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

Upon hearing this, all the merchants were taken aback.

Is there any place in the world that money can't buy?

Gu Yannian slowly took two steps, stood with his hands behind his back, and spoke in a gentle tone that conveyed an unyielding sense of discipline.

"The imperial court promotes education with the aim of moral enlightenment. If the value of a stele forest is determined solely by the amount of gold and silver it holds, wouldn't it become a marketplace for merchants to flaunt their wealth?"

"How can someone smother in profound philosophical pronouncements when they're tainted by the stench of money?"

The Yangzhou salt merchant wiped the sweat from his brow and asked cautiously, "Then, according to your opinion, sir, how should these rules be established?"

"I have already discussed and agreed with the Emperor and the Cabinet."

Gu Yannian's gaze swept over the crowd.

"The Imperial Academy Stele Forest is divided into three levels. This outermost level is reserved for charitable merchants who donate more than 100,000 taels of silver."

"The middle layer is reserved for those meritorious officials in Jiangnan, Huguang, and other regions who took the lead in implementing the silver-for-gifts system and stabilized prices."

"And that most central spot in the first row from the main entrance..."

Gu Yannian paused, his tone becoming exceptionally solemn.

"These are reserved for the soldiers stationed on the frontier. The names and biographies of all officers of the rank of 100 or above who died defending the country against the northern barbarians in the nine border regions will be inscribed on a monument of merit, funded by the imperial court, and erected at the main gate of the Imperial Academy."

"So that every scholar in the world, when entering and leaving the Imperial Academy every day, can see who is bearing the burden for them."

"Let them know that the vast land of the Ming Dynasty was won with the blood of its soldiers, not with a few beautiful articles!"

The courtyard of the Ministry of Revenue was completely silent.

Xia Yuanji suddenly turned to look at Gu Yannian, his eyes filled with shock and respect.

He originally thought that Gu Yannian was only proficient in mundane matters related to abacus and gold and silver.

Unexpectedly, this Vice Minister of Revenue possessed such a broad mind!

The imperial academy was built with the money of merchants, but the most prestigious positions were reserved for soldiers who defended the country's borders.

Such a vision truly embodies the spirit of a national hero!

The merchants looked at each other in bewilderment after hearing this.

Yet no one dared to refute it.

In front of the fallen soldiers who defended their homeland.

The money they spent on buying fame certainly seemed far too pale and frivolous.

"We, the common people, have learned a great deal."

The Yangzhou salt merchant dropped his fawning smile and bowed respectfully.

"Lord Gu is so righteous. I am willing to donate 500,000 taels of silver, just to have my name recorded in the outer stele forest and to leave a place for my descendants as students of the Imperial Academy. That would be enough for me."

After dismissing the group of merchants, Gu Yannian and Xia Yuanji returned to their duty room.

The days passed by in an orderly accounting process.

With massive financial support, the construction of the Imperial Academy and the dredging of the Grand Canal were launched in a grand and vigorous manner.

The daily progress reports for the project delivered to the client's office were piled up like mountains.

Gu Yannian remained as unhurried as ever, reviewing accounts and issuing replies efficiently and without any hesitation.

Mid-July, on the eve of the Qixi Festival.

Inside the Southern Study.

Emperor Hongxi, Zhu Gaochi, was in high spirits as he looked at the memorial presented by the Ministry of Works showing the completion of the initial dredging of the Grand Canal.

"Yan Nian's method of using commerce to support industry is truly effective. In just one month, the river channel in the Linqing section has been widened by several zhang (approximately 3.3 meters), and the laborers hired by the merchants themselves are working even harder than the conscripted laborers from the imperial court."

Zhu Gaochi said to Yang Shiqi with a smile.

Yang Shiqi nodded in agreement.

"Merchants are profit-driven; the sooner they finish the work, the sooner they can collect the toll fees, so they work day and night to complete it."

"Your Majesty, I have heard today that there is a joke circulating among the merchants in the capital about Minister Gu."

"Oh? What joke? Tell me about it."

Zhu Gaochi was quite interested.

Yang Shiqi stroked his beard and chuckled, "Those merchants say that of all the officials in the world, Vice Minister Gu of the Ministry of Revenue is the most difficult to serve. He won't even glance at the gold and silver they offer."

"He always declines invitations to banquets and brothels. If you want to see him, you have to wait at the government office between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m."

"Once the evening drum sounds at dusk, even if you're holding mountains of gold and silver, you won't be able to knock on the door of the Gu family mansion."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaochi couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! These businessmen have really figured out his temperament. Gu Yannian really values ​​the time for going to and from the government office more than anything else."

"In the entire Ming Dynasty, only he had the leisure and refined taste to treat this thrilling political situation as a routine task."

After the laughter subsided, Zhu Gaochi's gaze softened considerably.

"He is a loyal and upright minister who knows when to advance and when to retreat. With him in charge of the treasury, my empire is as stable as Mount Tai."

Time passed, and the evening seemed to arrive later than usual that day.

Inside the Ministry of Revenue's duty room.

Gu Yannian finished checking the last set of tax accounts for autumn tea sent from Yangzhou.

He put down the purple brush and used a paperweight to flatten the account book.

The sky outside the window gradually darkened, and the setting sun dyed the horizon a brilliant orange-red.

The night watchman on the street corner began to patrol the streets and alleys.

On the Drum Tower, the familiar, deep, and resonant sound of the evening drum rang out precisely on time.

It lingered leisurely in the twilight of the capital.

Gu Yannian's straight back relaxed slightly.

He deftly tucked the sandalwood abacus into his wide, crimson sleeve.

He stood up and slowly smoothed the hem of his official robes.

Stepping out of the duty room, the summer heat had largely dissipated, and the evening breeze carried a rare coolness.

"Lord Gu, are you returning to your residence already?"

A newly appointed official from the Ministry of Revenue respectfully stepped forward to greet him.

"The hour of You (5-7 PM) has arrived; today's tasks are complete."

Gu Yannian spoke calmly and walked out of the Ministry of Revenue compound with steady steps.

Once outside the imperial city, the vibrant atmosphere of everyday life hits you.

With the Qixi Festival approaching, Qianmen Street is bustling with activity.

Vendors selling Qiaoguo (a type of fried dough) and clay figurines lined the street.

The girls, dressed in brightly colored dresses, laughed and played in groups of three or five on the street.

Gu Yannian did not ride in a sedan chair, but strolled among the crowd with his hands behind his back, feeling the prosperity of this peaceful and prosperous era.

As I passed by a century-old pastry shop, a rich aroma of sesame wafted over.

"Shopkeeper, I'll take a pound of freshly baked sesame cloud cakes and two boxes of Qiaoguo (a type of pastry)."

Gu Yannian stopped and took out a few copper coins to hand over.

Carrying the pastries wrapped in oil paper, he walked slowly along the bluestone path towards his home in Xuanwu Lane.

Pushing open the weathered wooden door, the courtyard was quiet and still.

The branches and leaves of the old jujube tree rustled in the evening breeze.

A few early fallen leaves twirled in the yard.

Gu Yannian changed out of his official robes and put on a simple and comfortable cotton long gown.

He lit a small red clay stove, boiled a pot of spring water until it was boiling, and brewed a pot of this year's new tea.

Sitting on a bamboo chair in the courtyard, he took out a piece of sesame cloud cake and put it in his mouth.

The pastries are crispy and sweet, with the rich aroma of sesame spreading between your teeth and cheeks.

He picked up his teacup and looked up at the deep night sky.

A few stars have already quietly lit up the sky.

The fate of the Ming Dynasty, the waves of the Grand Canal, the sounds of reading in the Imperial Academy, and even the storms on the grasslands beyond the Great Wall.

Under his seemingly casual manipulation, they all moved forward along a brand new trajectory.

And he remained the same leisurely observer, sitting in the courtyard, drinking tea and eating cakes.

"The cooking time for this cloud cake is just right."

Gu Yannian muttered to himself, a faint smile playing on his lips.