Chapter 284

…

Just as Zhao Liangsi and others had enfeoffed Wanyan Aguda as Emperor Da Sheng, Xiao Delidi and Han Fang returned to Liao's Shangjing and met with Yelu Yanxi and his ministers.

Xiao Delidi and Han Fang immediately told Yelu Yanxi and his ministers everything: that Zhao Yu had met the Jin envoys, agreed to enfeoff Wanyan Aguda as Emperor Da Sheng, and that the Song Jin alliance might jointly destroy Liao; they recounted verbatim the three strategies given by Xiao Puxianv, and that they had not even been granted an audience with Zhao Yu during their mission to the Song court.

Long before Xiao Delidi and Han Fang returned, the messengers sent back to Liao had already informed Yelu Yanxi and his ministers that Song and Jin might ally to destroy Liao.

To this, whether Yelu Yanxi or the Liao ministers, all firmly believed it. They put themselves in the Song's place: if roles were reversed, they would surely join Jin to annihilate their ancient enemy, the Song, then eliminate Jin to complete unification—just as they had once allied with Xi Xia to bleed the Song dry, waiting for the moment to strike.

This was what was called "befriending the distant and attacking the near"; since ancient times, all warring states had followed this path.

This was also the logic and law hidden within history's rolling wheel, crushing the rise and fall of countless nations—cold, direct, and unyielding.

Though Yelu Yanxi seethed inwardly, he knew the tide of fate could not be reversed by human will. His gaze, deep and heavy, swept over the ministers below the dais, his voice tinged with resignation: "If Song and Jin unite, our Liao is doomed. Yet our great Liao has stood for over a hundred years—will we surrender so easily? My loyal ministers, do you have any wise strategy to counter this?"

The result? The entire great Liao offered no response beyond Xiao Puxianv's three strategies.

Moreover, since none of the Liao ministers could influence Zhao Yu as Xiao Puxianv could, their proposed strategies were even less feasible.

For instance, Xiao Puxianv's top strategy—ceding the Five States of Yan, the Three States of Pingluanying, and all related passes to secure full Song support and use Song power to crush Jin—could only be partially achieved: they could at best guarantee the Song would no longer aid Jin, allowing Liao to concentrate all forces against Jin.

For instance, Xiao Puxianv's middle strategy—betting everything, gathering all troops, and seeking aid from Goryeo, Liao's ancient enemy of Jin, to fight a decisive battle with Jin—some Liao ministers had also considered, but none dared trust the Song to remain neutral.

And for instance, Xiao Puxianv's bottom strategy—bribing Zhao Yu—many Liao ministers had thought of it too, but none could guarantee the Song would temporarily stay neutral.

Seen this way, Xiao Puxianv still played a crucial role—so much so that Liao could not ignore this woman.

To be honest, Yelu Yanxi wished it were not Xiao Puxianv who held such power; he wished it were Yelu Nanxian or the other three Khitan princesses—even Xiao Sese, the woman he had discarded, would have been preferable.

Yelu Yanxi knew well that Yelu Nanxian and the others truly cared for Liao; as for Xiao Puxianv… honestly, he could not fathom what was in her mind.

Moreover, Yelu Yanxi clearly remembered how, when Xiao Puxianv left Yanjing for Zhao Yu's court, she had shown him nothing but contempt.

This made him unwilling to stake Liao's fate on a woman who held not a shred of affection for him.

Yet the current situation left Liao no better path—its best option seemed only to choose one from Xiao Puxianv's three strategies.

Yelu Yanxi gathered all his Liao ministers to seek counsel.

Yelu Chun, Seeing Xiao Fengxian, Xiao Yixue, and other senior Liao ministers were all present.

Inside the great hall, candlelight flickered, casting shadows over faces solemn and anxious.

Yelu Yanxi's gaze drifted among the ministers, searching for a glimmer of hope to pierce the darkness.

Since his defeat at Zhao Yu's hands, Yelu Chun had served as governor of Yanjing, tirelessly mitigating the damage to Liao's morale from that loss—and thus won deep popular favor, known as the Prince of Yan, the Ninth Prince, the Great Prince of Qianxiang.

As the highest official in Yan, the heartland of Liao, and a scion of the imperial house, Yelu Chun deeply worried for Liao's future. Faced with the chaos before him, he longed to act—but felt powerless.

The once-mighty Liao Empire, which had ruled the steppes with thunderous authority, now teetered on the brink of collapse.

Ever since Zhao Yu took Xiao Puxianv from him, whenever confronting the Song, especially Zhao Yu himself, he felt a crushing sense of helplessness.

As a result, each night he drank alone in the Wang Fu, convinced only wine could numb his tormenting spirit and dilute his boundless sorrow.

And whenever he drank too much, he thought of Xiao Puxianv—the woman who nearly became his Wang Fei, the woman who now, in hindsight, seemed perfect in every way.

Alas, he was weak—he had let Zhao Yu steal Xiao Puxianv from him, leaving behind a wound that would never fade.

He heard she had borne Zhao Yu three sons.

And thinking of his own only son, Yelu Asa, who was utterly unworthy—so much so that he had conspired with Yelu Zhangnu and others to rebel and seize the throne—he could not help but shudder. Had he not swiftly executed Xiao Dili and others, and personally crushed Yelu Zhangnu's rebellion, Liao might have already collapsed into chaos.

He could not help wondering: how much better it would have been if Xiao Puxianv had borne him three sons.

In short: what is unattainable always stirs the heart.

Now, learning that Xiao Puxianv had offered Liao her three strategies, Yelu Chun instinctively wished to support her—and he strongly favored her top strategy. He mused inwardly: 'She has always been wise and intimately familiar with the Song Emperor. Only by ceding land to win Song support can our Liao preserve its realm and ancestral altars.'

Xiao Yixue, a Khitan noble who had held key posts, had repeatedly led troops against the advancing Jin army and remained fiercely loyal to Liao and Yelu Yanxi.

Xiao Yixue believed Liao had reached its moment of life or death—only by facing certain death could it find rebirth. He therefore advocated adopting Xiao Puxianv's middle strategy: ally with Goryeo and fight a decisive battle against Jin; if Liao won, perhaps all problems would vanish.

Seeing Xiao Fengxian, Yelu Yanxi's favorite minister and Liao's foremost traitor, had seen his brother Xiao Sixian lose the decisive battle against the Jurchens, and his other brother lose the Liao Eastern Capital—both events crucial to Jin's rise and Liao's decline. Logically, Seeing Xiao Fengxian bore undeniable blame; not only should he have been stripped of office, but execution would have been justified.