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

In the late spring of the fourth year of the Hongxi reign.

The morning mist in the capital had not yet dissipated, but the Tongzhou Wharf was already bustling with activity.

The surface of the wide Grand Canal shimmered with light.

Dozens of large, deep-draft official ships were lined up end to end, resembling a giant dragon lurking on the water's surface.

Xia Yuanji, the Minister of Revenue, stood on the high platform of the dock.

His white beard swayed slightly in the chilly spring breeze.

His old, weathered eyes were now fixed intently on the soldiers below, who were busily moving about like ants.

Thousands of strong and capable soldiers from the Beijing garrison, shirtless, chanted in unison.

One by one, the incredibly heavy cast iron and wooden crates were carried out of the warehouse and pressed into the cabin along the gangplank.

With each wooden crate carried onto the ship, the sturdy official vessel would emit a dull creak.

The ship sank slightly as a result.

"Minister Gu, this is three million taels of silver..."

Xia Yuanji turned his head and looked at Gu Yannian, who was standing beside him with his hands behind his back.

His voice trembled slightly, almost uncontrollably.

"Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Taicang has never been so prosperous."

"Now that you have moved all these national treasures to Jiangnan with a stroke of your pen, I am always feeling uneasy."

Gu Yannian was dressed in a scarlet official robe, his expression serene and calm.

He faced the river breeze, his clothes fluttering in the wind.

His handsome face showed no emotion whatsoever.

"Minister Xia, please don't worry."

Gu Yannian spoke calmly, pointing to the surging canal water below.

"Money and valuables, if stored in the cellars of Taicang, are nothing but a pile of dead things, just like stagnant water in a riverbed, which will inevitably rot and stink over time."

"Only by putting it into the grand scheme of the world and allowing it to circulate can it become a living spring, nourishing the Ming Dynasty."

He withdrew his hand, his gaze deep.

"The wealthy gentry of Jiangnan wanted to use the loose silver in their cellars to strangle the imperial court and kill the silver-for-cash scheme before it even began."

"This time, I intend to use these three million taels of government silver to smash their self-righteous treasure trove."

Xia Yuanji sighed.

I know that this colleague may seem lazy on the surface.

But once a piece is placed, it has the power of thunder and lightning.

"Hopefully, Zhou Chen can hold out in Jiangnan. This three million taels of silver is traveling south, a long journey by water, and security and defenses are crucial..."

"Shangshu, do not worry."

Gu Yannian smiled slightly.

"I have petitioned His Majesty to dispatch three thousand elite musketeers from the Divine Machine Battalion, personally led by Zhang Fu, the Duke of Ying, to escort the imperial ships along the way. Even if those gentry in Jiangnan had the greatest audacity, they would never dare to rob the imperial supply ships."

"They are probably still dreaming of forcing the court to make concessions."

At noon, all three million taels of silver were loaded onto the ship.

Accompanied by deafening bugle calls and shouts, dozens of official ships raised their sails.

Following the winding waterways of the Grand Canal, we set off in a grand and majestic manner towards the misty, rainy Jiangnan region in the south.

Gu Yannian watched the fleet sail away, then turned and boarded the carriage back to the city.

When they returned to the Ministry of Revenue, it was exactly Shen Shi (3-5 PM).

He went straight into the Right Vice Minister's office and sat down behind the desk.

[Ding! Today's attendance complete. Attribute point gained +1.]

A cool sensation entered my body, instantly permeating every part of my limbs and bones.

He stretched his muscles and bones, and his body, honed through countless trials, became even lighter and more ethereal.

He ignored the undercurrents in the court caused by the release of three million taels of silver.

He simply picked up a copy of "Qimin Yaoshu" from the table and leisurely began to read it.

The task of fighting the war was entrusted to Zhou Chen.

As the chief steward of the Ministry of Revenue, he only needed to sit back and relax, going to and from office on time.

At the same moment, in Pingjiang Prefecture, a thousand miles away.

Unlike the solemnity and reverence of the capital.

Late spring in Jiangnan exudes an air of extravagant, decadent, and powdery elegance.

Liuyuan Garden in the west of the city.

A lavish banquet is being held in this top-tier garden in Jiangnan, which covers hundreds of acres.

Inside the waterside pavilion, the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments were melodious and captivating.

A dozen or so dancers dressed in light gauze, with graceful figures, were dancing in the arena paved with white marble.

As her flowing sleeves fluttered, a subtle fragrance wafted through the air.

Shen Wanquan, the head of the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce and a salt and grain tycoon, was reclining on a grand chair covered with gold-threaded cushions.

He held a crystal-clear luminous cup in his hand, filled with fine grape wine, a tribute from the Western Regions.

Below him sat a dozen or so wealthy and influential men from Suzhou, Songjiang, Changzhou and other places.

The land, money shops, and silk weaving workshops controlled by these people were enough to influence the lives of ordinary people throughout the Jiangnan region.

"Gentlemen, drink this cup to the brim!"

Shen Wanquan raised the luminous cup, his face flushed with laughter.

"We now have the entire market in Suzhou under our control. That brat Zhou Chen probably hasn't been able to sleep these past few days!"

A wealthy silk merchant sitting on the right stroked his goatee and chimed in smugly.

"What Master Shen says is quite right. We spread the word that money shops and banks are only taking in money and not giving it out, and silver has long since disappeared from the market. Now, farmers outside the city are bringing cartloads of rice to sell, only to get a few strings of worthless copper coins in return."

"When it comes time to pay the autumn tax in silver next month, they won't have the money. I wonder what Governor Zhou will use to explain to the Emperor!"

"It's not just farmers," another pawnshop owner sneered.

"These past few days, the area outside the government office has been filled with kneeling, weeping people lamenting their starvation. Prices in the market are in complete chaos, and government notices are worth less than scraps of paper. In my opinion, within ten days, Suzhou will surely see a popular uprising."

"At that time, we will jointly submit a petition accusing Zhou Chen of oppressive rule and oppressing the people. This new law of commutation of silver will then naturally come to an end."

Upon hearing this, everyone clapped and laughed, and raised their glasses to toast Shen Wanquan.

In their eyes, although the officials of the Ming Dynasty held the power of life and death.

But when it comes to real money, they are ultimately novices.

These are families that have been rooted in Jiangnan for hundreds of years.

There are plenty of ways to make those self-righteous officials in Beijing humiliated and forced to retreat.

"We must not let our guard down."

Although Shen Wanquan laughed, a shrewd and experienced look still lingered in his eyes.

"The man standing behind Zhou Chen is none other than the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, surnamed Gu. I've heard that he's a genius in mathematics and enjoys the Emperor's favor."

"Our strategy of cutting off Zhou Chen's supply lines may force him to retreat, but we must also guard against the possibility of him resorting to desperate measures in the capital."

"Shen Gong is overthinking it."

The silk merchant waved his hand dismissively.

"The capital is thousands of miles away. By the time they get the news and come up with a plan, it will be too late. Besides, we know how big the Ming Dynasty's treasury is. With years of northern expeditions, the granaries are overflowing."

"What will they use to alleviate the financial crisis in Jiangnan? Can they conjure up hundreds of thousands of taels of silver out of thin air?"

"That's right! Come on, keep the music playing, keep dancing!"

Inside the waterside pavilion, singing and dancing resumed in peace and prosperity.

The wealthy gentlemen clinked glasses, intoxicated by the conspiracy they had orchestrated, which was about to triumph.