Chapter 285: Sacrificing Daughters to Secure Allegiance: The Seeds of Jin-Liao Diplomatic Disaster

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Wanyan Wulu, Wanyan Yine, and Wanyan Zhulan were the three daughters of Wanyan Aguda—the only three daughters.

To outmaneuver the Liao and prevent the Zhao Song dynasty from aligning with Liao—thus ensuring Jin’s victory in the Jin-Liao war and avoiding the annihilation of the Jurchens, or at least the Wanyan clan—this contemporary hero Wanyan Aguda showed true resolve, courage, and decisiveness: he staked everything by offering all his daughters at once.

But—

The problem now is that Wanyan Aguda staking his own daughters alone is useless.

The Liao side had already sent Zhao Yu over a thousand Liao beauties, among whom royal, clan, and noble daughters alone numbered nearly five hundred; in this single shipment alone, they sent three hundred royal, clan, and noble daughters.

How could Wanyan Aguda’s three daughters possibly compete with that?

Thus, it was clear: not only must Wanyan Aguda send his own daughters, but the entire Jin imperial clan, royal clan, and nobility must also give their daughters to Zhao Yu—otherwise Jin would be utterly outmatched by Liao.

Yet Jin had only just risen; its depth still paled beside the Liao Empire, which had stood for over two hundred years.

As a result, even counting all adult and near-adult unmarried girls in the Wanyan clan, there were barely over fifty.

This number still included those lacking beauty.

If the plain ones were excluded, the Wanyan clan could produce at most forty or so beautiful young women.

The rest would have to come from other Jurchen nobles, such as:

Tudan clan—a major Jurchen tribe, intermarried with the Wanyan for generations; several empresses and princesses came from this clan, such as Empress Zhaode of Emperor Shizong and Empress Dowager Tudan of Hailingwang.

Wugunlun clan—frequently intermarried with the Wanyan; Emperor Taizu’s primary consort Wugunlun (mother of Wanyan Wulu and others) and Empress Yuan of Emperor Shizong both hailed from this clan, whose members held high offices.

Pucha clan—a great Jurchen clan, historically married into the Jin imperial family; represented by Empress Jingxuan of Emperor Suzong and Empress Qinhuai of Emperor Zhangzong; this clan wielded significant influence in military and political affairs.

Tangkuo clan—a major Jurchen noble tribe; represented by Empress Qinren of Emperor Taizong and the maternal clan of Empress Zhaode of Emperor Shizong; its members often served as Military Governors, Meng’an, and Mouke.

Heshilie clan—a military aristocratic family renowned for martial prowess; exemplified by Heshilie Zhining (famous general under Emperor Shizong, enfeoffed Prince of Jinyuan), whose family held a vital position in Jin’s military structure.

Pusan clan—a powerful Jurchen tribe, historically intermarried with the Jin imperial family; represented by Pusan Zhongyi (Chancellor under Emperor Shizong, enfeoffed Duke of Yi) and Pusan Antzhen (general under Emperor Xuanzong).

—These Jurchen noble clans, through marriage alliances, military merit, and hereditary privileges, formed the pillars of Jin’s rule, wielding immense influence in politics, military, and economy.

Also included were lesser Jurchen noble clans such as Jiagu, Heshilie, Wulinna, and Puxian, as well as recently annexed Bohai clans: the Da, Li, Zhang, and Gao families—prominent Bohai lineages.

In short, Jin scraped together every resource and finally assembled three hundred beautiful young women for Zhao Yu.

To bolster prestige, Wanyan Aguda granted Wanyan Wulu the title of Grand Princess of Jin, Wanyan Yine the title of Bi Princess, and Wanyan Zhulan the title of E Princess; he also enfeoffed all his brothers’ and cousins’ daughters as princesses, distant royal daughters as commandery princesses, and noble daughters as county princesses—ultimately producing over ten princesses, over twenty commandery princesses, and over two hundred county princesses, far exceeding Liao’s five princesses.

Wanyan Aguda’s reluctant act for the greater good left Jin’s youth seething with resentment.

They did not fail to understand Wanyan Aguda’s choice: after all, compared to the rise of the Jurchens, what were three hundred women?

To ensure the Jurchen people’s ascendancy, they would gladly sacrifice thirty thousand men.

Yet they still felt humiliated.

For these three hundred royal, clan, and noble daughters had once belonged to them—many already betrothed to some among them, or mutually in love, awaiting only a propitious day to marry. Yet overnight, these delicate blossoms were branded with political labels, destined for distant, alien Zhao Song, sacrificed to cement the Jin-Song alliance against Liao.

How could these spoiled Jurchen youths not harbor hatred toward Zhao Yu and his Zhao Song dynasty, who had stolen their brides?

From this moment on, seeds of hatred took root in the hearts of Jurchen youth; they silently swore that once they conquered Liao, they would march south, steel horses and spears trampling Zhao Song’s lands, forcing Zhao Yu and his dynasty to repay a hundredfold for today’s humiliation—not only reclaiming these three hundred Jurchen princesses, but seizing Zhao Yu’s concubines and daughters as well.

Far away in Zhao Song, if Zhao Yu knew how these young Jurchens thought, he would curse them: “I’ll fuck your mothers! It was your Jin that insisted on competing with Liao—what’s it got to do with me? Why blame me?!”

In short:

The Jurchens tightened their belts, pretended wealth, and finally assembled the full tribute for Zhao Yu.

Wanyan Aguda appointed Wanyan Yinshuke as chief envoy, with Helu and Dadiwu as deputies, to accompany Zhao Liangsi and others back to Zhao Song to negotiate grain and arms purchases and bilateral relations.

Wanyan Yinshuke was no ordinary man—he could lead armies and understand politics.

When Wanyan Aguda first ascended, he sent Wanyan Yinshuke and Wanyan Xigu’na as envoys to Liao. Upon return, he reported to Wanyan Aguda that Yelu Yanxi neglected governance and that the Khitan were crumbling, urging war against Liao. During the Jin-Liao war, he repeatedly served as Vanguard Commander, participating in key battles at Ningjiangzhou and Chuhedian, laying the foundation for Jin’s founding.

Historically, after Jin conquered Liao, Wanyan Yinshuke joined the southern campaign against Song, participating in sieges such as Taiyuan, defeating Song armies repeatedly and playing a crucial role in expanding Jin’s territory. He was also ordered to garrison strategic locations like Taiyuan, stabilizing Jin’s rule in Central Plains, preventing Song counterattacks and local rebellions.

Wanyan Yinshuke excelled in frontline assaults and battlefield decisions; as Vanguard, he shattered enemy lines swiftly and seized opportunities amid complex battles, often winning against superior forces. In both Jin-Liao and Jin-Song wars, he accurately assessed enemy strength and strategic posture; his tactical recommendations were frequently adopted, profoundly influencing Jin’s expansion. While garrisoning regions, he maintained military security, pacified civilians, reformed administration, and promoted local stability and economic recovery, demonstrating exceptional civil-military competence.

In sum, Wanyan Yinshuke’s merits and abilities made him a key figure in Jin’s founding elite, later regarded as one of the pivotal generals in the Jurchens’ rise.

Wanyan Aguda appointed Wanyan Yinshuke as envoy not only because this mission was critical, but also because he wanted to gauge the true strength of Zhao Song.

Helu and Dadiwu were both Jurchen bojin—tribal chieftains, also called bojilie, meaning overseers or governors.

Some bojin governed fifty households; others governed ten thousand. They combined civil and military roles: peacetime hunters, wartime soldiers. Each bojin commanded troops; during campaigns, they were called meng’an and mouke. “Their titles reflected their numbers: meng’an meant commander of a thousand, mouke commander of a hundred.” A commander of ten thousand was called te mu bojin, a commander of a thousand a meng’an bojin, a commander of a hundred a mouke bojin, and a commander of fifty a pu nian bojin.

Helu and Dadiwu were merely pu nian bojin—their experience was severely limited; Wanyan Aguda still trusted Wanyan Yinshuke’s judgment and ability.

…

Several days later, Zhao Liangsi’s party, accompanied by Wanyan Yinshuke and the other Jin envoys, arrived in Dongjing Bianliang with their tribute for Zhao Yu.

Zhao Yu issued an edict ordering Zhao Liangsi and Zhou Wuzhong to house the Jin envoys at Duting Western Relay, receiving them with the same rites previously accorded to Xia envoys, and bestowing upon them quilts, bedding, and poluo cups.

The next day, Cai Jing and others arranged for Wanyan Yinshuke and the Jin envoys to present themselves at Chongzheng Hall to pay homage to Zhao Yu.