novelAbuy Chapter 136 The Emperor, Fearful of the Wolf Lord
Chapter 136 The Emperor, Fearful of the Wolf Lord
After Zhao Yanshou took away 20,000 troops, Luzhou returned to peace for a time.
Regardless, they finally broke camp and set out with their troops. Although Gao Huaide was dissatisfied, his whole family was genuinely overjoyed, believing that the imperial army's departure would soon lift the siege.
Xitang is less than 300 li from Jin'an Village. Even without doubling the speed, at a normal marching speed, and even with a cautious approach of stopping every 30 li, they should arrive within ten days.
However, Zhao Dejun, who had been granted the title of commander-in-chief and nominally became the supreme commander of all the armies, could not even travel a hundred li a day, and would set up camp to rest after traveling less than twenty li each day. Anyone with even a little knowledge of military strategy would know that something was amiss with this cautious and methodical approach.
Zhao Dejun, on the one hand, was determined to join forces with Fan Yanguang's army and petitioned to join them.
Li Congke only wanted to advance his troops as soon as possible to relieve Jin'an Village, and issued an edict to Fan Yanguang, but Fan Yanguang refused to comply.
Meanwhile, Zhao Dejun was secretly negotiating another deal.
He proposed to Yelü Deguang that if he were to become emperor, they would join forces to march south and capture Luoyang. After the success, they would agree to become brother states, and Shi Jingtang would still be allowed to remain stationed in Hedong.
……
During this period, Yelü Deguang and Shi Jingtang besieged Jin'an Village, and apart from preventing the government troops from breaking out, they did not waste any time.
October 8th, Jiazi day.
Yelü Deguang bestowed upon Shi Jingtang the title of Prince of Jin and visited his residence. Shi Jingtang and his wife, Lady Li, along with their relatives, offered toasts to celebrate his birthday, fulfilling the duties of a subject.
The women were filled with trepidation, fearing that the Khitan ruler would become lustful and follow the example of Zhu Wen, who, while seeking refuge in Zhang Quanyi's Jieyuan Garden, forced his wives and daughters to have sex with him.
Fortunately, although Yelü Deguang was lustful, he could still distinguish between public and private matters, and there was no need to anger Shi Jingtang at this time. Besides, Li Cunxu's principal wife, Consort Han, and his secondary wife, Consort Yin, were enough to provide him with sufficient emotional value.
October 11th, Dingmao day.
Yelü Deguang summoned Shi Jingtang to his temporary residence, offered him a seat, and calmly said, "I have traveled three thousand miles to raise an army in righteousness, and won a single battle. This is surely the will of Heaven, and the matter must succeed. Judging from your magnanimous appearance and profound wisdom, you are truly a worthy ruler. You should receive this southern land and serve as my vassal for generations. Heaven has ordained you, and the time must not be missed. I wish to follow the opinions of both Han and non-Han peoples and appoint you as Emperor."
Shi Jingtang declined the offer several times, but his officials urged him to accept, so he finally agreed. He then ordered the relevant officials to set up an altar south of Jinyang City and to formally confer the title upon him.
Unexpectedly, his words were still ringing in his ears when he received the conditions offered by Zhao Dejun. Yelü Deguang was caught in a dilemma and secretly regretted that he had made the promise too early.
Treating them as brothers is equivalent to treating them as fathers; the difference between offering them generous gifts of gold and silk and ceding the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun is immeasurable.
Zhao Dejun may appear arrogant on the surface, but in reality, he has a very accurate grasp of the current situation and even Yelü Deguang's psychology.
If he and his son obeyed the court's orders and marched to rescue the government troops at Jin'an Village, Yelü Deguang would face a battle with an uncertain outcome. If they were defeated, not only would they gain nothing, but even their survival back in the capital would be in question.
Even if the Khitan state had Shulü Ping in charge at that time, it would have at least suffered a severe blow if it hadn't fallen apart.
Having won the previous battle at Hubeikou by sheer luck, would Yelü Deguang dare to risk another decisive battle between the two armies?
He dare not.
With his army deep in enemy territory, Jin'an still holding firm, reinforcements strong, and fearing that the northern prefectures would cut off his retreat, Yelü Deguang was filled with unease.
This mentality was not mere speculation; it was actually reflected in the deployment: the Khitan army was stationed under the walls of Taiyuan, while the old, weak, and baggage were all at Hubeikou. Every morning and evening, they would finish their preparations and reorganize in preparation for a hasty escape, which is clear evidence of this.
The defenders of Jin'an Village put up a fierce resistance, holding out for more than two months without success. As the battle stalled, Yelü Deguang's resolve grew stronger each day.
Fortunately, the inside and outside were cut off and communication was not possible. If Zhang Jingda had known that reinforcements were nearby and had fought with all his might to break through, he might not have been able to stop a desperate army from returning home.
Rather than going that far, it's better to stop while we're ahead, secure the generous gifts and money, and let our newly adopted son fight it out with Li Congke, Zhao Dejun, and others. After all, the more chaotic the Central Plains are, the better.
This idea gradually took hold in Yelü Deguang's mind, and after several discussions with his advisors, there was a hint that he was changing his mind.
When Shi Jingtang learned that Yelü Deguang had changed his mind and wanted to comply with Zhao Dejun's request, he was filled with great fear and hurriedly sent Sang Weihan to see him.
"The great nation raised an army to rescue the isolated and endangered Tang army. In one battle, the Tang army collapsed and retreated to a stockade, where they were exhausted and starving."
Sang Weihan and Shi Jingtang were bound together by fate; if one fell, the other would suffer the same fate. If one lost, the other would be executed along with his entire family. Sang Weihan used all his skills and persuasive words to try to convince Yelü Deguang.
"Zhao Beiping and his son are disloyal and untrustworthy, fearing the strength of a great nation, and harboring rebellious intentions. They are holding back their troops to observe the situation. They are not men who would die for their country; what is there to fear from them? Yet you believe their fabricated stories of impending doom, greedily seeking petty gains, and abandoning the culmination of an already accomplished mission!"
Sang Weihan belittled his competitors, then lured them with enormous profits: "If Jin were to gain control of the world, it would exhaust China's wealth to serve a great power; how could such a small gain compare!"
Even though Sang Weihan promised to offer up the wealth of his ancestors for eight generations, Yelü Deguang was not only concerned about how much he would gain, but also worried about the risks he would have to take.
"Have you ever seen someone catching mice? If they're not prepared, they might even bite and injure their hand; how much more so a formidable enemy!"
Sang Weihan reacted swiftly, immediately replying, "Now that the great power has already seized their throat, how can they possibly gnaw at them!"
Nonsense! The Southern soldiers are about to arrive, and I can barely hold them back. I'm afraid I'll be the one running away with my tail between my legs.
Yelü Deguang thought to himself, "What do you know about military affairs, you pedantic scholar? You can't even explain it clearly." He then made an excuse, saying, "I have not broken the previous agreement, but it is a matter of military strategy and I have no choice but to do so."
Having made his intention to back out clear, Sang Weihan was extremely anxious, and two streams of hot tears flowed down his long face.
"The Emperor rescued people in distress with his integrity, and the people of the world are all watching. How could he betray them so easily, thus ruining the great cause? I humbly believe that this is unacceptable to the Emperor."
It was futile to try to reason with the profit-driven barbarians about morality and integrity. No matter how much Sang Weihan tried to persuade him, Yelü Deguang just shook his head. Finally, annoyed by his nagging and noise, he ordered him to be dragged out.
Knowing that his life was in danger and he would have no way to explain it when he returned, Sang Weihan simply bent his knees and knelt in front of the tent, sobbing and pleading incessantly.
In his mind, he compared himself to Shen Baoxu, who cried out to the Qin court to save Chu during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, and he did not feel ashamed or embarrassed.
From dawn till dusk, throughout the entire day, the topic spread, and the leaders of the various Khitan tribes all knew that there was an ugly man howling incessantly outside His Majesty's tent. They couldn't help but discuss and whisper among themselves. (Note 1)
Yelü Deguang found it hard to bear.
The saying goes, "The barbarians sling their bones, the Yue people make vows on their arms, and the Chinese swear blood oaths; their origins differ, but their faith is the same." Sang Weihan's actions, while sacrificing his own face, also exposed Yelü Deguang's breach of faith, giving him a resounding slap in the face.
Yelü Deguang reconsidered. Since he was already in a difficult situation, and the benefits of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun were indeed tempting, once he obtained them, his Great Khitan would soar to new heights, and he himself would become a great ruler who laid the foundation for his dynasty and whose achievements would be remembered for generations. He could not easily give them up.
Moreover, it's not uncommon for the grasslands to have successive generations of rulers, but the feat of bestowing the title of emperor upon the Central Plains is unprecedented. When he returns to the north, he'll have something to brag about for the rest of his life.
Since we're already here, we might as well give it a shot.
The Khitan ruler had no choice but to comply. Pointing to the stone in front of his tent, he said to Zhao Dejun's envoy, "I have already promised the stone to the stone master. This stone is rotten; it can be changed!"
November 12th, Dingyou day.
A month later, an altar was built in Liulin, where the Great Khitan Emperor wrote a book, also known as the Jade Tablet, which served as proof that the emperor had received the mandate of heaven upon his ascension to the throne.
A book consisting of eighty bamboo slips, made of jade, bound with purple silk and red brocade backing;
One book box, black lacquered silver, with two pairs of gold and copper handles, and a red brocade lining;
One yellow silk ribbon, and three book covers;
A yellow silk brocade clip, holding up the book box;
Two pieces of refined purple silk board, and a book-keeping frame;
In addition, there is a purple silk oil bed, a silver-footed corner pole with gold cypress wood book table, a purple silk table mat, a purple silk mat, and a book shelf with a purple silk mat. The whole set of supplies is ready.
The official in charge of the register placed the register on the altar and then on the table.
According to the procedure, Fu Baolang should present the imperial seal, but since the Imperial Seal of the State is in Luoyang, a separate jade seal will be carved to serve as a substitute.
The official carrying the book box knelt down before the official reading the book, who then knelt and read it aloud.
His writings highly praised Shi Jingtang, saying:
"Your son, the Prince of Jin, is blessed with divine wisdom and intelligence, and praised by Heaven as a hero. Your dreams are auspicious, and your destiny is initiated by the clear river. You are a close relative, a true branch of the family, which is why I regard you as my son, and you treat me as your father."
"You possess the virtue of protecting the people, which reaches both heaven and earth; you have the merit of quelling calamities, which shines throughout the land; you have the selfless conduct, which resonates with the divine; you have the unspoken trust, which is evident to all people."
"The mandate of Heaven rests upon you, and you are hereby appointed to assume the imperial throne. From this day forth, you shall unite the lands and raise the banner of righteousness. The state shall be named Jin. I will forever be your father and son, and we pledge to protect our lands."
After the imperial edict was read, it was the turn of the courtiers to shout "Long live the Emperor!" three times, and to offer their congratulations, perform dances, and bow.
Yelü Deguang suddenly thought of a problem, waved his hand, and ordered the ceremony to be suspended.
The music stopped abruptly.
Shi Jingtang, Liu Zhiyuan, Sang Weihan, and others were all uneasy. What exactly was the Khitan ruler up to by calling a halt at such a crucial moment?
Yelü Deguang then removed his ceremonial hat, loosened his jade belt, and took off his red robe, gesturing for Shi Jingtang to put it on. (Note 2)
The golden crown, rhinoceros horn belt, and red robe were the national costume of the Khitan, which were vastly different in style from the twelve-tassel crown, jade belt, and twelve-symbol robe of the Chinese emperor.
Yelü Deguang's act of changing clothes during the important ceremony of his ascension to the throne may seem intimate on the surface, but it was actually deeply meaningful, and its intention was self-evident.
You were appointed by me, so you must be treated according to Khitan rules.
Shi Jingtang looked embarrassed. He should be considered the first emperor of the Central Plains to ascend the throne while wearing the clothing of a foreign tribe.
However, once the arrow was drawn, there was no turning back. He had no choice but to put on the clothing of the Northern Barbarians over his Hanfu and be officially recognized as the Emperor of the Great Jin by the Khitans.
On that day, Shi Jingtang ascended the throne and offered the land north of Yanmen and Youzhou as a token of his longevity. He ceded sixteen prefectures—You, Ji, Ying, Mo, Zhuo, Tan, Shun, Xin, Gui, Ru, Wu, Yun, Ying, Huan, Shuo, and Wei—to the Khitan and promised to pay an annual tribute of 300,000 bolts of silk.
Yelü Deguang accepted it calmly.
After the ceremony, the procession returned home with drums and trumpets.
The name "Son Emperor" has been passed down to later generations and has become Shi Jingtang's exclusive nickname.
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Place Name Comparison
Tuanbai Valley: now located east of Qi County, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province
Liulin: now Dongliulin Village, Qingxu County, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province