Those who steal money and grain are petty thieves. Those who steal the instruments of state are traitors to the nation.
In the final years of the Ming Dynasty, plague spreads and a thousand miles of land lie barren. The Manchus watch hungrily from beyond the borders, raiding on a massive scale, while corrupt officials wreak havoc within, bringing ruin to the country and suffering to its people. Amid natural and man-made disasters, the common people can no longer make a living, and one by one they rise in rebellion.
If you’re going to rebel, don’t do it halfway. Become the great thief who seizes the instruments of state!
Okay, why didn't you granulate the gunpowder?
It's rare to find a late Ming Dynasty novel that doesn't involve high-tech cheating.
It's truthful and objective, well written, but not compact enough.
This book is a good read