Reflections on Publication

And so, the book was quietly launched—no thunderous applause, no long-dreamed-of featured recommendations, only the simple resolve to tell this story well, even if it meant setting out alone.

This is a story that has lingered in my heart for seven long years.

In the summer of 2008, just before the opening of the Beijing Olympics, a relative of mine passed away from liver cancer. He was only thirty-one years old.

He was an honest, kind-hearted man, generous and considerate to all. At home, he respected his elders, loved his wife, and doted on his child. Outside, he made friends easily and was steadfast in his loyalty—praised by everyone as a truly good man.

Yet, such a good man, just as the golden years of his life were beginning, was taken away.

At his funeral, I saw his aged father, whose grief had left him beyond tears; his wife, weeping uncontrollably; his young daughter, too innocent to comprehend what had happened; and his face, pale and waxen. In that moment, it was as if I heard a voice from the distant heavens.

“Why? Why must I, who never did wrong in my life, suffer such a fate?”

Resentment—a deep, unyielding sense of injustice. I seemed to see his eyes, his soul, gazing down from above at his loved ones and friends, restless and unwilling to leave, drifting higher and higher.

Perhaps the heavens had summoned him for some great purpose?

Once this thought took root, it never left me.

I once spent a brief time in the military, and have always been drawn to military literature and stories of the armed forces. It occurred to me—what if, in the ethereal realms above, a great war unknown to mortals was raging, and he was to play a pivotal role?

Thus, the initial idea for this story was born.

In the years that followed, the thought churned within me, and I kept adding details. At last, one day, I decided to write this story.

Historical fiction is a niche genre, and even more so for military history—it is nearly orphaned within its own category. So from the outset, I knew this was destined to be an obscure book.

As expected, the journey was anything but smooth. The book struggled from the very start, barely gaining any attention.

What are rankings? I’ve never seen them!

Yet, amid this bleakness, more and more readers began to click, to bookmark, to encourage me, to offer thoughtful feedback. Some even cast recommendation votes and gave moving rewards...

So, even though the book is still absent from any rankings, I know I am not walking this path alone.

Thank you.

Thus, when my editor suggested putting the book on the shelves, I agreed. I simply wanted to see, if I persisted in telling this story to the end, just how unnoticed could it truly become?

My gratitude to Editor-in-Chief Taishan of Group Nine, who gave me the chance to let more people hear this tale.

Thanks to my editor, Fierce Hand, who offered the greatest encouragement and care to a book that seemed fated for obscurity.

Now, the time has come to see the results of this experiment. Brothers, help me prove just how unnoticed this book can be!

Please click, please bookmark, please recommend. If possible, please subscribe, cast a monthly vote, or send a reward.

With respect.