Synopsis

Itwas1068,Year1oftheXiningera.EmperorZhaoXuhadrecentlyascendedthethroneoftheSongdynasty.Thewidelyrespectedold-guardofcivilofficials,OuyangXiu,HanQi,andFuBi,wereintheirtwilightyears.TheunorthodoxreformerWangAnshiwasfullofvigor,wishingtoreversethetideofdeclinesweepingovertheempire.ThestubbornSimaGuangwouldratherleaveimperialgovernmentthangiveuponproperorthodoxy.TheliterarySuShiwatchedfromthesidelines,unabletopickaside.Withsuchatalentedcropofcivilofficials,theSongdynastyshouldhaveshonebrightly.Instead,thesegeniusesembarkedonamutuallydestructivecourse,leavingtheSongempirewithagaping,irreparablewound,andleavingfuturestudentsofhistorywithregretandcontroversy.ButthesuddenarrivalofajuniorlawyeropensanewpathfortheSongdynasty.Reformersandconservatives,civilandmilitaryofficials,domesticandforeignaffairs,allshallcomeundertheLaw.