Zheng He Went a Little Farther That Day

History is filled with too many regrets and too many imperfections. We often wonder: What if Fusu had ascended the throne? Would the Qin dynasty have survived? If Emperor Xuanzong of Tang hadn't become incompetent in his later years, could the Tang dynasty have lasted longer? If Emperor Gaozong of Song had trusted Yue Fei, could the tragedy at Yashan have been avoided? If Zheng He had sailed a little farther west and reached Europe, could we have ushered in the Age of Exploration? If Emperor Qianlong had been curious about the outside world when he received the Macartney Embassy, might the Opium War never have happened? These are all regrets for the Chinese people. When we read about this history today, we feel wistful, regretful, and confused. Step into that era, with no transmigrator and no spoilers about what history has in store. There is only a small glimmer of possibility: a chance to consider another version of history and explore the road not taken at a crossroads.

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.