He is a down-and-out Imperial Guard who stumbles into the officialdom of the Zhengde era. From then on, he begins a glorious career of battling civil officials, outwitting military generals, and sweeping aside powerful eunuchs. He rises rapidly through the ranks to become a trusted confidant of the emperor. He has grand ambitions for the world, yet every official in court denounces him as a treacherous villain.
He is the emperor's shield, but the people he protects are not just the emperor, but all the people of the realm. He is also a shield for the Great Ming, and for the whole world.
