[1][2] It was published by Liang Qichao, a leading Chinese nationalist revolutionary scholar then in Japan, who assisted Phan during his time attempting to drum up support for Vietnamese independence in China.

Phan also accused emperor Tự Đức and top mandarins - who were responsible for the country's destiny - of underestimating the people and ignoring the public opinion.

The Cần Vương attempted to overthrow the French rule and establish the boy emperor Hàm Nghi as ruler of an independent Vietnam.

In the book, Phan argues for the establishment of a nationwide pro-independence front with seven factions or interested groups with a specific motivation to fight the French colonial authorities.

The book created a reaction in China, sparking follow-up essays by Chinese writers who were taken aback by the Phan's description of the life that faced Vietnamese people under French rule.