How to Farm a Thousand-League Realm for the First Emperor's Little One

Zhu Xiang, a professor of agricultural science, transmigrates into the Warring States period as a commoner in Zhao. At last, his life is beginning to improve.

His elder sister, who ran off with all the family’s valuables to follow a wealthy merchant, dumps her son on him, saying she’s fallen for another rich merchant and can’t bring the child along.

An angry Zhu Xiang is just about to find someone else to raise the boy when he learns the child is named Zheng, and his father is Yiren, a prince of Qin.

Zhu Xiang is bewildered. My nephew is Ying Zheng?? But my sister’s not called Zhao Ji. Her name is Chunhua!

To keep the First Emperor from disappearing from history, Zhu Xiang grits his teeth, tightens his belt, and raises the future First Emperor as a baby.

With a ding, his golden finger, the Farming System, comes online. He can exchange his favorability with historical figures for improved seeds.

With tears streaming down his face, Zhu Xiang kisses the future First Emperor on the forehead. “That’s my boy! You’re amazing! Just watch, Uncle will grow you a kingdom that stretches for thousands of miles!”

Many years later, Qin Shi Huang dozes over his desk and still dreams of that moment from his childhood.

His uncle holds his little hand as they walk along the long ridge between the fields, pointing to golden ears of grain stretching to the horizon.

“Zheng, your uncle has a dream: to plant good seeds across all the lands touched by the sun and moon, so every commoner can eat their fill.”

“Uncle, what if I conquer all the lands touched by the sun and moon, and give them to you to farm?”

“Huh? Hahahaha, all right!” His uncle lifts him onto his shoulders and laughs heartily. “Wherever Zheng expands his territory, Uncle will plant his fields.”

A large hand clasps a small one.

“It’s a promise.”

A few things to know

1. The writing style is colloquial and uses many modern expressions. The characters’ forms of address and dialogue do not follow pre-Qin conventions: for example, they use “you” and “I” instead of archaic pronouns. This is a warm, lighthearted, ensemble slice-of-life story about raising a child, a beloved family, and farming. It focuses on everyday life and the ensemble cast, and the pacing is slow. The protagonist is already married from the start, and the main story includes a complete growth arc for the female lead.

2. For the sake of the plot, the dates of people and major events have been adjusted. There are many fictional characters and events, and the story draws on a lot of unofficial history. Please don’t expect strict historical accuracy.

Everyone has their own tastes. If you don’t like the plot, please stop reading right away and click the X. The author has limited ability, so don’t expect me to change it. Please support an author whose work suits your tastes.

3. All readers who buy the official version are equal. Please don’t insult readers who like this novel by calling them the author’s “XX.” I’m just someone who writes for a living. I don’t deserve that.

The Tang Duke of the State’s residence in Jinyang has a pair of twin sons.

The elder brother, Li Shimin, is strong and skilled in martial arts. The younger brother, Li Xuanba, has needed medicine ever since he was born.

People of the time say twins share a mysterious telepathic bond.

Li Shimin, the second son of the Tang Duke, can confirm that the rumor is true.

After being repeatedly startled by the astonishing things Li Xuanba says in his mind, Li Shimin discusses it with his twin brother.

“Ah Xuan, did you know that if you concentrate just a little, Big Brother can hear what you’re thinking? Could you stop concentrating? Big Brother doesn’t want to hear it.”

Li Xuanba, the frail young gentleman, famed far and wide for his refined elegance: “No. If you don’t like it, you can say something too.”

Li Shimin, healthy in body but not as strong as Li Xuanba in spirit, uses every ounce of strength he has. His face turns purple with the effort before he manages to squeeze out a single word in his mind.

[Aaaaah!!!!!]

Li Xuanba nearly laughs himself into a fit.

In his previous life, Li Xuanba was an editor for a history marketing account who specialized in slandering Li Shimin to get more traffic.

After pulling an all-nighter and dying suddenly, he is reborn as Li Shimin’s sickly twin brother. In the historical romance, Li Xuanba is said to have the strength of Xiang Yu, but in reality he dies of illness at sixteen.

Li Xuanba: Oh, so this is karma.

Li Xuanba: Whatever. I’ll just slack off.

Li Xuanba: Brother, what spoilers do you want to hear? I’ll tell you everything!

Li Shimin, exasperated: “I don’t want to hear anything!!”

Many years later, Li Shimin wears the imperial robes, his hands stained with blood. Li Xuanba is still sickly, and still hasn’t died.

One day, after insulting Wei Zheng, Li Xuanba collapses and pretends to faint to extort compensation. Just as he did when they were children, Li Shimin hoists his brother onto his back and runs.

[Hahaha, Brother, you didn’t see how twisted that old Wei’s face was!]

[Shut up!]

[Congrats, Brother, you can finally say two words, hehe.]

Li Shimin once again looks pained as he carries his incorrigible little brother onward, one step at a time.

Note:

This novel is adapted from official history. Emperor Yang of Sui and Li Jiancheng are not undiscovered emperors destined to rule for the ages. There are household and palace struggles, brothers at odds, and fathers and sons turning against each other. Li Xuanba simply happens to be clinging to Li Shimin’s back, chattering nonsense, as Li Shimin takes each step through life.

If this isn’t for you, please don’t read it. There’s no need to argue with me. Please support an author whose work suits your tastes.

Theme: I wish for all the people to have enough to eat and wear; I wish to pacify the world and save all its people.