Zhang Shiheng transmigrates into a prominent family in the capital. With his skill in archery and horsemanship, and a policy essay that incisively lays out the flaws in the late Ming military system, he earns the appreciation of the Chongzhen Emperor and becomes the first military jinshi of the Ming dynasty.
After entering officialdom, he persuades the capital’s prominent families to reform tax collection at the Chongwenmen Customs Post, using methods historically employed by Heshen. The post’s customs revenue doubles.
The Chongzhen Emperor initially plans to send eunuchs to implement the new tax policy at other customs posts.
Zhang Shiheng proposes introducing competition, securing the prominent families the right to manage the Hexiwu, Linqing, and Hushu customs posts.
He proposes that hereditary officers from the Tianjin garrisons and Shandong garrisons, along with prominent families from Nanjing, jointly manage the customs posts.
Just as Zhang Shiheng is training the sons of hereditary officers from across the country in customs regulations, twenty sand junks belonging to the Sand Junk Gang sail directly from Songjiang to Juehua Island.
Once sea transport replaces grain transport by canal, the customs posts established along the Grand Canal will become worthless. Zhang Shiheng has to find a way to crush sea transport before it can take root.
It's a pretty good book. It's not boring and has good points.