Legend of the Eight Sages

"The Legend of the Eight Sages" is a chapter-style novel written by Chu Renxun in the Qing Dynasty. It is based on the political situation during the Kangxi period and tells the story of the fierce struggle between eight loyal ministers and sages and the powerful traitor Suo Ai. At the beginning of the story, the treacherous minister Suo Ai set up a plan to "lead the tiger away from the mountain" and transferred eight wise ministers such as Feng Gelao and Yu Chenglong to serve in various places in an attempt to monopolize the government. At the same time, there are also undercurrents of grudges and resentments in the civilian world: the poor scholar Li Xingzhou and his wife Guo Yulian turned against each other because of their poverty. Guo Yulian attempted suicide unjustly, but was framed and dumped by her brother Guo Ying; Li Xingzhou was unjustly imprisoned, and his family was ruined, but Guo Yulian was miraculously rescued and reborn, living in a foreign country... The novel has a two-line parallel structure, not only describing the life-and-death battle between loyal and traitorous forces in the court, but also depicting the joys and sorrows of the common people. Machiavellian plots, injustice, chivalry, and revenge are intertwined, shaping the images of heroes with both wisdom and courage such as Shi Lin and Zhang Penghie, and also exposing the heinous crimes of powerful bullies such as Song Lei and Tian Gui. The plot of the book is full of ups and downs and suspenseful. It includes the clear insights of upright officials in deciding cases, the perseverance of women, and the heroic actions of knights. It can be called a Qing Dynasty legendary masterpiece that combines elements of public cases, chivalry and worldly sentiments.