From the Jiajing to Wanli years of the Ming Dynasty, a wizard who was born in Xinzheng, Henan, grew up from a baby born in auspicious clouds to a powerful minister. He bears the Beidou birthmark on his chest and has the mission of "defending the country." He sticks to his original intention in the darkness of Yan Song's dictatorship, and turns the tide in the wave of Longqing's New Deal, but ultimately loses to his closest political enemy Zhang Juzheng.
This book is based on detailed historical materials and vividly reproduces Gao Gong's legendary life:
When he was young, he questioned Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism and showed his deviant thinking.
During the Hanlin Academy period, he secretly recorded "Xiyuan Sights and Sounds" to expose the Taoism and chaos in Jiajing.
As a lecturer to King Yu, he taught secretly how to govern the country with "Zi Zhi Tong Jian"
Implemented the "test method" to rectify the administration of officials, and dismissed more than 400 mediocre officials in three months
He advocated "I will pay tribute" to promote peace between Han and Mongolia.
He was expelled from the capital in his later years, but predicted the failure of Zhang Juzheng's reforms in "Benyu"
This is an epic work about ideals and reality, reform and conservatism, loyalty and betrayal. The author depicts Gao Gong's entire process from his enterprising spirit to his tragic death with delicate brush strokes. Through the fate of a reformer, he reflects the critical fifty years when the Ming Dynasty turned from prosperity to decline. The book contains not only thrilling court games, but also heart-warming friendship between teachers and friends, as well as profound thoughts on "what is a good prime minister".
