The Iron-Blooded Song Dynasty

This book spans from the opening years of the chaotic Five Dynasties period to the fall of the Great Song dynasty. From the Song-Liao wars at the dynasty’s founding and the fierce battles against the Western Xia Empire to the humiliating Jingkang Incident and the final catastrophe at Yashan, it examines major and minor battles between Song and Liao, Song and Xia, Song and Jin, and Song and the Mongols (Yuan) from a unique perspective. Detailed accounts of these wars present a comprehensive picture of the Song dynasty’s military history, while vivid prose brings to life the heroic bearing of iron-blooded generals such as Yang Ye, Cao Bin, Li Jilong, Fan Zhongyan, Yue Fei, Meng Gong, and Wen Tianxiang. This is a portrait of a great dynasty forged from steel and iron, its spirit tempered in blood and fire.