Emperor Renzong of Song continues to twiddle his thumbs. Confucianism get a much-needed adrenaline shot to the arm via Daoism. Zhuang superpatriot Nong Zhigao declares simultaneous war on China and Vietnam in the name of his people's liberation.

Time Period Covered:

1043-1054 CE

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Emperor Renzong of Song isn't exactly... into the whole "rule" thing. He'd much rather wile away his days talking about Confucian philosophy, writing calligraphy, and making love to his concubines. But he'll be forced to uneasily embody the might of Song China when the Tangut state of Western Xia declares its independence, triggering a massive conflict on the borderlands.

Time Period Covered:

1033-1044 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Song:

Emperor Renzong

Chancellor Li Yijian

Fan Zhongyan, Commander of Yanan Circuit

Xi Xia:

Li Yuanhao (Weiming Nangxiao), Emperor of Xia

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When Emperor Renzong of Song takes the throne, he's just a boy of 12 and surely in need of his mother's guidance... but how long until Mom becomes more of a hinderance than a help? ... And what if she's not really his mother?

Time Period Covered:

1022-1033 CE

Important Historical Figures:

Emperor Renzong of Song [Zhao] (r. 1022-

Empress Dowager Liu (-1033)

Lady Li (-1032)

Chancellor Ding Wei

Chancellor Wang Zeng

Assistant Minister of the Palace Library, Lu "Fish-Head" Zongdao (-1029)

Sun Shi, Director of Education

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A Q&A like this only comes around once in a thousand years!

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After feeling forced to sign the costly and humiliating Treaty of Chanyuan with the Liao Dynasty to end the Liao-Song War, Emperor Zhenzong needs a pick-me-up to make himself feel better. He thinks that a ritual that hasn't been performed in 3 centuries might be the way... and that's when the text messages from Heaven start popping up in his inbox...

Time Period:

1004-1022 CE

Major Historical Figures

Emperor Zhenzong of Song (Zhao Heng)[r. 997 - 1022]

Wang Qinruo, Minister of Grand Ritual [c. 962 – 1025]

Chancellor Kou Zhun [c. 961 – 1023]

Du Hao, Imperial Antiquarian.

Minister Sun Shi, Grand Imperial Buzzkill.

Major Works Cited:

Cahill, Suzanne E. "Taoism at the Sung Court: The Heavenly Text Affair of 1008" in Bulletin of Sung and Yüan Studies, No. 16.

Choi, Mihwa. Death Rituals and Politics in Northern Song China.

Lau Nap-Yin and Huang K'uang-Chung. "Founding and Consolidation of the Sung Dynasty" in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 5: The Sung Dynasty and Its Precursors, Part 1.

Li, Tao. Xu Zizhi Tongjian Changbian ("The Extended Continuation of the Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Government")

Sima, Guang. Sushui Jiwen ("Records of Rumors from Sushui").

Toqto'a and Alutu. Songshi ("The History of the Song").

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The new Song Emperor, Zhenzong, sits uneasily on the Chinese throne after his father’s untimely death in 997. But court intrigues and attempted coups will only be the tip of the iceberg for this untested and unlikely sovereign, because the Liao Dynasty to the north has its eyes and hearts set on revenge for Chinese slights, and will send a massive force bent on crushing Song resistance to their will.

Time Period Covered:

997-1005 CE

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"Rice is great if you're really hungry and want eat 2,000 of something." - Mitch Hedberg

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To the Northwest of the Song Empire, a group of non-Chinese known as the Tanguts have long been subject to the whims and subjugations of their greater neighbors. But with the Chinese focused on their struggle against the Khitan Liao, and the Tibetans and Uighur states having collapsed to the far west, the Tanguts need to unite - in spite of their often fractious nature - if they're to seize the moment and carve out their place in history.

Time Period Covered: ~735-1001 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Song Dynasty:

Emperor Taizong of Song (Zhao Jiong) [r. 976-997]

Emperor Zhenzong of Song (Zhao Heng) [r. 997-1022]

Western Xia:

Governor-General Tuoba Sigong (Li Sigong)of Dingnan, Duke of Xia [d. 886?]

Li Yiyin/Yixin, Prince of Xia (posthumous) [d. 967]

Li Kerui, Governor-General of Xia [r.967-978]

Li Jiqian, rebel leader against Song Dynasty[963–1004]

Li Deming (post. Emperor Taizong of Western Xia), founder of Xi Xia Dynasty [981–1032]

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Song's second emperor, Taizong, wants to achieve the heights of Chinese glory, power, and territory just like the Tang and Han before him. But aspirations are easier than results, and he's going to have to contend with neighbor states on all sides far more powerful than his predecessors - and with his own position far weaker. Still it's either that or the utterly unthinkable: acknowledge that China is no longer the preeminent superpower of the East, but now just one state among equals.

Time Period Covered:

976-986 CE

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Zhao Kuangyin has seized the north and now aims to reunify China under his new Song Dynasty by smashing the south. And it’s super effective! But when a strange order of succession leaves question mark surrounding his legacy, it’s anyone’s guess as to what will happen next.

Time period covered:

960-976 CE

Major Historical Figures

Emperor Taizu of Song (Zhao Kuangyin) [r. 960-976]

Emperor Taizong of Song (Zhao Guangyi) [r. 976-997]

Prince Zhao Dezhao [951-979]

Chancellor Zhao Pu [922-992]

Liu Chang, Emperor of Southern Han [r. 958-972]

War Elephants!!!

Li Yu, King of Southern Tang [r. 961-976]

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