Water Margin: Gao Taiwei and His 108 Heroes

【Transmigration】【Northern Song】【Political Scheming and Rivalry】【Water Margin】【Alternate History】【Court Conflict】【Campaign Against Western Xia and Jin】

Office director Zhao Heng transmigrates and lands in the Northern Song Dynasty, becoming Gao Qiu, who is reviled by everyone in Water Margin.

At this point, he is still in Prince Duan’s residence, merely a personal attendant by Zhao Ji’s side.

On the court, Empress Dowager Xiang rules from behind the curtain, old and new factions are locked in endless strife, and undercurrents swirl around the succession. Between the martial circles, the heroes of Liangshan are still lying low. In the northern frontier, the Jin are quietly rising, and the shadow of the future Jingkang catastrophe is already brewing far away.

Having been an office director in his previous life and deeply versed in human affairs, how could Zhao Heng stand by and watch himself walk the same old road from the original story and end up infamous for eternity!

Skilled in maneuvering upward, he clings to Prince Duan Zhao Ji and wins his trust through his worldly know-how.

Once Zhao Ji ascends the throne, he takes charge of the Imperial Palace Command, cracks down on corruption and powerful magnates; manages the western army, putting generals such as Wang Hou and Zhong Shidao to use; straightens out the salt laws and forges firearms, strengthening the foundations of Great Song.

Lin Chong and Wang Jin are sent to the northwest for training; the 108 heroes of Water Margin are either controlled if they can be controlled, or suppressed if they must be.

Cai Jing harbors sinister intentions, and court power struggles grow more dangerous by the day; Western Xia covets Hehuang, Liao and Jin glare at the Central Plains, and war will soon ignite at the borders—only iron and blood can meet it.

The world thinks he is a treacherous minister who throws the court into chaos.

Only Zhao Ji knows that the fate of the Great Song rests entirely on Gao Taiwei alone.

Reading note: the early part focuses on realistic Northern Song court intrigue, the middle part on managing Hehuang and fighting Western Xia, and the later part brings in martial heroes and the struggle among states.

Also given nicknames by readers: *A Soft Song and Hard Qiu Record*, *That Year, Even Emperor Huizong Raised His Arms for Me*