The Commoner Minister: From a Desolate Village to Imperial Tutor

Shen Yan starts with nothing: a destitute home, bullying from the village, and no way to pass the imperial exams. His only assets are a moth-eaten remnant of a book and a three-hundred-year-old chess game left by his ancestor. Through brotherly bonds, outwitting corrupt officials, court intrigues, and quelling rebellions on the battlefield, he rises from a commoner in a desolate village to a powerful minister. He succeeds by never currying favor with the powerful or coveting high rank, using simple strategies to save a crumbling empire.