PeachBlossomGoddess

Yeah it was a pretty chaotic period of history and to be fair to the drama, it is all laid out in dialogue although I am not sure how much of it got lost in translation or the sheer confusion of so many important characters. The drama intro which is always the most important in setting the context already states the founding emperor ceded the 18 territories of Yan and Yun to Khitan in exchange for their support in defeating Later Tang and securing the throne. He was mocked and shamed for that and bore the ignominious title of Son Emperor. Sang Weihan advised the first emperor in this matter and he speaks of it with great regret and shame for what will be his forever historical legacy but at the time saw it as the only way to restore peace to the Central Plains. So the ceding of those territories was always a sore point with the court and people of Later Jin so when the emperor's nephew Shi Chonggui ascended the throne, he decided to take it back. It was an unwise decision and he did it despite advice that the time was not ripe to take back what was theirs. That is also why the Khitans called him Marquis of Betrayal for going back on his uncle's word. Arguably he could have won if Du Chongwei and Zhang Yanze had not betrayed him in his third battle with the Khitans. I think the drama for budget reasons (and bc they are boring unless there was some brilliant battle strategy at play) decided to skip the war scenes and narrated it in the dialogue. But it was actually all there though it may not have been fully captured in the translation.

What also may not have come across is Du Chongwei, who is still a threat was Shi Jingtang's brother-in-law and Shi Chonggui's uncle. That's why his betrayal to Khitan was so unexpected and diabolical. I guess he also decided he is as qualified to succeed to the throne as his nephew by marriage.

True, they could just end it in 978. I thought they may go further bc they did cast someone as Zhao Kuangyi. But that kind of speculative history doesn't go down well with censors so more likely they stop before we get ther.

She is very extra here. It isn't a good role - she is just a vase.

I think Wuyue's surrender is well foreshadowed - his ancestors were always content to be a vassal state and never dared call themselves emperor. History since time immemorial has shown its better not to go to war if you can't win (look at Ukraine and yups, Greenland is certainly doomed). I am more interested in how they handle the wild history that Taizong emperor/Zhao Kuangyi poisoned him and may have poisoned Kuangyin as well.

Its ridiculous. He would have been killed dead just for carrying a knife into a meeting with an emperor, regardless of his intention. I mean Zhao Kuangyin also had murderous intent towards Zhang Yanze but at least he had the good sense to plan to do it stealthily and not in plain sight of the entire court.

I think it was done simply to simplify the more complicated political map and dynamics of the time for better storytelling. Jingzhou is strategically located on the Yangtze River, probably close enough but not too close to Kaifeng that it made sense for how they wished the drama plot to play out wrt timing of troop movements etc.

Yes I am sorry to say this is not Bai Yu’s best role. I think part of the problem is the writers are trying to give a historically inconsequential character too high profile a role in a time of chaos in the presence of other historical giants. This is also the first time I have watched Bai Yu in a real historical where the dialogue is heavily steeped in classical prose. I think that is why he sounds so forced all the time - he is not as conversant in classical phraseology. His last period drama Wind Blows from Longxi was written in more vernacular language. Qian Hongchu is still very young at this time and I suspect the younger actor may have pulled off this reckless youthful indignation better. But I similarly dislike the parts where Zhu Yawen/Zhao Kuangyin is being abused by his father for his youthful recklessness. It’s just so out of place bc it knee jerk reminds me he is supposed to be a teenager similar age to Hongchu. And as terrific an actor as he is, he just can’t pull it off anymore. Zhou Yutong is only doing ok bc her lines are all easy peasy.

That's very cool. I of course have seen the 100 family surnames I just never focused on the Wuyue elements.

Yes indeed, through history we try to deny his achievements and the legitimacy of his regime.

Enjoy!👍

Here:
https://kisskh.at/people/82867-liang-jia-tong

The Imperial Age has since been subbed on Youku.

No I think she is the future Queen Yu, Qian Hongchu's second wife.

Well China was the original melting pot. When Qin Shihuangdi first united China, they were all different ethnicities with their own language, culture, writing and unit of measurement. This is inevitable and has been ongoing for thousands of years. Quite sure today whatever is ethnic Han or Manchurian or Tibetian is not the same as thousands of years ago. This happens everywhere - bloodlines get diluted over time. It is simply part of the journey of man.

You mean the young one right? Its there under Guest Role.

Indeed - as history has shown - heroes die young. Cowards win GOT.

It just cracks me up that Sima Yi is not in there but Zhuge Liang is. Bc you know, he was the real winner of 3 Kingdoms even though history glorifies the defeated Zhuge Liang and tries to pretend he didn't "win".

In recorded history Third Prince/Sun Ben was an adopted son of Qian Yuanguan. The drama suggests he was actually his real, unacknowledged biological son - this would be speculative history. That would make Sun Ben/Third Prince the half brother of Sun Taizhen and Sun Ayou (same mother different father) and the half brother of Qian Hongchu (same father, different mother). The dying Qian Yuanguan's first instinct was to name Hongyou his heir - he was most powerful militarily, mature and capable. But since he never acknowledged him, he acceded to Hu Jinsi's objection to making him heir over his legitimate sons. That is also why Hu Jinsi acted so viciously and ruthlessly against Dai Yun, Lady Yu's brother. He was acting to secure the position of the 6th prince and diminish the power of the 3rd Prince. In order to consolidate power, the 6th prince took back his military power and forced the 3rd prince to take back his original surname. He would probably have killed him were it not for his mother's intervention.

Lady Yu should be a widow. She married Taizhen's father after she was pregnant with Sun Ben. It is hinted that Yuanguan cast her aside (when he ascended as Wuyue king?). This is all vague bc its not really part of official history. Lady Yu is a pirate, she does not recognise the power of Wuyue over her Huanglong island and position on the high seas. There should be two men in her life unless you think she is also having an affair with her business partner.

Yes indeed and that is why its drawing some mockery from netizens who claim the Hangzhou elite want their moment in the sun. When really the story focus for this period traditionally has been on Song/Taizu emperor but of course he was not from Hangzhou/Jiangnan.

Indeed - I am shocked but on reflection not that surprised and sad it got through censorship bc then it means it must be true that this happened. But I remember one of the most vivid and appalling short stories I once read was about how a family decided to cook their daughter to save their themselves and their son during Mao's Cultural Revolution. And whatever you want to say, acknowledging history however horrible is a good first step towards never again (hopefully).