The Quest for the Crown
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Summary
Editor's review
In terms of reading value, the book offers reflections on multiple dimensions. For professionals, it is a vivid 'non-textbook' casebook of interpersonal relations and strategic decision-making; for literature lovers, its narrative pace is well-modulated, its ensemble characters are distinctly drawn, and its plot advances link by link, making it highly readable. The author He Changzai's rich experience in business and writing lends credibility and depth to the book's depictions of business operations, policy interpretation, and human insight. Notably, the exploration of 'technique' versus 'way'—that is, the balance between concrete strategic means and higher-level value pursuits—is a hidden theme running throughout, elevating the story beyond the ordinary wish-fulfillment framework and giving it a certain speculative quality. Of course, readers should also view the book's idealized plot setups rationally, distinguishing its wisdom core from real-world situations.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in officialdom culture, workplace strategy, and interpersonal gamesmanship
- Enthusiasts who enjoy interpretations applying traditional wisdom (such as the I Ching and historical power strategy) to modern contexts
- Professionals and managers seeking management inspiration or life strategy through fiction
- Longtime readers of He Changzai, or readers who enjoy realistic long-form novels such as Hou Weidong's Officialdom Notes
Not a good fit for
- Readers expecting pure historical power strategy or classical novel style
- Readers who reject any depiction of workplace thick-black lore and seek light, casual reading
Reading tips
- Treat each of Xia Xiang's breakthroughs as a management or decision-making case, and reflect on the logic and trade-offs behind it
- Pay attention to the book's adaptations of I Ching hexagrams and appreciate how the author translates classical philosophy into modern terms
- Read critically in light of your own experience, drawing interpersonal insight and strategic thinking rather than simply imitating the plot
About the publisher
Beijing United Publishing Co., Ltd. is a publisher known for its literature and history titles, with 2,065 books in the collection. Its publishing covers foreign literature, contemporary Chinese prose and essays, history, folk literature, and cultural books. Its list ranges from Sima Qian's complete edition of the Records of the Grand Historian to foreign classics such as The Book of Disquiet, All Quiet on the Western Front, Snow Country, The Stranger, and Jean-Christophe, as well as modern Chinese works including Teahouse and Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk. Its authors and translators include Yasunari Kawabata, Fernando Pessoa, Erich Maria Remarque, Jin Xinyi, Zhou Miao, and Chen Chao. Public information is limited, but its catalogue reflects a balance between Chinese and foreign literary classics and historical and cultural works.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 楔子
- 第一章 壮志凌云
- 第二章 平地起波澜
- 第三章 闯祸
- 第四章 行路难
- 第五章 千里功名歧路
- 第六章 壮士寸心如铁
- 第七章 好景常在
- 第八章 一入京城深似海
- 第九章 景星庆云
- 第十章 曹家有女初长成
- 第十一章 无本生意
- 第十二章 试探
- 第十三章 天子门生
- 第十四章 夜行
- 第十五章 足智多谋
- 第十六章 和光同尘
- 第十七章 快活林
- 第十八章 截杀
- 第十九章 以身试险
- 第二十章 尽其道而死
- 第二十一章 初识
- 第二十二章 美玉之质
- 第二十三章 狭路相逢
- 第二十四章 不小忍则乱大谋
- 第二十五章 斗智斗勇
- 第二十六章 进退有度
- 第二十七章 两害相权取其轻
- 第二十八章 两利相权取其重
- 第二十九章 七年之病，当求三年之艾
- 第三十章 气脉
- 第三十一章 寒脉
- 第三十二章 宋定娘之死
- 第三十三章 是非曲直
- 第三十四章 冰冻三尺，非一日之寒
- 第三十五章 将计就计
- 第三十六章 白衣动公卿
- 第三十七章 既来之，则安之
- 第三十八章 三女初会
- 第三十九章 大比之日
- 第四十章 顺势而为
- 第四十一章 不期而遇
- 第四十二章 人之大欲
- 第四十三章 点茶之争（一）
- 第四十四章 点茶之争（二）
- 第四十五章 景王
- 第四十六章 牵一发而动全身
- 第四十七章 鏖战
- 第四十八章 舌战
- 第四十九章 不破不立
- 第五十章 黑榜
- 第五十一章 四大世家
- 第五十二章 欲擒故纵
- 第五十三章 黑幕
- 第五十四章 一波三折
- 第五十五章 庆王
- 第五十六章 乱中取利
- 第五十七章 生财有道
- 第五十八章 风起云涌
- 第五十九章 夜战
- 第六十章 放榜
- 第六十一章 两美初见
- 第六十二章 一见误终身
- 第六十三章 观心阁
- 第六十四章 反骨
- 第六十五章 殿试
- 第六十六章 一战成名
- 第六十七章 龙潭虎穴
FAQ
Is The Rise (Wending Ji) a true documentary of officialdom?
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About the author
He Changzai, whose real name is Cui Hao, was born in Handan, Hebei Province, in 1976. He is a member of the China Writers Association, vice chairman of the Hebei Writers Association, and chairman of the Hebei Internet Writers Association. He has long focused on social fiction and business-war themes. The library holds nine of his works, most notably the Wending series, including Wending: The Road from Grassroots Civil Servant to Provincial Party Secretary, Wending Ji, Wending 3: Competing Among Heroes, Wending 4: Looking Far from a Height, Wending 5: Forging Ahead, Wending 6: Soaring Ambitions, and Wending 7: Beyond the Mountains. His writing is known for realistic business fiction, emphasizing characters' growth and choices amid workplace and social change, with solid narratives close to real life that have drawn reader attention. Public information is limited, and details of his early life and writing are not recorded in the library.
