A Rural Scheme to Shatter the Heavens

The story begins with Chen Chen, a poor country boy who finds himself transported to ancient times, where the common people struggle just to survive. By chance, he discovers a secret box from a previous dynasty buried in a field. Inside are irrefutable proof that the current emperor murdered his brother to seize the throne, as well as a brilliant strategy that could topple the empire. Meanwhile, tax collectors take his last remaining food because the emperor has ordered the construction of the Star-Picking Tower, leaving the land strewn with starving corpses. Chen Chen decides to use the secrets and strategy in the box to change this dark reality.

But the emperor is a powerful antagonist who will do anything to protect his throne and rule. He repeatedly stands in Chen Chen’s way as he tries to expose the truth, sending assassins after him and sabotaging his efforts to build up a following. With a modern mindset and a System golden finger, Chen Chen struggles to keep moving forward. Yet, as a lowborn man in a society with a rigid feudal hierarchy, he has precious few resources, and every step toward success is fraught with difficulty.

As Chen Chen grows, he meets Mu Xi, who is drawn to his ideals and courage. The two join forces. Chen Chen must fend off the emperor’s assassins while bringing about reform before he runs out of time and the realm falls into total chaos. But their actions lead some people to mistake them for rebels plotting to usurp the throne, plunging them into a crisis of trust.

As Chen Chen’s power grows, he builds his own faction and launches a fierce struggle against the emperor’s forces. In the end, he successfully replaces the ruling dynasty, but along the way he loses several close companions and discovers that victory can taste bitter.