The Male Lead Is a Chancellor Who Can Barely Afford to Eat, Then Gets Accused of Corruption and Docked Pay 男主是宰相，饭都吃不饱，还被人告贪污罚棒禄

1. 1 臣 I Was Born a Commoner 臣本布衣 Wu Liang Ye武梁耶Historical1.2M WordsCompleted [Adapted into a comic-drama: Cast aside despite my great achievements, I build my own royal court] [Adapted into a short drama of the same name + I was once a commoner] [The emperor’s jealousy + never looking back + heading south to capture the dragon + immensely satisfying] Li Zhen transmigrates to an ancient continent! He assists the newly enthroned emperor of Dayu in bringing order to the court. But before his great undertaking is even halfway done, the emperor grows suspicious of him out of 22.3kReads8.1Score3.8k14d adds

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   That was awesome, so awesome!

2. 2 我 I, the Ultimate Schemer: The Empress Calls Me a Living Yama 我，最强毒士，女帝直呼活阎王 Xing Xing Zi星星子Historical4.3M WordsOngoing [Search Tomato to watch the short drama: The Third Greatest Stratagem of All Time] Gao Yang transmigrated to the Great Qian Dynasty just as the Empress ascended the throne and began recruiting talent from across the land. So he volunteered himself as a poison strategist! The Empress: “Suppose you personally wiped out your enemy's entire family. As you looked at the bodies scattered everywhere, you suddenly realized there was still a child in the house. What would you do?” Gao Yang: “I'd say, ‘Re 381.3kReads9.2Score32.3k14d adds

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   💥①Perfectly matches🍉, a new book I'm reading at 40, the male lead is a prime minister who can't even get enough to eat, and he's framed for embezzling offerings. The empress also suspects that his achievements are too great and that he's too powerful. So the protagonist just ignores the mess and turns to join the Northern Desert to become the boss himself.

3. 3 大 Ming Dynasty: My Years as Zhu Yuanzhang's Heckler 大明，我给老朱当喷子的那些年 Qing Suisui卿岁岁Historical1.4M WordsCompleted If there’s anything you think could be improved, please point it out gently. I’ll make changes. Thank you. The protagonist’s official career: Investigating Censor, Supervising Censor, County Magistrate, Inspecting Censor and Deputy Censor-in-Chief, Censor-in-Chief, Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, Grand Secretary of the Hall of Cautious Diligence and Minister of Personnel. Gu Chen opens his eyes and finds himself in the Hongwu era of the Ming dynasty, as a low-ranking remonstrance official. He ha 49.1kReads9.1Score3.4k14d adds

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   🌸Highly recommended: The male lead is a prime minister who lives in a thatched hut and eats fried rice with eggs. He is not well-fed or well-off, but he is accused of embezzlement. He is of marriageable age, but he has not married yet because he has no house and no money.

4. 4 我 I'm a Corrupt Official, Yet They Call Me a Loyal Minister! 我是贪官，她们却说我是忠臣！ Riding the Wind with Sword御剑乘风Eastern Fantasy1.0M WordsCompleted Liu Mubai transmigrates into a dangerous fantasy world. After ten years of diligent study, he places first in the imperial examinations in the first year of the Empress’s reign and activates the God-Tier Corrupt Official System. As long as he embezzles money, the System rewards him with power. To grow stronger, Liu Mubai becomes the Great Zhou Dynasty’s most corrupt official. On one hand, he conspires with ministers, takes bribes, breaks the law, and lines his own pockets. On the other, he uses 313Reads7.6Score—14d adds

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   🌀Perfectly matches 🍉, the protagonist is the prime minister, who rents the cheapest house, is not well-fed or clothed, and has to mend his own clothes when they are torn, but is reported by someone, and relies on his honest appearance to prove that he is a loyal minister.

5. 5 大 Great Ming: I’m the Poorest County Magistrate, and Old Zhu Teaches Me to Embezzle 大明：我！最穷县令，老朱教我贪污 WU LinWU林Historical800k WordsCompleted As someone from the modern world who has transmigrated here, how could Zhang Cheng settle for being a lowly county magistrate? He decides to accomplish something great, starting by transforming Fengyang County... Who knew that cracking down on corruption and financial misconduct would get him impeached by Hu Weiyong? And now Old Zhu is making a secret inspection? So Zhang Cheng pretends not to recognize Old Zhu and puts on a show. “Making money is easy! If you have connections, just get the loca 84Reads7.0Score—14d adds
6. 6 九 A Book by Jiuzhou Tong 九州同的一本书 All Under Heaven九州同Historical810k WordsCompleted My new work is out! You can read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you’ll enjoy it. Your support motivates me to write, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! 33Reads5.3Score—14d adds

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   ① The male protagonist transmigrates into the body of a county magistrate. His grand ambition is to become prime minister. Using his modern knowledge, he cultivates connections to achieve common prosperity. Despite barely having enough to eat, he is impeached for corruption. He is more wronged than Dou E! [Note]

7. 7 大 Great Tang: The Poorest County Magistrate, Invited to Court by the Emperor 大唐：最穷县令，皇上请我入朝 Not Cocoa非可可Historical1.7M WordsCompleted In the third year of the Zhenguan era, the Tang Empire is drawn into war, and resources are scarce across the land. Yet Pingyao County alone… is full of singing and dancing, with food and clothing in abundance. It even bears more than a passing resemblance to a modern metropolis! As Li Shimin and Changsun Wuji investigate further, they discover that everything here is extraordinary… The common people are prosperous, and commerce is thriving… More astonishing still, the local magistrate, Liu Shao 4.5kReads7.2Score46314d adds
8. 8 大 Great Ming: Crashing into a Pillar from the Start, Terrifying the Entire Court 大明：开局撞柱，吓坏满朝文武 Carefree Buddhist佛系无忧Historical1.0M WordsCompleted [From the start + System + transmigration + scheming + history + wild imagination] So, what exactly are the regrets of the Ming dynasty? The Hongwu Emperor, who lost his father, mother, wife, son, and grandson; the imperial eldest grandson who died young; Crown Prince Zhu Biao, widely regarded as the most secure heir in history; the indomitable founder who started with a single bowl; the man who ended with a tree and nothing but tears; and the Yongle Emperor’s lament: “Can even a lifetime of ach 8.5kReads8.2Score44114d adds

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   🔥🔥🔥The protagonist is a minor official struggling to make ends meet and even find housing.💥 He offends the younger brother of Hu Weiyong's concubine at the start and is falsely accused of bribery. Zhu Biao helps him escape! No system, 1V1, highly recommended! 👍

9. 9 我 I, a Treacherous Minister, Rebelled. How Did the Empress Turn the Tables? 我奸臣造反，被女帝这样翻盘？ Huang Ke皇客Historical396k WordsCompleted [Villain + treacherous minister + rebellion + happy ending] [The protagonist is a treacherous minister, but gives up his rebellion in the end because he falls for the empress. If that bothers you, proceed with caution.] My name is Chu Yi. I am the Minister of Personnel of the An Kingdom, yet all I want is to rebel and seize the Great An Empire. To make sure my coup succeeds, I build factions and purge my enemies. I strictly observe the virtues expected of a man, and have never married, despite b 509Reads7.4Score10214d adds
10. 10 开 From the Start, Imprisoned by the Empress, I Secretly Become Invincible 开局被女帝下狱，我偷偷无敌 Iron Bell铁钟Eastern Fantasy2.0M WordsCompleted Jiang Hao transmigrates to another world and works himself to the bone helping the empress ascend to the throne, only to be discarded once he’s no longer useful and thrown into the imperial dungeon. Luckily, he awakens the Lie-Flat System. As long as he lies flat, he earns rewards. [Ding! Lie flat for one day and receive an unparalleled physique.] [Ding! Lie flat for one month and receive an immortal cultivation technique.] [Ding! Lie flat for one year and receive a Saint’s Dao Fruit.] And so, a 310Reads7.1Score14014d adds

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    1🎉The male protagonist, Gu Chen, wakes up to find himself transmigrated to the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty, becoming a lowly censor. Anyone familiar with history knows that being an official during the Hongwu era was the most difficult. He initially planned to coast along, occasionally criticizing his colleagues and slacking off, but he accidentally criticized the younger brother of the concubine of the then-Prime Minister, Hu Weiyong. Now he's really in deep trouble. To avoid being executed by Emperor Zhu for corruption, he has no choice but to use his intelligence and wit to prove his incorruptibility.

11. 11 帝 The County Magistrate Who Taught the Emperor 帝师县令 Dao Shijiu刀十九Historical2.1M WordsCompleted In a world torn apart by war, Zhao Kang transmigrates into the body of a ninth-rank county magistrate in the Qian Kingdom. With no grand ambitions, he has no desire to vie for supremacy. He just wants to live off the land, do as he pleases, and rule his patch as a local tyrant. 477Reads9.1Score18414d adds
12. 12 明 Clearly a Powerhouse, Yet He Keeps a Low Profile as the Second-in-Command 明明很强，却苟在势力做老二 Immortal Among Mortals俗尘嫡仙Eastern Fantasy783k WordsCompleted An utterly invincible heroine, Di Yao, in a xianxia fantasy. The Great Qin Dynasty has endured for ten thousand years. At the end of every ruler's life, he takes the crown prince to the Imperial Preceptor's residence to kneel and pay his respects, seeking the Preceptor's protection for the new emperor. This is the ceremony for a Qin ruler's ascension to the throne, and the very foundation of the dynasty's prosperity through ten thousand years. Whether going to war or celebrating a harvest, whene 5kReads7.1Score38414d adds
13. 13 大 Great Tang: Please, Just Be a Chancellor 大唐：求求你当个宰相吧 Panda No. 1熊猫1号Historical873k WordsCompleted Qin He transmigrates to the seventh year of the Zhenguan era. Using a Reputation System, he starts a business, hoping to live a quiet life and stay out of the world’s affairs. Unexpectedly, Li Shimin comes to see him in person. “What? Your potatoes yield fifteen dan per mu?” “What? Henan Circuit is about to suffer a devastating flood?” “What? This penicillin can cure all diseases?” As one prediction after another proves true, the whole realm is shaken! Li Shimin is completely dumbfounded. Then h 1.7kReads8.3Score10014d adds

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    🌿 A new masterpiece! 🌿 The protagonist is a prime minister who can't even afford to eat or dress warmly. However, due to his great achievements, he is suspected and the emperor wants to demote him. The protagonist then joins the Northern Desert. He can no longer work for others and starts his own empire.

14. 14 十 I'm Ten, Yet They Made Me Regent and Entrusted Me with the Orphaned Empress? 十岁让我当摄政王，还托孤女帝？ Buying Wine Beneath the Moon月下买酒Historical589k WordsCompleted Bai Fengming transmigrates to the Great Xia Dynasty and becomes the younger brother of the reigning emperor, Bai Longming. The brothers are on good terms, and Bai Fengming is made Prince of Qin. He'd planned to lie flat and live as a carefree prince for the rest of his life. But fate has other plans. Bai Longming dies in his prime, leaving behind a seven-year-old crown prince. The ministers assume Bai Longming will entrust the empire to the empress or the grand general. To their surprise, he tur 6.2kReads7.4Score9.9k14d adds

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    Here it comes! 🌙 🥚① My first book! I start by transmigrating to a parallel ancient world and becoming a scion of a noble family. Unexpectedly, the empress is recruiting talented people, but why am I the one being nominated? 🧚‍♀️ No worries, let the ancient world see the terror of a ruthless strategist! At the start, I answer the question of slaughtering an entire family while secretly observing the survivors. Powerful and decisive in killing! 🚀 🥚② Follow me so you don't get lost when you're looking for something to read! 🐶

15. 15 女 The Empress's Favorite Minister? No, I'm a Pillar of the Nation 女帝宠臣？不，我乃国家柱石 Meaning Between the Lines言外有意Historical1.1M WordsCompleted [Wish Fulfillment + Comedy + Political Intrigue + Wild Misinterpretations + System] Pei Qiye wakes up one morning to find himself transmigrated to an ancient alternate world. The good news: Pei Qiye is the Empress's favorite minister, a high-ranking official in the secret service agency, the Xuanjing Bureau. The bad news: Because of his transmigration, he has only three days left to live. The good news: His System has awakened. As long as he punishes evil and promotes good, he can extend his lif 4.5kReads8.3Score38414d adds
16. 16 天 I Keep Dying to Remonstrate, Have I Become a Minister for the Ages? 天天死谏，我成千古名臣了？ There's No Silver Buried Here此地无银Historical323k WordsCompleted [Alternate Ming Dynasty + dual Systems + humorous] Good news: I transmigrated. Bad news: I didn’t spend all my money. There’s nothing more painful in life than dying before you’ve spent all your money. To enjoy a carefree, wealthy life of eating and drinking without a worry again, Lu Ying embarked on the path of remonstrating unto death. What he didn’t know was that Zhu Yuanzhang, whom he remonstrated with unto death every day, had also activated a System of his own… 2Reads—Score—14d adds

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    🌻The protagonist, possessing billions, is transmigrated into the body of a poor man in ancient times. He unlocks the "Eternal Famous Minister System," meaning that if he's criticized by Zhu Yuanzhang, he'll return to his original world—a dream come true!☀️ The protagonist initially offers four pieces of advice, unaware that Zhu Yuanzhang has also awakened the "Eternal Wise Ruler System," where he can only obtain what he desires if Zhu is criticized. Thus begins an extreme power struggle~💕

17. 17 开 A Beggar from the Start, I Ended Up with a Chancellor as My Adoptive Father! 开局乞丐，却拜了个宰相做义父！ Yi Chen逸臣Eastern Fantasy432k WordsCompleted Transmigration: [No System] + [multiple heroines] + [a little political scheming] He starts out as a beggar and casually takes someone on as his adoptive father. He never expected his adoptive father to have a sister as beautiful as a fairy. Even more surprisingly, his adoptive father makes good and rises to become prime minister. With Ye Chen holding his aunt in his arms: “I call you my adoptive father, and you call me your brother-in-law. We can each have it our own way!” 188Reads6.5Score—14d adds
18. 18 最 The Most Powerful Profligate Chancellor 最强纨绔宰相 Tomorrow Will Bring Flowers明天会是鲜花Historical357k WordsCompleted What should you do if you suddenly transmigrate? Naturally, master math and science, and you’ll be fearless wherever you go! Su Xiu transmigrates as the son of the prime minister of the Great Chu court and the capital’s number-one playboy. Starting with a legendary couplet, he lounges among beauties, toys with the court, and makes the world his playground! 39Reads—Score—14d adds
19. 19 大 Great Ming: The Greatest Corrupt Official, Untouchable by Old Zhu 大明：天下第一贪官，老朱杀不得 East Meets West东成西就Historical728k WordsOngoing In the seventh year of the Hongwu reign, Zhu Yuanzhang and Liu Bowen arrived in Fengyang County and discovered traffic lights, paved roads, and rice paddies stretching as far as the eye could see... The people lived in peace and contentment, enjoying happy lives. Zhu Yuanzhang was convinced this county magistrate was no ordinary man! But the luxurious residence and the fact that every stitch in the magistrate's clothes was accounted for by the ounce made him furious! "That corrupt official! I'll 341Reads5.5Score—14d adds

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    🌈The male protagonist is a prime minister who can't even afford to eat.🍀🍀The male protagonist transmigrates to ancient times. As a prime minister, he is disliked by the emperor because of his outstanding talent and is thus demoted. He activates a life choice system, resigns from his post, leaves the imperial court, and joins the desert state of Danzhou to build his own empire.

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