The prince is more stable

Chapter 677 The Covenant is Completed
When two countries are of comparable national strength, negotiations can be described as "negotiations."

When national strength is unequal, especially when one side militarily overwhelming the other, then the relationship between the two countries cannot be called "negotiation," but rather "seeking peace."

The Song Dynasty had done something similar before.

Centuries later, the Qing dynasty did the same thing, but it did it even more thoroughly, kneeling before foreigners with genuine obedience and displaying an ugly servile demeanor.

With Zhao Xiaoqian now in power, the wheels of history seemed to be suddenly pulled hard by an external force, taking an unexpected turn and heading down a completely different path.

As someone involved in this matter, Zhao Xiaoqian didn't actually know where this road would ultimately lead or what impact it would have on China thousands of years later.

He only knew that he was doing the right thing, trying to buy more time and space for this nation that had suffered for thousands of years, and trying to avoid the recurrence of the century of national humiliation in history.

What else can be done?

One person's strength is too limited to do much.

That's enough for us.

The next day, officials from both countries gathered in the main hall of the Hejian government office.

Zhao Xiaoqian was dressed in formal Song Dynasty official robes and wore a double-winged official hat. Behind him followed Xu Jiang, Guo Cheng, and a group of other officials and military officers.

On the opposite side, Xiao Fengxian and a group of Liao officials were also dressed in their official robes, and they sat facing each other.

Zhao Xiaoqian stood up solemnly, and Xu Jiang tried his best to hide his excitement, presenting Zhao Xiaoqian's official seal with both hands.

Zhao Xiaoqian held the official seal in his hand, carefully read the alliance agreement over and over again, then forcefully stamped his official seal at the signature line, and then wrote his name.

Immediately afterwards, Xiao Fengxian also stamped and signed the covenant.

Thus, the alliance between the Song and Liao dynasties was established. The Song dynasty was represented by Zhao Xiaoqian, and the Liao dynasty was represented by Xiao Fengxian. The "Hejian Alliance" signed by both sides officially came into effect.

After the ceremony, Xiao Fengxian smiled and bowed deeply to Zhao Xiaoqian, who returned the bow with a smile. Then, he turned to look at Xu Jiang Guo Cheng.

Everyone burst into laughter, their voices shaking the roof beams, their hearty and joyful laughter echoing outside the hall and spreading throughout the world.

A century after the Song and Liao dynasties signed the Treaty of Chanyuan, they have now signed the Treaty of Hejian.

The covenant has been finalized and will be proclaimed to the world.

Effective immediately, the Liao Dynasty returns the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun to the Song Dynasty. All Liao troops stationed in Yanyun, as well as the population of various ethnic groups including the Khitan, have left, leaving only Han Chinese officials and civilians.

In addition to withdrawing its troops, the Liao state also disbanded all local armed forces within the Yan-Yun region, including local militias, village militias, and clan-based militias.

Within the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, all officials, gentry, and clans submitted to the Song Dynasty court, and from then on, they regarded the Song Dynasty court and the emperor as their superiors, obeyed the emperor's rule, and were obedient to the emperor and the people.

The covenant was dozens of pages long, and most of its clauses were meaningless official jargon, but the wording was carefully chosen.

The treaty was drafted by Xu himself and finalized after several days of debate with the Liao delegation.

Even though Xu Jiang had once been the top scholar in the Song Dynasty, drafting this covenant took a heavy toll on him, almost causing him to collapse.

At this moment, all the efforts have been worthwhile.

The dozens of pages of the alliance agreement can be summarized in just one sentence: "The Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun shall henceforth belong to the Great Song Dynasty."

The next step is the transfer of power between the two countries, including city defenses, official granaries, government treasuries, and population. The imperial court will soon send officials to handle these tedious matters.

In the open space outside the Hejian government office, Zhao Xiaoqian had already ordered stonemasons to carve a stone tablet in advance. The words on it were still drafted by Xu Jiang. The negotiators, process, and contents of the Hejian Alliance were all engraved on the stone tablet as evidence for the two countries in the future.

With the negotiations concluded, a peaceful and joyous atmosphere filled the government office.

While Zhao Xiaoqian and other Song officials were delighted to have recovered Yan and Yun, Xiao Fengxian and a group of Liao officials also breathed a sigh of relief.

They may not be happy, but they do feel a sense of relief.

They could no longer see a future for the Liao Dynasty, and could only hope that the Song Dynasty would abide by the alliance, giving the Liao Dynasty and their families a few more years to breathe.

Zhao Xiaoqian personally escorted Xiao Fengxian and the others out of the government office.

Outside the government office, two rows of Song Dynasty imperial guards, numbering over a thousand, stood in neat formation, their flintlock muskets raised high into the sky.

As Xiao Fengxian and his Liao officials stepped out of the government office, two rows of imperial guards fired their guns in unison at the general's command.

With a deafening roar, Xiao Fengxian and the Liao officials were caught off guard and their legs went weak. They looked at the two rows of Imperial Guards with their impeccable military bearing and indifferent expressions, as well as the strangely shaped flintlock muskets in their hands that exuded an invisible, chilling murderous aura.

Xiao Fengxian and the others turned pale, and some of the more timid ones were trembling all over.

Xu explained with a smile that this was a unique gun salute of the Great Song Dynasty, signifying that the alliance had been formed and that both sides would abide by it.

The Liao officials forced a smile, mustered their courage, straightened their backs, and tried to hide their embarrassing state.

As the Liao officials took a closer look at the flintlock muskets in the hands of the Song soldiers, their expressions gradually became complicated.

This small iron object forced the Liao Kingdom to retreat in defeat after defeat, ultimately forcing it to sign the humiliating Treaty of Hejian. From then on, the Liao Kingdom forever lost the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, a crucial strategic location.

It was a matter of timing and circumstance.

The decline was like a vast ocean rushing down, and I fear I will never live to see the Liao Dynasty rise to greatness again.

The Liao officials, who had initially felt relieved after the negotiations, were now filled with mixed emotions and indescribable sorrow.

After seeing Xiao Fengxian off with a smile, Zhao Xiaoqian and Xu Jiang remained standing outside the government office, watching Xiao Fengxian's figure disappear into the distance. Finally, Xu Jiang could no longer hide his excitement and burst into wild laughter.

"The Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun have been recovered!" General Xu suddenly roared hoarsely, his strength failing him.

Outside the government office, a thousand imperial guards roared and cheered excitedly.

Yanyun remains an enduring obsession for the people of the Song Dynasty.

Its significance goes beyond its strategic location; it is a symbol of the Song Dynasty's century of humiliation, a banner of Han Chinese national dignity, and a tragic historical record spanning the history of various separatist forces after the late Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.

Today, at this moment, it officially returns to the Central Plains dynasty.

Like a prodigal son who has been separated from his mother for a long time, he returned to his hometown in tattered clothes and with nothing to show for it.

No one dislikes or despises me; it's good that you're back.

Only fine wine in one's hometown can wash away the dust of years of wandering. Accompanied by years of humiliation and hardship, it goes down the throat with the wine and dissipates with the wind.

The thousand imperial guards cheered loudly until their throats were hoarse and they lost their voices, but they still couldn't contain their excitement and elation.

Gradually, the entire city seemed to be set ablaze. Many Han Chinese people who were beginning to identify with the Song Dynasty in the Central Plains took to the streets, and the sounds of gongs and drums could be heard everywhere in the city.

More and more shops are opening their doors to welcome customers, while others are closing to celebrate with their families. People are coming out of their homes, hugging and greeting each other.

They were all ordinary people. They might not fully understand the concept of "family and country," but they vaguely knew that the peaceful years they had been longing for for a century were coming soon.

Outside the government office, Xu Jiang, who had been shouting excitedly for a long time, finally calmed down. Then, he straightened his clothes and suddenly bowed deeply to Zhao Xiaoqian.

Zhao Xiaoqian was startled and quickly stepped aside: "What do you mean?"

Xu straightened up, staring intently at him, and said in a more serious tone, "Our Great Song Dynasty was able to recover Yan and Yun thanks to Zi'an's efforts. Zi'an, you may accept this bow from me with a clear conscience."

"I won't accept it! You're deliberately shortening my lifespan. What you just did will have shortened my life by at least two months!" Zhao Xiaoqian said with a grin, completely unserious.

"Zi'an, have you ever thought about it? If the Song Dynasty didn't have you, would the Emperor and the people of the world be enjoying this joy today?" Xu Jiang suddenly asked seriously.

Zhao Xiaoqian was stunned, and in that instant, all sorts of memories from his past and present lives flashed through his mind.

Yes, what would the Song Dynasty be like today if he hadn't come?
It seems that the new and old factions were still fighting tooth and nail in the court, while Zhao Xu was busy balancing the court, struggling to implement new policies, and maneuvering among powerful neighboring countries such as Liao, Xia, and Tubo. He had no choice but to swallow his pride in foreign affairs.

The common people toiled away to make a living, while the courtesans in the brothels sang "The Song of the Rear Courtyard" with longing eyes, gazing northwards. The powerful and wealthy indulged in extravagance and refinement, taking a moment from their leisure to compose a poem, casually lamenting their feelings for their country and family, and envying the warring states on the frontier like Lord Ye who loved dragons but feared them in return.

This is probably the real Song Dynasty.

The Song Dynasty without Zhao Xiaoqian.

Who could have imagined that the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, a long-held obsession of the Song Dynasty for a century, would be recovered by the Song Dynasty in this way?

A century-long dream, a thousand-year-old soul returns.

Zhao Xiaoqian looked up from the cold words of the history book, and in that moment of disorientation, the world had changed.

The whole city was filled with jubilation, a scene of utter uproar.

Zhao Xiaoqian closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he was back in this strange yet familiar time and space.

“Mr. Chongyuan, the alliance letter was delivered to Bianjing by fast horse and presented to the Emperor. Yanyun has been recovered, but the handover between the two countries will still take time. Please send officials to take over the government offices and city defenses of the sixteen prefectures of Yanyun as soon as possible.”

Xu Jiang smiled broadly and nodded repeatedly: "Good, good! This matter should not be delayed and should be handled as soon as possible!"

Zhao Xiaoqian added with a smile, "Send several fast horses and select riders with loud voices to shout along the way and tell the people of the Great Song that we have taken back the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun. Let the people be happy and have a few more drinks."

"I'll go arrange it right away!" Xu left excitedly.

Zhao Xiaoqian stood alone outside the government office, listening to the cheers from the whole city, but his heart was very calm.

The alliance agreement has been signed, but the subsequent handover of political and military affairs between the two countries will be the most troublesome and complicated part.

Everyone in the world was happy, but Zhao Xiaoqian alone did not feel much joy.

He is a pragmatic and cautious person. No matter how well something is said, or even if it is written down, he cannot be completely certain.

There's a saying, "It's better to have the money than to lose it." Only when the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun are completely brought under the rule of the Song Dynasty, and the government and army take complete control of everything in Yan and Yun, can it be called the true recovery of Yan and Yun.

Now?

Doesn't count.

No one knows when an accident will happen; everything is still subject to change.

Zhao Xiaoqian beckoned Guo Cheng over.

"Your Highness, this humble general... I... alas, this humble general is clumsy with words, so I'll say nothing more than this: this humble general is utterly impressed by Your Highness." Guo Cheng's face flushed with excitement: "The Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun were recovered entirely because of Your Highness. Your Highness... is truly amazing!"

Zhao Xiaoqian laughed: "What do you mean you're bad at talking? You're quite the chatterbox. You made me so happy with just one sentence that I almost gave you a raise. Luckily, I regained my senses in time."

"Alright, send someone out of the city to relay my orders to Zhong Jianzhong's and Zong Ze's troops: Zhong Jianzhong's troops are to withdraw to Hejian Prefecture, while Zong Ze's troops are to continue advancing and garrison outside Xijin Prefecture, urging the Liao army to cede Xijin Prefecture for our troops to occupy."

"If the Song Dynasty wants to take over Yanyun, it must first occupy Xijin Prefecture of the Liao Kingdom."

(End of this chapter)