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

Upon hearing this, Gu Yannian smiled.

He did not get angry.

He simply picked up the sandalwood abacus on the table and casually turned the dial.

The crisp sound of abacus beads rang out in the room, instantly drowning out the stern, angry shout.

"Imperial Censor Yan is mistaken. The way of being an official lies in doing things well, not in putting on a show."

Gu Yannian's voice was not loud, but it exuded an undeniable confidence.

"The censor has accused me of neglecting my duties. May I ask, censor, have you come today to audit the accounts?"

Yan Zheng snorted coldly and stepped forward.

"As I inspect various departments, I will naturally investigate! Don't think that just because the Ministry of Revenue's accounts are complicated, you can get away with it."

"I have served in the Censorate for many years, and my mathematical skills are second to none. Today, I will personally test your abilities as Right Vice Minister!"

"Very good."

Gu Yannian casually pushed the dozen or so thick yellow books piled on the corner of the table to the front of the desk.

"These are the preliminary accounts of the autumn tax revenue submitted by the provinces this morning, totaling 3.2 million taels. I have just finished reviewing them and confirmed that there are no errors."

"Since Censor Yan is well-versed in mathematics, why not verify it himself? If you can find even a single coin wrong, I will immediately remove my official hat and go with you to the Censorate to accept punishment."

Yan Zheng was startled when he saw the tall stack of account books.

The preliminary accounts sent from each province were the most complicated.

Normally, even with dozens of clerks working day and night, it would take three to five days to sort out the information in a single department of the Ministry of Revenue.

Gu Yannian actually said that he finished reading it in just one morning.

"How arrogant!"

Yan Zheng flicked his sleeves and strode to the desk.

He opened the top-level account book of Huguang Circuit and beckoned to the two imperial censors who were accompanying him.

"Bring me your abacus! Today I will expose your deception!"

The two censors immediately took out abacuses from their sleeves and stood solemnly on either side.

Yan Zheng personally read out the numbers, and the three of them began calculating simultaneously.

Inside the duty room, a rapid clatter of abacuses filled the air.

Gu Yannian ignored them and picked up the teapot to pour himself a cup of hot tea.

He picked up the book "A Record of Mountains and Rivers" again and began to read it leisurely.

The occasional sound of turning pages contrasted sharply with the hurried, tense clatter of the abacus.

Half an hour passed.

Fine beads of sweat had already seeped onto Yan Zheng's forehead.

He had flipped through half of the account book in his hand, and the more he calculated, the more alarmed he became.

Every item in this ledger, every loss incurred during the fire, and even the subsidies for freight.

All are listed clearly and logically, with each part echoing the previous one.

The most terrifying thing is that Gu Yannian marked the hidden errors in extremely neat small regular script on the corners of each page.

The corrected numbers are given.

Those tiny holes hidden beneath the complex entries were so numerous that even he, the Imperial Censor known for his iron abacus, had to calculate them three times before he could see through them.

Gu Yannian was able to see through it at a glance and even make a note on it casually?!

Another hour passed.

The fingers of the two accompanying censors ached terribly from typing on the abacus, and the sound of the abacus gradually slowed down.

Yan Zheng closed the last ledger, his expression shifting and his chest heaving violently.

The total transaction amounted to 3.2 million taels, involving details from thousands of prefectures and counties.

He and the two of them spent nearly two hours calculating, and they really couldn't find the slightest mistake.

Such astonishing accounting skills were simply beyond his imagination.

Gu Yannian heard the abacus stop, slowly put down the book, and looked up at Yan Zheng, whose face was stiff.

"Imperial Censor Yan, have you calculated any charges of embezzlement or neglect of duty?"

Yan Zheng gritted his teeth and forced himself to speak.

"Although the accounts are without error, this cannot conceal the fact that you are lax in your work style. Given your high position and your talent, you should be even more diligent."

"Such leisure time should be used to contemplate national affairs and people's livelihood, and long-term strategies, not to read miscellaneous books and eat snacks!"

Gu Yannian sighed and stood up.

He didn't walk up to Yan Zheng, but instead went to the bookshelf next to him.

He held up a large bronze box, weighing over a hundred pounds, filled with old accounts from previous years, with one hand.

Under the astonished gazes of Yan Zheng and the two censors, Gu Yannian's seemingly frail right hand did not even show the slightest bulge of veins.

He lifted the heavy bronze box with remarkable ease, as if it were a plate of pastries.

It was gently placed on the desk in front of Yan Zheng.

With a muffled "bang," the teacup on the table trembled slightly.

Yan Zheng gasped, his eyes wide open.

He knew the weight of the bronze box.

Even two strong men would find it difficult to lift, but this Minister Gu moved it effortlessly with just one hand.

"Imperial Censor Yan, as the Vice Minister of Revenue, my duty is to sort out the accounts and replenish the national treasury. Once the accounts are sorted out and the national treasury is full, my job will be considered done well."

Gu Yannian clapped his hands, his expression turning cold.

"As for pondering the national economy and people's livelihood, and long-term policies, that is the job of the Emperor and the Grand Secretary. I am not greedy for power, do not overstep my bounds, and do not seek any empty reputation for diligence."

He extended a finger and tapped the heavy bronze box.

"In this world, things should be handled swiftly where urgent matters are urgent, and deliberate where deliberation is necessary. If everyone were like Censor Yan, sitting idly in his office pondering endlessly after settling accounts..."

"Besides ruining one's own health and increasing the anxiety of subordinates, what good does it do for the country and its people?"

Yan Zheng was so shocked by these unorthodox remarks that he was speechless.

He believed in hard work and practical action throughout his life.

But I never imagined that someone could handle a task so effortlessly.

To speak of leisure with such confidence.

Just then, a deep, resonant drumbeat came from the direction of the city gate.

"Thump, thump, thump!"

The evening drum at dusk pierced through the twilight of the capital, echoing over the Ministry of Revenue compound.

Gu Yannian's expression instantly returned to its calm and gentle state.

He casually tucked the sandalwood abacus on the table into his wide sleeve.

He then straightened the hem of his bright red official robe.

"Censor Yan, the evening drum has sounded. My duties for today are complete, and it is time for me to leave the office and return home. If you are not at ease with these account books, you are welcome to take them back to the Censorate to continue scrutinizing them."

"I'm sorry, I cannot keep you company any longer."

After speaking, Gu Yannian walked past Yan Zheng and the other two who were standing there dumbfounded.

He lifted the curtain and walked out of the duty room with steady, measured steps.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on his back, casting a long shadow.

Yan Zheng stood there, watching the departing figure with a carefree air.

He glanced at the half-eaten plate of spiced broad beans on the table and remained silent for a long time.

The next morning, the court session was held at Fengtian Gate.

Officials stood in a row, while Emperor Hongxi, Zhu Gaochi, sat upright on the dragon throne.

He looked to be in excellent spirits today, and was playing with a newly made silver coin in his hand, in a rather pleasant mood.

After several routine administrative tasks were completed.

Yan Zheng, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, holding his official tablet, strode out of the ranks and proclaimed in a loud voice:

"Your subject has a memorial to present!"

The ministers were all invigorated.

The new Censor-in-Chief's first act is finally about to begin.

Xia Yuanji secretly broke out in a cold sweat.

His gaze frequently drifted to Gu Yannian, who was standing in the front row, still looking as if he were resting with his eyes closed.

"Granted. Whom does Minister Yan wish to impeach?" Zhu Gaochi put down the sample money and his smile faded.

His expression was solemn and his voice was loud.

"Your Majesty, I wish to impeach Gu Yannian, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue!"