War Fires Blaze Across a Troubled Realm

That year, the scholarly Huliu Guang met Gao Cheng, heir to the Great Wei throne, a man with grand ambitions but little else. The bond between lord and subject ran deep, but just as Gao Cheng was about to ascend the throne and become emperor, he was unexpectedly assassinated.

To prevent the country from falling into turmoil and the people from suffering, Huliu Guang was forced to recognize Gao Yang's usurpation of the Qi throne. He went on to serve three emperors in succession, Gao Yin, Gao Yan, and Gao Zhan, faithfully discharging his duties...

But after Crown Prince Gao Wei succeeded to the throne, Huliu Guang governed as a senior minister entrusted with the empire's future. He led campaigns west against Northern Zhou and south against Xiao Liang, introduced reforms, and even tried to save a dynasty on the brink of collapse.

He outlasted many political rivals, while friends, relatives, and old acquaintances all passed away. All his life, he had longed to stop being a blade in someone else's hand and become the one who wielded it, taking control of his own fate. Yet in the end, fate still defeated him...

In his seventies, with the nation on the verge of ruin, did Huliu Guang, the old minister who had served seven emperors of Northern Qi, realize how far he had strayed from the ideals of his youth?

O vast heavens, why have you treated me so cruelly?

He died before his mission was accomplished, leaving heroes forever to weep!

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