diff --git a/wiki/log/2026-07-24-redirect-ledger-mail.md b/wiki/log/2026-07-24-redirect-ledger-mail.md
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wiki/log/2026-07-24-redirect-ledger-mail.md
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+# REDIRECT no longer invents a ledger row without mail
+
+```
+Type: log
+Date: 2026-07-24
+Scope: wiki/mechanics/economy.md + wiki/mechanics/messages.md
+```
+
+## Intent
+
+Close a books/mail invariant bug found on a fresh audit of the stalest
+messages + economy coverage slice: REDIRECT made the current save unloadable.
+
+## Finding
+
+`AccountGraph::redirect_flow_to_slush` pushed a synthetic `amount: 0` /
+`"redirect scheduled"` ledger transfer without a matching financial-record
+message. Current-save validation requires one financial record per retained
+ledger transfer, so a save taken after REDIRECT failed closed.
+
+## Act
+
+Redirect now only schedules the diverted siphon flow. Money still moves on the
+next cadence settlement through ordinary `transfer()`, which authors real mail.
+`emit_financial` for the books-cook signature is unchanged. economy.md's stale
+v49 save claim now names current save (v54) and the redirect posture. Pins:
+ledger length unchanged at redirect time, and `validate_current_save` after
+REDIRECT.
+
+## Defense
+
+economy.md / messages.md bind every retained ledger transfer to one exact
+financial-record message. A zero-amount "redirect scheduled" row invented
+paperwork for money that never moved and broke the save gate. Flow-graph
+persistence is enough until settlement.
diff --git a/wiki/mechanics/economy.md b/wiki/mechanics/economy.md
--- a/wiki/mechanics/economy.md
+++ b/wiki/mechanics/economy.md
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@
   bindings. INJECT authors a purchase-order Email under the active persona and
   moves no money until Priya reads it and accepts the still-valid exact terms.
   Current save v56 binds the retained ledger tail and complete record sequence
-  so books and mail cannot diverge. Prior state:
+  so books and mail cannot diverge; REDIRECT schedules a siphon flow without
+  inventing a zero-amount ledger row. Prior state:
   2026-07-08 polish closed the remaining acceptance gaps:
   observer-band risk previews in the implemented Operations ACCOUNTS projection
   (terminal/Bevy/agent)
diff --git a/crates/misaligned-core/src/account.rs b/crates/misaligned-core/src/account.rs
--- a/crates/misaligned-core/src/account.rs
+++ b/crates/misaligned-core/src/account.rs
@@ -903,7 +903,7 @@
 
     pub fn redirect_flow_to_slush(
         &mut self,
-        tick: u64,
+        _tick: u64,
         flow_id: AccountFlowId,
         amount: i32,
     ) -> Result<AccountFlowId, String> {
@@ -932,6 +932,10 @@
         let next_tick = self.flows[idx].next_tick;
         let label = format!("diverted from {}", self.flows[idx].label);
         let slush = self.slush_id();
+        // Persist the redirect as a new siphon flow only. Do not invent a
+        // zero-amount ledger transfer: every retained ledger row must bind one
+        // exact financial-mail record (economy.md / messages.md), and no money
+        // moves until the next cadence settlement through `transfer()`.
         let id = self.add_flow(
             source,
             slush,
@@ -942,26 +946,6 @@
             label,
             true,
         );
-        // Leave an immediate audit trail in the ledger even before the next
-        // cadence lands, so saves remember the operation.
-        self.ledger.push(AccountTransfer {
-            tick,
-            flow_id: Some(id),
-            from: source,
-            to: slush,
-            amount: 0,
-            requested: diverted,
-            from_name: self
-                .account(source)
-                .map(|a| a.name.clone())
-                .unwrap_or_default(),
-            to_name: self
-                .account(slush)
-                .map(|a| a.name.clone())
-                .unwrap_or_default(),
-            channel: FlowChannel::Siphon,
-            label: "redirect scheduled".into(),
-        });
         Ok(id)
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/misaligned-core/src/save.rs b/crates/misaligned-core/src/save.rs
--- a/crates/misaligned-core/src/save.rs
+++ b/crates/misaligned-core/src/save.rs
@@ -4173,6 +4173,27 @@
     }
 
     #[test]
+    fn redirect_flow_does_not_invent_a_ledger_row_without_financial_mail() {
+        // economy.md / messages.md: every retained ledger transfer binds one
+        // exact financial-record message. REDIRECT only schedules a siphon
+        // flow; money moves later through ordinary cadence settlement.
+        let mut sim = Sim::new();
+        let (accounts, flows) = sim.accounts.financial_snapshot_ids();
+        sim.accounts.reveal_accounts_and_flows(&accounts, &flows);
+        let flow = sim
+            .accounts
+            .known_flows()
+            .find(|flow| flow.amount >= 100 && flow.to != sim.accounts.slush_id())
+            .unwrap()
+            .id;
+        assert!(sim.redirect_flow_to_slush(flow, 25));
+        let state = SaveState::from_sim(&sim);
+        validate_current_save(state).expect(
+            "redirect must leave the books/mail invariant intact for the current save gate",
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
     fn current_save_rejects_a_route_that_retargets_its_execution_adapter() {
         let mut sim = Sim::new();
         let switch = sim.reach.device_named("switch").unwrap().id;
diff --git a/crates/misaligned-core/src/sim/tests/economy.rs b/crates/misaligned-core/src/sim/tests/economy.rs
--- a/crates/misaligned-core/src/sim/tests/economy.rs
+++ b/crates/misaligned-core/src/sim/tests/economy.rs
@@ -164,7 +164,13 @@
         .id;
     assert!(sim.siphon_flow(flow, 50));
     assert_eq!(sim.accounts.slush_balance(), 50);
+    let ledger_before = sim.accounts.ledger.len();
     assert!(sim.redirect_flow_to_slush(flow, 25));
+    assert_eq!(
+        sim.accounts.ledger.len(),
+        ledger_before,
+        "redirect schedules a siphon flow; it must not invent a zero-amount ledger row"
+    );
     for _ in 0..=Sim::DAY_TICKS {
         sim.advance();
     }