Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World.

Chapter 176 The Reactions of Liao and Western Xia!
In the agricultural era, mountains and passes separated the land.

Therefore, the transmission of messages was extremely difficult.

For the people of the capital region, it has been a month since the late emperor passed away.

For a month, not only did a new emperor ascend the throne, but even the temple name of the late emperor was officially determined. The impact of the late emperor's death gradually faded, and life slowly returned to normal.

But for people in other places, it is not the same.

For regimes such as Liao, Western Xia, Dali, and Jiaozhi, the process was much slower.

The death of a monarch is a very serious and momentous event.

If it involves notifying other regimes of condolences, then it is considered regime diplomacy.

For this reason, specific official positions were even established.

A messenger announcing the death!
Go to the capital, to Linhuang Prefecture.

The Khitan regime was actually a nomadic people, and had a system of "seasonal hunting" (Nabo).

According to the changing seasons, the monarch would issue an order to transfer administrative power.

Even the capital city had five separate buildings constructed.

Shangjing Linhuang Prefecture, Nanjing Xilu Prefecture, Dongjing Liaoyang Prefecture, Xijing Datong Prefecture, Zhongjing Dading Prefecture.

In March, the grass in the north gradually becomes lush, and it is time to go to the capital.

Kaihuang Hall.

Yelü Hongji, who was thirty-five years old at the time, wore a narrow-sleeved, forbidden robe decorated with dragon patterns, a belt around his waist, and a felt hat on his head. He sat on a dragon throne made of golden nanmu wood and looked down.

From the imperial steps downwards, officials stood in orderly ranks.

However, compared to the division of civil and military officials in the Central Plains dynasties, the division of officials in the Khitan dynasty was quite unique.

For officials in the north and officials in the south!

Among them, the Northern Officials were mainly responsible for nomadic affairs, and their official robes were full of nomadic characteristics; the Southern Officials were mainly responsible for agricultural areas centered on the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, and their official robes imitated those of the Han and Zhou dynasties.

The ranks on the left and right were divided into north and south officials, and several people stood in the center, holding tablets and all dressed in plain clothes, the official attire of the Central Plains dynasty, which was quite eye-catching.

(As shown in the picture: the bean bun has escaped and is not easy to tame.)

"What brings the envoy from so far away?" Yelü Hongji glanced at the man in plain clothes and asked in a deep voice.

As a true "second-generation emperor," Yelü Hongji received a good education, studied poetry and calligraphy, and greatly admired the culture of the Central Plains.

Having reigned for more than a decade, his governing style has developed a very strong "Sinicized" character.

"By order of the successor of our dynasty, I tearfully inform Your Majesty the Emperor of the Great Liao that the late Emperor has unfortunately passed away, and the whole country is in mourning. I have now sent you, Your Majesty, to deliver this news of his passing and humbly request Your Majesty's knowledge." A white-haired envoy in plain clothes, with a sorrowful expression, performed the kowtow.

After the ceremony, he held the obituary in his hands, looking very solemn.

"what?"

On the dragon throne, Yelü Hongji was taken aback, and immediately his face showed sorrow as he silently shed tears.

Step by step, Yelü Hongji descended the steps and held the obituary document in his hands.

He only glanced at it before bursting into tears and sighing deeply.

After about half an incense stick's time, Yelü Hongji closed his eyes slightly and sighed, "Forty-five years I have not known war!"

This refers to the Treaty of Shanyuan.

During the reign of Emperor Zhenzong, Emperor Shengzong of Liao and Empress Dowager Xiao intended to march south to capture the emperor, and they were almost successful.

Fortunately, Chancellor Kou Zhun led troops to attack and killed the Liao general, leading to a stalemate between the two sides.

Under these circumstances, Zhou and Liao signed an alliance, addressed each other as "brothers," and agreed to be equal in status and not to invade each other's territory.

The price was that the Great Zhou had to "gift" the Liao Kingdom an annual tribute, equivalent to 100,000 taels of silver and 200,000 bolts of silk.

Since the late Emperor Zhao Zhen ascended the throne, the Zhou and Liao dynasties strictly adhered to the Treaty of Shanyuan, and there were no large-scale wars, allowing the people to recuperate and thrive.

Of course, with forty-five years of peace, tribute was "gifted" for forty-five years as well.

With the old emperor's death and the new emperor's ascension to the throne, their governing styles may be quite different, and whether the Liao Dynasty will still be able to enjoy annual tribute is truly uncertain.

Therefore, it's no wonder that Yelü Hongji looked sorrowful.

That's 100,000 taels of silver and 200,000 bolts of silk!

It happens every year!
The desire to have both peace and wealth is something everyone cherishes and is reluctant to give up.

"Alas!" Yelü Hongji sighed deeply.

The old emperor's death is not important; what matters is that a new emperor has arrived.

The new emperor's governing style, to a certain extent, determined the subsequent order between the two countries.

"Pass down the order." Yelü Hongji waved his hand and ordered, "Gather the ministers from both the north and south to mourn, and all officials from the empress down should shed tears."

Firstly, Emperor Zhao Zhen ruled for forty-five years, during which peace was maintained between Zhou and Liao, making it worthy of mourning.

Secondly, this move could also convey to the new emperor the desire to continue the friendly alliance.

"Yelü Longqing," Yelü Hongji called out, "It's a pity I can't go south to offer my condolences in person. You go in my place."

Yelü Longqing was the younger brother of Yelü Hongji.

In the Central Plains dynasties, the imperial family members were mostly "kept" and "raised," but the Liao Dynasty was quite different.

Generally speaking, members of the Liao imperial family held real power, and princes and dukes held diplomatic authority for a long time.

With the old emperor's death and the new emperor's ascension to the throne, the task of rebuilding relations between the two countries undoubtedly requires the involvement of someone of princely rank.

From the right-hand side, a Khitan-looking official stepped forward and respectfully replied, "Yes."

"Send someone to escort the messenger away," Yelü Hongji said sadly.

The sounds of lamentation and sighs were incessant.

Xingqing Prefecture, Baigao Palace.

On the imperial steps, Li Liangzuo, who was twenty-one years old and had been on the throne for nineteen years, sat on the dragon throne with a furrowed brow.

From the imperial steps downwards, officials stood in orderly ranks.

The Tangut official system was similar to that of the Khitan, the difference being that it was divided into barbarian officials and Han officials.

"Passed away?"

In the center of the main hall, several people dressed in mourning clothes held obituaries in their hands.

Li Liangzuo's face was somber, not so much from sadness, but from embarrassment.

In the early part of the eighth year of the Jiayou era, taking advantage of the instability of the regime due to the struggle between him and the old subordinates of his uncle, Meicang Epang, the civil official of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Jiang Zichuan, took command and sent troops to quell the invasion, and captured Lanzhou and Lezhou.

The lands of two states have been lost!
It is almost foreseeable that the mediocre old emperor Zhao Zhen will be highly praised in historical records.

And the steps are him.

Li Liangzuo!
"I am deeply grieved and mourn for him."

Li Liangzuo said indifferently, "Send Wei Ming to visit and go south to offer condolences."

"promise!"

Wei Mingman, a member of the Western Xia royal family, stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

Li Liangzuo nodded, his gaze slightly unfocused.

In the fourth year of the Qingli era, the Xia and Zhou dynasties fought, and the Zhou dynasty was ultimately defeated.

Therefore, the Xia and Zhou dynasties jointly held the "Qingli Peace Treaty," and the Western Xia emperor Yuanhao relinquished his imperial title and voluntarily accepted the investiture from the Zhou emperor.

The Zhou dynasty would bestow an annual "gift," consisting of 50,000 taels of silver, 130,000 bolts of silk, and 20,000 catties of tea. During festivals and holidays, even more would be "gifted."

This contract originally lasted for nearly twenty years.

As a result, Jiang Zichuan's expansion of Xihe led to the swallowing up of two states of Daxia.

In terms of territory, it is already one-fifth the size of the Great Xia.

The old emperor Zhao Zhen suddenly became much more assertive and refused to hand over the "annual tribute".

What's even more distressing is that Xihe's expansion of the borders severed the connection between the Great Xia and Tibet, leaving the Great Xia sandwiched between the Great Zhou and the Liao Dynasty, thus losing the opportunity to unite with Tibet.

(By opening up the border between Xihe and Western Xia, they were tightly pinned down and gradually worn down.)
Li Liangzuo pondered for a moment.

Now that the new emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty has ascended the throne and the regime is unstable, perhaps it would be worth trying to rebuild the "Qingli Peace Treaty".

It's a gift from the year, after all; why not take it?

Alternatively, they could take the opportunity to re-establish contact with Tibet.

In the past, I was not yet strong!

Now, things have changed!
(End of this chapter)