Summoning of the Great General of the Great Qin Empire

Chapter 231

Shi Jingtang, whose father's name was Niè Liè Chicken, Ouyang Xiu said, "his surname is Shi, and I don't know the origin of his surname."Xue Juzheng's "Old History of the Five Dynasties" said that Shi Jingtang was a native of Taiyuan (now southwest of Taiyuan, Shanxi), and he was a descendant of Shi Que, a great official of the Wei State in the Spring and Autumn Period, and Shi Fen, a prime minister of Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty. Wandering in remote areas of the west, settled in Ganzhou (now Zhangye, Gansu).

But Ouyang Xiu said in his "New History of the Five Dynasties" that he didn't know the original origin of his surname
In the first year of Tang Jingfu (892), Shi Jingtang was born in Fenyangli, Taiyuan. The second child in his family, he was taciturn since he was a child. He liked to read military books, and he admired Li Mu, a famous general of Zhao during the Warring States Period, and Zhou Yafu, a famous general of the Han Dynasty.Li Siyuan, the governor of Daizhou at that time, regarded him very highly and married his daughter to him.Li Cunxu heard that he was good at riding and shooting, so he promoted him to his side. Li Siyuan asked him to be transferred to the army, and Li Cunxu agreed.Li Siyuan asked him to command his own elite cavalry "Zuo Shooting Army", known as the "Three Disputes Army", and regarded him as his confidant general.

After that, Shi Jingtang followed Li Siyuan to various places and became one of Li Cunxu's heroes.In the second year of Houliang Zhenming (916), when he was fighting against Houliang general Liu Wei, Liu Wei attacked Li Cunxu who had not yet formed a formation. The military situation was critical. Shi Jingtang immediately led a dozen of his own troops into the enemy's line, blocking east and west. , rushed left and right, stopped the enemy's offensive, and covered Li Cunxu's retreat.Afterwards, Li Cunxu praised him for his bravery and might, stroked his back and said, "It's true that a strong general will emerge from the general's sect", and awarded him property and personally gave him crispy food.Shi Jingtang became famous for this.

In addition to saving Li Cunxu, Shi Jingtang also rescued his father-in-law Li Siyuan many times.In the third year of Zhenming in the Later Liang Dynasty (917), Li Cunxu, Li Siyuan and Liu Wei fought in Shencheng. Li Siyuan and Shi Jingtang were trapped in the battle. Shi Jingtang stood up and swung his sword.In the fourth year of Zhenming in the Later Liang Dynasty (918), when the Jin army and He Gui, the general of the Later Liang Dynasty, competed fiercely for the coast of the Yellow River, the Jin army first captured Yangliu Town (now northeast of Dong'a, Shandong), but Li Siyuan was ambushed by Liu Wei. His beloved son-in-law led the army to the rear and tried his best to cover his retreat, so that he was able to lead the army out of the encirclement.Soon after, Liang and Jin fought against Huliupi again. Due to Li Cunxu's adventurous battle, General Zhou Dewei unfortunately died in battle.

In the first year of Longde in the Later Liang Dynasty (921), Shi Jingtang followed Li Siyuan to defeat the General of Later Liang Dai Siyuan at Deshengdu and beheaded more than 2 people.In the second year of Longde in the Later Liang Dynasty (922), he fought in Hulutao, and the Later Tang army gradually retreated. Shi Jingtang faced the elite enemy army, drew his long sword, cut blood, and used his body to protect Li Siyuan from retreating. People dare to step forward to block.

In the third year of Longde in the Later Liang Dynasty (923), Shi Jingtang followed Li Siyuan to observe Yangcunzhai, the position of the Liang army. None of his subordinates were wearing armor. Suddenly, the enemy army was caught by surprise and attacked Li Siyuan with weapons. The blade was about to stab Li Siyuan in the back. Shi Jingtang charged forward In front of him, with a strong blow, several fierce enemies rolled down from their horses, and Li Siyuan was saved from death.In this year, Li Cunxu, Emperor Zhuangzong of the Later Tang Dynasty, succeeded to the throne in Yecheng, and his name was changed to Tongguang.

Li Siyuan was sent across the Yellow River, and the lone army went deep to attack Yunzhou.The people of Yun didn't notice them at first, so Shi Jingtang led fifty cavalrymen to follow Li Siyuan across Jishui, raided the east gate and entered the city. On the avenue, he stood firm and waited until the follow-up cavalry arrived one after another before he captured the center of Yuncheng and occupied Yuncheng.Then Bianshui was pacified, the Houliang clan was destroyed, Zhuang Zong's unification of the world was achieved, and Li Siyuan's immortal achievements were made. Among them, Shi Jingtang and Li Congke contributed the most. Shi Jingtang's official position was not prominent during Zhuang Zong's time because he didn't like self-praise. Li Siyuan understood in his heart.

Shi Jingtang not only rescued his father-in-law Li Siyuan on the battlefield, but also analyzed the situation and provided guidance for Li Siyuan when he encountered political difficulties.The most prominent thing in this regard was to persuade Li Siyuan to adapt to the current situation and pursue the throne during the war.

In the fourth year of Tongguang in the later Tang Dynasty (926), when Zhao Zaili's army rebelled against Wei Bo, the imperial court sent Yuan Xingqin to recruit him but failed. When he arrived in Weizhou (now North of Hebei), his own army also mutinied and asked Li Siyuan to proclaim himself emperor in Hebei.Li Siyuan had no ambiguity towards Li Cunxu and accepted Huo Yanwei's persuasion. At this moment, he wanted to go back alone to express his true feelings to Li Cunxu.Shi Jingtang vehemently opposed his unwise approach. He said: "Is there any reason to lead troops abroad, and after the army mutiny, the chief general will be fine? Besides, hesitating is a taboo for military strategists. It is better to take advantage of the situation and go south quickly.

I would like to lead three hundred cavalry to capture Bianzhou first, which is the key to conquering the world.If you get it, great things can happen. Li Siyuan then came to his senses and immediately sent him to lead the troops first, and he followed up. Shi Jingtang crossed the Yellow River at Liyang (now Junxian County, Henan Province) and occupied Bianzhou. When Li Siyuan entered Biancheng, Zhuang Zong also personally led the army to Li Siyuan. In the northwest of Wuli Road in Biancheng, Zhuangzong ascended to Gaocheng and sighed: "I can't accomplish great things!" Therefore, the soldiers following Zhuangzong dispersed in large numbers and came to surrender to Li Siyuan. Li Siyuan immediately sent Shi Jingtang to lead the soldiers as the vanguard and rushed to Sishui Pass. Not long after, Zhuangzong died in civil strife. In the same month, Li Siyuan entered Luoyang and commended Shi Jingtang for his contribution. , was promoted from the Capital School of the General Manager's Office to the Shaanzhou Prefecture's military post. In the end, Li Siyuan ascended to the throne as Shi Jingtang expected.

Shi Jingtang was also conferred the title of Dr. Guanglu and the inspector Situ for his meritorious service, and was granted the title of "Master of Loyalty, Construction and Rejuvenation" in Shanzhou (now Sanmenxia City, Henan Province) as the Jiedu Envoy of the Baoyi Army. In the second year of Tiancheng of the Later Tang Dynasty (927) In February, he was awarded the title of Taifu of the school and the deputy envoy of the Sixth Army, and was awarded the title of founding uncle.In October, he served as an imperial envoy and quickly put down the rebellion of Bianzhou Jiedu envoy Zhu Shouyin.Because of his meritorious service, he was promoted to the Jiedu envoy of the Xuanwu Army, the commander-in-chief of the Mabu Army of the bodyguards, and the deputy envoys of the Sixth Army.

In the third year of Tiancheng in the later Tang Dynasty (928), he was granted the title of Taifu of the School, Pingzhangshi of Tongzhong Shumen, Xingtang Yin, Yedu stayed behind, Jiedushi of Tianxiong Army, and Duma Duwei.In the first year of Changxing in the later Tang Dynasty (930), he was granted the title of Taiwei.In September, Dong Zhang, the envoy of the Dongchuan Festival, rebelled, and Shi Jingtang served as the recruit envoy of the Dongchuan camp capital, and also took care of the affairs of the Dongchuan government.The next year, because the road to Shu was dangerous and difficult, and grain transportation could not be supplied, Emperor Mingzong ordered the troops to return to the court.In April, he also served as the deputy envoy of the Sixth Army.In June, he was re-appointed as the Jiedu envoy of Heyang, and still holds military power.

In the fourth year of Changxing in the Later Tang Dynasty (933), Li Congrong, the king of Qin, went up to the northern Khitan, Tuhun, and Turks to invade the frontier. He needed a general to command the frontier army. The officials believed that only Shi Jingtang and Kang Yicheng could take the role.Shi Jingtang didn't want to be the deputy commander of the Forbidden Army, so he voluntarily went north.On November [-]th, Shi Jingtang was granted the title of Shizhong, Taiyuan Yin, Beijing Liushou, and Hedong Jiedu envoy, and concurrently served as the commander of the Fan Han horse infantry in Datong, Zhenwu, Zhangguo, Weisai and other places. Ningguo hero" title, mastered the military and political power in Hedong, the origin area of ​​the later Tang Dynasty.

The next day, at the banquet in the Zhongxing Hall, Shi Jingtang held a cup to celebrate Mingzong's birthday, and said, "Although I am small and cowardly, thinking of the big things in the frontier, how can I not try my best to be loyal, but I am far away from the capital, and I will not see the emperor for a long time. Declare." Shi Jingtang bid farewell again, Mingzong wept his clothes, and his neighbors were surprised that the emperor was overly sad, and after that, he and Shi Jingtang said goodbye forever and never saw each other again.

In December, after Li Siyuan died of illness, Shi Jingtang was deeply saddened when he heard the news, as if he had lost his parents.In the first year of Yingshun of the Later Tang Dynasty (934), Li Conghou succeeded to the throne as Emperor Min of the Later Tang Dynasty.Shi Jingtang was additionally awarded the Zhongshuling, and was transferred to Zhenzhou (now Zhengding, Hebei Province) as the Jiedu Envoy of Chengde Army, and Li Congke in Shaanxi was appointed as the Jiedu Envoy of Hedong.Therefore, Li Congke launched the Qiyang Mutiny, and finally used tears to persuade the soldiers Li Conghou sent to suppress him to surrender to him, and then led the troops to kill Luoyang.Li Congke asked Shi Jingtang to discuss military and state affairs. Shi Jingtang met Li Conghou who had fled from Luoyang on the road. Li Conghou's entourage suspected that Shi Jingtang would not protect Li Conghou. Go ask Li Congke for credit.Finally Li Congke sent someone to kill Li Conghou.

After Li Congke succeeded to the throne, Shi Jingtang was appointed as the Jiedu envoy of Taiyuan, left behind in Beijing, and served as the general manager of Datong, Zhenwu, Zhangguo, Weisai and other armies.Although Shi Jingtang helped him get rid of Li Conghou's future troubles, he didn't trust him, and instead treated Shi Jingtang as the biggest threat.Try every means to transfer him away from the base in Hedong.

After Shi Jingtang went to the capital to attend Li Siyuan's funeral, he didn't dare to ask to go back. He was afraid that Li Congke would become suspicious, so he was frowning all day.His wife, Li Shi, hurriedly interceded with his mother, Empress Dowager Cao, and asked Li Congke to let Shi Jingtang go back.Although Li Congke was not Empress Dowager Cao's biological son, Empress Dowager Cao treated him as if she were her own since childhood. Seeing that Shi Jingtang had become so ill, it was unlikely to pose any threat, so she went with the flow as a favor and let Shi Jingtang return to Hedong.Unexpectedly, this time the tiger returned to the mountain, and the later Tang Dynasty died at his hands.

After Shi Jingtang went back, he was even more cautious. His wife Li once went back to attend Li Congke's birthday party and wanted to come back early, but Li Congke said to her drunkenly, "Do you want to rebel against Shi Lang in such a hurry to go back?" Shi came back and told Shi Jingtang, which made Shi Jingtang believe that Li Congke was very suspicious of him, because people who drink often say things that they usually don't want to say.

From then on, Shi Jingtang began to make full preparations for the future.On the one hand, he pretended to be sick in front of visitors from the capital, saying that he did not have the energy to manage local government affairs, so as to paralyze Li Congke; Actively defending against enemy invasion is actually planning for the future.Li Congke was kept in the dark by him, and was fooled many times, but Shi Jingtang's subordinates saw it. When the court sent people to comfort the soldiers, some people shouted long live, and wanted to support Shi Jingtang as emperor to reward them for their merits.Shi Jingtang was afraid that things would leak out, so he killed 36 of the leading soldiers.

In order to prevent being caught off guard in future changes, Shi Jingtang decided to test Li Congke, and wrote a letter pretending to resign from the position of the horse infantry chief, and asked him to serve as a military envoy elsewhere. If Li Congke agreed, it would prove that he doubted himself. He has no intention of harm.However, Li Congke followed the advice of Minister Xue Wentong. Xue Wentong said: "Hedong must be rebelled if he is mobilized, and he will be rebelled if he is not mobilized. The time will not be too long. It is better to act first." Later Tang Qingtai three years (936) At the same time, Shi Jingtang was appointed as the Jiedu envoy of Yunzhou, he was granted the title of Zhao Guogong, and he was given the title of "Hero of Zhongzheng, Helping Heaven and Qiyun".

Then an imperial edict was sent to urge Shi Jingtang to go to Yunzhou to take office, which made Shi Jingtang panicked and dispatched Sang Weihan to collude with the Khitan to become the son-in-law emperor.Shi Jingtang first pretended to be sick and refused to leave, and then asked Li Congke to abdicate to Li Siyuan's biological son Li Congyi, saying that Li Congke was an adopted son and should not inherit the throne.Li Congke ordered Shi Jingtang to be dismissed from all official positions, and then sent troops to attack Taiyuan, ordering Zhang Jingda to lead the army to attack Taiyuan.An Chongrong, An Yuanxin, and An Shenxin led the army to help, and Zhang Wandi and others led the army to surrender.During this month, the troops on the outskirts of the city attacked very fiercely. Shi Jingtang personally resisted the flying arrows and flowing stones. Although his heart was firm, the food in the warehouse gradually became scarce.

Jingtang had already made a plan. When he saw the troops approaching the city and his own strength was insufficient, he planned to seek help from the Khitan Emperor Yelu Deguang and promised him: cede the Sixteen Youyun Prefectures to the Khitan, pay tribute to a large amount of property every year, and call himself the country. [7] Liu Zhiyuan (the Emperor of the Later Han Dynasty) believed that the conditions were too humiliating and there was no need to promise so much, but Shi Jingtang went his own way with the support of Sang Weihan.

Yelu Deguang, who was worried that he had no chance to go south, was overjoyed, and immediately led his troops to rescue Shi Jingtang from the south of Yanmen Pass, and finally attacked the defeated Tang army, killing more than 1 people.In November of the first year of Tianfu in the Later Jin Dynasty (936), Emperor Taizong of the Liao Dynasty named Shi Jingtang the emperor, and changed the name to Tianfu in the Yuan Dynasty.Shi Jingtang was located in Liulin (now southeast of Taiyuan City, Shanxi)
Shi Jingtang ceded a large area of ​​Youyun Sixteen Prefectures, today's Hebei and northern Shanxi, to the Khitan.The sixteen states are: You (now Beijing City), Ji (now Ji County, Jin), Ying (now Hejian, Hebei), Mo (now Renqiu, Hebei), Zhuo (now Zhuoxian, Hebei), Tan (now Miyun, Beijing), Shun (now Shunyi, Beijing), Xin (now Zhuolu, Hebei), Gui (yingui, originally belonged to Huailai, Beijing, now flooded by Guanting Reservoir), Ru (now Yanqing, Beijing), Wu (now Xuanhua, Hebei), Wei (today's Lingqiu, Shanxi), Yun (today's Datong, Shanxi), Ying (today's Yingxian, Shanxi), Huan (today's Dongmayi Town, Shuo County, Shanxi), and Shuo (today's Shuo County, Shanxi).Shi Jingtang called Yelv Deguang, who was ten years younger than him, his father-emperor, and offered him 30 pieces of silk every year.

What was condemned by later generations was mainly the cession of land, which not only caused the Central Plains to lose a large area of ​​territory, but also allowed the Khitans to easily occupy prominent areas around the Great Wall. The people have brought endless disasters.In fact, not only 16 states were lost, but Pingzhou was lost during Li Siyuan's reign, and Ningzhou and Yingzhou were captured by the Khitan during the battle of the Later Tang Dynasty to destroy Houliang.In addition, after Du Chongwei surrendered in the later Jin Dynasty, Yelu Deguang sent Geng Chongmei to lure him to surrender, Guo Gu, the governor of Yizhou, was killed, and Yizhou was also occupied by Khitan.

Even Liu Zhiyuan, the aide of his confidant, expressed his objection to this act of acknowledging a thief as his father and betraying the country for glory. I am afraid that the future will become a disaster for China, and there is no time to regret it.However, Shi Jingtang refused to follow, and still insisted on going his own way.Khitan leader Yelu Deguang was overjoyed and sent troops to support him. After the defeat, Tang Zhang Jingda.

After Shi Jingtang proclaimed himself emperor, he kept his "credibility" very much. He cut the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun to Khitan and promised to give Khitan 30 pieces of cloth every year.Youyun sixteen prefectures are a natural barrier in the north, and the Central Plains have been completely exposed to the Khitan's iron hooves.

When Shi Jingtang proclaimed himself emperor in Taiyuan Liulin (now Xiliulin Village, Liujiabao Township, Xiaodian District, Taiyuan City, commonly known as Liulinzhuang), Lulong Jiedu envoy Peking King Zhao Dejun bribed Khitan generously with gold and silk, and also wanted to rely on Khitan to win In the Central Plains, Xu Shi Jingtang is still in the town of Hedong.Because of the many difficulties at that time, the Khitan master wanted to agree to Zhao Dejun's request.Shi Jingtang was terrified when he heard the news, and urgently ordered the secretary in charge, Sang Weihan, to meet the Khitan Lord.Sang Weihan knelt in front of Khitan's main tent, weeping and begging Khitan to give up Zhao Dejun's request from dawn to dusk.The Khitan lord followed him, and said that Sang Weihan was loyal to Shi Jingtang and should be the prime minister.Shi Jingtang then took Sang Weihan as the assistant minister of Zhongshu, and he was on the same page.

In the same month, Shi Jingtang invaded Luoyang, and the Later Tang Dynasty fell.In the second year of Tianfu in the Later Jin Dynasty (937), he drove into Bianzhou. In the following year (938), Bianzhou was promoted to Kaifeng Prefecture in Tokyo.At that time, the Jin Dynasty had newly won the world, many feudal towns were not obeyed, there were many wars, the treasury was empty, and the people were poor, but the Khitans were still greedy.In order to solve the financial crisis and consolidate the political power, Shi Jingtang adopted Sang Weihan's suggestion, sincerely abandoning grievances to comfort the feudal towns; Humble words and generous gifts to serve Khitan.

Shi Jingtang was very cautious about Khitan's obedience and obedience. He used letters in every letter to show the difference between the monarch and his subjects. He called Taizong "father emperor", self-proclaimed "subject", and "son emperor".Whenever the Khitan envoys arrive, they will receive the imperial edict. In addition to losing 30 cloth and silk every year, they will also give away curious things from time to time when there are good or bad celebrations.

Although Shi Jingtang expressed sincerity to appease the feudal town, the feudal town still refused to accept it, especially ashamed of being a subject of Khitan.Datong Jiedu envoy Wu Luan, the judge, closed the city and was not ordered by Khitan.Guo Chongwei, commander of Yingzhou, stood up and returned to the south.

In the second year of Putianfu (937), Tianxiong Jiedu envoy Fan Tingguang rebelled against Weizhou, and Shi Jingtang ordered the Eastern Capital to inspect Zhang Congbin to attack, but Zhang Congbin rebelled against him.Then a mutiny occurred in Weizhou.That year, Khitan changed its country name to "Daliao".Yang Guangyuan, the general of the bodyguard, relied on his heavy troops and intervened in the government affairs, and he repeatedly resisted.Shi Jingtang often yielded and obeyed.In the fourth year of Tianfu in the later Jin Dynasty (940), Yang Guangyuan killed Fan Tingguang without authorization. Shi Jingtang was afraid of Yang Guangyuan, so he dared not ask the law.

In the sixth year of Tianfu in the later Jin Dynasty (942), An Chongrong, the envoy of Chengde Jiedu, denounced Shi Jingtang's father's involvement in the Khitan, exhausting the Central Plains, and expressed that he would fight to the death with the Khitan.Shi Jingtang sent troops to kill An Chongrong and gave his head to Khitan.

Shi Jingtang was particularly jealous in his later years, he didn't like scholars, and he was a full-time eunuch.It was the eunuch Dasheng.Due to the corruption of officials and the chaos of the government, people complained everywhere.Nomads lived in the Tuyuhun tribe north of Yanmen. Because they did not want to surrender to the Khitan, the chief Bai Chengfu led his people to flee to Hedong and returned to Liu Zhiyuan.In the seventh year of Tianfu in the Later Jin Dynasty (942), the Khitan sent envoys to inquire about the tripod of Tuyuhun. Shi Jingtang dared not offend Liu Zhiyuan, who held a heavy army, and even less dared to offend "Father Emperor". He died at the age of 51. He was posthumously named Emperor Gaozu of Wu Mingde Xiao, and was buried in Xianling (northwest of Yiyang County, Henan Province).

Before he became emperor, Shi Jingtang was very frugal, both in his own affairs and in managing local government affairs. But after becoming emperor, he began to become extravagant. His palaces were decorated splendidly with gold, jade, jewelry and other objects. At the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the capital It was settled in Luoyang, but later because it was too dilapidated, the capital was moved to Bianzhou (now Kaifeng, Henan), and Bianzhou was promoted to Kaifeng Prefecture in Tokyo.In order to suppress the resistance of the people, he also ordered the enactment of many cruel laws, and the punishments imposed were mostly horrific methods: cutting off tongues, dismembering people, filling noses, steaming in pots, etc.

In addition, he didn't trust the scholars, and felt that they didn't think about the country, but only knew how to benefit their own descendants. Therefore, Shi Jingtang reused eunuchs as in the later Tang Dynasty, so that the power of eunuchs rose again.

Shi Jingtang made great achievements in the battle of destroying Houliang in the later Tang Dynasty, so he entered Bianjing and destroyed Houliang. In the process of Li Cunxu's unification of the north, Shi Jingtang and Li Congke, the last emperor of the later Tang Dynasty, contributed the most.

In the fourth year of Tongguang in the Later Tang Dynasty (926), Zhao Zaili, the commander of Xiaojie, launched a mutiny in Weizhou.Later Tang Zhuangzong Li Cunxu ordered Li Siyuan to lead the army to quell the rebellion, and Shi Jingtang also went on the expedition together.Under Weizhou City, Li Siyuan's troops also mutinied and joined forces with the Weizhou rebels to support Li Siyuan as the leader.Li Siyuan originally wanted to send his troops back to the court to plead guilty, but Shi Jingtang persuaded him to seize Bianzhou (now Kaifeng, Henan) to achieve great things.Li Siyuan had no choice but to accept this opinion.Therefore, Shi Jingtang volunteered to take over Bianzhou with three hundred Xiaoqi as the vanguard.Then they returned to cross Sishui (now Sishui Town, Xingyang, Henan Province) and took Luoyang directly.

In order to protect himself, Shi Jingtang asked Liao Taizong for help.He expressed his willingness to be a vassal of Khitan, and promised to give the gift of father and son to Yelu Deguang, and after the matter was completed, he would dedicate the land of the sixteen prefectures north of Yanmen Pass to Khitan.After defeating the Tang army, he accepted Yelu Deguang's canonization as Emperor Jin. He kept his preface and ceded Youyun Sixteen Prefectures to Khitan. At that time, Shi Jingtang was 45 years old and Yelu Deguang was only 34 years old.After Shi Jingtang became emperor, he often had to receive arrogant Khitan envoys who came to proclaim the edict, and he had to kneel down to accept the edict from the Khitan Lord Yelu Deguang.

During the Tianfu reign of Shi Jingtang, the imperial court of the Later Jin Dynasty showed great respect to the Khitan people in order to avoid the risk of war. However, when the Khitan envoys came, they were rude, arrogant, and scolded them, and sometimes they had to grovel to deal with them.Except for a few ministers such as Sang Weihan, all of them were angry with the Khitans and advocated resisting the Khitans.Shi Jingtang was also shaken, but after reading Sang Weihan's long memorial, he felt that being an emperor had more benefits, so he never gave up the title of emperor until his death. It was his son who breathed a sigh of relief for him. .

Although Shi Chonggui eventually went into exile in Khitan due to the surrender of the main general, the two victories over the Khitan soldiers still encouraged and promoted the people of the Central Plains in their struggle against Liao Dynasty.Shi Jingtang served Khitan as a humble servant, and paid 30 horses of silk every year. It cannot be absolutely said that there was no benefit at all. The six years he was emperor objectively brought short-term stability to the people of the Central Plains. However, ceding the sixteen states made his This little contribution was for naught, because his son had no danger to defend when he fought against the Khitan, and finally the Central Plains was ravaged by war again.

(End of this chapter)