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

After leaving Donghua Gate, Gu Yannian did not go directly back to the small courtyard in Xuanwu Ward.

Instead, they went to Qianmen Street instead.

On this street, there is a century-old roast duck restaurant.

He lifted the curtain, went inside, and found a quiet, private seat.

"Shopkeeper, bring me a freshly roasted duck, sliced ​​thinly. Served with sweet bean sauce, scallions, and lotus leaf buns. And warm a pot of the finest bamboo leaf green tea."

Gu Yannian gave the instructions skillfully.

Before long, the roast duck, with its deep red color and glossy sheen, was served.

The duck skin is crispy, and the duck meat is tender.

Gu Yannian washed his hands.

Take a thin, translucent lotus leaf pancake, pick up two slices of duck meat, dip them in sweet bean sauce, and add a few scallion shreds.

Roll it into a small tube and put it in your mouth.

The rich aroma of oil and scallions blend together perfectly, creating an exquisite flavor.

He picked up his wine glass and took a small sip of Zhuyeqing wine.

Looking out the window at the gradually darkening sky, a leisurely smile flashed in his eyes.

"The warmth and comfort of human life are a thousand times, ten thousand times better than the bloodshed and violence of war."

The Shen family of Jiangnan has become dust of history.

The method of converting silver into cash will bring hundreds of years of financial stability to the Ming Dynasty.

Gu Yannian, on the other hand, only wished to sit in this bustling marketplace and savor a roast duck in this peaceful and prosperous era.

Everything in the world is like a game of chess.

His hand, when placing a piece, was as steady as Mount Tai and as swift as thunder.

Yet all he sought was a moment of peace and tranquility after leaving the office at dusk.

……

In the early summer of the fourth year of the Hongxi reign, the weather in the capital was already quite hot.

Inside the Ministry of Revenue, as always, the air was filled with the rustling of papers turning and the crisp clinking of abacus beads.

In the Right Vice Minister's office, the floor heating had long since been turned off.

Two bowls of refreshing ice were placed in the pot.

Gu Yannian, dressed in a scarlet official robe, sat upright behind a sandalwood desk.

He picked up his pen and steadily wrote his name in the signature book.

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

He put down his pen, picked up the earthenware pot from the small red clay stove beside him, and brewed himself a cup of Junshan Silver Needle tea.

The aroma of tea rose gently, filling the quiet duty room.

The autumn taxes and silver payments from Jiangnan have been continuously transported to the capital by grain transport ships.

The treasury in Taicang was so full that there was hardly any room to stand.

These past few days, Xia Yuanji has been busy directing the Ministry of Works to expand its warehouses, so the Ministry of Revenue's daily accounting work has mostly fallen on Gu Yannian's shoulders.

Just as they were enjoying their tea, the heavy curtain was suddenly lifted.

An official dressed in a blue robe of a fifth-rank official strode in.

This man has a tall and straight posture, like a pine tree, with sword-like eyebrows that reach his temples.

His face was thin, yet it exuded an unyielding and resolute spirit.

This is none other than Yu Qian, who has now been promoted to the position of Director of the Military Personnel Selection Department of the Ministry of War.

Yu Qian held a thick stack of documents in his arms, his brows furrowed with deep worry.

He walked to the desk, placed the documents down heavily, and then bowed deeply.

"Your humble servant, Yu Qian, a junior official in the Ministry of War, pays his respects to Vice Minister Gu."

Gu Yannian looked up, a gentle smile appearing on his lips, and pointed to the guest chair next to him.

"Tingyi is here. Sit down and let's talk. You look so sweaty; has the Ministry of War encountered some difficulties this time?"

Yu Qian did not sit down, his back remained ramrod straight, and he said in a deep voice:

"My lord, I have come today to request provisions, supplies, and military equipment for the soldiers of the Nine Border Garrisons."

At this point, Yu Qian took a deep breath, as if he were preparing a long speech.

Since ancient times, the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue have been natural enemies.

When the Ministry of War needs to fight, needs new uniforms, or needs provisions, it asks for mountains of gold and seas of silver.

The Ministry of Revenue, which controlled the nation's finances, was extremely frugal, trying to stretch every penny in half.

In the past, whenever Yu Qian came to the Ministry of Revenue to ask for money, he always had to talk himself hoarse.

They also had to endure the cold stares of those officials in the Ministry of Revenue.

The final amount of silver approved is often reduced by 30% to 40%.

The memorial he sent today was personally drafted by the Minister of War, proposing to fully equip the border troops of Xuanfu and Datong with new-style firearms.

They also repaired the walls of three garrison posts.

It was extremely expensive, requiring a total of 1.2 million taels of silver.

Yu Qian was prepared to engage in a heated debate with the scholars in this duty room, enduring three long hours of hardship.

He had even memorized his own speeches, which were full of classical allusions and detailed the dangers of the border region.

"My lord, you are wise. The northern barbarians have been frequently probing the border lately. The watchtowers around Xuanfu have been in disrepair for years, and many of the firearms in the hands of our soldiers are at risk of exploding. If we do not replace them in time, the consequences will be unimaginable if the barbarian cavalry marches south."

"Although this sum of money is enormous, it is fundamental to protecting our homes and defending our country..."

Yu Qian delivered a passionate speech, every word resounding with conviction.

Gu Yannian did not interrupt him.

He simply picked up the teacup quietly, brushed away the foam, and took a small sip.

Then, he reached out his well-defined hand and took the budget list from the top of the desk.

When Yu Qian saw him open the inventory, he immediately tensed up.

Prepare to face Gu Yannian's rebuttal and bargaining.

Gu Yannian's gaze swept across the list.

With his current ability to memorize anything he sees, these pages of complex numbers immediately become clear and coherent.

The cost of manufacturing firearms, the market price of pig iron, the rewards for craftsmen, and the fuel consumption during transportation.

I mentally matched each part together.

In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, Gu Yannian closed the register.

He picked up the vermilion brush on the desk and dipped it in vermilion.

"Tingyi, did the Ministry of War calculate the cost of these muskets according to the quota set by the Ministry of Works' Ordnance Bureau?"

Gu Yannian asked a question casually.

Yu Qian's heart tightened; he knew in his heart that this was coming.

The Ministry of Revenue is definitely going to try to cut corners on the construction cost.

He quickly cupped his hands in greeting and replied:

"Your Excellency, it was indeed in accordance with the regulations of the Bureau of Armaments. I am aware of the Ministry of Revenue's difficulties, and I personally went to the Bureau of Armaments to verify the materials, removing any inflated prices."

"This 1.2 million taels is our bottom line; we earnestly hope that Your Excellency will show leniency!"

Gu Yannian smiled and brought down the vermilion brush in his hand.

He wrote a few large characters in a flamboyant style on the last page of the register, and then pushed the register back to Yu Qian.

"Take it. Have the clerk in the Ministry of War take this approval slip and go directly to the Taicang to collect the silver. I will immediately send someone to inform the treasury official to allocate the funds at once, without delaying the Ministry of War by even a day."

Yu Qian was stunned.

He had prepared a torrent of impassioned speeches, and was even prepared to slam his fist on the table and curse.

But to his utter surprise, the Vice Minister of Revenue didn't even try to haggle over half a copper coin.

It was approved so easily?

He picked up the inventory list in disbelief.

On the last page, the words "Approved, full payment to be made immediately" were written in vermilion.

Below it are Gu Yannian's personal seal and the official seal of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

"Sir...sir?"

Yu Qian's Adam's apple bobbed, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.

"Aren't you going to deduct any percentage? This is 1.2 million taels of silver!"

Gu Yannian leaned back in his chair, his expression serene.

"The imperial court established the Ministry of Revenue to collect taxes from across the country for national use. What use is silver if it's just a pile of scrap iron stored in the imperial granary? Good steel should be used where it's most needed."

"The border soldiers are ready to defend the Ming Dynasty at any time. The Ministry of Revenue is willing and able to pay this amount."

He paused, then looked at Yu Qian with clear eyes.

"I have only one request. This money allocated to your Ministry of War must be entirely used to equip our soldiers with strong armor and sharp weapons. If I find that the Ordnance Bureau or any of your officers have embezzled this money..."

Gu Yannian's tone wasn't harsh, but it inexplicably conveyed a chilling intent.

"The lesson of the Shen family in Jiangnan is still fresh in my mind. I can always go to the Ministry of War to make my own plans."