength and preserved their dignity."

"This is what true benevolent governance should be."

A long, deathly silence fell over the main hall.

Wang Hua slumped into the armchair, his hands hanging limply at his sides.

He wanted to refute Pei Yuan's actions, using the Confucian principle of "loving the people like one's own children" to condemn Pei Yuan's ruthlessness.

However, faced with Pei Yuan's meticulous and practical methods, which could even incidentally repair water conservancy, they were at a disadvantage.

His limited knowledge of classical texts seemed so pale and laughable.

Zhu Youzhen stared blankly at the half-eaten, blackened bran cake on the desk.

"Pei Taibao..."

Zhu Youzhen stood up, walked to the desk, and respectfully performed the apprenticeship ceremony before Pei Yuan.

This honor was something Wang Hua had never received even when he finished lecturing on Mencius.

"Your words are more valuable than ten years of hard study. I have learned a great deal."

Zhu Youzhen's eyes had become much more profound, no longer as naive as they had been half an hour ago.

Pei Yuan accepted the bow without hesitation.

He stepped forward, picked up the scroll of Mencius from the ground, dusted it off, and placed it back on the desk.

"Your Highness, this book must still be read. The teachings of the sages are for cultivating the mind and for comforting all scholars in the world."

"But Your Highness must remember, as the future emperor of the Ming Dynasty, you must hold this book of Mencius in one hand and preach benevolence and morality."

"With the other hand, one must hold the sharpest sword and the most substantial money."

Pei Yuan's voice was deep and seductive.

"Only when you are more cunning than the most corrupt official in the world, more knowledgeable about money than the most treacherous merchant in the world, and more ruthless than the most brutal general in the world."

"Only then can you sit firmly on this dragon throne. Only then can you firmly trample those demons and monsters under your feet."

"To preserve the Ming Dynasty, and ensure peace and prosperity for the land."

Zhu Youzhen nodded solemnly.

"I've noted it down."

The lectures in the Wenhua Hall ended early that day.

Wang Hua walked out of the Forbidden City in a daze.

The plan of the upright civil officials to use the Eastern Palace to check the power of the emperor has fallen through.

The Crown Prince's pure and innocent heart has been tainted by Pei Yuan, that wicked dragon, with the undertones of power struggles and pragmatism.

Pei Yuan, on the other hand, strolled leisurely through the alley with his hands behind his back.

He didn't expect to turn a little kid into a great emperor in a single lesson.

This is just the beginning.

If we want to truly transform this crown prince, mere theoretical discussions within the Forbidden City are ultimately insufficient.

"In a few days, when spring arrives, it will be time to take this little guy to Zhenhaibao in Tianjin."

"Let him smell the gunpowder from the cannons and see the mountains of foreign spices."

"How can the future leader of the Ming Dynasty, without shedding blood, possibly control the vast world?"

Pei Yuan murmured to himself, looking up at the clear blue sky that had just cleared.

This century-old game of chess in the mortal world has become even more interesting with the addition of a new player.

The groundbreaking lecture at the Wenhua Hall spread to the East Warm Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace in less than half a day.

At this moment, Emperor Chenghua, Zhu Jianji, was leaning against a bright yellow pillow, with two pretty palace maids massaging his legs.

Wang Zhi, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, stood respectfully to one side.

He vividly described the scene that unfolded in the Wenhua Hall, recounting it word for word.

When he heard Pei Yuan slam the half-eaten, blackened bran cake onto the desk and point at Wang Hua's nose, he was furious at his bookish and tyrannical behavior.

Then, they proposed disaster relief methods such as raising grain prices and providing work relief instead of food.

Zhu Jianji's eyes suddenly lit up, his breathing became heavier, he sat up abruptly, pushed away the palace maid who was massaging his legs, and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"I knew it! Pei Yuan's belly is full of unorthodox and unconventional schemes for governing the country! That old scoundrel Wang Hua, he's always spouting benevolence and morality, but when a real famine strikes, what can he do besides make me issue an edict of self-reproach and open the granaries?"

"Pei Yuan's move, without costing the court a single penny, mobilized grain merchants across the land and also repaired bridges and roads. This is truly a strategy for governing the country!"

Seeing that the Emperor was in high spirits, Wang Zhi hurriedly stepped forward to join in the fun.

"His Majesty is wise and discerning in recognizing and employing talent. I heard that when Lord Wang was refuted by Governor Pei, he was speechless and slumped into his chair, unable to recover for a long time."

"His Highness the Crown Prince is indeed wise; he actually performed the apprenticeship ceremony for Governor Pei on the spot, and frankly said that he had learned a lot."

"Oh? The Crown Prince bowed to him?"

Zhu Jianji was taken aback at first, then laughed even more heartily.

"Good lad, no wonder you're my son! You haven't been turned into a blockhead by those old pedants."

Zhu Jianji stood up and paced back and forth in the warm pavilion, his expression revealing an irrepressible excitement.

"Those civil officials always think they can mold the Crown Prince into a clay idol they can manipulate at will. They're dreaming! My empire is meant to be passed on to a true dragon who can command the entire court and awe the world!"

"Pei Yuan is right. This empire cannot be protected by simply chanting scriptures. We must let the Crown Prince know how to earn money and how to wield a knife!"

Zhu Jianji stopped, a resolute glint in his eyes, and turned to look at Wang Zhi.

"Send my imperial decree to Pei Yuan! Since the Crown Prince has acknowledged him as his teacher, let him teach freely!"

"Not only should he teach in the Wenhua Hall, but in a couple of days, have him take the Crown Prince to Zhenhai Fort in Tianjin!"

Wang Zhi was startled and quickly bowed.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is a precious daughter. If the Grand Secretariat and the Censorate find out that he has left the capital like this, he will probably kneel outside the Meridian Gate and plead for his life again."

"Make them kneel!"

Zhu Jianji snorted coldly and flicked his sleeve.

"Just say that I want the Crown Prince to offer sacrifices to the sea god and to understand the hardships of the naval officers and soldiers. With Pei Yuan and the Embroidered Uniform Guard protecting him, who would dare to harm the Crown Prince in the slightest?"

"I want the Crown Prince to see for himself how Master Pei forges money bags and impregnable fortifications for the Ming Dynasty in Tianjin!"