The First Year of Jingde: Great Historical Changes in the Song Dynasty in 1004

This book is a popular history book about the Song Dynasty, telling the long-standing events that took place on the territory of China in the first year of Jingde (1004 AD), the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty. In the first month of 1004 AD, an earthquake struck the Song Dynasty, officially kicking off an unquiet year. Immediately, Li Jiqian, the leader of the party, was ambushed by Pan Luozhi. Li Hang, the prime minister of the Song Dynasty, died of illness. Bi Shi'an and Kou Zhun became prime ministers at the same time. Empress Dowager Xiao of the Liao Kingdom led an army of 300,000 people to the south. The war broke out on the Song Dynasty and Liao border again. Each tortuous and bizarre story was staged one after another; each vivid and unique character appeared on the stage of history this year. They fulfilled their duties at the critical moment of the country and repelled the Liao army's attack. Finally, Song and Liao ended the war with the Chanyuan Alliance. Although the Chanyuan Alliance has always been controversial, it laid the foundation for the advent of the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty and laid the foundation for peace between the Song and Liao Dynasties for more than a hundred years. Through this book, readers can learn about the fierce political, military, and diplomatic competition between Song and Liao in 1004 AD, and see how the rulers of Song and Liao made decisions in the face of numerous crises, which affected the development of relations between the two countries.