In the third year of the Xiping era at the end of the Han dynasty, the Yellow Turbans have yet to rise, and the Oath of the Peach Garden has yet to be sworn.
Liu Zheng, a retired special police officer, transmigrates into the body of an impoverished imperial clansman in Zhuo Commandery, arriving in an age of chaos with the mysterious Records of Public Security. Its Military Affairs section details modern tactics, its Craftsmen’s section contains ingenious techniques, its Intelligence section provides methods for gathering information, and its Statecraft section lays down rules and systems.
At this time, Guan Yu is a fugitive, Zhang Fei is a butcher in the tavern district, Zhao Yun is still in Changshan, and Guo Jia has yet to enter Yingchuan. With knowledge of what is to come, Liu Zheng gets to the famous generals first. Drawing on his special police expertise, he rebuilds the army into a powerful force: the squad-platoon-company structure ensures strict discipline, crucible steel forges divine weapons, black powder breaches fortified cities, alcohol disinfection reduces casualties, and criminal investigation techniques foil assassinations.
From the Iron Eagle Battalion in Zhuo Commandery to rescuing the emperor in Luoyang, from establishing a foothold in Jizhou to defeating the northern tribes in Bingzhou, from vying for supremacy in the Central Plains to crossing the Yangtze: he uses his far-ahead knowledge to overwhelm the old powers, and under the banner of “restoring the Han three times,” rebuilds the order of the realm.
This is not another familiar tale of aiding Liu Bei. It is an overwhelming victory made possible by planning ahead. This is not a story of personal strength and brute force, but of bringing an entire civilization to the next level.
The Han dynasty is about to fall? Then he’ll build it anew.
Retired officer Liu Zheng, restoring the Han for the third time.
Very good, a rare masterpiece among historical texts