Novels like The Road to Power: Who Holds the Reins?
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as The Road to Power: Who Holds the Reins?, best match first.
- 1 Contending for the Realm of Mountains and Rivers 山河问鼎 What should you do if your marriage, career, and family all betray you at once? Lie flat? Zhao Shanhe isn't that kind of person. If fate won't favor someone from an ordinary background, then it's time to take a gamble. Follow the story of an underling in a powerful family who fights his way to the top... 45Reads8.7Score—14d adds
- 2 A Weathered Political Career 沧桑官途 Without attaching himself to power, and without using it to bully others, Gong Zheng unexpectedly embarked on a career in public service. Starting by taking the fall for the county Party secretary, he skillfully leveraged every opportunity and rose steadily through the ranks, while also experiencing the ups and downs of officialdom... 147Reads—Score—14d adds
- 3 A Prodigy's Path to Power 天骄仕途 The world of officialdom is full of unseen clashes and schemes, ruthless enough to kill without spilling a drop of blood! It may look like flowers embroidered on brocade, but beneath the surface, it’s a pot boiling over a raging fire! Lu Mingyuan, a small-town exam grinder, rose from humble beginnings, enjoyed a meteoric career, took command of power, and improved people’s lives, composing a magnificent chapter for a new era! 8Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 4 The Years of '92: Pressing On with My Father 九二岁月：伴父砥砺前行 Back in his childhood in 1992, Lin Chen watches helplessly as his honest, hardworking father is about to fall into a trap in the world of politics. In his previous life, his father was sabotaged by a schemer and missed out on a promotion, spending half his life at the grassroots level while the whole family endured poverty. Armed with memories of the future, Lin Chen becomes the strategist behind the scenes. He avoids traps, builds a record of achievements, and exposes conspiracies, paving his f 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 5 Reborn: The Storm Rises Again 重生之风云再起 After offending the powerful, his father is thrown into prison and he himself comes under investigation. Overcome with rage, he is reborn in 1992! A daring rescue and a shake-up at work launch him into a turbulent race for promotion. With memories from twenty years in the future, the old hands at the office are no match for him. The lessons and experience of his past life let him thrive as he stirs up the world, bides his time, builds his network, and plots each step, growing from powerful to ev 28Reads6.6Score—14d adds
- 6 Staying True to Your Mission: The Way of an Official 不忘初心之为官之道 Reporter Zhuang Ziyou and prosecutor Lin Ruoxi fell in love at first sight while catching a Peeping Tom, and soon began a sweet and thrilling life together. Other couples go shopping to flirt. These two go shopping to catch thieves! Corrupt officials? They expose every one they find! The underworld? You’re not getting away either! As they take on corruption and organized crime, Zhuang Ziyou rises step by step from a humble reporter to a career in government. But the road through officialdom is f 124Reads—Score—14d adds
- 7 The Road to Power: From Secretary to the Top 权力之路：从秘书走向巅峰 Song Siming, a master's graduate of Dongda, was recruited by Donghai Television through its talent program. He worked hard but had no knack for sucking up, so his immediate superior kept him down. His wife was unfaithful, and his in-laws looked down on him. The only thing keeping him going was his beloved son, until a paternity test report shattered him. Just when all seemed lost, a glimmer of hope appeared: an older alumnus from Dongda had become a prominent figure in Donghai City, and Song Sim 65Reads8.9Score—14d adds
- 8 Rising Through the Ranks: Starting as a Township Chief 平步青云：从乡长开始 Wu Zheng, a cadre reassigned to a new post, faced a hostile welcome on his very first day as township chief. Using his iron-fisted methods, he launched a determined counterattack, climbed one step at a time, and rose to the pinnacle of power. As he advanced, the daughter of a high-ranking official became his confidante, while a group CEO became his close friend. Together, they worked to give ordinary people a better life. 147Reads8.3Score—14d adds
- 9 Demoted, I Found My Career in Officialdom Had a Cheat Code 被降职后，我的仕途开了挂 In the world of politics, you either move forward or fall behind. So what if I was framed and demoted! One act of courage brings a beautiful, wealthy woman into my life and sets me on a new path. When I rise again, I'll cut through every obstacle, ride the current against the tide, and reach the pinnacle of power... 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 10 Officialdom: After Putting Myself on the Line, I Rose Straight to the Top 官场：以身入局后，我青云直上 [Authentic Political Intrigue] [Highly Anticipated] [No System] [No Mindless Plot] Serving in government is both a technical skill and an art. It calls for political tactics, but even more so for political wisdom. Gu Mingchuan has barely become a secretary to a Party committee secretary when he falls victim to one underhanded scheme after another. Watch as he navigates both sides of the political arena, turns the tables, and climbs step by step to the pinnacle of power! 8.6kReads7.9Score89514d adds
- 11 The Officialdom Wordsmith: A Pen in Hand, I Forge My Career 官场文人：手握笔杆闯仕途 [Contemporary Political Novel] Li Chuang, a rural schoolteacher, changes his fate against all odds when an unusual article of his is published in a provincial newspaper, opening the door to a career in government. Making good use of his strengths, he earns the leaders' esteem and finds smooth sailing in his career. He learns the rules of survival and the philosophy of getting along in officialdom, reads people and situations, and knows when to go with the flow and draw on others' support. Naviga 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 12 Officialdom: Brother, I Thank Your Ancestors for Eight Generations! 官场：兄弟，我谢你八辈祖宗！ Let's set out again with Gao Weijun! The end of your past life was merely someone else's beginning. You were played for a fool without even realizing it. Not this time! Watch as these brothers stand shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand, and walk the road together! Stop falling out with people at the drop of a hat. That's childish! 33Reads6.9Score—14d adds
- 13 Officialdom: Power in Interwoven Hands 官场：权利交织 Shang Quancai never expected that simply bragging would let two women turn the tables on him. He didn't want to lose face in front of them, so if he bragged to the point where nobody could prove him wrong, then it wouldn't count as bragging, right? Wasn't there a saying in official circles that nothing is impossible, only people who can't get things done? Besides, once you've taken a dump, can you really sit back down in it? 219Reads6.1Score10814d adds
- 14 Reborn After Disaster: The Rise of a Powerful Official's Son 劫后重生：进击的官二代 In a busy downtown district, a public bus explodes in broad daylight. Huang Weiming, a driver who used to chauffeur a leader, becomes a pawn in this carefully orchestrated struggle. At the moment his life slips away, he is unexpectedly reborn as Zhou Mingyang, the son of a high-ranking official. Before, he was a nobody at the very bottom of the unofficial pecking order. After being reborn, he wants it all: power, status, money, and beautiful women! In the arena of power, he treads carefully a 13Reads—Score—14d adds
- 15 The Road to Office and Commerce: My Wife and Child Are in a Parallel World 官路商途：妻儿却在平行时空 A lone wolf in the political arena, unstoppable on the official path: Zhang Ping, a minor county government clerk reborn, rises steadily through the ranks with his fragmentary memories of the future. He maneuvers across the political landscape and amasses tremendous power, yet remains utterly alone. When the timelines converge, he would rather give up his empire than seize back the life that belongs to him! 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 16 Power Struggles: The Organization Department Sends Me Down to the Grassroots 官场争锋：我被组织部下派去基层 This is a cathartic rebirth novel set in the world of officialdom. In his previous life, Qin Zhen was betrayed and turned into a tool for others to purge their rivals, meeting a tragic end. Reborn before the turn of the millennium, he sees through everything, rejects his girlfriend's arrangements, and joins a provincial government agency, becoming a deputy section chief in the Organization Department. Before long, he is sent down to the grassroots as a deputy township head. From then on, he soar 3Reads5.8Score—14d adds
- 17 The Eighth Book by Yan Hai Qiong Tu 沿海穷途的第8本书 My new work is out! You can read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you enjoy it. Your support motivates me to write, and I'll do my best to tell every story well! 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 18 Reborn to a Career in Officialdom 重生之官运 Wu Zhuoran, a university graduate selected for a government post with no connections to rely on, stumbles into politics by chance. With his intelligence and courage, and through tireless effort, he makes like-minded friends, resists temptation, and challenges and defeats every obstacle in his way, step by step reaching the pinnacle of his political career and his life... 100Reads6.3Score—14d adds
- 19 The Road to Power 官路之权倾天下 Hong Liang is reborn with the memories and foresight of his previous life. Starting as the director of the Education Bureau's Supervision Office, he fights his way up through officialdom. His achievements in combating corruption and criminal gangs bring him to the attention of senior leaders. With a heart devoted to serving the people and a vision of benefiting the world, he endures the hardships and obstacles of grassroots work, gradually becoming an official beloved by the people. The organiza 36Reads—Score—14d adds
- 20 The Road to Power: Rising Step by Step from the Grassroots 官道雄途：从基层开始步步高升 [Officialdom] + [Political Intrigue] In the early 1990s, the winds of change were sweeping across the land. The entire nation was cautiously trying to adapt to a new world. A young man rose from humble beginnings, keeping pace with the times as he climbed step by step to the pinnacle of power. 28Reads5.9Score—14d adds
- 21 Reborn: Seeking Justice in the Political Arena 重生之宦海寻凶 He had once enjoyed a brilliant political career, with a smooth path to advancement, but was persecuted and framed as a corrupt official. He was thrown in prison and even lost his life. Reborn, he will personally kill his enemies and protect his family. Amid the shifting currents of officialdom, he will follow roughly the same path as in his previous life, expose the real culprit, and clear his name. In the political arena, he will use the advantages of being reborn to foresee the future, choose —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 22 Tides of the Political Arena 宦海沉浮 After more than twenty years as an official, Zhang Yanyu suddenly returned to the 1990s after an accident, carrying twenty years of historical memories. Would he be able to change the course of events? Watch as the family’s once-neglected, useless son gradually becomes its leading figure. Stay tuned! His sudden rise, however, made him a stumbling block to those whose official careers had once been smooth sailing. See how he cuts through every obstacle along the way. The tides of officialdom rise —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 23 Destined to Be a Secretary 命中注定是秘书 This is a realistic political drama set in the world of government, told from the perspective of a leader’s secretary. It offers a look at the changing currents of officialdom and the many sides of life. Hu Tianyou starts out as the secretary to a county Party committee secretary, rising from a junior secretary to a senior one as he faces countless twists and turns in his career. The story offers both eye-opening political wisdom and a rich emotional journey for its hero and heroine, making it w 320Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 24 The Mission of Justice 正义的使命 Life is a play, and fate takes its course. He cares for the people and serves the public selflessly. Amid a tangled web of circumstances, Li Yuanlang cuts through obstacles and faces every challenge head-on, composing a magnificent chapter for a new era!! 16.5kReads9.3Score10014d adds
- 25 From the Yellow and Huai Rivers to the Clouds 黄淮布衣入青云 A major work of realistic political fiction about personal growth. In the early 1980s, in the impoverished floodplain where Anhui, Shandong, and Henan meet, Lin Yanqiu is born into a poor farming family whose generations have worked the land. He breaks free from the fate of the countryside through diligent study. In high school, an inspiring teacher awakens his ideals; at university, a mentor broadens his horizons. After graduation, he puts down roots at the grassroots level and enters public se —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 26 A Meteoric Rise in Politics 仕途狂飙 Beneath the vast heavens, soaring across the land of Jiuzhou. Lin Xiao's boss suddenly fell off a cliff. Was it an accident, murder, or suicide to escape prosecution? His life took a sharp turn. Exiled to the most remote township, he never recovered. Then, while helping fight a flood, he was caught in an accident. When he woke up, he came face-to-face with his first love, Miao Hui. Miao Hui awakened a man who had been pretending to sleep. From then on, he stopped holding back and charged ahead a 1.1kReads9.2Score19214d adds
- 27 The Mind of an Official 官念 There are ten ranks in the official hierarchy. The higher the position, the greater the power. Wu Youliang starts his political career as a lowly village official without an official post, transforming from a passionate young college student into a shrewd veteran who has weathered the ups and downs of political life. After rising to a high position, he retires with honor. At last, he comes to understand the true nature of power. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 28 The Road to Power: A Nobody's Rise to the Top 官道：小人物的权势巅峰 You have to give it your all at least once to earn the right, someday in the future, to raise a glass of cheap wine to the self who refused to settle for an ordinary life! Li Tao, a subordinate, and his superior Bai Yulu support each other through the political arena, cutting through every obstacle as they climb together to the pinnacle of power!!! 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 29 The Ups and Downs of Officialdom: It All Began When a Leader Jumped from a Building 宦海沉浮：从领导跳楼开始 Zhu Tianyu has faced setbacks for half his life. Rumors about his girlfriend have set tongues wagging, and people keep eyeing the company under his management. With one obstacle after another in this difficult world, watch as he turns the tide and defeats his rivals! 10Reads—Score—14d adds
- 30 Changing Shi Dakai’s Fate, Starting at the Dadu River 改变石达开命运，从大渡河开始 There is a System, with a focus on realistic history and an ordinary golden finger. This isn't a mindless power fantasy where the System raises an army for the protagonist. If that bothers you, don't read this. Shi Dingqing, a third-year university student, transmigrates into the body of a low-ranking soldier under Shi Dakai, the Wing King of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. It's May 1863, and Shi Dakai will be defeated and die in June. Shi Dingqing is currently marching alongside him. How is this 5Reads8.0Score—14d adds
- 31 The Political Arena 宦海 [Political intrigue + satisfying revenge] “Hold office and bring blessings to the people!” Song Yang, who grew up in a small mountain village, stumbled into officialdom by chance. Since he was there, he decided to make the best of it. He overcame one obstacle after another, braving every challenge as he contended with forces from all sides, while one tale of love and hatred after another unfolded around him. His highest principle, from beginning to end, was to serve the people’s interests, and i 126Reads6.4Score—14d adds
- 32 The Game of Power 权利的游戏 Reborn in 2001, Gao Yuan decides he won’t lie flat anymore. He’ll ride the waves and fight his way forward in officialdom. Subtle dealings and favors, ruthless political power struggles, intense clashes of ideals, and the unpredictable ups and downs of a career in government. This is the story of a young official’s journey of transformation. 498Reads7.4Score10314d adds
- 33 The Debtor 欠债人 Bian Xiangyang was drowning in debt. Overwhelmed after his divorce, he jumped into a river to end his life, but Jiang Zihao happened to be there and stopped him. Jiang hatched a sinister scheme and hired him for two million yuan to murder his mistress, Wang Lili. But Bian was completely won over by Wang Lili's beauty and courage. He learned that everything she did was for revenge, came to understand her, and fell in love with her. He went on to climb the career ladder and begin a new life... The 11Reads—Score—14d adds
- 34 The Laws of Power: A Discarded Son-in-Law's Road to Success 权力法则，废婿的青云之路 A flood changes Chen Fei’s fate. The son-in-law everyone sees as a loser is the apple of his superiors’ eyes. As he makes his way through the long road of officialdom, he relies on exceptional courage and wisdom to navigate the rules of power, ultimately rising to prominence. 2.3kReads7.4Score23514d adds
- 35 Reborn: From Suspension and Self-Criticism to the Pinnacle of Power 重生：从停职检讨到权力巅峰 (This book needs extensive revisions, so updates are temporarily suspended.) You only get a few chances in life to give it your all. Returning to 1997 with memories of his past life, he starts by writing a self-criticism after being suspended, then rides the tide upward, rises rapidly through the ranks, and ultimately reaches the pinnacle. 6Reads8.1Score—14d adds
- 36 The Silent Al: Book 5 沉寂的阿尔的第5本书 (This story is entirely fictional... and decidedly unconventional...) East, west, north, or south, square as a brick, wherever you need me, that’s where I go! After starting over, Wang Yangming takes the first step toward seizing control of his life, only to discover that the wind stirred by this little moth of his is getting stronger and stronger... This is the story of an ordinary man with a bit of a conscience, steadily striving to improve himself and throwing himself into the fray with all 4Reads6.5Score—14d adds
- 37 The Office Flower in the Sea of Power 权力官海厅里厅花 “If Wei Yan won't lower the Qin army's flag, then I, Laozi, won't let Diao Qingyun go either!” The sea of officialdom is full of ups and downs and endless rivalries. A minor official makes a big splash from the start, and a marriage alliance carries him straight to the pinnacle of power. The year is 2030, and the setting is Qinzhou Province. Wei Yan puts down roots in a prosperous region, while Diao Qingyun advances through the ranks. Together they form a pincer, facing an “utterly vicious” and —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 38 The Seat of Power 官之位 Orphaned as a boy, Zheng Qing is taken in by a soon-to-retire provincial official after receiving a keepsake left by his father. At the same time, he is forced to shoulder the burdens of two generations far too soon. His enemies are practically untouchable! After entering the political arena, Zheng Qing follows his elders’ dying wishes to serve the people while fighting his way up at all costs, hoping to one day clear his father’s and grandfather’s names and avenge their deaths. Unfortunately, p 12Reads6.8Score—14d adds
- 39 A Chronicle of Officialdom 官场纪实录 The author works within the system and draws on real experience in officialdom. This is not a wish-fulfillment story; there aren't that many gratifying moments in the system. To make the story more entertaining, some things will be exaggerated and others invented. As for what is real and what is made up, readers can decide for themselves. The place names and personal names are deliberately mismatched, not what you might think. 561Reads—Score10614d adds
- 40 Power's Pinnacle: From the Start, I Crossed the Female Leader 权力巅峰：开局从得罪女领导开始 I'm just an ordinary nobody, but fate played a cruel joke on me, making me stumble across my boss's secrets twice in a row. To make sure I kept quiet, they actually dumped me alone in the mountains... But I refuse to give up. I'll fight back. I'll find a way out... 11Reads—Score—14d adds
- 41 A Life in Officialdom: The Stories of Women in Politics 人在仕途：官场女人那些事儿 (Realistic political workplace + case-based stories + no harem) It’s hard to be a person, harder to be a woman, and harder still to be a woman in politics. But women in politics have their own rules for survival. Drawing on my 17 years navigating the political world, with firsthand experience across township, county, municipal, and provincial offices, I’ll show you what a woman in politics is really like! 16Reads8.9Score—14d adds
- 42 A Comeback in Public Service 仕路逆袭 On the eve of his wedding, his lover breaks up with him and his boss starts targeting him. His life hits rock bottom... New to politics, He Qiang is struck by the coldness of the world. Just as he gives up and decides to lie flat, one act of heroism turns his fortunes around: he wins a huge prize and his political career takes off... Follow the extraordinary rise of a political prodigy, from township clerk to the top. 16.2kReads9.0Score1.1k14d adds
- 43 White Mountains, Black Waters 白山黑水 In a small forestry town in Northeast China, an ordinary vocational high school graduate steps into society. He starts out as a forest ranger, seizes an opportunity to transfer to a government office, and enters public service. By a stroke of luck, he gets involved in the seedling trade and becomes a profit-driven plant dealer, earning his first fortune. Gradually, he realizes that getting further in life requires the backing of power. So he earns money while cultivating his political career. A 130Reads8.8Score11914d adds
- 44 Officialdom: I Saved a Mysterious Big Shot and Rose to the Top 官场：救了神秘大佬，乘风破浪 A deeply realistic story about the political arena. No golden finger, and no brainless characters. Born into an ordinary family, he hacks his way through obstacles and rides the winds and waves. Can he reach the pinnacle of power? Just how cruel is reality? This novel will show you that power follows rules! 5.7kReads8.5Score64214d adds
- 45 The Great Way Is for the People 大道为民 Are generals and ministers born to their stations? Even commoners can change the world. He was extraordinarily talented, yet willingly started from scratch in one of the country’s officially designated poverty-stricken townships. He had a fortune, yet chose to seize the moment and venture boldly into the changing times. And he had the power to foresee his beloved’s future, so he swore to protect the woman he loved. In that noisy, restless era, an era brimming with hope, everything was just begin 5.1kReads8.9Score61414d adds
- 46 Rising Through the Ranks of Officialdom 官场之青云直上 He was promoted and appointed, only to be sent to a remote mountain township in the middle of nowhere. Was it a demotion, or was there another assignment? Ouyang Ming upheld his sense of justice and fought for the people. He cleared away the fog, broke through the deadlock, stood out, navigated political intrigue, and punished lawbreakers. Righteous and fearless, Ouyang Ming climbed step by step toward the peak of his life. 199Reads—Score—14d adds
- 47 The Barefoot Civil Servant 赤脚公务员 Liu Chengjin, a university graduate from a poor farming family, went from being an auto mechanic to a grassroots civil servant. Amid changing times and the ups and downs of officialdom, he stayed true to himself, stood by what was right, and served the people, transforming from a brash nobody into one of the province’s outstanding civil servants. Yet, at the peak of his career, with power firmly in his hands, he chose to step down while he was still ahead and return to a simpler life... What did 50Reads6.6Score—14d adds
- 48 Dropped into the Grassroots: From the Start, I'm Stuck with Ten Billion in Bad Debts? 空降基层，开局就背百亿烂账？ Chen Yuan, a "Beijing official," has just parachuted in as the top leader of Tushui District, only to find the government compound gates blocked by petitioners. A fiscal black hole worth tens of billions, unfinished projects scattered across the city, deeply entrenched local factions, and a calculating superior. Every move is deadly, and danger lurks at every turn! How will Chen Yuan, a newcomer, maneuver through the traps and temper himself into a blade aimed straight at the unwritten rules? Th 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 49 The Key to a Career in Politics 仕途密钥 From the start, retired special forces king Xia Tao is dragged into a blind date, where he meets a beautiful CEO and begins an inescapable romance... He stumbles his way into government, facing petty scheming and open and hidden attacks. He cuts through every obstacle as he searches for the key to a political career. In a maze of power where truth and lies blur and everyone schemes against everyone else, he crushes his opponents on every front; He risks his life to fight the flood demon, all to —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 50 Reborn: From Breakup to the Top 重生：从分手到巅峰 Reborn in a parallel world, he transmigrates into the body of a man named Qin Yi. From the start, he is a low-level employee, and because of his job, his girlfriend dumps him on the spot. —Reads—Score—14d adds
