Marshal Jiang

Sweep generals and ministers from the battlefield, then laugh at princes and nobles in the Golden Throne Hall Jiang Yanzhu, the eldest granddaughter of Grand Commandant Jiang, a peer of the highest rank, joined the Shu army as a common soldier. She struggled her way through ten years of service before returning to the capital to compete in the military examination. Everyone said she was certain to earn top honors in the competition. Jiang Yanzhu was not only exceptionally capable, but also ruthless and willing to do anything to achieve her goals. When the Shu army once fought the Tibetans, she even killed her lover, who had been taken hostage, to win the battle. Later, she was sent to the Western Regions. Her tactics were so devious, and her killing so relentless, that when she went on a rampage, she would slaughter even her own men camp by camp. The once-arrogant kingdoms of the Western Regions trembled at her name, and secretly gave her the nickname "The Yama King of the Western Regions." But winning battles was not just about killing. When two armies faced off, mountains of gold and silver had to be poured into the fight. Many people said Jiang Yanzhu's boundless success was all thanks to the wealthy bank owner behind her, who kept pouring money into her and endlessly funding her army. That bank owner, Si Mengbai, was also born into an aristocratic family. But after being framed in a wrongful conviction, even after his name was cleared, he could only make a living as a lowly merchant. He made his fortune supplying Jiang Yanzhu's army, proving that fortune could be found in danger. Within a few years, he had transformed into the richest man in the capital. No one could say for sure which of them had used the other. Most people believed they were merely joined by mutual profit, and that once the profits ran out, they would inevitably part ways. Later, Jiang Yanzhu supported the emperor's eldest daughter in her bid for the throne, became embroiled in court intrigue, and was framed and demoted. Si Mengbai, whom everyone had always considered purely self-interested, went so far as to spend his entire fortune to save her. When asked why, he simply replied, "If Marshal Jiang needs it, what does it matter if I give everything I have?" But after Jiang Yanzhu rose to prominence again, she never even looked back at Si Mengbai. She mounted her horse and raced for the capital. "What matters more than a man's future?" Reader's guide: 1. A women-centered ensemble of career-minded characters. 2. Plot comes first, romance second. The female lead is not a virgin, the male lead is. The male lead will suffer, but the ending is happy. 3. The setting is a fictional egalitarian dynasty after the Tang. Women can inherit the throne, hold office, and lead armies. Society generally follows the mother's surname. Theme: A sharp sword is forged through hardship, and plum blossoms release their fragrance through bitter cold.