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

Zheng He held his teacup, but didn't drink for a long time, his weathered face full of bitterness.

"Lord Gu, this old servant is a rough man, so I won't beat around the bush."

Zheng He sighed, put down his teacup, and suddenly stood up, bowing deeply to Gu Yannian.

Gu Yannian remained seated, only slightly raising his hand: "What is the meaning of this, Your Excellency? You flatter me."

"This old servant has come north to ask you for a favor, sir."

Zheng He's gaze was earnest, revealing a hint of barely concealed anxiety.

"This old servant has heard that under the management of Your Excellency and Minister Xia, the national treasury is now full, with the silver in the imperial granary amounting to tens of millions of taels."

"This old servant dares to ask Your Excellency to put in a good word for us before the Emperor, so that the maritime ban can be lifted and the grand voyages to the West can resume!"

as predicted.

Gu Yannian's expression was calm, and his slender fingers tapped the table lightly, making a rhythmic sound.

"You should know that the decision to halt the voyages to the Western Ocean was a national policy made by His Majesty to appease the people. The construction of the treasure ships was extremely costly, and countless craftsmen in the Jiangnan shipyards died or were injured."

"When a trip to the sea is made, the silk and porcelain bestowed upon foreign lands are poured out like water, and what is returned in return are only lions, elephants, spices, agates and other items for the royal family to enjoy, which do not bring much benefit to the national economy and the people's livelihood."

"Minister Xia nearly got imprisoned by the late emperor for trying to stop the voyage. Now, Your Excellency is asking me to speak on this matter, isn't that putting me in the hands of all the officials?"

These words were perfectly worded, every single one a cliché from the opposition in the imperial court.

Upon hearing this, Zheng He's face flushed red, and he hurriedly retorted:

"Lord Gu, this old servant's voyages are not merely for the purpose of collecting rare treasures! It is to enhance the prestige of our Great Ming Dynasty and forge friendly relations with vassal states around us, so that we may gain the submission of all nations."

"Furthermore, the spices and gems from those Western countries, if properly sold after being transported back to the Ming Dynasty, would generate a considerable income. How can it be considered a waste of manpower and resources!"

"Selling? To whom? To royalty or nobility?"

Gu Yannian shook his head slightly.

"What the people of the Ming Dynasty sought was a full meal and warm clothes. Although pepper was expensive, it could not replace a meal."

Zheng He was speechless for a moment, then slumped back onto the stone bench, looking utterly dejected.

He knew he couldn't win an argument with such a learned scholar.

But how could he be content to die in his mansion in Nanjing, with his patriotic fervor and unfulfilled maritime ambitions?

Looking at this pioneering seafarer with graying temples, Gu Yannian felt a slight stirring in his heart.

He possesses an endless lifespan and knows where the river of history will flow.

While halting maritime navigation provided immediate financial relief, it also meant missing out on the crucial opportunity for geographical discovery.

This led the Ming Dynasty gradually into the dead end of isolationism.

Now that the national treasury is full, if we could change our approach, we might be able to get this invincible fleet back on its feet.

But he would never offer advice in a way that would be as overbearing as those passionate young people.

"Eunuch Zheng, if you want to return to the ocean, the old methods will never work."

Gu Yannian suddenly changed the subject, his tone becoming distant and leisurely.

Zheng He suddenly looked up, a glimmer of hope rekindling in his eyes.

"I humbly request your guidance, Lord Gu!"

Gu Yannian picked up the teapot and filled Zheng He's cup with tea.

"The Ming Dynasty's tributary trade, which involved generous gifts but meager returns, was all about saving face and ultimately harming the economy. The Ministry of Revenue, which manages the money, values ​​revenue the most."

Gu Yannian leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice.

"Does Your Excellency know what else exists in this vast ocean to the east, or perhaps in the far west, besides spices and gems?"

Zheng He was taken aback and said blankly, "I hope you can enlighten me, sir."

"Silver, and a special kind of rice that can fill the stomachs of the people of the Ming Dynasty."

Gu Yannian's words were gentle, yet they resounded like thunder in Zheng He's ears.

"If you were to speak to His Majesty, do not mention anything about enhancing national prestige or seeking rare treasures. You only need to present a charter stating that the treasure ships are not going to sea to deliver gifts, but to conduct trade."

"All merchant ships of our Great Ming Dynasty may sail overseas to trade with the treasure fleet. The imperial court will no longer bestow gifts without compensation, but will instead establish the Maritime Trade Office to conduct trade with foreign countries at equivalent value. They will bring coarse porcelain and homespun cloth in exchange for real gold and silver."

"This is trade."

Gu Yannian looked at Zheng He's increasingly shocked face and continued to give him pointers.

"Furthermore, you have made a pledge to His Majesty that if the fleet goes to sea, it can bring back ships full of silver to fill the national treasury, find drought-resistant and high-yield foreign grains, and collect escort duties from merchant ships along the way."

"Turn this unprofitable voyage to the West into a national strategy that brings in a fortune every day."

"Do you think His Majesty will grant it, or not?"

Zheng He listened with rapt attention, his breathing becoming rapid.

He spent half his life leading troops at sea, his mind filled with imperial authority and diplomatic maneuvering.

How could anyone have ever examined that massive fleet from such a purely "accountant" perspective?

Transform the generous but stingy child into a maritime overlord who collects tariffs and dominates trade!

This will not only silence public opinion, but also bring immeasurable wealth to the Ming Dynasty.

If such a procedure were adopted, even old fogies like Natsuhara Kina would probably wholeheartedly agree.

"Lord Gu's words have awakened me from my dream!"

Zheng He was so excited that he trembled all over. He suddenly stood up and bowed deeply again.

This time, it was a truly heartfelt and sincere gift.

"This old servant will return to the manor immediately and draft the plan overnight! If this old servant is able to see those vast ocean waves again in my lifetime, it will all be thanks to Your Excellency's grace today!"

Gu Yannian accepted the bow without hesitation and reached out to help him up.

"You flatter me, Eunuch Zheng. I am merely an accountant; I know better than you how to calculate things to avoid losses. As for whether this memorial will be approved, that depends on His Majesty's decision."

After Zheng He left, the courtyard returned to tranquility.

Gu Yannian picked up the cooled tea and drank it all in one gulp.

He did not directly interfere in politics, but subtly touched a chord.

As for whether the Ming Dynasty's ships could sail out of the other route, that depended on the fate of this maritime giant.

Sure enough, a huge uproar broke out in the imperial court in just over a month.

Zheng He's memorial to the throne, "Reopening the Sea Markets," marked a departure from his previous grandiose and ambitious approach.

The entire piece, spanning thousands of words, is about accounting.

Calculate the cost of shipbuilding, the profits from trade, and the input tax from merchant ship tariffs.

He even made a solemn oath at the end of the folding paper.

If the fleet fails to bring back an equivalent amount of silver within three years, I am willing to offer my head in return.

This unprecedented proclamation astonished the entire court.

Inside the cabinet, Grand Secretary Yang Shiqi and Xia Yuanji passed around the memorial, looking at each other in bewilderment.

"This...this really was written by that eunuch Sanbao?"

Xia Yuanji stroked his beard, his face full of disbelief.

"Why does this whole thing reek of the shrewd calculations and greed of merchants?"

Zhu Gaochi sat upright on the dragon throne, looking at Gu Yannian below the steps, and said with a smile and a scolding:

"Xia Qing, don't be fooled by the fact that the memorial is signed by Zheng He. Such a shrewd eye, treating the entire world's oceans as if they were his own private account—besides our Right Vice Minister Gu of the Ministry of Revenue, who else in the court could you find with such a keen eye?"