During the late Ming dynasty, Sun Jinyun, the son of a Luoyang Yongning garrison commander, is struck by a stray arrow while fleeing. When he falls unconscious, he awakens memories of his previous life as a history-loving shut-in. Seeking revenge for the rebel Li Zicheng's murder of his parents, he endures humiliation and bides his time, setting out to make his way in the world with his sister and just over thirty followers.
He first recruits troops and puts down a bandit stronghold, where he meets the heroine, Zhang Qiyun. Then he travels south in search of a peaceful place to establish a base. After building up his business and growing his strength, he takes control of the entire Ganzhou Prefecture. When Li Zicheng flees south to Hubei, Sun Jinyun leads his forces in a surprise attack and destroys the rebel king.
Back at his base, Sun Jinyun first carves out an independent domain in Jiangxi Province, then annexes Lingnan. Finally, he defeats the rival warlords from south to north and unifies China, bringing the people a peaceful and stable life.
