Great Ming: After Writing the Plan to Pacify Liaodong, I Took a Prisoner’s Place in the Army

In the sixteenth year of the Chongzhen reign, the Ming Dynasty’s final imperial examination on statecraft begins.

Shen Yan, who has transmigrated to this era, writes five proposals on pacifying Liaodong, relieving famine, reorganizing military finances, and bringing peace to the people, then casually sketches plans for a redesigned flintlock.

But the “Ledger of the Realm’s Lifeline” bound to him only recognizes military pay and military merit.

Without his wages, he won’t survive three days.

So after handing in his paper, Shen Yan conceals his name, takes the place of a condemned prisoner, and is sent to Shanhai Pass as cannon fodder.

Ten days later, five examiners rush into the Hanlin Academy clutching policy papers written by the same person.

The Chongzhen Emperor summons his senior ministers through the night, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard is ordered out of the capital to search the realm for the genius who can save the Ming Dynasty.

Meanwhile, Shen Yan, using the condemned prisoner Gu Jiu’s name, is eating moldy rice and shoveling horse manure in the stables at the pass.

A company commander lashes his back. “A criminal soldier here to die in someone else’s place dares ask me for military pay?”

Shen Yan glances at the three days he has left to live, then looks toward the smoke rising beyond the pass.

“So you won’t pay me, huh?”

“Then I’ll just have to earn my own military merit.”