On the eve of Li Zicheng's capture of Beijing during the late Ming Dynasty, Xiao Jingchuan, a guerrilla general of the Divine Machine Battalion, flees the capital with the Crown Prince in tow. Their perilous journey takes them through dense forests and across southern regions as they recruit soldiers and prepare for an eventual enthronement. However, formidable threats loom from all sides: Manchu forces breach the borders, roaming bandits and local tyrants sow chaos, the four military garrisons south of the Yangtze River grow increasingly defiant, and relentless factional infighting continues to plague the court. How can one navigate the turmoil of the late Ming era? Even if the dynasty’s mandate has expired, victory may yet belong to another. This historical epic chronicles a path of political ascent, military conquest, and imperial ambition, featuring themes of establishing a new dynasty, resisting Qing rule, domestic governance, territorial expansion, and palace intrigue. Grounded in realistic historical fiction without supernatural abilities, systems, or omniscient foresight, this narrative offers a gritty portrayal of survival and power struggles in a fractured world.
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