In 959 AD, Chai Rong, the most powerful emperor of the Later Zhou Dynasty, died suddenly, leaving only a seven-year-old heir. Half a year later, Zhao Kuangyin, the commander of the Forbidden Army, put on a yellow robe, and the Song Dynasty was born.
This is a dynasty that ended troubled times, and it is also a dynasty that is always wary of military generals; it has prosperous cities, wealthy finances, and dazzling literati, but it is constantly looking for safety in wars, party disputes, and reforms.
From the Chenqiao Mutiny to the Sunset on Yashan, from Li Yu, Fan Zhongyan, Ouyang Xiu, Su Shi, to Li Qingzhao, Yue Fei, Lu You, Xin Qiji and Wen Tianxiang, this book tells the rise and fall of the two Song Dynasties for more than three hundred years in a relaxed and humorous language.
Do not regard legends as historical facts, nor write history as a paper. See how the emperor kept his throne, how the literati entered politics, how the generals faced suspicion, and how ordinary people bore the price of the times.
Was the Song Dynasty rich but not strong, or did it choose an unprecedented way to become stronger?
