Saving the Ming Dynasty, 1521

Shen Du is a history professor at a university, specializing in the Zhengde era. The absurdities of those sixteen years of Zhengde's reign have always pained him deeply.

But when he wakes up, he has become Zhengde himself. It is the fifteenth year of Zhengde, the night after the real emperor fell into the water at Qingjiangpu.

The Great Ming, a ship riddled with holes, is inevitably sailing toward ruin.

Grand Secretary Yang Tinghe is waiting for the emperor to breathe his last so he can seal off the nine gates and install a new ruler approved by the civil officials.

The court officials are all waiting to strip the imperial throne of its power, leaving it an empty shell.

All Shen Du has truly been left with is a Great Ming riddled with holes.