The Nine-Dynasty Grand Chancellor of the Ming

By the end of the Hongzhi era, the Ming dynasty was plagued by internal corruption and external threats, with the people suffering and the court in decline. Su Heng, a transmigrator from another world, finds himself in the body of a poor orphan in the countryside. He does not believe in miraculous shortcuts, but instead buries himself in his studies, passing the nine levels of the imperial examinations with unprecedented success, achieving the rare feat of 'Nine Yuan'—first place in all nine exams. Rather than seeking glory in the court, he focuses on grassroots governance: reclaiming farmland, building irrigation, settling refugees, and rooting out corruption, strengthening the Ming's foundations through practical improvements. Eventually, he rises to the central government, serving through nine emperors. Amidst court intrigues and border threats, he remains steadfast, suppressing eunuch factions, curbing powerful families, reforming policies, and stabilizing defenses, repeatedly saving the dynasty from crisis. After a lifetime of dedication, starting from the fields and ending in service to the state, he harbors no ambition for power, only a desire to help the world. Through a century of trials, he props up the faltering Ming dynasty. When the land is finally at peace and the seas are calm, this commoner-born chancellor leaves behind a name that will echo through history. — Description from novelcodex.org