The Crisis of the Ming Dynasty Glass Bureau

After returning from overseas studies, Sun Xi establishes the Minghai Pavilion in Caozhou Prefecture. He improves the glass formula to create 'luminous glass tiles,' illuminating Caozhou at night and earning the title 'Light of Caozhou.' Local salt merchant Zhao Shuangren invests and uses his official connections to rebrand Minghai Pavilion as an 'imperial merchant,' skyrocketing its valuation. Sun Xi plans to spread the technology to a thousand cities nationwide, but this threatens the interests of the traditional lamp and candle guilds.