Generals of the Great Song Dynasty.

Summary

Wang Ning An faced significant challenges managing the aftermath of the Hengshan campaign, where approximately 50,000 soldiers were lost, and 8,000 were injured. The Lingzhou battle exacerbated the situation with 80,000 dead and 18,000 wounded, leading to nearly 200,000 individuals needing resettlement over a couple of years. Despite the power of past dynasties, the heavy toll of warfare strained resources. Emperor Wu of Han exhausted wealth from the Wen Jing era due to prolonged conflicts, while the Tang dynasty under Wu Ze Tian struggled, ultimately relying on foreign troops. This situation highlighted the unsustainable nature of war, regardless of a nation’s strength. Wang Ning An, despite the burdens, found wisdom in Confucian teachings and sought to educate soldiers to prepare them for civilian life post-service. He proposed literacy classes for soldiers to improve their skills, believing that educated troops could effectively manage various roles in society. Wen Yan Bo recognized the potential in these veterans, who could be trained for administrative tasks at a lower cost than traditional clerks. The chapter concludes with Wen Yan Bo visiting Song Qi, who had opened a private school, humorously criticizing his lack of promotion efforts while bringing along the newly trained soldiers to support him.

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