Sky Mirror (Up and Down)

Author: Hu Xiaoming/Hu Xiaohui
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-09-01
Features: After the Liao Dynasty was destroyed in 1121, the Jin Dynasty grew increasingly covetous of the Northern Song Dynasty. The conflict between Song and Jin eventually broke out. The Northern Song suffered numerous defeats in battle, and Emperors Zhen and Qin were forced into "Northern exile." The Northern Song Dynasty was in turmoil, and the suffering of the common people grew deeper. In times of crisis, heroes are made. In the midst of the turmoil, Yue Fei placed the nation's interests above all, abandoning his wife and children to join the anti-Jin struggle. He led the Yue Family Army in campaigns across the east and west, capturing cities and territories, nearly accomplishing the great task of reclaiming the lost lands. However, his grand ambitions clashed irreconcilably with Emperor Gaozong Zhao Gou's desire to indulge in leisure in the new capital. Adding to this, Qin Hui and other peace advocates relentlessly slandered and schemed against him. Thus, a tragedy of Yue Fei unfolded. A more rounded portrayal of Yue Fei, a more authentic Qin Hui, and a more complex Zhao Gou will pique readers' interest. How a relatively backward nation could overcome a civilization with advanced technology, and how a hero of exceptional character and talent could fail to achieve his grand vision during a time of national crisis and ethnic peril, only to meet a tragic end—these questions will undoubtedly provoke deep reflection.