When the Sword Is Drawn, It Must Lead a Million Soldiers

When the fourth ruler of the Great Zhao dynasty ascended the throne, the whole country was in rebellion and the realm was on the brink of collapse. It was all thanks to Marquis Jing, Sheng Huaian, who single-handedly held the heavens up and steadied the situation. Under his rule, Great Zhao was prosperous, its people wealthy, its military well trained, and its might known across the seas. But after his death, the emperor put his trust in treacherous ministers. In less than ten years, they had completely destroyed the peaceful and prosperous age he had left behind. The soldiers were resentful, the officials had lost faith, and the enemy took the opportunity to bring its armies to the capital. Sheng Huaian's spirit heard someone wailing in the afterlife. So he was reborn in the body of a corrupt courtier who had just dropped dead. The day he awoke, snow was falling heavily, and the enemy had already reached the outskirts of the imperial city. Fires blazed outside the walls, civilians lay slaughtered in the wilderness, and the blood flowing through the moat had almost turned it red. The temple of Marquis Jing was full of kneeling commoners praying for blessings. Awakened by their cries, Sheng Huaian opened his eyes and saw ministers kneeling on the ground, urging the emperor to surrender. The great general he had trained had led his troops to petition the emperor, insisting they fight to the death. His former subordinates, though unwilling to fight, were ready to risk their lives to escort the emperor to safety. Even the young prince he had once taught was thinking of him, sword in hand before the palace, ready to die for his country. But the treacherous eunuchs and ministers were misleading the emperor. "In this situation, only if Marquis Jing returned from the dead could he turn the tide, but..." But Sheng Huaian was gone from this world. The emperor sighed and was about to order someone to write the surrender letter. Suddenly, a voice rang out. "The gates have not fallen, and loyal ministers are still here. Why aren't you thinking of driving out the enemy, instead of handing over our land to them?" Everyone turned toward the voice. In the snowy haze stood a man with his hands behind his back, elegant as a crane and steadfast as a pine, like someone from a dream. Reader's Guide: 1: A million-word historical danmei epic. Please add it to your reading list. 2: A powerful, beloved bottom x a younger top who's a devoted puppy and applies a very different set of rules to himself. + Blurb archived on 2021.6.26 Theme: Join hands to reclaim the old realm.