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"A butterfly in the Amazon rainforest, flapping its wings occasionally, can cause a tornado in Texas two weeks later." Historical development is like the butterfly effect, and it is often the little people who flap their wings. This book will break the inertia of your mind that "big men change history" and follow the clues of time to see how unknown little men influence the direction of history and make huge waves. In the history of China and foreign countries, there are too many little people who have changed the world and even affected our lives, but their names are rarely known. For example, the ubiquitous water pipes benefited from a doctor's "Cholera Map"; a mason and a gardener invented the concrete that builds the world, which led to today's high-rise buildings and the "infrastructure mania"; the loyal and patriotic horse dealer's "random tactics" led to the demise of the Northern Song Dynasty; the impulsive shooting of a 19-year-old poor boy triggered the First World War...

History books not only record the wonderful lives of princes and generals, but also many ordinary people. History is not a carefully arranged script, and many inconspicuous little people may inadvertently change the direction of history. This book focuses on ordinary people in history and uses a microscopic perspective to tell the major events they caused or experienced. Ordinary people rarely have a Machiavellian mind and are prone to being impulsive, but they also shine with a glimmer of humanity. They may be willing to act as killers with butcher knives in their hands out of righteous indignation, and get involved in the troubled times of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. They may also be greedy for personal gain, frame the pillars, and hasten the demise of a dynasty. Or they may work hard to establish extraordinary achievements in a humble position and protect the peace of all countries. From them we can see the atmosphere of the times and the real life of the people, and we can also discover the causes and imprints of historical changes or major turning points, making the grand history full of flesh and blood and more moving. Beings as small as dust are also the protagonists of history, and they deserve to be seen.

In 210 BC, Qin Shihuang collapsed in the sand dunes during his eastward patrol. In order to break the tyranny of the Qin Dynasty, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang rose up, kicking off the world's rebellion against Qin... Liu Bang and Xiang Yu stood out from the various princes and became key figures in the struggle in the Central Plains. One is the Sishui pavilion chief who was born as a local ruffian, and the other is the overlord of Western Chu after the famous general Xiang Yan. How could Liu Bang turn defeat into victory in just five years, defeat Xiang Yu, and become the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty? All this lies in his ability to listen to what is said, to be embarrassed, and to be ruthless!