The Story

The Bureaucrats doesn't follow one hero. Instead, it's a chain of stories about the people running—and ruining—China in its final imperial decades. We meet governors who buy their posts, magistrates who fake disasters to pocket relief funds, and clerks who make fortunes from red tape. The plot moves from provincial backwaters to the capital, showing how corruption isn't just a few bad apples, but the whole system's operating manual. There's no central mystery to solve; the shocking reveal is how ordinary this rot has become.

Why You Should Read It

I picked this up expecting a stuffy period piece. What I got was a book that made me laugh out loud one moment and shake my head the next. Li Boyuan writes with a satirical edge that's still sharp today. His characters are painfully human—greedy, vain, scared, and sometimes oddly charming in their dishonesty. You keep reading not for a plot twist, but to see what audacious scheme they'll try next. It's a masterclass in showing how power corrupts, not with grand evil, but with small, everyday compromises.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who enjoys historical fiction with teeth, or fans of satires like Dead Souls or The Jungle. If you're curious about Chinese history but want something alive with character and wit, not just dates and facts, start here. A word of warning: it's a product of its time, so some attitudes will feel dated. But as a portrait of institutional failure and human weakness, it's timeless. Think of it as the ancestor of every great political thriller you've ever loved.