Idle Tales from the Biyan Hall

Original title: “The Court Has Bullied Me Too Much, So I’ll Become an Emperor❗” Watch one man go from loyal subject to warlord, then ultimately establish a new dynasty❗ The first 20 chapters have the style of Dream of the Red Chamber, followed by the style of Romance of the Three Kingdoms❗ The younger brother is a top-scoring scholar, while the older brother is a successful military examination candidate. Together they make their way through officialdom, then become warlords amid the chaos, before finally overthrowing the court themselves. (The title shown in the image is the final title.) This is not a transmigration story. I wanted to write something different, and you’ll see what I mean when you read it. I hope the book will give us all something to reflect on. (Thank you, everyone!)

The protagonist is named Yong He. For three generations, his family served as officials, and for a time they held great sway at court. He could have lived in luxury for the rest of his life, but that all ended when he was eight. His family lost a factional struggle at court and fell from power. Faced with this upheaval, he and his elder brother dreamed of restoring the family through their own efforts. In the end, Yong He did become the top scholar, while his brother passed the military examinations. He then joined the army to suppress local rebels, and for a time the two brothers shook the land with their fame.

But just as their careers were flourishing, more and more plots and schemes began to surface in officialdom. The court was also becoming less and less capable of containing the local rebels. Seeing that the court was both suppressing them and growing increasingly corrupt and ineffectual, the brothers concluded that it could no longer be saved. They began to consider striking out on their own, embarking on a journey as rebel warlords… Whether they will ultimately establish a new dynasty remains unknown.

I hope this book gives you all a different kind of reading experience! Thank you.