A dynastic epic with a grand layout, vivid characters, and complicated contradictions
The fictional "Chongming Dynasty" is analogous to the early Qing Dynasty. Less than a century after the founding of the People's Republic of China, the foundation is stable but hidden dangers are deep. Externally, there are threats from the "Xirong" (nomadic khanate) and "sea pirates" (descendants of the Japanese rebellion and the prototype of Western colonists); internally, there is a multi-party game between the imperial power, the hero group, the elite, and the local powerful.
The ultimate contradiction between the consolidation of imperial power and external and internal troubles focuses on how a young emperor grows into a qualified helmsman of the empire amidst open and covert attacks.
Purpose: Writing history