Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 386 New Liao Kingdom (Special thanks to book friend 2023_da/2017…1309 monthly ticket!)
At almost the same time when Chai Zongxun was holding the wedding of his eldest son Guo Jizhuo and his eldest princess Chai Wodan in Bian Jing, Yelu Xian, the Liao ruler on the "Maya Continent" thousands of miles away, was also dragging his sick body to prepare for the wedding of his eldest son Yelu Longxu.

Six years have passed since the end of the 23rd year of Kaixi, when Yelu Xian led the Liao people to set foot on the Mayan continent and settled down in a plain valley in the central and southern parts.

Yelu Xian reflected on the reasons for the loss of the Liao Kingdom, and after learning from the pain, he decided to learn from Chai Zongxun's strategy for governing the country:

First: greatly reduce the people's taxes, exempt them from corvée labor, and instead employ them with silver money.

Second: Strictly limit the power of bureaucrats at all levels, encourage the people to open up land, graze and do business, and impose severe punishments on bureaucrats who exploit the people.

Third: Reward the people for having more children. For families with more than three children, each additional child will be rewarded with a pair of cows, sheep, and horses.

Fourth: Reward skilled civilian craftsmen for their military inventions and research with generous rewards in silver.

Fifth: Maintain friendly relations with surrounding tribes on the Mayan continent and trade and intermarry with local people.

At that time, the Liao people had a total of only more than 5 people, and with the remaining plate-armored cavalry in his hands, Yelu Xian gained absolute authority and control.

After Yelu Xian formulated these new policies, the most important one was to control the bureaucratic privileged class from wantonly infringing on the interests of the people, thus greatly stimulating the production enthusiasm of the Liao people.

Over the past six years, relying on the vast territory and rich resources of the Mayan continent, although there are only more than 400,000 people, more than 7 million acres of fertile land have been reclaimed, with the average Liao person having more than 15 acres.

The livestock that the Liao people were good at raising, such as cattle, sheep, and horses, reproduced extremely quickly.

When they set out from Huanglongfu, they drove over a million cattle and sheep, which were used as food by the Liao people along the way. By the time they first settled in the Mayan continent, there were only over 100,000 left.

Over the past six years, the population has grown to more than three million, multiplying more than thirty times.

Under the policy of encouraging childbirth, the population of the Liao people soared from over 400,000 when they settled down to 600,000, and more than 170,000 children were born in six years.

In order to promote trade, the Liao people increased their trade with the local Mayans by producing handicrafts, gold and silver jewelry, and fur products that were far superior to those of the Mayans. Not only did they earn a lot of money, but they also gained popularity among more and more Mayan tribes and city-states.

When Yelu Xian led his army and civilians on a long journey, the injuries he suffered during the "Shangjing Breakout" had never fully healed.

During the journey to the Mayan continent, the weather conditions were changeable and coupled with the fatigue of the march, Yelu Xian's old injuries broke out and showed signs of getting worse.

Since everything was new, Yelu Xian took the lead in leading his subjects to be frugal and live a hard life. The royal family lived in a few wooden houses with courtyards.

Their food and clothing are almost the same as those of ordinary people, and they live on simple meals every day.

For a time, Yelu Xian and the royal family won a very high reputation among the people.

By the second half of the 28th year of Kaixi, Yelu Xian, feeling that he had not much time left, had to consider his successor.

Yelu Xian had six sons and three daughters. In addition to his eldest son Yelu Longxu, he had five other sons, including Yelu Yaoshinu and Yelu Longqing.

There were three princesses: Yelu Guanyin, Yelu Yanshou and Yelu Changshou.

Except for the eldest princess Yelu Xianyin, who was born in the 11th year of Kaixi (970), and the eldest son Yelu Longxu, who was born in the 13th year of Kaixi (972), who were barely adults, the rest of the children were young.

After several days of discussion, Yelu Xian and Queen Xiao Chuo unanimously agreed that among these princes, Yelu Longxu was the most intelligent and the eldest son, making him the best candidate to inherit the throne.

In order to consolidate the position of the Liao people in the Mayan continent and seek greater space for development, Yelu Xian sent envoys three times with valuable gifts to visit the leader of the Dongshan tribe, the largest tribe in the central and southern part of the Mayan Empire. Finally, in July of the 29th year of Kaixi, the leader agreed to his marriage proposal and married his 16-year-old second daughter to be the princess of Yelu Longxu.

This tribe has a population of nearly 800,000 and 70,000 armored warriors. It is also one of the top three powerful tribes in the entire Mayan continent.

Yelu Xian was overjoyed when he received the news, and immediately began to prepare for the wedding of his eldest son, Yelu Longxu, despite his illness. In October, he married the second daughter of the leader of the Maya tribe. By December, Yelu Xian's condition had worsened and he was already in his dying stage.

On the twelfth day, Yelu Xian suddenly felt in high spirits, so he summoned Empress Xiao Chuo, Crown Prince Yelu Longxu, Prime Minister Yelu Sha, Grand Marshal Han Derang, Northern Court Prince Yelu Xizhen and others to his bedside.

After greeting, Yelu Xian said:

"I have been bedridden for some time, and today I suddenly figured out a bright path for my Great Liao to gain a foothold in the Mayan continent and even prosper again in the future!"

When Xiao Chuo and others saw that Yelu Xian's face was flushed and he was quite excited, they were worried that he was experiencing a "last burst of vitality".

Xiao Chuo consoled him:
"Your Majesty, what you have in mind must be a good policy for the country. However, it is important for you to take care of your health now. It will not be too late to instruct us, your subjects, once you have recovered."

Yelu Xian said excitedly:

"Queen, I feel much better today. Please let me finish what I am saying!"

Yelu Xian paused and said solemnly:

“Now I have arranged a marriage between Xuer and the Mayan tribe Dongshan, which has been a great help.

The future national policy of the Liao Dynasty will be to consolidate external relations with the Dongshan tribe until we become allies.

Domestically, the current national policy of "reducing people's tax burden and encouraging industry and commerce" will continue.

I predict that if things continue like this, the population of our Great Liao will rise to over one million in ten years, and then we will be able to embark on the feat of conquering the Mayan continent!

After my Great Liao has unified the Mayan continent, I hope that our country will have developed powerful new weapons by then!
One day, the Liao Dynasty will return to our homeland, seize the Middle Earth, and avenge the Zhou Dynasty!"

Perhaps he was too excited, Yelu Xian started coughing rapidly as soon as he finished speaking.

Taiwei Han Derang said:

"Your Majesty is wise! You have pointed out a bright future for the future development of our Great Liao!
As long as the people of the Liao Dynasty work together, we will be able to realize your majesty's grand ambitions."

Yelu Xian coughed violently until his face flushed. He sighed and said:
"I'm afraid my body won't be able to take it anymore!
Prince Liang is my eldest son, and has always been kind, filial, and wise.

If I pass away, Xu'er will inherit the throne, Empress Xiao will serve as regent, and all of you, my dear ministers, will help me with all your might.

In this way, our Great Liao will surely be able to follow the path I set and become stronger step by step!"

Xiao Chuo and the other ministers tried to comfort him, saying:

"Your Majesty's health will surely get better day by day!
All your majesty's orders will be strictly followed by us!"

Yelu Xian stared blankly for a while, then said sadly:

“The tombs of our great ancestor and our ancestors are all on the prairie, I wonder if they are safe?

Although Emperor Chai Zongxun of Zhou was cruel, he was not a despicable and shameless person, and he would not have destroyed the ancestral tomb of the Great Liao.

Alas, it's all my fault for being incompetent! Even the eldest princess of Qin was captured by Chai Zongxun!
I wonder how my sister is doing in the Great Zhou now? Will she think of my brother who is far away in the world..."

(End of this chapter)