Xiao Yan, a top student in both modern engineering and chemistry, works late on a project, collapses face-first into a pile of blueprints, and wakes up as the fourth prince of the Great Yong Dynasty.
There’s something interesting about this dynasty: it was founded on military strength, enjoyed peace in its middle years, and has little to fear from minor trouble on its borders. But daily life is far too “primitive.” In summer, the emperor, his father Xiao Chengye, is hot enough to fan himself constantly; in winter, stored ice costs a fortune. Roads are made of nothing but tamped earth, turning into mud pits whenever it rains. The people eat bitter, briny salt, and a cold drink is nothing but a dream.
While Xiao Yan watches his second elder brother, who controls the Ministry of Revenue, busy fighting for the throne, and his third elder brother, who commands the Ministry of War, drilling the troops, he quietly opens up his top-student knowledge bank:
“Someone, mix saltpeter and water in the right proportions and freeze a bowl of ice cream for Father!” Su Yu, the first top scholar of the new imperial examination, drops his brush in shock. “Your Highness, is this ‘summer ice-making technique’ some kind of immortal magic?”
“By my command, fire limestone, clay, and iron ore powder together according to this formula to make cement!” His third elder brother, Xiao Ce, brings soldiers to help. “Fourth Brother, this cement makes walls ten times stronger than fired bricks. It’ll be the key to defending the northern frontier!”
“Bring me the coarse salt. Wash it repeatedly with well water, then boil it in an iron pot!” The common people taste the refined salt and exclaim, “Salt fit for immortals!” His second elder brother, Xiao Jin, sends a funding request that very night. “Fourth Brother, expand the refined-salt workshops to ten. The Ministry of Revenue will give you its full support!”
And then things get even more outrageous:
He concocts “Royal Cola” from sugar, herbs, and sparkling water, and the fifth princess chases after him, clutching a bottle and begging for more;
He draws up plans for a commercial street with drainage, and the nobles scramble to rent shops;
He teaches farmers to use the curved-beam plow and build irrigation works, doubling the rice yield per mu in the suburbs of the capital;
Even the envoys from the Western Regions, all for the cement he makes
