Generals of the Great Song Dynasty.

Summary

The passage summarizes a conflict between the two Cheng brothers, who were prominent Neo-Confucian scholars, and Wang Ning An, who wanted them to hand over their famous four-line statement. The Cheng brothers were reluctant to do so, as the statement represented their philosophical teachings. Wang Ning An accused them of not living up to the statement, while the Cheng brothers argued that it was difficult to put such lofty ideals into practice. Ultimately, Wang Ning An gathered a group of followers to attempt to restore the Kingdom of Bohai, which the Cheng brothers viewed as a futile and dangerous endeavor. The passage portrays the Cheng brothers as gloomy and reluctant to participate, while Wang Ning An's followers were eager and optimistic about the mission.

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