Are There Any Good Historical Novels Set in Ancient China, with Excellent Writing and No Made-Up History? 有没有历史古代题材的小说？文笔好，不胡编乱造的

1. 301 此 Twenty Thousand Miles to Andu 此去安都两万里 Qian He谦和Historical1.8M WordsCompleted War is a matter of vital importance to the state, a place of life and death, a path to survival or ruin. It must be studied carefully. A general who understands war holds the lives of the people in his hands and is responsible for the nation's security. After the Shangyu Dynasty, which had ruled vast lands and thirty million people, collapsed, the eighteen regional lords stationed across the realm all raised armies and declared themselves kings, waging war against one another. After more than si 328Reads8.9Score—Shelves
2. 302 花 Hua Rong Builds a New and Righteous Liangshan 花荣打造忠义新梁山 Late Forest, Maple Wind晚林枫声Historical1.2M WordsOngoing Never accept amnesty; become emperor at all costs! This novel focuses on the plot and its heroic characters. At the end of the Song Dynasty, a chaotic age gave rise to heroes. The Jin army invaded the south, and the two emperors were captured, a humiliation beyond measure for the Han people. I am Hua Rong, a modern special forces soldier who transmigrated into this Water Margin world. I will change the course of history. I will wipe out every barbarian and unite the world. I will subdue Goguryeo 1.9kReads9.2Score218Shelves

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   This one is good!

3. 303 三 Three Kingdoms: My Brother Is Dian Wei, and I Take on Lü Bu from the Start 三国：家兄典韦，开局硬刚吕布 Young Eunuch年轻宦官Historical1.0M WordsCompleted Dian Mo transmigrates to the end of the Eastern Han dynasty and becomes Dian Wei's younger brother. To join Cao Cao's camp, Dian Mo sends a letter that leaves Cao Cao stunned. Cao Cao: “Find the person who wrote this letter, no matter what. This must be the peerless genius I've been looking for!” While the whole camp launches a search, Dian Mo comes to Cao Cao of his own accord and begins his career as a strategist. Yuan Shao: “The Dian brothers are one a civil genius, the other a military geniu 45.9kReads9.6Score4.6kShelves
4. 304 凉 Blood of Liangzhou 凉州血 On the Roadside Back Then彼时陌上Historical1.6M WordsOngoing (No transmigration, no rebirth, no mindless power fantasy, no System, no pocket dimension, no wise old mentor. A history reconstructed from historical fact, with mind-bending logic.) Liangzhou, a lonely city the Dayuan Dynasty forgot amid the desert. Du Xichuan, a mysterious young veterinarian at the Liangzhou City military garrison. A chance twist of history, or a deliberate one? The future is shrouded in uncertainty! 115Reads9.0Score—Shelves
5. 305 山 A Game of Mountains and Rivers: Schemes in Troubled Times 山河弈：乱世谋 Yan Wuxie言无邪Historical244k WordsOngoing They say poor families produce no great men? Then you haven't met someone truly ruthless. Ling Ce, a graduate student in history, opens his eyes to find himself a low-ranking official from a poor family on the northern frontier, beaten to death. He has studied the Twenty-Four Histories, witnessed the rise and fall of dynasties, and mastered the art of political scheming. As sandstorms rise on the northern frontier, he uses brilliant tactics to defeat his enemies and secure his footing amid mount 43Reads—Score—Shelves

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   This is good; I'm planning to write a million-word essay on it.

6. 306 燕 The Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun: A Rising Tide 燕云十六州之洪流 Bamboo Leaves and Flying Blossoms竹叶飞花Historical182k WordsOngoing The Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun series consists of three volumes: The Flood, The Choice, and Against the Current. The Flood, the first volume, is set against the historical backdrop of the Northern Song’s alliance with the Jin to destroy the Liao, followed by the Jingkang Incident. Weaving together the power struggles among Song, Liao, and Jin with a fictional cast of loyal and righteous characters, it tells of ordinary people who, despite facing certain defeat, still choose to do what they kn —Reads—Score—Shelves
7. 307 老 My Dad Is Su Dongpo, My Wife Is Li Qingzhao, and My Bro Is Emperor Huizong 老爹苏东坡老婆李清照老铁宋徽宗 Wen Qingru文卿如Historical1.3M WordsOngoing Tags: No System, not a mindless power fantasy, meticulous historical research, slow burn, personal growth, one heroine An utterly ordinary art student transmigrates as Su Dun, the prematurely deceased youngest son of the legendary Su Dongpo. A quick calculation tells him When his father goes to Huizhou to eat lychees, he’ll be eleven. When his father goes to Hainan Island to eat clams, he’ll be fourteen. When his father is pardoned and dies in Changzhou, he’ll be seventeen. When Cai Jing erects 12kReads8.5Score1.1kShelves

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   Rigorous research, not mindless entertainment. Su Dun took out several sheets of paper from his sleeve, which were densely covered with writing. "I was in Hangzhou before, and I went through hundreds of books and found a few pieces of evidence. Not many, just nine." He spread the paper out on the old table next to him. "But I think the direction is right." Su Dun pointed to the first one, trying to keep his tone calm: "Look at the sentence in the *Great Yu's Counsel*: 'The human heart is perilous, the Dao heart is subtle; only by being refined and unified, can one truly hold to the mean.' The phrase 'The human heart is perilous, the Dao heart is subtle' was quoted in Xunzi's *Dispelling Obscurity*, but Xunzi said it was quoted from the *Daoist Canon*, not the *Book of Documents*." "And 'holding to the mean' should come from the *Analects*, Yao said: 'The mandate of Heaven is in your own body; hold to the mean. When the four seas are in distress, Heaven's blessing will be forever ended.'" "The *Analects* says, 'Shun also gave the mandate to Yu,' but what Shun said to Yu in the *Great Yu's Counsel* is completely different from what Yao said to Shun, except for 'holding to the mean.'" "The so-called sixteen characters of the Yu court are simply pieced together." He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, waiting for their shock, excitement, or, as in later novels, a sudden realization. However— Fan Yi raised his head, saying dismissively, "Perhaps Xunzi misremembered?" Su Dun was stunned. Zhao Mingcheng nodded in agreement, his face serious: "I previously saw Xunzi's 'Junzi Chapter' quote 'When one person is blessed, the millions of people rely on him,' saying it was from the 'Commentary'." "Actually, this sentence comes from the 'Shangshu Chapter Lü Xing'." "The source of this quote is definitely also a mistake by Xunzi." Su Xingchong added, "Pre-Qin books were all on bamboo slips, not easy to consult. The philosophers' quotations were likely written from memory without verification, so not every word is accurate." Su Dun's lips twitched. Hey? Your reactions are a bit off, aren't they? Too calm? Too rational? Shouldn't you be exclaiming, "My God, this is fake!" And then filled with indignation and shared hatred? Why are you all so... Calm? But what you said makes so much sense, I'm speechless! Li Qingzhao didn't say anything, she just looked down and carefully read the original text copied by Su Dun. She stared at those lines for a long time, then suddenly looked up, a strange look in her eyes: "The original text of Xunzi's 'Jiebi' is: 'In the past, when Shun ruled the world, he did not issue orders, yet all things were accomplished. He dwelled in a precarious situation, and glory surrounded him; he nurtured the subtlety of the one thing, and glory was attained without his knowledge.' Only then did he quote the Daoist classic: 'The precariousness of the human heart, the subtlety of the Dao heart, the subtlety of the danger, only a wise and virtuous person can know them.'" She looked at Su Dun, her eyes carrying a strange light—a look of doubt about his intelligence: "You don't think that 'the precariousness of the human heart, the subtlety of the Dao heart' and 'the human heart is precarious, the Dao heart is subtle' are the same sentence just because they sound similar, do you?" Su Dun was annoyed by her gaze and retorted stubbornly: "These two sentences are exactly the same, how can it not be plagiarism?" "But these two sentences have completely different meanings!" Li Qingzhao spoke eloquently: "Xunzi first mentioned Shun 'dwelling in a precarious situation' and 'nurturing the subtlety of the one thing'—this means that Shun advocated using a focused mind to explore the subtle principles of things." "Then he quoted the Daoist classic, 'The human heart is perilous, the Dao heart is subtle.' He quoted that line from the Daoist classic to explain the 'perilous' and 'subtle' mentioned by Shun earlier." "The key point of that line is the latter part— 'The signs of peril and subtlety can only be known by a wise and virtuous person.' It's about the 'sign' (obstacles) between 'peril' and 'subtlety,' which only a wise and virtuous person can perceive." She paused, her voice clear: "But the sixteen characters in the 'Great Yu's Counsel's' also emphasize the latter part, 'Be refined and single-minded, hold fast to the mean.' It's about using the effort of 'refinement and single-mindedness' to 'hold fast to the mean.'" "The main idea and philosophy of the two sentences are completely different. One is about perceiving signs, and the other is about upholding the mean." "Just because these eight characters are somewhat similar, you call it plagiarism?" Fan Yi continued: "Even if it is plagiarism, it's possible that the Daoist classic copied the 'Great Yu's Counsel's' and was then remembered as the Daoist classic. There are too many cases like this." He thought for a moment and gave an example: "For example, the saying 'Without tranquility, one cannot achieve far-reaching goals; without detachment, one cannot clarify one's ambitions' comes from the *Huainanzi* (淮南子), specifically the chapter 'Mastering the Art of Governing' (主术训). More than three hundred years later, Zhuge Liang quoted it in his *Letter to His Son* (诫子书), and now everyone thinks it was said by Zhuge Liang." "Another saying, 'Be bold but humble; be wise but principled,' also comes from the *Huainanzi*, specifically the chapter 'Mastering the Art of Governing'. Sun Simiao quoted it, and now everyone thinks it was said by Sun Simiao." Zhao Mingcheng added, "The *Xunzi* itself also has this situation. In the *Xunzi*, in the chapter 'On Rites' (礼论篇), the section on the three-year mourning period, from 'Why is there a three-year mourning period?' To 'It is the same throughout history,' the entire section was included in the *Book of Rites* (礼记), becoming the 'Questions on the Three-Year Mourning Period' (三三年问). Now, when people quote these sentences, they definitely think they come from the *Book of Rites*, not from the *Xunzi*." Su Xingchong also nodded, "As for the difference between what Yao said when he abdicated to Shun and what Shun said when he abdicated to Yu, that's not surprising, is it?" "Two generations of sage kings, facing different circumstances, naturally had different explanations to give." Su Dun was bewildered by everyone's comments. Didn't those books from later generations say that the "Sixteen-Character Heart Transmission" was Yan Ruoqu's core evidence to disprove the "Ancient Text of the Book of Documents"? Wasn't it said that once this evidence appeared, the Neo-Confucian scholars would be speechless? How come he couldn't even convince a few seven or eight-year-old children?

8. 308 水 Water Margin: Starting a Bid for Supremacy with More Children, More Blessings 水浒从多子多福开始争霸 Stop Making Up Names for Me乱给我起名Historical369k WordsOngoing Multiple heroines, no System, leading troops to resist the Jin, and keeping things grounded Zhang Zhenniang: Meeting you is a gift from Heaven! Zhao Fujin: I am a princess of the Great Song! Pan Jinlian: My lord, I could ask for nothing more in this life! Lin Chong: My lord, I am willing to join the army and wipe out those bandits! Emperor Huizong of Song: I can't beat him, and I'm not allowed to reward him. He's my son-in-law! Golden Crow Pig: This guy never plays by the rules! Zonghan: Wait, 925Reads8.1Score113Shelves
9. 309 在 Scraping by in the Great Tang 在大唐苟活 Jie Zhou芥舟Historical2.2M WordsOngoing [A forty-year-old mind + a twenty-year-old body = a socially anxious shut-in.] [Restoring ancient buildings + a ball lightning strike = the ninth year of Wude.] [Seen through the eyes of a passerby, this is a story of keeping a low profile in Tang dynasty China during the Zhenguan era. There are quiet moments, as well as dramatic twists and turns.] [Memory = a golden finger. Taking things one step at a time, how can I find my footing? Let me tell it all, bit by bit.] A timid, introverted, meek m 9.7kReads7.3Score666Shelves

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   If you're looking for something to read, you might want to check this out.

10. 310 秦 Qin Soldier: From the Spine of the World to Sunset over Guanzhong 秦卒：从天下之脊到关中夕阳 Among Mountains, Rivers, Clouds, and Moonlight山水云月间Historical241k WordsOngoing No transmigration, no rebirth. The military life of a peasant from Guanzhong, and a blood-soaked history of war in the Great Qin Empire. His father died in battle at Yanyu, and his mother never spoke of it. Yewang falls, and the order to conscript arrives. Wang Qi joins the army without hesitation, just to see the mountain where his father fell. Qin wins the Battle of Changping, but he can never forget that rainy night when he was ordered to bury the surrendered Zhao soldiers alive. Bai Qi says, 9Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    If you enjoy Warring States period literature, especially those about the Qin Dynasty's unification, you should read this book. It doesn't focus on the battles and intrigues of kings and generals, but rather on the lives of ordinary soldiers. The Battle of Changping is a highlight, blending battlefield combat with the human element of the era. It avoids absurd time-travel elements and focuses on the weight of ancient warfare and realistic history.

11. 311 穿 Transmigrated as a Young Lord: The System Is Full of Stunning Female Powerhouses 穿越世子：系统全是绝色女大佬 Wuhan Kai武汉凯Historical128k WordsOngoing A bolt of lightning sends Wang Zhiwei, his current girlfriend Lin Rou, and his ex, Li Yufei, into a war-torn era of rival states. His father holds the position of chancellor and has long been chipping away at the imperial power of Southern Tang, secretly plotting to seize the throne. While other transmigrators get a data-panel System, Wang Zhiwei encounters the Heavenly Court's bizarre reincarnation rules. The three support Systems are all reincarnated as living people in the mortal world. The H —Reads—Score—Shelves

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    This is alright, right? [All characters transmigrate + dual-system top-tier + hilarious political intrigue + chaotic world power struggle + face-slapping comeback] Wang Zhiwei absurdly transmigrates to the chaotic Southern Tang Dynasty, opening his eyes to find himself in the imperial palace, relentlessly pursued by his ex-girlfriend! Their past life was a messy breakup, but in this life, their identities are reversed! His ex-girlfriend, Li Yufei, transforms into the arrogant Princess Zhaoyang, who immediately orders the "troublemaker" Wang Zhiwei to be beaten to death for trespassing! But she never expected—the poor boy before her is actually the eldest son of the powerful prime minister! The Wang family, controlling most of the court and military power, is the true ruler of the Southern Tang! The puppet emperor immediately protects his son-in-law, angrily punishing the princess with sixty strokes of the cane! The arrogant princess's comeback attempt backfires, leaving her completely stunned from the start! A divine lightning strike sends all three transmigrating! The ex-girlfriend is a reckless princess, and the current girlfriend, Lin Rou, accompanies her, bound to the Peerless Strategist System! Meanwhile, Wang Zhiwei awakens the Peerless Emperor and General System, unlocking a whole host of destined generals from the start! The homeless beggar, now a mere morsel of rice, is none other than the White Tiger War God, capable of crushing Xue Rengui! The seemingly frail maidservant serving him is the future Bloodthirsty Asura Spy King, destined for a chaotic and bloodthirsty world! The slender retainer who infiltrated the Prime Minister's mansion is the cunning Nine-Tailed Fox strategist who has calculated the fate of the world! Emperor, strategist, war god, and spy king—all assembled, forming a top-tier lineup for hegemony! Utilizing modern thinking, they manipulate capital in a chaotic world! They open a princess bank, plunder the wealth of rich merchants, exploit the chaos of war to collect debts, and exile rebellious civilians to develop fertile lands! They repel the iron cavalry of the northern barbarians, sweep away the separatist warlords in the south, and quell the chaos of the White Lotus Rebellion! The puppet royal family is their pawn, and the heroes of the world are their stepping stones! Watch as Wang Zhiwei, with his entire team of divine generals, starts by manipulating the Southern Tang court, sweeps across the eight wastelands, contends for supremacy, and forges an eternal imperial hegemony!

12. 312 临 Secret Files of Lin’an 临安暗卷 Su Yi1022苏沂1022Mystery181k WordsCompleted My name is Chen Xiu. Before I transmigrated, I was a PhD in archival studies from a top-tier university. After transmigrating, I became an eighth-rank assistant magistrate in Lin’an Prefecture. Put simply, I’m in charge of the archives. On my first day at work, the dust in the archive vault nearly killed me. Yellowing case files were piled into mountains, and mice had made themselves at home among them. My colleagues shook their heads. “This place hasn’t produced a capable person in three hundre 235Reads—Score100Shelves

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    A PhD in Archival Science from a top-tier university transmigrates into the body of a low-ranking official in ancient China, managing archives! He transforms a dusty, rat-infested archive into a modern system using classification methods, index cards, and timelines! From the minute details of cinnabar on unidentified remains, he solves five cold cases, slapping his colleagues and superiors in the face! He even uncovers a secret organization and the dark secrets of officials—a powerful minister burning down the archives to destroy evidence? He laughs: "It's all in my head!" Logical crime-solving and a workplace triumph—the more you read, the more satisfying it becomes!

13. 313 何 What Does It Mean to Be Bright? 何以为明 Nikita Xiaofu尼基塔小夫Historical1.2M WordsOngoing Xie Shiqing transmigrates into the Ming Dynasty recorded in the history books, often called the most regrettable dynasty in Chinese history. He enters the court as a young Taoist by Liu Bowen's side. What can he change? What can he bring? No one knows yet. The ups and downs of officialdom, the repeated trials of human nature, the art of keeping one's head down at court, and an emperor's tests and suspicions are all things Xie Shiqing must face. This is not only a story about transmigrating into 40Reads8.2Score—Shelves

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    This book, set in the Ming Dynasty, is incredibly captivating, especially the struggles and moral dilemmas it presents. It's truly relatable. There are no villains in the entire book, or rather, everyone in the book is a villain. Highly recommended!

14. 314 明 The Late Ming Trilogy 明末三部曲 Li De罹得Historical697k WordsCompleted This is a late-Ming historical epic told primarily from the perspective of the Daxi Army and the peasant rebels. The general approach is seventy percent fact and thirty percent fiction: the main characters and major events are real, but some real historical figures’ personalities, backgrounds, and experiences have been fictionalized. The trilogy’s central themes trace a path from the ensemble cast’s “instinct to survive and ideal of universal harmony” in the Survival arc, to “destruction, plunde 954Reads8.2Score101Shelves

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    The non-time-travel realistic historical fiction trilogy, *The Late Ming Dynasty Trilogy*, has concluded its first part, a ensemble piece on survival, while the epic tale of the Eighth Prince and the young Fourth Prince of the Great Western Kingdom, the "Struggle for the Throne," has begun. The book features vivid characters, nuanced emotions, subtle foreshadowing, and a grand plot—don't miss it!

15. 315 大 The Iron-Boned Ming, Zhu Qizhen the Fortress Emperor 大明硬骨头，堡宗朱祁镇 Book Silkworm书蚕虫Historical204k WordsOngoing [No System, no golden finger, no overpowered protagonist, no crushing everyone with brute force] On the eve of the Tumu Crisis, he transmigrates as Zhu Qizhen and is emperor for just one day. Why did Zhu Qizhen clear Wang Zhen's name? Was the Zhu Qizhen who returned to power in history really the same man? Did the Ming dynasty truly begin its decline with him? Of the sixteen Ming emperors, how many met a clear-cut end? He must survive first. Only then can he think about anything else. With three 1.1kReads—Score117Shelves

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    The Ming Dynasty was full of tough guys, so why did Zhu Qizhen willingly surrender at Tumu Fortress? This book offers another perspective…

16. 316 云 A Wild Young Page Arrives at Yunjin House 云锦行来了个野书童 Great Immortal Writes Books大仙儿写书Historical348k WordsCompleted When Xie Linchuan wakes up, he finds himself a lowly bookboy, picked up from the back gate of Linzhou's richest merchant house, Yunjin Trading. In his previous life, he made his way in the business world, skilled at reading people, making deals, and turning losing situations around. In this life, however, he has plunged headfirst into the rotten books of an elite merchant house, becoming a lowborn everyone can trample on. At the time, Yunjin Trading faces fierce rivals undercutting prices and st 1Reads—Score—Shelves

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    The adopted young scholar, whom no one paid attention to, possessed the ability to turn the tide of the entire situation. Facing internal and external troubles and on the verge of bankruptcy, Xie Linchuan no longer tolerated the situation. He meticulously reorganized the business, consolidated his power, and propelled the endangered old brand back to its peak.

17. 317 大 Uncle Zhang, the Gatekeeper of a Ming Dynasty Apartment Complex 大明小区门卫张大爷 Soda Wholesaler汽水批发商Historical1.0M WordsOngoing The new book's rating has just appeared. It'll go up! [Ming Dynasty, multiple male leads, no female lead, ghosts and gods, from the Hongwu era to the Chongzhen era] A modern soul who lived to 126 and was driven to death by AI arrives by mistake in the Hongwu era of the Great Ming, carrying a mind full of memories from the future. He can burrow underground, see through solid objects, whisper into people's dreams, and take countless forms. He is a true wandering spirit. He first meets Zhu Yuanzhan 645Reads6.9Score110Shelves
18. 318 搅 Shaping the Times: Love, Betrayal, and Revenge in the Huichang Era of the Late Tang 搅动时局：晚唐会昌年间恩剑情仇 Watching the Rain at Midmonth月中赏雨Historical88k WordsCompleted Explore: Why did Prince Qi Li Jun die young, and why did Imperial Uncle Li Chen ascend the throne? The fighting never lets up, with no wasted movements. A dying body calls down thunder to seize a soul; a golden wheel that burns the world cleaves through the chaos of the Tang dynasty. In the final years of the Huichang era, storms are gathering. Xiao Chen was made a marquis and general at twenty-five, and commanded the Zhenwu Army. He was widely recognized at court and among the people as the for 20Reads—Score—Shelves

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    The Huichang era of the Tang Dynasty was marked by a complex web of love, hate, and revenge, yet historical records are incomplete.

19. 319 这 It's Tough to Get By in the Republic of China 这个民国不好混 Old Traveler in the Mountains山中老客Urban2.6M WordsCompleted [Pocket Dimension] [Republican Era] [War of Resistance Against Japan] [Common Folk] [Independent Operations] Qin Jin accidentally transmigrated to the Republican Era. He was no expert at civil war, but a seasoned hand at fighting foreign enemies. With a little pocket-dimension bug, he was going to see his schemes through to the end. Laughing through tears is life; laughing through tears is survival. The Republican Era might not be romantic, but it was definitely a wild ride! 1.6kReads8.5Score263Shelves

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    🐼🐼 In this book, you can witness the struggles for survival of the lower classes, and see the immense power they unleash in dire circumstances; you can also feel the passion and fervor of that era, where everyone fought for survival and dignity.

20. 320 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

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    My favorite historical novel, bar none.

21. 321 玫 Rose and Iris: My Best Friend and I Travel Back to the 18th Century 玫瑰鸢尾：我和闺蜜穿回18世纪 Snow Spray喷雪Modern Romance137k WordsOngoing Main pairing: a young British lord and a French aristocratic lady Several characters are transmigrators. This is a historical story set in eighteenth-century Europe, not Western fantasy. There is no System, no formulaic plot, and no perfectly written characters. It has many clues planted for later. It touches on history, literature, philosophy, ethics, psychology, art, and other fields. Eighteenth-century England and France, family prophecies, complex personalities, overlapping histories, and am 1Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Ancient European history of the 18th century, primarily focusing on England and France, with three parallel storylines, later including the War of Independence and the French Revolution.

22. 322 我 I Have a Secret Realm Connected to Every Dynasty 我有个秘境通各朝各代 Old Yellow Ox老呀黄呀牛Historical1.2M WordsCompleted At 76, he’s still working for the Heavenly Dao. He is Yang Guang reborn, making amends for Yang Guang’s sins. Zhu Yuanzhang arrives, Li Shimin arrives, the First Emperor arrives, and so do the Han founder and Emperor Wu... He discovers that historical figures are more than names or labels. They are real people, with virtues and flaws shaped by their times, not something to be judged on a whim. He takes crown princes as disciples, hoping to carry on their policies and build a golden age of Chines 1.7kReads—Score100Shelves

    Reader note

    A book that doesn't fabricate stories and is meticulously researched is not easy to read.

23. 323 大 Plum Blossoms Bloom Brightly Across the Ming Empire 大明天下梅花艳艳开 Sanxiang Daishui三湘带水Eastern Fantasy1.7M WordsOngoing Wuxia + history + imperial court + bloodshed + political intrigue + multiple female leads + not a harem + not a wish-fulfillment power fantasy. Plum Blossom Manor, the guardians of a village in Huaxia. Nixiào, the ninety-ninth-generation young manor lord, secretly leaves the manor at fourteen, only to encounter an unknown force plotting against the Great Ming... 517Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Wuxia (martial arts), court intrigue, bloodshed, power struggles. Historical fiction, ancient style, semi-classical Chinese, full of archaic phrases—if you can't understand it, don't read! Multiple female leads, not a harem. Not a wish-fulfillment story, slow pace—enter at your own risk!

24. 324 风 The Debauched Prodigal Son 风流败家子 Heavenly Fragrant Eyes天香瞳Historical3.8M WordsCompleted [Entry in the January 2020 Silver Vote Contest] Wang Kang, a university student from the twenty-first century, finds his soul in ancient times and becomes the wastrel young master of an earl’s household. He was too poor in his previous life, so in this one he wants nothing more than a beautiful wife, a life of wine and dreams, and the easy existence of a wastrel who can coast through life. But he never expected his family to be surrounded by crises and troubles to keep piling up from outside... 19kReads9.1Score2.1kShelves

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    What I find most appealing about the book [Full] is its blurring of the lines between good and evil—the protagonists and antagonists are simply on different sides. Both Wang Kang and Tian Wen have their own justifications, and this premise adds depth to the story. The author's writing is solid, the logic is clear, and the characters are well-developed. Overall, it's a book that offers both intellectual stimulation and enjoyable reading.

25. 325 魂 Reborn in the Late Ming: Starting with a Baozi Stall 魂穿明末：从摆摊卖包子开始 White Skin Scroll白皮卷Historical233k WordsOngoing [History + No System + War + Political Intrigue + Ruthless Protagonist + Ensemble Cast + Moderate Pacing] [Note: The protagonist is ruthless. The story moves at a steady pace, neither too fast nor too slow. Readers can decide for themselves whether it suits them.] The Ming inherited the splendor of the robes and the legacy of a land of ceremony and propriety. Its emperors guarded the realm’s borders, and its sovereigns died for the state. The dynasty flourished in all its glory, like the sun at 5Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Set in the late Ming Dynasty, the protagonist is a character who grows in strength and ruthlessness, becoming increasingly so. The story revolves around strategy and warfare, aligning with historical accuracy.

26. 326 开 Stealing a Chicken from the Start: My Scheme-Rating System 开局偷鸡，我有诡谋评分系统 Peerless Blade Edge不二刀锋Historical246k WordsCompleted [High Martial] [Schemes and Power Plays] [Funny and Lighthearted] [High IQ] [Scoring System] Chu Wen, a PhD who studies military strategy, accidentally transmigrates into the body of a poor scholar who has starved to death. To survive, he goes to steal a chicken, and unexpectedly binds himself to the Cunning Schemes Scoring System. From then on, the System coerces him: only by constantly using plots and schemes to earn Cunning Scheme Points can he ensure that points are added to his Life Score. 30Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Both are well-written historical novels with very clear logic. They're not the kind of super-exciting ones, but they do have some plot points and some dramatic elements.

27. 327 牢 The Fierce Soldier of the Prison Camp 牢军营悍卒 Snow on the Blade刀锋雪Historical1.3M WordsOngoing The animated short drama is now streaming. Search for "Iron Bars, Fierce Prisoners, and a Fight to Rule the World" on Hongguo and watch with confidence. [Blood-Pumping War God] [Power Plays and Ambition] [Warm-Hearted Man] [Rise from the Grassroots] [Multiple Heroines] Jiang Fan, a Special Forces king from the Dragon Kingdom, transmigrates into the body of a heavily punished border prisoner in the Great Jiang Dynasty. He forges a new identity, seizes power, and trains soldiers, surviving amid th 11.6kReads8.8Score1kShelves

    Reader note

    Historical and ancient themes, both entertaining and meaningful.

28. 328 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. 47Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A young guard bravely ventures into the Ming Dynasty, encountering grudges, conflicts, love, and hatred.

29. 329 大 Great Ming: My Father Is Yongle, and I Shall Guard the Realm Forever 大明：家父永乐，永镇山河 I Have Heard of High Antiquity朕闻上古Historical2.0M WordsCompleted In the final years of the Jianwen era, the Prince of Yan entered the capital, took the throne, and adopted the reign title Yongle. A great empire was turning a brand-new page, on the verge of ushering in an age of peace for the ages. A young man from the future transmigrates into the famous “Grilled Meat Prince,” Zhu Gaoxu. Before him stand the brilliant Yongle Emperor, Zhu Laosi; his frail, sickly eldest brother, Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi; his beloved nephew, the Good Holy Grandson Zhu Zhanji… 54.3kReads9.2Score4.8kShelves

    Reader note

    These are probably some of the better historical fiction books by Tomato. The first one is about the protagonist being reborn in the late Northern Song Dynasty, turning the tide and rebuilding a prosperous era; the second is about being reborn as Zhu Gaochi; the third is about being reborn as Zhu Yunwen, the grandson of Zhu Yuanzhang; and the fourth is about being reborn as Li Ke. I won't go into detail about the others; those who are interested can take a look.

30. 330 江 Jiang Yan’s Dream: Flowers Bloom from His Brush 江淹一梦笔生花 Gurgling Spring泉之淙淙Historical505k WordsCompleted In the winter of the seventh year of the Daming era (463 AD), Jiang Yan was gathering firewood in the biting wind by the Qingxi River. Suddenly, he spotted a young woman stumbling along the main road, clutching her wounded left arm, with three constables from the Court of Justice in hot pursuit. Jiang Yan pulled her into a reed bed, helping her evade the officials’ deadly grasp. It turned out she was Xie Wei’s daughter. Xie Wei had been implicated in the Fan Ye case because of his poetry and pro 126Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Historical subject matter, authentic historical materials, rigorous writing, profound cultural heritage

31. 331 明 The Sorrows of the Ming: Joking About Li Zicheng 明殇之笑侃李自成 Great Utopia大乌托邦Historical265k WordsCompleted The completed historical novel set in the late Ming, Ming Tragedy: Laughing About Li Zicheng, focuses on the rebel king Li Zicheng and the chaos of Chongzhen’s final years, recounting the entire course of the peasant uprising at the end of the Ming dynasty. From Chongzhen’s abolishing of the courier stations and the severe drought in northern Shaanxi, to loan sharks driving people to desperation, Li Zicheng’s uprising, the Battle of Luoyang, Sun Chuanting’s defeat, the fall of Beijing, Chongzhen 12Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Ironically, after the fall of Beijing, those condemned as cowards and surrenderers, such as Li Banghua, Fan Jingwen, and Gong Yonggu, all committed suicide to serve the Ming dynasty (accounting for 35% of the loyal ministers who died for the Ming during the Chongzhen era), while the loyal and outspoken Guang Shiheng was the first to surrender to Li Zicheng! The loyal minister and chief minister Wei Zaode, weeping and pleading, also voluntarily surrendered to the Shun dynasty, but was still subjected to torture and forced to hand over his ill-gotten gains. Chen Yan offered 40,000 taels of silver to the new emperor Li Zicheng to beg for mercy, but was still tortured to death by Liu Zongmin.

32. 332 大 The Benevolent Ancestor of the Tang Dynasty 【大唐仁祖】 Tang Renzu of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors三皇五帝唐仁祖Historical973k WordsCompleted [Golden Finger] [Transmigration] [Li Ke] [Political Intrigue] [History] From the start, he transmigrates into Li Ke. Facing certain death, he uses Li Shimin as a chess piece and goes head-to-head with the Changsun clan and the Guanlong aristocratic families, deftly resolving the struggle over the crown prince's succession. From the start, he is trapped in a dead end: Changsun Wuji has already begun plotting to frame him, and the deadly purge of Zhenguan Year 17 is less than six years away. He 5.6kReads—Score492Shelves

    Reader note

    Absolutely a must-read. A masterpiece comparable to *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* and *Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties*, with the potential to become a timeless classic! *Emperor Renzu of Tang*, a nearly one-million-word novel completed in mid-September, is highly recommended. I suggest reading the comments section of the last chapter first, where the author provides a summary of the entire novel. The author's writing style, plot structure, imperial strategies, political maneuvering, emotional narratives, military warfare, court intrigue, and governance are all top-notch. The author's writing is astonishing, grand in scope, lofty in its themes, profound in its thought, solid in its knowledge base, deep in its cultural background, and masterful intrigue. If you don't like it after reading it, you can slap me! It's not a mindless system-crushing story; it focuses on political intrigue, large-scale ancient warfare, a continuous romantic storyline involving Shen Luoli, and multiple parallel storylines encompassing court intrigue and governance. It blends historical figures from the Zhenguan era with those from *Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties*, adding modern military and philosophical elements for a disruptive effect. Modern thought and educational achievements are used as experiments in the evolution of civilization in the Tang Dynasty.

33. 333 星 A Single Spark Sets the Water Margin Ablaze 星火燎原水浒传 Brother Guo from Tianjin津门国哥Eastern Fantasy401k WordsOngoing The descendants of Liangshan raise the banner high, uphold Heaven’s justice, resist the Jin, and save the nation, composing a stirring song of heroes! This book carries forward the legacy of Shi Nai’an’s Water Margin and continues the tradition of Chen Chen’s Later Tale of the Water Margin, while also drawing on old stories passed down by local elders. Nearly a year went into writing it, and the book was revised more than ten times. It contains 120 chapters. Long ago, the 108 heroes of Liangshan 55Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    At the end of the Southern Song Dynasty, the Jin army invaded the south! The bloodline of Liangshan reunited to resist the Jin! To eliminate tyranny! To bring peace to the people! To defend the besieged city! To repel the Jin army! To write an epic of blood and righteousness! To value righteousness over life and death, this is the true spirit of men! A small spark can start a prairie fire!

34. 334 锦 The Splendor of the Tang Dynasty: My Father Is Li Shimin 锦绣盛唐：我的父亲是李世民 The King Sent Me to Eat Vegetarian大王叫我来吃斋Historical4.1M WordsCompleted My surname is Li, my given name is Tai, my courtesy name is Huibao, and my childhood name is Qingque. I am the legitimate second son of Emperor Taizong of the Great Tang. My mother is Empress Wende, and my uncle is Zhangsun Wuji. I was favored above all the princes from a young age, and as I grew up, I proved to be exceptionally talented and brilliant. My useless elder brother, the crown prince, ruined himself and lost his position. Naturally, I am the most suitable, reasonable, and legitimate h 2.1kReads9.2Score269Shelves
35. 335 帝 Empire 帝国empire Prince Ning of Jiangnan江南宁王Historical128k WordsOngoing The book wasn’t getting any traffic, so I dropped it and ran. I’ll gradually replace its contents with my university notes and papers, so take a look if you’re here to study. We’ll meet again someday. 22Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Here's a little-known historical fact for you every day: Although ancient Rome went through the city-state era, the monarchy era, the republic era, and the empire era, its official name was always "Senātus Populusque Rōmānus" (SPQR). This means that even after Octavian, Diocletian, and Constantine I had effectively abolished the Senate, Rome remained the Rome of the Senate, and the Roman people only recognized the republic, not the emperor. While this is a fictional historical account in an alternate world, every detail is historically accurate, and every plot point has a historical prototype. It depicts the cruelty of dynastic struggles and court intrigues, and the horrors of feudal rule, spanning five hundred years. Does no one pay attention to this kind of serious work on Tomato? Come check it out! Not only does it have a captivating story, but it also incorporates historical knowledge.

36. 336 乱 The World in Chaos: Biographies of Heroes from the Late Luan Dynasty 乱世天下：栾末英雄列传 Clouds and Water Are Ink云水皆墨Historical365k WordsOngoing [Traditional style + ensemble cast + alternate history + war + power struggle] His benefactor, the great general, died for his country by taking his own life. Little Wuzi witnessed it but was powerless to change the outcome. Even after death, his lingering soul could not bear to fade away. By a stroke of fate, he traveled back a hundred years. The long sweep of history unfolded before his eyes like a scroll: The great clans were arrogant and domineering. How could their power be confined to one 10Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Scholars and generals alike were heroes, each a flesh-and-blood individual, their lives intertwined with centuries of conflict—a story too complex to be easily summarized. Behold the heroes of the world, savor the dazzling chaos of an era.

37. 337 大 Great Ming: No More Pretending, Your Grandpa Is Zhu Yuanzhang 大明：不装了，你爷爷我是朱元璋 All Under Heaven Are One天下大同Historical2.1M WordsOngoing Zhu Shou woke up one morning to find that he had transmigrated to the Hongwu era of the Ming dynasty. His family was fairly well-off, but to his shock, he discovered that he was a wastrel with a brain disorder. After calculating the date of Crown Prince Zhu Biao’s impending early death, Zhu Shou hurried to discuss an important matter with his grandfather, who had always looked after him. “Old man, Crown Prince Zhu Biao is about to die. We’d better run!” That one sentence left his grandfather stu 1.9kReads9.1Score294Shelves
38. 338 海 The Ming Dynasty in the Wake of the Tsunami 海啸大明 Graceful Beauty姽婳Historical367k WordsCompleted Heroes need not worry about what comes after them; the history books should resound with songs of their deeds. Blood-soaked warriors on the battlefield, demons and monsters in the bureaucracy, the tangled romances of courtesans and sea lords: all are brought to life as the Ming Empire is struck by a catastrophic wave of raids and calamities. Beset by troubles at home and abroad, the Ming Empire faces the ferocious Tatar Altan Khan in the north, whose forces raid and pillage with savage brutality 14Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The Ming Dynasty's maritime borders are in imminent danger. Witness how these indomitable heroes rebuild the nation's defenses! In the north, Altan Khan's iron cavalry has breached the borders; in the south, the mighty Portuguese cannons have blasted open the gates! This is a dark age of rampant piracy and Japanese pirates. When the court is rife with intrigue and the southeastern coast has become a living hell, who dares to stand firm and vow to rebuild the Ming Dynasty's maritime defenses? Watch as Zhu Wan and his renowned anti-piracy generals carve a bloody path through internal and external troubles! Heroes disregard their own fate; history should record their heroic deeds!

39. 339 大 Great Ming: Please, Just Insult Me to Death! 大明：求求你骂死朕吧！ Great Pixiu大貔貅Historical2.3M WordsOngoing Just after Zhou Chen learned that his dad was a secret billionaire with a trillion in family assets, he was inexplicably whisked away by a System and transmigrated to the barren Ming Dynasty. The System warned him that if Old Zhu beheaded him, he would lose the System and be sent back to his dreary life. So Zhou Chen, whose spirits had just crashed because of his transmigration, found himself with fresh motivation and a new goal... Lose the System? Get lost already! What’s so hard about getti 1.1kReads8.7Score108Shelves
40. 340 大 A Literary Youth in the Han Dynasty 大汉文艺青年 Last Night I Saw Your Post昨夜见君帖Historical1.6M WordsOngoing [History] [Alternate World] [Transmigration] [Witty and Humorous] [Multiple Heroines] Fan Li, a rogue who runs a bar, undergoes Transmigration into ancient times. One poem stuns the literary world, and one song brings listeners to tears. From his initial, desperate flight to making his first splash at a grand literary gathering; from showing off his divine prowess at Chongli Terrace to fighting bloody battles in a lone northern fortress, the rascal laughs and curses his way through it all. In t 5.1kReads7.8Score379Shelves

    Reader note

    Rarely well-written, concise and to the point, with a rigorous structure and grand scope—it's captivating! 👍👍

41. 341 西 Western Han: The Prince Who Loved to Complain About Being Poor 西汉：王爷哭穷精 Tianjin Old Cat 74天津老猫74Historical166k WordsCompleted History + transmigration + expanding the borders + a commercial empire + fighting the Xiongnu I transmigrated into Liu Zhu, King of Chu and cousin of Emperor Wu of Han. Give me a kingdom, and I’ll make it strong. Emperor Wu, take me along. I’ll bring the money, and together we’ll fight the Xiongnu. By the way, my tomb is known as the Pyramid of the East: the Guishan Han Tomb in Xuzhou. Come visit, folks! 74Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Ancient times, time travel, getting closer to history

42. 342 家 My Nephew Is the Chongzhen Emperor: Building an Everlasting Ming Dynasty 家侄崇祯，打造大明日不落 Schrodinger's Tiger薛定谔的虎Historical3.7M WordsOngoing He transmigrates into the Ming dynasty and mistakes Emperor Chongzhen for his nephew. From then on, he becomes an overprotective uncle! A faction called the Donglin Party bullies my nephew and seizes his family’s property? Kill their leader and wipe that accursed faction off the map! A postman named Li Chuang forces my nephew to hang himself? I’ll rebel! Let this uncle beat him until he loses all his teeth! The Tungusic savages killed my nephew’s people and want to take his empire, too? Don’t be 7.7kReads9.1Score578Shelves
43. 343 中 Unsolved Mysteries in Chinese History 中国历史未解迷案 Kuding Tea 2024苦丁茶2024Historical2.7M WordsCompleted Chinese history stretches back a long way and is full of fascinating things. Some aspects, however, remain baffling. Scholars have offered their own theories about a few of these mysteries, but most remain mere speculation. This book takes a look at history's great unsolved mysteries. 88Reads6.6Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Read historical stories to expand your historical knowledge

44. 344 大 Tales from the Northern Frontier 大境北事 Everywhere on Old Journeys, There's More to Explore旧游无处不勘寻Historical282k WordsOngoing (If you feel the pacing is slow, you can start reading from Chapter 21.) The autumn night deepens as the last watch drips away, and dreams are hard to find. I lean alone against the railing in silence, facing the north wind. My old blue robe, my hollowed face: who can share this with me? Only the cold river and the moon, rushing away. (I love Li Yu's “Joyful Reunion” so much that after finishing the outline, I wrote my own take on it to set the tone. But don't worry, this story won't break your 6Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This is a super good and exciting historical romance novel; I highly recommend it.

45. 345 重 Reborn as a Tyrant in the Great Ming 重生大明当暴君 Painting Lingyan画凌烟Historical3.3M WordsCompleted You think you can secretly collude with the Jian Nu and I won't know? You think you can conceal your commercial taxes and I won't know? The southeast is prosperous, while Shaanxi lies barren for a thousand miles, littered with the starving dead. The court's ministers care nothing for the people's lives or the fate of the realm. They suck the blood of the Great Ming and strip the flesh from its people! Even an ordinary man in a fit of rage can spill blood three feet high. But do you know what hap 17.4kReads9.0Score1.5kShelves
46. 346 笑 A Humorous Take on Zizhi Tongjian: The Northern and Southern Dynasties 笑谈资治通鉴之南北朝 History in My Pocket兜里装着历史Historical2.1M WordsOngoing During the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420–589), regimes changed constantly and heroes emerged one after another. Armies clashed across the Central Plains as plots, schemes, stratagems, and military tactics arose in endless succession. It’s a thrilling period! But this was also an era of great ethnic integration, as northern peoples gradually assimilated with the Han amid the turmoil of war. In short, the Northern and Southern Dynasties were a time of upheaval and diverse development in Ch 8.6kReads9.4Score944Shelves
47. 347 神 The Medical Hero of Shennongjia: Yin Chengzhu 神农架之医侠尹成竹 Between the Mountains方寸山间Eastern Fantasy770k WordsCompleted Born in Shennongjia, famed as “Central China's Most Beautiful Mountain and River,” the protagonist, Yin Chengzhu, came into the world amid the Buddha's light at Yanzi Gorge, the mysterious emergence of spiritual energy at the Shennong Altar, the protection of the iron-hardened fir's divine roots, and the clear, reflective waters of Dajiu Lake. Bright and clever from childhood, he had an extraordinary bearing. His father, Yin Sinong, and his mother, from the Shan family, were heirs to a family of 22Reads8.9Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Fantasy, political intrigue, and historical fiction; the greatest heroes; set in the Sui and Tang dynasties.

48. 348 龙 A Crooked History of the Dragon Throne: The Emperors Who Went Off Course 龙椅歪史：那些跑偏的九五之尊 Kuding Tea 2024苦丁茶2024Historical1.2M WordsCompleted Across the brilliant five-thousand-year history of China, more than four hundred emperors appeared between Qin Shi Huang, Ying Zheng, who first took the title of emperor, and Puyi, who abdicated at the end of the Qing dynasty. Some were brilliant rulers who expanded their territories, while others were mediocre caretakers who merely maintained the status quo. And then there were the eccentric sovereigns, whose behavior was bizarre and whose actions were absurd. These unconventional rulers added 2Reads—Score—Shelves
49. 349 众 All Living Beings: A King Bathes in Blood 众生芸：王者浴血 History Mover历史的搬运工Historical1.3M WordsOngoing A humorous take on historical figures from China, with straight-faced alternate history and wildly imaginative twists grounded in reality. Through a series of short character stories, it explores certain objective patterns behind seemingly random events, all for a laugh! 39Reads9.4Score—Shelves
50. 350 朱 Zhu Houzhao: The Worst Temple Name I'll Accept Is Shengzong 朱厚照：朕的庙号最次也得是圣宗 A Weary Bird Returns to Its Old Woods倦鸟落旧林Historical2.1M WordsCompleted [Ming Dynasty’s Zhu Houzhao + court intrigue + cracking down on corrupt officials + sweeping through Mongolia + crushing the barbarians + opening up a New World] Drowning from the start, with civil officials always trying to kill me! Crush the landlords and put the Ming economy under state ownership! Let the red flags fly and open up nine continents and five seas! Rule the entire world: from the founding to the fall of the Ming, none can rival us! 14.4kReads9.1Score1.3kShelves

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