Anecdote of the Fifth Queen Mother

Chapter 24 Empress Dowager Xiao (2)
On the surface, the transfer of power after Jingzong's death was smooth, and it was natural for Empress Dowager Xiao to rule.In fact, an orphan and widowed country under an autocratic regime is like a flat boat floating on a sunny sea, which may be swallowed up by waves that capsize at any time.Didn’t you see that Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty and Taizu of the Song Dynasty both seized power in the hands of orphans and widows?In particular, the story of Chen Qiao's mutiny and the addition of the yellow robe directed by Zhao Kuangyin, the ancestor of the Northern Song Dynasty, is close in time and connected with the ground, which lingers in the mind of Empress Dowager Xiao from time to time.When Empress Dowager Xiao thought of this, it was like a dream that happened yesterday.What's more, the succession of the emperor of the Liao Dynasty was not peaceful.It can be said that in the Liao Dynasty, since Taizu Abaoji broke the electoral system in the era of tribal alliances, until Shengzong came to the throne, every emperor had to go through a fierce struggle, and every dynasty was full of bloody fights for power taste.Now that the empress dowager and the little emperor are in power, it is not difficult to imagine the dangers they encountered.More than 12 members of the royal family are in charge of the government, posing as their parents, ready to move, and all focus on the throne of the [-]-year-old little emperor. No one wants to miss this god-given opportunity. The situation is really imminent.Not to mention, the Northern Song Dynasty's covetous eyes on the southern border made the precarious situation even worse.

Facing such a severe situation, how should the young Empress Dowager Xiao deal with it?This is indeed a very difficult problem.She did not take the road of Lv Zhi in the Western Han Dynasty and Wu Mo in the Tang Dynasty who supported the relatives to fight against the clan and punished the officials. Instead, she used the experience of controlling the officials accumulated when the empress and the heroine came to the court, and eliminated them through the strategy of personnel mobilization and power redistribution. Hidden danger.As a result, a bloody struggle was avoided, and the danger was finally saved, showing the unique style of power control of Queen Mother Xiao.

At the critical moment of the power struggle, the Queen Mother Xiao first thought of Han Derang, a native of Yutian, Jizhou.Who is Han Derang?Let's take it easy.It turns out that the Han Derang family has a long history of military affairs.His grandfather, Han Zhigu, served as Zhongshu Ling when Yelu Abaoji, Taizu of the Liao Dynasty, was in charge.At that time, Khitan "has a wide range of etiquette and law, knows the ancients and references the old classics, consults the national customs and Chinese rituals, and makes it easy for the people to understand and act" ("Liao History·Han Zhi Gu Zhuan"), and is "the hero of Zuo Ming" "one.His father, Han Kuangsi, was once "regarded as a child" by the Empress Dowager Yingtian. During Jingzong's reign, he was worshiped as the left-behind in Shangjing, the left-behind in Nanjing and the privy envoy, and he was named King of Yan.Especially when Nvli, Gao Xun, Xiao Siwen and others died one after another due to power struggles after Jingzong came to the throne, he became the only remaining confidant of Jingzong and Empress Yanyan.It was at this time that Kuang Si's children stepped into official careers one after another with the help of his influence, and most of them were prominent.At the time of Jingzong's death, De Rang was appointed as the Privy Envoy of the South, and held important military power.In addition, Han Derang has a special relationship with Empress Dowager Xiao. According to historical records, Han Derang was lucky to be the Marquis of Yang.Legend has it that the queen mother once promised to marry Han Derang when she was young, and when her marriage was approaching, she met the royal family Yeluxian to ask for a concubine, so Xiao Chuo's father, Siwen, sent Yanyan to Jingzong's harem in order to make friends with the royal family.But Yanyan did not forget Han Derang because of entering the palace. When Jing Zong died and Xiao Chuo stayed with the lonely lamp, she couldn't help but think of Han Derang.Now that Han Derang is in power, in order to consolidate the status of orphans and widows, Xiao Chuo has to rely on Han Derang's hand.Old love is even more spontaneous.So Empress Dowager Xiao took the opportunity of the funeral and said to Han Derang in private: "I promised to marry you, and I hope to reconcile the old, then the young master will be your son." Facts Class Garden") Of course, this is just a legend, and there is no reliable history to test, but judging from the historical facts that Empress Dowager Xiao remarried Han Derang later, this legend is not unfounded.The above reasons made Han Derang one of the most important supporters of Queen Yanyan in the past and Queen Mother Xiao today.The Empress Dowager Xiao ordered him to be the "General Resident Guard" to guard the royal family, and to participate in the big politics with Yelu Xiezhen.Yelu Xiezhen, courtesy name Han Yin, a member of the Dieti tribe, the grandson of Yuyue Yelu Helu, was recommended by Xiao Siwen to the court during Jingzong's time, and was highly regarded by Jingzong, and also loved by the Queen Mother. wife.When Jing Zong died, he controlled the army in the southwest of the Liao Dynasty. As the niece and son-in-law Xie Zhen, he was naturally regarded as the empress dowager's confidant.The Empress Dowager ordered the little emperor to exchange bows and arrows with Xie Zhen for a pommel horse as a token of "being a friend", and ordered him to guard Situ and worship the Privy Envoy of the Northern Court.

At the same time, Empress Dowager Xiao took measures to appease and reuse the civil and military veterans of Jingzong to stabilize the situation.The veterans who were appeased and reused mainly include:
Shi Fang, a native of Nanjing (now Beijing) in Liao Dynasty, was a highly respected and talented official. During Jingzong's lifetime, he served successively as a counselor, a privy envoy, and the prime minister of the Beifu Jiatong Zhengshi Menxia Pingzhangshi.At first, when Shifang saw Jingzong's death, the situation was critical and he was about to resign as an old man. The queen mother tried her best to persuade him to stay, and entrusted him with the important task of assisting the government together with Derang and Xie Zhen.Historical records: "It's time, Fang and Han Derang and Yelu Xiezhen are friendly to each other, assist the government with one heart, rectify the evils, know everything, and the task is to appease the people and pay more taxes, so that the court can have no objection." ("Liao Dynasty") History Shi Fang Biography")
Yelu Amili, Jingzong was the envoy of Xuanhui of the Southern Academy, and the Empress Dowager called Zhizhi, and ordered him and Yelu Xiezhen to participate in the national discussion and serve as the capital.

Xiao Wo is the Empress Dowager's uncle. Jingzong often participates in military affairs as a close relative and adds political orders.After Xiao Siwen's death, Empress Yanyan took the title of her father as her father, and the queen mother said that "several mediations are cheap, and they are often heard and used" ("Liao History·Xiao Gan Biography").

Yelumozhi, Zhong's father, after King Sui, was good at using soldiers.During Jingzong's reign, he paid homage to the deputy envoy of the Privy Council, and the Empress Dowager called him Zhi, and ordered him to stay behind in Tokyo.

Yelusha, the official of Muzong to the prime minister of Nanfu, Jingzong ascended the throne, and was in charge of the affairs of the south.The Tongjun was repeatedly defeated in the battle against the Song Dynasty, and he was punished for his crimes. "Rescued by the queen, he was spared" ("Liao History · Yelusha Biography").The Empress Dowager called for a few sticks to honor her old age, and ordered her to continue to lead the army to fight against the Song Dynasty, so that her meritorious deeds would be punished.

After some infighting and secret personnel arrangements, Queen Mother Xiao gained a firm foothold.Now she is surrounded by cronies who hold military power and important ministers who are deeply expected, thus forming a powerful political core group.Only at this time did the Empress Dowager tell Xie Zhen and De Rang her worries about the situation: "Mother and widow are weak, family members are strong, and the frontier defense is not yet settled, what can I do?" Have you thought about it?" De Rang also said: "According to the situation, seize his military power." ("Liao History·Jingzong Wise Empress Biography", "Khitan Kingdom Chronicles·Yelulong Yun Biography") Therefore, the queen mother accepted the advice of the two ministers Based on the political situation of the Liao Dynasty at that time, the power structure was carefully adjusted so that it was not only beneficial to the present, but also focused on the future.

So, how did the Queen Mother adjust it?This is naturally in order of priority, and the biggest threat to the Empress Dowager's authority is those from the Khitan princes and princes who support the army and hold power.Therefore, the queen mother preemptively signed the order on the grounds that the emperor was newly mourned and the country was in an extraordinary period: "The kings return to their thrones, and they are not allowed to meet privately." They seized their military power in one fell swoop, so "the hearts of the people are settled" ("Khitan Kingdom Chronicles · Yelulong Yun Biography").The next immediate step was to strengthen the Liao's control over the rich southern agricultural regions bordering the Northern Song. "Yelubo Guzhe, the king of the Southern Academy, is in charge of the affairs of the various states in Shanxi; the king of the Northern Academy, Yuyue Yelvxiu, is the commander of the southward march, with King Xi and Shuonu as his deputy; and Xiao Daoning, the minister of Pingzhang, who is the same as Zhengshimen, leads the army stationed in Nanjing." ("Liao History Shengzong Ji").Such an arrangement can kill two birds with one stone. It not only counterbalances the Northern Song Dynasty militarily and prevents the Northern Song Dynasty from taking advantage of false attacks, which can relieve future worries, but also shifts the center of power to the south politically, so as to rely on the Han landlord group in the southern region and the Khitan nobles who have gradually become Sinicized. The purpose of the Khitan aristocratic forces who support their own self-respect to contend.

Just when the political situation of the Great Khitan regime was developing according to Queen Mother Xiao's intention and tended to be calm and stable, brother Yu Yueyeluxiu, who was left behind in Nanjing, suddenly sent an envoy in an emergency.It is said that hundreds of thousands of soldiers under the personal command of Emperor Taizong of the Northern Song Dynasty came to invade the border. He declared that he wanted to take Yanyun directly, and asked to send troops immediately to help defend against the enemy.When this news spread to the imperial court, all civil and military officials in the court were frightened, but the Queen Mother was not surprised, this was what she expected.At the beginning, she arranged Yeluxiu, who was quite talented in military affairs and had outstanding military exploits, to be in charge of the military affairs in the south, out of the consideration of preventing crimes in the Northern Song Dynasty.It's just that the mother has a sullen look on her back, she's a big Song, it's too deceitful to attack my mother when her widow and son are weak, and how can Yan Yun let you Da Song take it so easily.Don't you see that you tried to restore Yanyun several times in the Southern Dynasty, didn't you always return in defeat?How many times have you been able to negotiate a bargain?How dare she speak wild words today, so the Empress Dowager made some arrangements for domestic government affairs, and together with the little emperor Shengzong led a hundred thousand troops, they sent troops south to fight.

[-]. Defend Yanyun

In 982 A.D., Zhao Guangyi, Emperor Taizong of the Northern Song Dynasty, learned that Liao Jingzong died of illness, Emperor Youchong ascended the throne, and his widowed mother was regent.After several years of preparation, in March of Yangchun in 986 AD (the third year of Yongxi in the Northern Song Dynasty and the fourth year of Tonghe in Liao Dynasty), a large-scale military attack was launched against the Liao Dynasty.

Speaking of Yanyun Sixteen States, there is a historical karma.In 936 AD, Shi Jingtang handed over the sixteen prefectures of Yanyun to the Khitan regime in order to become emperor.This historical event had a profound impact on later generations.From the perspective of the Liao Dynasty, because Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures was an advanced agricultural area, its agriculture, handicrafts and other cultural activities were more developed than the Khitan headquarters.Therefore, the rulers of the Liao Dynasty paid enough attention to the importance of this area. They promoted Youzhou among the sixteen prefectures of Yanyun to Nanjing, changed the imperial capital to Shangjing, and changed the original Nanjing (Liaoyang) to Tokyo.The Liao Dynasty established many corresponding official positions in Youzhou, Nanjing, and regarded it as the hinterland. It stood like a big country in the north facing the Song Dynasty and became the Great Liao Empire.

From the point of view of the Central Plains Dynasty, the gains and losses of the Yanyun sixteen prefectures are related to the safety of a generation.This area starts from the present-day border between Shanxi and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the west, along Hebei and the northern part of Beijing to the east, reaching the coast of the Bohai Sea. Many passes control the north-south passage.Especially in the eastern states, south of these passes is the North China Plain.If these states are in the hands of the Liao Dynasty, which mainly fights with cavalry, it will greatly facilitate the Liao Dynasty's attack on the Central Plains with iron hooves. Strategically, it can be attacked and retreated.However, due to the lack of geographical conditions, the Central Plains Dynasty was often in a passive situation, and even the capital Bianjing was hard to guard against.If these states are in the hands of the Central Plains Dynasty, they can drive Khitan cavalry outside the pass.Youzhou (now Beijing) was originally the northern gate of the Central Plains Dynasty. It is densely populated and rich in products. Now it has become an important place for the Liao Dynasty to inquire, study and analyze military conditions, gather rest troops, and stockpile supplies when it sends troops south at any time.

Therefore, the Central Plains Dynasty began the war with Khitan for the sixteen states of Yanyun from Chai Rong in the later Zhou Dynasty.Chai Rong, a relatively accomplished emperor during the Five Dynasties of the Central Plains, on the basis of rectifying the internal affairs and returning victoriously with troops in the south of the Yangtze River, he sent troops to the Northern Expedition in 959 AD, and he went to the three passes of the Liao Dynasty (Yijin) in only [-] days. Guan, Waqiaoguan, Yukouguan), two prefectures (Ningzhou, Yingzhou), all seized the land south of Guan.However, at the very beginning of this military operation, it was stopped due to the sudden death of Chai Rong.Of course, the reason why this military operation is so effective is not only because of Chai Rong's proper command, but also because it coincided with the decline of Liao Mu Zong. When Mu Zong heard that the three passes were lost, he said very disapprovingly: "The three passes belong to the Han land. To return the Han, what is lost." ("Liao History·Mu Zongji")
From Chai Rong's Northern Expedition to Liao Shengzong's accession to the throne and Empress Dowager Xiao's regent, there were many changes in the Central Plains dynasty.In the second year after Chai Rong died of illness, the regime of the Later Zhou Dynasty was transferred to Zhao Kuangyin, and the regime of the Northern Song Dynasty was established.Zhao Kuangyin, Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty, considered that the alliance between the Northern Han Dynasty and the Khitan was difficult for a while, so he adopted the strategic policy of "first the south and then the north" when launching the war to unify the country.However, he never forgot to regain Yanyun, and once set up the Fengchun Treasury in the inner government treasury, intending to use the money from the Fengchun Treasury to redeem Yanyun, but failed.At the same time, Zhao Kuangyin used troops against Khitan for the second time in the military (969 and 976 AD), but they all returned in vain.He died of illness in 976 AD.His younger brother Zhao Guangyi came to the throne as Song Taizong.The battle between the Liao and Song Dynasties for the Yanyun area mainly took place during the reign of Song Taizong, that is, the late period of Liao Jingzong and even the period of Empress Dowager Xiao's regency.These are the three major wars in AD 979, AD 986 and AD 1004.

Now let's go back to the battlefield where the two sides fought in 986 AD.

At first, Song Taizong sent troops from Shanxi and Hebei in three routes.The East Road led by Cao Bin, Cui Yanjin, and Mi Xin attacked from Xiongzhou (now Xiongxian County, Hebei Province) as a frontal attack. They adopted the tactic of slow marching step by step, and marched towards Youzhou with bluff to contain the main force of the Liao army.The Central Route Army was led by Tian Zhongjin out of Feihu (now north of Laiyuan, Hebei).The West Route Army led by Pan Mei and Yang Ye hurried out of Yanmen Pass and recovered the vast area north of the pass.

The Third Route Army went smoothly at the beginning of the war. Yang Ye's troops left Yanmen Pass and conquered Yunzhou (Datong, Shanxi), Yingzhou (Yingxian, Shanxi) and Huanzhou in less than four months. (Mayi Town, Northeast of Shuo County, Shanxi), Shuozhou (Shuo County, Shanxi) and other four prefectures of the Central Route Army also captured some cities.

At this time, the Liao Dynasty under the auspices of Empress Dowager Xiao also had enough preparations.Yeluxiu, a famous military strategist and an official worshiped by Yue (the number of shifts is higher than that of a hundred bureaucrats, and it is customary not to be awarded to noble officials with special honors), since he was appointed as the left-behind in Nanjing and the commander-in-chief of the military affairs in the south, he started to "equalize the troops, establish Changing the law, persuading agriculture and mulberry, and repairing military preparations", managed the southern border in an orderly manner ("Liao History·Biography of Yeluxiu").Therefore, facing the menacing attack of the Song Army, Queen Mother Xiao was already well prepared. She first mobilized various armies, using Yelu Xiuge to resist Cao Bin's troops on the Song Army's East Road, and using Yelu Xiezhen to fight against Pan Mei and Yang Ye's West Route Army.Then the Empress Dowager put on a war robe, led the horses personally, and led the young emperor Shengzong, surrounded by ministers Han Derang, Yelu Hanning, and the generals of the North and South Pishi (meaning King Kong, Jingjia pro-army) armies, led Youxi and Jurchen A [-] army composed of Han, Shiwei, Han, Khitan and other nationalities went straight to Youzhou, Nanjing, stationed troops in Chiluokou (northeast of today's Zhuo County) to supervise the battle, and waited for an opportunity to send aid.

Even though the queen mother is a woman, she was born and grew up in the grassland, and influenced by her parents, she was able to ride a horse and draw a bow since she was a child.Slender and beautiful, but also has the firmness of ordinary men.However, although Empress Dowager Xiao's military campaign is inseparable from the influence of grassland living habits, it is rare to open up Chinese history and lead troops to fight as the mother of the country, and it is even more rare to be able to gallop on the battlefield with heroism.

In March of Yangchun, the southern area of ​​Yanshan Mountain is already full of spring, and it is the season when the earth wakes up and the grass spruces up.The queen mother knew that fighting in such a season was not good for the "cold but stronger" Liao soldiers.The Liao army usually chooses the autumn and winter seasons from September to December.The autumn is tall and the horses are fat, which is convenient for cavalry to fight. In order to get rid of the unfavorable situation, Queen Mother Xiao adopted the strategy and tactics of luring the enemy to go deep and waiting for work with ease.

In April, Cao Bin heard that there were frequent reports of victories from the West and Central Army. In order to grab the lead, he changed his tactics of step-by-step without authorization and ordered his troops to march quickly.When the soldiers entered Mahe (in Yi County, Hebei Province), they encountered Brother Yeluxiu who came to stop him.At that time, Brother Yeluxiu had very few troops. He decided to avoid fighting with Cao Bin's East Route Army, which was known as an army of [-].It took Cao Bin four days to march north to Zhuozhou (Zhuo County, Hebei). Cao Bin stayed in Zhuozhou for more than ten days, and retreated to Xiongzhou because of the lack of food supply.At this time, Empress Dowager Xiao and Liao Shengzong had moved to Nanjing (Youzhou), and personally led elite reinforcements to attack Brother Xiu from the east of Zhuozhou.The Song Army on the East Road braved the pouring rain and fought on the muddy path.

In May, at Qigou Pass, [-] miles southwest of Zhuozhou, Brother Yeluxiu led an army to fight Cao Bin.It was a battle. Although the season had just arrived in May, the weather was scorching hot like a scorching heat. The Song army retreated in succession, hungry and thirsty, and overtired.On the other hand, the Liao army was in stark contrast. Their morale was high, and they were scrambling to get more spoils because of successive victories (the customs of the Liao Dynasty, soldiers did not pay for battles, and they were allowed to plunder).Therefore, as soon as the drums and horns sounded together, they rushed into the camp of the Song army like horses fleeing from the frontier, and the Song army could not resist the enemy's defeat and retreated.At this moment, another group of men and horses came out of the slanting stab, led by a heroic female commander.It turns out that the Empress Dowager's army also arrived at Shahe, blocking the way of the Song army, and it was another good fight. "Master Song rushed to watch the dust, fell to the shore and ravaged each other. More than half of the dead died, and the Shahe River did not flow." ("Liao History·Biography of Brother Yeluxiu") After two bloody battles, the main force of the Song army was completely defeated.After the remnants of the Song Dynasty left, the Empress Dowager joined forces with Brother Yeluxiu. The Liao Army won such a great victory. The Empress Dowager was very happy and rewarded Brother Xiu heavily.

Song Taizong heard the news of the disastrous defeat of the main force on the East Road, and quickly ordered a retreat across the board.Empress Dowager Xiao and the generals led [-] troops to take advantage of the victory to recover the prefectures and counties that had been captured by the West Route Army.

As soon as the battle was over, Brother Yeluxiu went to the Queen Mother's tent to ask for orders, please take advantage of the victory to chase south and kill until the north of the Yellow River before withdrawing troops.The queen mother thought it was impossible, and she said: "The weather is so hot that it is inconvenient to march. Master Song is committing this taboo. Therefore, our army should not follow the old pattern. It's too late." So the Empress Dowager ordered all the armies on the Eastern Front to return to Nanjing.Now look at the Western Front.

As mentioned earlier, Yang Ye even conquered four prefectures in less than four months since he left Yanmenguan.It was midsummer and July, and Yang Ye stationed troops in Daizhou to prepare to march again, but suddenly there was news of the defeat of the East Road, and then he received Taizong's edict ordering him and Pan Mei to move to Yun, Ying, Shuo, and Huan four State officials and people are divided into Hedong and Jingxi.

(End of this chapter)