Prologue to empire. This novel traces formative moments of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhuge Liang in Han China, 184 CE. Counting backward from Day 30 to Day 01, each chapter follows a figure until destinies converge. Author Yeon Sam-heum uses precise, poetic prose revealing how lessons, moments, and counsel shape empire. The narrative spans youth to adulthood, showing how legend emerges from individual choice. A transformative entry to history's greatest era of conflict.