Late Qin.
The First Emperor is dying, and the realm is about to descend into chaos.
The protagonist transmigrates into the body of a poor farmer in the countryside of Suiyang County, Dang Commandery.
He has no parents, no siblings, no relatives, and no one but himself.
His status is so low that he isn’t even entitled to a surname.
The villagers call him “Ze.”
He gazes up at the setting sun on the horizon, as if watching the Qin dynasty, fated to last only two generations, reach its end.
“A great man should achieve extraordinary deeds and make a name that lasts for ages. How could I spend my life tilling the fields and die among the furrows?”
So he throws down his hoe and makes his declaration: “My surname is Li. I am Li of Suiyang!”
He vows to follow in the footsteps of the Tang Emperor Li Shimin and compete with the heroes of the realm to see who comes out on top!
Li Ze gives up farming and starts throwing his weight around the village, becoming a bona fide street thug.
He gathers villagers and beggars, making a living by fishing,
while building up his strength and making friends among the local gentry.
He gathers followers and cultivates talent, waiting for the right moment.
“If the throne can be held by Ying Zheng, rich for seven generations, by the fool Hu Hai, and by Liu San, the village head, then why can’t I, Li Ze, sit on it?”
“Are kings and nobles born to rule?”
Good book, good book, worth reading 👍