Novels like A Mere Pawn
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as A Mere Pawn, best match first.
- 1 Stardust Falls into a Long Dream 星霜入长梦 Set in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties. The main storyline follows the little-known Red Turban Army’s northern expedition against Goryeo and the rival warlords vying for power at the end of the Yuan dynasty, alongside a fictional character who navigates the shifting alliances between the lords. The story also touches on ancient legends of immortal cultivators and tales from the Classic of Mountains and Seas that date back to antiquity. See how the protagonist makes his way through a troub 11Reads—Score—Shelves
- 2 A Dazzling Soul in This Mortal World 人间惊鸿客 Did you know that Li Bai was a famous live-in son-in-law in ancient times? Why did this immortal poet, who cared nothing for wealth and status, marry into a wealthy family twice? Su Dongpo was not only one of the greatest writers in Chinese history, but also a true foodie! Dongpo pork, Dongpo pork knuckle, Dongpo cuttlefish, Dongpo tofu, Dongpo soup: all these dishes loved by people today are associated with the great man himself. The celebrated poet Li Qingzhao was also tormented by a “scumbag. 14.7kReads9.5Score3.1kShelves
- 3 Summer Solstice at the Hospital 医院里的夏至 On the summer solstice, Lin Xiaomo is plunged into darkness after a car accident. When she wakes, she finds herself in a mysterious world... A mysterious old man tells her, “You are the one destined to save this world...” Resolute, Lin Xiaomo sets out to merge the five Spirit Pearls, find the Seven Divine Artifacts, battle across the land, pacify the eight wildernesses, and embark on the path to godhood... 1Reads7.7Score—Shelves
- 4 Fickle as Water 水性杨花 In the chaotic years of the Republic of China, Xu Fangqing of Peach Blossom Village and Li Xiaoming, a fisherman, had known and loved each other since childhood. Their feelings were mutual, and with her uncle’s help, they became engaged, believing they would spend their lives together in peace. But fate had other plans: Fangqing’s uncle suddenly died, and her greedy mother-in-law secretly seized the family’s savings. For money, the mother-in-law joined forces with relatives and cruelly sold Fang 497Reads8.7Score—Shelves
- 5 That Good-for-Nothing Is Me? Then I'll Wipe Them Out 那个窝囊废是我？灭了 That Useless Loser Is Me? Take It Down. 5Reads—Score—Shelves
- 6 The Meaning of the White Tiger 白虎通义 The Baihutong, also known as the White Tiger Discussions or the White Tiger Treatise on Virtue, is a collection of proceedings from an officially convened meeting on Confucian studies during the Eastern Han dynasty, as well as an imperially sanctioned work interpreting the Confucian classics. It holds an exceptionally important place in the history of Confucian thought and Han political thought. In 79 CE, the fourth year of Emperor Zhang of Han’s Jianchu era, the emperor personally convened a la 26Reads8.6Score—Shelves
- 7 Monster Codes: Journey to the West 妖怪密码：西游记 How many demons are there in Journey to the West? The White Bone Spirit, Tiger Vanguard, the Red-Rumped Macaque, Red Boy... Only after enduring the Eighty-One Tribulations can one look upon the world's fortunes with a smile. What are their true forms? What becomes of them? Is there a connection between demons and natural phenomena? Here, I'll reveal the answers to all these questions, one by one. 157Reads9.3Score—Shelves
- 8 The Three Kingdoms: History So Addictive, You Can’t Put It Down 一读就上瘾的三国史 The Three Kingdoms era was marked by endless warfare and rival warlords, and is now familiar to everyone thanks to Romance of the Three Kingdoms. But the novel isn't history, and some of the famous stories we all know never actually happened! Did Zhuge Liang really borrow arrows with straw boats? Why is Zhang He known as “the Three Kingdoms strength tester”? How did Fei Yi live a life worthy of the title “master of pacing”? Did Cao Zhi really love his sister-in-law? Why is Cao Cao's life said to 1.2kReads9.5Score100Shelves
- 9 In This Life, I Kept My Distance From the Second Princess, and She Went Mad 这一世，我远离二公主，她疯了 In This Life, I Stay Away from the Second Princess. She Goes Mad 1.2kReads—Score—Shelves
- 10 My CEO Wife Took Care of Her White Moonlight, and Our Home Was Stolen 总裁老婆照顾白月光，家被偷了 His CEO Wife Is Taking Care of Her White Moonlight, and Someone Has Stolen His Home 1.6kReads—Score—Shelves
- 11 The Legend of Yue Fei 岳飞传 A historical epic novel by Huan Zhu Lou Zhu. Based on the life of Yue Fei, the famous Southern Song general who fought against the Jin, it begins with Yue Fei learning martial arts as a boy and vowing to serve his country. It vividly depicts how he formed the Yue Family Army, fought the Jin forces, and won one victory after another, until he was framed by treacherous officials and met a tragic end. The novel celebrates his unwavering loyalty and devotion to his country. 884Reads9.6Score—Shelves
- 12 The Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties: Complete, Edited Edition 隋唐演义-精编完整版 An epic tale of heroes rising amid chaos. Qin Qiong sells his horse, revealing a hero at the end of his rope; Cheng Yaojin robs the imperial tribute convoy, showing off his street smarts; and Li Shimin's Xuanwu Gate Incident reshapes the course of history. Blending the official historical record with folk storytelling, it weaves a legendary tale steeped in history and the spirit of the jianghu. 757Reads9.6Score—Shelves
- 13 Secret Records Behind the Red Walls: A Complete History of China's Unofficial Past, Unabridged 红墙秘录：中国野史大全（无删节完整版） This complete collection is like a secret key unlocking the hidden chambers of China's imperial past, guiding readers into shadowy corners that official histories leave shrouded in secrecy. From the ancient legends of Unofficial History of the Xia and Shang to the imperial passions and court intrigues of The History of the Imperial Harem in the Song Dynasty, The History of the Imperial Harem in the Ming Dynasty, and Unofficial History of the Yuan Dynasty; from the extravagant excesses of The Ero 1.6kReads9.3Score256Shelves
- 14 My "A Piao" Girlfriend 我的“阿飘”女友 My "Ghostie" Girlfriend 4kReads—Score112Shelves
- 15 The Chosen Saintess Broke Off Our Engagement. I Was Fine with It, but She Changed Her Mind 天骄圣女退婚，我ok，她却不退了 The Proud Saintess Broke Off Our Engagement. I Was Fine With It, but She Changed Her Mind 1.6kReads—Score—Shelves
- 16 I Caught the Campus Beauty's Fox Tail 校花的狐狸尾巴，被我摸到了 I Got My Hands on the School Beauty’s Fox Tail 799Reads—Score—Shelves
- 17 My Wife Chases True Love but Still Refuses to Let Me Go 妻子追真爱，却还要霸占我 My Wife Pursues Her True Love, Yet Still Wants to Keep Me to Herself 5.4kReads—Score100Shelves
- 18 I Am a Scout: Zhan De 我是侦察兵一一湛德 I’m a Scout: Zhan De 1Reads—Score—Shelves
- 19 Songs of the Listening Wind Tower 听风楼歌 Why does Xiangju run a business that only loses money and never makes a profit? She treats relationships just as carelessly, elbowing her way to the top of the airport’s Twelve Most Beautiful Women. She has Hong Zhi and Brother Gen fighting over her in a jealous brawl, and instead of being ashamed, she’s proud of it. After her eldest daughter gets into a prestigious university, she works hard and becomes independent. She tutors and models cars in her spare time, and accompanies her professor to 757Reads—Score—Shelves
- 20 The Mighty Little Constable 神通小捕快 “One leaf riding the wind, roaming ten thousand miles; a dashing constable, famous throughout the land.” The most righteous men are often those society looks down on, and heroes rise from the streets. The spring breeze and I are both passing travelers, but your name alone belongs to the martial world. Ye Fei, a lowly errand boy at an inn, is rejected by the Su family because he's nothing but a nobody who runs errands! Who could have guessed that after getting drunk, saving a beauty, and catching 14.6kReads8.8Score1.5kShelves
