Political Storyline Explained:
Q1: Why does Family Gu not want the ML to marry the princess? (Ep 1-6)
The ML’s maternal uncle Jiang He, is an important minister in the capital (will show up later). The emperor is sick and hasn’t appeared in the imperial court for three months. At the same time, Lord Liang and some province governors have ambitions to rebel and seize the throne.
In this background, ML’s uncle hopes his nephew can marry the princess and also get an official position, to guarantee the Family Gu’s wealth and future development.
However, ML’s parents love their son and don’t want him involved in such political issues. So when they heard their son was fond of the FL. They visited FL’s home to ask. The FL’s parents agreed. Then they decided the marriage in a hurry to refuse the princess’s invitation.
Q2: What happened to Family Gu? (Ep 9-12)
The emperor thought Lord Liang was not loyal and demoted him to his fief (he rebelled later). Jiang He, the maternal uncle of ML, has a close relationship with Lord Liang. The emperor also demoted him to deal with the flood issue of the Yellow River.
So, the Family Gu lost their strong backing in the imperial court. Meanwhile, the governor of Yang Zhou wanted their vast wealth and other rich families’ wealth. He wanted the money to be the 'local emperor' of Yang Zhou. The city will fall into chaos.
The Family Gu is transferring properties secretly to You Zhou before moving there.
Q3: State You (You Zhou) Arc (Ep 15 - 16)
Zhou Ye’s father - Zhou Gao Lang, is the general of the strong army of You Zhou. He and Governor Fan Xuan are sworn- brothers. They are also planning for rebellion.
With the rebellions arising in many provinces, You Zhou becomes the only peaceful one. Therefore, many businessmen moved there. However, You Zhou lacks rice, while the businessmen can’t produce rice, but added population burden on the state. You Zhou can't feed so many people.
So the local government limits the business registration certificates. Family Gu needs to wait in line. Although ML and Zhou Ye are good friends, Zhou Ye actually can’t help much, coz Fan Xuan is very strict in rules and policies.
Capital Arc Political Storyline explained (Ep 29 - 30)
Q4: Why did Fan Yu turn evil? - Without enough appreciation and tutoring from his father, Fan Yu grows ups to be an insecure, rashed, selfish and stupid person. He becomes jealous of ML coz his father appreciates him and says it’s ideal if ML could be his son. (In the novel, he’s a bad and willful boy at the start, he dislikes ML although ML rescued him in the gambling house.)
Q5: Why did Luo Zi Shang become the tutor of the crown prince? - LZS controlled Yang Zhou after FL caused chaos there and the governor was killed. He surrendered and swore fealty to the new emperor, offering the tax revenue of Yang Zhou, which is a massive support of the new dynasty (Yang Zhou is the wealthiest province).
The emperor had to reward him appropriately, otherwise the governors in charge of other provinces might not risk surrendering to the new dynasty. Luo Zi Shang took advantage of it and asked to be the crown prince’s tutor in exchange, for manipulating him and influencing the imperial court. (In fact, the new emperor has health problems and won’t live long). (In the novel, ML was assigned to be another tutor too, to reduce the influence of Luo Zi Shang).
Q6: Why does ML’s uncle Jiang He get a good treatment in prison? - Since Lord Liang rebelled, Jiang He was put in prison by the last emperor due to his close relationship with Lord Liang. In fact, he’s the new emperor Fan Xuan’s secret ally, who will release him at the right time.
Jiang He is a cunny fox, and is proud of his nephew coz he’s just like a younger version of him. JH also loves his family. His elder brother was killed by the scheme of LZS’s mother’s family (I explained LZS’s hidden identity before). His only sister is ML’s mother. So he treats the ML as his own son. He always helps GJS and his friends on important issues in the novel's second half (but the final arc is deleted in the drama).
SPOILERS BELOW!
Novel's Timeline: (Totally 173 chapters + epilogues)
1. Yang Zhou Arc: (Chapter 1- 38)
FL's dream (foresee the fate of Family Gu) - Wedding - FL running business - transferring properties - FL's birthday - the accident of Family Gu (ML's father was believed to die in the fire) - the journey to You Zhou
2. You Zhou Arc: (Chapter 39- 62)
FL starts a new business/ ML becomes an official - ML is appreciated by Governor Fan Xuan and promoted to city magistrate- FL is robbed by Shen Ming - Zhou Ye's wedding.
3. Yang Zhou and other provinces Arc: (Chapter 63 - 69 )
FL went to other provinces to raise rice for You Zhou's rebellion - FL arrived at Yang Zhou and met Luo Zi Shang for the first time - FL planned to rescue Ye Shi An and Ye Yun. Ye Yun killed Governor Wang and escaped with them. (ML's father was hiding in Family Ye and left together) - ML and FL found the hidden identity of Luo Zi Shang.
4. You Zhou Arc: (Chapter 70 - 83)
Defensive war of You Zhou commanded by ML - Zhou Ye’s reinforcement arrived at the last minute - governor of Youzhou (Fan Xuan) occupied the capital and became the new emperor
5. Capital Arc: (Chapter 84 - 125) (CHANGED A LOT IN DRAMA!)
ML was promoted to the Minister of Revenue - Luo Zi Shang became the crown prince’s teacher - Corruption case of the Financial Department - ML was trapped by LZS and put in prison - FL and friends found evidence to overturn the case - ML figured out solutions for the emperor to solve the case and party fighting - the forced marriage from the princess failed - FL run rice business and planned to trade on the canal network - FL was awarded the honorable 2nd official ranking for female.
6. Yellow River Arc: (Chapter 126 - 152) (NOT IN DRAMA!)
ML, FL and LZS were dispatched to deal with the flood control works of Yellow River - they found the dark side of local officials - locals attacked the mansion they live - LZS asked if FL could go with him - ML’s reinforcement arrived - FL confirmed pregnant.
7. Final Rebellion and Revenge Arc (153- 173) (CHANGED A LOT IN DRAMA!)
FL’s big business group celebration - FL gave birth to a daughter - emperor passed away, crown prince succeeded - young emperor killed important officials - ML rushed to You Zhou to inform General Zhou - FL rushed to Yang Zhou and destroyed LZS’s alliance with schemes - ML showed the general of the second decree by the last emperor which allows deposing the crown prince - General Zhou finally rebelled.
ML figured out LZS’s real plan - LZS and his real father Jiang He killed each other in a fire - ML persuaded the young emperor to abdicate to General Zhou - young emperor was killed by servants - General Zhou gave the throne to his son Zhou Ye (new emperor) in the next year - ML became the Prime Minister, FL became the richest businessman in the country! HAPPY ENDING! ❤️
❤ Novel Link (English translated): https://www.mtlnovel.com/long-wind-crossing/ No epilogue in this link.
Epilogues : https://www.52shuku.vip/yanqing/hxla.html from page 514 (the bottom lines of the page). to page 529.
❤ Luo Zi Shang’s hidden identity in the novel (please note the drama would adapt some):
His mother is Luo Yi Shui. She fell in love with the ML’s maternal uncle Jiang He when she’s young. They even started to plan the marriage. But she told Jiang He she’s from Family Luo. Jiang He was shocked because her father’s scheme killed his elder brother. (Her father helped the emperor of the last dynasty to kill him). So he had to leave her. But he didn’t know she was pregnant.
After that, she returned home and gave birth to the baby. However, her family thought it’s a shame and threw the baby. Then she thought the baby was dead and had to marry to one of her admirers Qing Nan. She got sick later and passed away.
The baby was adopted by a beggar, and also grew up as a beggar to 12 years old. However, his foster father was beaten to death by the Family Luo. So he hated the family and went to the mansion with a knife, but was caught and locked up there.
His biological father Jiang He was seeking for the jade seal of the last dynasty. He heard it’s hidden in Family Luo and visited there. The boy told him if he killed the family Luo, he can tell him where’s the jade seal hidden. So he killed them and set fire to the mansion. (He didn’t kill the boy coz he looks like his mother).
(Btw, Jiang He gave the jade seal to Lord Liang, then the lord rebelled with it. It gave Jiang He’s alliance Fan Xuan a good reason to kill Lord Liang and become the new emperor justifiably.)
On the second day, a famous scholar Zhang Huai Li visited Mansion Luo and found only a boy survived, who pretended to be the real Luo Zi Shang (the eldest son of the family luo). Master Zhang took pity on him and adopted him.
Luo Zi Shang always thought the ML’s father was his biological father, so he helped the Family Wang to kill the ML’s family at first. Nearly the end of the novel, he finally knows who’s his real father when he and Jiang He killed each other in fire.
PS: In the novel, LZS is more sympathetic and tender. He has another storyline with his sect brother. He raised his brother, cared for him like family and only opened his heart to him. He shared his secret - FL, to him. which caused his sect brother to be killed when FL took advantage of LZS's love to destroy the alliance in Yang Zhou. He cried and regretted when hearing the news from Yang Zhou. (deleted in the drama)
Also, LZS's political schemes are more brilliant, not apparent but deeply buried/hidden in the novel. The drama changed it.
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