At the end of the Great Zhou dynasty, the empire collapses, warlords carve up the land, refugees fill the roads, and the Northern Di and Western Rong stand poised to invade. The people have nowhere to turn in this age of chaos.
Chen Huainan, a modern overworked office drone, dies suddenly and transmigrates into this turbulent era. He becomes a penniless refugee in Hanzhou on the northern frontier, with no System, no special bloodline, and no overpowered golden finger. He has only modern common sense and practical skills in management and governance to help him survive.
He braves snowy nights, gathers refugees, and builds a fortified settlement. With practical measures like keeping accounts and rationing food, establishing orderly systems, and improving farming, he puts down roots on the frontier and struggles to survive from the very bottom.
Seeing through the ills of the chaotic age, he makes people’s hearts his foundation and uses sound institutions to break through dead ends. With his wits, he gathers scattered troops, keeps powerful clans in check, and maneuvers among rival warlords.
He advances one careful step at a time through the cracks of a fractured age, first carving out a domain in Hedong to secure his footing, then honoring the emperor to establish legitimacy, laying down the institutions of a new dynasty, uniting the realm, and driving back foreign invaders.
An ordinary commoner, with no cheat-like powers to overwhelm his foes, relies only on strategy and compassion to bring an end to the chaos, overthrow the corruption of the old dynasty, and usher in a new golden age.
