Lu Qian, a modern man, drowns and wakes up in the Great Liang Dynasty, a time of chaos and invasion by Tartars. He finds himself a famine victim, but a 'Lord of Chaos' system activates, granting him powerful rewards like unlimited inventory space, martial arts skills, and advanced weapons.

Lu Qian's uncle urges him to find a wife. He acquires three women from a government distribution, providing them with food and a home. The system rewards him with land, grain, livestock, and points, which he uses to purchase loyalty pills and further enhance his abilities.

Lu Qian uses his hunting skills and modern crossbow to take down a boar. He encounters bandits from Black Wind Village, who were responsible for his parents' death. He slays them, triggering a mission. Later, a tyrannical landlord, Cao Wang, attempts to seize Lu Qian's game, leading to a confrontation where Lu Qian rallies the villagers against him.

Lu Qian defeats Cao Wang and seizes his wealth and grain. He rapidly acquires all the grain in Xing County, giving him control over the region's food supply. He then rescues his future wife, Frost, and her mother from Black Wind Village, further solidifying his reputation and strength.

Lu Qian gathers villagers, forming the 'Lu Family Army' and training them at Black Wind Fortress. He repels an attack from the Western Shu army, capturing their soldiers. General Yan Qiu, impressed by Lu Qian's vision and resources, pledges his loyalty, turning his small militia into a formidable force.

Lu Qian receives a visit from Bai Cen, military advisor to the King of Chu, seeking an alliance against the Tartars. Lu Qian cleverly negotiates, gaining 100,000 soldiers and supplies. He also develops a powerful weapon: gunpowder, which he names the 'Tartar Happy Bag'.

Lu Qian's army conquers Rongzhou, a key city in Western Sichuan, defeating 400,000 Tartars and winning over the local populace through fair treatment and advanced agricultural methods. He skillfully navigates alliances, turning the King of Chu against the King of Qi, and using both to expand his territory while recruiting their soldiers.

Lu Qian continues his conquests, expanding his territory and army. He faces challenges from rival leaders like the Princess of Taiyuan, but his superior tactics and the devastating 'Happy Bag' (grenades) lead to victory. His reputation as a benevolent yet powerful leader grows, leading him to reclaim the 16 northern states. He eventually marches on Kyoto, where the current Emperor commits suicide. Lu Qian ascends the throne, establishing the Huaxia Dynasty.

As Emperor, Lu Qian rewards his loyal generals and relatives with important positions and lands. He confronts challenges from the former Princess of Taiyuan and a Persian envoy. The Persian envoy attempts to introduce a potent opium-like substance to undermine the empire, but Lu Qian discovers the plot and takes decisive action, asserting his control and protecting his people.