01/13/2025
https://amzn.to/3Wg18m0
"The Last Jinyiwei" is more than a book of historical fiction. It is a book that highlights human behavior under certain conditions that totally change the course of history. This book is a must read.
Abstract:
The Ming Dynasty is about to take its last breath. Many have lost faith in the Great Ming because of external economic woes, the Little Ice Age, a plague, peasant rebels led by a charismatic warlord, and a foreign nomadic force invading the land. However, a young man named Liang Shiyi joins the Jinyiwei, Embroidered Uniform Guard to do his part to save it. Paired with the skillful operator He Fei and the brash giant Wang Yong, Liang Shiyi has the resources he needs to make an impact and become a hero. Yet, the true nature of the Jinyiwei is malevolent. They have terrorized China for years, overruling judicial proceedings and fabricating crimes to indict unruly dissenters. How will this bright-eyed and patriotic youth deal with the reality of being part of an organization seen as villainous by many? Will Liang Shiyi uphold his innate moral compass that suits a hero, or will he be corrupted and become complicit in the tyranny of the Jinyiwei? Furthermore, will he be able to balance that internal conflict with dealing with the threats and conspiracies that face the Great Ming?
The Last Jinyiwei is written in a found journal format; Liang Shiyi takes you back in time and allows you to see the fall of the Ming Dynasty through the eyes of a Jinyiwei. Throughout his journey, he meets fictional characters like the beautiful sister of He Fei, a scheming eu**ch, and the prejudiced Chief Supervisor of the Jinyiwei while also making connections with actual historical figures like Zu Dashou, Wu Sangui, and the Chongzhen Emperor.
The Last Jinyiwei is Book 1 of the Memories of the Ming series, covering the years 1639-1644 of the Ming-Qing Transition (1618-1683).
The Ming Dynasty is about to take its last breath. Many have lost faith in the Great Ming because of external economic woes, the Little Ice Age, a plague, peasant rebels led by a charismatic warlord, and a foreign nomadic force invading the land. However, a young man named Liang Shiyi joins the J...