In the fifteenth year of Chongzhen, the Central Plains suffered a great drought, and roving rebels crossed the border. When Gu Changping opened his eyes, before him were only bone-scraping cold winds and the wilderness. In order to survive, he slew routed soldiers with his own hands, taking along a Liaodong veteran soldier and a wealthy family's young lady, holding a fake travel pass, and plunging headfirst into the last prosperous place of the Ming Dynasty—Jiangnan. Across eight hundred miles of life-and-death trekking, he realized a truth and saw clearly the deep-seated abuses of the dynasty. In a chaotic era, gentleness and goodness are not spoken of; from then on, Jiangnan has powerful tycoons, the imperial court has powerful ministers, and in this crumbling chaotic era, he will sweep away all heroes.