Liu Hong wakes up to find himself transformed into the young Marquis of Xiedu, a member of the Eastern Han imperial clan. Beggars starve outside his gate, his granaries are empty, a relative is trying to seize power from his mother, and the realm is inching toward the chaos at the end of the Han dynasty.
He has no troops and no influence at court. All he can do is start with a bowl of porridge, an acre of land, and a sheet of paper. He inspects the granaries, draws up relief rolls, improves farming tools, opens workshops and markets, and sets up paper-making, flour milling, lime burning, soapmaking, and fine carriage production, gradually restoring the marquis's residence, which is on the verge of ruin.
The foundations are laid before chaos arrives. When the realm is swept up in turmoil, the young Liu Hong already has food, money, people, and the first card he needs to change the fate of the Han dynasty.
Go home to your mother