King of the Mountain: Leading Female Prisoners Through the Famine

Transporting a hundred female prisoners across two thousand miles of frozen wasteland on a suicidal mission, Chen Wangbei faces certain death whether he obeys orders or rebels. After a brutal blizzard decimates his detail, he and his thirty remaining survivors stumble into a hidden valley untouched by winter, boasting ancient armories, endless grain reserves, and untouched wilderness. Setting strict rules, Chen transforms the delicate women from noble backgrounds into a resilient community—forging weapons, cultivating the land, harvesting wild herbs, and establishing a self-sufficient haven. While the outside world is consumed by war and bandits, the hidden valley flourishes into a prosperous sanctuary of overflowing granaries and sturdy homes. Intent only on protecting his people, Chen ventures out to trade refined salt, medicinal herbs, and crafted goods, quietly weaving a powerful commercial empire across the provinces. Yet, as greedy warlords and invading northern nomads set their sights on his hidden paradise, Chen discovers a harsh truth of the turbulent era: when your enterprise grows powerful enough to sway the world, neutrality is no longer an option.