The Art of Governing in the Emperor's Absence: Old Zhu Begs Me to Become Emperor

[Father-son showdown + infrastructure fanatic + satisfying power fantasy + forced to take the throne + scheming protagonist]

I transmigrate as Zhu Di, Prince of Yan in the Ming Dynasty, only to be suspected by my own father, Zhu Yuanzhang, and banished to the harshest place of all: Beiping.

I only wanted to farm in peace, build infrastructure, and live the carefree life of a prince, but my abilities wouldn’t let me!

With Zhu Yuanzhang’s Imperial Guards spying on me, I fire up cement and forge high-grade steel, turning this frozen wasteland into a land of gold and silver!

The officials impeach me? I shut them up with tax revenues that put Jiangnan to shame!

The Mongols invade? I riddle them with bullets from modern firearms and cannons!

Old Zhu is stunned. He secretly sneaks to Beiping, sees the factories roaring with steam, and completely loses it. He grabs my hand, tears streaming down his face. “Son, you take the throne! I’m begging you!”

Me: “Father, you can’t do that! Big Brother is still here!”

But inwardly, I think: Old Zhu, this is only the beginning.