In the late Ming Dynasty, Spain and Japan gradually restricted the outflow of silver, reversing the capital inflow that had been flowing into the Ming Dynasty since the early 16th century. The coexisting commodity economy and small-scale peasant economy of the Ming Dynasty simultaneously suffered from deflation. Coupled with the effects of the Little Ice Age, one domino after another fell in this chaotic era. In November of the sixth year of the Chongzhen Emperor's reign, bandits crossed the Yangtze River from Mianchi, their forces erupting like a festering sore, sweeping across the Central Plains. In the seventh year of Chongzhen's reign, the Later Jin army, which had ravaged the north for over a decade, swept through Xuanfu and Datong as if they were nothing. The Ming Dynasty, which had stood for nearly three hundred years, was teetering on the brink of collapse. The protagonist arrives at this time, becoming a lowly constable in Tongcheng County, Southern Zhili. The story begins with a dead rat leaping into the air.

At the end of the Ming Dynasty, the north was engulfed in war and littered with corpses; while the south, with its tranquil bridges and flowing water, was a picture of peace and prosperity. Amidst the internal and external troubles of this dynastic decline, a cunning office manager rises to power, sounding the final clarion call for China. True heroes change destiny. The brutal and tragic ancient wars, the realistic portrayal of Ming Dynasty life, and the history created by ordinary people unfold a magnificent yet tender and poignant panorama of the late Ming Dynasty. Book club QQ group: 145034435