★ Ranked 3rd in 2020 Chinese Literature (Fiction)!
★ Ma Boyong, winner of the People’s Literature Award, Zhu Ziqing Prose Award, and Mao Dun New Writer Award, presents another historical suspense masterpiece following the success of The Longest Day in Chang’an. Based on authentic historical records of Zhu Zhanji from The History of Ming, this novel unfolds a thrilling escape journey along the Grand Canal.
★ A vivid portrayal of life along the Ming Dynasty Grand Canal, weaving together the destinies of a small constable, a female doctor, a minor official, and the crown prince, reflecting the subtle interplay between power and public sentiment.

The Fifteen-Day Miracle is a historical novel written by Ma Boyong.

The story originates from a brief historical record in The History of Ming about Zhu Zhanji: “In the fourth month of summer, due to frequent earthquakes in Nanjing, he was ordered to reside there. On the Gengchen day of the fifth month, Emperor Renzong fell ill, and a sealed edict summoned him back. On the Xinchou day of the sixth month, he returned to Liangxiang, received the posthumous decree, and entered the palace to mourn.”

What deeper meaning lies behind these few words in the historical records? Who truly wrote these hastily recorded lines?

A thousand-mile journey along the canal, a race against time under the starlit sky, surrounded by dangers, with lives hanging by a thread. The crown prince's frantic sprint along the Grand Canal reveals the struggle between imperial power and public sentiment, the cunning machinations of the palace and officialdom, decades of entangled grudges, and the subtle complexities of human nature—from nobility to depravity.

This is a spiritual journey of a small constable, a female doctor, a minor official, and the crown prince, as well as a vibrant depiction of life along the Ming Dynasty Grand Canal.

Ma Boyong

A well-known contemporary Chinese writer and recipient of China's Science Fiction "Galaxy Award", People's Literature Award, Zhu Ziqing Prose Award and Mao Dun Newcomer Award. He is considered to be following the "literary tradition of historical writing since the 'May Fourth' Movement" and is committed to exploring "historical possibility novels". He is well-known for his historical fiction, and his writing is full of quirks, earning him the nickname "master of words" from readers.
His works often present unique perspectives and meticulous writing, revealing the touching human stories behind historical events and allowing readers to feel the charm of history.
Representative works: “The Great Doctor”, “The Fifteen-Day Miracle”, “The Undercurrent of the Ming Dynasty”, “The Longest Day in Chang’an”, “Mystery of Antiques‌”(1-4), “Secret of the Three Kingdoms”, “Wind from Longxi”, etc.