Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin

A sweeping epic of two million words and 1,000 chapters, this novel brings to life the legendary journey of Li Shimin, the “Heavenly Khan,” from his birth to the twilight of his reign! From auspicious signs at Jinyang Palace to the young hero’s daring rescue of the emperor at Yanmen; from a bloody comeback driven by revenge at Qianshuiyuan to the military miracle of defeating 100,000 troops at Hulao Pass with just 3,000 men; from the life-or-death choice at Xuanwu Gate to the mutual respect between ruler and ministers during the Zhenguan era, this novel builds on historical fact, embellishing the story without straying too far from the record. It captures both Li Shimin’s imperial valor on the battlefield and his anguish over brothers at odds, as well as his vulnerability after losing the one he loved. It portrays the civil and military achievements of the Zhenguan era, while also restoring his youthful spirit on the polo field and his devoted partnership with Empress Zhangsun. The loyalty of Qin Qiong, the devotion of Yuchi Gong, the candor of Wei Zheng, the wisdom of Xu Maogong, and the sudden rise of Xue Rengui: these heroes and Li Shimin together create a stirring portrait of the founding of the Tang dynasty. Every three chapters bring a suspenseful twist, every ten a thrilling climax, and every fifty a game-changing turn. Court scenes brim with political intrigue, while battles blaze with the grandeur of the battlefield. Witty comparisons, like calling Li Yuan the Tang dynasty’s angel investor and Wei Zheng the Zhenguan era’s most outspoken official, bring historical figures from a thousand years ago vividly to life. From a hidden dragon in the depths to the grand song of the Zhenguan era, and finally to the succession choices of an emperor in his twilight years, this book is not only the biography of one man, but also a portrait of a dynasty’s rise. Turn the pages and see how an infant born with a flame-shaped birthmark on his left arm gradually changed the course of the world and became a sage ruler whose golden age would shine through the ages!