The Complete History of Northern Song

After the fall of the Tang dynasty, the Five Dynasties period saw endless warfare across the Central Plains, with a century of chaos and no peace. Zhao Kuangyin rose in troubled times, staged the Chenqiao Mutiny, and donned the yellow robe, ending the strife and ushering in the glorious 300-year Song dynasty. Here you'll find the imperial strategy of relieving generals of their military power with a cup of wine, the national balancing act of the Chanyuan Treaty; the ambitions of Fan Zhongyan and Wang Anshi to reform and rejuvenate the state, the literary brilliance of Su Shi and Ouyang Xiu; the loyalty and bravery of the Yang family and Yue Fei's army defending the borders, and the tragic song of the Jingkang Incident and the shattering of mountains and rivers. Written in a witty and accessible style, based on official history and woven with stories, this book avoids obscure textual research and dry preaching. From the chaotic Five Dynasties to the fall of the Northern Song, it details emperors, generals, court intrigues, chivalry in the martial world, and the lives of commoners, helping you easily understand the rise and fall of the entire Northern Song dynasty.