Chapter 124: The Youyan Affair Concluded (Continued)

The situation in Youzhou, as the Liao army's power contracted, fell into a strange balance in a short time. Even though Yelu Shuogu led troops south to reinforce, he did not rashly attack Youzhou. However, though they did not assault Ji City, a wave of barbarian generals launched a purge against Han subjects—both as a hardline response to the Yan army's slaughter of the barbarians, and also to plunder goods to supply military needs.

Just as Liu Chengyou had anticipated in his heart, as the flames of war spread, the people of Youyan would be plunged into misery and suffering.

Under the Liao army's pillaging and killing, a flood of refugees fled toward Youzhou, their path stained with blood. Only upon reaching the walls of Youzhou did Zhao Yanshou have the spare strength to shelter them. Under such circumstances, Zhao Yanshou passively won the hearts of the Youyan people, leading the heroes of Yan to resist the Khitan.

In the southwest, the two prefectures of Zhuo and Yi submitted one after another. Whether taking Youzhou or taking Zhuo and Yi prefectures to resist the Khitan—in this way, the two outcomes Liu Chengyou had previously discussed with his staff were realized. Zhao Yanshou, meanwhile, labored at the helm of a boat in an overwhelming historical current, sailing against the stream, unable to steer his own course. Certain original intentions and private schemes—he dared not even think of them for the time being.

This situation far exceeded Liu Chengyou's earlier expectations. No matter how things developed next, at least for a considerable period to come, Liu Chengyou would not invest too much energy here.

The civil war within the Khitan state, however, did not last as long as Liu Chengyou had hoped—it ended very quickly instead. After the Battle of Zhangde Spring, Yelu Ruan cast aside all restraint, marched north at speed, and reached the Huang River.

Meanwhile, the old Empress Dowager Shulu Ping in the Supreme Capital, though advanced in years, was strong-willed. She gathered the remaining palace tent troops, tribal soldiers, and slaves of the Supreme Capital and its surroundings, and personally took the field, facing Yelu Ruan across the Huang River.

Before this royal war was to reach its decisive battle, one person stepped forward. The Tiyin Yelu Wuzhi, serving as the clan official of the northern administration, personally mediated between the two sides—reasoning, presenting facts, expounding righteousness—and expended tremendous effort before achieving some effect.

Empress Dowager Shulu Ping—this was a formidable woman, a clever woman, who naturally could see the situation clearly and knew that fighting on would not make her a match for Yelu Ruan. With a sigh, she told her youngest son Yelu Lihu, "It is not that I did not wish to establish you—you yourself were incapable." Then she expressed willingness to negotiate peace.

For Yelu Ruan, this grandmother Shulu Ping was someone he both hated and feared, holding her in great dread. Back then, had it not been for Shulu Ping's favoritism, the throne ought to have passed to his father Yelu Bei. Instead, his father was persecuted and forced into exile, dying a guest in the southern court.

And in the process of elevating Yelu Deguang back then, Shulu Ping, on the pretext of "accompanying the Grand Ancestor in death," had several hundred of their father-and-son's retainers and supporters slaughtered, emptying the ranks of her political enemies.

When it came to the turn of the Han minister Zhao Siwen, that gentleman's single retort checkmated Shulu Ping: "No one was closer to the late emperor than Your Majesty the Empress Dowager—why did you not sacrifice yourself? When we ministers go to serve him, how could that match the late emperor's wishes?"

Then one of the most classic scenes in Khitan history was born. Cornered to the point of no escape, Shulu Ping directly drew a golden saber, chopped off her own right hand, and ordered it placed in Yelu Abaoji's coffin, to count as "attending the emperor."

The Severed-Wrist Empress Dowager was thus born.

This woman was truly ruthless—ruthless to others, and even more ruthless to herself. From that time on, it could be said that the entire Khitan court feared Shulu Ping and dared not resist her. With such a formidable mother keeping the lid on things, Yelu Deguang's twenty years of rule over the Khitan actually went quite smoothly, allowing him to display his talents in civil governance and military achievement.

Yelu Ruan, naturally, also lived in the shadow of Empress Dowager Shulu. Had he the chance, he would certainly have preferred to utterly destroy Shulu Ping. But considering the situation within the Khitan state, considering the cost, and adding the upheaval in Youzhou, Yelu Ruan still chose to negotiate.

The grandmother and grandson met face to face. Their expectations differed vastly, so naturally the bickering never ceased. But a negotiation between parties of unequal strength still ended with Shulu Ping's compromise—after all, circumstances are stronger than people. Of course, Empress Dowager Shulu was clearly unwilling to let this disobedient grandson usurp the realm. Whether she would stir up trouble afterward would depend on the future.

The "Agreement of the Crossing" was reached. For the Khitan, it eliminated a bloody civil war and internal attrition, preserving strength for an already hard-pressed Khitan state and stabilizing the people's hearts. For Yelu Ruan, he obtained the Empress Dowager's "recognition," and his succession to the throne was now secure in legal principle.

Although during this period—especially after the defeat of the southern campaign—the situation within the Khitan state had been somewhat unstable, as long as the Supreme Capital did not descend into chaos, that was enough to suppress everything. The Great Khitan built by the two generations of emperors, Yelu Abaoji and Yelu Deguang, over nearly half a century, still had deep foundations. It was just that this grassland empire rising from the north now had Yelu Ruan as its leader.

With the internal strife concluded, Yelu Ruan successfully entered the Supreme Capital, formally ascended the throne, and received the homage of the clans and the ministers of the Southern and Northern Administrations. Then he rewarded merit, reassured the people, and once everything was settled, turned his gaze back to Youyan.

Whether considered from military or economic strategy, or to consolidate his position and enhance his prestige, he had to retake Youzhou.

No matter how the winds and clouds shifted north of the ridges and south of the passes, Liu Chengyou's side, representing the new dynasty's power, could already sit securely at the fishing platform.

Atop the walls of Zhending, a completely new visage had appeared—flying over the ramparts were banners of "Han." In the Central Plains, Liu Zhiyuan had entered the Eastern Capital over a month ago. The old officials of the two capitals and the regional governors of the Central Plains vied to submit, and the Liu family's realm was firmly established.

On the fifteenth of this month (the sixth month), Liu Zhiyuan held court at Chongyuan Hall, received the homage of civil and military officials, and proclaimed a general amnesty. He restored Daliang, which Yelu Deguang had demoted to Bian Prefecture, back to the Eastern Capital, changed the dynastic name to Han, and kept the era name unchanged, still calling it Tianfu—still the same rhetoric of "unwilling to forget the Jin" and so forth...

When the news reached Zhending, the banners atop the walls immediately changed. For these soldiers who had followed the Liu family in conquering the realm, it was also an encouragement and reassurance. For Liu Chengyou personally, founding a dynasty and organizing a new court while having to fly the banner of the previous dynasty was inevitably awkward. Now the armies north and south of the Yellow River could rightfully call themselves the "Han army."

During this period, Liu Chengyou conducted a reorganization of Chengde Commandery and the prefectures south of Youyan—arranging border defenses and appointing military and civil officials.

Murong Yanzhao was made Defense Commissioner of Mo Prefecture and Commander of Infantry and Cavalry, leading the Fourth Longqi Army stationed at Mo County. Li Yun was made Patrol Inspector of Tai Prefecture, commanding two thousand troops, stationed at Rongcheng. These two formed the Southern Yishui defense line that Liu Chengyou had constructed to watch over Youyan.

He Fujin remained garrisoning Hejian, and Luo Yangui led the Fifth Army to garrison Qi Prefecture—both ready to support Mo and Tai prefectures at any moment.

While Liu Chengyou was arranging border defenses, Liu Zhiyuan was also making arrangements for Zhenzhou. He restored Zhenzhou to its old name of Hengzhou, appointing Zhang Yanwei as Military Governor of the Shunguo Army, governing the four prefectures of Heng, Shen, Ji, and Zhao. As for Liu Chengyou, he was summoned back to the Eastern Capital. Fortunately, all the arrangements he had made were approved by Liu Zhiyuan in one stroke.

When the proposal to commission Zhao Yanshou's northern expedition reached the Eastern Capital, it stirred considerable controversy in the Han court, even though on the surface it appeared to be a decision made by the two imperial princes. Liu Chengxun arrived smoothly in the capital and, in the spirit of a gentleman, vouched for Liu Chengyou—only to receive his first reprimand from Liu Zhiyuan, who accused him of acting on his own authority.

Under such circumstances, a sudden wave of criticism against Liu Chengyou surged through the newly born Han court—arrogance, high-handedness, clinging to power, nepotism... all sorts of labels were pasted on him. Clearly, the tree that stands out in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind.

After the Yan troops succeeded in their northern campaign and captured Youzhou, a number of court officials let their imaginations run wild, actually suggesting to Liu Zhiyuan that he send troops north to garrison and replace Zhao Yanshou. Fortunately, thanks to the remonstrance of the few clear-headed civil and military officials like Guo Wei, Liu Zhiyuan abandoned that notion.

When the edict summoning him to the Eastern Capital arrived, Liu Chengyou's mood was quite calm—after all, he had no desire to remain long as an external garrison commander, nor could he stay away from the center of power for too long.

In Zhending, after packing and preparing, as the height of summer drew to a close, Liu Chengyou led his men southward toward the Eastern Capital. He wanted to see what sort of spectacle this newly born Han court truly was.