But in the early Northern Song period, Sichuan became an important point of rebellion, turning a promising hand into a mess. No wonder the Song Dynasty could never achieve the Great Unity.
Thus, the saying 'Sichuan people love chaos' is utterly unfounded; it was Zhao Kuangyin's indulgent soldiers that led to the Sichuan populace rising up in rebellion.
Later, Tokyo's bustling prosperity was built on the blood of all under heaven, and Ba and Shu were especially vital blood suppliers, with Sichuan's taxes making up a third of the national revenue during the Northern Song.
The saying 'The Sichuan people do not fail the nation' emerged later.
The Ba and Shu populace certainly lived up to the Song Dynasty. From one to two million people, they died down to just six or seven hundred thousand, nearly being wiped out.
