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

The convoy proceeded at a leisurely pace.

Two days later, a sharp sea breeze carrying a salty, fishy smell blew in through the cracks in the car window.

"Your Highness, we have arrived."

Pei Yuan parted the curtains and pointed ahead.

Zhu Youzhen followed Pei Yuan's finger and gasped in shock.

At the horizon, a massive fortress, entirely black and resembling a primordial beast, lies sprawling on the shores of the Bohai Sea, suddenly comes into view.

The towering, five-zhang-high (approximately 10 meters) bluestone-clad iron city wall exuded a chilling sense of oppression under the early spring sun.

On the city wall, countless cannons pointed towards the sea, and banners fluttered in the sea breeze.

This is the home port of the Ming Dynasty's northern navy, the most fortified city in the world.

Zhenhaibao.

The carriage passed through the heavy city gate and entered the fortress.

Unlike the somber atmosphere of the military town on the outer walls, the inner city of Zhenhai Fort is a bustling and prosperous scene.

With the establishment of the Royal Trading Company, merchants from all over the world flocked to it.

Shops lined both sides of the wide street, and restaurants and teahouses were thriving.

Carts of silk, porcelain, and tea are lined up and being transported to the dock.

Spices and exotic goods from Southeast Asia unloaded from ships were piled up like mountains, exuding a rich, exotic aroma.

"My goodness... this place is even more bustling than the capital!"

Zhu Youzhen pressed his face against the car window, his eyes dazzled by what he saw.

The convoy traveled smoothly all the way and finally stopped in front of the Royal Trading Company, which is located next to the deep-water harbor.

Pei Yuan led the Crown Prince down from the carriage and went straight up to the highest watchtower in the trading bureau.

Standing atop this watchtower, the entire deep-water harbor is laid out before you.

Zhu Youzhen gripped the railing, his small hands turning slightly white from excessive excitement.

On the vast sea below, three treasure ships as large as mountains, each weighing a thousand liters, and more than a hundred armed Fujian ships were quietly anchored and moored.

The forest of masts and the incredibly massive hull instantly shattered the crown prince's preconceived notions about force.

"This...this is the navy of my Great Ming Dynasty?!"

Zhu Youzhen's voice was trembling.

Pei Yuan stood with his hands behind his back beside the Crown Prince, the sea breeze ruffling his blue robes.

"Indeed, Your Highness. This is the invincible navy that I have built for His Majesty, and for you, using the silver I collected from merchants."

Pei Yuan pointed to the merchants below who were queuing up to inspect the supply contracts and prepare to load the goods onto the treasure ship.

"Your Highness, do you see that? Those wealthy merchants who usually wield great power in the local area are now as docile as lambs under the cannons of our Ming Navy."

"They willingly spend tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of taels of silver, to buy a tally, just so they can board our great Ming Dynasty, this giant ship that earns wealth from all over the world."

Pei Yuan lowered his head and looked into Zhu Youzhen's eyes, which were filled with shock.

"You asked before how to practice benevolent governance. I will now tell you."

"When you have such an invincible fleet at your disposal, when you use this Royal Trading Company to continuously draw wealth from all corners of the world back into the Ming Dynasty's treasury."

"Then you will no longer need to exploit the people of our Great Ming. You can exempt the country from agricultural taxes, you can develop large-scale water conservancy projects, and you can ensure that the people of the Great Ming do not pick up lost items on the road and do not lock their doors at night."

Pei Yuan's voice was deep and seductive.

It was as if they were drawing up an extremely grand blueprint for a future emperor.

"True benevolent governance is not about stingily saving a few mouthfuls of food to aid disaster victims. It's about going out into the world, bringing back wealth from all over, so that the people of the Ming Dynasty are born superior to these barbarian tribes!"

"This is the true domineering way of an emperor, the achievement of a ruler for all ages!"

Zhu Youzhen was thrilled, his young heart pounding.

He finally understood why his father favored this "treacherous minister" so much.

Master Wang taught him how to be a ruler who maintains the status quo.

What Pei Taibao taught him was how to be a world-shaking overlord who could dominate the four seas!

"I understand! Thank you for your guidance, Master Pei!"

Zhu Youzhen took a step back and solemnly bowed deeply to Pei Yuan.

This "Master" was uttered willingly, without the slightest hint of reluctance.

The two attendants standing nearby were already terrified, their faces ashen.

Pei Yuan made such remarks about competing with the people for profit and engaging in militarism sound so dignified.

Moreover, the Crown Prince believed it without a doubt!

They exchanged a glance and both saw the despair in each other's eyes.

The next generation of the Ming Dynasty was truly led astray by this treacherous minister.

Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the Bureau of Commerce.

"What happened?"

Pei Yuan frowned slightly and looked at Lu Zheng behind him.

Lu Zheng glanced down and quickly reported.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, it seems that the Maritime Trade Commissioner's Office has apprehended several merchants attempting to smuggle contraband out to sea, and they are being escorted here to await their fate."

"Contraband? What was smuggled in?"

"Pig iron and several boxes of blueprints and parts for new-style muskets."

A murderous glint flashed in Lu Zheng's eyes.

Pei Yuan's eyes instantly turned cold.

He repeatedly emphasized that silk and porcelain could be exported overseas.

Ironware and firearms are the very foundation of the Ming Dynasty, and not a single piece of them may be allowed to leave the country.

There are actually people who are not afraid of death and want to make money that will lead to the extinction of their lineage.

"Come, Your Highness. Since we've met today, I'll teach you one last lesson."

Pei Yuan waved his sleeve and turned to walk downstairs.

Zhu Youzhen, filled with a mixture of curiosity and nervousness, quickly followed.

Inside the front courtyard of the Commerce Bureau.

Several richly dressed merchants were pinned to the ground and bound hand and foot by the fierce Imperial Guards.

Next to it were several smashed wooden crates, inside which were cast iron ingots and musket parts wrapped in silk.

"Your Honor, I'm innocent! I was just confused for a moment, and those foreign devils from Southeast Asia made promises of a large sum of money, which clouded my judgment! Please, Your Honor, spare my life!"

The fat merchant at the head of the group cried and kowtowed.

Pei Yuan sat down in a grand chair, ignoring the merchant's wails, and turned to look at Zhu Youzhen.

"Your Highness, the laws of the Ming Dynasty state that those who privately communicate with foreign countries or smuggle important military and national weapons shall be punished with what crime?"

Although Zhu Youzhen was young, he had memorized the Great Ming Code and immediately recited it.

"According to the law, he should be beheaded, and his family property should be confiscated."

Pei Yuan nodded, but then shook his head.

"Your Highness, according to the law, he should be executed; that's the rule of the Ministry of Justice and the Censorate. But in my Zhenhai Fortress, the rules need to be changed."

Pei Yuan picked up a gavel from the table, but instead of striking it, he gently played with it in his hand.

"Merchants pursue profit, which is in their nature and there is nothing wrong with that. But some people, for a little money, dare to betray the secrets of the Ming Dynasty."

"If he dares to smuggle arquebus parts today, he'll dare to sell the blueprints for our treasure ships to foreigners tomorrow. Such a treacherous rat should simply be executed."

"It's too easy on them, and it won't deter those greedy, unscrupulous merchants outside."

Pei Yuan's gaze swept over the many merchants gathered in the courtyard, and his voice suddenly turned stern.

"Lu Zheng!"

"Your humble servant is here!"

"Take these men to the muzzle of the largest Zhenhai Divine Cannon at Zhenhai Fortress. Tie them up securely."

Pei Yuan spoke in a calm tone, as if he were ordering a dish.

"Since they like firearms, today I will let them taste the finest firearms of the Ming Dynasty. I'll use them as cannon fodder and blast them to pieces!"