In 1883, the ninth year of the Guangxu reign, Empress Dowager Cixi holds the highest power in the late Qing court. With war between China and France looming, fighting in northern Vietnam intensifies and the borderlands of Guangdong and Guangxi grow tense. The Qing court’s administration is rotten, the Eight Banners are arrogant, and the foreign powers run rampant in their concessions. Banditry, famine, and harsh rule plague western Guangdong. Driven to the brink, the displaced Lin Yue activates a Han Hero Summoning System and establishes a base in western Guangdong. He reorganizes his loyal local militia into a modern army, smashes a 30,000-strong Qing force sent to crush him, seizes control of three prefectures in western Guangdong, and openly rebels against the Qing, raising the Han banner.
