Left and Right Yuanfeng

Eight years of Spring and Autumn, a blink of an eye in China. "Left and Right Yuanfeng" weaves a grand picture of the prosperity and decline of the Northern Song Dynasty through the fate of seven key figures during the eight years of Yuanfeng (1078-1085). "Left or right" is not only a spatial direction, alluding to the reformists and conservatives; it is also a verb, implying the dilemma of individuals trying to influence the times but being swayed by the currents of the times. This book abandons the direct description of Song Shenzong, but instead uses the paradox of Wang Anshi in his later years, Su Shi's epiphany in Huangzhou, Zhong'e's fall from the god of war to the guilty minister, Lu Gongzhu's difficult balance in the temple, etc., Allowing readers to piece together that complex era when ideals and tragedies coexisted from the letters, memorials, and poems of the characters. The whole book takes the "Battle of Yongle City" as the dual pinnacle of history and narrative. It was preceded by a hopeful rise, followed by an irreversible sinking. In the end, the seven clues converged to the same destination in the spring of the eighth year of Yuanfeng. No matter how outstanding individuals are, they collectively influenced an era and were profoundly influenced by this era. This is the epitome of the eternal struggle of Chinese civilization between the splendid system and the limitations of human nature. It is not a decline, but a deep introspection and accumulation of strength.