The Winds of the Eastern Sea Rise Again

Set against the Tang Dynasty, The Storm Rises Again in the East Sea tells the legendary life of Xue Rengui.

Xue Rengui was born into a poor farming family in Longmen County, Jiangzhou, Hedong Circuit. His family lived in a dilapidated hut, and his parents worked just to put food on the table. But he dreamed of serving in the army and defending his country. He practiced diligently in the fields with a homemade wooden spear, ignoring the doubts of his neighbors and remaining steadfast in his ambition.

The Tang Dynasty had only recently been founded, and its borders were unstable. Goguryeo raided the frontier, killing and pillaging and seizing land, leaving the people to suffer terribly. At court, the ministers were divided over how to respond. After weighing his options, Emperor Taizong leaned toward launching a campaign, giving Xue Rengui an opportunity to rise. When the conscription order arrived, Xue Rengui signed up resolutely, defying his parents' pleas and setting out determined to change his fate, defend his home, and protect his country.

He began as a low-ranking soldier and distinguished himself through sheer perseverance amid grueling training. At the Battle of Ansi, he charged alone into enemy ranks and rescued Liu Junqiong from danger, drawing Emperor Taizong's attention. In the battles at Jinshan, Fuyu City, and Pyongyang, he continued to win victories, demonstrating exceptional military skill and fearless resolve.

After Goguryeo fell, the Tang established the Protectorate General to Pacify the East, and Xue Rengui was appointed its acting governor. However, Goguryeo remnants joined forces with Baekje restorationists and neighboring tribes dissatisfied with Tang rule, plotting to overthrow it. Sensing the danger, Xue Rengui devised a clever strategy to divide and dismantle the enemy, crushing the alliance and securing the Tang frontier.

Through vivid depictions of war and gripping plotlines, the novel chronicles Xue Rengui's rise from humble origins to celebrated general. It portrays the political, military, and social landscape of the early Tang Dynasty while highlighting his resilience, loyalty, and wisdom.