The Tycoon's Tale

This will be the story of how a great Northern Song merchant and a member of a distinguished family came to be. It is a colorful, sweeping panorama of everyday life, officialdom, border wars, and trade during the Northern Song, and a dazzling tale of a life full of twists and turns!

The story follows the protagonist from the age of fifteen to forty, depicting the first half of his life in full: studying, practicing martial arts, taking the imperial examinations, joining the army, doing business, marrying and taking concubines, handing out porridge, serving as an official, and donating military supplies, until he finally vanishes from the martial world.

This is the tale of a country gentleman's son becoming a great merchant. It portrays the many people in the protagonist's life, including his wives and concubines, friends and relatives, business partners and rivals, and official acquaintances. It presents a vivid panorama of daily life in the late Northern Song, from the streets and the military to government, trade, and the relationships between ordinary households. It traces the extraordinary, legendary journey of the protagonist's growth and the expansion of his family business.

The plot is full of twists and turns, and the vivid, engaging prose makes this a story worth savoring!