Apocalypse 1626 Part I: The Persian Tribute

by Harry Han

Beijing, May 30, 1626 – 9:30 AM.

A cataclysmic explosion tore through the Ming capital, levelling half the city and leaving nearly 20,000 dead or wounded. Its force rivalled Hiroshima’s atomic blast—yet its cause remains one of history’s great mysteries.

Was it an act of nature? A man-made disaster? Divine retribution? Or something far more sinister?

The Emperor’s reign is named "Tianqi"—literally, Heavenly Awakening. Yet when Western missionaries translate it, they choose a darker Apocalypse.

Was it a mere coincidence? Or did it conceal a far greater conspiracy?

In the wake of the catastrophe, the Ming Dynasty teetered on the brink of collapse. The explosion’s shockwaves rippled across the world—
From the scorched palaces of Beijing to the frostbitten battlefields of Manchuria.
From the dying embers of Aztec temples to the wooden stockades of the American colonies.
From Jesuit enclaves in Goa to the shadows of the Silk Road.

Behind the chaos, a hidden force manipulated empires, and a cryptic book, The Tianqi Codex of Gewu Wonders, held the key that could reshape not just the fate of China but the entire world.

Ann Helen Sinclair, the sharp-witted daughter of a Scottish merchant and an English noblewoman, was betrayed by her lover and lured to the Ming court as an exotic “Persian tribute.” Stranded in a ruthless empire that viewed her as both a pawn and a curiosity, she discovered her intellect meant nothing here—but her beauty made her a target.

Luo Yee, a hardened imperial investigator with too many secrets, was tasked with uncovering the conspiracy behind the explosion—before it was too late.

Forced into an uneasy alliance, these two adversaries navigated a labyrinth of assassins, political treachery, and blood-soaked battlefields. As they followed the trail of the diary of Edward Lancelot—Ann’s former lover—they uncovered a plot that would destroy everything.

Blending historical intrigue with heart-pounding adventure, Apocalypse 1626 reimagined the Ming Dynasty’s downfall as a gripping tale of espionage, betrayal, and apocalyptic foreshadowing.

This is not just a story of a fallen empire—it is a mirror held up to our age of rising walls and vanishing trust.

In an era haunted by chip wars, trade barriers, and technological embargoes—where global supply chains fracture and regional conflicts ignite—the past no longer feels distant. It becomes a dark reflection of our present, echoing with the same fears, the same divisions, and the same fatal illusions.

Apocalypse 1626 is not the end of the story—it is just a beginning.

274 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 18, 2025

About the author

Harry Han is a historical novelist who has devoted years to studying the intersections of Eastern and Western history and culture. His novels weave the fates of ordinary people into the grand tapestry of great powers—blending sweeping historical backdrops with intimate, human stories.
With a rare ability to bridge East and West, and a sharp eye for the patterns of modern society, Han’s work transcends eras. His stories not only illuminate the past but also cast a reflective light on the present world. Known for capturing the smallest moments of human emotion against the turbulence of history, he invites readers to see their own lives mirrored in centuries-old struggles.
His notable work, Apocalypse 1626, is an epic that begins with the Tianqi Explosion of the Ming Dynasty and unfolds into a global tale of politics, trade, and cultural exchange.