Originally Posted by
foxs
The fact was that at that time in Jianghu, in term of outstanding reputation, nothing can surpass the four powerful clans. But speaking about popularity, out of four surnames, only the Song family fit the bill. The Songs held the most power in the south. The Clan Leader, Heavenly Saber Song Que held the title Number One Saber Under the Heavens.
When Yang Jian unified the world and established the Great Sui, because he was apprehensive of the Song Clans power, he adopted a policy to appease them by granting Song Que the title of Zhen Nan Gong [duke who subdue/suppress the South]. Aware that the power of the Southern Dynasties [c. 420-589AD] was gone, Song Que pretended to bow before him to protect his clan. [Translators note: as I mentioned before, the world here always refers to China. I know its simpler just to say China, but I want the reader to know the different words to describe China. Tian Xia (lit. under the sky) being one of those. Interestingly, the word China itself does not exist in Chinese text.]
Among the four Clans, the other three had some blood relationship with non-Han people; but not this one of the few greats extant. To maintain the prestige of the southern clan, they persevered with tradition, strictly prohibited their clansmen from intermarrying with anybody outside the Han ethnic group; hence they were known in Jianghu as a Han orthodox clan.
During the reign of Emperor Wen, i.e. Yang Jian, although Song Ques influence was widespread, he still did not dare to act blindly without thinking. He concealed his own strength and bid his time, concentrated fully in building his power in secret to avoid inviting calamity. When Yang Guang ascended the throne, there were internal strife and external threat everywhere, imperial court was corrupt, armed rebellion rose up from all around. The Song Clan increased its level of activity once more.
Song Ques younger brother, Earthly Sword Song Zhi, who was considered one of the top swordsmen, as well as top strategist in Jianghu, knew that Sui Dynastys power was still considerably great; if they prematurely move their troops, they would immediately become the first target of Sui force. Hence he advised his older brother to postpone their rebellion against the Sui, but use their resources to accumulate wealth in all kinds of lucrative trading.
One of the most profitable businesses was transporting illegal salt from coastal regions inland via the Yangtze River. They obtained great profit this way. Song Shidaos four ships were precisely smuggling sea salt from the coast.
While the imperial court was corrupt, the Song family relied on their influence in the south to easily gain access thru all key places, and openly transport salt.
If there was any government official dared to investigate and arrest, they will be dealt with all kinds of method of intimidation. They even went as far as secret assassination to achieve their goal.
Even though there were rebel armies everywhere, as long as they see the Song family banner, nobody dared to offend them, for fear of making enemies of this powerful clan. Therefore, for the last few years, Song familys power grew in secret. So much so that they even finance several militia groups to weaken the Sui forces.
Song Que had four sons and two daughters. Song Shidao was the youngest of his sons, with specific duty to run the salt smuggling operation. His father doted on him very much.
His two daughters were Yuhua and Yuzhi; both had bashful flower obstructing the moon countenance. They were his fourth and sixth child, respectively. Three years ago Song Yuhua was given in marriage to Xie Wenlong, the son of Chengdu-based great hero Xie Hui of Sichuan.
Xie Huis title was Wulin Panguan [the Magistrate of Wulin; Pan Guan was the mythological judge of the underworld], a top martial art experts whose fame was on par with Song Que and Song Zhi; the founder of Du Zun Bao [Bastion of Supremacy], one of the emerging new powerful surnames outside the original four powerful clans.
The Song-Xie marriage arrangement reeked with political as well as business deal smell; with these two great forces forming an alliance, Yang Guang would be more afraid to act rashly against them.