Any Recommendations With a Highly Intelligent Protagonist Who Plans Ahead and Has Everything Under Control? 求主角高智商 运筹帷幄 一切尽在掌握中的 有吗？

1. 51 聊 Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio: I Asked You to Repay Your Debt, Not Paint Skins and Ghosts 聊斋：让你还债，没让你画皮画鬼 On Jiufeng Mountain九峰山上Eastern Fantasy125k WordsOngoing [Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio + Bizarre Cultivation + No System + Subverting Expectations + Folk Supernatural Tales + Becoming a God Through Painting + Dark Tone + Lovecraftian Horror + Clever Protagonist + Decisive and Ruthless + Not Mindless Wish Fulfillment] Transmigrating into Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, I find myself trapped in the deadly predicament of The Painted Skin from the start, and saddled with an unpayable debt to the dead? Don't panic. I have a White Bone Brush tha 817Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   The protagonist is intelligent throughout the entire story, the plot is full of intellectual battles and plot twists, the atmosphere of Chinese horror is very strong, and the setting of using Taoist magic to break the mystery is particularly hardcore.

2. 52 登 Beyond Ascending to Heaven 登天之外 A Trustworthy, Kindhearted Soul知心老实人Eastern Fantasy158k WordsOngoing [Dark]+ [Decisive and Ruthless]+ [Schemes and Suspense]+ [No System] Born with blocked meridians, a young man defies fate and changes his destiny. Step by step, he uncovers the truth of the world. Until he stands face-to-face with the Dao Ancestors and gods and demons of the myriad heavens. “I am Wu Ting. Today, I invite you all to rest here forever.” —Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   The protagonist is unparalleled in his cunning, proceeding step by step with meticulous planning, creating suspense and a grand narrative.

3. 53 别 Don’t Touch! Every Antique She Restores Is Evidence of a Crime 别碰！她修的旧物全是罪证 Nan Xing Writes Stories南星写故事Ancient Romance41k WordsCompleted Don’t touch them! Every restored relic she handles is evidence of a crime. 8Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   🔥 On the first morning she woke up, the last three dowry chests at the courtyard gate had been moved away overnight. She opened the window and saw only an empty courtyard gate. The maid said, "The Second Madam said those things would attract dust if left in the courtyard, so they've been moved to the storeroom—we'll retrieve them when you're better." She knew they were gone forever. #BookRecommendation #DowrySwallowed #HeartbreakingStart

4. 54 贞 The Pivot of Zhenguan 贞观枢机 Little Su from Donghuang City东荒城的小苏Historical115k WordsOngoing Shen Yan, a modern associate professor of history who specializes in the political institutions of the Sui and Tang dynasties, with particular expertise in finance and law, was sorting through excavated Tang documents when he accidentally touched a bronze tally engraved with the words "Zhenguan." He transmigrated to Chang'an in the ninth year of Wude (626 AD), on the eve of the Xuanwu Gate Incident. When he awoke, he was a low-ranking clerk under the Jingzhao Prefecture, responsible for deliveri —Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   Time travel to ancient dramas, power in hand, I rule the world.

5. 55 大 The Ming Dynasty's Debt King: I Use Candlestick Charts to Cut Down Imperial Power 大明债王：我用K线斩皇权 Little Su from Donghuang City东荒城的小苏Historical73k WordsCompleted The story of Lin Mo, a Wall Street trader who transmigrates to the late Ming dynasty and rises from a salt merchant's live-in son-in-law to a financial tycoon who shapes the fate of the realm. On his wedding day, he witnesses his bride, Zhang Wanzhao, about to be drowned in a pond after her family frames her. Then the "Macroeconomic Simulator" in his mind suddenly activates, revealing the crises and opportunities of the late Ming salt market. A Wanli government bond dismissed as worthless paper 1Reads—Score—14d adds
6. 56 墓 Reborn in the Graveyard, I Go on a Rampage with the “Am I Dead?” System 墓地重生，我靠死了吗系统杀疯了 Wan Hua琬华Mystery890k WordsOngoing [Reborn in a graveyard + Death System + mystery and crime-solving + powerful heroine seeking revenge] [Nonstop thrills + a badass heroine + lots of twists + crushing scumbags every step of the way] ⊗ Orphan Qin Mo is kidnapped and thrown into a mass grave. After crawling out of a coffin, she unexpectedly binds herself to the [Are You Dead Yet] System. ⊗ Fail six missions in a row, and the System will erase you! ⊗ Watch Qin Mo plan each move carefully, turn the tables against all odds, and make h 1.2kReads9.2Score10214d adds

   Reader note

   Betrayed and tragically killed in a graveyard in my past life, I'm reborn with a life-and-death system in my hands. Whoever wronged me, I'll make them experience the terror of death again! [Shy][already interested]

7. 57 国 National Fate: General, Take Off Your Armor! 国运：我请将军卸甲！ Spring Field Meow春田喵Urban111k WordsOngoing A thrilling national-fortune story: one man turns the tide, livestreamed around the globe. Fast-paced, ruthless, and never a frustrating or saintly protagonist. If you’re interested, add it to your library and follow along. Updates come fast! Lin Yan transmigrates into the National Fortune Battlefield and opens his eyes to a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. The Great Xia Ninth Legion has been wiped out, all its territory lost, and the countdown stands at 364 days! Other nations watch Grea 15Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   I highly recommend this book. It features a character with high intelligence, strategic planning, and the ability to create something from nothing entirely through his eloquence.

8. 58 煌 Glorious Tang 煌唐 Silly Little Lamb傻傻小羊Historical182k WordsOngoing Five thousand years of Chinese history have weathered countless storms, giving rise to a long and storied past, full of both splendor and absurdity. Never mind the distant Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties or the turmoil of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. Just look at the more than two thousand years of dynastic rule since Qin Shi Huang unified the land: how many glorious golden ages saw generals pursue their enemies as far as Mount Langjuxu and envoys from every nation come to pa 11Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   This is a truly captivating historical novel featuring emperors and suspense. The protagonist, as emperor, doesn't need to personally engage in warfare; he relies entirely on his intellect and imperial strategies to crush the court! Facing ministers with their own hidden agendas and fragmented factions, the protagonist employs a strategy of "deep concealment" and "ultimate deception." While others perceive him as merely a novice, he has already calculated the entire situation, completely fooling the cunning old foxes of the court who are still counting their money for him. The most satisfying aspect is that the protagonist is absolutely not a saint! As a competent emperor, he is decisive and ruthless when necessary, capable of cold-blooded cruelty for the sake of the greater good, completely devoid of any foolish, overly kind-hearted tendencies. Moreover, the male lead is solely focused on his career, political maneuvering, and pacifying the realm; women only hinder his speed in reviewing memorials.

9. 59 宁 Ning Jinge 宁烬歌 Calm as Ever冷静如斯Ancient Romance699k WordsOngoing [Female commander × top-tier spy and assassin | Two equally matched leads | Court intrigue and the martial world | Standing together in troubled times | Devoted 1v1 romance] The sweeping scale of a male-oriented story, with the emotional depth of a female-oriented one. Fast-paced and tightly plotted, with no filler or dragging. The political intrigue is logical, and long-laid clues are brought back into play. A serious world with lighthearted, hilarious everyday moments, and an incredibly sweet 377Reads8.5Score10314d adds

   Reader note

   This book features a female military commander and a male protagonist with multiple spies. They strategize and outwit the mastermind behind the scenes to bring peace to the world. I've already read 130 chapters—it's so addictive! 👍👍👍👍

10. 60 超 Superpowered Spycraft: An Agent's Blissful Path to Immortality 超神谍武，特工修仙爽歪歪 Chu Yuxiang褚豫翔Sci-Fi & Apocalypse1.6M WordsOngoing Truth and illusion are hard to tell apart, And love, hatred, and old grudges stretch beyond count! Greed, anger, delusion, sorrow, joy, and resentment, Who among us hasn’t tasted them all? Spy wars, schemes within schemes, a world of temptation, Half-drunk, half-sated, still unable to enjoy the night. I can change a thousand ways, And unleash every supernatural power. Why should I fear their schemes and plots, Their sharp tongues and cutting words? I roam the sea of stars to settle old scores, W 4.9kReads9.5Score37514d adds

    Reader note

    Humorous science fiction cultivation

11. 61 走 The Horse-Riding Hidden Scheme 走马藏局 Kai Zhong Feng Shui凯中堪舆Urban1.2M WordsOngoing Geomancy and the Yin-Yang arts rule the world, while the Jianghu is full of schemes! At twelve, Shen Qianfan became an orphan and was cast adrift in the Jianghu. He grew up teaching himself from books scavenged from trash heaps, cleared his father's name, and pressed on through one Jianghu con after another, setting schemes and breaking them, navigating schemes within schemes. He cut a path through every obstacle, built a business empire, and leveraged his influence to establish a regional milit 1.6kReads6.3Score19014d adds

    Reader note

    Highly recommended! No clichés, and the more you read, the more engaging it becomes! Kai Zhongkan's novels, starting with *The Path of Feng Shui Cultivation*, followed by *One Man and One Mouse Cultivate Immortality*, and then *Mecha Immortality: Invincible from Exile to Mars*, are all now complete. These three books form a cultivation trilogy. Now, he's back with a new book, but this time he's not writing about cultivation. Instead, he's focusing on things closer to home: feng shui, human nature, kung fu, strategic planning, breaking through barriers, the eight major martial arts sects, and his journey of overcoming obstacles to build a business empire and leverage regional military power… This new book is called *The Hidden Game of Horsemanship*. Horsemanship represents yin and yang, while the hidden game of horsemanship represents the human heart. The book's message: …You can't be afraid; if you are, you lose! Definitely worth reading!

12. 62 种 Farming: From Sect Tenant Farmer to Supreme Across the Myriad Worlds 种田：从宗门佃户到万界独尊 Foolish Zhi傻志Eastern Fantasy3.0M WordsOngoing [Farming] + [Ensemble cast] + [Lord] + [Conquest] + [System] + [Satisfying wish fulfillment] Zhang Guiyuan transmigrates to a parallel world at the end of the Eastern Han dynasty, where he becomes a tenant farmer growing spiritual plants for a sect. He awakens the strongest Lord System and obtains an unparalleled book: Postpartum Care for Sows He settles into a fine life of farming, raising pigs, and teasing his wicked sword cultivator little sister. But then a calamity that comes once every tho 3.2kReads5.7Score18714d adds

    Reader note

    [Conquest] + [Territorial Expansion] + [Lord] + [Group Portrait] The protagonist is highly intelligent and skilled in strategy. On the surface, he is a loyal minister and general of the court, but in secret, he develops his own power and manipulates the world's affairs.

13. 63 决 The Decisive Battle at Xuanwu Gate 决战玄武门 Cai Yuanwai蔡员外Eastern Fantasy611k WordsCompleted Cai Yuanchu, a boy from a small county town, inexplicably claims the reward for catching the killer in a local murder case, only to be drawn into an unpredictable conspiracy. He also uncovers a staggering plot dating back to the end of the Sui dynasty and the beginning of the Tang, which gradually leads him into the Xuanwu Gate Incident... 52Reads—Score—14d adds
14. 64 云 The Cloud Tower Rankings 云楼榜 Cai Yuanwai蔡员外Historical724k WordsCompleted A child abandoned during a time of war was reunited with his parents at the age of fourteen. Only then did he discover that his parents were the Great Yue Empire's Grand Generals Who Guard the Nation. But his true identity was even more astonishing: he was the leader of the world's most mysterious sect, as well as one of the few martial artists to have reached the Grandmaster realm... 805Reads5.2Score—14d adds
15. 65 锋 The Winds of Change in Fengge 锋戈之风起云涌 Cai Yuanwai蔡员外Historical801k WordsCompleted After a century of prosperity, the Great Yu Dynasty is in decline, beset by troubles at home and abroad. The court is in turmoil, and Xu Yunshan, the Great Yu's foremost commander, who had already retired to the mountains, is forced back into a web of intrigue and power struggles... 102Reads—Score—14d adds
16. 66 混 Chaos Divine Tribulation 混沌神劫 Cai Yuanwai蔡员外Eastern Fantasy618k WordsCompleted He was once the Demon Lord of the Upper Realm. After his beloved betrayed him, the Six Realms joined forces to attack. On the brink of death, he escaped with a secret technique. To evade his pursuers, he erased his memories and reincarnated his soul. But who could have guessed that his beloved would betray him again in his new life? This repeating fate awakened the Demon Lord once more, setting him on an endless path of revenge... 51Reads—Score—14d adds
17. 67 平 After the Parallel Shift 平行之后 En Ege恩额戈Mystery257k WordsOngoing This is no simple manhunt. It is a final letter addressed to the truth. Three years ago, the best friend of a close friend fell to her death from a cliff on Cuiwei Mountain. Everyone believed it was an accident. Only Shi Yi and Ai Min refused to accept that. They returned to the scene and used one tiny technical detail after another to overturn what had seemed like a flawless conclusion. But they never expected that this would drag Shi Yi into an international web of mysteries known as “Twin Lo 69Reads9.3Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    This hardcore mystery novel is captivating from beginning to end. The protagonist meticulously investigates and uncovers the truth behind the case, peeling back layers of deception to reconstruct the details of the cliff-fall incident. A truly excellent read, highly recommended.

18. 68 影 Shadows over the Hall of Loyalty 影落忠义楼 Yang Ximo阳夕陌Martial Arts557k WordsCompleted [Shadow Guard’s Rise + Court Intrigue and the Martial World + Stunning Beauties] He is the sharpest shadow guard in Prince Night Falcon’s hands. With his Feihong Sword, he has spilled countless drops of blood and never once failed. During a mission, he meets Mu Yao, a tender moonlight in a turbulent age, and then catches the fiery starlight in Shen Siyue’s eyes, a beacon of hope in utter despair. Little does he know that from the moment they met, Tong Xinling, an attendant of the Ruyi Tower, has 84Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Chapter 205 [The Choice of the Crowd] Chapter 206 [Together at Ruyi Tower] I'm not exaggerating when I say this book is good. If you calmly read just twenty chapters, you'll be completely engrossed, unable to tear yourself away, as if you've personally stepped into that world of swords and shadows, becoming a part of the martial arts world. This book features a young shadow guard as the protagonist, wielding a flying sword that has drunk countless lives without ever missing its mark. It intertwines the swordplay of the martial arts world with the undercurrents of the imperial court, featuring a tight plot, crisp fights, tense confrontations on the brink of life and death, and delicate, moving moments of romance!

19. 69 永 The Curtain Will Never Fall 永不会落幕 saiplTwo Female Leads30k WordsOngoing It will never end! Ongoing! I was inspired to write this after reading Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation. It may not be very well written, so please bear with me. Face the past and change the future. How can we resolve the conflict between us? Betrayal and separation were never what we wanted in the first place. What am I to you? And what are you to me? We do not know. This is our story! [Reincarnation]! —Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    The writing style is similar to that of "Mushoku Tensei," and it feels good to use references and memes.

20. 70 疯 Madcap Fantasia 疯批家的狂想曲 Black and White Images黑白画映Fantastical Romance467k WordsCompleted Modern Arc: This world’s fate was decided long ago. Every choice we make leads to an ending already written. And I, Shu Yue, was the one who tore open every prelude with my own hands. Ji Hua’s ten years on the run began because of me; Chen Songhan’s two thousand years of waiting were for me; My older sister, Shu Wen, fell into the time of the Qin Dynasty because I got her involved; Ancient divine beasts, underworld generals, and a phoenix’s true form all gathered in the same storm because of me. 2Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    This is a somber debate about "order, fairness, sacrifice, and redemption." There are no perfect heroes here, only complex and real people fighting for their beliefs, their own desires, and their loved ones. If you're tired of black-and-white feel-good stories, if you enjoy ensemble casts and the dilemmas of human nature, if you can accept that good people can do bad things, bad people have their reasons, and the protagonist's path is fraught with uncertainty and consequences—then this book might offer you some different perspectives. Welcome to this world without standard answers.

21. 71 重 Reborn in the World of The Smiling, Proud Wanderer 重生笑傲江湖世界 Author Chen Ran作者陈然Male-Channel Fanfiction740k WordsCompleted The protagonist is reborn in the world of The Smiling, Proud Wanderer. What are the Five Mountains Sword Alliance, the Sunflower Manual, or the Dugu Nine Swords compared to doing whatever you please? The martial world is simply a place where people clash with one another. 63Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    A young man from the martial arts world ventures into the officialdom, his life filled with intrigue and power struggles.

22. 72 黑 Dark Academia Life 黑暗系的校园生活 White Night BatX白夜蝙蝠XMystery252k WordsCompleted 6Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Highly recommend this one! It's a dark school novel! Everyone's a villain, and the characters all have twisted minds. The male lead is the manipulative type, while the female lead is innocent (not kind). There's no romantic pairing, and the content is a bit bizarre. You might want to check it out! [Learned something new][Laughs]

23. 73 官 The Official Road, Starting at Level Three 官道，从三段开始 Mr. Fishjoy鱼乐先生Urban512k WordsOngoing My name is Bu Qingyun. (I hold a senior government post and have a fortune worth over a hundred million.) Let me tell you a secret. Ever since I was in elementary school, entering politics has been the light of my ideals and the flame of my ambition. It was buried in my heart like a seed, ready to take root and sprout as soon as the soil was right... 18.6kReads7.6Score2.9k14d adds

    Reader note

    The everyday life in the city is vividly portrayed, while the affairs of officialdom are depicted with both intrigue and excitement.

24. 74 失 The Unbalanced Abyss 失衡归墟 Although Not But Is虽然不但是Mystery584k WordsOngoing [Original | Not a power fantasy | Not mindless | Golden finger | Suspense and horror game | Self-redemption] “Let’s play hide-and-seek. You be It, and I’ll hide. Can you find me?” A text from an unknown number dragged Liu Xu into a deadly game set in the world of a novel. When he woke, he was inside an ancient theater governed by bizarre rules. Its master delighted in watching people die, and anyone who lost the game would vanish into a wisp of green smoke beneath the stage. As the other players —Reads6.8Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    The atmosphere is absolutely amazing! Every corner of the eerie theater hides deadly danger!

Other lists with Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio: I Asked You to Repay Your Debt, Not Paint Skins and Ghosts