The New Qin Chronicles

The New Records of Qin is a long historical novel set in the late Warring States and Qin eras. Spanning six volumes, it follows the life of Heifu, a common soldier. The story begins with conscription in Pinyang. Heifu, a commoner, enlists and faces life and death on the campaign against Chu. Fighting alongside the strategist Jing Li, he rises from a lowly soldier to a mid-ranking Qin commander through his bravery, compassion, and remarkable insight.

After the palace coup at the Sand Dune, the First Emperor dies suddenly. Zhao Gao and Li Si forge imperial edicts and seize power, while Meng Tian and Meng Yi are falsely accused and die. Seeing the rot at the heart of the Qin court, Heifu deliberately avoids disaster and heads north, putting down roots on the frontier. He strengthens the border defenses, reforms the military, and trains elite cavalry. At the same time, he fights the rising Xiongnu under Modu, defends the Great Wall, and cares for refugees and commoners, building a firm base in the north amid the chaos.

The Daze Village uprising erupts, and the anti-Qin revolt sweeps across the lands east of the passes as the old Qin empire crumbles. Rejecting the corrupt court of the Second Emperor, Heifu raises the banner of the old Qin and leads his northern army south into the Central Plains. Dedicated to saving the people and ending violence, he takes in refugees, restores local order, and maneuvers among the various rebel leaders, building his strength amid the fires of war and correcting the flaws of Qin rule. The novel depicts the tumultuous collapse of the Qin Empire after its peak, examining the costs and benefits of military merit, popular support, and political institutions. It tells the sweeping story of a man from the lowest ranks who protects his homeland and its people, seeking a new order amid the tides of a great age.