Personal History-Themed Reading List 自用历史系书单

1 扼 Seizing the Yuan 扼元 Crab's Heart蟹的心Historical3.0M WordsOngoing In 1213 AD, the Jin Kingdom is beginning to weaken, while the Southern Song remains in decline. Western Xia, Dali, Goryeo, and Japan are even less of a force to be reckoned with. An unprecedented power is rising on the plateau, ready to drench the Eurasian continent in the blood of hundreds of millions. With calamity looming, a young man grips his bow and blade, determined to seize fate by the throat. 6Votes283.9kRecs301kFans

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In 1213 AD, the Jin Dynasty was showing signs of weakness, and the Southern Song Dynasty remained in decline; the Western Xia, Dali, Goryeo, and Japan were even less significant. An unprecedentedly powerful force was rising on the plateau, poised to irrigate the Eurasian continent with the blood of hundreds of millions. Faced with this catastrophe, a young man gripped his bow and sword, determined to seize fate by the throat.

2 铁 Ironblooded Late Ming 铁血残明 Ke Shanmeng柯山梦Historical2.5M WordsOngoing In the final years of the Ming Dynasty, Spain and Japan gradually restricted the outflow of silver, reversing the capital inflow the Ming had enjoyed since the early sixteenth century. The commercial economy and smallholder farming economy that coexisted under the dynasty were both struck by deflation. The effects of the Little Ice Age piled on, and one domino after another fell into chaos. In the eleventh month of the sixth year of the Chongzhen reign, roving rebels crossed south over the Mianc 789Votes375.3kRecs378.2kFans

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In the late Ming Dynasty, Spain and Japan gradually restricted the outflow of silver, reversing the capital inflow that had been flowing into the Ming Dynasty since the early 16th century. The coexisting commodity economy and small-scale peasant economy of the Ming Dynasty simultaneously suffered from deflation. Coupled with the effects of the Little Ice Age, one domino after another fell in this chaotic era. In November of the sixth year of the Chongzhen Emperor's reign, bandits crossed the Yangtze River from Mianchi, their forces erupting like a festering sore, sweeping across the Central Plains. In the seventh year of Chongzhen's reign, the Later Jin army, which had ravaged the north for over a decade, swept through Xuanfu and Datong as if they were nothing. The Ming Dynasty, which had stood for nearly three hundred years, was teetering on the brink of collapse. The protagonist arrives at this time, becoming a lowly constable in Tongcheng County, Southern Zhili. The story begins with a dead rat leaping into the air.

3 狗EN The Wizard Log of a Kobold 狗头人的巫师日志 Li Cunshan立寸山Western Fantasy2.6M WordsOngoing Rugg was feeling down. He’d noticed that he’d been shedding a little lately. But that wasn’t important. The door to the supernatural world was opening before him. He would become a powerful wizard, then grow scales all over, just like that annoying, terrifying, twenty-eight-clawed burrowing dragon. In his spare time, he often dreamed that he would no longer have a dog’s face, but would become the clean-cut human he used to be. He also often thought about growing the slender, twisted, curved horn 555Votes153kRecs324.3kFans

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Ruger was sullen. He noticed he'd been losing some hair lately. But that doesn't matter. The door to the extraordinary world is opening for him. He wanted to become a powerful wizard and then grow himself covered in scales, like that annoying and terrifying twenty-eight-clawed earth-burrowing dragon. In his spare time, he often dreamed that he was no longer a dog with a dog's head and face, but had turned back into a clean-cut human. He often dreamed of growing long, twisted horns like those of a higher demon species on his nearly bald forehead. But that's not much simpler than growing scales. The legendary dragons and powerful demons, upon reaching adulthood, will possess a natural human form—yes, a huge, circuitous route, all for the sake of being reborn as humans, bidding farewell to their smelly, constantly shedding kobold bodies. At least initially, that's what he thought.

4 圣 The Holy Maiden Comes, and No One Pays Grain 圣女来时不纳粮 Tender Little Pineapple稚嫩小菠萝Western Fantasy3.6M WordsCompleted [Medieval fantasy + Taiping Heavenly Kingdom + clockpunk + peasant uprising] The Holy Pope, a golden scepter. The Knight King, a silver-embroidered bed. Those who sow the wheat eat the husks; those who weave the cloth have no clothes. While Eve and Adam toil in the fields, do noblemen and gentlemen sit in high halls? You take my wife and seize my home, you butcher my dear parents! Heads roll beyond counting; blood debts must be paid in blood! Slay the priests! Slay the Pope! Slay the knights! Sl 29Votes173.1kRecs443.3kFans

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[Medieval fantasy + Taiping Rebellion + Clockpunk + Peasant uprising] The Holy Pope, with his golden scepter. Knight King, Silver Embroidered Bed. Those who grow wheat eat wheat chaff, and those who weave cloth have no clothes. While Eve and Adam were working the fields, nobles and gentlemen sat in high places. They took my wife, seized my house, and killed my parents! Countless heads rolled, and the blood debt must be repaid with blood! Slay the priests! Slay the Pope! Slay the knight! Slay the king! Slay all injustices and settle all grievances. We common folk are reduced to pigs and sheep, awaiting the arrival of the Holy Maiden for a massacre. When the saint came, there were no priests! When the saint came, there was no king! When the Holy Maiden arrives, there will be no labor service! When the Holy Maiden arrives, there will be no taxes to pay! P. S. This is not a gender-bending story; the male protagonist...

5 晚 Late Ming, 1640 晚明1640 Nanmu for a Crown楠木为冠Historical1.3M WordsOngoing Archaeology intern Liu Zheng picks up a skull from the Ming Dynasty and transmigrates to the thirteenth year of the Chongzhen reign, becoming Liu Zheng, a licentiate from Little Liu Village in Qixian County. Drought and locusts strike in succession, refugees rise in droves, the Central Plains teeter on the brink of chaos, and the realm is like a nest on the verge of collapse. In this apocalyptic age, Liu Zheng starts by protecting his family and the subordinates under his command, step by step r 0Votes14.8kRecs33.5kFans

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Archaeology intern Liu Zheng picked up a skull from the Ming Dynasty. He was transported back to the thirteenth year of the Chongzhen Emperor's reign in the Ming Dynasty, becoming Liu Zheng, a scholar from Xiaoliuzhuang Village in Qi County. Drought and locusts struck in succession, causing a surge of refugees. The Central Plains were in turmoil, and the world was on the verge of collapse. In the end times, Liu Zheng rose to the top step by step by protecting his family and his subordinates. He wants to protect everyone in the world. All the people under heaven are my children.

6 晋 The Long Sword at the End of Jin 晋末长剑 Lone Wheat Farmer孤独麦客Historical5.1M WordsCompleted As the Tang poet Xu Yin wrote in his poem “The Two Jins”: “Deep schemes across three generations laid the foundations of an empire. What a pity for the widow and orphan. Cheng Ji’s crime brought Heaven’s wrath; the spear that struck a wise ruler is mourned for all eternity.” The Western Jin came to power through illegitimate means and made far too many mistakes, inheriting every ill that had accumulated since the Eastern Han and the Three Kingdoms. By the end of the Jin dynasty, the damage had b 123Votes2MRecs2.1MFans

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As the Tang Dynasty poet Xu Yin wrote in his poem "The Two Jin Dynasties": "Three generations of deep schemes laid the foundation for the imperial dynasty, but pitiful were the widows and orphans. The blame fell on Cheng Ji, a crime that incurred the wrath of Heaven, and the act of offending a wise ruler brought eternal sorrow." The Western Jin Dynasty acquired its rule illegitimately, made too many mistakes, and inherited many of the drawbacks from the Eastern Han and Three Kingdoms periods. By the end of the Jin Dynasty, the problems had become too deep-seated to be reversed, and it was urgent to rebuild the empire's values and ruling system. But history did not give them that opportunity, as the saying goes, "Who knew that those with high noses could know numbers, and they vied to win battle flags in the Central Plains." Those who reap what they sow will not live. The time traveler arrives at the end of the Western Jin Dynasty, which is gradually collapsing. All he can do is survive.

7 霓 The Song of Rainbow Robes and Iron Armor 霓裳铁衣曲 Chris Webber克里斯韦伯Historical3.2M WordsCompleted In the fifth year of Xianqing under Emperor Gaozong of Tang (660 AD), Su Dingfang, commander-in-chief of the Tang army on the Shenqiu route, led his troops across the sea to destroy Baekje and capture King Uija. He established the Tang Protectorate of Ungjin on Baekje’s former territory, putting Goguryeo under pressure from north and south. The campaigns against Liaodong, which had dragged on intermi 0Votes125kRecs119kFans

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My new book, *The Tale of Peace*, has begun serialization. Welcome to follow it! In the fifth year of the Xianqing reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang (660 AD), Su Dingfang, the Grand General of the Tang Shenqiu Road Army, led his troops across the sea to destroy Baekje, captured King Uija of Baekje alive, and established the Great Tang Xiongjin Prefecture in the former territory of Baekje. This created a pincer movement against Goguryeo from the north and south. Since Emperor Yang of Sui launched his campaign against Liao in the seventh year of the Daye reign (605 AD), the campaign against Liao, which had lasted for more than half a century, finally saw the dawn of victory. However, just as Su Dingfang presented the Baekje royal family as captives to Chang'an, war broke out in Baekje. The royal family, led by Su Zong Gui Shi Fuxin and the monk Dao Chen, brought back Prince Buyeo Pungjang, who had been held hostage in Japan, and launched a restoration movement. The Japanese also took the opportunity to send troops to the peninsula, attempting to reclaim the lost territories of the "Four Counties of Imna". Meanwhile, the famous general Wang Wendu, who succeeded as the governor of Ungjin, died suddenly of illness as soon as he disembarked. The allied Silla's attitude was ambiguous, and Tang's rule in Baekje was in grave danger. At this critical juncture, Wang Wenzuo, a time traveler from a thousand years in the future, turned the tide, fulfilled the long-cherished wish of several generations of emperors of the Sui and Tang dynasties, avenged the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Chinese brothers and sisters, and transformed the eastern sea into the territory of the Tang Dynasty. But all this was just the beginning, and the world embarked on a different path. Reader group number: 771361363

8 太 The Taiping Records 太平记 Chris Webber克里斯韦伯Historical2.8M WordsOngoing We are living through a major turning point in history. The wave of globalization that shaped the first quarter of the twenty-first century is rapidly receding, and what kind of future awaits the world remains unknown. The era in which this book is set is also a time of great change in Chinese history. By the middle of the second century AD, roughly three and a half centuries had passed since Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of Han, founded the Western Han Empire, and more than 120 years since Liu Xiu, E 89Votes80kRecs41.9kFans

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We are now living in the midst of a major historical transformation. The wave of globalization that dominated the first quarter of the 21st century is rapidly receding, and the future of the world remains uncertain. The era in which this book is written also marks a period of significant change in Chinese history. In the mid-2nd century AD, approximately three and a half centuries had passed since Emperor Gaozu of Han (Liu Bang) established the Western Han Dynasty, and about 120 years since Emperor Guangwu of Han (Liu Xiu) established the Eastern Han Dynasty. After the first four emperors, the Eastern Han Dynasty fell into a vicious cycle of young emperors ascending the throne—dying young—ascending the throne again—dying young again. Because the young emperors were unable to handle state affairs, power fell into the hands of their mothers and relatives, a phenomenon known as the politics of maternal relatives. Under the corrupt rule of the imperial relatives' faction, the Eastern Han Empire was on the verge of collapse. On the other hand, a growing wave of movement, centered around the eunuchs serving the emperor, was pushing for the overthrow of the old system of imperial relatives' politics and the restoration of a monarchical system centered on the emperor. Finally, on the night of the tenth day of the eighth month of the second year of the Yanxi era of the Eastern Han Dynasty (159 AD), the curtain was raised on a long and turbulent era that would last for the next four centuries. The protagonist of this book arrives in this era. Faced with the overwhelming tide of the times, what great achievements will he accomplish? Reader group number: 771361363

9 创 Starting a Business in Late Tang 创业在晚唐 Chen the Fool痴人陈Historical6.4M WordsOngoing Two hundred and fifty-seven years after the Mandate of Heaven passed to the Li clan. The once-glorious Great Tang, to which all nations had paid homage, stumbled into the winter of the first year of the Qianfu era. That winter, only three months remained before Wang and Huang raised their banners, and just thirty-three years before the fall of the Tang. That same winter, Chang’an’s nobles remained lost in the fading glow of a golden age, while in the southwest of the empire, the petty kingdom of 697Votes162.9kRecs411.9kFans

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The destiny was passed down to the Li family 257 years later. The once glorious Tang Dynasty, which had attracted tribute from all nations, stumbled and fell to the winter solstice of the first year of the Qianfu era. That winter, only three months remained until Wang and Huang Liqi, and only thirty-three years until the fall of the Tang Dynasty. That same winter, while the nobles of Chang'an were still basking in the afterglow of the prosperous era, in the southwest of the empire, the small Nanzhao Kingdom once again invaded Xichuan. In the initial battle, the Tang army was defeated at the Dadu River, and the routed troops fled to Qiongzhou, while the Nanzhao army advanced directly towards Chengdu. Meanwhile, outside the Dadu River, a battlefield of carnage unfolds. A young Tang soldier opened his eyes, pushed aside the corpse on top of him, and saw the setting sun and the end of the world. This was the first year of the Qianfu era. The great Tang dynasty had not yet collapsed, but the world was already a scene of ruins. Our story begins in the winter of that year with the Nanzhao War.

10 晋 Han Descendants of the Jin Court 晋庭汉裔 Chen Ruicong陈瑞聪Historical3.9M WordsOngoing The mountains we look back on again and again, the sea we never forget. On the day Jiang Wei died in the flames at Chengdu, the last light of the Han Empire vanished for good. The men of Jin stood beside his corpse and picked up a gallbladder as big as a bucket. They stared at one another in bewilderment. The Western Jin Empire was founded on this victory, but the answer to where the future would lead was a terrible one. Forty years later, mourners would fill the land, the Nine Provinces would l 301Votes131.5kRecs144kFans

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What I frequently look back at are the mountain peaks, and what I never forget is the sea. On the day Jiang Wei died in the fire of Chengdu, the last vestiges of the Han Empire were completely extinguished. The Jin people stood beside his body, picked out a huge, bitter gall bladder, and looked at each other in bewilderment. The Western Jin Empire was established because of this victory, but the future was bleak. Forty years later, the land was filled with suffering, the country was devastated, and corpses piled up everywhere, with starving people everywhere. In this apocalyptic chaos, driven by responsibility and destiny, Liu Xian, the great-grandson of Liu Bei and the native heir of the Duke of Anle, embarks on a journey to restore his kingdom. He follows in the footsteps of his teachers and the ancestors of the Han Dynasty, and reunites with the descendants of his long-time enemies and friends, such as Cao Cao, Sun Quan, Lu Xun, Lu Zhi, and Xun Yu. Then, he is tempered, transformed, and leaps forward amidst political struggles and war. At first, he was all alone, but looking back, he was the one everyone hoped for.