A Thousand-Year Resolve and a World Governed for the Common Good

Main storyline: Lin Mo, a modern-day graduate student in history, is troubled by the meaning of “following what is right for all under Heaven” in the modern world. Starting from a place of uncertainty about his original ideals, he transmigrates and speaks with Wang Fuzhi, Wang Yangming, Mencius, and Xunzi. Through these encounters, he gradually comes to understand the thousand-year legacy of “all under Heaven belongs to the people.” In the end, he puts his ideals into practice through small actions in modern society, completing his growth from questioning the theory to putting it into practice.

Underlying storyline: The idea that “the essence of one's original ideal is serving the people” runs throughout the novel, from Confucius's people-centered foundations for benevolent governance, to Wang Fuzhi's steadfast belief amid chaos that “all under Heaven is not the private property of one surname,” to Wang Yangming's philosophy of acting on one's innate knowledge of the good, and finally to small acts of community service in the modern age. The story reveals a shared pursuit of public-mindedness across different eras. It also weaves in the idea that ancient and modern thought affirm one another: the wisdom of ancient Confucian scholars answers the struggles of individuals in modern society, while modern practice in turn demonstrates the value of ancient thought today. In this way, “all under Heaven belongs to the people” is no longer merely a historical slogan, but a way of life that can be put into practice.