That year, Guo Wei, the founding emperor of the Later Zhou, had not yet died of illness. His adopted son Chai Rong had not yet taken the throne, and Liu Min, emperor of Northern Han, had not yet heard the news and come to take advantage of the situation.
That year, Zhao Kuangyin was only twenty-five. He had yet to earn Emperor Shizong's favor or take command of the imperial guards.
That year, Li Yu was only fifteen. His name was still Li Congjia, and he was immersed in poetry, painting, and music. He was still nine years away from ascending the throne and twenty-three years away from losing his kingdom.
That year, Feng Dao, the long-lived statesman who had served under ten emperors across the Later Tang, Later Jin, Later Han, and Later Zhou dynasties, had not yet died of illness.
That year, fifty-four-year-old Fu Yanqing was still following Guo Wei, the founding emperor of the Later Zhou, into battle. He had yet to become the father-in-law of emperors from three dynasties.
That year, Xiao Chuo, the future Empress Dowager Chengtian of the Liao, was still a year away from being born.
That year, the eldest Zhou empress was only sixteen, and still had three years before she would enter the palace to serve Li Congjia.
That year, the younger Zhou empress was only two.
That year, Lady Huarui was in her prime. It would be fourteen years before she wrote,
