Novels like It Starts with a Mercenary Army
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as It Starts with a Mercenary Army, best match first.
- 51 Rising to Rule the World, Starting as a Foot Soldier 从小兵开始称霸天下 Xiao Qi was China's strongest special forces soldier. He died a hero while carrying out an overseas mission, but he wasn't dead after all. He had transmigrated to the Great Zhou dynasty, a realm on the verge of collapse. To stay alive, he rose step by step from a lowly soldier, winning glory for himself along the way. 592Reads8.8Score—14d adds
- 52 A New Path at the End of the Tang Dynasty 唐末新轨 Li Mingyuan, a modern social science researcher, transmigrated to the eve of the Huang Chao Rebellion and joined the rebel army as a refugee. Drawing on modern management ideas, he carved out his own domain amid the chaos, established a base, created a system of decentralized governance, and introduced reforms. As the old order crumbled, he used institutional innovation to contend with the regional warlords and rebel forces, seeking a new path that united the ancient and modern worlds in the tur 56Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 53 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 30Reads—Score—14d adds
- 54 My Fate Is Mine to Command, Not Heaven's! 我命，由我不由天！ The story of a charcoal seller's boy, a dazzling life of breaking through every obstacle. He suppresses the rebel princes. On foot, he wields an invincible Mo Dao, cutting down men and horses alike. He sets out to crush the barbarian tribes. On horseback, his spear moves like a dragon, leaving death and devastation in his wake. On the battlefield, he kills without mercy, piling up such a mountain of blood debt that people call him the King of Hell. In the world of politics, he charges straight a 1.7kReads8.4Score12214d adds
- 55 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! 18Reads—Score—14d adds
- 56 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 25Reads—Score—14d adds
- 57 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 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 58 That Year, That Blade, That World of Rivers and Lakes, That Imperial Court 那年，那刀，那江湖，那庙堂 [Transmigration] + [Alternate World] + [Court Politics] + [Jianghu] + [No System] The special forces king Zhao Chen transmigrates into the body of the heir to the Marquis of Dingguo, a frail scholar. Unfortunately, soon after arriving in the Great Xia Kingdom, his father is framed and dies on the battlefield, his mother dies of grief, and his hereditary title is coveted by the second branch of the family. Watch as he escapes his predicament, leaves the capital, abandons literature for martial ar 27.6kReads8.2Score4.8k14d adds
- 59 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
- 60 Reborn in Another World: From Foot Soldier to Emperor 魂穿异界：从小兵到皇帝 An adventure and conquest story about special forces soldiers who find themselves in another world. With no System, they start out as ordinary soldiers and fight alongside their comrades, crushing bandit rebellions and repelling foreign invaders, including white invaders. They build their own warlord state, then fight to seize the realm after the corrupt imperial house loses it. A tale of blood and grit. Come make friends with the author. 114Reads—Score114d adds
- 61 A Hero in Troubled Times: The King Who Stands Shoulder to Shoulder with the Emperor 乱世枭雄之一字并肩王 In a turbulent age, only power determines who lives and who dies. Chu Ran rose from bandit to high-ranking court official, every step upward taken over a trail of corpses. He put down internal rebellions, reclaimed lost territory, and introduced new policies, making Great Xia wealthy and strong. He was granted the title “Prince Equal to the Emperor,” his power towering over all under heaven! 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 62 The Han Dynasty 大汉王朝 Across the vast Tengger Grassland, tribes battle by the law of the jungle, with war fires burning and bloodshed everywhere! Tribal warriors, curved sabers and sharp arrows, fine horses and armor: these determine who can enslave others in the chaos of the grasslands, and who will be enslaved in turn. Curved sabers wielded by grassland riders clash with the longswords of noble knights; nomadic warriors swift as the wind face the armies of lords entrenched in their castles. Fire and steel collide, 1.2kReads8.7Score10314d adds
- 63 Great Waves Rise from Gentle Ripples 浪成于微澜 The wind rises at the tips of duckweed; the waves begin with the smallest ripples. In Guangyang City, a burly man casually places a stinking Fanyang hat on a beggar’s head. “From now on, you’re a soldier of Great Liang!” The beggar looks helplessly at the mangled corpse beside him. A battle cry rings out from the distant city wall... He fought across three thousand miles in a lifetime, his sword once holding back a million troops. Thirty years later, before a dilapidated temple, a dignified old 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 64 Empire Game: Conquer the World, Starting with a Rebellion! 帝国游戏：从起义开始征服天下！ The grand strategy game Empire Under Heaven took the world by storm as soon as it was released. Yet its chief designer, Ji Lin, mysteriously disappeared at that very moment. “How did I transmigrate into the game?!” Knowing full well that the empire was nearing its end and that the land was about to descend into chaos, Ji Lin declared, “I designed the whole game. What can you possibly use to fight me?” Come and add a little excitement to this decaying empire! “Are kings and generals born to t 22Reads—Score—14d adds
- 65 The Tale of Dacheng: A Lone Fortress Beyond the Frontier 大成故事之塞外孤城 Xu Jing and Wang Lie are the garrison commanders of Liangchuan City on the northwestern frontier of the Great Cheng Kingdom. For more than ten years, they have repeatedly repelled invasions from the Western Yao Kingdom. In the twentieth year of Wucheng, Chancellor Qin Guo rebels and conspires with the Western Yao army to invade. With internal turmoil and external threats stirring up a bloody storm, what will Xu Jing and Wang Lie do...? 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 66 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 13Reads—Score—14d adds
- 67 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
- 68 The Abandoned Son-in-Law's Rise 弃婿崛起之路 I’m a useless little scholar who can neither write nor fight? You look down on us country bumpkins? You want to break off the engagement? I couldn’t care less. I did a great deed, and instead of rewarding me, you want to kill me? You won’t let me live, huh? Then I’ll lead the people in rebellion. You got a problem with that? Let me, a 21st-century special forces soldier from the Dragon Kingdom, give you all a crash course in nine years of compulsory education. 223Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 69 Reborn as the Ruler of a Fallen Kingdom 重生之亡国之君 Xiao Lin was a mercenary commander in his previous life. He died during a mission and transmigrated into the body of an ancient emperor whose kingdom had fallen. In this troubled empire, beset on all sides, he is hunted down by rival factions... Through relentless effort, he establishes a foothold, fights to survive, and reclaims the imperial throne! Alternate history + transmigration + reborn 9Reads—Score—14d adds
- 70 The Ultimate Red Envelope 最强红包 One day, just before his college entrance exams, Li Yi suddenly found himself in a chat group called “East-Western Gods Friendship Chat Group.” It was full of mythology-obsessed fans arguing and spamming under the names of Eastern and Western gods, occasionally sending red packets to show off their wealth. But after Li Yi claimed one of the red packets, he discovered that these jokers were actually the real gods! Ding! You claimed Matchmaker Yue Lao’s red packet. “Red Thread of Fate” has been ad 585Reads7.9Score10014d adds
- 71 A Game of Mountains and Rivers: Schemes in Troubled Times 山河弈：乱世谋 They say poor families produce no great men? Then you haven't met someone truly ruthless. Ling Ce, a graduate student in history, opens his eyes to find himself a low-ranking official from a poor family on the northern frontier, beaten to death. He has studied the Twenty-Four Histories, witnessed the rise and fall of dynasties, and mastered the art of political scheming. As sandstorms rise on the northern frontier, he uses brilliant tactics to defeat his enemies and secure his footing amid mount 43Reads—Score—14d adds
- 72 On My First Day After Transmigrating, My Father Tried to Poison Me 穿越第一天老爹竟给我下毒 Li Bufan was just about to marry the woman he loved when one drunken night sent his soul to another world, where five kingdoms were locked in a struggle for supremacy reminiscent of the Tang and Song eras. There, he went hungry and cold, and was forcibly conscripted. Rising from squad leader to centurion to supreme general, he fought through bloodshed and narrowly escaped death time and again. At last, using his ingenuity, he built sleds and made caltrops, keeping the enemy constantly off guard. 2kReads8.7Score19814d adds
- 73 The Prince in a Time of Chaos 乱世皇子 A student at a third-rate university in the twenty-first century transmigrates into the body of a prince in another world. He thinks he can live a carefree life, but fate has other plans. Exiled to the frontier, he endures a life full of hardships and ultimately becomes a wise ruler of his age. 14Reads—Score—14d adds
- 74 Devouring the Frontier 吞疆 [Jianghu + political intrigue + battlefield] A country boy from a small town, living in a turbulent age, does whatever it takes to survive and gradually rises to the throne of a great warlord! From then on, he dominates the Nine Provinces and devours vast territories! 36Reads—Score—14d adds
- 75 Fierce Zhao: From Breaking Out of Changping to Unifying China 悍赵：从长平突围到一统华夏 The ratings have just come in, and things are looking promising… Reborn in the Warring States era + war + power plays and diplomacy + court intrigue + defending the nation's borders + a Red Tide + love and hatred amid the flames of war History is just a backdrop. This is a different kind of story. The mighty Zhao has always been home to men of passion and song, who prize loyalty and righteousness above life itself. At the Battle of Changping, not one man retreated or surrendered. Not one soug 74Reads7.1Score—14d adds
- 76 A Nightmare Start: My Grandfather Is Emperor Yang of Sui 天坑开局我的祖父是隋炀帝 Yang You was delighted to transmigrate as an imperial grandson. But being the grandson of Emperor Yang of Sui meant things were doomed from the start. Yang You didn’t want to become Emperor Gong of Sui and die without even knowing why. How could he survive the chaotic final years of the Sui dynasty? Yang You was deeply troubled… The wheels of history rumbled onward, as one warlord after another took the stage: Li Mi, Yuwen Huaji, Dou Jiande, Wang Shichong, Li Yuan, and many more… 732Reads6.6Score—14d adds
- 77 A Hegemony for the Ages 千秋霸业 A true man born between Heaven and Earth should have ambition enough to swallow the world! The sun and moon lose their light, the natural order is overturned, and the Southern Liang and Northern Wei divide the realm between them! This is an age shared by ambitious schemers and master plotters, when heroes and warlords rise one after another! 2.8kReads8.0Score16314d adds
- 78 Iron Horses and Icy Rivers Haunt My Dreams 铁马冰河潜入梦 #Alternate history, passion, warfare, political intrigue, romance, defending home and country# Watch a passionate young man grow step by step on the battlefield. Watch him ride across the land, settling scores and savoring every victory. Passion, comrades-in-arms, warfare, political intrigue, revenge, and romance: watch how he uses hard work, resilience, intelligence, and courage to protect the Great Chu Dynasty. 1.1kReads8.4Score10414d adds
- 79 Transmigrating to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms as an Empress 穿越到五代十国当女帝 I'm an ordinary female liberal arts student. After an accident, I transmigrated to the Later Jin and became Shi Jingtang's youngest daughter. I put my knowledge of history to use, sweeping across the land with a million troops, conquering the eight corners of the world, uniting the four seas, and winning the hearts of all under heaven. I gathered the finest weapons, recruited elite troops, armed myself to the teeth, and joined the heroes of the land in vying for supremacy over the Central Plains 804Reads—Score—14d adds
- 80 Transmigrated to the Northern Song, I Get a Million Heavy Cavalry Through Sign-In 穿越北宋，签到获得百万重骑 [Transmigration]+ [Sign-In]+ [Unify the World] Qi Xiao transmigrated to the second year of the Jingkang era in the Northern Song Dynasty and obtained a sign-in System. Congratulations, sign-in successful: reward, one heavy cavalryman! Qi Xiao: “Zhao Gou! Why did you rebel?” Qi Xiao: “There are a hundred different ways to write the word ‘hello,’ and none of them recognize one another. It's extremely inconvenient. Once I unify the world, I will abolish all those miscellaneous scripts and leave onl 15.8kReads7.3Score1.1k14d adds
- 81 I’ll Start a Rebellion from the Start 开局要造反 What? The county magistrate's arrested my sister! How can I let that stand? Even if I have to blow up the county yamen and destroy the prison, I'll rescue her. What the heck is going on? The lands of Jiuzhou are divided, and corrupt ministers hold sway. The foreign tribes surrounding the Great Ye Empire are stirring, plotting to wreak havoc across the land... 16Reads—Score—14d adds
- 82 I Had to Marry Into Good Fortune on the Day I Transmigrated 穿越当天居然要为我冲喜 One heroine: Yang Zhang transmigrates into the frail, sickly only son of a merchant family, but his illness is part of a conspiracy. To survive and turn the situation around, he must tread carefully, as if walking on thin ice. A military career? Or the imperial examinations? Everything begins to change when the most beautiful woman in Xianzhou becomes his bride, sent to bring him good fortune. For his sake and for the people he cares about, he keeps trying to find a way forward. 7Reads5.5Score—14d adds
- 83 Warhawk: The Flying General of the Frontier 战枭：边关飞将 Loyal bones lie buried beneath every green hill. Why return wrapped in horsehide? This is the story of a hero, and of a whole company of heroes! The end of one era, and the dawn of another! 79Reads—Score—14d adds
- 84 Spear and Iron Horse in the Reflection 映戈铁马 [A Disgraced Heir’s Comeback: The Ultimate Game of Political Intrigue for the Throne] [From the Imperial Court to Conquest Beyond the Frontier] Is a world of fairness that eats away at your bones and rusts your skin truly beyond the reach of fate? In an age where sinews are severed and bones buried, can one really scheme with precision and restraint??????? 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 85 The Legend of the Wind Wraith 风诡传说 By a twist of fate, Shangguan Xiu obtains the ancient Forbidden Martial Art, Random Transformation. He also accidentally discovers the proper way to cultivate his family's Forbidden Martial Spirit Devourer, changing his life forever. He can transform in countless ways, with a face like a ghost; he comes and goes without a trace, like a ghost; and his cunning, changeable mind and mercurial temperament are just as ghostly. This is the tale of an ordinary young man’s passionate rise from obscurity 868Reads7.5Score12214d adds
- 86 Fighting to Survive, Yet Becoming a Great General 为生存而战却成为大将军 When an ordinary person is out of luck in real life, no matter how hard they try, they can't change their circumstances. Carrying memories of their former life, they live again in another world torn by war. How do they grow, step by step? 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 87 I Transmigrated to Ancient Times, and After My Business Failed, I Had No Choice but to Rebel 穿越古代，经商失败的我只好造反 Modern young man Li Qi accidentally transmigrates to ancient times. With the help of a System, he initially plans to make his way as a merchant. But as a farmer with no connections to protect him, he nearly gets killed for his money. If the merchant's path is closed, then I have no choice but to raise an army and rebel. In two and a half years, he overthrows the Dacheng Dynasty. In the year after founding his own kingdom, he subdues the northern nomads and wipes out his fishing-and-hunting neigh 446Reads6.6Score—14d adds
- 88 Summoning Fierce Generals: Rising from a Nation's Refugees 召唤猛将：从亡国流民开始崛起 [Summoning Mighty Generals] [Surviving in a Chaotic Age] [Alternate History] [Warring States] [Barbarian Invasion] Xiao Liang awakens a summoning interface. Amid a chaotic age of fallen kingdoms and shattered families, he summons elite troops and mighty generals, struggling to survive before ultimately uniting the warring states, sweeping across the eight directions, and bringing all lands under his rule! 740Reads6.5Score—14d adds
- 89 Chronicles of War-Torn Times 乱世烽火录 In the final years of the Yue dynasty, the court that had ruled for over three hundred years could not escape its fate. Great Yue fell apart, and warlords who had built up their own forces across the land emerged onto the stage. Uprisings raged without end within the realm, while the subjugated tribes stirred restlessly. To the north, the Hu barbarians of the grasslands watched like tigers, poised to strike, and launched a massive invasion south! In a time of troubles within and threats without, 8Reads—Score—14d adds
- 90 One Bowl of Instant Ham Noodles, and I Somehow Became Emperor!? 一碗火腿泡面，我竟黄袍加身！？ Lin Beixuan transmigrates into an ancient dynasty just as chaos descends and famine ravages the land! Rebel armies rise across the realm, and the court teeters on the brink of collapse. Yet he becomes nothing more than a low-ranking garrison commander at a remote pass on the northern frontier. Beyond the pass, rebel forces swarm like locusts. Within it, his men are so gaunt they can barely lift their swords! How is he supposed to defend this city?! Just as Lin Beixuan is about to pack his things 83Reads6.6Score—14d adds
- 91 In a Chaotic Age: Conquering the World, Starting with the Frontier Army 乱世：从边军开始逐鹿天下 [Action-packed]+ [Conquest]+ [Agriculture]+ [No System] From a centurion of a defeated army to the lord of Dingzhou, from a lone city to sweeping across the northern frontier. Everyone thought he was defending the borders of Great Zhou, until his cavalry crossed Dingzhou's border. Only then did the world understand: He didn't intend to shore up this broken table. He meant to overturn it and replace it with a new one. “I have no interest in serving Great Zhou. I'll set the rules for this chaotic 6.9kReads7.2Score48914d adds
- 92 I Transmigrated to Ancient Times as a Woman, and I Have Two Huge Pecs 穿越古代做女子，我有两块大胸肌 After transmigrating, Gu Tong felt like something about his body was a little different... “Tong Xuan, stop slapping him... Keep it up and he’ll die!” “Say one more word, and I’ll slap you too!” -.- The author is hiding here! 234Reads—Score—14d adds
- 93 When the Wind Rises, the Song Never Ends 风起尽长歌 An alternate history setting. No transmigration, no System, no golden finger, no one-man army. Military affairs take center stage as heroes vie for supremacy. This is a cruel age. From the windblown deserts beyond the frontier to the picturesque, rain-soaked lands south of the Yangtze, people praise the splendor of this great land. Yet it lies barren for thousands of miles, and its people struggle to survive. Everyone is swept up in the tide, rolling inexorably forward. Young men should ride swi 206Reads7.3Score—14d adds
- 94 A Beggar in Troubled Times, Painting the World into Order 乱世乞丐，画定天下 Young artist Shen Yan dies suddenly after staying up all night painting, and his soul merges with that of a sixteen-year-old beggar from the Great Xuan Dynasty. He discovers that his magical paintbrush can bring whatever he paints into reality. But he is nearly starving to death, and the brush can only be used on the night of a full moon. With rebels rising everywhere and foreign tribes invading, he decides to use the brush to rewrite the fate of the realm and paint a peaceful, prosperous age. 15Reads—Score—14d adds
- 95 Returning to Ancient Times to Become the Prince of Yan 回到古代做燕王 The male protagonist accidentally transmigrated to a dynasty called Great Xia. As soon as he arrived, he was beaten with the paddle. With no other choice, he fled the capital and returned to his fief, where he kept a low profile and built up his strength. He governed benevolently, improved people's lives, fought off foreign invasions, and quelled rebellions at home, ultimately rising to the throne. 1.2kReads8.5Score10014d adds
- 96 A Solitary Shadow Over the Realm 江山孤影 A discarded pawn on the board, yet determined to overturn the entire game! Shen Yan, the illegitimate son of the Minister of Revenue, has astonishing talent but humble origins, leaving him no choice but to serve as a low-ranking officer in Chang’an’s Imperial Guards. While impartially enforcing the law, he arrests the prime minister’s son for assaulting someone in broad daylight. It is a satisfying act of justice, but it also earns him the enmity of a powerful figure who dominates the court. A 27Reads—Score—14d adds
- 97 The King's Journey Begins as a Slave 从奴隶开始的国王之路 [Fantasy] [Urban] [Conquest] [Decisive and Ruthless] [Ensemble Cast Focus] [Beast Taming] After spending several months as a slave, Gao Yun looked at the generations of slaves in the Sky Nation and, once he got out, decided to do something for its people. What he never expected was that the Urban nation of Giant Rock, at the forefront of reform, would be ruled by gangs and capitalists. Knowing he could not change things yet, Gao Yun began to build his power, starting in Jianggang City. “By day, 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 98 The Great General Who Protects the Nation 护国大将军 After getting drunk and falling into a sewer, Wang Zheng somehow transmigrates to the baffling Zheng Dynasty. From then on, he begins a life of warfare and beautiful women at his side. This is a lighthearted, humorous story that feels close to everyday life. 5Reads8.3Score—14d adds
- 99 Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms: From Squad Leader to Master of the Shattered Tang! 五代十国：从伍长开始逐鹿残唐！ In 898, the first year of the Guanghua era at the end of the Tang dynasty, warlords carve up the land and fight among themselves. Rituals and morality have collapsed, people trade children for food, and the world is a living hell. Liu Rengong, military governor of Lulong, brazenly betrays Li Keyong and swallows up three military districts. Lu Yanwei, military governor of Yichang, flees to Weibo in defeat. It is at this moment that Wang Zhongmu arrives in this era, becoming a lowly squad leader a 64.7kReads8.5Score7.7k14d adds
- 100 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
