During the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty, the world was in turmoil and people's morale was low. The literary style flourished in the Jiangnan area, and the imperial examination was still the only way for children from poor families to get ahead. The protagonist, Chen Wenzhao, is a native of Shanyin, Zhejiang. He is a scholar at the age of nineteen and has just begun to show his talent. However, he was suppressed because of his outspoken remarks about the harsh government of the county magistrate, his fame was taken away, and he was trapped in the countryside. From then on, he saw through the hypocrisy of the officialdom, and turned to study the science of world affairs. He secretly contacted the people's righteous people and enlightened gentry, hoping to use literature to change their lives and save the common people. At that time, foreign ships were at the gate, the opium epidemic was deepening, and the struggle between the conservatives and the reformers in the DPRK continued. In the name of lecturing in private schools, Chen Wenzhao spread practical knowledge, advocated the establishment of farmers' associations and workshops, established water conservancy and established new schools, and gradually influenced the local political situation. There are green forests echoing in the rivers and lakes, and there are also clear streams of help in the court. However, he has always been among the powerful in a commoner's body, not joining the party struggle, and only pursuing pragmatism. The world is based on the real society of the late Qing Dynasty, where the market, officialdom, academies, gangs, foreign companies, escort agencies and other forces are intertwined, presenting a profound picture of literati struggling for change in troubled times.
