The Song Dynasty’s Celestial Official

Shen Qian transmigrated to Hangzhou in the fourth year of the Yuanyou era of the Northern Song, an age just thirty-eight years away from the Jingkang Catastrophe.

This was the best of times, both prosperous and culturally brilliant. Su Dongpo’s mighty river flowed east, Li Qingzhao watched the slender willows at dusk, the Four Great Scholars were renowned throughout the realm, and Mi Fu’s wild cursive was worth a fortune for every character. In a word, it was simply wonderful.

Yet it was also the worst of times, both weak and turbulent. The Northern Liao and Western Xia demanded annual tribute while continuing to invade year after year. In the struggle between the old and new parties, you were exiled to Lingnan one day, and I was banished to Lingnan the next. The iron hooves of the Jin invaders could gradually be heard approaching, while the heroes of Liangshan were about to raise their howls in the forests. Again, in a single sentence: the good times were almost over.

In this best and worst of eras, our protagonist became one of the lowest-ranking scholars in the Great Song. What would he do, and what would he change...

P.S.: The flavor of the streets, the moon at dusk; beautiful women waving their sleeves, turmoil at court; warhorses and weapons, every inch of land worth its weight in gold. Everything can be found in Great Song Celestial Official.