As in, founder of a new country!

• • The MC is not someone who's good at speaking (which is what most ancient novels focus on), so he will straight up beat people up (without harming them permanently) instead of trying to "out-wit" or "out-talk" them. This can be jarring at first, but it makes a lot of sense because he's a modern ex-soldier guy... not a politician.

• • The focal point of the story is the MC, so even though he's gay and marries the ML, the ML will frequently take a backseat in the story: for example, study quietly at home or raise kids at home.

• • Though the ML becomes very competent over time, it's still a much longer struggle for him because he's a native of the ancient times and has to learn everything the MC naturally knows (or common modern knowledge), so it takes him longer to adapt. He's frequently stuck in a state of "my husband is so cool so OP!!!" and "oh god I'm not fit for him, I need to learn more!" This can get a bit frustrating if you like reading about equally strong MC/ML teams (though the rebirth in the extras super makes up for this!!!! so in the end even I was convinced haha).

• • There is a very competent love rival in this novel and I am not a fan of how he turns out. The love rival, who started out super cool and independent, turns into an extremely small-minded/ jealous/ backstabbing/ paranoid/ incompetent person. In ancient novels, most love rivals get r*ped/destroyed, and something similar happens to him in this one. The author backed away from adding any more brainless extended plotlines (thank god), so his wealth/family doesn't get destroyed. I'm just not happy about the jealous r*pe-retaliation plot that ancient novels somehow HAVE to have.

• • One of the later encounters is with ancient Japan. That arc got a bit disquieting because the ancient Japanese culture becomes pretty much assimilated and obliterated. The text lightly touches on how awful it is to conquer a country and destroy their native culture, but here is a warning for those Japanese lovers out there... wheres my sushi tempura musubi udon ramen katsu miso okonomiyaki soba

• • And yea, the MC is very upfront about his bias and dislike for the ancient Japanese people : (

I found it very disturbing how the commentators were supportive of the MC threatening an old woman (the mother of the body he occupies) with a knife and beating up his uncles.

Sure, these ppl are evil. But they are civilians.

He eventually demands an exorbitant amount of money from the family (40 silvers. His family had 60 silvers at their height) so that he could separate from them and live with the ML. His rationale is that this is compensation for all the unpaid labor he did for 10 years.

the MC says he wasn't able to find anyone despite his willingness in his og timeline, when in fact he just didn't want to invest anything in another person, and most wanted someone who would agree to a lifetime after preferably a day of knowing each other.

and was Wang Haicheng's death really necessary? It was almost the end, and his death didn't bring anything to the story. Why let him die worthlessly like that? Although he was by no means an important character, he was Jiang Zhen's very first subordinate and accompanied him the longest. My chest felt heavy seeing him gone just like that. 🥲

Zhao Jinge was most definitely groomed by Jiang Zhen. It saddens me to think that even in the EXTRAS, JInge still believes he's ugly. He believes JZ only likes his manly body and feel sad when he saw his stomach all flabby (mind you he just gave birth).

There's one part in the extra where JZ got h*rny when he saw Jinge wearing a modern-ish military uniform. It reminded JZ of his comrades from his previous life and that says A LOT.

Jiang Zhen even used to make Jinge feel unsecured in their relationship and say some stories to make him feel nervous.

These scenes, although few, really stuck with me. It itches in the back of my mind whenever I see the main couple being lovey dovey.

What a waste of character. Author even dared to use r*pe as a plot device. Disgusting. This is the only time I strongly felt negative emotion for this novel. The author's explanation as well! What foreshadowing? It's just bad writing.

I really grieve for this character since it was the first time we got introduced to a powerful ger and then BAM gangr*ped. Automatically turning into a cannon fodder for the story.

In my opinion, if you've reached this point or the story, just drop it. The arcs that follows is really just nonsensical and bad. To the point that it feels like the author posted their drafts.

If the story ended before this arc, I would've given this a 4-5 star.

The Eastern/Japanese ronins - is the author xenophobic hahaha what is this behavior? It wasnt necessary to note that Jiang Zhen doesn't like eastern people, that information contributed nothing, the author's xenophobia is just showing.

Towards the latter part of the story, it just proves my point. The blatant disregard for the Japanese/Oriental Ronins' lives during battles is really just frustrating

It was mention so many unnecessary times that Jiang Zhen hates the ronins, what was the purpose? To the point that I kinda thought it was the author's hidden propaganda or something lol

It's good and all to want to protect your loved ones but for real... take over a country and force your culture and language on them? Not cool man...

This partnered with the earlier xenophobia really didn't sit well with me.

And the fact that all that world building gone to waste, why bother introducing the powerful empress dowager who is a ger or why bother give progress to other counties right?

The plot just ate itself up, how disappointing.

They are both super poor, so they flirt by giving each other a fish they caught, or an egg they saved and their dates are about eating lunch together secretly while hiding in the bushes in the forest. Super adorable.