Chapter 487

Appendix: Extra Chapter 1 — Grenades Fear Water

"What is this?"

At noon, by the banks of the Suyab River, the autumn wind was bleak, the wildfire slowly dying. Xiao Tabuyan, dressed in plain white, her eyes slightly red, looked warily at Xiao Wolila before her.

"Reporting to the Empress Dowager."

Xiao Wolila, the King of the Six Courts and Grand Marshal of the Western Liao, bowed his head. In his hands he held a delicate, locked wooden box, two feet long and one foot wide. "This is a collection of the late Emperor's correspondence with the Great Song Emperor... Each year, the late Emperor personally replaced the old lock with a new one and placed the previous year's letters inside... Before his death, he said that when his remains were gathered for burial, if the Empress Dowager was present, she must view them with me; if not, His Majesty must open them himself, and I would read them to him."

Xiao Tabuyan relaxed slightly, recalling that her husband had indeed left behind a set of keys before his death, and she hurriedly sent someone to fetch them.

However, while the ruler and minister waited for the keys, despite the presence of nearly a hundred civil and military officials and several thousand armored soldiers, the scene inevitably fell into a tense and sorrowful silence.

The sorrow, of course, was because this day marked the cremation and bone-gathering ceremony of Yelu Dashi, the de facto founding monarch of the Western Liao and the nominal tenth emperor of the Liao.

But the tension arose from a mutual wariness between the two most powerful figures present—the young emperor Yelu Yilie was still a child, the Empress Dowager Xiao Tabuyan stood silent and still, while Xiao Wolila could only hold the box motionless at her side.

To be fair, Xiao Wolila and Xiao Tabuyan were quite familiar with each other. She was the empress Yelu Dashi trusted most, governing for over a decade during his campaigns; he was the minister Yelu Dashi trusted most, serving as Grand Marshal and King of the Six Courts... and they were also in-laws (Yelu Dashi had only one son and one daughter, and the daughter was betrothed to Xiao Wolila's eldest son)... There was no reason for them not to be familiar.

Moreover, both shared the surname Xiao, and though not close kin, they both descended from the Shulü Xiao clan, bound by shared origins. And when Xiao Tabuyan became queen at the start of Yelu Dashi's reign, it was not without the help of Xiao Wolila, the second founder of the Western Liao.

But times had changed.

Now, Yelu Dashi, whose body had long been worn down by constant warfare and travel, had fallen ill and died. His son was young, and Xiao Tabuyan, following Liao tradition, assumed regency as a female ruler, changing the era name to Xianqing. Her first and greatest source of instability and direct threat was precisely Xiao Wolila, the King of the Six Courts and Grand Marshal.

It must be understood that the Western Liao's state system followed the former Great Liao structure, divided into two major streams: the Northern Stream was the central bureaucracy, a hybrid of Han-style central government and Khitan palace-tent system, directly governing the capital, Hu Si Ordu, by the Suyab River, and most of the so-called old realm peoples—Khitan, Xi, Han, Jurchen, and others. The Southern Stream was the regional administration, directly overseeing dozens of large and small vassal states, including Gaochang, the Eastern and Western Karakhanids, and Khwarezm.

The separation and precautions between internal and external were quite clear.

In this situation, Xiao Wolila was not only Grand Marshal but also King of the Six Courts, overseeing the imperial clan. His power was self-evident.

Of course, Yelu Dashi's prestige as a founding monarch who had traveled ten thousand li was unparalleled, and his widow and orphan were also supported by the palace-tent army and the core tribes.

In short, with a young ruler causing state doubts, a mother-empress ruling from behind the curtain, a powerful minister commanding the army, and the state's situation being so peculiar... it was no wonder the two found themselves in such an awkward position.

The keys arrived quickly, breaking the awkward silence. The surrounding Khitan nobles, including several Xi, Han, and Jurchen close ministers, pricked up their ears, eager to know what the late Emperor Yelu Dashi and that Zhao Song sovereign had discussed.

The box's lock was successfully opened, revealing twelve stacks of letters, over a hundred in total, some of which were exceptionally thick.

Reading the first letter in order, it was indeed the famous letter from that year when the Zhao Song sovereign sent the current Minister of War, Hu Hongxiu, to meet and propose an alliance, inviting a joint attack on the Western Xia—the Zhao Song sovereign's letter directly called Yelu Dashi and the Western Liao people "stray dogs," and those present at the time included the Western Liao Grand Marshal Xiao Wolila and the Great Song envoy to the Western Liao, Liang Jiaying, who had appeared that morning. Everyone knew about it.

But there were things they didn't know... Only now, as they read, did the crowd realize that the sovereign had also called himself a "stray dog" in the letter.

Matters of the past, measured against the later achievements of the two emperors, had long become legendary tales. Yet one of the protagonists had just passed away, while all the others still lived, and there seemed to be some hidden secrets... Reading it was both poignant and strangely epic.

In short, because these letters were written by the most honored person in the world to the second most honored, and also contained some of the late Emperor's final words, no one dared to underestimate their political significance. But with so many letters and such varied content, after discussion between Xiao Tabuyan and Xiao Wolila, several literate close ministers stepped forward to assist in reading and organizing.

Yet even so, from noon until dusk, they could not finish reading them before Yelu Dashi's remains.

So, the box was sealed again, with the Empress Dowager holding the box and the Grand Marshal holding the keys. They agreed to return to the palace and continue reading together the next day. For now, the late Emperor's remains were to be brought back to the city, entrusted to monks and Daoists for careful offerings, so that in a few days they could depart on schedule and be buried in Linhuang Prefecture according to the late Emperor's wishes.

By noon the next day, the letters were finally read through. But to be honest, most of the letters were long-winded and tedious... filled with the Zhao Song sovereign's messy narratives, ranging from routine greetings to some chaotic poems, from smug accounts of court policies in Zhao Song to complaints about household matters, and even some strange hand-drawn animals.

Of course, there was also content that echoed famous events between the two emperors, such as the great Jianyan Northern Expedition eight years ago, and the sovereign's later seven-year project to repair the Yellow River and move the capital.

One letter even clearly recorded the Zhao Song sovereign encouraging Yelu Dashi to boldly fight the Seljuk Turks to secure his western sea empire.

If not for this letter, Xiao Tabuyan, Xiao Wolila, and the other core Western Liao ministers would never have imagined that the late Emperor Yelu Dashi, who had commanded so calmly and confidently in battle, had been deeply worried about the Seljuk Turks' strength months before the war, even hesitating whether to avoid battle and wait for Zhao Song reinforcements.

As for the last letter, it was even more moving. It contained only one sentence:

"The reeds are blooming by the river of the old capital; Brother Dashi may return slowly."

Considering the date and the preceding content, and recalling how the Zhao Song had sent medicine at that time, everyone understood that Yelu Dashi, feeling his time was short, had wished to return to his homeland alive. But either due to a sudden onset of illness or concern for the stability of the Western Liao, he had ultimately abandoned that decision, opting for cremation and having his bones sent back to Linhuang Prefecture for burial.

"I still don't understand."

Xiao Tabuyan was silent for a long time before setting down the last letter. Then she looked around and asked seriously, "Why did the late Emperor want us to read these letters?"

The response to the Empress Dowager was also a silence.

"Empress Dowager."

After a moment, someone finally spoke. It was Taishinu, the Vice Commander of the Imperial Guard. "I venture to speak. Having listened carefully just now, I noticed two critical points..."

"Speak in detail." Xiao Tabuyan raised an eyebrow, signaling him to continue.

"First, there is the matter of the Zhao Song sovereign demanding the six prefectures of Hexi, the former Western Xia territory, after our great victory... The letter was casual, and from subsequent letters, the late Emperor showed no hesitation... It seems this matter was not as we once thought, but rather a tacit agreement between the two sovereigns." Taishinu, whose face still bore the tattoo of exile, analyzed seriously. "This should be a reminder not to treat this matter as a humiliation or dwell on it excessively."

Xiao Tabuyan thought for a moment, said nothing, and looked at the others. Seeing that the civil and military officials, both Jurchen and Han, all nodded, she followed with a nod of her own:

"Yes, that seems to be the meaning... And what else?"

"Another matter: last year, His Majesty felt his body failing and was once worried. While the Zhao Song sovereign's reply was full of condolences, more importantly, it included an additional warning... Combined with the fact that after this letter, the late Emperor immediately moved to eliminate the Three-Surnamed Yabghu... It seems the late Emperor both acknowledged the Zhao Song sovereign's point and realized his words were no joke. At the same time, he was likely hinting to the Empress Dowager and the Grand Marshal that this was the bottom line for the Zhao Song sovereign in maintaining relations between the two states and even the continuation of the Great Liao..."

"Fetch that letter." Xiao Tabuyan was startled by this and immediately gave the order.

Moments later, a close minister retrieved the letter, found the passage, and read it aloud to the assembly:

"How narrow-minded is Brother Dashi? The vastness of the Turks does not stem from the prevalence of Turkish blood, but from the Turks ruling the western seas for centuries, looking down from on high, so that all sorts of barbarian wild tribes attached themselves to them, leading to Turkification, until everyone one sees, like the Three-Surnamed Yabghu, claims to be Turkish.

"Similar cases exist in China. When the Xianbei were strong, Gao Huan, though Han, fully adopted Xianbei ways. When China was profound, Liu Yuan and Yuwen Tai, though barbarian, fully adopted Han ways. Now, why are Song and Liao brother states? Because we rely on each other's backs, because Brother Dashi corresponds with me in Han script, because the palace tents speak Han language, because the upper and lower ranks of the Great Liao all know Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism...

"If one day Brother Dashi truly meets with misfortune, and the Liao tents abandon Han for barbarian ways, abandon Confucianism for Islam... then though our two states may be bound by blood, we will become mortal enemies! At that time, though I am unworthy, I can raise a hundred thousand troops from East and West Mongolia, imitating Brother Dashi's westward march, to cleanse the western seas!

"Conversely, if Brother Dashi cannot defy fate, but order prevails in the western seas and river regions, and the palace tents follow ancestral laws, then even if the Great Liao faces the risk of collapse, I can raise a hundred thousand troops to aid the river regions, ensuring the Liao dynasty's mandate continues and the Yelu bloodline does not cease!

"This is a matter of fundamental importance. Do not say I did not warn you!"

After hearing this, the crowd grew even more solemn. After some discussion, they all felt this was precisely why Yelu Dashi had insisted they read these letters.

As for why they had overlooked it before, it was because most of those present were "old subjects"—those who had come from the east... No matter how they came—whether they followed Yelu Dashi from the start, joined later, were sent like Taishinu, or were prisoners of war—they all spoke Han language and believed in the unity of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism. They had always been this way, so they had not treated this as a "warning."

"What does King Xiao think?" Xiao Tabuyan thought it over and looked at Xiao Wolila.

Xiao Wolila was silent for a moment, then spoke sincerely: "Empress Dowager, to be blunt, the late Emperor's meaning is already quite clear. But General Taishinu and others, constrained by their positions, could only say half and leave half... In fact, the late Emperor had only two intentions."

This time, it was Xiao Tabuyan's turn to wait in silence.

And Xiao Wolila did not keep her in suspense. After a brief pause, he continued:

"First, the Song-Liao alliance is the foundation of the state and must not be easily shaken... The matters of the six Hexi prefectures, the late Emperor's bones returning to Linhuang Prefecture, the elimination of the Three-Surnamed Yabghu, and the Zhao sovereign's warning of a hundred thousand troops—all point to this. So I believe that while adhering to the state's major policies, we might as well make a gesture. Request an imperial decree of enfeoffment from the Zhao Song sovereign, even if it's an uncle enfeoffing a nephew. It won't lose us face, and I doubt Yanjing will truly cause any trouble or oppression."

"Then send an envoy specifically for this matter, to accompany the late Emperor's remains eastward." Empress Dowager Xiao thought briefly and agreed directly.

"The Empress Dowager is wise and decisive." Xiao Wolila quickly responded.

"This first point should be your 'saying half,' King. Then may I ask what the 'half left unsaid' is?" Xiao Tabuyan pressed on.

"I beg the Empress Dowager to see clearly... Even a stable alliance like that between Song and Liao had talk of 'a hundred thousand troops.' Then I dare ask, Your Majesty, with our Great Liao situated in the Western Sea, what truly is the foundation of our state?" Xiao Woli La asked earnestly.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Tabuyan finally let out a laugh, then fell into a moment of sorrowful sighing: "I understand the late Emperor's meaning now, and I also grasp the painstaking efforts of the Prince and all you ministers..."

Having said this, the Empress Dowager, still in mourning white, rose to her feet, looked around at all present, and spoke solemnly: "As everyone knows, this dynasty is nominally a continuation of the Great Liao, but in truth we traveled ten thousand li to re-establish the state. Last year's census showed that the 'old populace' of Huxi Wuluduo numbered only two hundred and forty Battalion Commander. With a foundation of two hundred and forty Battalion Commander to govern a territory of ten thousand li, we naturally tread with caution as if on thin ice. And our greatest external reliance, this ally the Great Song, already has talk of 'a hundred thousand troops.' This shows that while alliances are important, external affairs are ultimately just external affairs. What we truly rely on internally is only ourselves... My ministers, the late Emperor had us read these letters—on the one hand, certainly to remind us to maintain the alliance, but more importantly, he feared that after his departure, the state would fall into power struggles, lose that united spirit that carried us ten thousand li to found this nation, and thus breed internal chaos, causing the great edifice to collapse on its own. Therefore, he specifically issued this warning!"

"The Empress Dowager is wise!"

Grand Marshal Xiao Woli La, upon hearing this, immediately stepped back several paces, knelt before the Empress Dowager on the spot, then drew a dagger from his waist, cut open his palm, and pointed to heaven: "The state was lost, the late Emperor traveled tens of thousands of li, and thus we gained the foundation of the Western Sea and the River. I, a stray dog who had lost his home, received the late Emperor's great kindness, followed him on the western campaign, was granted the title of Marshal, and ranked among the princes... In this life, I will surely uphold the late Emperor's bloodline as the legitimate succession. If I deviate in the slightest, may I die an ill death in life, and after death never return home for a proper burial!"

The other ministers, suddenly awakened, regardless of whether they were Khitan, Xi, Han, Jurchen, or Bohai, all knelt and swore oaths, demonstrating their unity.

Four months later, in the deep winter season, Zhao Jiu waited in Yanjing for the coffin containing Yelu Dashi's remains. With mixed emotions, he personally went outside the city to receive it, but amid the many anticipated diplomatic affairs, he was surprised to receive a 'reply letter.'

Opening the letter, there was only a single sentence.

It read:

"When flowers bloom along the path, you should return slowly. But when the mountain passes are hard to cross, who will mourn the lost traveler?"

The letter bore two signatures: 'Respectfully submitted by Xiao Tabuyan, Empress Dowager of the Great Liao,' and 'Written by Xiao Woli La, Grand Marshal of the Great Liao's Armies.'

After reading it, Zhao Jiu stood silent in the cold wind for the time it takes an incense stick to burn before coming back to his senses. He then calmly put the letter away and turned to Yue Fei, the accompanying Vice Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs:

"Though Dashi is dead, the fortunes of the Western Liao have not yet declined. It would be better to first settle Dali."

Yue Fei naturally cupped his hands in assent.

PS: Thanks to slyshen for the Silver Alliance, and to Fusheng Qieyong Yuezhuojiu, Anxingzhiguang, Jiayi 1989, Xianyun Yehe, nc Children 666, and Suifeng Qiwu for their alliances.

It's too frustrating that the appendix after the book's completion can only be posted in the related works section!