Sinking Sand

An imagined setting inspired by the Wei and Jin dynasties, political intrigue, and an ensemble cast

A warm-on-the-outside, cool-on-the-inside female general x an elegant, sharp-witted political strategist

This is not a standalone story. It follows the world and closely connected plot of the previous work, "Luocheng's Golden Powder." Readers who haven't read the previous work should proceed with caution, though they can still give it a try. (The previous work covers the leads' first meeting. You can assume they were more than friends but not quite lovers.)

This is the original manuscript for the audio drama of the same name, archived here for now and to make it easier to compare with the text.

2025 return notice:

1. I started saving the manuscript offline in July 2021 and moved it to Jinjiang on May 6, 2023. Some of the plot has now been rewritten, and the character roles in the northern storyline have been adjusted. Choose which version to read based on the last update date.

2. Short bonus chapters will appear from time to time. The long bonus story is on hold, because every quarter the author is forced to work a hundred days straight and is going mad from it (?).

[Blurb]

(Plain-language version)

In the final years of the Former Ning dynasty, the realm fell into ruin, and the people of the court fled south.

It was an age when rites and order collapsed: the imperial house declined, the great clans ran wild, and neither ruler nor subject acted as they should.

It was also a chess game of unpredictable turns: the ministers of Jiangzuo vied for glory. Some rose to fame here, while others fell into an eternal abyss.

(Original version)

A thousand feet of crimson, passersby fleeting like white horses, fleeting fame and hurried lives, all swept away in the dusty whirlwind.

Since the towers have sung their fill and the southern lands are steeped in longing, why begrudge the bow carved on the wall, or envy Chang Hong?

What use are fine parasol trees? They cannot hold back the blue heavens. We gallop across the Yangtze to the east; how many times have we lived wild and unrestrained? There are no words for the grandeur of it all.

We climb the tower, play the sword, and drink wine. The seasons pass like a dream. We ask the waters flowing endlessly east.

[Reader's Guide]

1. Two strong leads, one-on-one. Their romance accounts for about two parts of the story, with each lead's personal storyline accounting for eight. The ending is a happy one in the ordinary sense. I couldn't find a political strategist and military general debate-couple to suit my tastes, so I wrote this for myself. The characters and plot are all tailored to my personal preferences. The bonus story "Pearls and Jade Discs" covers earlier events and what happens afterward across a wide span of time. It will be published separately, so read it if you like.

2. Neither lead fits conventional expectations. Every character has their own interests and position, and their goals change with circumstances. No character's feelings completely override their reasoning and interests to dictate their actions. Proceed with caution if that doesn't suit you.

3. The early plot is slow to warm up. Proceed with caution if that's not for you. The story doesn't stick to a single viewpoint; it shifts as the plot requires. Important scenes may feature supporting characters rather than the leads. Readers who dislike multiple viewpoints or want to identify closely with a protagonist should proceed with caution.

4. This isn't a power fantasy in the mainstream sense. No major event has a perfect solution. The characters must make sacrifices and compromises, and are limited by what they know and understand. Readers looking for a heroine or hero who wins every battle and levels up without losses should proceed with caution. Everyone speaks in riddles, so feel free to overanalyze every line and action.

5. I'm not a specialist, and the historical research isn't rigorous. Some complicated forms of address and titles have been simplified, and there are original, speculative elements. Everything serves the story. The wars draw in part on historical records and research, with adaptations, but the characters are not based on historical figures. The references and adaptations serve the plot and do not reflect the author's feelings about any historical figure or event. Please don't assume otherwise.

6. The author has no emotional preference for any character and will torment them all equally. Every character's views reflect their own personality and position, not the author's.

7. The story from the Northern Expedition after Volume Five to the ending was written in a rush. The details and logic haven't been worked through thoroughly; only the main characters' endings have been planned. Suggestions for revisions are welcome.

Theme: A record of the misfortunes and meltdowns of ancient office workers