Transmigrating into a poor scholar in the seventh year of Chongzhen, just as the county is breached by wandering bandits, Li Wendong faces two choices: either die under the sword, or join the bandits as a thief. In turbulent times, being a wandering bandit is inferior to being a stationary bandit. Other rebel armies snatch grain, money, and women, dragging along starving masses to play a snowball tactic. Li Wendong instead goes against the current, taking a group of emaciated refugees deep into the deep mountains and old forests to mine iron and smelt it, reclaiming wasteland and establishing agricultural colonies. When Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong are chased and beaten by government troops, he is instead negotiating business with landlords and wealthy gentry, cooperating with Laozi, with gold tickets aplenty! When others are fighting for territory and slaughtering each other, he is manufacturing military equipment and engaging in construction in the mountains. Brothers, this month another eight cannons have been produced!