Summoning of the Great General of the Great Qin Empire

Chapter 232

Xiao Chuo (953-1009), small character Yanyan, originally surnamed Bali, who was given the surname Xiao by Yelu Abaoji, Khitan, politician, military strategist and reformer of the Liao Dynasty. During her regency, The Liao Dynasty entered the most prosperous and glorious period.

After Liao Jingzong succeeded to the throne, he was elected as the imperial concubine. In 969 (the first year of Baoning), she was canonized as a queen. In 971 (the third year of Baoning), he gave birth to Yelu Longxu, Emperor Shengzong of Liao Dynasty, and later gave birth to three sons and three daughters. In 982 (the fourth year of Qianheng), Emperor Jingzong of Liao Dynasty collapsed, and Shengzong of Liao Dynasty succeeded to the throne, honoring Xiao Chuo as empress dowager and regent. In 983 (the first year of Tonghe), Shengzong led his officials to give Xiao Chuo the title "Empress Dowager Chengtian".

In 986 (the fourth year of Tonghe), Song Taizong believed that Liao Shengzong was young and his mother was regent, and launched a large-scale northern expedition to recover the sixteen prefectures of Yanyun dedicated to Khitan by Shi Jingtang.In the first month, the Song army divided into three groups, attacking Youzhou in the east, Weizhou in the middle, and Shuozhou in Yunzhou in the west. They failed, and Song Taizong ordered a full retreat.On the way to retreat, the Liao army captured Song general Yang Ye, and the latter died of a hunger strike.

In the leap September of 1004 (the 22nd year of Tonghe), Xiao Chuo launched a large-scale attack on the Song Dynasty in the name of claiming the Guannan land recovered by Zhou Shizong.In addition to encountering resistance in Yingzhou, the Liao army was overwhelming and reached Chanyuan, the gateway to the Song capital of Kaifeng, in November.Xiao Taolin, the Liao general's vanguard officer and Nanjing commander-in-chief, was shot in the head while inspecting the terrain on the front line to supervise the battle, and died that night.The morale of the Liao army was frustrated, and the army went deep alone, very exhausted. After adding, the Song army attacked the rear.Taking advantage of Song Zhenzong's eagerness to seek peace, Xiao Chuo negotiated with the Song Dynasty and reached the Chanyuan alliance.

In 1006 (the 24th year of Tonghe), Emperor Shengzong of the Liao Dynasty led his officials to give Xiao Chuo the honorary title of Ruide Shenlue, and he was appointed as the Empress Dowager by Emperor Hongren and Shengwu. In 1009 (the 27th year of Tonghe), Xiao Chuo returned to the Liao Shengzong and no longer served as regent.In December of the same year, he died of illness in the palace at the age of 57.The following year, Qianling was buried.

Xiao Chuo was smart and agile since she was a child, and she has a spirit of never giving up on anything, including some trivial matters. This kind of behavior deeply won her father Xiao Siwen's favor.Once, several sisters of Xiao Chuo were doing housework together, and the sisters ended hastily, but she was the only one who continued to clean the furniture neatly. Xiao Siwen often praised with admiring eyes: "This Women will make great things."

In February of the 19th year of Yingli (969 A.D.), Muzong of Liao Dynasty took Xiao Siwen and other trusted ministers to Heishan (now Ganggensumujing, Bahrain Right Banner, Inner Mongolia) to hunt.At night, Liao Muzong, who was drunk, was assassinated by his servants who could not bear the abuse.Xiao Siwen blocked the news and assisted Ye Luxian, the second son of Liao Shizong Yeluruan who had a close relationship with him, to ascend to the throne for Liao Jingzong.Liao Jingzong granted Xiao Siwen the Privy Envoy of the North Court, Prime Minister of the Beifu, Shang Shuling, and King Wei in Jin Dynasty, and recruited his daughter into the palace.

As soon as Xiao Chuo entered the palace in March, she was conferred the title of noble concubine; two months later, she was officially conferred the title of empress.

In May of the second year of Baoning (AD 670), Emperor Jingzong of Liao went to Lushan (now Fuxin, Liaoning) for hunting, and Xiao Siwen also accompanied him.Gao Xun and Nvli conspired to assassinate Xiao Siwen.The death of his father made Xiao Chuo, who was only 17 years old, mature rapidly.She began to use her talents to assist the frail Liao Jingzong to govern the country.

With the passage of time, with the acquiescence of Liao Jingzong, all daily government affairs of the Liao Kingdom were independently adjudicated by Xiao Chuo.If there are any important military and national affairs, she will convene the ministers of the Han Dynasty to discuss, and finally make a decision based on the opinions of all parties.

The decision she made, Liao Jingzong only listened to the announcement at most, saying that if he "knows", it counts, and he will not intervene in any way.Thanks to Xiao Chuo's efforts, Liao's military became stronger and stronger, and its political situation and economy were also on the right track.

In February of the eighth year of Baoning (AD 976), Emperor Jingzong of Liao sent an edict to the bachelor of the History Museum—afterwards, anyone who recorded the queen's words, "also known as 'zhen' and 'yu'", and "written as a formula", set the wife's status rise to the same level as yourself.

In September of the fourth year of Qianheng (982 A.D.), 35-year-old Liao Jingzong died of illness in Jiaoshan Palace in Yunzhou (now Datong, Shanxi) while he was hunting. [6] At the end of his life, he left a will "Liang Wang Longxu succeeds, military and state affairs are subject to the queen's orders", and handed over the Liao Kingdom to the 29-year-old Xiao Chuo.Facing his eldest son, Yelu Longxu, who was only 12 years old, Xiao Chuo's first thought was that the Lord Shaoguo suspected that the clan prince was powerful and the situation could change.The new widowed queen mother shed tears in front of the ministers Yelu Xiezhen and Han Derang and said: "The mother and widow are weak, the clan is strong, and the border defense is not stable, what can I do?" Why worry about it!" Then, Xiao Chuo arranged Yeluxiu to stay in Nanjing (now Beijing) to take charge of the southern military and strengthen the frontier defense. It is a strict aristocracy.

At the same time, Xiao Chuo adopted the suggestion of Han Derang, the privy envoy of the Southern Court, and issued an order to the clan princes that "all kings return to the throne, and no private meeting with Yanhui", which made them lose their military power and solved a major internal concern of seizing the throne.

On September 982, 24 (the fourth year of Qianheng), Liao Jingzong died of illness in Jiaoshan Palace in the west of Datong City.At this time, the 12-year-old son Yelu Longxu inherited the throne as the Liao Shengzong, and the next year he was changed to Yuan Tonghe. "Mothers are more precious than children", in 983 (the first year of Tonghe), Xiao Chuo was named "Empress Dowager Chengtian", and as a queen mother, she was in charge of the court and took charge of state affairs, so as to better assist Liao Shengzong. rule.

According to legend, Xiao Chuo and Hande Rang had a marriage contract since childhood. Shortly after the death of Liao Jingzong, Xiao Chuo privately said to Hande Rang: "I was betrothed to you, and I hope to reconcile the old. And the young master of the country is your son.

According to legend, Xiao Chuo sent someone to secretly poison Han Derang's wife, and the Holy Emperor also regarded Han Derang as his father to serve him.

After Xiao Chuo, Handerang served as the commander-in-chief of the Imperial Army and was in charge of the guards of the capital.After that, Han Derang entered and exited the palace tent, and fell in love with Xiao Chuo as husband and wife.When they go out, they share the same car, and when they enter, they share the same account. Even when they meet foreign envoys, they don't shy away from it.

With the assistance of Han Derang, Xiao Chuo carried out a series of drastic reforms in the system and customs of the Liao Kingdom. These reforms not only further transformed the Liao Kingdom from a slave country to a feudal system, but also improved the relationship between the Khitan and Han people. relation.According to the "History of the Liao·Criminal Law Chronicles", after Xiao Chuo's reform, the Liao Kingdom "had no fortunate people, the laws and disciplines were maintained, many officials were in their posts, and people committed serious crimes". "In the unification period, Nanjing and the two prefectures of Yi and Ping "The prison is empty", Liao's internal affairs showed a prosperous scene.

He Lingtu, the magistrate of Xiongzhou (now Xiongxian County, Hebei Province) in the Northern Song Dynasty, and his father-in-law Governor He Huaipu, etc. heard about the love affairs of Empress Dowager Xiao, and together with Wensi Envoy Xue Jizhao and others, said to Song Taizong one after another: "Now the Lord Khitan is young. State affairs are decided by his mother. But his mother and Han Derang are not clear about their bad morals, which will definitely attract the hatred of the people of the country. There must be civil strife in the Liao Kingdom, and the top and bottom are not in harmony. Who would be willing to listen to the command of a woman who corrupts women's morals? It is the use of soldiers against Liao This is a great opportunity." Therefore, Song Taizong launched the "Yongxi Northern Expedition" against the Liao Kingdom in March of the third year of Yongxi (the fourth year of Liao Tonghe, AD 986).Song Junbing sent troops in three routes and won some victories.

Xiao Chuo used Yeluxiu brother to resist the Song army Cao Bin all the way in the east, and Yelu Xiezhen to resist the Song army Yang Ye all the way in the west. Later, he personally took Han Derang and his son Liao Shengzong to Nanjing to fight with Yeluxiu brother.

In May, Xiao Chuo personally put on military uniform and went into battle. He led his troops to confront Cao Bin in the front, and at the same time sent Brother Yeluxiu to outflank the rear of the Song army and block the water and grain roads.Cao Bin's troops were defeated.

Xiao Chuo freed up his troops and turned to deal with the Song army on the West Road, which greatly boosted the morale of the Liao army.Song Taizong quickly ordered the West Route Army to retreat across the board.The morale of the Song army was low, and they suffered defeats all the way.Yang Ye could not get strong support from the rear, and in the end all his subordinates, including Yang Ye's son Yang Yanyu, died for the country.

Xiao Chuo ordered Yang Ye's head to be cut off, put into a box, and sent to various places in the border.The morale of the Liao army was greatly boosted, while the defenders of the Song Dynasty were hit hard. They lost confidence before facing the enemy and were unable to hold on to the land they had won.The Liao Kingdom successfully recovered all its territories.

In the 22nd year of Liao Shengzong Tonghe (the first year of Song Zhenzong Jingde, AD 1004), in late autumn and September, Xiao Chuo led Liao Shengzong Yelu Longxu and Han Derang to lead 20 Liao elite troops to march south to the Song Dynasty.The Liao army was as powerful as a broken bamboo, and within two months, they attacked Chanzhou (now Puyang, Henan), which was only across the river from Kaifeng, the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty.

Kou Zhun, the prime minister of the Northern Song Dynasty, insisted on requesting Song Zhenzong to drive himself to conquer and boost morale.When Song Zhenzong's car appeared on the front line of Chanzhou, the soldiers shouted "Long live" continuously, and the sound shook for dozens of miles. The Liao army confronted.

This was naturally a great blow to Xiao Chuo's grand plan of the Southern Expedition.Soon another blow came one after another—Xiao Talin, a famous general of the Liao Kingdom, was shot dead with a crossbow by the Song army while inspecting the terrain.The Liao army lost its general before the battle, and its morale was greatly affected.Xiao Chuo considered the situation, and Han Derang's persuasion and balance, decided to negotiate a peace before the battle.

The Liao and Song Dynasties reached the Chanyuan Alliance, and the Song and Liao were about brothers. Yelu Longxu, the emperor of the Liao Dynasty, called Song Zhenzong Zhao Heng his brother, and Zhao Heng called the Empress Dowager his aunt; the old border between Song and Liao was maintained; the Song Dynasty The country provides 30 gold and silk to the Liao country every year.The two sides ended years of unremitting war and entered into a relative peace that lasted for more than a hundred years.

In the same year, Liao Shengzong once again added honorary titles for his mother, making Xiao Chuo's honorary titles from "Chengtian Empress Dowager" in the first year of Tonghe, to "Ruide Shenlue Yinghua Chengtian Empress Dowager" in the 24th year of Tonghe, to When it comes to "Rui De's spiritual strategy should be used to enlighten the Dharma, Ren Hong, Sheng Wu, and the Empress Dowager".

In November of 1009 (the 27th year of Tonghe), Xiao Chuo held the traditional Khitan "Chai Book Ceremony" for Yelu Longxu, and returned the imperial power to Yelu Longxu, ending her 40 years in Liao Jingzong and Liao Shengzong. With more than a year of regent career, he went to Nanjing to enjoy his old age in peace.Unfortunately, on the way south, Xiao Chuo contracted a disease.On December 57 of the same year, she died in the palace at the age of [-].

Xiao Chuo came from the Fang family of the young father of the Bali family of the Qidan Shenmi Group. His father Xiao Siwen was the elder of the four dynasties (Liao Taizong, Liao Shizong, Liao Muzong, Liao Jingzong), and he assisted Jingzong, so he was very powerful for a while.The prestige of Empress Dowager Xiao spread far and wide in Han.

Xiao Chuo's father was Xiao Siwen, the prime minister and son-in-law of the Northern Mansion of the Liao Dynasty, and his mother was the eldest princess of Yan State and the elder sister of Liao Muzong.Xiao Chuo has two older sisters, and the age gap between the three sisters is quite large.Eldest sister Yilelan married Yelu Xiyin, King of Song, and was named Princess Song. After King Song's rebellion, she was implicated by her husband and deposed, and she was called Mrs. Song.The second sister, Hehan, married Yelu'an Sage, the king of Qi, and was named the princess of Qi.

In 969 (the first year of Baoning), she was canonized as a queen.In that year or the next year, she gave birth to Yelu Guanyin, the eldest daughter of Jingzong. In 971 (the third year of Baoning), Yelu Longxu, the eldest son of Jingzong, was born Shengzong of Liao Dynasty, and gave birth to two sons and two daughters. The two women are Yelu Changshounv and Yelv Yanshounv respectively, as detailed in "Prince Biao" and "Princess Biao" in "History of Liao Dynasty".According to the "Continued Zizhi Tongjian Changbian", Yelu Zhengge, who died young, may be the fourth son born to Xiao Chuo.

It is rumored that Han Derang had a special relationship with the Empress Dowager Chengtian, the so-called "fortune to ward off the sun".Xiao Chuo was betrothed to Han Derang as a young man, and before he could get married, he was chosen by Jingzong as his concubine. "The Facts of the Dynasty" records that Xiao Chuo once said: "I often promise to marry a son, and I hope to reconcile the old, then the young master will be the country, and I will also be your son." It didn't say that he and Han Derang were married.Some people also expressed doubts about this matter. The doubt is that the age and status of the two people were quite different at the beginning.Some people think that this incident is the slander of Xiao Chuo by the people of Song Dynasty.

One day in September of the sixth year of Tonghe, Xiao Chuo, contrary to the old practice of entertaining the royal family and officials in the palace, held a banquet in Han Derang's tent, and rewarded all the officials generously, and "ordered the officials to share Friends Shuanglu to have fun."This banquet was considered by later generations to be the wedding banquet hosted by Empress Dowager Xiao and Han Derang herself, so there were rumors that Han Derang married Empress Dowager Xiao.

According to historical records, Han De kept going in and out of Xiao Chuo's tent without any taboo, going hunting and handling government affairs. The two ate together and sat side by side.When the Song Dynasty and Liao Dynasty were negotiating peace with Chanyuan, the Song Dynasty sent Cao Lili to go there. "Liangli met the captive mother (referring to the Empress Dowager Chengtian) in the army. He and the Tibetan general Han Derang sat on a camel cart, sat on Lili under the cart, fed her food, and discussed peace together. "Chengjin Lu" says: "Wherever the captives stopped, the officials and subordinates followed. There were no buildings in the city, but they lived in chariot tents outside the city."

Regardless of whether the marriage is true or not, Xiao Chuo's love and respect for Han Derang is obvious to all.Zhuozhou (Zhuozhou, Hebei) Inspector Yelu Hugu, just because he was not angry with Han Derang for his close relationship with the "Empress Dowager Chengtian", he was disrespectful to Han Derang in his words.As a result, Han Derang shot and killed Yeluhu Guhuo alive in public.Another time, "Empress Dowager Chengtian" Xiao Chuo watched a polo match.When Han Derang was on the stage, the Khitan noble Hu Lishi accidentally knocked Han Derang off his horse. "Empress Dowager Chengtian" Xiao Chuo was furious when he saw this, and immediately beheaded Hu Lishi.

In December of the 22nd year of Tonghe (AD 998), Xiao Chuo revoked Yelu Longxu and Han Derang's status as monarchs and ministers: he gave Han Derang the Khitan royal family surname "Yelü", named "Longyun", and named him "King of Jin" , belonging to the "Jifufang".From then on, the little emperor Shengzong Yelu Longxu no longer called Han Derang's courtiers, but changed his name to "Uncle".Just like the emperors and queen regents of the Liao Dynasty, Han Derang also has a private "Woruduo" (palace tent), a subordinate city, a guard of ten thousand people, and enjoys the generous treatment of the "Supreme Emperor" of the Liao Kingdom.Since Han Derang had no son, "Empress Dowager Chengtian" Xiao Chuo stipulated that each generation of the royal family should contribute a prince as Han Derang's descendant.

(End of this chapter)