Yanyun Mausoleum Guard

Preface The history books of the past dynasties often record the achievements of emperors, the conquests of generals, and the intrigues of the court. To the north of Yanyun, on the shore of Huangshui River, the barren grass of Liaoling Mausoleum has withered year by year, but no one has ever written a biography for a group of untouchables who have guarded the tomb for generations. They had no official title, no title, no name, no surname, and the word "Linghu" was branded on their household registration. They were not allowed to live ten miles away from the mausoleum, and they had to be buried beside the mausoleum when they died. When Liao was prosperous, they were royal slaves; when Liao was in chaos, they were bait for rebels; when Liao fell, they were abandoned by the world. In the past hundred years, the Liao Dynasty collapsed, the Jin Dynasty prospered, the Song Dynasty declined, and the Meng Dynasty rose, and the royal flag at the top of the city changed color several times. The flames of war burned the city, and the iron hooves trampled the mountains and rivers. There was only one northern imperial mausoleum, which contained secret files that even the official history did not dare to record, and tied the life, death and conscience of the people of the clan. This book is not about the change of ownership of the country, but about how a person who can't even leave his name can keep a mausoleum, a piece of history, and a little bit of the unquenchable fire in people's hearts in troubled times. History is full of victors. What I want to write about is the dust that was stepped on by the victors but refused to bow. Qing Huan. 2026.2.8