Xia Ren travels through time to the third year of Zhizheng in the late Yuan dynasty, becoming a poor sea-faring household member in Liujiagang, Taicang, without any system or golden finger cheats. Placed on the eve of a chaotic era with oppressive heavy taxes and powerful local forces surrounding him, the protagonist can only rely on later-generation knowledge and historical foresight to survive in the cracks between government and local authorities. Starting from a grassroots accountant, he accumulates capital through maritime transport and gathers manpower. As the fires of the world are about to ignite, heroes such as Zhu Yuanzhang and Chen Youliang are still in their humble beginnings. Based in Jiangnan, he plots step by step, struggles and rises amidst the turbulence of the late Yuan, looks north toward the Central Plains, and contends for the rivers and mountains.