"Cang Zhen holds his position,while Huang Li obscures the light.Jiang Chong weaves camity.and Li Ju brings disaster to fruition.

  Bearing past grievances, once a source of pain,now honored with solemn rites.The spirits are received with order.and music is offered in welcome."

  Here is the "Hymn of the Divine Arrival." It bears witness to suffering in the mortal realm and bestows blessings upon the heavens. Thus, the "Four Powers and Five Sages" arose in response to the stirrings of celestial souls and the spirits of heaven and earth.

  In the seventh year of Xiande under the Later Zhou dynasty, during the first month of the year, Zhao Kuangyin, the Grand Marshal of the Pace Guards, staged a military uprising at Chenqiao Post Station. Thus, the Song Dynasty was born, with the reign title changed to Jianlong and its capital established in Kaifeng.

  (T/N: 开封; Kaifeng, is one of the oldest and most historically significant cities, located in Henan Province, central China. It served as the capital of multiple Chinese dynasties, most notably during the Northern Song Dynasty (960–1127). Lost its status as the capital after the Jin invasion (1127), when the Song court fled south. Today, Kaifeng is a historical city with well-preserved Song Dynasty relics and some famous tourist attractions: Dragon Pavilion, Iron Pagoda, Millennium City Park (a recreation of ancient Kaifeng), and the Kaifeng Night Market, famous for traditional food.)

  Several years ter, a member of the imperial cn, Zhao Jiong, ascended the throne, ter known as Emperor Taizong of Song. In the fourth year of the Taiping Xingguo era, Emperor Taizong led an expedition to the Yan-Yun region, capturing Yizhou and Zhuozhou and pressing forward to Gaoliang River.

  "The mournful wind cuts through the frontier;The river at Jiaohe has frozen over.The vast desert ripples like endless waves.while Yin Mountain lies buried under a thousand miles of snow.

  Lonely outposts signal with perilous fmes.High banners rise among the yered ridges.Slowly, the banners and fgs roll up as the warhorses drink beyond the Great Wall."

  This verse, from Tang Taizong Li Shimin's "Drinking by the Long Wall Cave," can barely capture the bold and heroic spirit of the Song dynasty at this moment.

  The Rise of the Great Song.

  At this time, within the imperial court, the Four Powers and Five Sages radiated with prominence, subtly opposing yet complementing one another. Some held noble ranks, while others did not, but the influence these nine figures wielded over the imperial cn and the Song dynasty remained unfathomable.

  The Four Powers

  The Four Powers stood as pilrs of influence within the empire, each wielding authority over different realms of governance and culture.

  Ze Ning (則寧)—the third son of Qin Wangye (秦王爺) and the Commander of the Pace Guards (殿前都指揮使). Known for his unshakable loyalty and strategic mind, he was a force to be reckoned with in military affairs.Shàng Xuán (上玄)—the eldest legitimate son of Yan Wangye (燕王爺) and the Commander of the Imperial Cavalry (侍衛騎軍指揮使). Fiercely skilled in warfare, he was both a protector of the dynasty and a harbinger of its military might.Liù Yīn (六音)—A music official (樂官) in charge of overseeing the court's performances in song and dance. But beyond his artistic mastery, he held knowledge of cryptic messages encoded within melodies, making him an enigma in the imperial court.Tōng Wēi (通微)—The Master of Wind Rites (祀風師), an expert in celestial readings and unseen forces that dictated the fate of the realm. His whispers to the wind could change the course of history.

  The Five Sages

  The Five Sages were a blend of schors, healers, and mystics, each wielding wisdom and influence that extended beyond the grasp of politics and war.

  Yu Xiu, Deputy Censor-in-Chief (御史台御史中丞). With a mind sharper than any bde, his duty was to uphold justice and expose corruption, making him a feared and respected figure in the imperial court.Sheng Xiang, the son of the reigning Prime Minister Jin (當朝丞相趙晉). Though born into nobility, his talents y in diplomacy and intrigue, making him a quiet but formidable force behind the throne.Qi Yang, A renowned imperial physician (太醫院太醫) of the Imperial Medical Academy. His knowledge of medicine extended into the alchemical, making him both a healer and a schor of esoteric arts.Rong Yin, the Privy Council Minister (樞密院樞密使). A man of shadows, he orchestrated military strategies and intelligence, ensuring the empire remained unshaken by internal and external threats.Jiang Ling—a spirit bound to the Sacrificial Shrine (祭神壇), an eternal witness to history. It was said that his whispers carried the secrets of the past, guiding—or dooming—those who dared to listen.