The Great Voyage Begins in the Ming Dynasty

The Ming dynasty’s treasure fleets sailed across the five oceans, their sails emblazoned with the character “Ming” billowing from Gibraltar to Alaska.

Spices from Nusantara, silver from Mexico, textiles from the Ottoman Empire, red wine from Bordeaux...

Boundless riches flowed in from across the seas, pouring into the Celestial Empire.

A global empire on which the sun never set was quietly taking shape.

Yet Yi Wen, the transmigrator behind this Age of Discovery, only wanted to be a laid-back merchant who traveled from place to place.

“What? The Ashikaga family dares to raise the tariffs on our goods? Go ask if he still wants to be shogun.”

“Tell the Portuguese: if they dare so much as touch one hair on our merchant ships again, I’ll personally lead the fleet to bombard Lisbon.”

“Your Majesty, I was born a commoner. How could I accept a title like Prince of Pacified Seas? You’d best find someone more suitable.”