Historical Records, Mandarin, Warring States Policy, Zuo Zhuan, Hanshu and Houhanshu should be required reading, right?

(Or look directly at the general history of China or the draft of twenty-four histories+Qing history).

If you are interested in history,

Shi Shuo Xin Yu and Qing Li Banknotes are also good choices.

If it's politics

"Purple Tongzhi Sword" must be read (the legendary textbook of imperial studies)