Transmigrating to the Hongwu era, with a life as insignificant as a blade of grass, he sets out to change an entire age with his own two hands! Chen Mo, a poor scholar who froze to death in a ruined temple, opens his eyes once more, now inhabited by a soul from the modern era. Starving, freezing, and penniless, he awakens the "Myriad Realms Merit System": change history and advance civilization to exchange merit for knowledge of the future! Facing Zhu Yuanzhang, an emperor for the ages, he uses mathematical and management skills far beyond his time to clear three years' worth of backlogged accounts in just three days and expose corruption at every level. His policy of "providing relief through public works" saves countless people from floods and catches the deep attention of the man on the dragon throne. From a county office bookkeeper to a rising star at court, Chen Mo's every step keeps pace with the times. He fires bricks into cement to fortify the Great Ming, but earns the jealousy and suppression of veteran officials in the Ministry of Works. He improves firearms and establishes a fearsome reputation on the northern frontier, winning the heartfelt respect of battle-hardened generals. He overcomes all objections to lift the ban on maritime trade, sending great ships sailing out and bringing back silver, along with potatoes and corn capable of feeding hundreds of millions. He introduces new laws, surveys farmland, and clarifies taxes, becoming "Chen the Just" in the eyes of the people, but also a thorn in the side of the old interest groups. Yet though the Merit System grants his every wish, it also warns him: interfere with history too much, and there will be a backlash. More dangerous still, the ruler on the dragon throne, a man who rose from beggar to emperor, watches him with a mix of admiration and suspicion. On one side are the open attacks and hidden schemes; on the other, the tightrope walk of imperial intrigue. How will Chen Mo navigate the glorious Hongwu era? A poor scholar's audacious journey to transform the Ming with modern wisdom: all he wants is to kindle the light of civilization with the fire of practical science and earn a reputation as an unrivaled statesman!
