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

Lu Zheng suddenly realized what was going on and sincerely clasped his hands in admiration.

"Your Excellency is wise and far-sighted, while I am foolish and dull. As for the Royal Trading Company..."

"As for the business, tell Wan Dafu and Qiao Shouye to hurry up."

Pei Yuan stood up and stretched his limbs.

"Now that the tally has been sold, the southbound fleet should load its cargo as soon as possible. While no one in the court dares to make a scene, let's make it a fait accompli."

"Once that steady stream of real gold and silver is transported back to the national treasury, the entire court will never be able to close the door to the sea ban again."

Just then, the doorman outside announced loudly.

"Reporting to the Governor, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived."

Pei Yuan raised an eyebrow, waved for Lu Zheng to leave, and then went to greet him at the door.

In the drizzle in the courtyard, Crown Prince Zhu Youzhen, holding an oil-paper umbrella, walked briskly with only two personal eunuchs by his side.

Today, the young prince was dressed in the ordinary blue robe of a wealthy young master.

If it weren't for that undeniable air of royal nobility, he would really look like a scholar out for a spring outing walking down the street.

"Your Highness, this humble subject greets you. In this continuous rainy weather, why is Your Highness not studying at the Eastern Palace, but instead has come to this humble residence?"

Pei Yuan cupped his hands in greeting and welcomed the Crown Prince into the study.

Zhu Youzhen casually handed the oiled paper umbrella to the eunuch, walked familiarly to the charcoal brazier, warmed his hands with it, and his little face was full of excitement.

"Master Pei, I've finished reviewing the merchant ledgers you showed me a few days ago. I've come today to ask you, Master Pei, just how large can overseas trade really be?"

"Could it really be as Master said, that it can fill the Ming Dynasty's treasury to overflowing?"

Zhu Youzhen called him "Master" willingly.

Ever since witnessing the earth-shattering cannon attack in Tianjin, and being influenced by Pei Yuan's domineering rhetoric of using war to support commerce and strengthen the country and enrich the people,

This ten-year-old crown prince has completely severed ties with the old scholars in the Wenhua Hall.

Pei Yuan looked at the young prince's thirst for knowledge and a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes.

He walked behind the desk, reached out and pulled open a large drawer, and took out a scroll painted on fine parchment.

"Since Your Highness is curious, I will show you something today. This thing is a thousand times more effective than the Four Books and Five Classics."

Pei Yuan slowly unrolled the sheepskin scroll on the large desk.

Zhu Youzhen stepped forward, took one look, and froze.

On the scroll was a strange map he had never seen before.

Although the vast territory of the Ming Dynasty is marked in the center of the map, it only occupies less than 20% of the map's area.

Surrounding the Ming Dynasty were a vast, boundless blue ocean and several strangely shaped, unfamiliar landmasses, some even larger than the Ming Dynasty itself.

"Master Pei... what... what is this? How can the territory of my Great Ming Dynasty appear so cramped?"

Zhu Youzhen looked on in disbelief, his finger trembling slightly as he pointed at the map.

In the teachings of those old tutors, the Ming Dynasty was the Celestial Empire, located in the very center of the world, surrounded by small, uncivilized countries and barbarians.

But the picture before him shattered his pride in being the Celestial Empire.

Pei Yuan, holding a teacup, stood beside the desk, gazing intently at the incomplete copy of the "Complete Map of the World" that he had personally hand-drawn based on his memories of a hundred years from his previous life.

"Your Highness, this is the true face of the world."

Pei Yuan picked up a jade-tipped purple-haired brush and pointed it at the southern sea area of ​​the Ming Dynasty.

"This is Southeast Asia. It is rich in spices, rhinoceros horn, and tortoiseshell. When our Ming Dynasty's porcelain and silk are transported here, they can be exchanged for ten times their cost. Those local natives treat gold bricks like stones."

The pen tip glided westward along the sea route, crossing a narrow strait.

"Further west, past Malacca, lies the Western Ocean. There, the red-haired barbarians live in numerous city-states, constantly at war with one another. They desperately crave the tea and firearms of the Ming Dynasty."

"Whoever controls the trade routes in this sea area will control the lifeline of the world's wealth."

Pei Yuan's pen suddenly swept towards the long, narrow island to the east of the Ming Dynasty.

"This is Japan. Don't let its small size and years of internal strife fool you; it's a land of poverty and hardship. But beneath its soil lies the world's richest silver mine."

"Most of the silver circulating in the Ming Dynasty today was smuggled from this island."

Zhu Youzhen gasped, his eyes fixed on the map, his breathing becoming extremely heavy.

Spices, gold bricks, and endless silver mines!

These riches were scattered overseas, not far from the Ming Dynasty.

However, the previous emperors of the Ming Dynasty, in order to guard against a few insignificant pirates, forcibly sealed off the sea frontier.

He surrendered all the gold and silver in the world to the ravages of time.

"Master Pei... if our Ming Dynasty's navy were to sail over to these places, would we be able to retrieve the goods?"

The young prince's voice revealed a chilling greed and ambition.

This is precisely the wolfish nature inherent in the Zhu family emperors.

Pei Yuan smiled with satisfaction.

This is exactly the effect he wanted.

"take?"

Pei Yuan placed the purple-tipped brush on the brush mountain and shook his head.

"Your Highness, all land under heaven belongs to the emperor. The Son of Heaven possesses the entire world; how can this be called taking? It is called educating the barbarians and exchanging goods."

Pei Yuan walked to the Crown Prince's side, lowered his voice, and spoke with a bewitching, almost magical quality.

"Your Highness, think about it. Our Great Ming has the most sturdy treasure ships and cannons with a range of ten miles. Those small foreign countries can't even muster enough iron armor."

"When our navy sails to the gates of their capital, sets up its cannons, and starts trading with them, would they dare not sell at the prices set by our Great Ming?"

"If they dare not sell, then they are disrespecting the king. We will then rightfully blast open their city gates and go in to take it ourselves."

"The rules of this world have never been explained by Confucianism and Mencius, but rather measured by the range of cannons."

Zhu Youzhen was filled with excitement as he listened, his little fists clenched tightly, and his eyes gleaming with fervent light.

"I understand! The Ming Dynasty's navy is the rule of the world! Anyone who dares to obstruct Ming Dynasty merchant ships is an irreconcilable enemy of the Ming Dynasty!"

"This child is teachable."

Pei Yuan laughed twice, then reached out and rolled up the "Complete Map of the World" and personally handed it to Zhu Youzhen.

"Your Highness, take this painting back to the Eastern Palace and hang it beside your bed. If you become emperor in the future, don't always worry about the millions of taels of silver in the imperial granary, and don't spend your days arguing with those old fogies in the cabinet in court."

Pei Yuan's gaze became incredibly distant, as if piercing through the barrier of a hundred years.

"Your eyes should be fixed on this vast ocean. Let the banners of the Ming Dynasty, bearing the sun, moon, and dragon, fill every corner of this map. Let the people of the Ming Dynasty enjoy this peaceful and prosperous era, revered by all corners of the world, for generations to come."

"This is the true emperor of all time."

Zhu Youzhen accepted the scroll with both hands, holding it in his arms as if it were a priceless treasure, and solemnly bowed deeply to Pei Yuan.

"I will remember Master Pei's teachings today. If I inherit the throne in the future, I will take the world as my guide and live up to Master's expectations."

After the ambitious crown prince left, the study returned to its usual tranquility.

The rain outside the window gradually stopped.

Pei Yuan stood alone under the eaves, looking at the banana leaves in the courtyard, which were now lush and green after being washed by the rain.

The smile on his lips gradually faded, turning into a long sigh.

The loneliness of the immortals often lies in the fact that there is no one with whom they can share the changing times.

He lived in this world for so long that he saw through the vanity of imperial power and the changing of dynasties.

The reason he went to such lengths to teach this young prince was to forcefully propel this great voyage forward.

I just wanted to find some fun entertainment during these long, boring years.

"This game of chess is too grand. I also need to constantly hone my physical strength, lest I be injured by those hidden arrows before I even see the end of the show."

Pei Yuan chuckled self-deprecatingly, then turned and walked back into the house.