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Ai Zhu Cilang’s procession to Hejian Prefecture Eleventh Month of the Seventh Year of Chongzhen (December 28th 1634-January 4, 1635) I watch the seven Qi cousins through Zhu Cilang’s eyes as they settle into their assigned watch rotation along the wagon perimeter. Firelight catches the edges of their various weapons while their shadows extend across the frozen ground, and they move with the coordination of boys who have trained together since childhood, each covering the gaps in the oth

Zhu Cilang Imperial Procession, Yongdingmen, Beijing Eleventh Month of the Seventh Year of Chongzhen (December 27th 1634) Near the middle of the eleventh month, we are ready to depart Beijing. The outer gate of Yongdingmen stands before us in the gray light before dawn, its stone arches dark against the paling sky and its iron-bound oak doors already open, although the official command to depart has not yet been given. Frost covers the flagstones of the outer courtyard. The breath

@drsawzall and @chris191070 Thanks for the support This might not be a popular story sadly, though it is more historical than my alternate history novel, Of Pride and Power, but I am happy to explore this alternate timeline. It's fun to explore 17th century Ming Dynasty China with a unique perspective. Glad you are both following along.

Zhu Cilang Eastern Palace, Forbidden City, Beijing Eleventh Month of the Seventh Year of Chongzhen (December 20th 1634) Hou Zhi’s appearance forces me to reconsider Zhang Xianyong, the Daoist priest appointed to Emperor Chongzhen’s court. In my previous life, Zhang Xianyong had little influence during my father’s reign and retired from his position two years later to assist victims of the famine. Until today, I dismissed his praise of me and the quadricycle under the famous name “

Been reading a new book series: She Who Became the Sun (The Radiant Emperor series) https://www.amazon.com/She-Who-Became-Shelley-Parker-Chan/dp/1250621801 The novel won several awards by the way. It's an alternate take on how the Ming Dynasty ("wink" guess why I am writing my story "wink") would have been founded by a woman, who took on the role of her brother. Also, she marries the historical female wife, forming a power couple that kicked out the Mongolians from China. Though I am a gay man, I am enjoying this sapphic story. Alternate history stories are rare with gay or lesbian main characters, and ancient Chinese stories are even rarer. This one might interest some people who are open-minded, enjoy historical fiction with an eastern flair, and want to explore how Chinese reverse gender roles/sapphic relationships could operate. There's also a contrasting gay male relationship in the story, far less happy @Krista I know you're looking for something different, might be a good novel series for you to explore.

Ai Zhu Cilang’s Workshop, Forbidden City, Beijing Eleventh Month of the Seventh Year of Chongzhen (December 20th 1634) Hard winds, dry air, and coal smoke cover Beijing as winter begins to descend. Six Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse Chariots stand inside Zhu Cilang’s workshop, each built to the improved pattern prepared for the journey to Fengyang City. Emperor Chongzhen’s decision to grant Zhu Cilang greater freedom and broader access to materials allows the workshop to produce steel

Zhu Cilang Courtyard near the Meridian Gate, Forbidden City, Beijing Eighth Month of the Seventh Year of Chongzhen (September 20th 1634) The emperor has returned to his dais, and Wang Chengen stands beside him with the ceremonial fan. Beyond the outer gates, the crowd produces a sustained roar that swallows every individual voice, while Wen Tiren waits at the edge of the eastern colonnade with his hands folded inside his sleeves and his expression carefully controlled. Wang C

Zhu Cilang Courtyard, Eastern Palace, Forbidden City, Beijing Eighth Month of the Seventh Year of Chongzhen (September 20th 1634) As the month passes, the palace notices my absence more keenly with each day. I do not attend the morning audiences, the ancestral sacrifices at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, or the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the empty place reserved for the crown prince becomes a subject of constant discussion. Mooncakes had once carried secret messages, so I am denied o

Ai Wenhuadian, Eastern Palace, Forbidden City, Beijing Seventh Month of the Seventh Year of Chongzhen (August 24th 1634) Four more months of training, studying, and philosophical analysis passed for Zhu Cilang and me, since Zhu Cilang tested his Shaolin light body techniques. After so much time among various teachers and officials in the Forbidden City, I also have realized how stifling this formal environment could be. Beyond tedious repetition and intense surveillance from servants

Ai Eastern Palace, Forbidden City Third Month of the Seventh Year of Chongzhen (April 20th 1634) I measure Zhu Cilang’s pulse at seventy-eight beats per minute while he stands on the ridge of the Eastern Palace roof. His breathing remains controlled, the pressure beneath his feet stays evenly distributed, and the small muscles around his ankles correct each shift caused by the spring wind. Below us, three eunuchs, two palace maids, and his nurse argue over ladders, quilts, and the

Chapter 1 Zhu Cilang Eastern Palace, Forbidden City, Beijing First Month of the Seventh Year of Chongzhen (February 20th 1634) The memories of my final moments remain complete. I remember the initial sweetness of the poisoned wine and the burning sensation that followed as it passed through my throat and entered my body. I also remember Wu Sangui’s face. He presented himself as a reluctant servant of the new Qing Dynasty, but his self-interest governed his conduct.

Zhu Cilang Manchu General Wu Sangui’s Camp, Outskirts of Beijing Eighth Month of the Seventeenth Year of Chongzhen (September 1st 1644) The Ming dynasty ended for me with a cup of poisoned wine. I was fifteen years old, the Crown Prince of a dynasty that had lost its capital, its armies, and its emperor. My title no longer carried authority. It only marked me as a threat to the men who now ruled Beijing. Before me stood a white porcelain cup filled with a clear fragrant liqu

Ten years before the fall of the Ming Dynasty, five-year-old Crown Prince Zhu Cilang awakens with memories of death, and the destruction awaiting his family and his nation. Within the prince’s young body also lives Ai, an artificial intelligence carrying the knowledge of a future humanity destined to collapse 450 years later beneath the weight of humanity’s greed, division, and selfishness. Bound together by a shared body and an impossible second chance, Zhu Cilang and Ai must charter a new path for the world around them. Weekly Chapter publications and Co-Hosted on IOMFATS

Thanks @Ron , Live Long and Prosper! Shatner, Takei, and Koenig are the last of the original crew, it's always good to see them. While Shatner and Takei are more high profile, I have special place for Walter Koenig, less for Star Trek and more for Babylon 5 character Alfred Bester. Walter Koenig portrayed an interesting multi-faceted villain, who saw the world from a very limited lens without any moral or ethics.

My two cent on NuTrek (Disco-Academy including JJ movies) vs. Classic Trek (Tos-Enterprise, original movies and TNG movies) I grew up on Classic Trek, loved Picard's crew because they were my first Enterprise (though I did see Kirk's crew in the movies). Deep Space Nine was fun and action packed with deep questions on interesting moral and ethical question about terrorism and war. Voyager was a nice adventure story; though sometimes inconsistent. Enterprise tried hard to be a good prequel, but it never got a real chance to escape the shadow of the other shows. As for the NuTrek, I am not a big fan of Discovery, just no on many levels. Picard was inconsistent until season 3, which I am glad they did and brought back Worf (Michael Dorn honestly should be given his own show, I'd paid good money to see an Old Man Worf becoming a ronin/knight errant in space, fighting for Klingon honor in a changing galaxy until his death as TNG mentioned on the eve of Alexander finally uniting the Klingon Houses and ends the bloody factional Klingon oligarchy that hampered the Klingon Empire). A Meiji era Klingon Empire would be really interesting and I hope some Star Trek Writer picks up the idea that was pitched at one point. Prodigy was a nice callback to Voyager, it was fun and had good ideas that were borrowed by Star Trek Academy to far less competent storytelling. Star Trek Strange New Worlds started off strong and I enjoyed the younger Spock, plus Captain Pike was an interesting Enterprise captain with a different style than Kirk. I also appreciate the idea that his quarters are the size of a luxury penthouse with fully stocked kitchen versus Kirk's little alcove captain's quarters. The show showed you just how a good prequel could be written and organized. However, now in season 4, I am far less happy with the show. I think the issue came with the inevitable Kirk introduction and the show's age. Plus, the writers are unlike their counterparts at another Star Trek show that I still love, just getting too sloppy. Season 4's opener did not need to have that kind of new material, Star Trek already has enough details for you without adding Planet X into the mix. Many older trekkies/trekkers like myself have said in forums the earth-based Voth civilization would have been better foils in this episode to some newly invented insectoids. Plus, if the Enterprise were the cause for their Civilization's collapse on Earth, it would make so much sense why the Voth leaders were resistant to claiming kinship with Voyager crew beyond just religious beliefs. Such a great missed opportunity for continuity and story consistency. Now my favorite NuTrek and the one I watched regularly was Lower Decks, it had the best mix of comedy and sci-fi nonsense that made Star Trek unique. It treats itself as cartoon, but it is an in-universe cartoon that makes sense. Boimler is the most interesting Ace character on any Trek series, and Mariner is a perfect balance of snark and PTSD in a pansexual bundle, they're a good one-two punch representing the best qualities of NuTrek with classic trek themes. I'm also a fan of the other characters like Tendi and T'lyn (she's not out of control as some may tell you ). Lower Decks is the show I have nothing but good things to say about.