Late Ming: the Silver Throne

In the fifteenth year of Chongzhen's reign, the empire was already a twilight beast, making its final cry in its rotting body. This year, Li Ge sat in the shadow by the Qinhuai River, wiped the ink between his fingers, and made a new contract in this era when human life is worth less than paper. At first, he was just a gentle bookseller, selling knowledge and anxiety; later, he became a giant monopolizing the oceans and a butcher who dismembered the gentry. He stood at the bow of the ironclad, overlooking the old world kneeling at his feet, with an indifferent expression: "I'm not here to save anyone. I just want to buy these thousands of miles of land. It doesn't matter whether I pay in gold or blood."