Tales of the Feng Family Courtyard in Caojiagou

The story is set at the Feng family compound, an ancient family estate in the southwestern frontier, around Ludian in Yunnan. Its history spans six hundred years.

It incorporates real historical events, including the wars at the end of the Yuan dynasty, the establishment of military farms in the early Ming dynasty, the campaigns against Annam, the Luchuan-Pingmian campaigns, the replacement of native chieftains with appointed officials, the Xianfeng and Tongzhi-era rebellions, and the rise and decline of the silver and copper mining industries.