On the scale of history, different countries and civilizations all have their own periods of glory and decline.
But even in the most tumultuous times and in the bleakest environments, there will still be people who rise against the trend.
When Nansong lost the offensive advantage in the two Huai regions, and struggled under the military pressure of the Liao State, the final Marquises emerged among the Han people ruled by the Liao State.
When the Mongolian Yuan cavalry threatened the rule of the Liao State beyond the Great Wall, the Han gentries managed to leap over to the banner of the Mongolian Yuan, continuing their power in the name of ten-thousand households.
The decline of the larger picture does not mean that everyone within that picture must be influenced by such adversity.
When chaos arises, where traditional order collapses, a new order will emerge, and this truth remains constant regardless of region, culture, race, or political system.
