Novels like A Foundation in Troubled Times
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as A Foundation in Troubled Times, best match first.
- 1 The Iron Cavalry of Youzhou 幽州铁骑 [Slow Pace] [No System] [No Stupid Characters] [Alternate History] The empire's fortunes unite after long division, and divide again after long unity. The Liang dynasty is in turmoil near the end of its reign, and a Chinese special forces soldier who transmigrates there by accident gets caught up in it. Foreign tribes eye the realm, and uprisings never cease. When the young emperor takes the throne, the overburdened Liang dynasty collapses in an instant. Seizing the opportunity, warlords across 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 2 Heaven's Mandate Is Everlasting 天命未央 Reborn into a parallel historical universe, he gains a “gacha” System that can summon distinguished ministers and valiant generals such as Zhao Yun and Wei Qing. With their help, he can claim the throne, found a dynasty, build an empire, and unite the realm! 1. How will he unravel the mystery of his birth? With obstacles at every turn, he must overcome them all and ascend the throne. 2. Reform the court, overhaul the system, strengthen the army, and sweep away rival nations! 3. Enact reforms and —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 3 Late Tang: Starting with 800 Weibo Elite Soldiers 晚唐，开局拥有800魏博牙兵 In the fourth year of Tianyou under the Tang, Zhu Wen, Prince of Liang, usurped the throne. The realm fell apart, warlords rose everywhere, and ten kingdoms vied for supremacy. This was an age when warriors ruled. Human life was the cheapest expendable thing in this chaotic world. Liu Che opened his eyes and found himself a soldier in the Weibo army. It was the most fiercely defiant military garrison in history, home to the most extravagant military thugs, and destined to become the most brutal 2.1kReads6.2Score14614d adds
- 4 The Sixteen Riders of Yanyun 燕云十六骑 Amid laughter and conversation, I speak of imperial ambition and conquest, yet life is no more than a drunken dream. Spear in hand and astride my horse, I sweep through a rain of arrows; bones pile high as startled birds take flight. 20Reads—Score—14d adds
- 5 Black Armor, Blue Robes 玄甲青衣 With a brush, bring peace to the land; on horseback, settle the realm. Ding Yi, a member of one of Huaxia's ten elite special forces units, retires due to injury. An avid adventurer, he transmigrates and is reborn as a young scholar after an accident. He had hoped to live a quiet life, relying on his own wits. But the land falls into chaos, where the strong prey on the weak. He has no choice but to take up his battle blade once more and defend everything he holds dear. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 6 The Bandit's Rise 山贼逆袭 An alternate history setting. Please don't try to relate it to real history… While carrying out another mission, Yang Qi transmigrates to a parallel world. He hopes to live out his life in peace, but fate has other plans. With no other choice, he gradually grows into… —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 7 The Strongest Prince in History 史上最强皇子 After an accident in the laboratory, Lin Yi unexpectedly transmigrates into the body of the foolish fourth prince of the Great Qi dynasty. Framed and banished from the capital, he is sent to govern his fief. His fief is a lonely island on the southern frontier of Great Qi, a paradise for pirates where the local authorities are powerless and command no respect. Others might see this as a hellish challenge, but Lin Yi sees it as paradise. A blank sheet of paper is the easiest to paint on, isn't it 93Reads7.5Score—14d adds
- 8 Emperor Chen Wu, Ruler of All Under Heaven 横行天下之陈武大帝 In an age when powerful clans controlled the path to office, how could a lowly soldier born to a poor family change his fate? He endures twists and turns, wagering his life in the struggle. What will become of him in the end? 294Reads6.3Score10214d adds
- 9 Your Majesty, Why Are You Plotting a Rebellion? 陛下，你何故谋反呀？ Sun Rong, the powerful minister who commanded the empire's armies, was lured into the palace and murdered by the emperor. Sun Meng, a descendant of the Sun family, had no choice but to raise an army to protect himself. He would storm the imperial palace and demand of the emperor, “Your Majesty, why have you rebelled?” 159Reads—Score—14d adds
- 10 Song of the End-Times Survivors 末世者之歌 I set out with the envoy, but after years of turmoil, it was hard to return. I survived the journey beyond the frontier, only to find the realm in chaos. With my battered troops, I must face a mighty enemy. In this troubled age, where can we find a safe place to settle? I will shelter the people and let them live in peace. 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 11 I Went to Ancient Times to Become a Foot Soldier 我去古代当小兵 Through relentless effort and his own intelligence, the protagonist slowly rises from the lowest-ranking foot soldier to become a general. This is the story of how he turns his life around. 27Reads—Score—14d adds
- 12 Conquest: Rising from the Ranks of a Foot Soldier 争霸：从小兵开始崛起 Ying Ziyi is the eldest legitimate son of the Ying clan of the Duke of Weiguo's household in the Great Liang, but because his mother was born to a concubine, he is cast out of the family and sent to serve in the army on the frontier. Starting as a lowly soldier, he fights his way upward, earning distinction and building a career until he becomes a feudal lord with dominion over a region. Then he contends for the realm, unifies the land, and brings all under heaven to submission. 71Reads6.2Score—14d adds
- 13 Returning to Ancient Times to Conquer the Realm 回到古代打江山 Ye Chen, a leading scientist in the field of cosmic technology and a national-level engineer, transmigrates into the Great Yu Dynasty and becomes its emperor. The Great Yu Dynasty faces powerful enemies watching from beyond its borders, while traitors within plot rebellion. Through his own schemes, Ye Chen ultimately executes the treacherous ministers, eliminates the great clans, and sweeps across the land, claiming both the empire and the woman he loves! 102Reads—Score—14d adds
- 14 Transmigrated as a Prince, I Was Tricked into Going to War on My Wedding Night 穿越成皇子大婚洞房夜被坑去打仗 (Transmigration + alternate history + no System) He transmigrates into an alternate history, right in the middle of a prince's wedding banquet. Just as he enters the bridal chamber, he is urgently summoned to the palace and ordered to lead an army into battle? But he knows nothing about fighting wars! What should he do? He needs a golden finger, and fast!!! 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 15 Back to Jiuzhou to Seize the Heavens 回到九州去夺天 [Alternate history + rise of a foot soldier + brainy power struggles] While watching a meteor shower, he was struck by a meteorite and transmigrated into the body of a low-ranking soldier in another world who shared his name. Ji Yang was completely bewildered! The realm is divided into nine provinces, and the various states are locked in endless warfare. What is there to fear? Who but me can unite the nine provinces? In this otherworld, he rises from a humble foot soldier to become ruler of the 16Reads—Score—14d adds
- 16 Consort Mother, He’s My Imperial Father! You’ll Have to Pay Extra! 母妃，他可是我父皇啊，得加钱！ [The System dies from the start] “From now on, your name will be Wu Zhao!” “Yes.” Jiang Li transmigrated to ancient times, where he gained a maid who admired him… Years later, his maid ascended the throne as empress, earning the unquestioning faith of all under heaven. Jiang Li, the man behind the empress, refused any official post or noble title. “There was one less maid by his side then, but the world gained an unparalleled empress!” A year after the empress took the throne, Jiang Li, powerle —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 17 Reaching the Summit 问鼎 When the deer is lost by Chu, all under heaven pursue it. This is an age of great upheaval, and a time for men of ambition to make their mark. Brave generals abound, wise strategists are as plentiful as rain, and beautiful women are like jade. Watch as the protagonist climbs step by step to the summit. 255Reads6.3Score—14d adds
- 18 Late Ming: The Sun Never Sets in the East 明末：东方日不落 I transmigrated to the late Ming dynasty. Is it really that hard to become king without a System? Choosing the right path to grow is crucial. Banditry won't work: the government is too strong, so there's no way to gain a foothold or grow. Being a merchant is even worse; they'll bleed you dry. As for aristocratic clans, you'd need to be lucky. Maritime forces have an advantage because the government is weaker at sea. Their strength comes down to their people: the more followers, the stronger the 172Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 19 A Lowly Soldier from the Start: I’ll Become an Emperor for the Ages Through My Reputation! 开局小兵：我靠声望成千古一帝！ [Alternate history · comedy · ruthless decisiveness · multiple heroines · farming · System] Modern young man Li Xiang is sent flying by a hundred-ton truck, then unexpectedly transmigrates into the body of a cannon-fodder foot soldier, “Li Ergou,” on a battlefield in another world. Just when all seems lost from the start, he awakens the [People's Reputation System]. The recognition or emotional reactions of others can be exchanged for anything! From then on, he fights his way through a chaotic —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 20 The Chronicle of the Ming Restoration 回明争霸录 In troubled times, the most meaningful way to survive is to fight for supremacy. With the sword in your hand and a fine steed beneath you, conquer as you please. Blood runs through your hair, and corpses lie beneath your horse's hooves. Raise your arms and cry, "This is my realm!" 237Reads—Score—14d adds
- 21 From the Start, I Was a Border Guard, and Killing Enemies Made Me Stronger 开局边疆小兵，杀敌就变强 Synopsis: [Rebirth + Contest for supremacy + Invincible + Ruthless + Extreme cultivation + Political intrigue] Seventeen years after the former Xia king died unexpectedly, Cao Xin, the posthumous son of the Xia king, begins his life on the frontier as a low-ranking soldier. He wants to tell the man sitting on the throne: “What belongs to me, I will take back!” When his enemies beg for mercy, Cao Xin says, “I won't show you any mercy. The least I can do is personally send you off!” When the barba 391Reads7.2Score—14d adds
- 22 Back in the Warring States, I Became the King of Wei 回到战国做魏王 After King Hui of Wei passes away, the author becomes his son, King Xiang of Wei, Wei Si. With Qin stripping Wei of its western lands, Chu defeating it in the south, and Qi humiliating it in the east, how can he turn things around? To make matters worse, just then five states launch a campaign against Qin, and Qi seizes the opportunity to attack Guanze, a key stronghold in northeastern Wei. 534Reads5.4Score—14d adds
- 23 The Great Qian Corpse Collector 大乾收尸人 [Alternate history + passionate adventure + war + lighthearted] After transmigrating into the Great Qian dynasty, he became a lowly corpse collector. He had planned to live a quiet life with his beautiful sister-in-law and his simple-minded younger brother, but then the Northern Mang army laid siege to the pass. After finishing his work collecting the dead, he fled for his life! A female general asked him, “Become my adviser and help me save the people from suffering!” A domineering old prince a 646Reads7.8Score10814d adds
- 24 It Starts with a Mercenary Army 从仆从军开始 [Revenge for a massacred clan + building a faction + ruthless campaigns + civil and military leaders, ensemble cast, conquest, war] A prince's residence wiped out. A boy who fought desperately to escape, yet still died. A soul that happened to enter his body. Hunted down, his family slaughtered, betrayed by those he trusted, imprisoned, conscripted, caught in a brutal massacre, his beloved killed, the people slaughtered, his brothers turned against him. Bearing the hatred of a hundred thousand p 786Reads7.8Score10214d adds
- 25 Great Qin: Starting as a Fearless Frontier Soldier! 大秦：从边疆一猛卒开始！ [No System + Military Merit and Nobility + Farming in the Later Stages + World Conquest] The Great Qin sweeps across the land, and the Six Kingdoms bow before it! The First Emperor ascends the throne, bringing peace to the realm and founding an unprecedented dynasty. Qin Chi, a soldier guarding the frontier, is reborn as the son of a deserter and has his land and home confiscated! Starting in a bitterly cold wasteland, Qin Chi vows to rise through military merit. He sweeps away the Xiongnu, conq 23Reads7.1Score—14d adds
- 26 Reborn as a Warring States Overlord 重生战国当霸主 After waking up, Yi Hua finds himself the son of a lord in the small western state of Zhao. Powerful enemies menace the borders, while his brothers fight among themselves. In this age of fierce competition, how will Prince Yi Hua lead the weak state of Zhao to find its footing amid the turmoil and fulfill his ambition of making the nation prosperous and its people strong? “Wherever the sun and moon shine, wherever the rivers flow, all is Xia territory. That is my ambition!” “I will make it so th 15Reads5.5Score—14d adds
- 27 Emperor Qianwen 乾文帝 (Fictional history) + (No System, no golden finger, no naive protagonist) + (Original poetry) + (Strategy) + (Conquer first, govern later). Logic, writing, story, and character development are all things I focus on. This is my first web novel, and whether you praise it or criticize it, your feedback will help me grow as a writer! I’m deeply grateful for everyone’s support ✊ Transmigrate to another world and begin the struggle for supremacy! Love and hate. Right and wrong, merit and blame. Weigh 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 28 The Legend of Zhang Chu 张楚传说 The emperor is incompetent and tyrannical, the people can barely survive, and waves of rebellion keep rising one after another. A lowly soldier emerges from the ranks, defeats the warlords vying for control, and becomes the last one standing. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 29 The Greatest Tyrant of All Time 万古第一暴君 I Am History’s Most Brutal Prince I kill rebels, wipe out treacherous ministers, quell wars, and seduce women. There’s nothing I won’t do! All the while playing the pig to eat the tiger, I accidentally end up ruling the world and lording it over everyone! 20Reads6.0Score—14d adds
- 30 Reborn: From Foot Soldier to Conqueror of the Realm 重生：从小兵开始争霸天下 [No System + Gritty + Strategic + Funny + Not Brain-Dead + Not a Goody-Two-Shoes + Decisive and Ruthless] Heaven and earth are the board; all living beings are pieces. Who among us, living between heaven and earth, isn’t a piece on the board? From the start, Xiao Bei Chen faces the prospect of his city being massacred. He can either stretch out his neck and await death or rise up and fight back. Without hesitation, he chooses the latter. No one could have guessed that this fight would carve out 742Reads7.4Score—14d adds
- 31 The Emperor Beyond the Mountains 山那边的皇帝 Liu Feng's soul transmigrates into the Qing dynasty, where he becomes the foolish son of a landowner. He thinks he's finally going to enjoy the comfortable life of a rich landlord, but it turns out his father has no interest in being a landlord and decides to proclaim himself emperor instead. Liu Feng is forced onto the path of rebellion. People talk about sons who cause trouble for their fathers, but who knew fathers could cause trouble for their sons? From a backwater mountain village, an empe 463Reads5.0Score11314d adds
- 32 Rising to Power in Troubled Times 乱世登龙 History is a book, and I, too, can be the one to write it: through treachery and intrigue, through clashing blades and charging steeds. I will bring this chaotic age to an end, and usher in a golden age of my own! Where the smoke of war rises, an emperor is born! 17Reads—Score—14d adds
- 33 The Wolf Alliance's Elite Cavalry 狼盟骁骑 No transmigration, no System, just the way of the military. No cultivation, no idiots, an alternate world. A nation has its policies, and a ruler has his schemes. A general has his talents, and a minister his loyalty. Soldiers excel at battle, while heroes uphold the greater good. Hope is always beautiful, but reality is ultimately cruel. In chaotic times, how many can truly grasp the meaning of righteousness? Everyone wants to be a winner, yet everyone is a loser. Everyone talks about t —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 34 The Northern Wastelands in a Chaotic Age 乱世北荒 An alternate-history power fantasy with a slow build, this novel focuses on romance, beauty, warfare, and bloodshed... One nation falls, and ten thousand nations rise. After the ancient empire that unified the Northern Wasteland continent collapsed a thousand years ago, a thousand years of chaos began, as princes, nobles, heroes, warlords, and feudal lords all vied for supremacy. War and slaughter became the continent's eternal refrain, leaving the land devastated and its people in misery. Yet e 26Reads—Score—14d adds
- 35 Rebellion: I Lead an Army of Trillions to Force the Emperor to Abdicate 造反：我带领亿亿大军逼皇帝退位 (Decisive and ruthless + no saintly heroics + one female lead + never takes abuse + invincible + invincible + invincible...) The Prince of Beihuang, the Prince Who Guards the North, died. Zhou Kang, the heir who had been living a dissolute life, was driven out of Beihuang, without even knowing who was behind it all. By chance, he caught a chill. His subordinates left him soaking in a puddle until he died. Zhou Kang from a later age transmigrated into the Great Zhou dynasty, waking up in the heir 43Reads—Score—14d adds
- 36 The Nine Cauldrons of Heaven's Mandate 天命九鼎 In the final years of the dynasty, corrupt officials ran rampant and the people were left destitute. Heaven was outraged and the people were furious, so rebellions broke out across the land. Zhang Yi rose up with his followers, vowing to change this dark and brutal world once and for all. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 37 The Chu-Han War 楚汉战争 When the First Emperor dies at Shaqiu, a conspiracy quietly takes shape, set to determine whether the wheels of the Qin Empire can keep turning. War erupts everywhere, leaving the common people devastated and the land soaked in blood. As heroes contend for supremacy, who can bring the dawn to humanity? With suffering everywhere and every trade in decline, how can the realm usher in the golden age of the Han? 4.9kReads9.0Score15814d adds
- 38 From Borderland Soldier to God of Slaughter 开局边陲小兵，一路砍成杀神人屠 Lin Yuan transmigrates and becomes a cannon-fodder soldier on the battlefield, doomed to die. Enemy cavalrymen charge ahead, while executioners’ swords wait behind. Just as despair sets in, a cold mechanical voice suddenly sounds inside him! Behead an enemy, gain cultivation! One kill grants a year’s worth of power, while wiping out a squad earns a century’s worth! Cultivation is everything! He can infuse it instantly to break through realms and overcome bottlenecks, or exchange it for divine ar 77Reads6.6Score2314d adds
- 39 The Emperor Has Just Stripped the Princes of Their Fiefs, and I’ve Raised an Army in Rebellion! 皇帝刚削藩，我就起兵造反！ An alternate history with no System or cheat powers, focused on strategy and warfare. A ruler vies for the realm, the nobles for territory, the scholar-officials for power, the people of the world for status, and the common folk for food and clothing. If you are not in their position, you cannot understand what they are fighting for. Become a feudal lord, and think you can live the carefree life of a prince? That is merely what you imagine you would do as a lord, because you are not in that posi 719Reads5.3Score—14d adds
- 40 From Convict Soldier to Conqueror of Nations 从贼配军到灭国将军 Just got a rating, so it should go up [Alternate History + Rebel from the Start + Crossing the River to Fight the Jin + Cold Weapon Warfare + Hardcore System] Rebellion earns the mark of a traitor; when scholars rebel, they earn the mark of a traitorous Confucian. Sentenced soldiers are thrown into the Yellow River as expendable troops to cross it, condemned forever with no pardon. One enemy head earned through military service can redeem half a lifetime; three can wash away a lifetime of bloods 8Reads8.1Score—14d adds
- 41 A World in Chaos: From Soldier's Son to Regent 乱世风云，从兵户到摄政王 Who dares make such a scene here? What, you're from the Li clan of Wuchuan? Then no problem, carry on. The Li clan of Wuchuan believes in winning people over with virtue. If virtue fails, it can only mean our blades aren't sharp enough. Let me finish sharpening mine, then we'll talk it out. In this world of warring martial men, he is a soldier from a small town, working the fields. If no strategists come, he has one of his own. If no generals come, he has one of his own... Watch how he writes hi 3Reads—Score214d adds
- 42 The Fake Commandant 冒牌校尉 Yang Chen was an ordinary frontier soldier with no power, influence, or connections. Thanks to his extraordinary tolerance for alcohol, his superior temporarily assigned him to pose as an officer at a special banquet. But war broke out without warning. After narrowly escaping death, Yang Chen decided to keep up the act, using his assumed officer identity to raise a force and repel foreign enemies amid the chaos. He earned one distinction after another, and so began Yang Chen's turbulent, legenda 1.1kReads7.5Score10314d adds
- 43 Lord of the Northern Realm 北域之主 Jiang Feng transmigrates to an ancient era in a parallel world. Determined to make his dream of having three wives and four concubines come true, this farmer's son rides down the northern frontier and carves his way through the four corners of the realm. Once he has made a name for himself, he looks at the fierce, battle-hardened generals under his command and waves a hand. “Nothing to do today. Come with me to the pleasure quarter and enjoy some music.” 6.6kReads8.4Score62614d adds
- 44 An Age of Prosperity Forged with a Broken Blade 从一把破刀砍出的盛世 [Building a Dynasty + Developing a Faction + Military Spirit System] The demons are monstrous, feeding on humans. Barbarian armies invade, cruel and bloodthirsty. The moment Shi Wenyuan transmigrates, he finds himself on the battlefield between humans and demons, with the southern prefectures of Great Qian plunged into war. By killing enemy units, Shi Wenyuan can obtain military spirit fragments, which can be combined to create military spirits with miraculous powers. He can also grant these 269Reads7.7Score10614d adds
- 45 Transmigrated as a Bandit? I’ll Just Become Emperor 穿越山贼？我直接黄袍加身 [Alternate World] [War] [Conquest] [Rebellion] [System] Three centuries of the Great Qian dynasty, as courtiers rise and fall in endless strife. Powerful clans seize the land, leaving the people homeless; warlords command their armies and divide the realm. Northern horsemen raid the south again and again, leaving the land strewn with the dead and the cries of the suffering unending. Heaven and earth turn upside down; the tides of fate shift. A fallen bandit is reborn. Layer upon layer of iron ar 29Reads—Score—14d adds
- 46 Reborn in Huo Qubing's Body: I Pacify the Northern Frontier with My Iron Cavalry 魂穿霍去病：我以铁骑镇北疆 Lin Chen, a modern graduate student in history, unexpectedly finds himself reborn as Huo Qubing, the legendary general of the Han Dynasty. He sweeps through the northern deserts, earns the title of Wolf Mountain General, waters his horses at Lake Baikal, captures the Xiongnu Chanyu, and races thousands of miles to reclaim the southern frontier. He investigates the witchcraft scandal and crushes a rebellion that threatens the imperial clan. With one heroine and no harem, he rebuilds the military 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 47 Rome, Your Mom Says It's Time to Go to War 罗马，你妈喊你去打仗了 A new work is here! Beginning with the founding of Rome and continuing through the rule of the First Triumvirate, this book tells the legendary story of how Rome rose from a small city-state to become master of the Mediterranean, as well as the many classic battles fought along the way. In Rome's sweeping history of resurgence, many brave, selfless, and upright heroes emerge, from both the common people and the nobility. Together, they dedicate themselves heart and soul to the republic and make 8Reads—Score—14d adds
- 48 Making the Yellow Turban Rebellion: The Whole Internet Follows Me in Rebuilding the Han Dynasty 制作黄巾起义，全网随我再造大汉 [A people-centered view of history + Zhang Jue of the Yellow Turbans + rigorous use of historical sources] Lu Chuan transmigrates to Blue Star, where virtual brain-computer interface technology is incredibly advanced! What? Blue Star's gaming giant actually copied my hit game using an algorithm, then turned around and accused me of stealing from them? Then I'll just bring out real history and shatter the fake glory in their game Plague! Drought! Floods! Official corruption! Aristocratic families 40Reads—Score514d adds
- 49 My Fiancée Married My Archenemy, So I'm Done Playing the Fool 未婚妻转嫁仇敌，这傻子我不装了 Special Forces king Chen Fan transmigrates into the body of an idiot from a duke’s household. From the start, his family is falsely accused of treason. His twelve elder brothers are killed, his grandfather is stripped of his title and demoted to a commoner, and his fiancée publicly breaks off their engagement to marry their enemy... In their darkest hour, twelve stunning sisters-in-law step forward and compete to look after Chen Fan, determined to ensure he continues the family line. The eldest 3.7kReads7.8Score70514d adds
- 50 I Transmigrated to Another World and Built the Great Tang Empire 穿越到异界建立大唐帝国 After transmigrating to the Qi-Magic Continent, a world much like medieval Europe, Li Yang is completely unfazed. Watch as he earns military honors step by step and claims the throne. So what if there are countless empires? The strategy of allying with distant powers and attacking nearby ones is wisdom passed down by our ancestors in Huaxia. Form the Divine Mechanized Battalion. So what if the enemy has a million armored soldiers? Kill! Form the Bu Liang Ren. Anyone who refuses to obey gets kill 3Reads—Score—14d adds
