Drunk at the Beacon Tower, I Wake to Spring in Jiangnan

A poor, friendless boy of mysterious origins joins the army and heads north alone so he can afford medicine for his sick mother. He rises from a lowly frontier soldier to a general who protects the nation, then navigates the intrigues of the court to become an emperor. This is the legendary tale of his ascent. In a world controlled by powerful clans, simply staying alive is hard enough. How could anyone find the time to study the classics, let alone pass the imperial examinations? Being allowed into the game as a pawn already makes you better off than most, but what if you aren't even a pawn? If simply staying alive is too much to hope for, then flip the board and seize the world.