Trapped in a World I Carry with Me, I Become China's Totem

[Behind-the-Scenes Protagonist + Civilization-Building + Historical Transformation + Chinese Totems + Pocket World + Immortality + No Toxic Tropes or Do-Gooder] Chen Zhou, an ordinary overworked office worker, dies after staying up all night reading historical fiction. When he wakes, he discovers that he has become bound to an empty pocket world. The bad news: he can't leave. The good news: this world can grow! The stronger Chinese civilization becomes, the larger its population and the more advanced its technology, the broader the pocket world grows, and the longer Chen Zhou lives. Even more incredible, he can send people dreams. Anyone who has contributed to the people, technology, institutions, or the progress of civilization can be guided into his celestial realm at the end of their life, where their lifespan increases dramatically. In the mortal world, this is known as ascension! And so, the world gains an unseen “Celestial Venerable of China.” He sends dreams to the ancient philosophers, ushering in a flourishing of the Hundred Schools of Thought. He establishes a system of Heaven's Mandate, decreeing that dynasties must have an end date and that merits and transgressions will be judged. He supports the Qin state, bringing a common written language and standardized axle widths across the land ahead of schedule. The Great Qin does not merely unite the Six Kingdoms: it unites the entire world. From then on, in pursuit of their whole clans' ascension, emperors of every dynasty have no choice but to work relentlessly to build roads, promote agriculture and industry, open up sea routes, and protect the people.