"Yongle Era" is a serious historical possibility deduction novel. It starts from the 22nd year of Yongle and tells the story of the sick Emperor Yongle who made an earth-shattering decision: no longer regard Zheng He's voyages to the West as a political honor guard to promote the country's prestige, but to transform them into an engine for the country's strategic transformation. By establishing a Maritime Administration that was independent of the six traditional ministries, promulgating the Sea Register Order, and establishing "protected routes" and overseas customs, the Ming Empire attempted to build a global maritime order based on rules, commerce, and silver. This is not only a continuation of the Seven Voyages to the West, but also a grand experiment about institutional innovation, financial revolution and civilization's survival model. The story unfolds within strict historical logic, describing how the empire established "non-territorial rule" on the sea, and how this triggered profound internal power reorganization and conceptual impact. It asks whether and how an agricultural empire can turn around and face the sea, exploring another possibility of prosperity.
Purpose: This book aims to explore whether a traditional agricultural empire can open up a new space for survival and development through institutional innovation rather than simple military expansion when it faces internal financial difficulties and external security pressure. The core intention is to demonstrate a "non-conquering" way to become a powerful country - to gain influence and benefits by establishing fair and predictable business rules and providing global public goods (waterway safety, dispute arbitration, currency standards), thereby reshaping the country's destiny and world order. It asks about another set of possibilities for power, wealth and civilization.