Drunk Beneath the Bright Moon

In the final years of the Jiajing reign, Japanese raiders ravage the south and Mongol forces menace the north. The mighty Ming Empire's glory is fading, and youth is slipping away. He remembers the glorious reigns of Hongwu and Yongle, and watches the turbulence of the Jiajing, Longqing, and Wanli eras. He strolls at ease, makes his moves in secret, and quietly does things that few know about. He has capital at his disposal, and would be content to follow a hero's lead, but if corrupt officials block the way and push the heroes aside, why shouldn't he step forward and make a name for himself? In the thirty-third year of Jiajing, on the banks of the Qinhuai River, elite special forces soldier Zhang Mingyuan gazes at the setting sun. A bitter yet resolute smile unknowingly forms at the corner of his mouth...

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