Anti-Qing: Forced into the White Lotus

Thrust into the dying days of the Qianlong Emperor's reign during the late Qing dynasty, survival leaves no room for cowards. Destined for infamy, our protagonist's cousin, Cai Qian, is poised to become the ultimate pirate king. Though eager to join his cousin's ranks, the vast expanse between Hubei and Fujian keeps them apart. Worse still, the local Green Standard Army instantly brands him as a White Lotus rebel right from the start. With his back against the wall, rebellion is the only path forward. Armed with modern chemistry and industrial ingenuity—from coking coal and mass iron smelting to refining saltpeter, sulfur, and producing high-grade black powder alongside mass-manufactured firearms—he builds an unstoppable war machine. With such overwhelming firepower, who in this realm can possibly stand in his way? Marching south before turning north, every true man should aspire to be the next Zhu Yuanzhang!