Everywhere you looked, wolves and jackals roamed. Some regional warlords defied imperial law, others stood as rivals to the court, and still others were poised to rebel. The Khitan cavalry rampaged and pillaged at will. Though the imperial court still stood, the realm was already lost.
From 927 to 951, the first thirty years before the founding of the Great Song were a dark age in Chinese history. Understand those thirty years, and you will understand savagery and brutality, and why the Great Song Dynasty came to be called a golden age of civilization.
The thirty years before the Great Song was founded were a battlefield where wolves ran rampant and cavalry wreaked havoc. Regional warlords carved up the land and defied the court; conspiracies and brutal crimes flourished. Civilization crumbled and morality vanished, turning the age into a purgatory that haunted people with unending nightmares.
The first thirty years before the Great Song was founded were a history of turmoil plagued by usurpation, and a history of Chinese suffering shrouded in blood and sorrow. Understand those thirty years and the causes and consequences of the Five Dynasties’ chaos, and you will understand the origins of the Song Empire, the painstaking efforts Zhao Kuangyin made to build and advance Song civilization, and why China evolved into what it is today.
The author has read extensively and spent ten years researching the subject. Using official histories as the framework and unofficial accounts as supporting material, the book follows events chronologically and presents detailed snapshots of the era through the eyes of soldiers, strategists, generals, and ordinary people. Pieced together, these snapshots may reveal a different version of history.
Have a general understanding of Zhao Kuangyin's life and the times he lived in. But after all, there are too many historical mysteries, and the author only provides a personal opinion. As the author himself said, it is difficult for us to restore history, and all we can do is to find the most reasonable explanation from the vast historical documents.
This book reminded me of the difficult times when I was starting my own business, and the environment around me was as challenging as it was brutal and brutal as described in the book. However, it was in such adversity that Zhao Kuangyin stepped forward and established the Song Dynasty. I learned determination and wisdom from him, and I also understood that to achieve a career, you need to put in more effort and struggle. This book is not only a record of history, but also a profound insight into human nature and struggle. It is worth reading.
Very detailed and vivid.