Zhu Youjian, a modern physics researcher, opened his eyes to find himself Emperor Chongzhen. Li Zicheng's army was at the gates, the treasury held only eighty thousand taels, the court was full of parasites, and the Ming Dynasty had only three months left before its fall.
Other people transmigrate to become emperors and enjoy the good life. He transmigrated to become the ruler of a doomed dynasty? Fortunately, he had studied Ming history inside out and knew who was loyal and who was treacherous. He also brought with him the overwhelming advantage of modern physics.
His first strike: confiscate the property of Imperial Father-in-Law Zhou Kui, seizing five hundred thousand taels of silver. His second: execute Grand Secretary Chen Yan, gaining another forty thousand taels of gold. The grain transport in Nanjing, field cannons beyond the borders, and Jiangnan's textile bureaus were all repositioned on his chessboard.
When officials slandered him, he took it in stride. With Li Zicheng's army bearing down on the capital, he presented them with firearms and walls built of cement. When the Manchu cavalry came knocking at the passes, he brought out improved flintlock rifles and the real Ningyuan cannons.
The gentry of Jiangnan pointed at him and called him a foolish ruler, while the people in the city began calling him the true Son of Heaven.
"I am not merely the Son of Heaven of the Great Ming. I am Heaven itself!"
