The Tale of Bai Ding

High Intelligence, Cunning Plans, Masterful Schemes, Treating the World Like a Chessboard

Looking for a novel with a protagonist like Murong Li from The Legend of Qin: someone who treats the world as a chessboard and all living beings as pieces, plans everything out, and plays life like a game, but is willing to become a piece on the board himself when necessary.

Fifteen Years as a Veteran Reader, and My Taste Has Gotten Picky

Looking for High-Quality Historical Fiction. No Mindless Power Trips or Brain-Dead Plotting

I want high-quality historical fiction that’s engaging and doesn’t dumb things down or rely on brainless plots. It can be satisfying, but don’t treat readers like idiots. No stories like the one where the protagonist fools Cao Cao’s quartermaster about the provisions from the start, or those where a literati protagonist suddenly has the strength of a tyrant. They’re unoriginal and mindless...

Please Recommend High-Quality Historical or Alternate-History Novels with Highly Intelligent Characters

Anything is fine as long as it isn't brainless and the supporting characters don't suddenly lose all their intelligence.

Recommend Some Good Books with Basic Common Sense

No school or academy settings, school beauties, goddesses, empresses, harems, male-male pairings, saintly heroines, teams where one person drags along several deadweights, or characters who act less than human and look for someone to own them.

Post-Apocalypse + Stockpiling + No Faction-Building + 9.5 Masterpiece ⊙▽⊙

Tomato’s Three Great Masterpieces: Bench Jiangnan, Sack Chen Shu, and Lord of Mysteries by Qi Ye

Prove me wrong.

The Hidden Gems on Tomato: Thought-Provoking, Flaws Don't Diminish the Whole, and Excellent Writing

Looking for books like *The Story of How I Pretended to Be a Noble Young Master of the Southern Dynasties*.

For Middle-Aged Readers: Smart Characters, No Goody-Two-Shoes, Decisive and Ruthless, Highly Rated

Urban, System, reborn, fantasy, or gaming novels are all fine, as long as they’re good, the characters are smart, and there’s no saintly protagonist. Bring out any books on your shelf that fit the bill!

Looking for a High-IQ Story Where the Protagonist Plans Ten Moves Ahead

Books with Depth That Make Me Think

I'm looking for something with solid logic, not a brainless fluffy romance, with major twists and foreshadowing, and an expansive world.

Looking for High-Quality Historical Alternate Universe Stories with Wars, Rebellion, and Bringing Order to a Chaotic Era

The protagonist earns merit on the frontier and rises through the ranks step by step. He fights the northern nomadic tribes, then when the realm falls into chaos, he restores order.

The Genre Doesn’t Matter. Just Give Me Something with Smart Characters

I won't say more. You'll understand.

Looking for Meticulously Researched Historical Fiction

They seem pretty hard to find. Let's give it a try.

Award-Winning Novels from Tomato

Rated 9.99, Engrossing and Worth Staying Up All Night to Read!

Looking for stories similar to The Abandoned Divine Doctor Returns Reborn.

My Favorite Historical Novel on Tomato Novel

I'm looking for books like Taking Another Name in Langya. Transmigration isn't a dinner party; it's a deadly game at every turn. The plot should be vivid and interesting, with side characters who are smart. The protagonist should slaughter their way through life-or-death situations. It should be historically accurate, with a natural romance.

Looking for Apocalypse Novels. I’m Nearly Sick of Them All. Hoping to Find a Masterpiece

Looking for books similar to *Apocalypse: The Dodder Flower Blooms Again*.

Looking for Qin Dynasty Stories With Highly Intelligent Characters. Don't Write the King of Qin Like an Idiot

Ying Zheng is ruthless and shrewd in politics. Don't make it seem like he's treating the protagonist like some immortal.

Any Recommendations for Top-Tier Xuanhuan Epics?

I am begging you on my knees.

Books That Seem Ordinary but Turn Out to Be Masterpieces

Some books get hyped into popularity, while some masterpieces are overlooked or buried. But everyone has different tastes, shaped by age, environment, and personality. Everyone has their own personal 9.9-rated masterpiece.

Now This Is the Kind of Novel Chinese People Should Read

As fellow Chinese people, you'll feel your blood boil after reading this.

Historical Fiction That Feels Realistic

No System, and nothing about The Legend of Qin. Just straight historical fiction.

Alternate History, Political Scheming, and Struggles for Supremacy!

Traditional historical fiction. No System, no transmigration, and no plagiarizing ancient poetry!