Breaking the 1-Billion-View Milestone! The Popular Online Series Commoner to First Rank from the "Beijing Grand Audiovisual" Initiative

Recently, the mini series Yi Pin Bu Yi, or Commoner to First Rank—a flagship online production under the "Beijing Grand Audiovisual" initiative has demonstrated strong market appeal since its launch. Within just five days of release, the average viewing time per user reached 77 minutes, and its popularity index exceeded 76 million. The series also peaked at 238 million daily views. As of July 28, its cumulative popularity index on the Hongguo platform reached 85 million, with over 2 million viewers following the series. The weekly heat index reached 17,100, breaking the platform's record, and total views have surpassed 1 billion.

As a mini series comprising 105 episodes, each lasting three minutes, The series achieves notable artistic breakthroughs within the limitations of its format—particularly in narrative pacing, character development, and emotional depth. It offers a representative creative model for the evolution of the mini series genre.

Adapted from the novel of the same name by online writer Li Poshan, the series follows modern civil engineer Xu Mu, who accidentally travels back to the late Da Ji Dynasty, a fictional era. It chronicles his journey from making a living in the small border town of Wangzhou to becoming embroiled in a border war. Within a tightly compressed timeline, the series completes the protagonist's character arc—from "surviving as a commoner" to "taking a courageous stand."

Xu Mu's choices are driven by both the harsh realities of his environment and a gradually awakening sense of personal responsibility. From brewing wine and founding a winery to advocating social contracts and profit-sharing, and defending the city against northern invaders, his transformation is not abrupt but rather a natural evolution shaped by turbulent times and the support of the people. This progression presents a clear and coherent trajectory of growth.

The narrative weaves the development of the protagonist, Xu Mu, into a broader tapestry of vivid characters who each confront the turmoil of their time. A veteran official, fully aware that the city's fall is inevitable, nonetheless remains atop the watchtower as its last defender—a final act of defiance meant to stir the Ji people's fighting spirit. Zhao Qingyun, once a border hero, succumbs to the northern invaders under the seduction of power and betrays his homeland.

Meanwhile, other characters, including Jiang Caiwei, Chang Silang, and Yuan Tao, each carve out their own paths—resisting, surviving, or persevering amid the fissures of a crumbling era. These intertwined fates lend the series a depth of reality and emotional nuance despite its short format, contributing to a powerful resonance with the audience.