I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 300 Forced into the Palace
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Despite being captured by Zhao Yu and taken to Bianliang (Kaifeng), Yelü Yanxi did not give up on saving himself. After consulting with the Liao royal family, imperial clan, and ministers, he devised a plan for self-rescue:
The Liao Dynasty offered two princes, two prime ministers, two imperial daughters, and two daughters of the imperial clan as hostages, and presented Zhao Yu with all the treasures and fine horses that Yelü Yanxi carried with him. The Liao Dynasty also offered to send three hundred noblewomen, five hundred common women, and five hundred female musicians as tribute. The Liao Dynasty would pay the Zhao Song Dynasty one million bolts of silver and silk annually. The Liao Dynasty would cede five prefectures in Yan, three prefectures in Pingluan and Ying, as well as Juyong Pass, Gubeikou, Songting Pass, and Yuguan Pass to the Zhao Song Dynasty. The two dynasties would then coexist peacefully with the Great Wall as the boundary. In addition, Yelü Yanxi was willing to give his second daughter, Yelü Guyu, to Zhao Yu.

It is worth mentioning that Yelü Yanxi and his ministers only said what the Liao Dynasty was willing to give to the Zhao Song Dynasty, without making any demands on the Zhao Song Dynasty.

Clearly, Yelü Yanxi and his ministers are now focused on doing whatever it takes, at any cost, to persuade Zhao Yu to let them return to Liao.

After agreeing on a strategy for self-rescue, Yelü Yanxi immediately sent Xiao Fengxian to convey the thoughts of the emperor and his ministers to the Zhao Song Dynasty.

That night, Yelü Yanxi barely slept. He tossed and turned, wondering if Zhao Yu would accept the plan and let him return to Liao.

The next morning, Li Chuwen and Wang Fu arrived at Duting Post Station.

Yelü Yanxi thought that his proposed conditions had moved Zhao Yu, so Zhao Yu couldn't wait to send someone to finalize the details with him.

Ironically, even at this point, Yelü Yanxi was still putting on airs as the emperor of the Liao Dynasty. He did not meet Li Chuwen and Wang Fu in person, but instead sent Xiao Fengxian and Yelü Yali to meet them on his behalf. Moreover, he took two jade pendants from the accessories carried by the ministers and gave them to Li Chuwen and Wang Fu as gifts.

Li Chuwen and Wang Fu accepted the two jade pendants, symbols of the former glory and prestige of the Liao Empire, now appearing somewhat shabby. Their outward expressions remained impassive, but inwardly they couldn't help but feel a sense of scorn. They knew full well that this was nothing more than Yelü Yanxi's futile attempt to maintain his crumbling imperial dignity.

Inside the Duting Post Station, the aroma of tea wafted through the air, but it could not mask the tense atmosphere permeating the space.

Xiao Fengxian and Yelü Yali looked grave as they relayed the self-rescue plan that Yelü Yanxi and his ministers had discussed to Li Chuwen and Wang Fu in detail.

Upon hearing this, Wang Fu's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile. He thought to himself, 'The Liao people are quite pragmatic, but their conditions are a bit too late.'

Li Chuwen was, after all, a minister from the Liao Dynasty, and deep down, he did not want to see the former monarch behaving like a clown.

The key point is that Li Chuwen came here with a mission.

Therefore, Li Chuwen solemnly said to Xiao Fengxian and Yelü Yali: "Your emperor is weak and lacks integrity, his vision is not upright, he is inferior to his ancestors, he indulges in wine and music, and is debauched in both hunting and womanizing. He has dismissed loyal officials and appointed sycophants. People far and near suffer under his harsh rule. He refuses to listen to advice and covers up his mistakes, indulging in extravagance and hunting, discipline has collapsed, and people are filled with resentment. He will certainly be powerless to resist the Jin, and may even harm our Great Song. Therefore, I request that he abdicate in favor of the Prince of Jin, gather the troops of Liao and unite to fight together, and then defeat the Jurchens and recover the capital..."

Li Chuwen's words were quite clear: Yelü Yanxi was not only incapable of continuing to lead the Liao Dynasty, but his incompetence and tyranny had also pushed the Liao Dynasty into an abyss of no return.

Based on this, the Zhao Song Dynasty would not only not give him a break because of his pleas for mercy, but would also worry that if he returned to the throne, it would not only accelerate the decline of the Liao Dynasty, but might also let the Jin people into the house, allowing their iron hooves to threaten the peace of the Zhao Song Dynasty.

Therefore, the Zhao Song Dynasty made an unprecedented demand—Yelü Yanxi must voluntarily abdicate in favor of his son Yelü Aoluwo, in the hope that the new emperor could gather the remaining strength of the Liao Dynasty to jointly resist the invasion of the Jin people.

Upon hearing Li Chuwen's words, Xiao Fengxian and Yelü Yali exchanged bewildered glances, speechless for a moment. They never expected that Zhao Yu would force Yelü Yanxi to abdicate.

This was undoubtedly the greatest challenge to the monarchical authority of their Liao Empire, and a fundamental upheaval to the Liao state's political system.

Wang Fu took a sip of tea, his sharp gaze sweeping over the two men, and said, "My Emperor, mindful of the old friendship between our two countries, does not wish to see the Liao Kingdom's century-old foundation destroyed in an instant, nor does he wish for continuous warfare on the northern border, causing the people to be displaced. Therefore, he has gone to great lengths to facilitate this matter."

After a pause, Wang Fu continued, "The Prince of Jin is young and promising, and his virtuous reputation is well-known in our Great Song Dynasty. I believe that if he were to become the new ruler of Liao, he would surely be able to lead Liao out of its predicament and restore its former glory. Your emperor could also enjoy the rest of his life in peace. This is a wise move."

Li Chuwen added, “Our Great Song’s actions are not for humiliation, but for national salvation. We hope that you can understand the greater good and persuade your emperor to prioritize the overall situation and not let personal selfishness ruin the well-being of countless Liao people and the two-hundred-year lifespan of the Great Liao.”

Inside the Duting Post Station, the atmosphere became extremely tense. Xiao Fengxian and Yelü Yali knew that although this proposal seemed harsh, it actually left Yelü Yanxi a way out and was also the only hope for the revival of the Liao Dynasty.

One of the reasons Xiao Fengxian caused so much trouble was that he didn't want Yelü Aoluwo to become the crown prince of the Liao Dynasty.

Unexpectedly, Yelü Aoluwo became the emperor of the Liao Dynasty.

Xiao Fengxian was well aware that once Yelü Aoluwo became the emperor of Liao, he would definitely settle scores with this treacherous minister, and he would not have a good end.

Therefore, Xiao Fengxian hurriedly defended Yelü Yanxi: "This is absolutely unacceptable! His Majesty is the legitimate successor of the Liao Dynasty, how can he easily speak of abdication? I hope His Majesty the Emperor of the Song Dynasty will withdraw his decree!" Xiao Fengxian looked anxious and spoke earnestly, trying to refute this unprecedented proposal by citing the traditions of the Liao Dynasty and the sanctity of imperial power.

Yelü Yali also looked troubled. Although he knew that his father, Yelü Yanxi, was incompetent and tyrannical, the abdication was a matter of national importance. Once implemented, not only would Yelü Yanxi's authority be swept away, but the political landscape of the entire Liao Kingdom would also undergo earth-shattering changes, and the consequences would be unpredictable.

Wang Fu said calmly, “Your emperor’s moral failings have made it difficult for his reign to continue. We know that the rise and fall of dynasties are all matters of human affairs, so do not question the heavens in the void. We two have come here to make a declaration to you, not to discuss matters with you. You only need to convey the will of my emperor to your emperor. But you must remember that time waits for no one, and opportunities must not be missed. The Jurchens have already pressed their iron cavalry into our borders, and the Liao Kingdom is on the verge of collapse. Only with a new emperor on the throne can we unite the people’s hearts and fight against foreign aggression. If you remain obstinate and insist on a foolish ruler, I fear the destruction of the Liao Kingdom is imminent.”

Li Chuwen also said solemnly, "This is for the sake of our two countries and our people. If your emperor can understand the bigger picture and abdicate to a virtuous son, he can not only protect himself but also leave a glimmer of hope for the Liao Kingdom. Otherwise, to avoid our Great Song being burdened by your Great Liao, my emperor will immediately lead his army north to destroy the Liao Kingdom and then fight the Jurchens with all his might."

Seeing this, Xiao Fengxian could easily understand that Yelü Yanxi's abdication was inevitable, and it was no longer possible to protect him. So he said, "The Prince of Jin has shown decisiveness since childhood, acts according to his own principles, and has a clear mind that is difficult to be bound by others. The Prince of Qin is respectful, frugal, benevolent, and forgiving by nature, sincerely accepts advice, and possesses pure virtue. He is more suitable to be the new ruler of our Great Liao. If the Prince of Qin inherits the throne, it will surely lead to a Qin-Jin alliance between our two countries, and peaceful coexistence."

Xiao Fengxian was practically saying that Yelü Aoluwo was difficult to control, while Yelü Ding was easy to control. You wouldn't want to establish a new ruler who was difficult to control, would you? So, for the sake of the future, let's establish Yelü Ding instead.

Even Yelü Yanxi had no say in who should be chosen as the new emperor of the Liao Dynasty, let alone Xiao Fengxian.

Li Chuwen and Wang Fu didn't even glance at Xiao Fengxian, but instead looked at Yelü Yali together.

Yelü Yali understood that Li Chuwen and Wang Fu meant: We have made it very clear that we are only here to inform you, not to discuss matters with you. You are responsible for relaying this information to the others.

Yelü Yali spoke slowly, a hint of helplessness in his voice: "I will certainly convey this matter truthfully to His Majesty. However, this matter concerns the very foundation of the nation, and it is not something we can easily decide. I hope His Majesty the Emperor of your country can grant us some time to discuss it carefully." Wang Fu said bluntly: "My Great Song can wait, but your Great Liao cannot. Because Yelü Yudu was forced to rebel, under Yelü Yudu's call, the Liao people are rushing to betray Liao and surrender to Jin. Now your Great Liao's defense line is in grave danger, and the Jin army may launch a large-scale southward invasion at any time, invading both our countries. My Emperor will soon be heading north to defend against the Jurchen southward invasion. You only have one day."

After speaking, Li Chuwen and Wang Fu got up and left.

Just as Li Chuwen and Wang Fu had said before, they came to inform Yelü Yanxi and his ministers that Zhao Yu had already made the decision, and all they had to do was follow it.

At this time, Yelü Yanxi and his ministers were unaware that Zhao Yu intended to depose Yelü Yanxi and install Yelü Aoluwo as the emperor of the Liao Dynasty. They were anxiously awaiting good news from Xiao Fengxian and Yelü Yali.

Not long after, Xiao Fengxian and Yelü Yali quietly returned. They did not go to see Yelü Yanxi immediately.

Xiao Fengxian had already figured out the situation. The Liao Kingdom was bound to change its emperor this time, and the new emperor would most likely be Yelü Aoluwo. This was no longer something they could control.

At the same time, Xiao Fengxian believed that Zhao Yu would never kindly help the Liao Kingdom restore its kingdom; he was determined to become the "retired emperor" of the Liao Kingdom.

If that's the case, then Zhao Yu and Yelü Aoluwo could never be of one mind, and Zhao Yu would inevitably establish a political force to check and balance Yelü Aoluwo.

This is Xiao Fengxian's opportunity. As long as he continues to oppose Yelü Aoluwo and demonstrates his value, Zhao Yu will most likely use him.

If that were the case, Xiao Fengxian would still be a powerful minister in the Liao Dynasty, only his master would change from Yelü Yanxi to Zhao Yu.

Having figured this out, Xiao Fengxian said to Yelü Yali, "This matter is now imperative. You and I should first discuss it with the royal family, the imperial clan, and the ministers, and then report to His Majesty for a decision."

Although Yelü Yali became the third emperor of the Northern Liao Dynasty in history, he was actually just as foolish as Yelü Yanxi. He only reigned for five months and did a lot of absurd things. In the end, he went on a hunting spree and exhausted himself to death.

When faced with such a momentous event as changing emperors, Yelü Yali was clearly in a panic and had no idea what to do. In the end, he could only listen to Xiao Fengxian.

Therefore, at Xiao Fengxian's suggestion, they first gathered the Liao royal family, clan members, and ministers together and announced Zhao Yu's decision.

This news came like a bolt from the blue, leaving the Liao royal family, clan members, and ministers speechless. They never expected that the Zhao Song dynasty would make such a demanding yet reasonable request.

Immediately, discussions arose. Some slammed their fists on the table in anger, believing that this was an insult to their Liao Kingdom by Zhao Yu; others were heartbroken, feeling that this was the inevitable result of the Liao Kingdom's decline; still others cried out that they wanted to die.

Xiao Fengxian knew that he had to stay calm and prove his worth to Zhao Yu. So he said in a deep voice, “Gentlemen, things have come to this point. We must remain calm. Although His Majesty the Emperor of the Song Dynasty’s decision is harsh, it is also the only chance for our Great Liao to be reborn. We must prioritize the overall situation and think about the future of Great Liao. At this critical moment, it is our duty to preserve the ancestral temples and state of Great Liao.”

Although these words were somewhat against his will, Xiao Fengxian knew that he had to play this role well at this moment and guide everyone to accept this cruel reality.

After intense discussions, the Liao dynasty's royal family, imperial clan, and ministers finally reached a consensus: to accept Zhao Yu's order and persuade Yelü Yanxi to abdicate in favor of Yelü Aoluwo. They knew that this was Liao's only hope for escaping its predicament, and a reluctant choice they had made for the future of Liao.

Having made the decision, led by Xiao Fengxian, a group of Liao royal family members, imperial relatives, and ministers came to Yelü Yanxi's residence, prostrated themselves, and pleaded with Yelü Yanxi to abdicate in favor of Yelü Aoluwo for the sake of Liao.

Upon hearing the news, Yelü Yanxi was shocked and his face turned ashen, as if he had aged ten years overnight. His fingers trembled as he glared at the crowd before him, especially his most trusted advisor, Xiao Fengxian, his voice filled with resentment and despair: "You...you dare to betray me! I am the Emperor of the Great Liao, how dare you lowly scoundrels speak out against me!"

Xiao Fengxian knelt even lower, his voice tinged with barely perceptible sorrow: "Your Majesty, it is not that we have betrayed you, but that we are forced by circumstances. His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Song has made up his mind. With the Jin army pressing in, our Great Liao is at a critical juncture of life and death. Your Majesty's abdication in favor of the Prince of Jin concerns the safety of millions of our people, as well as the survival of our ancestral temples and the state. We beseech Your Majesty to prioritize the greater good, endure this momentary pain, and give our Great Liao a glimmer of hope..."

Other members of the Liao royal family, imperial clan, and ministers also advised Yelü Yanxi to abdicate the throne, including his two sons, Yelü Yali and Yelü Ding.

Upon arriving in Bianliang, the capital of the Eastern Capital, Yelü Aoluwo was taken to the palace to reunite with Xiao Sese and her daughter Yelü Yuliyan. Yelü Ning, however, was too young to participate in such matters.

Soon after, Xiao Gan and Yelü Dashi, who had been serving as Zhao Yu's advisors, also arrived at Duting Post Station. They had also come to persuade Yelü Yanxi to abdicate in favor of Yelü Aoluwo.

However, despite almost everyone in Liao urging Yelü Yanxi to abdicate in favor of Yelü Aoluwo, Yelü Yanxi remained hesitant. He truly did not want to lose the throne. He was keenly aware that once he lost the throne, he would lose everything, including his freedom.

Upon seeing this, Xiao Fengxian summoned Xiao Gan and Yelü Dashi, explained the situation to them, and instructed them to use force to compel Yelü Yanxi to abdicate.

Xiao Gan and Yelü Dashi had long disliked Yelü Yanxi. Moreover, they knew that Zhao Yu had sent them here so that if Yelü Yanxi didn't act sensibly, they could help him save face. Most importantly, Zhao Yu was genuinely saving the Liao Dynasty, and Yelü Yanxi's refusal to abdicate was harming the Liao.

Therefore, Xiao Gan and Yelü Dashi agreed without hesitation.

Xiao Gan gripped the curved sword at his waist and said to Yelü Yanxi, "Your Majesty has come to the Liao Dynasty. If you do not abdicate, you will surely become a ruler who destroys the country. I hope Your Majesty will not be selfish and will give our Liao Dynasty a chance to survive!"

Yelü Dashi bluntly stated: "When Emperor Taizu first rose to power, he expanded the territory to ten thousand miles. Successive emperors diligently guarded it. But Your Majesty has become decadent and negligent in governance. The minor threat from the Jurchens was allowed to escalate into a raging fire. When their army besieged the city, Your Majesty did not think of resistance, abandoning the ancestral temples and the people, and simply fled. Now the country is on the verge of collapse! The city walls are in ruins, and the people are suffering. Does Your Majesty still care about the throne? Are you ashamed? How can Your Majesty face your ancestors, your people, and the bones of your fallen soldiers? If Your Majesty has even a shred of conscience, you should abdicate. Leave a sliver of hope, and you can still face the late emperors. Otherwise, Your Majesty will bear the infamy of a thousand years!"

Yelü Yanxi looked around and saw that both loyal and treacherous officials were pressuring him to abdicate. He really wanted to ask, "Am I really such a bad emperor?"

However, no one was willing to listen to Yelü Yanxi's sophistry anymore; they had joined forces to force him to abdicate.

Yelü Yanxi wept bitterly and had no choice but to agree to abdicate in favor of Yelü Aoluwo…

……

(End of this chapter)