Strategies for Mountains and Rivers

A poor-born youth wields ink as his blade. On the chessboard where four kingdoms contend, he will be the one moving the pieces!

Shen Lan is the second legitimate son of the Marquis of Wu'an's household, yet he lives worse than a watchdog.

His father died fighting on the border, his body never recovered; his mother is bedridden, beyond the reach of medicine; his elder legitimate brother watches him like a hawk, while his second uncle's family has taken over their home.

A bloodstained copy of The Master Wu Liao and half a tiger tally bestowed by the emperor draw him into a shocking conspiracy.

Why are the Khitan arrowheads mixed with silver? What deadly scheme is hidden in the Liang Kingdom's peace talks?

Why has the border defense map his father gave his life to obtain become a death warrant coveted by all four kingdoms?

In the imperial examinations, he is a poor student whose essay sets the court abuzz.

In the game of power, he is the one moving the pieces, driving powerful aristocratic families to madness with a chain of three calculated moves.

Amid the flames of war on the frontier, he dons his armor and draws his sword, offering the enemy crown prince's head in tribute to his dead father!

Gunpowder hidden in the salt fields, deadly poison packed with the provisions, a blood-written message in a corner of the examination hall...

When everyone thinks all he can do is study, he smiles and tears away the cover of the Analects, revealing a bloodstained map of the borderlands inside.

"I want the title of top scholar, and I want the power of a military marquis!"

"Who says a poor-born boy can't rise to become a great statesman or general? I'll make the history books rewrite their chapters for me!"

See how a poor-born youth stirs up a storm in these chaotic times and achieves greatness beyond compare!

Theme: Study hard and improve every day