The Great Case of the Kaihuang Era

The Tang had Di Renjie, the Song had Bao Qingtian, and the Ming had Hai Rui. The Great Sui, too, had an incorruptible official: Liu Sheng, Minister of the Court of Judicial Review! The Great Sui has only just been founded. Emperor Yang Jian of the Kaihuang era governs with vigor and rules officials with an iron fist, yet meritorious nobles indulge themselves, while corruption runs rampant throughout the provinces. Liu Sheng, an incorruptible official of his age, is ordered to inspect the realm and enters a deadly struggle with corrupt officials and the forces behind them. But the immensely wealthy Ma Bancheng becomes Liu Sheng’s greatest adversary in his fight against corruption. Meanwhile, Prince Yang Guang advances his plans step by step, using major corruption cases to scheme for the Crown Prince’s position. Behind a series of corruption scandals lie not only powerful ministers and nobles, but also royal infighting and even the succession of the empire itself.