I Serve as a Censor in the Great Song

This author is probably not a newcomer; newcomers don't have this level of skill. They're either using an alternate account or have written many flops before finally producing this book, which is very humanistic and has a touch of historical flavor. The novel is particularly realistic in its depiction of the promotion of officials in ancient times.

It was pretty good. I've wanted to read this kind of admonitory novel for a long time, but most of them are mindless wish-fulfillment stories about dying for someone, with all sorts of self-destructive behavior. To be honest, in ancient times, every emperor valued face. Li Shimin was magnanimous enough, right? Did Wei Zheng dare to accuse Li Shimin of fratricide every day?

This historical novel set in the Song Dynasty begins with the protagonist, a minor official serving as a remonstrating official. He gathers a group of wise men from across the Song Dynasty, stirring up a storm in the court and sparking a wave of reforms aimed at changing the impoverished and weak Song Dynasty.

Yang Guang, one of the Ten Sages of the Temple of Heaven, has reappeared in the public eye; I truly didn't expect that people would still praise him today.

The book is good, but it's a bit too idealistic. It feels like the protagonist is infallible. Aside from the policies used being out of touch with the times, the conflicts with the Liao and Western Xia are portrayed as childish and idealistic.

Many policies seem too simplistic, failing to consider the historical context and productivity levels, and simply applying modern management systems rigidly. At the very least, the ancients weren't lacking in wisdom; they were simply limited by communication methods, hindering efficient management.

What can a scholar do about the problem of the dog Song?

Even the censorate couldn't save the Song Dynasty. Officials' words and actions were always driven by self-interest, ultimately only causing more suffering for the common people.

The author's writing is good, with a fresh perspective and solid foundation. The earlier parts scored 80+. However, the later parts faltered due to excessive plot twists, making it jarring. At the beginning, I could assume a beggar could be trained by a private school and pass the imperial examination with high marks, as if he'd encountered a hermit. But reforms?

This is so well written! I haven't read such a logical and unsimplistic historical article in a long time. With this level of writing, the author is definitely aiming for platinum status.