In the fifteenth year of the Chongzhen reign, the Ming army was routed in the bloody Battle of Songjin.
Chen Lie, a modern-day elite soldier, took several arrows to the body. When he opened his eyes again, he had become a thousand-man commander under Zu Dashou, the defender of Jinzhou.
Ahead, the Eight Banners cavalry swept toward him. Behind him lay a rotten court and a clique of civil officials locked in scheming and infighting.
He gripped his saber and sneered. "This chaotic age calls for a different way to live."
From then on, he would command the flames of war.
A daring raid on a snowy night shattered the Eight Banners; in the halls of Youzhou, he matched wits with the Donglin faction.
An iron army rose from the northern frontier, building cities beyond the passes, opening mines, and developing agriculture. Wherever its cavalry rode, nations trembled.
He crushed the Prince of Chuang, reclaimed Taiwan, subdued Luzon, and brought Korea to heel.
At last, Chen Lie stood on the coast of the Japanese islands and pointed toward Edo.
"The borders of Great Ming shall reach the Sea of Japan."
This was a path to supremacy paved with fire and blood.
He would make every land beneath the sun and moon fly the Han banner!
