I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 262 The Snipe and Clam Game Begins, the Fisherman is in Position

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As early as the beginning of the founding of Goryeo, King Taejo Wang Geon established a relatively complete feudal regime system by absorbing and integrating the culture of the Central Plains. Due to the need for resources and strategic depth, he quickly turned his attention to the Jurchen settlement north of Changbai Mountain.

At that time, the various Jurchen tribes were still in a state of tribal fragmentation. They lived by fishing and hunting, and although they were brave and skilled in battle, they lacked a unified military organization and strategic planning.

Goryeo's northward expansion policy led to frequent small-scale conflicts between the two sides in the Yalu River basin.

This border friction gradually escalated into a large-scale military confrontation.

Later, the conflict between the Jurchens and Goryeo escalated into a large-scale war.

As a result, the Jurchen Wanyan tribe joined forces with surrounding tribes to launch a surprise attack on Tongzhou in Goryeo.

Although Goryeo possessed the advantage of city defense, its army was mostly composed of infantry, and it suffered repeated setbacks in open field battles against the agile and mobile Jurchen cavalry.

Subsequently, the two sides engaged in a protracted tug-of-war on both sides of the Yalu River.

Goryeo even spent a lot of manpower and resources to build the so-called "Great Wall" in an attempt to curb the Jurchen offensive, but this defensive line failed to fundamentally change the balance of power between the two sides.

Shortly after Emperor Zhao Yu personally led an expedition and decisively defeated Yelü Yanxi, the Jurchens and Goryeo finally engaged in a protracted war.

Helandian was a land of abundant water and lush vegetation. Located at the border between the northern border of Goryeo and the Jurchen-inhabited area, it became a focal point of contention between the two sides. Goryeo viewed it as an extension of its "land of origin," while the Jurchen saw it as their livelihood and a crucial bulwark against Goryeo invasions. The conflict between the two sides seemed irreconcilable.

During the reign of King Sukjong of Goryeo, the "Northern Advance Faction" within Goryeo gained the upper hand. They believed that while the Jurchens were not yet fully unified, Goryeo should decisively send troops to seize Helandian and push its sphere of influence to the Tumen River basin. In this way, Goryeo could advance to conquer the entire Northeast and even the Central Plains, or retreat to defend along the natural defenses of the Yalu River and the Tumen River, without having to worry about the Jurchens, who were skilled in warfare and resembled savages.

Therefore, in the second year after Zhao Yu and Yelü Yanxi made peace, the Goryeo army crossed the border and built nine cities in Helandian, attempting to gradually erode the Jurchen territory by relying on military strongholds.

Faced with the relentless advance of Goryeo, the Jurchen tribes initially resisted using dispersed guerrilla tactics.

However, this kind of fighting, due to the lack of unified command, made it difficult to form an effective counterattack, which led to Goryeo gaining the upper hand at one point and even capturing some Jurchen leaders.

The situation reversed three or four years ago.

At that time, a highly shrewd leader emerged in the Jurchen Wanyan tribe—Wanyan Yingge.

Wanyan Yingge realized that only by uniting the various tribes could they resist the military oppression of Goryeo.

Therefore, Wanyan Yingge, under the banner of "defending their homeland," united the scattered Jurchen tribes into a loose military alliance.

At that time, the Goryeo army was suffering from serious logistical problems due to long-term warfare, and the soldiers' war-weariness spread. The Jurchen allied forces seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack.

Two years ago, the decisive battle took place in the heart of Helandian.

The Jurchen allied forces exploited the weakness of the Goryeo army, which was divided and stationed in various cities, and adopted a "besieging the point and attacking the reinforcements" tactic. They first besieged the Goryeo's front-line city to lure the defenders of other cities to its aid. When the Goryeo reinforcements entered the pre-arranged ambush, Jurchen cavalry suddenly attacked from the mountains and forests.

The Jurchens, having grown up riding, shooting, and hunting in the Changbai Mountains and Heilongjiang River region, were extremely adapted to the cold climate and mountainous terrain. Clad in light leather armor, they moved like ghosts through the wind and snow, and wherever their scimitars fell, Goryeo soldiers fell to the ground.

The Goryeo army was routed in the chaos, and many cities fell one after another.

The battle lasted for several months, and the Goryeo army suffered heavy casualties.

Goryeo was forced to negotiate peace with the Jurchens.

After negotiations, the two sides reached an agreement that Goryeo would withdraw from Helandian, dismantle all military facilities, and restore the border to its pre-war state.

The Battle of Helandian ended in a Jurchen victory.

This victory not only thwarted Goryeo's ambitions to advance northward, but more importantly, it showed the scattered Jurchen tribes the power of unity.

Subsequently, under the leadership of the Wanyan clan, the various Jurchen tribes accelerated their integration, and their military organization and combat capabilities were significantly improved.

After this battle, Goryeo temporarily abandoned its strategy of large-scale northward expansion and instead focused on recuperation. As a result, the balance of power between the two sides in Northeast Asia underwent a subtle but profound change.

The Jurchens, now on the rise, looked back at their suzerain state, the Liao, and found that the Liao was incredibly weak and no match for them after defeating Goryeo.

Crucially, the Liao dynasty's oppression of the Jurchens had a long history.

Since the time of Emperor Taizu of Liao, Yelü Abaoji, the Khitans had been oppressing the Jurchens.

In Turkic, Mongolian, and Tungusic languages, the Jurchen word means "stubborn person," "unconquerable person," or "untamable person."

Yelü Abaoji said, "If the Jurchens number less than ten thousand, they are invincible if they number ten thousand," believing that the Jurchens were the greatest threat to the Liao Dynasty. Therefore, he divided and suppressed the Jurchens, sparing no effort to weaken them.

Later, the system of restricting the Jurchens passed down by Yelü Abaoji gradually became distorted over time.

In the later period of the Liao Dynasty, especially during the reign of Yelü Yanxi, the Liao Dynasty established "Jurchen Jiedushi" (military governors of the Jurchen) in areas inhabited by the Jurchens. In name, they governed the areas, but in reality, they plundered them.

Every year, Liao envoys would use the pretext of "demanding tribute" to force the Jurchens to offer precious local products such as pearls, sable fur, and gyrfalcons.

These Liao envoys were arrogant and domineering. They not only plundered and extorted, but also forced Jurchen nobles to offer their wives and daughters as servants. This was known as "beating the Jurchens".

What the Jurchens found even more intolerable was that the "border markets" established by the Liao Dynasty were nothing short of an unequal form of plunder—the Jurchens often exchanged their hard-won prey for inferior ironware and expired grain.

At the beginning of this year, the Jurchens defeated the powerful Heshilie tribe, consolidating the Jurchen tribal alliance.

At this time, the Jurchen tribal alliance comprised thirty tribes, and the internal class divisions were becoming increasingly apparent, with the rudiments of a slave-owning state beginning to emerge. Meanwhile, the Khitan nobles, clad in brocade robes embroidered with gold, were indulging in song, dance, and banquets in the palaces of Shangjing, completely unaware that a new force was quietly gathering between the Changbai Mountains and the Heilongjiang River. Like a lurking tiger, they were waiting for the opportunity to tear apart their shackles.

Even more reckless, this spring, Yelü Yanxi ordered the leaders of various tribes to dance for him during the spring hunting season (the spring fishing and hunting activities of the Liao emperors).

When it was Wanyan Aguda's turn, his eyes flashed with anger as he said in a deep voice, "My tribe only knows how to shoot tigers with bows, not how to flatter and curry favor!"

These words struck like a hammer blow, awakening the Liao emperor and his ministers and igniting the flames of Jurchen resistance.

Although Yelü Yanxi did not react on the spot, he realized that the Jurchens were in trouble. He secretly ordered Wanyan Aguda to be monitored, and the conflict between the two sides became public.

After returning to his tribe, Wanyan Aguda knew that war was inevitable. On the one hand, he reorganized the military, organizing the scattered Jurchen tribes into disciplined military units using the "Meng'an Mouke" system; on the other hand, he sent people to spy on the Liao army and discovered that the once valiant Khitan cavalry had long been corrupt and unusable.

In contrast, the Jurchens were not only skilled in warfare, but their tribes, having long suffered oppression from the Liao people, had transformed their hatred for the Liao state into a united front against a common enemy.

Crucially, Wanyan Aguda also participated in the Song-Liao war seven years ago, and he witnessed firsthand how easily the Liao army was defeated.

Wanyan Aguda understood this very well. If Zhao Yu hadn't intentionally let the Liao Kingdom off the hook, the Liao Kingdom might have already been destroyed by the Song Dynasty.

At that time, Wanyan Aguda could see that the Liao Dynasty was doomed.

What made Wanyan Aguda even more convinced that the Liao Dynasty was nearing its end was that Yelü Yanxi, after only two or three years of rule, went even further, indulging in hunting and the pleasures of his hounds, neglecting state affairs to an unprecedented degree. Loyal ministers and generals repeatedly offered their advice but were ignored, and were even ostracized by treacherous officials like Xiao Fengxian, finding it difficult to speak out, and some were even demoted or killed. This led to a decline in the court's morale, border defenses becoming virtually non-existent, soldiers becoming lax, and military preparedness weakening.

Yelü Yanxi's extravagance and debauchery emptied the national treasury, caused widespread suffering and resentment among the people, and the people's suffering and discontent were like an undercurrent, just waiting for an opportunity to erupt.

Yelü Yanxi seemed to have locked himself in a cocoon of luxury and illusion, completely oblivious to the turmoil in the outside world.

The once mighty Liao Empire now resembles a colossal tower on the verge of collapse, teetering on the brink of destruction.

During the reign of Wanyan Aguda's elder brother, Wanyan Wuyashu, the social divisions within the Jurchen people were becoming increasingly severe. The previous year, various Jurchen tribes suffered famine, leading to widespread starvation, displacement, forced selling of wives and children to pay debts, and rampant banditry. Faced with this situation, Wanyan Aguda proposed changing the "bandit compensation law" to a three-fold tax. In response to the widespread fleeing due to debt and the selling of children, Wanyan Aguda, after discussions with Wanyan Wuyashu and others, ordered a three-year tax moratorium. These measures enabled the poor to survive, eased social tensions, prevented the bankruptcy of impoverished tribes, ensured a source of manpower, consolidated and strengthened the Jurchen alliance, and simultaneously enhanced Wanyan Aguda's personal prestige.

A few months ago, Wanyan Wuyashu died unexpectedly, and Wanyan Aguda succeeded him as the leader of the alliance, taking the title of Dubojilie.

After Wanyan Aguda became the supreme leader of the Jurchen alliance, he successively dispatched Wanyan Pujianu, Wanyan Xigunai, Wanyan Yinshuke and others to the Liao Dynasty under the pretext of demanding the return of Bojin Ashu of the Xingxianshui Heshilie tribe who had fled to the Liao Dynasty, and finally to confirm the true situation of the Liao Dynasty.

Wanyan Pujianu and others reported that Yelü Yanxi's rule was arrogant and decadent, and that the country was already showing signs of collapse.

Wanyan Aguda then built castles and repaired weapons, preparing to launch a southern expedition against the Liao Dynasty.

Ever since Wanyan Aguda refused to perform a dance for Yelü Yanxi, the Khitan nobles had been wary of the rise of the Jurchens. Yelü Yanxi also ordered Commander Xiao Tabuye to lead 800 Khitan and Bohai soldiers to Ningjiang Prefecture in Hunjiang East for defense.

Wanyan Aguda then addressed his subordinates, saying, "The Liao people know that I am about to raise an army, and they have gathered troops from all directions to prepare for me. I will strike first and not be controlled by others." He then held a grand assembly of his officials and subordinates, offered sacrifices to Heaven and Earth, denounced the crimes of the Liao Dynasty, declared his intention to wage war, and issued orders to the various tribes.

At the same time, Wanyan Aguda sent his son Wanyan Poluhuo, a member of the imperial clan, to recruit Wanyan Digunai soldiers from Yilan Road. He also sent his sons Wanyan Wulugu and Wanyan Alu to pacify the Jurchens from the Wohu and Jisai routes who were of Liao origin. He sent Wanyan Shibude to Wandu Road to capture the Liao Zhangying official who was most hated by the Jurchens.

After all preparations were completed, in September of the tenth year of Hongwu (four or five years earlier than in history), Wanyan Aguda, on the grounds that "the Liao people broke the alliance and bullied our people," swore an oath on the banks of the Lai River and joined forces with the troops of various tribes at the Lai River, forming the first Jurchen army since the start of the anti-Liao movement with a total of 2,500 Jurchens.

Wanyan Aguda led his soldiers to declare to Heaven and Earth, listing two crimes of the Liao Dynasty: "They did not recognize those who had rendered meritorious service, but instead added insults and humiliations," and "The criminal A Shu was repeatedly refused permission to leave."

Then Wanyan Aguda ordered his generals to swear an oath: "If we work together with one heart and one mind, those who make merit can be made commoners, and commoners can become officials. Those who already hold official positions can be promoted according to their merits. If anyone violates this oath, they will die on the spot, and their family members will not be spared."

Subsequently, the Jurchen army marched into Ningjiang Prefecture, and the next day, just as they reached the Liao border, they encountered the Bohai Army led by Liao general Yelü Xieshi.

Wanyan Aguda shot and killed Yelü Xieshi with an arrow, and the Liao army was routed and suffered heavy losses.

The Jurchens won their first battle, which greatly boosted their morale.

In October, the Jurchen army took advantage of their victory to capture Ningjiang Prefecture and take the Liao Defense Commissioner, Da Yaoshi Nu, prisoner.

To strategically isolate the Liao rulers, Wanyan Aguda employed a divide-and-conquer strategy. He secretly released Da Yaoshi Nu, instructing him to persuade the Liao people to surrender. He also summoned Liang Fu and Woda, two Bohai people, instructing them to feign escape and persuade their fellow villagers, saying, "The Jurchen and Bohai are of the same family. My campaign against the guilty will not indiscriminately harm the innocent." He further dispatched Wanyan Loushi to persuade Jurchens of Liao origin to expose the brutality of the Khitan nobility. Simultaneously, he sent envoys to pacify the tribes in the remote northeastern regions; the Dalugu, Tieli, and Biegu tribes, among others, successively submitted, finally stabilizing the rear…

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Just as the Liao Kingdom learned of the Jurchen rebellion, Zhao Yu, who was far away in Bianliang (Kaifeng), the capital of the Song Dynasty, was also watching the Song army's final actions in Jiangnan and its thorough reforms of the Song Dynasty.

—The Imperial City Guard, the Eastern Depot, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard all had spies in the Liao Kingdom, and even in Huanglong Prefecture, which controlled the Jurchens in the north of the Liao Dynasty. As soon as they learned that the Jurchens had rebelled, they sent the news back to the court via flying slaves.

Zhao Yu never expected that Wanyan Aguda would lead the Jurchens in rebellion four or five years ahead of schedule.

Upon hearing this news, Zhao Yu's first thought was one of relief.

"Fortunately, I decisively detonated the biggest hidden danger in the country and have been working hard to develop it; otherwise, we might have encountered a similar predicament as the Jin dynasty's conquest of the Liao dynasty and the Fang La Rebellion."

Now, although the Liao Dynasty was weakened by Zhao Yu, making it unable to suppress the Jurchens who had always wanted to resist Liao's exploitation, and causing Wanyan Aguda and the Jurchens to rebel against Liao four or five years earlier, because Zhao Yu acted earlier, the Song Dynasty should be able to take advantage of the Liao and Jin's life-and-death struggle to recover the five prefectures of Yan and the three prefectures of Pingluanying, as well as all their passes, before the Jin Dynasty completely defeated the Liao Dynasty, thus completing the unification, and even having the hope of completely recovering the precious land in the Northeast that had been wasted for thousands of years by nomadic and hunting peoples.

If everything goes smoothly, Zhao Yu could even suffocate Temujin, wipe out all the predecessors of the Mongols, unify the grasslands, and invade Central Asia...

It can be said that an opportunity is about to emerge for Zhao Yu to rival Emperor Wu of Han and Emperor Taizong of Tang, to replace Genghis Khan and establish a vast empire spanning Asia, Europe and Africa, or even surpass them to become the ruler of the earth.

In short, the Jurchen rebellion against the Liao Dynasty not only signified the rise of a new power in Northeast Asia and the impending demise of the corrupt Liao Empire, but also marked the beginning of the birth of the greatest empire...

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(End of this chapter)