History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 1017: Shaking People 1
【Shake people 1】

The Northern Han was a fig leaf for the Song and Liao dynasties, and a buffer between the two powers. The demise of the Northern Han sounded the clarion call for the Song-Liao War, and the "Battle of Gaoliang River" was the opening battle. Both sides won and lost, and even Zhao Guangyi, who was ridiculed by later generations as the "God of Chariots of Gaoliang River", was not hurt. Neither side was willing to give in, and both were holding back their energy.

Border conflicts between the two sides are becoming more frequent and larger in scale.

In April of the seventh year of Taipingxingguo (982), after some preparation, Emperor Jingzong of Liao, Yelu Xian, personally led the army to fight, with 4 cavalry as the vanguard, and marched south in three routes: the western route broke through Yanmen Pass, the middle route attacked Fuzhou, and the eastern route attacked Waqiao Pass.

Soon, Zhao Guangyi received reports from the front: Pan Mei at Yanmen Pass defeated the Liao army, beheaded 36 people, crossed the border to chase the remaining troops, and captured Liao strongholds, captured more than people, and more than cattle and horses; Zhe Yuqing at Fuzhou defeated the Liao army, beheaded more than people, captured more than enemy chieftains alive, and seized more than weapons and horses; Cui Yanjin at Waqiao Pass defeated the Liao army, beheaded people, and seized tens of thousands of weapons and horses...

All three Liao armies were defeated without exception.

Emperor Jingzong of Liao, Yelü Xian, led the main force along the eastern route, heading south from today's Hebei Province. As a result, he suffered another disastrous defeat in Mancheng (now Mancheng District, Baoding City, Hebei Province). The defending Taiwei Siwari was killed and the commander-in-chief Yelü Shanbu was surrounded by the Song army. Fortunately, Yelü Xizhen risked his life to rescue him and he survived.

Faced with a complete defeat, Emperor Jingzong of Liao, Yelu Xian, had no choice but to order the troops to retreat and returned to the Liao Kingdom in dejection.

After returning to China, Emperor Jingzong of Liao, Yelü Xian, was depressed and "ill" after only three months. He died a few days later at the age of 35, leaving us too early. The will of the emperor was to make his son, Yelü Longxu, the successor. Yelü Longxu was only 12 years old at the time, so Yelü Xian's will was to make his queen the regent.

The news of the death of Emperor Jingzong of Liao greatly encouraged Zhao Guangyi. A young ruler ascended the throne, an orphan and a widowed mother, a young ruler and a precarious country... We in the Song Dynasty are too familiar with this script!

However, what Zhao Guangyi did not know was that Yelu Xian's queen was no ordinary woman. She was the only strong woman in the history of the Liao Dynasty who could be compared with the "broken-wrist empress dowager" Shulü Ping. She was known as "Empress Dowager Xiao Yanyan of the Great Liao Dynasty" and "Empress Dowager Xiao" by the people of the Central Plains, and the ultimate BOSS in the story of the Yang Family Generals.

Two flowers are in bloom, each showing its own beauty. Let’s first look at Song Taizong Zhao Guangyi, who was determined to rule the world.

After the "Battle of Gaoliang River", Emperor Taizong of Song did not become depressed or discouraged. Instead, he became more and more courageous and actively prepared for the Northern Expedition. In the years of border conflicts, the Song army won more victories than defeats, which added confidence to Zhao Guangyi.

Internally, Zhao Guangyi strengthened the centralization of power through a series of reforms, such as the Taizong version of "releasing military power with a cup of wine", and used various means to make Zhao Dezhao, Zhao Defang, and Zhao Yanmei leave us prematurely, which greatly consolidated his own position and made the whole Song Dynasty united as one;

Outside, Zhao Guangyi mobilized a large number of people to gather international anti-Liao forces and establish an anti-Liao united front. Let's take a look at this unbreakable alliance:

"Playing according to circumstances" - Bohai Kingdom
This is a distant name, a sad story.

The Bohai Kingdom originated from the ethnic group on the peninsula (a different type of Goryeo). After Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty conquered Goryeo, he brought some Goryeo people back to the Yalu River in high spirits and settled them in the Liaodong area. Later, the Khitans rose up and used the children on the peninsula as training points. A Goryeo noble named Dae Jo-yeong was forced to go into exile here. Emperor Ruizong of the Tang Dynasty let him rule this place and named him Prince of Bohai. So this place got a new name - Bohai Kingdom.

During the Later Tang Dynasty, Bohai was annexed by Yelü Abaoji and renamed Dongdan, leaving his eldest son Yelü Bei in charge. After Abaoji's death, a large-scale uprising broke out in Bohai, and there were frequent uprisings of varying sizes, all of which were suppressed by the Liao. The Liao treated Bohai as a colony and ruthlessly exploited it. In addition to economic considerations, the main purpose was to weaken the overall strength of Bohai and crack down on "national restorationists".

Under the systematic weakening of the Liao Dynasty, the Bohai Kingdom's will and strength to resist were severely damaged, and "Bohai's restoration" gradually became a legend.

In the early years of the Later Zhou Dynasty, thirty Bohai nobles including Cui Wusi, who were unwilling to submit to the Liao Kingdom, fled to Bianzhou to seek political asylum. This was the last contact between the Central Plains and the Bohai Kingdom during the Five Dynasties period, and "thereafter they were isolated and could not communicate with China."

It was not until the fourth year of Taipingxingguo (979) during the reign of Emperor Taizong of Song that Zhao Guangyi destroyed the Northern Han and subsequently attacked Youzhou. During this period, a Bohai noble named Daluanhe led more than cavalrymen from his tribe to defect to the Song Dynasty and was named the Bohai Commander. Daluanhe's origin is unknown, and it is unknown whether he was a descendant of the founding king Dae Jo-yeong.

In July of the sixth year of Taipingxingguo (981), Zhao Guangyi sent an imperial edict to the King of Bohai, asking him to cooperate with the royal army to attack the Liao Kingdom, promising to help it restore its country, and also agreeing to divide the Liao Kingdom. Zhao Guangyi promised that the Song Dynasty would only take the original land of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, and all other lands of the Liao Kingdom would belong to the Bohai Kingdom.

"A date?"

There must be a Bohai noble who still has the dream of restoring the country. At least there is not one. Those who wanted to resist had already resisted. We will talk about it later when we talk about Ding'an State. In short, the resistance faction had already died or fled, such as Cuiwusi, Daluanhe, etc., and those who stayed were obedient and good citizens.

Their behavior of paying tribute to the Song Dynasty was just a political maneuver. For example, Bohai and Liao were husband and wife, and they were lovers with the Song Dynasty. Bohai's behavior of paying tribute to the Song Dynasty was equivalent to cheating, and now the Song Dynasty's proposal is that the mistress fights the original wife and divides the original wife's property. Wishful thinking.

The flirting we have is just for fun. Whores are heartless and actors are disloyal. We are just playing around. Why do you take it so seriously?

Zhao Guangyi's attempt to make peace with Bohai failed, and the historian sighed and recorded helplessly: "But no one from Bohai came." At this time, Zhao Guangyi was very similar to Emperor Wu of Han who made peace with Dayuezhi to attack Xiongnu.

After kneeling for a long time, I really couldn't stand up.
"It's useless" - Ding'an Country
During the Khitan's eastward expansion, they destroyed many forces on the Liaodong Peninsula, such as the Bohai Kingdom mentioned above. Many tribes that were unwilling to surrender were forced to hide and resist. Among them was a relatively strong resistance group from the Bohai Kingdom. They fled to the Yalu River area and established the Ding'an Revolutionary Base, always holding high the banner of resisting the tyranny of the Liao Kingdom and restoring the foundation of their homeland. During the reign of Emperor Taizu of Song Dynasty, the Jurchens paid tribute and passed through the Ding'an Kingdom. Its king, Lie Wanhua, asked the Jurchen envoy to send a letter and contacted the Central Plains. Lie Wanhua made clear his firm anti-Liao stance to the Central Plains, hoping that one day he could join forces with the Central Plains to destroy the Liao Kingdom.

Before the "Battle of Gaoliang River", Zhao Guangyi suddenly thought of this wedge that was deeply embedded in the enemy's hinterland, so he sent spies to take a shortcut to deliver an imperial edict to Ding Anguo, which said that I have decided to march north, and you guys should do something behind the scenes to cooperate with the royal army.

It is said that the king was "overjoyed to receive the edict" and believed that the restoration of Bohai would be just around the corner. Then Zhao Guangyi was happily given the title of "Gaoliang River Chariot God".

Ding'an Kingdom did not give up. In November of the sixth year of Taipingxingguo (981), it sent tribute and letters to the Jurchen envoys. At this time, the king of Ding'an Kingdom was replaced by Wu Xuanming, who reiterated Ding'an Kingdom's firm anti-Liao stance and was eager to join forces with the Central Plains. At the same time, Wu Xuanming also revealed a good news to Zhao Guangyi: Buyeo Prefecture, the old capital of Bohai Kingdom, had just announced its separation from Liao and joined Ding'an Kingdom. The Bohai Restoration Movement ushered in a historic turning point! This is the rhythm of God's demise of Liao Kingdom. The opportunity will not come again. Please hurry up and cooperate with the Central Plains!
Zhao Guangyi was delighted. Isn't this a coincidence? In the imperial edict to Wu Xuanming, Zhao Guangyi first highly praised their national justice and indomitable spirit of resistance, and said that the Song Dynasty had already stationed heavy troops on the border and would take action soon. As for the specific time of action - "probably in winter" (just wait until the severe winter, that is, Shen Tiantao).

However, Ding'an was willing but unable. Even if he really wanted to join forces with the Song Dynasty to attack the Liao Kingdom, the effect would be nothing but a drop in the bucket. At the very least, it would be completely useless.

"Seeing Flowers in the Mist" - Goryeo

At the end of the Tang Dynasty, Goryeo broke away from the control of the Central Plains and "established its own ruler". During the Five Dynasties, Goryeo often paid tribute to the Central Plains, and the two sides maintained friendly interactions. In the early Song Dynasty, good diplomatic relations were also maintained. During the Taipingxingguo period of Emperor Taizong, Goryeo paid tribute almost once a year, and its attitude was very positive.

However, before the Battle of Gaoliang River, Zhao Guangyi united with the relatively weak Bohai Kingdom and Ding'an Kingdom, but did not unite with the relatively strong Goryeo. Why? Because Zhao Guangyi did not trust them. Zhao Guangyi thought they were running dogs of Liao and were targets to be attacked. It was only because there was a tribe that was more active than Goryeo that interfered, and that was the Jurchens.

During the Five Dynasties, the Jurchens actively paid tribute to the Central Plains and sought support. They interacted frequently and had close relations with the Central Plains. Later, the Jurchen envoys reported to the Song Dynasty that the Koreans were running dogs of the Liao Kingdom. They colluded with each other, plundered the Jurchens' population and livestock, and eroded the Jurchens' living space. Is it fair for the two big countries to bully us weak tribes together?
According to the Jurchens, when the Liao Kingdom launched a large-scale invasion against them, Goryeo opened its border to the Liao Kingdom, allowing the Liao army to bypass Goryeo and go behind the Jurchens.

Taizong was furious when he heard this. Isn't this bullying an honest person?

When the Goryeo envoys came to pay tribute, Zhao Guangyi questioned them face to face about their collusion with the Liao Kingdom. He also produced the Jurchen envoy's real-name report letter as evidence, and then ordered Goryeo to return all the stolen property and people to the Jurchens.

Zhao Guangyi lost trust in Goryeo and was worried that they would leak the plan of a joint attack, so he excluded them from the anti-Liao united front.

The King of Goryeo was extremely worried after being reprimanded by Zhao Guangyi.

It was not until a few years later, on the eve of the "Yongxi Northern Expedition", that Zhao Guangyi sent an imperial edict asking him to send troops to cooperate with the royal army. However, the wording in the edict was not so polite. It did not seem like an alliance between allies, but more like an order from a superior to a subordinate.

The King of Goryeo accepted the order to send troops and explained the misunderstanding:

The Jurchens were "greedy and deceitful" and full of lies. Please do not be biased and believe them. Goryeo denied the Liao's "borrowing the road". The situation at that time was like this: when the Liao army attacked the Jurchens, the Jurchens asked Goryeo for help but failed, so they felt resentful. At that time, although Goryeo did not provide military assistance to the Jurchens in time, it took in more than 2,000 Jurchen refugees. After the Liao army left, Goryeo also gave them generous gifts and sent them home. Afterwards, the Jurchens advised Goryeo to build fortresses in dangerous places to resist the invasion of the Liao army. Goryeo agreed with it and started construction. Unexpectedly, the Jurchens suddenly launched a wave of shameless sneak attacks on Goryeo, looting wantonly, and abducted the people of Goryeo and migrated to other places, causing heavy losses to Goryeo. However, Goryeo knew that the Jurchens had a close relationship with the Central Plains, and was afraid of the Central Plains and did not dare to send troops to ask the Jurchens for an explanation. The Koreans endured humiliation and never thought that the evil Jurchens would complain first, reversing right and wrong, confusing right and wrong. Please let the great Celestial Empire see clearly! Moreover, the Koreans have always paid tribute to the Celestial Empire and always regarded the great Celestial Empire as their own father. How could they have colluded with the Khitans? This is simply a malicious slander against us, which makes me angry!

Finally, the King of Goryeo proposed to send an envoy to Bianzhou to confront the Jurchen envoy face to face.

The Song Dynasty envoy expressed his trust in the Goryeo Kingdom and asked him to send troops to attack the Liao Dynasty to prove his innocence and loyalty with practical actions.

However, the King of Goryeo postponed the dispatch of troops for various reasons. The envoys of the Song Dynasty said that they would not return to the country until the troops were dispatched. Only then did Goryeo reluctantly dispatch troops and pretend to do so.

As for the extent of his participation in the "Yongxi Northern Expedition", one can imagine.

From a geopolitical perspective, the relationship between Liao, Song, Jurchen and Goryeo is actually very simple.

Although he had the principle of making friends with distant countries and attacking nearby ones, the strength of Goryeo and Liao was not at the same level. He wanted to make friends with Song but did not dare to attack Liao. Maintaining friendship with both countries at the same time was the best option. If he had to offend one side, he would rather offend Song than Liao.
The Jurchens are the weakest, and their minds are the most complicated. The mutual suspicion, conflict and friction between the surrounding powers are the soil for the survival of the Jurchens, and their value lies in them. They are regarded as a geopolitical wedge by major powers and are wooed and appeased. Once the relationship between the major powers eases, the Jurchens will be the first to be regarded as political sacrifices, and it is unknown which side will take them as a token of surrender. This is the terrifying "political monopoly". The sparks of friction between the major powers are the brightest stars in the night sky of small countries.

When the Song Dynasty was managing the Liaodong region, the Jurchens, who seemed to be the closest and most loyal friend, were actually troublemakers who were trying to sabotage the boss everywhere.

The relationship between Goryeo and Liao was very complicated, which will be discussed in detail in the Liao Dynasty special topic later.

Thanks to my old friend “江湖刘白” for the monthly ticket support!

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(End of this chapter)