Generals of the Great Song Dynasty.

Summary

Song Xiang feels conflicted as he observes the hypocrisy of Wang Ning An and Wen Yan Bo, who preach about virtue but indulge in the spoils of war. Although he initially believes that winning hearts is more important than military conquest, he finds himself benefiting from the war, receiving wealth and comforts he doesn't feel he deserves. As he learns about the brutal events in the northwest, including the violent conquests led by Wei Mu Yue Neng and the exploitation of captured tribes, he realizes that the Song army is profiting significantly from the chaos. The military strategy involves taking advantage of tribal conflicts to amass wealth and resources while establishing youth camps for future integration and control. Song Xiang draws parallels between this situation and a historical tax scheme, recognizing the detrimental effects of such exploitation on society. Despite his concerns, he faces opposition from Song Fu Ren, who argues that the current actions, while ruthless, do not harm the Song people and may ultimately benefit them. The chapter ends with a tension between Song Xiang's moral stance and the harsh realities of war and power dynamics.

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