During the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Song dynasty, a disturbing rumor spread among both officials and commoners: in the Jiawu year, unrest would break out in Sichuan. From the Five Dynasties period through the Northern Song, every Jiawu year had indeed seen some form of turmoil. This seemingly cursed pattern led to widespread anxiety, from the imperial court to the common people. As the Jiawu year of Emperor Renzong’s reign approached (1054), rumors proliferated and spread rapidly from Sichuan to Luoyang and Kaifeng, casting a pall of tension and anxiety over the entire realm. Both central and local authorities made preparations, awaiting the arrival of 1054 with a mix of fear and anticipation...