Chapter 285: Sacrificing Daughters to Plead Loyalty: The Seed of Disaster in the Jin-Liao Gift Exchange

…

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

To win over Liao and prevent the Zhao Song dynasty from aligning with Liao—thus ensuring Jin Chao would not lose the Liao-Jin war and face annihilation, at least the Wanyu clan—Wanyu Aguda, this hero of the age, proved decisive, bold, and willing to make sacrifices: he staked everything by offering all his daughters at once.

But—

The problem now is that Wanyu Aguda alone staking his daughters is not enough.

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

How could Wanyu Aguda's three daughters possibly match that?

Thus, it was clear: not only must Wanyu Aguda give his own daughters, but Jin Chao's imperial clan, royal clan, and nobility must all send their daughters to Zhao Yu, or Jin Chao would be outdone by Liao.

Yet Jin Chao had only just risen; its foundations 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 Wanyu clan, there were barely over fifty.

This number still included those lacking in beauty.

If those were excluded, the Wanyu clan could produce at most forty or so beautiful young women.

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

Tugan—an important clan that formed marital alliances with the Wanyan clan for generations, producing many empresses and royal consorts, such as Empress Zhaode of Emperor Fang Shizong of the Jin dynasty (née Tugan) and the legitimate mother of Prince Hailing (née Tugan).

Wugun—frequently intermarried with the Wanyu clan; Jin Taizu's primary consort, Wugun (mother of Wanyu Wulu and others), and Jin Fang Shizong's primary consort, also from this clan; its members held many high offices.

Pucha—a major Jurchen clan, historically intermarried with the Jin imperial family, represented by Jin Su Sect's Jingxuan Empress Pucha and Jin Zhangzong's Qinhuai Empress Pucha; its family held significant military and political power.

Tang Kuo—a key Jurchen noble clan; Jin Taizong's Qiren Empress Tang Kuo and the maternal clan of Jin Fang Shizong's Zhaode Empress belonged to this lineage; its members frequently served as Military Governor, Meng'an, and Mouke.

Heshilie—a Jurchen military aristocratic family, famed for martial prowess; representative figures include Heshilie Zhining (a famed general under Jin Fang Shizong, enfeoffed as Prince of Jinyuan); the family held vital positions in Jin Chao's military structure.

Pusan—a powerful Jurchen clan, historically intermarried with the Jin imperial family; represented by Pusan Zhongyi (Chancellor under Jin Fang Shizong, enfeoffed as Duke of Yi) and Pusan Anzhen (general under Xuan Sect).

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

Also, lesser Jurchen noble clans such as Jiagu, Heshilie, Wulinna, and Puxian, as well as recently annexed Bohai clans: Da, Li, Zhang, and Gao.

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

To bolster prestige, Wanyu Aguda enfeoffed Wanyu Wulu as Grand Princess of Jin Chao, Wanyu Yine as Princess Bi, and Wanyu Zhulan as Princess E; he also enfeoffed 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.

Wanyu Aguda's reluctant act for the greater good left Jin Chao's youth seething with resentment.

They did not fail to understand Wanyu Aguda's choice: after all, compared to the rise of the Jurchens, three hundred women meant nothing.

For the Jurchen people to rise, even the death of thirty thousand men would be worth it.

But the problem was, they still felt humiliated.

These three hundred royal, clan, and noble daughters had originally belonged to them; many had already been betrothed to some among them, or were 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, to become sacrifices securing 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 snatched away their brides?

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

Far away in Zhao Song, if Zhao Yu knew how these young Jurchens thought, he would curse aloud: "I shit on your mothers! It was your Jin Chao that insisted on competing with Liao—what does that have to do with me? Why blame me?!"

In short:

The Jurchens tightened their belts, puffed up their chests, and finally assembled the full tribute for Zhao Yu.

Wanyu Aguda appointed Wanyu Yinshuke as chief envoy, with Helu and Dadiwu as vice envoys, accompanying Zhao Liangsi and others back to Zhao Song to negotiate grain and arms purchases and bilateral relations.

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

When Wanyu Aguda first ascended, he sent Wanyu Yinshuke and Wanyu Xigu'na as envoys to Liao. Upon return, he reported to Wanyu Aguda that Yelu Yanxi neglected state affairs and that the Khitans were crumbling, urging war against Liao. In the Liao-Jin War, he repeatedly served as vanguard, participating in key battles at Ningjiangzhou and Chuheidian, laying the foundation for Jin Chao's founding.

Historically, after Jin destroyed Liao, Wanyu Yinshuke joined the southern campaign against Song, participating in the siege of Taiyuan and other battles; he repeatedly defeated Song armies, significantly expanding Jin Chao's territory. He was also ordered to garrison strategic locations like Taiyuan, stabilizing Jin Chao's rule in Central Plains and preventing Song counterattacks and local rebellions.

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

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

Wanyu Aguda appointed Wanyu Yinshuke as envoy not only because this mission was vital, but also because he wanted to assess Zhao Song's true strength.

Helu and Dadiwu were both Jurchen Bojin—tribal chieftains, also called Bojili, meaning supreme commander.

Some Bojin governed fifty households; others governed ten thousand. They were military-civilian integrated: in peacetime they hunted; in wartime they marched. 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 ten-thousand-commander was called Temo Bojin, a thousand-commander Meng'an Bojin, a hundred-commander Mouke Bojin, and a fifty-commander Puniang Bojin.

Helu and Dadiwu were merely Puniang Bojin—their experience was extremely limited; Wanyu Aguda still trusted Wanyu Yinshuke's judgment and ability.

…

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

Zhao Yu issued an edict ordering Zhao Liangsi and Zhou Wuzhong to house the Jin envoys in Duting West Hostel, receiving them with the same rites previously accorded to Xixia envoys, and granting them quilts, bedding, and popo cups.

The next day, Cai Jing arranged for Wanyu Yinshuke and the other Jin envoys to appear before Zhao Yu in Chongzheng Hall.