Tianfeng

Tianfeng is the breakout work of web novelist Yuanfen 0, a long-form alternate-history web novel about contending for power in another world, roughly 2.3 million Chinese characters long. The story is set on the Guanlan Continent, a land of abundant grasslands. The Tianfeng Empire, drawing on the resources of the steppe, has forged a mighty cavalry that rides like the wind and charges like lightning; this force is a pillar of Tianfeng's military, and becoming one of its riders is the lofty ideal of every Tianfeng youth. The main thread follows the protagonist Qianshui Qing: he begins as an ordinary soldier in the Tianfeng imperial army, grows step by step through brutal war, and ultimately becomes a general commanding his own troops. The opening follows officers Mu Xue and Qi Tianyou of the Iron Wind Banner (formerly the Flood Wind Banner) under the Tianfeng Empire's Storm Legion as they return to Qingye City to recruit and rest; through a live-combat test at the recruit training camp, the novel depicts the cruelty of army life and the recruits' reactions. When the camp is ambushed, Qianshui Qing executes fleeing soldiers on the spot and organizes resistance, revealing his resolve, firmness, and leadership. The work is distinguished by its battle scenes and military detail: it meticulously describes the Tianfeng Empire's army structure of "legion, garrison, banner" and the tactical use of cavalry, infantry, and other branches. At its core lies one individual's struggle, choices, and growth amid the flames of war.