Still Waters Run Deep 静水流深

3 一 A Life of Wealth and Glory 一世富贵 Anhua Army安化军Historical4.1M WordsCompleted After transmigrating to the Northern Song during Emperor Renzong's reign, Xu Ping places first in the imperial examinations. But after offending the Empress Dowager, he is sent to Lingnan to serve as an official. Starting out as a minor border official, he rises step by step until he finally comes into his own, writing his own legend in the Song Dynasty. The Northern Song emerged from the chaos of the Five Dynasties, with the great aristocratic clans swept away. The gentry had yet to take shape, 0Votes542.3kRecs242.6kFans

Curator note

Traveling back in time to the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Northern Song Dynasty, Xu Ping passed the imperial examination with flying colors, but offended the Empress Dowager and was sent to serve as an official in Lingnan. Starting as a minor official on the frontier, he rose through the ranks and finally achieved success, writing his own legend in the Song Dynasty. Emerging from the chaos of the Five Dynasties period, the Northern Song Dynasty saw the annihilation of powerful clans, the absence of gentry, and the underdevelopment of clan society. The dramatic shifts in social class were unprecedented in peaceful times. Under the rule of the Song Dynasty, there were no longer any lowly people; it was an era where birth did not matter. The son of a servant could become a prime minister, and a common soldier could rise to the rank of army commander. This was the best of times, when anything was possible for an individual. This was the worst of times, when a large, well-equipped standing army suffered repeated defeats, ultimately dragging the entire nation into the abyss. This era changed Xu Ping, and Xu Ping, in turn, changed this era. The rich are the wealthiest in the world; the noble are the most powerful officials. Following in the footsteps of a time traveler, we look back at the distant splendor of the Song Dynasty.