The Ming Dynasty's Cunning Merchant

In the thirtieth year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming dynasty, global trade was just beginning to take shape. Western colonizers had conquered the Malay Peninsula and were turning their eyes toward the Pearl River Delta. Samurai displaced by the great wars in Japan also eyed the East China Sea, while Ming pirates such as Wang Zhi and Chen Sipan were busy fighting among themselves for supremacy...

Amid these surging undercurrents, a band of country bumpkins suddenly emerged from the ancient county of Fuliang. They were skilled at firing porcelain and even better at turning the tables. Their leader was said to be named Wang Yi, and he was nothing more than a lowly former government runner...