Late Ming: Everyone Gets a Bushel of Grain a Day, and the Manchus Are Scared

On the surface, Gu Chang'an is a minor county magistrate in the Chongzhen era.

In reality, he is secretly stockpiling grain, smelting iron, casting cannons, and building ships in Yexian, preparing to turn the late Ming into an industrial-tech campaign.

The first time he provides disaster relief, the result: the population surges and the granaries overflow.

The first time he trains troops, the result: the militia becomes an army, and the local power brokers are left reeling.

The first time he casts cannons, the result: the rebels are blasted into a daze, and Dengzhou and Laizhou are shaken.

The first time he goes to sea, the result: trade routes open, silver pours in, and his firearms production takes off.

The Qing: “Why can’t we break through Shandong?”

Gu Chang'an raises an eyebrow. “Because I’m not just defending the city. I’m going out to sea, building a navy, and making cannons. I’ll destroy your escape routes, too.”

And the seas across all of Southeast Asia are already covered with the flags of Yexian...