I Opened a Farm Supply Store in the Zhenguan Era

Chen Yu, an overworked office drone, transmigrates to the first year of the Zhenguan era in the Tang Dynasty and becomes a starving refugee just outside Chang’an. At the moment of despair, a notification sounds in his mind: “The [Seeds of Civilization] System has been activated!”

While others still bow and scrape for a pittance, his System shop has already unlocked potatoes, corn, gunpowder, and cement. While others are still poring over the classics, he’s already tutoring Crown Prince Li Chengqian in math and science, going into business with Cheng Yaojin, and negotiating with Zhangsun Wuji.

Li Shimin: “My dear minister Chen, will your high-yield crops put an end to famine in the Tang Dynasty?” Chen Yu: “Your Majesty, that’s only phase one. Phase two is the Industrial Revolution. For phase three… shall we talk about an empire on which the sun never sets?”