In the year 998 AD, during the reign of Emperor Taizong Zhao Guangyi of the Song dynasty, also known as the Yongxi era, the greatest threat to the Song empire was the increasingly powerful Liao dynasty beyond the Great Wall to the north.
The Liao dynasty was founded during the late Tang and Five Dynasties period by the Khitan people, originally a nomadic and fishing-hunting tribe. After Yelü Abaoji, the founder of the Liao dynasty, unified the various tribes, he established the name of the state. Since then, the Liao dynasty had been ruled by the Yelü family. Before the establishment of the state, the Khitans consisted of over twenty tribes, each governing itself. Among them, the eight most powerful clans—Yelü, Yuwen, Sun, Xi, Kuge, Mohui, Duoluo, and He—were the strongest. From these clans, a common leader known as the "Great Leader of the Eight Clans," or "Khagan," was elected. The Khagan, among the northern Asian peoples, was typically selected through a hereditary process, with the following criteria:
- The candidate must come from one of the powerful clans.
- The candidate must be brave, strong, and capable.
- The candidate should be recommended by the will of the previous ruler.
- The candidate must be recognized through a formal assembly.
Furthermore, the term of the Khagan was set at three years to prevent any one tribe from becoming too dominant.
The chiefs of the various tribes were collectively known as "Yilidong."
At the beginning of the Song dynasty, the Liao state was growing increasingly powerful, especially during the reign of Zhao Guangyi, when the Liao dynasty entered its first golden age.
The Liao Shengzong (Yelü Longxu) ascended the throne at the age of twelve. The Song dynasty, believing this young emperor to be weak and easily defeated, saw it as an opportune moment to launch an attack. The ministers, citing the "young ruler and weak state," sent a large army to attack, leading to the famous "Battle of Qigou Pass." Not only did this battle fail to annihilate the Liao, but it also ended in a crushing defeat for the Song, with the legendary "Yang Family Generals" suffering heavy casualties. From that point onward, the Song dynasty was unable to reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, and the Liao's territory officially extended to the Inner Great Wall. The Song empire was left vulnerable, increasingly on the defensive.
After ascending the throne, Liao Shengzong promoted sinicization, established civil service exams, implemented scientific advancements, won the hearts of the Han people, and wisely appointed capable officials, including Han Dejiang as prime minister. He established two governing institutions, one for the Liao people and one for the Han, further solidifying his rule.
Each tribe within the Liao dynasty maintained its own administrative structure, with a Great King (Yilixuan) beneath whom were officials such as the Grand Tutor, Left and Right Ministers, Tejin, Xiangyin, and Shilie. Each territory had its own royal palace and administrative system.
To the northwest of the Song dynasty, the secondary external threat was Western Xia. Though not as powerful as the Liao, Western Xia took advantage of the Song’s relative weakness, following the principle of "bullying the weak while submitting to the strong," and constantly eyed the opportunity to make a move. Western Xia had once submitted to the Tang dynasty and was granted the imperial surname "Li," so many Western Xia people bore the surname "Li."
Now, let's move on to the story we’re about to enjoy!
This love story, interwoven with serious historical events, is, of course, fictional. It is not a historical account, but rather a romance set against a historical backdrop. Dear readers, please don’t be too strict—relax and enjoy!
Alright! No more words are needed—open your eyes wide and immerse yourself in the breathtaking scenery of the vast desert!
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