The History of China

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 CEMajor Historical FiguresEmperor 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] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Duke of Song Circuit and Grand Marshal of the armies of Later Zhou is dispatched by the 6-year-old emperor and his mom to the northeast to investigate and drive out a reported incursion by the Khitan Liao and their Northern Han allies. But he won’t make it very far at all before the nature of his mission changes dramatically…Time Period Covered:960-962 CE Major Historical Figures:Emperor Gong of Later Zhou (Guo Zongxun) [r. 959-960, d. 973]Zhao Kuangyin (Emperor Taizu of Song) [r. 960-976]Zhao Kuangyi (Guangyi) [939-997]Zhao Pu (922-992)Governor Li Yün of Luzhou [d. 960]Governor Li Chengjin of Yanzgzhou [d. 960] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We round out our overview of the 10 Kingdoms of the south by looking at the trials and tribulations of Chu, Former & Later Shu, Jingnan, and Southern Han’s travails against Annam… but little do they know, they’re one and all riding for a fall…Time Period Covered:870-960 CEMajor Historical Figures:Huang ChaoChu:Governor Liu Jianfei,King Ma Yin,Minister Gao Yu,King Ma Xifan,Prince Ma Xi’ou,King Ma XiguangFormer/Later Shu:King Wang Jian (“Bandit Wang Eight”) [r. 903-918],Minister Feng Juan,Minister Wei Zhuang,King Wang Yan [r. 918-925]King Meng Zhixiang [r. 933-965]Governor Dong Chang [d. 930]Jingnan:King Gao Zhichang [r. 907-]King Gao CongmeiSouthern Han:Governor Liu Qian, of the Man People [d. 896]Prince Liu Yin of Nanhai [r. 896-911]Emperor Liu Yan, “The Heavenly Dragon” [r. 911-942]Emperor Liu Hongdu [r. 942-960]Annam (N. Vietnam):Governor Duong Dinh Nghe [d. 938]Ngo Quyen [r. 939-] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We sweep over 4 of the southern kingdoms along the southeastern coast.WuYüe: which remains rich and prosperous owing to its favorable trade and geographic positions at the mouth of the Yangtze.Wu: which starts off strong only to be subsumed from within, giving way to Southern Tang.Min: whose coastal location is fatally undermined by it own geographic atomization, unto civil war, breakup, and destruction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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With the rise of the last of the 5 Dynasties, Later Zhou, the North China Plains is able to go onto the offensive for the first time in decades; not against the endless expanses of the northern steppes, but a new strategy to reinvigorate the north by seizing the fertile and as of yet untouched reaches of the southern kingdoms, who are ripe for the plucking. Through it all, a brilliant military commander by the name of Zhao Kuangyin will prove his valor and skill, and is ultimately rewarded with a fateful governorship to the city of Song.Time Period Covered:954-959 CEMajor Historical Figures:Later Zhou:Chai/Guo Rong (Emperor Shizong) [r. 954-959]Chancellor Wang Pu [d. 957]General Zhao KuangyinSouthern Tang:Li Jing (Emperor Yuanzong) [r. 943-961]Northern Han:Liu Chong (Emperor Shizu) [r. 951-954/5]Liu Jun (Emperor Ruizong) [r. 955-968] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emperor Deguang of Liao has conquered the North China Plain with ease and packed the Later Jin emperor off to eternal exile. But he doesn’t plan to stick around… instead, he’ll pack up everything – and everyone – he deems valuable to take back home. But when illness strikes him dead, new challengers will arise to do battle over the fate of northern China.Time Period Covered:947-954CEMajor Historical Figures:Liao:Yelü Deguang (Emperor Taizong) [r. 927-947]Yelü Ruan (Wuyu, Emperor Shizong) [r. 947-951]Yelü Jing (Emperor Muzong) [r. 951-969]General Xiao Han [d. 949]General Zhang Yanze [d. 947]Later Han:Liu Zhiyuan (Emperor Gaozu) [r. 947-948]Liu Chengyou (Emperor Yin) [r. 948-951]Northern Han:Liu Chong (Emperor Shizu) [r. 951-954]Later Zhou:Guo Wei (Emperor Taizu) [r. 951-954]Chai/Guo Rong (Emperor Shizong) [r. 954-959]Sources Utilized:Sima Guang, et al. 1084. Zizhi Tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance).Standen, Naomi. 2009. “The Five Dynasties” in The Cambridge History of China, vol. 5, pt. 1: The Sung Dynasty and Its Precursors 907-1279 (Denis Twitchett and Paul Jakov Smith, ed.)Standen, Naomi. 2005. “What Nomads Want: Raids, Invasions and the Liao Conquest of 947” in Mongols, Turks, and Others: Eurasian Nomads and the Sedentary World (Reuven Amitai and Michal Biran, ed.)Toqto’a (Tuotuo), et al. 1344. Liao Shi (History of the Liao). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Later Jin seems to have its bed made within its steadfast alliance with Liao - in spite of the humiliating stipulations such a relationship imposes onto a proud Son of Heaven. Yet when Later Jin's first emperor dies, his replacement will do his level-best to unmake all the gains his nation has made... at his own peril.Time Period Covered:937-947 CEMajor Historical Figures:Later Jin:Shi Jingtang (Emperor Gaozu of Later Jin) [r. 936-942 CE]Shi Chonggui (Emperor Chu of Later Jin) [r. 942-947 CE]Governor-General An Chongrong [d. 942]Chancellor Feng Dao [882-954 CE]General Jing Yanguang [892-947 CE]Liao:Yelü Deguang (Emperor Taizong of Liao) [r. 927-947 CE] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the state of Later Tang, things go from bad to worse as a revolving door of emperors combines with a suddenly-mercenary imperial guard corps... all to bring the state itself to an untimely, but fiery, demise.Time Period Covered:926-937 CEMajor Historical Figures:Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang (Li Siyuan)[r. 926-933]Prince Li Congrong [d. 933]Emperor Li Conghou of Later Tang [r. 933-934]Chancellor Zhu Hongjiao [d. 934]Chancellor Feng Yun [d. 934]Emperor Li Congke of Later Tang [r. 934-936]Shi Jingtang, Emperor of Later Jin [r. 936-942]Meng Zhixiang, Emperor of Later Shu [r. 933-934]Emperor Taizong of Liao (Yelü Guangde) [r. 927-947] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We track the Khitan people of Mongolia/Manchuria from their origins in the mythological mists of pre-history, all the way through their reformation under Abaoji Kaghan into a Chinese-style state, known as the Liao Dynasty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices