Chapter 968: The Situation in Liao

In the height of summer, the heat was oppressive, and the air seemed thick with a restless, unsettling energy. After being announced, Li Chongju entered the hall to pay his respects. Not even pausing to enjoy the coolness within, he said solemnly to Liu Chengyou: "Your Majesty, news has arrived from the north—the Khitan rebellion has been put down!"

At these words, Liu Chengyou's full attention was immediately drawn. Narrowing his eyes, he asked: "Weren't we just told that both sides were still locked in struggle? How was the deadlock broken?"

Li Chongju replied: "The Liao general Yelu Xiezhen led three thousand light cavalry on a six-hundred-li detour, striking directly at the rebels' rear. Yelu Xiyin and the others failed to notice, and caught between two fronts, suffered a great defeat. Thus the rebellion was quelled!"

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou smiled. Though his tone carried a hint of regret, his demeanor appeared quite composed. He said: "I knew all along the rebels would be no match for the Khitan sovereign and his ministers. Still, this rebellion of theirs lasted four months in total—that was quite enough..."

Regarding this internal rebellion in Liao, overall speaking, it was a major eruption of long-accumulated contradictions within the Khitan over the question of imperial succession. Yelu Xiyin was merely a representative figure. Had there been no Han-Liao war, had the war's outcome not deteriorated, then things would never have escalated to this extent.

Initially, after the failed rebellion in the Supreme Capital, Yelu Xiyin fled in secret. Together with a band of partisans, he swiftly gathered rebel forces at Fuyu City, seventy li to the west, amassing over ten thousand men. Thereafter, he launched another attack on Linhuang Prefecture, seeking to seize the capital and control the central government. Although the rebellion within the city was exposed and defeated before it could begin, thanks to a report from a fearful informant, there were still some internal collaborators.

However, the one responsible for the Supreme Capital's security was Xiao Haili. In times of crisis, he could respond actively, take decisive measures, extinguish plots, and protect the Supreme Capital. Under such circumstances, how could Yelu Xiyin possibly succeed?

Yelu Xiyin was held up before the walls of the Supreme Capital for seven days. His plan of coordinating from within and without was declared bankrupt under Xiao Haili's strict and powerful control. As for a direct assault, there was even less chance of success.

The rebels were not without capable men, however. Under these circumstances, Yelu Xiyin heeded advice and began dispatching envoys far and wide, contacting the various Khitan tribes, spreading rumors, and stirring up war-weary tribes' resistance against the Liao Emperor Yelu Jing.

During the bitter fighting between Han and Liao, the Khitan nobles and tribal people had indeed suffered tremendous losses, accumulating resentment. Coupled with those rumors of dubious veracity, Yelu Xiyin raised the banner of "Empress Dowager Shulu," brought out his father Yelu Lihu as well, and had so many princes and nobles as his supporters—this still managed to deceive quite a number of people into defecting to Yelu Xiyin. The Xi tribal unrest south of Linhuang Prefecture was also a result of Yelu Xiyin's instigation.

By the time Yelu Jing led his army back, Yelu Xiyin's strength in and around the Supreme Capital, Linhuang, had been continuously expanding. He had almost completely controlled its surroundings, cutting off communications, seeking to force a surrender. However, Xiao Haili proved unyielding, holding firm throughout, pacifying and controlling the situation. Relying on complete defenses, ample provisions, and the elite troops Yelu Jing had left behind, he tenaciously held the Liao capital.

In Xiao Haili's view, Yelu Xiyin was impetuous and restless, ambitious but lacking in ability. For personal gain, he disregarded the greater good of the state, recklessly launching a rebellion that inflicted heavy losses upon the nation and its people, even threatening the state's very survival. How could such a man accomplish anything—and how could he be allowed to? Therefore, Xiao Haili devoted himself wholeheartedly to opposing the rebels, leaving Yelu Xiyin utterly helpless.

Later, when Yelu Xiezhen returned ahead of schedule, rode into the city, brought the Liao Emperor's edicts, and reported on the situation at the front, the hearts of the vast majority in the Supreme Capital were finally settled. And with Yelu Xiezhen's assistance, the defenses became even more secure.

Yelu Xiyin's rebel army made a great show of force, but in the end they were a motley rabble. Troops gathered on short notice could not maintain strict discipline, nor could command achieve effective unity. If they could not achieve a critical breakthrough, then defeat and destruction were not far off.

In fact, had the retreat plan of the Liao army fighting in the south gone smoothly, and had they returned with their forces, they would have been more than enough to crush the rebels. However, Yang Ye's pursuit and the disastrous defeat at Duanyun Ridge made the Liao army's situation even worse.

As for Yanyun, although it was in a state of abandonment, they still had to leave considerable forces for southern affairs—both to rest and reorganize, and to monitor the Han army's movements, so as to be prepared should it venture beyond the frontier and march north.

Therefore, those who actually returned north with Yelu Jing to suppress the rebellion numbered fewer than fifty thousand, with the Pishi Army as the main body. Moreover, under continuous blows, morale was wavering and spirits were low.

By the time they reached the Xi tribal lands, they were at the end of their strength. Fortunately, with the Emperor's return and the army's arrival, the Xi king, who had been somewhat hesitant, wisely chose to support the legitimate Liao Emperor and cooperated in suppressing the increasingly unstable Xi tribes.

Considering the army's exhaustion, Yelu Jing heeded Han Deshu's advice and temporarily rested at Songshan, first stabilizing the Xi people. Because the Supreme Capital had not fallen, this bought him considerable time. Although the domestic situation was dire, with his return, many rumors collapsed on their own.

Of course, while resting at Songshan, Yelu Jing did not give the rebels free rein, nor could he sit idly by while they ran rampant. In response to the rebels' actions, Yelu Jing also dispatched envoys widely, launching a political offensive among the Khitan tribes. With the true sovereign back, the effect was far better than Yelu Xiyin's efforts. Soon, a large number of officials and tribes submitted memorials pledging loyalty and fiercely condemning the rebels, while many who had been ambiguous quickly switched positions. Thus, the rebels' momentum plummeted.

At the same time, Yelu Jing sent generals such as Yelu Sha and Han Kuangmei with small contingents northward to harass and raid, coordinating with Xiao Haili's defense of the city. Facing pressure from both political and military fronts, the rebels began to waver, losing their bearings. In the end, they stalled before the Supreme Capital and could accomplish nothing further.

It was not until the fifteenth day of the fourth month that the Liao Emperor, having fully rested and reorganized his army, personally led his forces north toward Linhuang Prefecture. Under these circumstances, Yelu Xiyin's choice was actually to withdraw. He led his troops in a frantic flight north, fleeing in panic without regard for direction, ultimately ending up in the Mantou Mountain area between the Hun River and the Talu River. His soldiers deserted and fled, until fewer than twenty thousand remained. These were the diehards, those excluded from the Liao Emperor's amnesty, and thus they had no choice but to go down the path to the very end.

Returning to the Supreme Capital and facing a nearly collapsed domestic situation, Yelu Jing had no choice but to focus his efforts on restoring order and stabilizing governance to nurture the people. As for Yelu Xiyin, he was handed over to Yelu Sha and Yelu Xiezhen, who were to lead troops to deal with him.

Speaking of Yelu Sha, he was a Liao general with military talent, but his luck was poor—a thoroughly unlucky fellow. In the fighting against the Han army, he had exerted himself greatly, but several major losses bore his mark. Especially at the Battle of Duanyun Ridge, where he lost twenty thousand troops.

Considering multiple factors and the practical difficulties he faced, Yelu Jing did not punish Yelu Sha too severely. He demoted his rank and stripped his titles, but still gave him the opportunity to atone for his crimes through merit.

It was thus that, in coordination with Yelu Xiezhen, he achieved the merit of destroying Yelu Xiyin and pacifying the rebellion.

"After this upheaval, Liao's situation is likely to go from bad to worse. Speaking of which, I should thank that Yelu Xiyin. If there's an opportunity, I ought to commend his merits..." Having heard Li Chongju's report, Liu Chengyou said with a smile: "By the way, what became of Yelu Xiyin? Did he manage to escape?"

Li Chongju replied: "Yelu Xiyin was captured alive and taken under escort to Linhuang Prefecture. The Liao sovereign assembled the imperial clan, ministers and high officials, tribal nobles and chieftains, as well as the military and populace, and publicly executed Yelu Xiyin, his son, and 118 other members of the imperial clan, nobles, generals, and chieftains who had participated in this rebellion!"

"It seems Yelu Jing was truly enraged this time. A purge of such scale and such ruthlessness—this must be the first since he ascended the throne!" Liu Chengyou commented as an observer: "After this rebellion, the Liao sovereign's prestige will be further weakened. Yet such a purge also has benefits for strengthening and consolidating his power. Only, who knows whether it's a blessing or a curse?"

Regarding the Emperor's assessment, Li Chongju dared not offer his own views, only saying what he ought to and could say: "Your Majesty, in the years the Liao sovereign has been on the throne, members of the imperial clan and nobles have repeatedly plotted usurpation, but all were swiftly suppressed. For those rebels, there was little killing—imprisonment and exile were the norm. This slaughter is indeed the first time!"

In the original course of history, Yelu Xiyin had also plotted rebellion, and more than once. Even into the era of Emperor Jingzong, Yelu Xian, he was still executed for rebellion. As for Yelu Xiyin, perhaps to appease, or for some other reason, Yelu Jing had not resorted to killing in the official records. This time, however, having stirred up such a massive rebellion that inflicted nearly irreparable wounds upon the Khitan dynasty, Yelu Jing's methods turned harsh and fierce.

In fact, the greatest problems Yelu Jing had always faced in ruling Liao came from within the imperial house, from the four inner tribes, from the very core of Liao's ruling structure. And given Yelu Xiyin's abilities, without the support of others, how could he have created such a stir and such severe consequences?

After such an upheaval and purge, at least the opposition forces from within the imperial house had suffered a devastating blow and been weakened. In the future, anyone thinking of rebelling would have to think carefully about the consequences.

From this perspective, this rebellion, for Yelu Jing, served to distinguish friend from foe and stabilize his throne—though the price was somewhat steep. Moreover, this all had to be done on the basis of ensuring the pacification and stability of all the tribes throughout Liao.

Liao today was beset with troubles both at home and abroad. War and rebellion had severely sapped its strength, with the population losing one in ten. Of the vast territories under its control, apart from the Eastern Capital Circuit and the northwestern tribes which suffered lesser losses, most other regions had been badly damaged—especially the ruling core around the Supreme Capital, which suffered the deepest harm.

At home, everything was in a tangle, urgently awaiting the restoration of peace; to the south, armies had been lost and territory surrendered—the Great Han had withdrawn its troops, but still watched with hungry eyes; the various tribes of Mobei were also showing signs of instability...

Liu Chengyou pondered on Yelu Jing's behalf how to resolve such a predicament, and the conclusion he reached was but a single word: difficult! He thought of the situation the Great Han had faced at its founding. Of course, national conditions differed and distinctions had to be made, but no matter how one looked at it, Liao's days right now were not easy ones.