I Became a Scholar in Great Xia

A hundred years ago, the ancestor of the Dou clan established the Xia dynasty and made Yecheng its capital. He divided the realm into nine provinces and ushered in a century of peace and prosperity. But Xia was founded by military generals, and the dynasty’s rulers thereafter pursued a policy of favoring civil officials and suppressing the military. They divided military authority and placed generals under the restraint of civil officials. Over time, this bred a host of ills: bloated bureaucracies, oversized armies, and excessive expenditures. The imperial treasury was perpetually empty, taxes were oppressive, and floods repeatedly ravaged the Yellow River in Qingzhou. Land was concentrated in fewer hands, driving countless refugees onto the roads, and the foundations of the dynasty grew ever more rotten.

Now Xia is beset by enemies on all sides. To the north, the Liao kingdom is encroaching on Yingzhou and eyeing Youzhou; to the northwest, Western Xia has been raiding the borders of Bingzhou for years. After suffering repeated defeats, the court has bought a fragile peace with annual tribute. The court is divided between factions that favor war and peace, consumed by endless political infighting as the state falls into ruin. With chaos on the horizon, two pillars remain to hold up Xia: the renowned Lin clan generals of Youzhou guard the northern frontier and keep the Liao in check, while the fierce Lü generals of Bingzhou hold the western line with unmatched courage. Together, they are known as the Twin Jewels of the Northern Frontier. But their support for war and their uncompromising integrity have made them thorns in the side of the court’s conservative forces. Xia may still seem prosperous and peaceful on the surface, but beneath it lie troubles at home and threats abroad, with dark currents churning. A storm that will overturn the court is already quietly gathering.