Chapter 301

…

Although Zhao Yu had captured Yelu Yanxi in Dongjing Bianliang, Yelu Yanxi had not abandoned his efforts to save himself; after consulting with a group of Liao imperial family members, clansmen, and ministers, he formulated a self-rescue plan:

The Liao state is willing to offer two princes, two chancellors, two imperial princesses, and two clan princesses as hostages, and to present all treasures and fine horses carried by Yelu Yanxi as gifts to Zhao Yu; the Liao state further offers three hundred noblewomen, five hundred common women, and five hundred female musicians as tribute; the Liao state shall pay an annual tribute of one million pieces of silver and silk to the Zhao Song dynasty; the Liao state cedes the Five States of Yan, the Three States of Pingluan Ying, and the passes of Juyong, Gubeikou, Song Ting, and Yu to the Zhao Song dynasty; the two empires shall henceforth coexist peacefully along the Great Wall as their boundary; additionally, Yelu Yanxi is willing to bestow his second daughter, Yelu Guyu, upon Zhao Yu.

Notably, Yelu Yanxi and his ministers mentioned only what the Liao state was willing to give the Zhao Song dynasty, and made no demands whatsoever upon the Zhao Song dynasty.

Clearly, Yelu Yanxi and his ministers' current effort is to spare no cost, to do anything necessary, just to persuade Zhao Yu to let them return to Liao.

After finalizing their self-rescue strategy, Yelu Yanxi immediately dispatched Xiao Fengxian to convey his ministers' proposal to the Zhao Song side.

That night, Yelu Yanxi barely slept at all; he tossed and turned, endlessly wondering whether Zhao Yu would accept this proposal, whether he would be allowed to return to Liao.

Early the next morning, Li Chuweng and Wang Fu arrived at Dutingyi.

Yelu Yanxi believed his conditions had moved Zhao Yu, which was why Zhao Yu had sent emissaries so urgently to finalize the details.

Ironically, even at this point, Yelu Yanxi still maintained the airs of the Emperor of the Great Liao Empire; he did not meet Li Chuweng and Wang Fu in person, but sent Xiao Fengxian and Yelu Yali to represent him, and even took two jade pendants from the ornaments carried by his ministers and bestowed them upon Li Chuweng and Wang Fu.

Li Chuweng and Wang Fu accepted the two jade pendants—symbols of the Liao Empire's former glory, now appearing somewhat shabby—without showing any expression, yet inwardly sneered; they knew this was merely Yelu Yanxi's futile attempt to preserve his crumbling imperial dignity.

Inside Dutingyi, the scent of tea curled gently, yet could not mask the tense atmosphere permeating the air.

Xiao Fengxian and Yelu Yali, their faces grown solemn, relayed Yelu Yanxi's self-rescue plan in full detail to Li Chuweng and Wang Fu.

Upon hearing it, Wang Fu's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile; he thought inwardly, "The Liao people are indeed pragmatic—but these terms are offered far too late."

Li Chuweng, being a minister originally from Liao, inwardly did not wish to see his former sovereign act like a clown.

Crucially, Li Chuweng had come with a mission.

Thus, Li Chuweng spoke solemnly to Xiao Fengxian and Yelu Yali: "Your emperor lacks moral fortitude, his gaze is unsteady, he falls short of his ancestors, he indulges in wine and music, he is consumed by lust and hunting; he expels loyal ministers and appoints petty men; the people near and far suffer under harsh governance; he rejects advice and conceals faults, he pursues extravagance and excess, he is obsessed with hunting and travel, discipline and order have collapsed, public resentment boils, he is utterly incapable of resisting the Jurchens, and his continued rule threatens the safety of our Great Song—therefore, we request that he abdicate in favor of Prince Jin, who shall rally the remaining Liao forces, unite them in concerted effort, crush the Jurchens, and restore the capital…"

Li Chuweng's words were unmistakable: Yelu Yanxi was not merely unfit to lead Liao, but his incompetence and tyranny had plunged Liao into an irreversible abyss.

Therefore, the Zhao Song dynasty would not grant him mercy out of pity; instead, it feared that if he returned to power, he would accelerate Liao's decline and invite the Jurchens to threaten the peace of Zhao Song.

Thus, the Zhao Song dynasty made an unprecedented demand—that Yelu Yanxi must voluntarily abdicate in favor of his son Yelu Ao, so that the new ruler might unite Liao's remaining strength to jointly resist Jurchen invasion.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Fengxian and Yelu Yali exchanged glances, momentarily speechless; they had never imagined Zhao Yu would force Yelu Yanxi to abdicate.

This was unquestionably the greatest challenge to the authority of the Liao emperor and a fundamental destabilization of Liao's state structure.

Wang Fu took a light sip of tea, his sharp gaze sweeping over them, and said: "Our Emperor, mindful of our two states' old ties, does not wish to see Liao's century-old foundation destroyed, nor the northern border engulfed in endless war and the people displaced; thus, we have exerted great effort to facilitate this."

He paused, then added: "Prince Jin is young and capable; his virtue is known even to our Great Song. We believe he, as Liao's new sovereign, will surely lead Liao out of its predicament and restore its former glory. Your emperor, meanwhile, may live out his days in peace—a wise course indeed."

Li Chuweng added: "Our Great Song's action is not meant to humiliate, but to save. We hope you will understand the greater cause, persuade your emperor, prioritize the state's welfare, and not let personal selfishness destroy the lives of countless Liao subjects and the two-hundred-year legacy of the Great Liao."

Inside Dutingyi, the atmosphere grew unbearably solemn. Xiao Fengxian and Yelu Yali understood: though this proposal seemed harsh, it actually offered Yelu Yanxi a lifeline—and was Liao's only hope for rebirth.

One reason Xiao Fengxian had orchestrated so many schemes was to prevent Yelu Ao Luowan from becoming Crown Prince of Liao.

Yet now, Yelu Ao Luowan had become Emperor of Liao outright.

Xiao Fengxian knew full well that if Yelu Ao Luowan became emperor, he would surely purge him, the great traitor—he would meet no good end.

Thus, Xiao Fengxian hastily defended Yelu Yanxi: "This cannot be! The Emperor is the rightful heir of the Great Liao—how can abdication be spoken of so lightly? We beg the Emperor of Great Song to rescind this order!" His face was anxious, his words earnest, as he tried to refute this unprecedented proposal with appeals to Liao's traditions and the sacredness of imperial authority.

Yelu Yali also looked troubled; though he knew his father Yelu Yanxi was incompetent and tyrannical, abdication struck at the very foundation of the state—once enacted, not only would Yelu Yanxi's authority be shattered, but Liao's entire political structure would undergo a cataclysmic shift, with consequences impossible to predict.

Wang Fu spoke calmly: "Your emperor has lost virtue; his sacrifice cannot be prolonged. You know that rise and fall are matters of human action—do not ask the empty heavens. We have come not to negotiate, but to announce. You need only convey our Emperor's decree to your emperor. But remember: time waits for no one; opportunity will not return. The Jurchens' iron hooves are at the border; Liao hangs by a thread. Only a new sovereign can unite the people's hearts and resist foreign aggression. If you persist in clinging to this incompetent ruler, Liao's collapse is imminent."

Li Chuweng also spoke sternly: "This is for the sake of both our states, for the sake of our peoples. If your emperor can understand the greater cause and abdicate in favor of a worthy son, he may preserve his own safety and leave Liao with a sliver of hope. Otherwise, to avoid being dragged down by your Liao, our Emperor will immediately lead his army northward—first destroy the Liao dynasty, then turn fully against the Jurchens."

Seeing this, Xiao Fengxian realized there was no turning back—Yelu Yanxi's abdication was inevitable; trying to save him now was hopeless. So he said: "Prince Jin has shown decisiveness since childhood, acts with firm will, and is hard to control. But Prince Qin is humble, benevolent, forgiving, naturally sincere, and open to counsel—his virtue is pure. He is better suited to be Liao's new sovereign. If Prince Qin inherits the throne, our two states shall surely form a lasting alliance and coexist in peace."

Xiao Fengxian was practically saying: Yelu Ao Luowan is uncontrollable, but Yelu Ding is controllable—you don't want a new ruler who can't be controlled, do you? So for your own future interests, better install Yelu Ding.

On the matter of who should become Liao's new emperor, even Yelu Yanxi had no say—let alone Xiao Fengxian.

Li Chuweng and Wang Fu did not even glance at Xiao Fengxian; they turned their gaze together to Yelu Yali.

Yelu Yali understood: they had made their position perfectly clear—they had come only to notify, not to negotiate; your task is simply to relay this to others.

Yelu Yali spoke slowly, his voice tinged with resignation: "I shall faithfully convey this matter to the Emperor. But this concerns the very foundation of the state—it is beyond our power to decide lightly. We beg the Emperor of Great Song to grant us some time to deliberate carefully."