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

The morning breeze swept through the streets and alleys of Xuanwufang, carrying with it a touch of the everyday life of the city.

On the old jujube tree in Gu Yannian's own courtyard, the cicadas had already begun their day of chirping.

Gu Yannian, dressed in a simple undergarment, sat at the stone table in the courtyard.

On the stone table sat a bowl of thick millet porridge and two freshly made scallion pancakes.

In addition, there was the packet of spiced dried tofu I bought last night and a few slices of evenly cut braised beef.

He sipped his porridge slowly, picked up a piece of dried bean curd, put it in his mouth, and chewed it carefully.

After having breakfast, he returned inside.

He changed into the crimson official robes of a third-rank official and put on his black gauze hat.

He tucked the sandalwood abacus into his wide sleeve.

Push open the courtyard gate and greet the rising sun.

Gu Yannian walked steadily, joining the torrent of officials heading to various government offices to take up their posts.

At the exact hour of Mao (5-7 AM), the area in front of the Ministry of Revenue was already bustling with activity.

Gu Yannian stepped over the high threshold and walked all the way to the Right Vice Minister's office.

The servants had already placed the newly received ice blocks inside the house, and the coolness kept the summer heat outside at bay.

He sat down after the meeting and wrote his name on the signature book.

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

He picked up the freshly brewed Junshan Yinzhen tea, gently blew away the foam on the surface, and took a small sip.

Before the aroma of tea had even dissipated, the heavy cotton curtain of the duty room was suddenly ripped open.

Minister of Revenue Xia Yuanji strode in, his face flushed.

Even the official hat on his head was slightly tilted.

The old minister held a thick stack of visiting cards and folded paper in his hand. Upon seeing Gu Yannian, he couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Minister Gu! God of Wealth Gu! Your method of using commerce to support industry is truly a divine intervention!"

Xia Yuanji sat down heavily on the guest chair, slammed the stack of name cards on the table, his excitement evident.

Gu Yannian put down his teacup and gently offered him a seat.

"Why is Minister Xia so pleased? Has the notice for the Grand Canal and the Imperial Academy been posted?"

"It's not just that they've posted them out; they've practically bewitched every merchant in the world!"

Xia Yuanji stroked his gray beard and praised it repeatedly.

Since the plan was devised in the Southern Study that day, the imperial court's actions have been remarkably swift.

The cabinet and the Ministry of Works drafted regulations overnight, dividing the Grand Canal dredging project into more than a dozen sections, and clearly setting the threshold for donations to the Imperial Academy and the quota for "students of the Imperial Academy".

The notice was posted.

Not only in the capital, but also in the wealthy merchants and magnates of the Jiangnan and Huguang regions.

They swarmed forward like sharks that had smelled blood.

"You have no idea, yesterday the Ministry of Works set up recruitment tents outside Zhengyang Gate. The scene was even more shocking than the announcement of the imperial examination results!"

Xia Yuanji picked up the herbal tea and drank it all in one gulp, then cleared his throat and continued...

"Those misers who would rather split a penny in half to spend it all are now holding banknotes and scrambling to squeeze in."

"The starting price for the dredging rights of the Linqing section of the Grand Canal was 300,000 taels of silver, but a few Huizhou and Shanxi merchants managed to drive it up to 600,000 taels!"

"They were absolutely ruthless in their pursuit of those ten years' worth of gate toll fees!"

Gu Yannian's expression was calm as his slender fingers gently manipulated the sandalwood abacus.

It made a crisp "click" sound.

This situation was entirely within his expectations.

Merchants are driven by profit, and many are astute in their pursuit of it.

The Grand Canal was the economic lifeline of the Ming Dynasty.

Controlling the right to pass through the locks on a section of the river is equivalent to controlling a never-ending gold mine.

No matter how large the initial investment, it can be recouped several times within ten years.

Who would want to miss out on such a highly profitable business?

"And what about the situation at the Imperial Academy?"

Gu Yannian asked a question casually.

Upon hearing this, Xia Yuanji's smile deepened.

"The Imperial Academy is even more insane! Your method of erecting a monument to bestow students with honors has hit those merchants right where it hurts."

Since ancient times, among scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, merchants have been the lowest in status.

Even if one is extremely wealthy, one must still bow down and give way to a poor, pedantic scholar when traveling.

Now that the imperial court has shown leniency, not only can a monument be erected in front of the Imperial Academy to spread fame.

It also allows family members to be exceptionally admitted as students of the Imperial Academy.

Such a golden opportunity to bring glory to one's ancestors and change one's social standing is enough to make any clan spend all its wealth.

"When I arrived, I saw the Ministry of Works' general ledger. In just three days, more than fifty merchants have already expressed their willingness to donate over 100,000 taels of silver to the Imperial Academy! That's five million taels of silver!"

Xia Yuanji was so excited that he slapped his thigh.

"With the donations from various sections of the canal, the imperial court raised nearly fifteen million taels of silver without using a single copper coin from the imperial treasury!"

"Minister Gu, I've served in the Ministry of Revenue for most of my life, and I've never fought such a costly battle!"

Fifteen million taels of silver—such a massive sum could support a war that would destroy a nation, or the extensive renovation of two Forbidden Cities.

Now, however, with just a few notices, they easily fell into the court's trap.

Gu Yannian leaned back in his chair, his expression calm and composed.

"Minister Xia, this money, though plentiful, is not something you can take for free."

Gu Yannian spoke in a calm tone.

"Merchants prioritize profit over ethics. In their scramble for bids, they might collude to drive down prices or cut corners after securing the project. The Ministry of Works must send capable individuals to strictly supervise this process."

"Anyone who tries to deceive the court will have their special privileges revoked immediately, and will not be spared lightly."

Xia Yuanji nodded in deep agreement.

"His Majesty has already made a decision on this matter. He has ordered the Censorate to dispatch twelve circuit inspectors to oversee the construction of the Grand Canal and the Imperial Academy. Anyone who dares to provoke His Majesty is courting death."

As the two were discussing the details of the subsequent disbursement of funds, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the duty room.

A clerk from the Ministry of Revenue, sweating profusely, lifted the curtain and entered, bowing to report.

"My lords, outside... there are more than a dozen wealthy salt merchants from Yangzhou and Suzhou gathered outside the gate, insisting on seeing Minister Gu."

"They said they had prepared a generous gift and wanted to secure a central position in the Imperial Academy's stele forest."

Xia Yuanji frowned, his face showing displeasure.

"These money-grubbing scoundrels are utterly ignorant of their place! The Ministry of Revenue is a sacred place; how dare they make such a ruckus? Throw them out!"

Gu Yannian raised his hand to stop the clerk.

"Minister Xia, please wait."

Gu Yannian stood up and straightened his official robes.

"Since he's a god of wealth delivering money to our door, our Ministry of Revenue should welcome him. We can't just turn him away. There's no harm in him going out to take a look."

He walked with steady steps out of the duty room with Xia Yuanji and came to the courtyard outside the Ministry of Revenue's main hall.

In the courtyard, a dozen or so wealthy merchants, dressed in fine silks and satins and with large bellies, were pacing anxiously back and forth.

These people were all influential figures in Jiangnan.

But in the capital, where high-ranking officials of the third rank were everywhere, they could only stand obediently under the scorching sun.

They didn't even dare to ask for a seat.

When they saw Gu Yannian and Xia Yuanji come out, the group of wealthy merchants felt as if they had seen their saviors.

They swarmed around them, bowing obsequiously.

"We, your humble servants, pay our respects to Vice Minister Gu and Minister Xia!"

The leader, a salt merchant from Yangzhou, had a broad smile on his face.

He pulled a gold-embossed name card from his sleeve and held it high with both hands.

"Lord Gu! I have heard of your grand plan to build the Imperial Academy, and I am filled with admiration! I am willing to contribute 500,000 taels of silver to fully support the court's efforts in promoting education!"

"I only ask that you, sir, put in a good word for me before the Emperor, so that my family's monument of merit can be erected in the first row at the main gate of the Imperial Academy."

The other merchants were not to be outdone, and they all announced the amount they were willing to increase their bets by.

For a time, the courtyard of the Ministry of Revenue seemed to have been transformed into a bustling auction house.

The astonishing amounts were 300,000 taels, 400,000 taels, and even 600,000 taels.

These were repeatedly mentioned by these merchants.

They knew that there was limited space in the stele forest in front of the Imperial Academy.

The closer one is to the front, the greater the family's glory.

The more prestigious one's descendants are in the Imperial Academy, the more respectable they will be.