The Helmsman

Name: The Helmsman
ISBN: 9787518202454

龙在宇China Planning Press · ChinaApr 2026

3.5

Word count: 269K words
Chapters: 63
ISBN: 9787518202454

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Summary

Continuing the 'At the Helm' series, this story follows Du Linxiang after he leads the Weitong Group through peril to a successful stock market listing. Having touched what he sees as the 'ceiling' of the company's real estate ambitions, Du throws himself into capital games, determined to build a mining empire of his own. But in the treacherous world of wealth, traps lurk at every turn: what seems a ladder to the sky is in truth a gate to hell. For the sake of profit, 'white gloves' pull chestnuts from the fire, and old friends turn into enemies. Facing even higher-level games of interest, how will Du Linxiang parry each move using the open and hidden rules of power? And when confronted with the temptation of enormous fortune, what fateful choice will he make — and what 'original sins' will he be forced to commit along the way?

Editor's review

The Helmsman is a realist tour de force by financial writer Long Zaiyu following Gold Medal Investor, focusing on high-level power struggles in China's business world. Set against the backdrop of state-owned enterprise reform, the book deeply depicts capital operations, power checks and balances, and the complex interplay of human nature, making it a 'portrait of contemporary commercial society.' Drawing on his years of experience as a financial journalist, Long Zaiyu skillfully blends real business cases with fictional narrative, giving the story both a solid realistic foundation and dramatic tension. The portrayal of the 'helmsman'—how business leaders navigate the tides of the times and balance the interests of all parties—is particularly profound, transcending the simple category of business-war fiction to touch on the deep contradictions among institutions, human relations, and interests. Its reading value lies in offering a unique window into Chinese-style business wisdom while prompting readers to seriously reflect on power, responsibility, and personal choices. The narrative pace is tight, the ensemble of characters is vivid, and while revealing the cruel laws of the business world, it also preserves the warmth and hope of human nature, making it a work that satisfies both the reader's thirst for professional knowledge and the desire for a deeply immersive story.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in contemporary Chinese business realities such as state-owned enterprise reform and capital operations
Fans of realist fiction who enjoy deep portrayals of characters' psychology and power struggles
Professionals hoping to draw management wisdom and worldly philosophy from business narratives
Loyal readers of Long Zaiyu's previous works, or those who prefer the style of Gold Medal Investor

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting light entertainment and fast-paced, satisfying power-fantasy fiction
Readers with no interest in business or political themes who seek purely romantic or fantasy stories

Reading tips

Can be read alongside recent news background on state-owned enterprise mixed-ownership reform to understand the story's historical context.
Pay attention to the main characters' inner struggles and value priorities at key decision-making moments—this is the essence of the book.
There is no need to rush toward plot twists; the book's elaboration of business details and interpersonal relationships is itself rich in information.

About the publisher

China Planning Press China

China Planning Press is a central-level publishing institution directly under the National Development and Reform Commission. Guided by the mission of "spreading the wisdom of development and reform and serving national economic construction," it publishes academic books on macroeconomic policy, economic research, and business management, as well as engineering construction standards, codes, and quotas. Its catalog of about 2,817 titles focuses on industrial technology and architecture, with representative publications including the Code for Design of Automatic Fire Alarm Systems, the Code for Fire Protection Design of Buildings, the Standard for Design of Building Water Supply and Drainage, the Standard for Fire Protection Design of Petrochemical Enterprises, and the Standard for Geotechnical Testing Methods. Its authors come largely from specialized institutions and competent authorities such as the Shenyang Fire Research Institute of the Ministry of Public Security, SINOPEC Luoyang Engineering Co., Ltd., Shanghai Xiandai Architectural Design (Group) Co., Ltd., and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Ministry of Water Resources, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, reflecting a distinctive profile centered on engineering construction standards and codes while also covering academic publishing in economics and management.

版权信息
第一章暗流汹涌
1 摩天大楼底下的擦鞋工
2 公关公司最喜欢的三桩生意
3 没有耕坏的地，只有累死的牛
4 咱们手里的筹码，不是押给朋友，而是押给赢家
5 越是关系亲密的人，公众场合往往形同路人
6 过去两年的盗窃案，怎么又被人翻了出来
第二章未雨绸缪
1 嘴上说不忌讳，恰恰证明心里还是有顾忌
2 从藏獒与比特犬，也能看出中美两国不同的个性
3 日本人的敬业精神
4 中国的一些有钱人，简直成了各家赌场的香饽饽
5 为了拍摄下曲流全貌，徐万里动用了直升机
6 把影视业当作公关业来经营
7 所谓品牌价值，既可以是天文数字，也可以一文不值
第三章突生变局
1 涉及托人帮忙这种事，务必一击而中
2 世界经济学界的“中国之问”
3 宁可退出生态城的开发，也不去蹚信丰集团的浑水
4 杜林祥在桌上盘点起全国各地的酒风
5 人生如戏，全靠演技
6 徐浩成重操旧业，上演了一幕黑吃黑
第四章矿山械斗
1 惊魂未定中，杜林祥想到一个更冒险的计划
2 有一种野心勃勃的人，终其一生喜欢“与我斗”
3 杜林祥与岳二福交流着茅台酒的正确喝法
4 庄智奇讲起了清朝康熙年间有关《百官行述》的典故
5 与其花钱请枪手，不如把人当枪使
6 理直气壮是地地道道的屁话，财大气粗才是亘古不变的真理
7 张贵明为什么与赵筱雨搞到了一起
第五章合纵连横
1 做生意，还得算政治账
2 给别人上眼药，也是一门技术活
3 男人找玩够，女人找伤透
4 钱脉和人脉
5 赖敬东谈起了《孙子兵法》
6 富人家的孩子多了，同样会为钱发愁
第六章群魔乱舞
1 做生意讲究现金为王
2 自损钱脉，为的就是打通人脉
3 河州美女郑佳晴，成为杜林祥的座上宾
4 庄硕汉大谈曾国藩与左宗棠
5 徐万里四两拨千斤
6 一个计划，能有七成把握就放手去干
7 资产评估的黑幕
8 进攻是最好的防守
第七章操控舆论
1 大洋彼岸的“二奶村”
2 商人最要好的朋友，只会是钱
3 炒作和造假可不是一回事
4 杜林祥下的这盘大棋，连精明异常的徐万里也没看懂
5 三箭齐发，信丰制药的股票走出一波强劲行情
6 颇受内地富豪偏爱的香港四季酒店
7 黄色和黑色，永远是舆论场里最耀眼的颜色
第八章箭在弦上
1 徐浩成引见了一位气功大师来河州
2 有一类人，可以交朋友，但不能走得太近，更不要去得罪
3 两个聪明男人之间的交流，不需要把话全部挑明
4 真正不值一驳的假话绝对算不上谣言
5 没有公主的命，就得有女王的心
6 大名鼎鼎的“欧洲夏都”
7 签约仪式上的紧急电话

FAQ

What is the connection between this book and Gold Medal Investor?

Both are part of a series by author Long Zaiyu reflecting contemporary Chinese capital markets, but the stories and characters are independent. The Helmsman focuses more on the power structure and reform struggles within the state-owned enterprise system, with a grander scope, and can be seen as the author's in-depth exploration of a different business domain.

Is the content too professional and difficult to understand?

The author excels at weaving professional business and financial knowledge into the plot, presenting it naturally through character dialogue and event progression, so even readers outside the financial field can smoothly grasp the core conflicts. The book's focus is on the interaction of human nature and power under business rules, with professional knowledge serving as background for the narrative.

Is this book more realistic or more fictionalized?

The book is based on extensive real-world observation and case studies and has a strong realistic foundation. Although the characters and story are artistically crafted, the business logic, institutional dilemmas, and human tests they reflect are rooted in reality—it is a 'dramatized expression of realism' that can evoke associations and reflections about the real world.

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About the author

龙在宇 Author

Long Zaiyu is a Chinese novelist known for fiction about finance and business warfare. Public information about him is limited, and no reliable record of his life, background, or education is available. Judging from the sixteen works held in the collection, his writing centers on corporate power struggles, capital operations, and the world of business. His representative works include the trilogy Zhangduo, the two-volume Tianxia Shangbang, and the Gold Medal Investor series, as well as a seven-volume collection of his business novels. These works are mostly set against competition in industry and finance, and through their characters' choices among interests, principles, and ambition they portray strategy and human nature in the business world. His works also touch on such categories as social fiction, war and military fiction, and otherworldly fantasy, showing a range of subject matter.