In 750, rebel forces that had risen in Qingzhou breached Chang'an, the capital of the Great Zhou Empire, then went on a rampage along their route, looting, murdering, and burning without restraint. A poem captured the carnage: “The imperial thoroughfare is strewn with the bones of nobles; the inner treasury burns to ashes of brocade.”
More than a dozen military governors who had carved out their own domains within Great Zhou seized the moment to rebel. They went on to found over a dozen states, until only three remained: Northern Qi, which held sway over the north; Southern Chu, which occupied Jiangdong; and Later Shu, which controlled the land of Shu.
By then, everyone knew Northern Qi was poised to unify the realm, while Southern Chu and Later Shu had once again come into conflict. A soul who had transmigrated from another world years earlier became Ye Bing, the adopted son of Ye Feng, emperor of Later Shu. In this chaotic age, how could he carve out a chance to survive?
“Standing before you is Xue Xiao, lifelong chairman of the Minghan Empire's Joint Conference of Deputy Prime Ministers and Commander-in-Chief, Minister of National Defense, Prince of Lanling, founder of the Supreme General's Office of Heavenly Strategy, honorary equal of the Three Excellencies, marshal of the army, navy, and air force, commander of all military affairs at home and abroad, and Minghan's one and only regent.”
