After the peace of Chanyuan (1005), the Northern Song dynasty (960-112
7) had to deal with the problem of rebuilding the unity of the Chinese
Empire in spite of his military weakness and the very strong economic
autonomy of the various regions. Given that historical context, the '
'Heavenly Text'' affair (1008), involving both ritual practices and fi
nancial reforms, can be interpreted as a major political shift. Throug
h the study of the program and the activities of the so-called ''Five
devils'' clique who forged the affair, it is possible to shed light on
the making of a new territory. Thanks to the three imperial sacrifice
s made in prestigious places, the emperor Song Zhenzong and Kaifeng, h
is capital city, became the center of a holy world where the transfer
of goods and money was regulated by the Imperial Treasure. The reshapi
ng of the financial structures made possible the commitment of the Sta
te in the development of an empire-wide economy, which is one of the m
ain features of the Song dynasty.