Chapter 2: The Flickering Shadows of the Red Candle, Reminiscing My Life (Part 1)

Thinking of this, He Fang couldn't help but smile wryly again. His crossing over to the Song Dynasty was undoubtedly confirmed. Otherwise, he wouldn't have a pile of classical texts and poetry in his mind that he had never read, nor would he know various historical allusions. All of this had been memorized by that Han Gang over the course of more than a decade since his enlightenment.

Ah... ah..." He Fang suddenly struggled, exerting all his strength to squeeze out the words "Do not sell." But it felt as if something was blocking his throat. Having been ill for a long time, he quickly exhausted his strength and fainted amidst the surprised voices of Han's parents.

Regardless of how one refers to the current emperor, Zhao Xu harbors dissatisfaction in his heart regarding the accumulated issues of the Song Dynasty over the past few decades. He intends to learn from Shang Yang's reforms in order to strengthen the nation and its military, a plan that He Fang can affirm with complete certainty

It is unknown when Li Laizi has already left, and Han Father and Han Mother have once again sat by their bedside. The couple sits in silence, willing to sacrifice everything for their son—such is the compassion of parents for their children.

In the Kansai region, there was also a learned scholar who founded his own school, named Zhang Zai. Zhang Zai gathered numerous disciples in the Guanzhong area, and his school was known as the Guanzhong School. Han Gang sought his guidance and diligently studied under him for a full two years

The Ren Zong Emperor, who sat on the dragon throne of Daqing Palace for forty-two years, passed away six years ago. Although he ruled for a long time, he left no male heirs—only a number of princesses, but not a single prince. As a distant nephew of Ren Zong, the Ying Zong Emperor thus succeeded to the throne as an adopted son. However, the frail and ailing Ying Zong Emperor also did not remain on the throne for long; in just over four years, he followed in the footsteps of his nominal father and departed from this world, leaving the vast empire to his eldest son Zhao Xu, who was still under twenty.

Han Gang's eldest brother inherited the family business, his second brother joined the military, while he himself, being exceptionally intelligent since childhood, was supported by his family who lived frugally to enable his education. He began his studies at the age of eight and by twelve had read through the Five Classics and many other texts, becoming a well-known scholar in the surrounding villages. In the year before last, which was the fourth year of the Zhiping era (1067 AD), Han Gang turned sixteen, bid farewell to his parents, and, like the scholars of his time, began to leave home to pursue his studies.

Han Gang is the third son in his family, and along with his two elder brothers, he was fortunate enough to reach adulthood. This is considered a small miracle in the Song Dynasty, where the infant mortality rate exceeded fifty percent, and even the royal family was not spared from the risk of extinction.

The reason why He Fang is now lying on the bed and unable to move ultimately stems from the weakened military strength of the Song Dynasty, which has repeatedly been deceived by the Western Xia.

Oh, by the way! There might not be a ceiling at all, He Fang thought, because beside him stood the rough walls made of rammed earth, their surfaces stained black by the passage of time, yet the texture of the earth was still clearly discernible. Presumably, in such ancient houses, what lay above should be beams and rafters like those in his old home from a past life, rather than a flat ceiling.

Indeed! Shen Zong is a temple name, and a living emperor cannot enjoy it. If one were to casually refer to the current emperor in such a manner, it would likely lead to unfavorable consequences. He Fang sighed inwardly; this was yet another piece of common knowledge left to him by the memories in his mind

Father Han and Mother Han seem to have been persuaded. Even though they know that Li Laizi is doing it for their own land, what does the land matter compared to their precious son? If a life is lost, what significance does the land hold?

He Fang rotated his eyes, surveying the small room he found himself in. The room was very small, measuring only about five or six square meters, much smaller than the chamber he remembered belonging to him. However, the light in the room was so dim that even this tiny space could not be fully illuminated, and even the ceiling above was shrouded in darkness

It truly feels like I have traveled through time

The former owner of the body occupied by He Fang was named Han Gang, with a courtesy name of Yu Kun. Both the name and the courtesy name were given by Han Gang's childhood tutor, based on the phrase "Gold is born from beautiful waters, jade emerges from Kun Gang" from the "Thousand Character Classic".

In the memories left by Han Gang, over twenty years ago, after Li Yuanhao inherited his father's position and took command of the various factions of the Northwest Qiang, he raised the banner of rebellion. Li Yuanhao was known for his cruelty and lack of compassion, indulging in debauchery, and even his daughter-in-law was not spared; ultimately, he met his end at the hands of his own son. However, he was indeed a remarkable figure, having discarded the surname granted by the Song dynasty, sought out an ancestor from the Xianbei tribe, and changed his surname to Wei. He led the originally semi-independent Yin Xia Qiang, captured the two states of Xingling in the Hetao Plain, proclaimed himself emperor, and established the Western Xia regime. In just a few years, after three large-scale battles, the Song army suffered devastating defeats, with hundreds of thousands of troops annihilated, and could only acknowledge the existence of the Western Xia state.

Is it really a time travel?

During the peaceful century of the Northern Song Dynasty, the literary style flourished greatly. Earlier figures such as Sun Fu and Hu Yuan, and more recent scholars like Ouyang Xiu and Zhou Dunyi, along with contemporary intellectuals such as Wang Anshi, Sima Guang, Shao Yong, Cheng Hao, and Cheng Yi, both renowned and lesser-known, emerged in abundance as scholars and Confucian scholars.

The region where the Han family resides, Lu Prefecture, is not peaceful—located in Qinzhu, Shaanxi, on the northwestern border of the Song Dynasty. In the 21st century, He Fang has experienced much of Shaanxi's local customs and culture, yet has never endured the trials of war. However, during the Northern Song Dynasty, Shaanxi faced continuous military disasters year after year due to its direct confrontation with the Western Xia.

He calmed his mind and searched carefully in his thoughts, pleasantly surprised to find that the memories left by the original owner of the body were relatively intact. He could clearly remember his parents, friends, teachers, and neighbors. However, these memories seemed to be separated by a thin veil, preventing him from feeling a sufficient sense of identity, as if he were watching a lengthy movie that he could not regard as his own memories. Nevertheless, this was already enough, He Fangqing thought to himself. Relying on these memories, as long as he was cautious in his words and actions, spoke less and observed more, he need not worry about any major issues arising from impersonation. Even if there were some discrepancies, they could still be attributed to the condition.

Looking at the bedroom he was sleeping in, He Fang smiled bitterly, finally confirming a fact he did not want to admit. He had died in an air disaster in the 21st century and was resurrected in the body of a young man from the Song Dynasty a thousand years ago. If it were a story, it might be quite interesting, but happening to himself only elicited a sigh.

It is an oil lamp! Clearly, only an unstable flame will flicker. Similarly, only when the oil lamp is lit will there be smoke filling the room

The words of Han's mother stirred a pang of sorrow in He Fang's heart, leaving him uncertain whether it stemmed from himself or from Han Gang. The hand that Han's mother placed on his forehead was rough, akin to sandpaper, yet the palm was surprisingly warm

Father Han looked at his son, who had become emaciated and unrecognizable. On his face, which had aged significantly despite being just over forty, there was an unmistakable sadness. With only this single remaining child in the family, what would he and his wife have left if they lost him too? He nodded slightly, his voice hoarse and low: "Then let’s sell the farmland to Li Laizi, even if the price is low... We must first save San Ge'er."

Do not sell! He Fang felt somewhat bewildered; this was not his own consciousness, but rather a thought that inexplicably erupted from the depths of his heart. A surge of resentment filled his chest, accompanied by self-blame, anger, and a multitude of emotions that alternated in his mind. During the time he lay in bed, it was this voice, akin to that of a duck, that incessantly persuaded his family to exchange their fields for cash to seek medical treatment for him. In the end, only a patch of vegetable field remained, and they were unwilling to let it go.

... ...

Unaware of how long he had been in a deep sleep, He Fang woke up for the third time. This time, he finally had the strength to open his eyelids. As he opened his eyes, the first thing that came into view was a flickering dim yellow light, accompanied by a pungent odor.

Sell it, it's just a piece of land... Just bring back San Ge! We have to give it a try. Han's mother sighed, her palm gently stroking He Fang's forehead, completely devoid of the earlier firmness she had shown towards Li Laizi.

It is now the second year of Xining (1069 AD) — a year that is quite unfamiliar to He Fang, who has always barely passed in history. However, with the memories of the original owner of his body, he recalls the names of the Song Dynasty's founding emperors, Taizu, Taizong, and Zhenzong, as well as the recently deceased Emperor Renzong and Emperor Yingzong, along with familiar figures such as Wang Anshi, Sima Guang, Su Shi, and Liu Yong. Additionally, the more familiar names of the Khitan, Western Xia, and Dali dynasties help He Fang confirm the era in which he finds himself.

The Han family cannot be considered wealthy, but in the context of the predominantly impoverished Xiaolongwan village, which is similar to most rural areas along Shaanxi Road, they can be regarded as a well-off household. They own about one hundred acres of land and have a plow ox. However, they are not landlords; they usually work the land themselves and only hire temporary laborers during busy farming seasons. The mainstay of their household is vegetable cultivation. From several acres of fertile, high-quality vegetable fields by the riverbank, they grow spring leeks and autumn greens, selling them in the nearby Qinzhou city, just across the river. The income from these sales has sustained their modest living for over twenty years.

However, He Fang still secretly felt fortunate; dying in a plane crash and being reborn in ancient times, where misfortune and fortune are difficult to distinguish. Fortune lies in the place where misfortune lurks, and misfortune leans on the place where fortune resides. Although this is a common saying, it is nonetheless true. After being struck by the incomprehensible reality, He Fang gradually calmed down as he recognized his current situation. If he wanted to live well in the Song Dynasty, he must first understand this era

When the Son of Heaven ascends the throne, it is necessary to change the era name. Thus, the era name of the Song Dynasty changed from Zhiping to Xining, and this year marks the second year of Xining. ... This new emperor is likely closely associated with Wang Anshi's reforms, namely Emperor Shenzong of Song ... . ... Reflecting on this, He Fang felt a sudden chill in his heart

Even without his own superficial understanding of history, just by observing this grand empire with its millions of troops, one cannot help but notice that it must annually pay tribute to the Liao and Xia states, using money to buy stability. Claiming to be China, yet being deceived by the barbarian tribes, this great nation suffers from such a profound humiliation. Upon reflection, any Song person with a sense of shame would be filled with grief and indignation, and He Fang, influenced by lingering memories, also feels a deep resentment. If the common people feel this way, one can only imagine the sentiments of the ruler of the Song Dynasty—after all, the current emperor Zhao Xu is just in his early twenties, at an age when one is bold and ambitious, disregarding old conventions.

Note 1: Chives refer to garlic chives, while cabbage refers to Chinese cabbage. These two were the most common vegetables in ancient times