For first-hand history books, you can look at Zuo Zhuan and Twenty-four History (at least look at Historical Records and Hanshu). If you are impatient with traditional Chinese, you can also look at the vernacular version of the translation;

First-hand history books also include historical notes of various dynasties, all of which are historical events. Of course, many of them are not necessarily true, such as Shi Shuo Xin Yu, Su Shui Ji and Ming Ji Nan Lu.

Second-hand history books are reprocessed by the author from a large number of historical themes, the most famous of which are Zi Tongzhi Jian, General History of China, Grand View of National History, and Things in Ming Dynasty.

The third category is historical novels, which depict historical figures with real historical facts as the background or basis. There are many such analogies, such as Li Zicheng, Daqin Empire, Kangxi and Yongzheng. After reading these books, we can also have a more comprehensive understanding of that history;

The fourth category is historical romance, which is basically based on history. There is nothing wrong with the overall pattern, but the historical details are outrageous and can't be taken seriously, such as: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Biography of Yue Fei and Romance of the Gods;

The fifth category is the historical research category, which specifically discusses some uncertain or incomplete and divergent issues in history, and this category will not give examples.