Setting:
An Imperial Dynasty of China from 1368 – 1644, the last orthodox dynasty of China ruled by Han Chinese (major ethnic group). The founder and 1st Emperor was the Hongwu Emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang.
The novel recounts events from the 5th year of Hongwu (1372) onwards, but the actual novel events begin in the 25th year of Hongwu (1392).
Characters:
The Ming Dynasty Imperial Family:
Zhu Yuanzhang (朱元璋), Founding Emperor aka the Hongwu Emperor. Formerly one of the leaders of the Red Turban forces that overturned the Yuan dynasty and forced the Northern Yuan remnants to flee to Mongolia. Tuoba Feng’s tribe was decimated during this exodus by the Northern Yuan forces.
Ma Xiuying (马秀英), Empress Ma (马皇后), wife of Zhu Yuanzhang
Zhu Biao (朱标), Crown Prince, the eldest son of Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma
Zhu Di (朱棣), Prince of Yan (燕王), the 4th son of Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma. Brother-in-law to Yunqi, since he married Yunqi’s sister, Xu Wen
Zhu Quan (朱权), Prince of Ning (宁王), the 17th son of Zhu Yuanzhang
Princess Shouchun (寿春公主), the 9th daughter of Zhu Yuanzhang. Married Fu Zhong, eldest son of Fu Youde. Had a crush on young Tuoba Feng.
Zhu Yunwen (朱允炆), the Imperial Grandson, and the eldest son of Zhu Biao
Zhu Gaochi (朱高炽) the eldest son of Zhu Di, has a foot ailment.
Zhu Gaoxu (朱高煦), the 2nd son of Zhu Di
Tuoba Feng (拓跋锋), Commander of the Jinyiwei, and the adopted (义子) of Zhu Di. Survivor of the Tujue wolf clan.
Xu Family:
Xu Da (徐达) aka Xu Tiande (徐天德), Founding General of the Ming Dynasty, Prince of Zhongshan, father of our MC, and Shifu to Zhu Quan.
Wen Yuehua (温月华), the concubine of Xu Da, mother of Xu Wen and Xu Yunqi. Like a sister to Su Wanrong. Formerly of the House of Dancing Smoke.
Xu Wen (徐雯) the eldest daughter of Xu Da, Princess-Consort of Yan / Yan Wang-fei (燕王妃) to Zhu Di.
Xu Huizu (徐辉祖), the eldest son of Xu Da
Xu Zengshou (徐增寿) the 3rd son of Xu Da (but called Er-ge because the actual 2nd son Xu Tianfu 徐添福 died young)
Xu Yunqi (徐云起), Deputy Commander of the Jinyiwei, and the youngest son of Xu Da and Wen Yuehua
The Six Founding Dukes of the Ming Dynasty (all deceased by the start of the novel):
Hu Weiyong (胡惟庸), Right Grand Chancellor
Li Shanchang (李善长), Duke of Han
Zhou Dexing (周德興). Marquis of Jingxia
Fu Youde (傅友德), Duke of Ying
Feng Sheng (冯胜), Duke of Song. His daughter married Zhu Su, Prince of Zhou, the 5th son of Zhu Yuanzhang.
Xu Da (徐达) aka Xu Tiande (徐天德), Founding General of the Ming Dynasty, Prince of Zhongshan, father of our MC, and Shifu to Zhu Quan
Jinyiwei:
Mao Xiang (毛骧), the 1st Commander of the Jinyiwei, handled the Hu Weiyong case.
Jiang Huan (蒋瓛), former Commander of the Jinyiwei. Shifu to Tuoba Feng and Xu Yunqi (and the rest of the Jinyiwei), handled the Lan Yu case.
Jiang-furen, Su Wanrong (苏婉容), wife of Jiang Huan. Shi-niang to the Jinyiwei. A renowned artisan in Nanjing. Like a sister to Wen Yuehua.
Rong Qing (荣庆), the 3rd best martial artist within the Jinyiwei, reports to Tuoba Feng and Xu Yunqi.
Zhang Qin (张勤), Jinyiwei. Son of Zhang Bing, Left Vice-Minister of Rites
Tu Ming (涂明), Jinyiwei.
Sun Tao (孙韬), Jinyiwei.
Meridian Gate Guards:
Huyan Ke (呼延柯), Commander of the Meridian Gate Guards. Has Azure blue eagle/hawk-like eyes, non-Han Chinese.
Qi Kuoyan (齐廓岩), Minister of War
Xu Muda (许慕达), Northern Xinjiang Field Officer
Lan Yu ( 蓝玉), Founding General of the Ming Dynasty, and the brother-in-law of the Prince of Kaiping, Chang Yuchun
Lan Mo (蓝沫), daughter of Lan Yu.
Zakkur (扎库尔), Lan Yu’s Deputy General from the Western Regions. Uses a copper blade and is considered the Army’s #1 martial arts expert.
Geng Bingwen (耿炳文) General, Marquis of Changxing. Son of Geng Junyong (耿君用) – one of the founding heroes of the Ming Dynasty who died in battle, his young son Geng Bingwen inherited his father’s position and continued to fight for Zhu Yuanzhang.
Song Zhong (宋忠), one of Li Jinglong’s subordinates.
Qu Neng (瞿能), one of Li Jinglong’s subordinates. His father was an official during the Hongwu era and served as a Governor. Qu Neng inherited his official post and had followed Lan Yu in the past. He followed Li Jinglong’s army during the Jingnan campaign, leading over a thousand elite soldiers together with his son.
Tang He (湯和), one of the founding generals of the Ming Dynasty from the same village as Zhu Yuanzhang, joined the Red Turban Rebellion. He had been bestowed the title of Duke Xingguo. Died in 1935 of natural causes – one of the few founding generals of the Ming Dynasty to do so.
Zhang Yuan (张远), Minister of Revenue
Zhang Bing (張昺), Left Vice Minister of Rites – Father of Zhang Qin.
Zhuang Lu (庄麓), Remonstrance official
Court Officials:
Fang Xiaoru (方孝孺)
Huang Zicheng (黃子澄), Grand Tutor to Zhu Yunwen
Li Jinglong (李景隆), General and nephew of Zhu Yuanzhang. He was the son of Duke Li Wenzhong and the nephew of Zhu Yuanzhang through his older sister.
Qi Tai (齐泰) Advisor to the Jianwen Emperor
Others:
Zhang Sanfeng, a legendary Taoist who named Xu Yunqi. Instructed Tuoba Feng on martial arts and gave him the Qixing Chenmu Sword (Seven Stars Sunken Wood Sword).
Chun Lan (春兰), a prostitute from the House of Dancing Smoke (舞烟楼).
Yao Guangxiao (姚廣孝) Buddhist monk, military strategist, and statesman assisting Zhu Di.
Ma Sanbao (马三保) aka Zheng He (郑和), a mariner, explorer, diplomat, fleet admiral, and court eunuch. He serves in the Prince of Yan’s residence. Wields a scimitar and is a polyglot.
Zhang Shicheng (张士诚) , one of the leaders of the Red Turban Rebellion during the late Yuan Dynasty (the Mongol-led dynasty prior to the Ming Dynasty). He established the Zhou Kingdom, his era name Tianyou (天佑).
Palaces:
Rende Palace, Palace of Benevolent Virtue. （仁德殿） – Imperial Grandson’s palace
Qingwan Palace, Palace of Fresh Beauty (清婉殿) – Noble Consort’s palace
Taihe Hall, Hall of Supreme Harmony, is the largest hall in Beijing.
Fengtian Hall (奉天殿), three generations of the early Ming Dynasty held major ceremonies here and received hundreds of officials.
Chamber of State Affairs (议事庭）
Cities:
Nanjing (南京) lit. “Southern Capital” / Yingtian (應天) lit. “Comply with Heaven” The capital of the Ming dynasty during the Hongwu Emperor’s reign.
Beiping (北平) lit. “Northern Plains”. The fiefdom of Zhu Di, Prince of Yan. Other names, Beijing (北京) lit. “Northern Capital”, Shuntian (顺天) lit. “Obedient to Heaven”, Dadu (大都) the former capital of the Yuan Dynasty. Lit. “Vast/great capital city”.
Other places:
Kherlen River (克鲁伦河) Tuoba Feng’s nomadic tribe lived near this river. It is a 1,254km river that runs between Mongolia and China. It is where Zhu Di defeated Köke Temür / Wang Bao Bao.