Becoming a Scholar in a Chaotic Age

Xie Xuan's transmigration seems to have landed him in the role of a winner in life. From the moment he opened his eyes, everyone in sight, from his uncle to his cousins to his nephews, was a distinguished gentleman, each handsome in his own way. Born into an influential family, with capable ancestors and kind, brilliant brothers, he could easily spend his whole life as a pampered layabout, untouched by worldly concerns. But when he first crossed through layers of wind and snow and stood atop a mountain, opening his eyes to gaze at this familiar world... The imperial house was weak and incompetent, powerful clans carved up the land, northern tribes were poised to invade, and southern barbarians eyed the Central Plains. Bones lay exposed in the wilderness; for a thousand miles, not a rooster crowed. The fall of a dynasty that had lasted a century was imminent. Should he be a distinguished gentleman with fine looks and fine clothes, or take up sword and spear, stockpile grain, and build walls? After crossing bloodstained borders and traversing barren lands, Xie Xuan looked up and once again saw the emperor's loathsome face. He knew what he had to do. He would become a powerful minister. He would invoke the emperor's authority to command those who refused to submit. He would wield mighty armies to conquer the realm. He would build towering walls to repel foreign invaders. He would personally tutor the crown prince. He wanted to save this battered, broken world. [Notes] 1. Yes, I'm unleashing my preferences, and unleashing them hard (my particular preference is for beautiful, powerful, tragic characters with serious issues). 2. A stunning beauty adored by all, but this isn't a