I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 161 The Enemy's Concubines

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The Zhao Song Dynasty was showing signs of being prepared to fight on two fronts. Did it really intend to wage war against both the Western Xia and the Liao Dynasty at the same time?
How can it be?

Fighting on two fronts has always been a major taboo for military strategists. Even powerful dynasties like the Han and Tang rarely stepped onto this dangerous tightrope easily. Moreover, the Western Xia had been fighting the Song Dynasty on equal terms for many years, not to mention the Liao Dynasty, a northern behemoth that had always been a lingering shadow over the Central Plains dynasties.

Even though the Liao Dynasty has declined, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse.

The key point is that although the Song Dynasty was prosperous in civil administration, it was somewhat weak in military strategy. Its border peace was mostly maintained by annual tribute and alliances, rather than by the glorious military achievements forged by iron cavalry and crossbows.

The reason why Emperor Zhao Yu and his ministers adopted a two-front war strategy was mainly because they were betting that the fool Yelü Yanxi would make a mistake and would not use the full strength of the country to fight the Zhao Song Dynasty to the death for the sake of their ally, Western Xia.

As long as the Liao Dynasty dared not gamble with its national destiny, giving the Song Dynasty the opportunity and time to eliminate the Western Xia, the Song Dynasty could potentially eliminate this thorn in its side with overwhelming force, and then slowly deal with the Liao Dynasty, which had missed its chance due to hesitation.

However, life is like a game of chess, with each move bringing new developments.

Although Yelü Yanxi was foolish, that does not mean that there were no intelligent people in the Liao Dynasty.

Perhaps some clever person within the Liao Dynasty could persuade Yelü Yanxi to realize that once the Western Xia fell, the Liao Dynasty would face the behemoth that is the Song Dynasty alone. Without a counterbalance, the Liao Dynasty's fate would be precarious. At that point, Yelü Yanxi might choose to take a risk, gamble the Liao Dynasty's destiny, and join forces with the Western Xia to resist the threat of the Song Dynasty.

In any case, Zhao Yu has already made his move, so let's see how Yelü Yanxi responds.
……

Liao Dynasty.

Seeing that Lin Shu, an envoy of the Zhao Song Dynasty, had first recklessly challenged their authority, and then Zhao Yu had shown a willingness to fight, Yelü Yanxi and his ministers were truly at a loss as to how to respond.

According to Yelü Yanxi's wishes, he wanted to kill Lin Shu and his party.

However, the Han officials of the Liao Dynasty told Yelü Yanxi that he must not fall for the tricks of the Zhao Song Dynasty, and then gave Yelü Yanxi several examples:

As early as the beginning of the Han Dynasty, the envoys sent by Liu Bang to win over Ying Bu clashed with the envoys sent by Xiang Yu to win over Ying Bu. So the Han historians announced to the public that Ying Bu had already surrendered to the Han Dynasty. While everyone was still confused, they quickly killed the envoys sent by Xiang Yu to win over Ying Bu, forcing Ying Bu to accept the fait accompli and surrender to the Han Dynasty.

During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, he sent an envoy named She He to persuade Wiman Joseon to surrender. The Joseon king hesitated and said he would consider it. Then he wanted She He to return. She He thought about it and realized that the mission was not completed. He decided to push the negotiations to the brink of collapse. The negotiations broke down, and then She He was killed. Soon after, Joseon became one of the four commanderies of Han.

In the southwest, Han envoy An Guo Shao Ji was also sent to Nanyue. This Han envoy even slept with the Queen Dowager of Nanyue and became the stepfather of the King of Nanyue. The King of Nanyue could not bear the humiliation and killed An Guo Shao Ji. Nanyue then became part of the Liangguang region of the Han Dynasty.

The ancient kingdom of Loulan was constantly shifting between the Han and Xiongnu states. Fu Jiezi was sent as an envoy to demand an explanation. Upon meeting the king, he beheaded him without saying a word. He then held the head up in the palace hall and shouted to the Loulan officials that the Han army would arrive immediately and that those who surrendered would be spared, while anyone who dared to move would die! As a result, everyone in the room unanimously agreed that it was a good thing.

But these are not the most outrageous things. In the early years of the Eastern Han Dynasty, all the kingdoms of the Western Regions were controlled by the Xiongnu. The Xiongnu delegations were even more domineering in the Western Regions. At this time, there was a Han envoy who was sent to the Western Regions with only thirty-odd people. Faced with this situation, he felt a mix of emotions. So, without any military supplies or reinforcements, he relied on his skillful strategy of alliances and counter-alliances to dominate the Western Regions. He not only wiped out the Xiongnu delegation in the Western Regions, but also successfully subjugated the thirty-six kingdoms in the Western Regions. He was Ban Chao, another outstanding representative in the history of the Han Dynasty.

Since ancient times, when two countries are at war, they do not kill the envoys. However, this "since ancient times" does not include envoys from the Han Dynasty, because every Han envoy killed increases the opportunity to declare war on another country.

As the diplomat with the highest mortality rate throughout history, the Han Dynasty envoy was known for his aggressive and provocative nature, killing kings and sleeping with queens at the slightest provocation. He was so arrogant that he courted death.

But they were also the diplomats who expanded the country's territory the most. The stronger the country, the more determined they were. They would go to any lengths, even if it meant their death.

Just how arrogant were they? To borrow a phrase from Su Wu, the outstanding shepherd from the northern deserts and a prominent figure in Han history: "The Nanyue killed a Han envoy, and slaughtered him, reducing his territory to nine commanderies; the King of Wan killed a Han envoy, and his head was hung at the northern gate; the Koreans killed a Han envoy, and were immediately annihilated." Then, right in front of the Xiongnu Chanyu, they added insult to injury: "Now, only the Xiongnu haven't been punished. I won't surrender! Go ahead and kill me, and see if my great Han army can take you down!"
This frightened the Great Chanyu so much that he would rather let him herd sheep for nineteen years than kill him.

Of course, the Han officials of Liao could not tell Yelü Yanxi these things directly, but they did tell him in a roundabout way, making him realize that Lin Shu and others were just like the Han envoys who were courting death. As long as they died, the Zhao Song Dynasty would have an excuse to go to war with Liao.

If the Song Dynasty had stopped attacking the Western Xia and instead engaged in a fierce battle with the Liao Dynasty, it would have been the Liao Dynasty, not the Western Xia, that would have been put on the defensive.

This is not what Yelü Yanxi and his ministers wanted to see.

How to do?
The ministers of Liao all looked troubled, pondering how to cleverly resolve this diplomatic crisis without damaging the country's prestige.

The ministers had all sorts of opinions, which annoyed Yelü Yanxi. He simply turned and left, letting the ministers discuss their own solutions, while he preferred to avoid seeing or hearing about it.

Return to the harem.

Yelü Yanxi's concubines came out to greet him.

Leading the group was Empress Xiao Duolilan, the wife of Yelü Yanxi.

Her skin was as white as jade, gleaming softly in the sunlight, seemingly delicate and fragile. Her exquisite features were perfectly proportioned, harmonious and stunning, forming a dignified and elegant face. Every gesture exuded a noble air, and every smile and frown radiated an irresistible charm, like the most beautiful flower blooming on the grassland.

To Xiao Duoli Lan's left rear is Yelü Yanxi's primary consort, Xiao Guige. She was Xiao Duoli Lan's younger sister. Because Xiao Duoli Lan never had children, her family gave her younger sister, Xiao Guige, to Yelü Yanxi, who was then the crown prince.

Xiao Guige was very successful. Not long after entering the palace, she gave birth to Prince Liang, Yelü Yali. In the following five years, she gave birth to two sons (Prince Qin, Yelü Ding, and Prince Xu, Yelü Ning) and three daughters (Yelü Wuliyan, Yelü Da'aoye, and Yelü Ci'aoye). She had the most children in the harem.

Her skin was as white as snow, exuding an innate nobility. When she smiled, the dimples at the corners of her mouth held a tender and affectionate charm. Her figure was graceful, and every gesture she made exuded elegance and charm; she was a truly beautiful woman with a radiant and flawless appearance.

To the right and behind Xiao Duoli is Consort De, Xiao Shigu, who gave birth to Yelü Yanxi's third son, Yelü Talu.

She was as frail as a willow swaying in the breeze, and seemed to be in poor health.

Behind Xiao Guige and Xiao Shigu were many women, the most beautiful of whom was Xiao Sese. Well... at present, Xiao Sese cannot actually be considered Yelü Yanxi's concubine, but only his lover.

Xiao Sese was originally from the Bohai Da clan. Later, she joined the family of the emperor's maternal uncle, so she changed her surname to Xiao. Last year, Yelü Yanxi visited Yelü Tage's house and happened to meet Xiao Sese, who was visiting her sister. He was immediately attracted by Xiao Sese's dignified temperament and charming appearance, so he hid Xiao Sese in the palace and favored her for several months.

The Imperial Uncle Yelü Heluwo has already advised Yelü Yanxi to choose Xiao Sese according to the rites, but at the present stage, Yelü Yanxi is observing mourning for Yelü Hongji, so he cannot marry Xiao Sese yet.

However, the relationship between the two was already set. Xiao Sese would soon become Consort Wen of Yelü Yanxi, and Yelü Yanxi had even brought Xiao Sese to live in the palace.

Xiao Sese was strikingly beautiful, with her black hair styled into an elaborate bun adorned with pearls and jade. She wore magnificent Khitan attire, her robes fluttering as she walked, and her radiant presence was particularly eye-catching in the Liao Palace.

Besides his three consorts, Yelü Yanxi also had other beauties, including Zhao Zhaorong, who gave birth to his eldest son, Prince Zhao, Yelü Xinilie.

In general, while Yelü Yanxi's number of concubines could not compare with Zhao Yu's, their quality was absolutely no less than Zhao Yu's. In particular, his empress and three consorts, except for Xiao Shigu who was slightly inferior, Xiao Duolilan, Xiao Guige, and Xiao Sese were all top-notch beauties of their time.

Seeing Yelü Yanxi return with a furrowed brow, Xiao Duoli, Xiao Guige, and Xiao Shigu remained silent. Only Xiao Sese, unconcerned that she was not yet officially married to Yelü Yanxi, asked directly, "Why does Your Majesty look so troubled?"

Yelü Yanxi originally did not want to talk about this troublesome matter; otherwise, he would not have left the court and retreated to the inner palace.

Even if someone else asked him this, Yelü Yanxi wouldn't bother with them.

But Xiao Sese is different.

Firstly, Yelü Yanxi had only recently acquired Xiao Sese and was still deeply in love with her.

Secondly, Xiao Sese has been studying literature since childhood, is good at writing poetry, and is intelligent and resourceful, unlike ordinary women.

Therefore, despite his inner turmoil, Yelü Yanxi suppressed his frustration and told Xiao Sese about the aggressive behavior of Zhao Yu and his ministers, as well as the predicament that Liao was now in, unable to extricate itself from the predicament.

After listening, Xiao Sese said, "Although our dynasty is not afraid of the Song dynasty, we should avoid unnecessary wars. Lin Shu's trip is clearly a test by the Song dynasty, which wants to provoke trouble. I think it would be better to place him and his entourage under house arrest here, neither killing them nor letting them go back, so that their delegation is like a kite with a broken string, hanging in limbo. The Song court will then become suspicious and dare not easily take action."

Yelü Yanxi listened and felt that Xiao Sese's suggestion made some sense, but he was still very frustrated and said: "However, this matter is only a temporary solution and cannot be delayed forever. Sooner or later, our dynasty will have to face this matter directly."

Xiao Sese said, "The current situation is very similar to that of the Han Dynasty at the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period, with the Song, Xia and our Liao Dynasty in a stalemate. Now the Song Dynasty is dominant and wants to emulate Cao Cao's military prowess, while our dynasty is temporarily on the defensive, just like the situation between Wu and Shu with Xia. Two weak countries meet one strong country, so we should unite to resist it, otherwise it will be difficult to survive."

Xiao Sese's words displeased Yelü Yanxi.

What displeased Yelü Yanxi was that Xiao Sese actually said that the Song Dynasty was strong and the Liao Dynasty was weak.

It's important to understand that the Liao Dynasty and the Song Dynasty had always been in a north-south confrontation. The Liao Dynasty always considered itself the legitimate dynasty and often regarded itself as the superior Celestial Empire. Even the Treaty of Chanyuan between Liao and Song was a temporary compromise under the condition that both sides were evenly matched, not an act of weakness by the Liao Dynasty. When has the Liao Dynasty ever been subordinate to the Song Dynasty? So how come after Yelü Yanxi took over the Liao Dynasty, it was compared to the tiny Western Xia and was inferior to the Song Dynasty?
However, Yelü Yanxi and Xiao Sese are currently in their honeymoon period, and Yelü Yanxi can still barely tolerate Xiao Sese's "mistakes," so he only said: "If it weren't for the fact that our Great Liao has been going through many troubles in recent years, what would we have to fear from the Southern Dynasty?"

Upon hearing Yelü Yanxi's words, Xiao Sese realized she had misspoke and quickly corrected herself, saying, "Since the founding of our Great Liao by Emperor Taizu, it has risen through nine emperors, its iron cavalry sweeping across the grasslands and its might shaking the four seas. When have we ever feared anyone? Now, we have only suffered a slight setback due to continuous rebellions within the country. With Your Majesty's great talent and strategy, you will surely lead our Great Liao through this difficult time and restore its former glory."

Yelü Yanxi was satisfied when Xiao Sese brought the conversation back on track. He said, "My beloved consort is absolutely right. I will go practice archery now, and one day I will use my precious bow to strangle Zhao Yu!"

Soon, under the incredulous gazes of the crowd, Yelü Yanxi picked up his precious bow and went hunting with his entourage, completely forgetting about the Song envoy and the Western Xia's request for an alliance.

Upon seeing this, Xiao Sese's heart sank! She had a very bad feeling that she was going to marry someone who was not a great hero.

Just as Xiao Sese was filled with worry, a servant came to report: "Your Highness, Princess Cheng'an requests an audience."

Upon hearing that her friend Yelü Nanxian had arrived, Xiao Sese hurriedly said, "Please invite her in quickly."

Before long, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen years old walked in. Her eyes were full of affection yet also heroic. Her eyes were bright and lively. Her gaze seemed to hold both the untamed spirit and tenderness of the frontier. Her figure was light and graceful. Even though she was dressed in a magnificent palace dress, she could not hide the heroic spirit of the Khitan people.

Xiao Sese immediately went to greet her and said with a smile, "What wind blew my little sister here?"

Yelü Nanxian spoke frankly: "That day, my sister and I drank until late at night. Although we are women, we made a grand vow. I wonder if my sister still remembers it?"

Xiao Sese's expression turned solemn: "Of course I remember. We made a pact to revive our Great Liao, to be second to none, and to face the national crisis together. If it weren't for that..."

Xiao Sese wanted to say, if it weren't for this, why would she have submitted herself to Yelü Yanxi?

But before she could finish speaking, Xiao Sese swallowed back the inappropriate words.

But it doesn't matter, because Yelü Nanxian understands what Xiao Sese means.

Yelü Nanxian said, "This is our shared aspiration. I will never let my elder sister laugh at my royal family for having no one to serve me."

"What does my sister intend to do?" Xiao Sese asked.

Yelü Nanxian didn't waste any words, but spoke frankly: "I've heard that the Song emperor is taking advantage of our Liao dynasty's lack of manpower and is being aggressive. I've also heard that the Xia emperor has repeatedly asked our Liao dynasty for a marriage alliance, hoping that the two sides can unite against the Song. I'm willing to act as a mediator and ask my elder sister to mediate..."

……

(End of this chapter)