Liam Linden, a modern materials science PhD, time-travels to ancient times, becomes a condemned prisoner. To survive, he falsely claims the identity of the Successor of the Celestial Forge. He uses modern knowledge to navigate life-or-death crises: forging divine weapons, concocting Black powder to repel The Beiman, competing in a mechanist competition, navigating the imperial court. He becomes the Marquis of Eternal Peace, marrying Elara Morton.
