Historical Fiction That's More Realistic and Longer, Please 历史类的，真实点的，字数多点，谢谢

1. 51 穿 A Lowly County Office Clerk with Kids at Home and No Rice to Cook 穿成县衙小吏，家有儿女等米下锅 Don't Discuss the Wind-Banner, Follow Your Heart心动莫论风幡Historical1.3M WordsOngoing [A clerk is no official, and the desk is a mountain of blades] [No errors in the ledger, every stroke of the brush decides joy and sorrow] The male lead had only just transmigrated when someone cracked him over the back of the head. After missing work for three days, he nearly got struck off the rolls. His father thought he was saddled with two useless dependents. His older brother thought he was too inflexible to make money. His fourth younger brother feared his lowly clerk's status would tarni 165.9kReads9.2Score22.8kShelves

   Reader note

   I highly recommend this one: the daily lives of ordinary officials and commoners in a small county town. Exquisite details and a stark depiction of human nature transport you to the bustling streets of the Song Dynasty a thousand years ago. It's not a wish-fulfillment novel, but it has its emotional moments. It's not about political intrigue, but it captures the essence of human relationships. No romantic pairings, no cheat codes, no modern-day superiority complexes—just a hyper-realistic ancient Chinese novel. It's almost a million words long, well-developed and juicy, ready to read. Weaknesses: slow-paced, not a wish-fulfillment novel, no romantic pairings, relatively uneven plot development, some chapters are too detailed; impatient readers should avoid it.

2. 52 历 The Republic of China, Buried Deep in History (3 Volumes) 历史深处的民国（共3册） Jiang Cheng江城Historical612k WordsCompleted This is a gripping history of the official record from 1840 to 1925, a sweeping work that offers a comprehensive interpretation of late Qing China, the Republic, and the War of Resistance. No book about the Republic of China has ever explained this period as comprehensively, truthfully, clearly, and engagingly as "The Republic of China in the Depths of History". For that reason, "The Republic of China in the Depths of History" is the top choice for the tens of millions of Chinese enthusiasts of 15.8kReads9.6Score3.5kShelves

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   History is not the past; it is a prediction of what the future will look like!

3. 53 美 A History of the United States: Recreating a Real and Multifaceted America (Latitude and Longitude Series) 美国史话：还原一个真实立体的美国（经纬度丛书） Maple Leaves, White Robes枫落白衣Historical339k WordsCompleted The American Story offers a portrait of a real, complex, and little-known America. Focusing on the American character, this book traces the nation’s history from the fifteenth century to the end of the twentieth, covering its founding, the drafting of its Constitution, and its westward expansion, as well as the pragmatism of North American colonists, the impasse and breakthrough of the Civil War, and America’s stance and conduct in international conflicts. By examining pivotal moments, key figur 9.7kReads9.5Score2.2kShelves
4. 54 东 Late Eastern Han: Starting as a Remnant of the Yellow Turbans 东汉末年：从黄巾余孽开始 Silly Little Demon呆小妖Historical1.1M WordsCompleted [No System]+ [No mindless wish fulfillment]+ [Civil officials and military generals]+ [Highly skilled protagonist]+ [Not a beginner's novel]+ [A realistic take on official history. Do not use Romance of the Three Kingdoms as a reference! Only Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei's appearances may be based on it!]+ [Readers who like mindless power fantasies should proceed with caution.] Wei Wu transmigrates by chance and finds himself a remnant of the Yellow Turban rebels. He has trained in martial ar 266Reads5.3Score—Shelves

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   The new book, set in the Three Kingdoms period, covers military strategy, tactics, people's livelihood, aristocratic families, imperial relatives, campaigns, sieges, field battles, a female protagonist, children, and foreign tribes. It includes all these elements. There is no harem. There is compassion, but no saintly figures. It depicts the lives of ordinary people, the conquest of cities, the beheading of generals, and the assassination of spies. It also features prestigious families and marriage alliances. There is no system; the only cheat is the protagonist's high martial arts skills. It has a single female protagonist and no harem. Other historical female characters will appear, but they will not be part of the harem. For example, Cai Wenji...

5. 55 三 The Three Kingdoms: A Contest for Supremacy (Complete in Three Volumes) 三国争霸（全三册） Little Clerk of the Bohai Sea渤海小吏Historical496k WordsCompleted Fourteen battles and 376 questions trace the history of the late Eastern Han and the Three Kingdoms. A case-solving approach peels back the layers to uncover the truth about the Three Kingdoms, while more than 130 maps help reveal the truth of history through geography. The Three Kingdoms: The Struggle for Supremacy (Complete 3-Volume Set) breaks down fourteen wars and coup plots to tell, in meticulous detail, the turbulent history of the Three Kingdoms, a period full of drama and intrigue. Epic 2kReads9.5Score316Shelves
6. 56 出 The Campaign for Mount Qi: Zhuge Liang’s Northern Expeditions, Their Triumphs and Failures (Latitude and Longitude Series) 出祁山：诸葛亮北伐得与失（经纬度丛书） Yuan Canxing袁灿兴Historical207k WordsCompleted Bestselling history writer Yuan Canxing’s latest book takes you inside the brutal fate endured by ordinary people in Shu Han as they struggled to fulfill Liu Bei’s dream. Chancellor Zhuge devoted himself to the very end; the people of Shu Han died in its service. Only after the Later Lord Liu Shan embraced the pleasures of Shu and forgot his homeland did ordinary people have a chance to survive. Centered on Shu Han’s northern campaigns, known as the “Expeditions from Qishan,” during the Three Ki 87Reads9.1Score—Shelves
7. 57 汉 The Han Dynasty's Lone Light: My Life as Its Beacon 汉室孤光以此身 Yi Ru Zhao Yang义如昭阳Historical739k WordsOngoing (Ensemble cast, farming, historically grounded, political intrigue, war) In the first year of Yuanguang, as storms gather over the Han Dynasty, an ordinary modern man unexpectedly transmigrates to Pingyang in the Western Han Dynasty and becomes Huo Guang, still an infant. The glorious era of Emperor Wu of Han is about to begin. But he arrives with no System, no extraordinary stroke of fortune, and only the memories of a man from the future. Revealing his intelligence too early would bring disas 51Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   A purely hand-written story, no plot holes, no romance, purely about infrastructure development, the protagonist is reborn as Huo Guang, set in the Western Han Dynasty, historically accurate, and has no cheat codes.

8. 58 后 The Chronicles of Later Zhao, Volume One: The Biography of Shi Le 后赵演义第一卷石勒传 Chrysanthemum on the Stone Palace Bank石宫岸菊Historical396k WordsCompleted Shi Le (274–333) was the only person in Chinese history to rise from slavery to the throne. Born into the lower ranks of the Jie people, he was once sold into slavery. He later rose to prominence with a band of “eighteen horsemen,” unified much of northern China, and founded the Later Zhao regime. During his rule, he introduced a number of reforms: he established the Imperial Academy, reduced taxes and corvée labor, and appointed the Han official Zhang Bin to high office. He also created a “thre 377Reads—Score—Shelves

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   Shi Le was a rare "slave emperor" in Chinese history. Originally a Jie ethnic minority, he was captured and sold into slavery before rising up in rebellion, establishing his own state, and ultimately unifying most of northern China. From slave to warlord: Shi Le was born around 274 AD. During the famine and war in Bingzhou at the end of the Western Jin Dynasty, he was captured by the troops of Governor Sima Teng and sold into slavery in Shandong. After his release, he gathered troops with Ji Sang and others, later joining Liu Yuan, gradually becoming an independent force. He established the Later Zhao: Shi Le heavily relied on the Han Chinese strategist Zhang Bin, adopting a strategy of "first pacifying Hebei," occupying Xiangguo, which is now the Xingtai area of Hebei. In 319, he declared himself King of Zhao, and this regime is historically known as Later Zhao; in 329, he destroyed the Former Zhao, and in 330, he formally declared himself emperor. His governing characteristics: Although Shi Le was not highly literate, he often had people read historical texts such as the *Book of Han* to him, learning from them about governance. He emphasized agriculture, restoring production, and also absorbed Han Chinese scholars, established schools, and reformed systems. Simultaneously, the policy of separating Han and non-Han peoples in governance revealed significant limitations in its ethnic policies. Historical evaluation: Shi Le possessed outstanding military and political talents, but also exhibited a brutal side. In the Battle of Ningping in 311, he defeated the Western Jin army, causing numerous deaths of soldiers and civilians—a point most difficult to ignore in his evaluation. In his later years, he indulged his nephew Shi Hu, leading to the gradual transfer of military power to Shi Hu. Shi Le died in 333, posthumously honored as Emperor Ming, with the temple name Gaozu.

9. 59 军 Two Hundred Years of the Grand Council 军机处二百年 Yuan Canxing袁灿兴Historical246k WordsCompleted The Military Affairs Council is a lengthy work of historical nonfiction. In the seventh year of the Yongzheng reign, the Military Affairs Council was established to cultivate trusted allies, suppress factions and dissent, punish corruption, reform officialdom, and seize control of public opinion… The creation of the council was a major transformation of the Qing central government, marking the culmination of the dynasty's development of centralized feudal rule. Following the council's founding, 138Reads9.3Score—Shelves
10. 60 有 The History of the Three Kingdoms So Interesting You Won't Be Able to Sleep (Complete in Three Volumes) 有趣得让人睡不着的三国史（全三册） Drunk at Junshan醉罢君山Historical688k WordsCompleted After years of painstaking research and poring over historical records, bestselling history author Zui Ba Junshan has created this engaging and informative history of the Three Kingdoms, grounded in official histories and full of both laughter and tears. From the Yellow Turban Rebellion to the fall of Eastern Wu, from imperial institutions to cultural trends, from generals who campaigned across the land to ordinary soldiers driven by sheer courage, and from deceitful political schemes to bonds o 1.4kReads9.5Score401Shelves
11. 61 晚 The Greatest Warlord of the Late Tang 晚唐第一大军阀 Rebel逆贼Historical1.4M WordsCompleted If a person cannot leave their name behind in the vast river of history, it is as if they had never come into this world. After transmigrating to the late Tang, an age of upheaval, Qi Shen felt incredibly fortunate. Here, he could behead Huang Chao, wipe out bandits, reclaim Chang'an, and hold the emperor hostage to his heart's content. Here, he could defeat Qin Zongquan, pacify Yang Xingmi, punch Li Keyong and kick Zhu Quanzhong, calmly bringing the warlords to heel. Here, he could repel the Kh 1.9kReads7.7Score105Shelves

    Reader note

    I wrote this myself, after consulting a lot of materials, and it largely follows the historical trajectory. The setting is the late Tang Dynasty, without a system, a power struggle story. The protagonist is the son of a regional military governor, who, with his father's help, controls an army. Taking advantage of the chaos at the end of the Tang Dynasty, he recruits soldiers and horses, waging wars everywhere, striving to build his own power.

12. 62 从 A History from the Qin Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty (Four-Volume Set) 从秦朝说起，到清朝结束（全四册） History Isn't a Zombie历史不是僵尸Historical857k WordsCompleted Rooted in official history, told in an engaging, accessible style. Vivid characters and events that reflect reality. (The Rise of the Qin Empire) Qin Shi Huang, founder of China's imperial system, had a complicated background and a turbulent childhood. Yet he rose resolutely from the chaos of his age to become its central figure, conquering the six kingdoms and earning a place as one of history's greatest emperors. He favored Legalism over Confucianism and swiftly established the institutions of 19kReads9.6Score2.7kShelves
13. 63 穿 Reborn as Liu Bowen of the Ming Dynasty, I Rely on Feng Shui to Conquer the World 穿成大明刘伯温我靠风水稳赢天下 Figgy Boba Snowflake无花果啵啵绵绵冰Historical492k WordsOngoing [Ensemble Cast + Conquest + Political Intrigue + Feng Shui and Face Reading + No System] Liu Abao, a legendary modern master of feng shui, woke up in another body as Liu Bowen, the Ming Dynasty's foremost strategist. Using feng shui as his game and the world as his board, he commands the dragon veins and breaks deadly formations, directing the realm with a smile and crushing every rival in his path. Zhu Yuanzhang: “We’ll all listen to our lord. My lord, please hurry up and pass the throne to me! 3Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    I highly recommend this book! If you enjoy history, you definitely shouldn't miss it.

14. 64 细 A Close Reading of Three Hundred Years of the Two Song Dynasties 细读两宋三百年 Liu Lu刘路Historical290k WordsCompleted Many people think of the Song dynasty as poor and weak. Yet it was an age of extraordinary prosperity in commerce, education, culture, and scientific innovation, and the wealth of its people and the strength of its economy far surpassed those of the flourishing Tang dynasty. Beginning with Zhao Kuangyin's founding of the Song and ending with the Yuan conquest of Lin'an in 1276 and the fall of the Southern Song after the naval Battle of Yashan, this book examines Song politics, military affairs, 843Reads9.5Score200Shelves
15. 65 一 A History of the Song Dynasty You Won't Be Able to Put Down 一读就上瘾的宋朝史 Chen Wangbei陈望北Historical141k WordsCompleted A History of the Song Dynasty You'll Get Hooked on from the First Page is a popular history book about the Song Dynasty. It covers the period from Emperor Taizu Zhao Kuangyin's accession to the throne after the Chenqiao Mutiny to the failure of Emperor Renzong's Qingli Reforms. The book selects famous figures and events from this period, drawing on a wealth of historical sources, with official histories as its foundation and unofficial accounts as a supplement. It vividly and engagingly recreate 1.1kReads9.3Score197Shelves
16. 66 历 The Texture of History (Six-Volume Set) 历史的温度（全六册） Zhang Wei张玮Historical1.5M WordsCompleted Do even brilliant scholars and Hanlin academicians face uncertainty and difficult choices? Can executives or intellectuals ever escape the temptations of human nature? Should you become emperor or serve as an imperial tutor, advance or retreat? Should you risk your life in battle or surrender? These were choices faced by countless historical figures, and they are choices we still often face today. There are always times when we find ourselves at a crossroads, forced to decide. When we read histo 471Reads9.5Score108Shelves
17. 67 人 In Southern Ming, Beating the Qing Emperor Kangxi 人在南明，搓打康麻子 I Am Not Xuande孤不是玄德Historical6.1M WordsOngoing At the end of the Southern Ming, the last dynasty of Han Chinese rule, the Yongli Emperor fled west to Burma. The dynasty was doomed from the start. After transmigrating as a member of the imperial clan, the protagonist forms marriage alliances with warlords, outwits powerful ministers, schemes and deceives, seizes military command, and trains his troops to the limit. In the final showdown between the Ming and Qing, he turns the tide, slaughters Wu Sangui, drives the Shunzhi Emperor to his death 1.6kReads8.1Score100Shelves

    Reader note

    Check this out, it's absolutely perfect for those who love taking exams. The story begins with the protagonist seducing a prince and princess, then hooking up with the young princess of the Mu family. It features military intrigue, political maneuvering, palace intrigue, and power struggles! Set in the late Southern Ming Dynasty, the last Han Chinese dynasty, the story revolves around the protagonist's transmigration into the reign of the Prince of Min, on the Yunnan border. He arranges a marriage alliance with a warlord, feigns weakness towards the emperor, tricks the emperor into handing over military power, trains his troops relentlessly, and joins forces with Li Dingguo to turn the tide against the Tartars. The author has extensive knowledge, having consulted numerous materials on the Southern Ming Dynasty, including figures and events, all presented through logical reasoning! The theme is novel, the plot is rich, the logic is clear, there's no system, it's not mindless, and the author's intelligence is on point!

18. 68 官 The Emperor's Private Affairs: Three Centuries of Court Politics in the Song Dynasty 官家的心事：宋朝宫廷政治三百年 Wu Zhengqiang吴铮强Historical227k WordsCompleted Palace intrigue ran throughout the history of Chinese imperial politics. Whether during the unified eras of the Qin and Han, Sui and Tang, and Ming and Qing dynasties, or during the periods of division, including the Three Kingdoms, Sixteen Kingdoms, Northern and Southern Dynasties, and Ten Kingdoms, each was marked by endless and brutal palace struggles. Yet in historical accounts, Song dynasty court politics seems like a refreshing exception, held up as a model of imperial rule in which brothe 35Reads8.3Score—Shelves
19. 69 人 A Brief History of Humankind: From Animals to Gods (New Edition) 人类简史（新版）：从动物到上帝 Yuval Noah Harari尤瓦尔·赫拉利Historical295k WordsCompleted A Brief History of Humankind: From Animals to Gods is a major work by a rising Israeli historian. It traces human development from the first signs of life a hundred thousand years ago to the intertwined worlds of capital and technology in the 21st century. A hundred thousand years ago, there were at least six human species on Earth. Why are we the only ones left today? We were once an insignificant group in a corner of Africa, no more influential on Earth's ecology than fireflies, apes, or jelly 6.6kReads9.5Score2.2kShelves
20. 70 中 The Political Gains and Losses of China's Dynasties 中国历代政治得失 Qian Mu钱穆Historical100k WordsCompleted Collected lectures by Mr. Qian Mu, Chinese Political Traditions Through the Ages offers concise overviews and comparisons of the political systems of the Han, Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties. It traces their changes and developments, and points out their advantages, disadvantages, gains, and losses. 5.4kReads9.5Score1.7kShelves
21. 71 盐 Discourses on Salt and Iron: A Modern Chinese Edition 盐铁论（白话本） Huan Kuan桓宽Historical186k WordsCompleted "Discourses on Salt and Iron" is a remarkable collection of debates on ancient economics and politics. It vividly recreates the fierce clashes during the Western Han Dynasty between the Worthies and the Grand Minister of Agriculture over policies such as state monopolies on salt and iron, and the equalization of transportation and prices. This accessible version brings the debate to life and lets you transmigrate through time to witness a feast of wit and eloquence. The book offers not only a pr 2.7kReads9.4Score882Shelves
22. 72 钱 Collected Works on Chinese Culture by Qian Mu (10-Volume Set) 钱穆国学作品集（全十册） Qian Mu钱穆Historical1.6M WordsCompleted This boxed set includes A Survey of China's Political History, Twelve Lectures on Chinese Culture, The Spirit of Chinese History, A History of Chinese Thought, An Introduction to Chinese Studies, An Introduction to Chinese Cultural History, An Outline of Chinese History: 2 Volumes, Ten Discourses on Life, An Overview of Song and Ming Neo-Confucianism, and Famous Works of Chinese Historiography. 1.1kReads9.4Score377Shelves
23. 73 宋 Tales of the Song Dynasty: The Families and Realms of Eighteen Emperors (Box Set, 3 Books) 宋朝那些事：十八帝王的家国天下（套装3册） You Biao游彪Historical609k WordsCompleted This three-book Song History series was carefully created for general readers by renowned Song dynasty historian You Biao, a professor at the School of History at Beijing Normal University. The books, Zhao Song, Zhui Song, and Wen Song, provide a systematic, vivid, and comprehensive account of Song dynasty history and culture from three perspectives: the lives of emperors, institutions and culture, and political gains and losses. Each book includes exquisite reproductions of ancient paintings. 280Reads9.0Score—Shelves
24. 74 明 The Structure and Operation of State Power in the Ming Dynasty 明代国家权力结构及运行机制 Fang Zhiyuan方志远Historical375k WordsCompleted This classic work on the history of Ming political institutions examines the basic characteristics and development of the state system in ancient China. Focusing on the internal structure and operating principles of state power under the Ming, it outlines the vast machinery of government, with checks and balances at every level, from the central government to localities, and from the emperor to village gentry and local administrative units. By tracing the entire process through which Ming power 373Reads9.4Score139Shelves
25. 75 财 Three Thousand Years of Chinese Finance 财政中国三千年 Liu Shougang刘守刚Historical426k WordsCompleted What fiscal mechanisms sustained the long-term development and effective governance of the Chinese Empire? How did China's path toward becoming a modern state differ from that of the West from a fiscal perspective? What fiscal forces drove China's political development? China has a history spanning more than three thousand years, dating back to the Shang dynasty, the earliest period for which we have reliable written records. Drawing on the thread of public finance, Three Thousand Years of Fisca 73Reads9.3Score—Shelves
26. 76 重 Reborn in the Late Tang Dynasty: I, Li Cunxu, Will Never Spoil Entertainers 重生唐末，我李存勖绝不宠信伶人 User51942782用户51942782Historical322k WordsOngoing In the late Tang Dynasty, a soul from a thousand years in the future is reborn in the body of Li Cunxu, son of the Shatuo chieftain Li Keyong. He remembers how his predecessor met his end: after achieving success, he became infatuated with actors, and died as the nation fell into chaos. This time, he resolves never to repeat that mistake. He begins with practical measures. He takes in orphaned children and teaches them skills and literacy. He gathers the sons of military families to train toget 549Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This new book is worth checking out. It has no system or cheat codes, and the historical research is rigorous. It simply tells the story of gradually building up technology, developing agriculture and infrastructure, and defeating other warlords to restore the glory of the Tang Dynasty.

27. 77 黎 Wrath of Dawn 黎怒 Quiet in the Small Things微末无言Historical660k WordsCompleted Spring grass withers and blooms year after year. Common people live and die, generation after generation. How can the laws of the land be sacrificed because ordinary people suffer hunger and cold? Open the splendid annals of history, and all you find are the deeds of kings, lords, generals, and ministers. The names of commoners and ordinary folk are never recorded. Nobles hold the brush; the people are like grass. A “great victory” is declared, and before the ink is dry, countless bones have alr 6Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The first two are minor flops, the last one is a masterpiece.

28. 78 铁 Ironblooded Late Ming 铁血残明 Ke Shanmeng柯山梦Historical2.5M WordsOngoing In the late Ming dynasty, Spain and Japan gradually restricted the outflow of silver, reversing the capital inflow that the Ming had enjoyed since the early sixteenth century. The commercial and smallholder economies that coexisted under the Ming were both hit by deflation. Combined with the effects of the Little Ice Age, one domino after another fell, plunging the realm into chaos. In the eleventh month of the sixth year of the Chongzhen reign, the roving rebels crossed the river south of Mianc 104.5kReads9.4Score11kShelves
29. 79 穿 Transmigrating to the Zhengde Era: Restoring the Dynasty, Starting with the Seizing of the Gate 穿越正德：从夺门开始中兴 Playing Chess by the Pine Waves at Night松涛夜弈Historical1.0M WordsOngoing In the sixteenth year of the Zhengde reign, I “died.” When I opened my eyes, I had become Zhu Houzhao, the Zhengde Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. The good news: I had transmigrated, and I was an emperor. The bad news: According to my “death edict,” I had been dead for three days. The new emperor, Jiajing, was on his way to the capital to seize the throne. The entire court, including my birth mother, was busy arranging my funeral and welcoming the new ruler. The even worse news: Grand Secretary Yan 301Reads6.8Score104Shelves

    Reader note

    Three days after Emperor Zhengde's death, his will has been issued, and the new emperor is on his way to the capital. An ordinary modern person transmigrates here and must seize power to survive. Unfortunately, the protagonist's political acumen is limited. Fortunately, he knows to employ Wang Yangming, but the difficulty of seizing power is simply too great... I won't transmigrate in these three stories. The protagonist isn't particularly powerful, the governance isn't forceful, the logic is sound, political intrigue is the core, and plot twists keep coming from the start.

30. 80 大 The Han Dynasty's First Marquis 大汉第一侯爷 Boss Cao of Jian'an建安曹总Historical680k WordsCompleted Champion of the cavalry, charging forth with unmatched valor; six campaigns sweeping across the land, swift as lightning and thunder. He watered his horses in the vast sea, raised a mound on Mount Langjuxu, set the western boundary at the Yellow River, and established commanderies at the Qilian Mountains., Ban Gu My uncle is the great general Wei Qing. My uncle by marriage is Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che. My aunt is Empress Wei Zifu. My cousin is Crown Prince Liu Ju. My younger brother is Huo Gua 220Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    [New Book] A slow-burning tale of Huo Qubing, the dashing and spirited general, who later became the Marquis of Langjuxu. A young general, conquering the land on horseback and commanding armies on foot. So far, it looks good; highly recommended.

31. 81 诗 Poetry Conceals Ten Thousand Blades 诗藏万刃 Qing Kuang Yu He清狂禹贺Eastern Fantasy289k WordsCompleted Yun Shuheng is a poor scholar who scrapes by copying books. He was born with a pair of “poetry eyes” that can see through every flaw in poetry and martial arts. The price is a shorter life. Li Bai wants him dead, the Poetry Demon Cult wants to capture and sacrifice him, and even the old man who taught him to cultivate is hiding a blood feud. His only trump card is the Tang and Song dynasty poetry that the world regards as the pinnacle of literature. Every poem is an unparalleled martial art capa 5Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A scout reported: Shi Siming killed An Qingxu, and the rebel army was in turmoil. But the war didn't stop; instead, it spread to the Jianghuai region. Suiyang had been besieged for a month. Zhang Xun and Xu Yuan, with several thousand men, had run out of food and had begun eating tree bark. The hall of the Jiangnan Literary Society was in an uproar: "What good will it do if we go?" "If we don't go, Yangzhou will be next after Suiyang falls!" Yun Shuheng stood up: "I'll go." Xie Wuliang frowned: "You are the guardian of literature, not a general." Yun Shuheng looked at him, his gray cloth robe soaked by the rain and clinging to his body. He said: "Literature protects not just books. It protects people." Xie Wuliang was silent for a long time. Then he patted Yun Shuheng's shoulder—"Like your master. Go. I'll send someone with you." Thirty men hurried north in the rain. The water in the canal was splashed with white foam by the rain. The caravan passed through a town. Two skinny horses were tethered under a locust tree at the town entrance, their backs laden with oilcloth-wrapped goods. Yun Shuheng glanced at them—traces of the Poetry Demon Cult. Others were also heading north. Towards Suiyang. #PoetryHiddenBlades #TomatoNovel #AnShiRebellion

32. 82 关 Tales of the Northern Song Dynasty 关于北宋的那些事 Can't Cry哭不得Historical2.0M WordsOngoing A new work is here! I hope you'll head over to Tomato Novel to read it. I hope you enjoy it. Your support is what keeps me writing, and I'll do my best to tell every story well! 9.4kReads8.4Score1.1kShelves

    Reader note

    If you're looking for a lighthearted, exciting read, don't come in. This story is based entirely on real historical events, with court proceedings presented in a meticulous and rigorous manner, avoiding mere formality. It's a true reflection of the humanities and history of the Song Dynasty over a thousand years ago!

33. 83 三 Three Kingdoms: Transmigrating into the Yellow Turban Rebellion to Turn the Tide 三国：穿越黄巾逆转天下 Phantom Feathers Beneath the Vast Sky幻羽苍穹Historical2.0M WordsCompleted This is my second long novel about transmigrating to the Three Kingdoms era. The protagonist transmigrates to become Zhang Jiao’s disciple, then escapes Jizhou alongside his senior sister Zhang Ning, the Way of Great Peace, and the Yellow Turban warriors. Though many look down on him for being a Yellow Turban rebel, Lu Yun keeps striving toward his goal and ultimately unifies the Three Kingdoms. 3.3kReads8.8Score289Shelves

    Reader note

    These are two of my favorite long-form Three Kingdoms time-travel novels. They focus on large-scale strategic warfare, with marriage to beautiful women as a secondary element, and the ultimate goal of defeating feudal lords and foreign tribes to unify the world.

34. 84 平 A Commoner Runs Wild in the Three Kingdoms 平民乱闯三国 Phantom Feathers Beneath the Vast Sky幻羽苍穹Historical1.3M WordsCompleted A Three Kingdoms transmigration novel about striving for supremacy, with no System. The protagonist is an ordinary modern man who transmigrates to the Three Kingdoms era and becomes Han Fu’s son. Through his own efforts, he builds a powerful army, defeats the various warlords and foreign tribes, and ultimately unifies the Three Kingdoms. He goes on to live a life of luxury and power that modern people can hardly imagine, surrounded by beautiful women and ruling the world. 1.8kReads8.0Score125Shelves
35. 85 大 Ming's God of War, Zhu Di 大明战神朱棣 Shu Yao Jiu舒窈纠Historical472k WordsCompleted Why do we love reading about him? Because he lived the way we wish we could: if you don’t like it, fight! If you lose, own it! If you win, don’t brag. He feigned madness, played the fool, and even ate pig feed in a pigsty. Then he fought his way from Beiping to Nanjing and seized the dragon throne with his own hands. Zhu Di, the fourth son of Zhu Yuanzhang, was twenty when he was sent to govern Beiping. No one had any faith in this “Fourth Son.” His imperial father suspected him, his nephew trie 19kReads8.3Score1.4kShelves

    Reader note

    👍❤️ Passionate Zhu Di… Passionate Ming Dynasty…

36. 86 穿 Transmigrating to the Southern Song to Become the Iron Sword Hero 穿越南宋成为铁剑大侠 Bright Moon Ten Thousand Miles Away万里明月Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted I transmigrated to the Southern Song dynasty and became Yang Yunxiao, a descendant of Yang Zaixing! As the nation falls and families are torn apart, Wen Tianxiang raises an army against the Yuan, Jia Sidao wreaks havoc at court, and the Xuanming Sect stirs in the shadows. I endure humiliation at Wudang for over a decade, while Daoist Chongxu secretly teaches me martial arts. With the Xuanyuan Sword, I face the Xuanming Sword, righteousness overcoming evil; with the Primordial Chaos True Art, I c 7Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A dark horse in the Year of the Horse! No history, no martial arts world! Clashing swords, chivalrous spirit, and tender emotions! Liu Hanyan, Chu Qingjue, Su Ningshuang… a host of confidantes, who will join you on your adventures in this martial arts world? In the flames of war at the end of the Southern Song Dynasty, you will wield an iron sword to stir up court intrigue and uphold justice for the nation. The *Tui Bei Tu* holds secrets of heaven, the *Tao Te Ching* cultivates the Daoist heart, the *Yi Jin Jing* tempers the body, and the Five Elements, Eight Trigrams, and Qimen Dunjia are integrated into both righteous and evil martial arts, leading you to experience the most authentic martial arts world! In chaotic times, power, beauty, and wealth are all fleeting clouds; only the heart of a chivalrous person shines brightly like the sun and moon!

37. 87 胜 Defying Heaven by Half a Move: I Am Cao Cao’s Legitimate Eldest Son 胜天半子，我才是曹操嫡长子 Xuan Xi Thirteen轩羲十三Historical574k WordsOngoing Not an invincible hero story. Respects history, with humor and gravitas side by side, and plenty of laughs and tears! Cao Yang, a history PhD from Changdu University, one of China's 985 universities, transmigrates to the Three Kingdoms for the first time and becomes Cao Cao's eldest son, Cao Ang. Though he survives the Battle of Wancheng, the butterfly effect and chaos in time and space ultimately lead to his assassination. When he wakes up a second time, he knows that academic credentials are u 10Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Not an invincible protagonist story, respects history, has no system, and is not a wish-fulfillment novel: Cao Yang, a history PhD from a prestigious 985 university in Changdu, transmigrates to the Three Kingdoms period for the first time, becoming Cao Cao's eldest son, Cao Ang. Although he escapes the Battle of Wancheng, he is ultimately assassinated due to the butterfly effect and spacetime chaos. Upon awakening a second time, he realizes that academic qualifications are useless in chaotic times. Only by cultivating loyal followers, establishing authority, seizing power, assessing the situation, and adapting to circumstances can he embark on the path to becoming a king, seeking the mastermind behind his assassination in his previous life…

38. 88 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... 809Reads5.2Score—Shelves
39. 89 民 The Ethnic Alchemist 民族炼金术士 Bright Moon Ten Thousand Miles Away万里明月Modern Romance105k WordsCompleted When international gold prices surged by more than 70% in 2025, surpassing U.S. Treasury bonds for the first time in 30 years to become the world's leading reserve asset held by central banks, the real-world rush to “hoard gold in troubled times” echoed the battle over gold in this novel. Amid geopolitical upheaval and the restructuring of the monetary system, gold's value as a safe haven is once again in demand. Yet The Nation's Alchemist had already revealed the truth in its story: what people 60Reads—Score—Shelves
40. 90 鸦 An Introduction to the Opium War: The Greatest Upheaval in a Thousand Years 鸦片战争概论，千年未有之大变局 Ge Shi Zhi Wu格史知物Historical8k WordsCompleted An Introduction to the Opium War, the Greatest Upheaval in a Thousand Years —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Analyzing official history—it's quite realistic, isn't it? This is my own analysis, belonging to the category of historical theory.

41. 91 对 Some Groundbreaking Insights into World War II 对二战的一些突破性认知 Ge Shi Zhi Wu格史知物200k WordsOngoing Our exploration of history should not stop at learning about historical events. We should also examine history through the theoretical lens of Marxist dialectical materialism. This book represents a breakthrough, though only in the sense that it is a personal breakthrough for me. It does not aim to recount the Second World War in its entirety. Instead, it offers theoretical analyses of several important events, asking, in other words, “Why?” Please point out any mistakes. 4Reads—Score—Shelves
42. 92 明 A History of the Ming Palace 明代宫闱史 Xu Xiaotian许啸天Historical734k WordsCompleted Venture deep into the palace to explore the love and hatred between emperors and their consorts; delve into history and discover the twists and turns of feudal dynasties. Understand this series, and you understand the palace. Understand the palace, and you understand history. Understand history, and the realities of the world become clear. Palace romances are an important branch of traditional historical fiction. 40.9kReads9.6Score710Shelves

    Reader note

    Super authoritative historical document

43. 93 红 Secret Records Behind the Red Walls: A Complete History of China's Unofficial Past, Unabridged 红墙秘录：中国野史大全（无删节完整版） Xu Xiaotian许啸天Historical2.7M WordsCompleted This complete collection is like a secret key unlocking the hidden chambers of China's imperial past, guiding readers into shadowy corners that official histories leave shrouded in secrecy. From the ancient legends of Unofficial History of the Xia and Shang to the imperial passions and court intrigues of The History of the Imperial Harem in the Song Dynasty, The History of the Imperial Harem in the Ming Dynasty, and Unofficial History of the Yuan Dynasty; from the extravagant excesses of The Ero 1.6kReads9.3Score256Shelves
44. 94 宋 The History of the Song Dynasty’s Imperial Court 宋代宫闱史 Xu Muxi许慕羲Historical607k WordsCompleted Drawing on official histories, unofficial accounts, and folk legends, this work offers a profound portrayal of the emperor's emotional world alongside a detailed depiction of life in the palace. It vividly recreates the lives of emperors and empresses in the secluded inner palace, while also offering readers interested in history clues to follow. 2.5kReads9.4Score321Shelves
45. 95 龙 The Dragon Rises in Jinling: Reviving the Tang Dynasty for Five Hundred Years 龙起金陵，再续大唐五百年 Guest at the Deer’s Call鹿鸣客Historical163k WordsOngoing “The emperor in Chang’an, the army of the Wei residence.” The Wei residence’s household troops had become a thing of the past beneath the executioner’s blade, while the emperor in Chang’an lived in constant fear amid troubles both within and without. Does an emperor have some special birthright? Whoever commands the strongest troops and finest horses becomes emperor! Flames raged everywhere. Looking across the land, the Tang was now divided among rival regional warlords: Zhu Wen, Li Keyong, Yang 52Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    New book recommendation! Set in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, this is a slow-burn story with no system, no cheat codes, no modern technology, no pretentiousness, no mindlessness, no stupidity, and no melodrama. It features characters, history, war, intrigue, and strategy. An adopted son seizes power, controls regional warlords, and eventually unifies the country, continuing the five-hundred-year-long golden age of the Tang Dynasty!

46. 96 人 A Brief History of Human Torture 人类酷刑简史 Mark P. Donnelly马克·P.唐纳利Historical151k WordsCompleted For thousands of years, humanity has devised many ingenious and cruel ways to inflict pain on its own kind. This tragic yet seemingly universal trait has corroded the civilization humanity strives to achieve. Though we now seem to detest torture, for more than 3,000 years it was part of the laws of all Europe and much of the Far East. A Brief History of Human Torture explores the many forms of punishment, torture, coercion, and torment. It takes readers into the arenas of ancient Rome, medieval 7.6kReads9.6Score1.1kShelves

    Reader note

    This is reality; this is history.

47. 97 白 The Foolish Emperor Gets Even Crazier 白痴皇帝更疯狂 Old Black and White黑白老Historical1.0M WordsCompleted [Also known as The Idiot Emperor Gets Even Crazier] [No System] Zhao Guanjia looked helplessly at his own body and shook his head. The previous owner had already run it into the ground! "I have to abstain for three months!!!" Zhao Guanjia resolved to change his fate and set the broken realm of the late Southern Song in order. But at this very moment, Kublai Khan is advancing south with his forces divided into three routes, intent on destroying the Southern Song! 309Reads7.4Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Emperor Zhao of the Song Dynasty pacified both internal and external troubles, destroyed the Yuan Dynasty, conquered the four Khanates, expanded into the Americas, Oceania, and Southeast Asia, annexed India, and finally unified the country, establishing the Great Song Empire spanning two oceans and three continents.

48. 98 明 Late Ming: Lü Bu Battles Dorgon 明末：吕布大战多尔衮 Nervous Fish忐忑的鱼Historical312k WordsCompleted In 1629, the Ming Empire teeters on the brink of collapse. Famine stretches for miles across the lands within the passes, and bands of rebels rise everywhere. Beyond the passes, the Mongol tribes are in their twilight years. The Buryats, descended from the Jurchens who once relied on their ancestors, have turned traitor, repeatedly invading and slaughtering their way across the border. At this histor 192Reads7.4Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Here it comes!

49. 99 我 I, Zhu Yingying, Have Returned 我朱雄英回来了 Fine Clothes and Fine Horses, Viewing Chang'an鲜衣怒马看长安Historical593k WordsOngoing No golden finger, no cutting-edge technology, just an ancient way of thinking applied to making things happen. A different Ming Dynasty, a different Zhu Yingying!!! This isn't a mindless wish-fulfillment story!!! 925Reads—Score105Shelves

    Reader note

    True history merely makes up for historical regrets.

50. 100 性 Genderbent Three Kingdoms: I Take Them All 性反三国，我大小通吃 Young Master Changle长乐公子Historical440k WordsOngoing [Female-Led Three Kingdoms] + [Founding a Nation] + [Strategy] + [Multiple Heroines] + [Gender Reversal] The story takes place in a parallel world where the Three Kingdoms era is dominated by women. A food delivery driver with the same name transmigrates into Lü Bu, only to discover that women are strong and men are weak, and all the rules have been reversed. The familiar figures from the Three Kingdoms have all had their genders flipped, too. The male protagonist is first forced into marriage b 2Reads9.3Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    One book for each dynasty, each a carefully selected must-read!

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