The Push-Back Riddle

During the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty, at Emperor Taizong’s command, the court astrologer Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang used occult arts to divine the fate of the realm and compose the Tui Bei Tu. Its name came from Yuan Tiangang pushing Li Chunfeng’s back to stop his calculations. In his later years, Li Chunfeng feared that future generations would misuse the work. He poured his heart and soul into writing a definitive commentary, the Xuanjie, explaining the secrets behind its prophecies and offering warnings. He entrusted it to the Li clan, his most trusted followers, to protect for generations, forbidding them to open it unless the Mandate of Heaven demanded it.

Time passed, and by the middle and late Ming Dynasty, the court was in turmoil. Emperor Jiajing was obsessed with immortality, neglecting governance while ruling with an iron fist. The civil officials and the eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonial were locked in a fierce struggle for power. Then rumors spread that the Xuanjie had resurfaced. Whoever possessed it could grasp the Tui Bei Tu in its entirety, see through the secrets of Heaven, control the court, and even alter the Mandate of Heaven. The Xuanjie became the focus of a struggle for power: the emperor sought to use it to strengthen imperial authority and attain immortality; the civil officials hoped to curb the emperor and strike at the eunuch faction; and the chief eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial plotted to use its prophecies to control the empire’s lifeline.

A fierce battle for the Xuanjie, guarded by the descendants of the Li clan, erupted. It brought together the dust of history, court intrigue, the occult forces of the Five Elements, and old family grievances. The three factions each pursued their own schemes, hunting for treasures and exploring ancient tombs as they untangled mysteries and maneuvered through prophecies coming true and hearts turning against one another.

The Tui Bei Mystery uses history as its rich backdrop, combining the thrills of tomb raiding and treasure hunting with gripping suspense and puzzle-solving. It delves into how the lust for power corrupts human nature and lifts the thousand-year veil over the Tui Bei Tu.