Transmigrated to the Great Qin: I Became Qin Shi Huang

Qin Tian, a modern history graduate student, is accidentally reborn after an archaeological mishap. His soul transmigrates to the state of Qin at the end of the Warring States period, where he becomes the young Ying Zheng, who has yet to take the reins of power and remains under the control of Lü Buwei and Zhao Ji. Knowing that the Qin dynasty is doomed to fall after just two generations, he resolves to defy fate and reshape the empire with his modern knowledge and historical perspective.

Before taking power, he lies low and quietly cultivates trusted allies such as Meng Tian and Li Si. He uses the Rebellion of Lao Ai to wipe out Lü Buwei's faction in one fell swoop and seize firm control of the throne. During the wars of unification, he reforms military tactics, introduces simple iron-smelting techniques to improve weapons, and streamlines food and supply transport, shortening the time needed to unify the six states and reducing casualties.

After unifying the realm, he abandons the extreme policies of “burning books and burying scholars” in favor of “honoring the law while embracing Confucianism,” preserving cultural classics and recruiting worthy talents from the hundred schools of thought. When implementing the commandery and county system, he takes local self-governance into account and eases class tensions. While building irrigation works and imperial roads, he carefully manages the allocation of labor to avoid excessive corvée.

At the same time, he counters the border threats posed by the Xiongnu and the Baiyue, improving military equipment and tactics to secure the frontiers. He grooms Fusu into a worthy heir, correcting his overly gentle nature and paving the way for the Qin dynasty's succession. In the end, Qin Tian not only frees the Qin dynasty from its fate of a short life, but also forges a powerful empire with vast territory, an inclusive culture, and a peaceful populace, becoming an emperor who truly “surpasses the Three Sovereigns in achievement and the Five Emperors in virtue.”