Contending for the Realm in 1853

In the early years of the Xianfeng reign, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom swept across Jiangnan, while rebel bands large and small roamed North China. The Yellow River burst its banks and changed course, flowing north, and the southwest and northwest descended into chaos. Countless people thought the Qing dynasty was doomed.

But Zhou Chenghui, who had grown up beneath the Yellow River dike, knew that the Qing would survive this time.

Standing atop the Yellow River dike in Guide Prefecture and gazing into the distance, Zhou Chenghui thought of all that would happen across this land over the next decade and more. Slowly, he clenched his fists...