A sprawling, collectively written science-fiction web novel titled "The Morning Star of Lingao" (临高启明) has quietly garnered a significant following on the Chinese internet for almost two decades. The novel, totaling millions of words, centers on Ma Qianzhu, an engineer who, disillusioned with China's progress, discovers a wormhole to the late Ming Dynasty along with 500 peers.

The group commandeers a ship and travels back 400 years to pre-industrial China, aiming to trigger an industrial revolution that would ensure China's future greatness. The novel has not been translated into English, remaining largely unknown in the West.

The plot revolves around the complexities of implementing modern engineering and industrial practices in a vastly different historical context. The collective writing process has allowed for a detailed exploration of the challenges and unintended consequences of such an endeavor.

The novel's premise, while fictional, has sparked discussions about China's historical trajectory and its aspirations for technological advancement. Some argue that the novel's popularity reflects a desire to understand and potentially reshape the nation's destiny.

As of now, "The Morning Star of Lingao" continues to be written and read online, with new chapters and discussions constantly emerging. The lack of an English translation, however, limits its accessibility to a wider global audience.