After transmigrating into the residence of Heshen as a minor steward, Li Yan wants only to keep his head down and stay alive.
But an "accidental" fire involving three thousand taels thrusts him into the spotlight. While everyone waits to see the scapegoat Li Yan lose his head, he presents a list of suspicious entries in the accounts, along with a "Plan to Double Profits from the South City's Businesses."
He brings no poems or songs, but instead KPI assessments, double-entry bookkeeping, and risk hedging: a suite of modern management techniques that leaves the old ways hopelessly outclassed.
Heshen smiles. "Interesting. My study is just missing someone who can write a prescription like this."
From then on, Li Yan becomes the most trusted "steward" of the Qing Dynasty's foremost corrupt official, and the ultimate player walking a tightrope between the Qianlong Emperor, Heshen, the Jiaqing Emperor, the upright officials, and Western envoys.
He helps Heshen amass wealth while secretly keeping every piece of evidence against him. He helps Heshen rise to power over the court while quietly preparing a way to save his own skin. When the Qianlong Emperor dies and a storm of retribution looms, everyone assumes Li Yan is doomed.
Yet Li Yan stands at the heart of the storm, the only one who has the last laugh.
"I'm no loyal official, and I'm no treacherous one. I'm just a project manager who treats transmigration as project management."
The hook in a nutshell:
Using modern management techniques, I send Heshen into the abyss and myself to the top.
