I Wrote Rebellion Stories in Ancient Times, and the Emperor Keeps Rewarding Me

Li Yu transmigrates into the body of a poor scholar with seven copper coins in his pocket, six taels of debt, and a broken leg from a beating by the village head's son.

He writes a book called The Dragon King's Son-in-Law overnight to pay off his debt, then writes Five Years to Rebellion, Three Years of Practice Exams to make money. He only wanted to escape poverty, but the book becomes a runaway hit. After reading it, the emperor sends the Secretariat to his door in the middle of the night: "How much more can you write?"

Li Yu says he won't write about rebellion anymore. He'll write The Crown Prince's First Lesson. Three years later, he calls the palace from a steam-powered ironclad: "Are you surrendering? If not, the next shot is aimed at the Hall of Supreme Harmony. My cousin works at the Hanlin Academy, so don't let him get caught in the crossfire."