The ML is Chen Baisong (though he didn't have this name until later in the story) and he was a close childhood friend of the MC Lin Yuan and at the beginning of the novel they were separated because of a bandit attack. The ML doesn't appear for very long afterwards and the actual romance doesn't actually start until late in the third arc. By then they were already adults with the ML in his late thirties, so there wasn't any fuss when they got together. Because of the power imbalance there was also nothing official between them (no marriage) although the final chapter (before the extras) have them talking about being buried together in the same coffin when they die :') and throughout the whole story they were only romantically involved with each other.

MC is a landowner still gaining loyal followers and trying to build an army > Conquering cities and rebelling against the imperial court while his reputation increases > Taking the capital, becoming the Emperor and leaving behind a legacy

The story starts off fairly light, the MC is from modern times with more modern sensibilities, so in comparison to the people of the historical era, MC is kind and nice, and he helps people and starts making money in order to help himself and help more and more people. Things are quite friendly.

But then things take a dark, serious turn when MC starts training people to become soldiers. Yes, MC imposes military law to prevent soldiers from looting and sexually assaulting. The soldiers are given a lot of benefits... but there is a lot of soldier propaganda, and it's targeted towards the lower classes (which is realistic and true, but chilling nonetheless). There is a lot of deaths, and we see some of them first hand through the POV of the soldiers.

MC starts taking over more and more cities. A lot of people die, and MC gets pretty ruthless when it comes to the more affluent people, sometimes killing entire families for the mistakes of just a few. Yes, he sets up a more liberal society, improving womens' rights (which far from perfect, but it's a step), education, and life quality.

But at the same time.... you can't get on his wrong side.

People start thinking he's a god descended from the Heavens. Good for moral and loyalty, but I think the power gets to his head a bit. And as MC grows in power, he starts getting more and more distant.

He ends up becoming emperor, and by the last chapter, there's only one person (the ML: Chen Baisong) who he can talk to openly.

This is not your typical travel back in time/transmigration novel with its wholesome, lighthearted, chill theme of world building/ farming/ business/ etc.. I thought it was. But its not. Since basically, MC started a slow and low-key rebellion. Yeah, rebellion. Its more dark and serious, full of war, plot of rebellion, dying, killing, r*pe and abuse. I think the author wants to meld it with China's history, amidst the chaos of changing of the dynasty, but I dont know anything about it, if its historically accurate or not. But thats the feeling Im getting. So its not very enticing to me, its more sad and scary. So I dropped it. Its not for me, but I feel like others would truly like it, so you'd have to judge it for yourself. I do know that this is a good novel even if It doesnt suit me, that's why I gave it a 3.5-4☆.

Also, I dont feel like he has any sense of belonging into this world. He seems so out of place that its easy to portray him as someone immortal (he was called South's Bodhisattva). Plus, its not only focus on him. There's a lot going on. I dunno, maybe its just MTL. I'd try to go back after TL completion and see if i'd like it then.

As of now, Id rate it as 3.5-4☆

The MC also had a lot of rumors around him about his love affairs. Though it's just rumors and isn't actually true. He also had a concubine who died by the next chapter she was introduced lmao. The concubine is actually part of the enemy and MC only made her a concubine because she was useful as a bait but I still feel a little upset