From the fire of youth to the first gray at his temples, Ruan Youning spent nearly twenty years traveling north and south to reclaim the Central Plains.
In the end, his old friends were scattered, his family and friends torn apart, his clan fallen into ruin, and his closest friend brutally killed... It was bad enough that the court repeatedly obstructed him, but even his elderly father was falsely accused and humiliated because of it, dying with bitter regrets.
All his lofty ambitions came to nothing. Gazing north toward his homeland, he could only grieve. Then, against all odds, he lived another life.
In this life, his heart has grown weary. He only wants to protect his family and friends amid the chaos.
But with the Central Plains fallen and the people suffering, who can remain untouched?
The world is sinking into ruin. We cannot stand by and do nothing.
"I may be captured and made a prisoner; I may be armed with a blade and sent to war.
My heart will never die; my sincerity can pierce even stone and metal."
----Notes----
1. This is sort of a half-changed premise (?). My apologies to the 40 readers who had bookmarked my previous work.
2. The poem in the blurb is quoted. None of the poems or classical Chinese passages appearing in the story should be considered original.
3. The story is primarily from the perspective of the male lead who pursues. The author is not biased toward either role, nor toward any particular character type.
4. Plot comes first, romance second. The setting is very loosely constructed, so please don't scrutinize it for historical accuracy. The political maneuvering may be pretty far-fetched, and my skills are limited. The nation-building elements may not be entirely orthodox either; this is my first time writing them.
5. Wishing everyone an enjoyable read.
[Cover art courtesy of @Tang Jiu Xi]
Theme: Even if I pacify a thousand miles of border, fame and glory are truly the work of a Confucian scholar
