“What is this?”

Midday, near the banks of the Shatuo River, the autumn wind was bleak, the wild fire gradually extinguished, and Xiao Tabuyan, dressed in plain clothes, her eyes slightly red, looked at Xiao Wolila in front of her with a hint of vigilance.

“Reporting to the Empress Dowager.”

Xiao Wolila, the Grand King of the Six Courts and Grand Marshal of the Army 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 correspondence between the late Emperor and the Emperor of the Great Song… Each year, the late Emperor personally used the old key to replace it with a new lock, and placed the previous year’s letters inside… Before his death, the late Emperor said that after he passed away and the day came to collect his remains, if the Empress Dowager was present, she must come with me to view it; if the Empress Dowager was not present, His Majesty must open it personally, and then I will read it to His Majesty.”

Xiao Tabuyan relaxed slightly, and at the same time remembered that her husband had indeed left a string of keys before his death, so she hurriedly sent someone to fetch them.

However, while the monarch and her minister waited for the keys, although there were nearly a hundred civil and military officials present, surrounded by thousands of soldiers, the atmosphere inevitably fell into a tense and sorrowful silence.

The sadness, of course, was because today was the actual founding monarch of the Western Liao, the nominal tenth emperor of the Liao Dynasty, Yelu Dashi's cremation and collection of remains ceremony.

But the tension stemmed from a certain mutual wariness between the two most powerful figures present – not to mention the young Emperor Yelu Yilie, Empress Dowager Xiao Tabuyan simply stood silently, while Xiao Wolila could only stand on the side, holding the box.

In all fairness, Xiao Wolila and Xiao Tabuyan were very familiar with each other. One was Yelu Dashi's most trusted empress, who had been in charge of governing for more than ten years while Yelu Dashi was on expeditions, and the other was Yelu Dashi's most trusted minister, serving as the Grand Marshal of the Army and the Grand King of the Six Courts… Moreover, the two families were related through marriage (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 with each other.

Furthermore, both of them were surnamed Xiao, and although they were not close relatives, they both came from the Shulu Xiao clan and had a familial bond. And Xiao Tabuyan's ability to become queen as soon as Yelu Dashi declared himself Khan was also due to the help of Xiao Wolila, the second creator of the Western Liao dynasty.

However, times had changed.

Now, Yelu Dashi, whose body had long been weakened by years of war and travel, had fallen ill and died. His son was still young, so Xiao Tabuyan, according to the traditions of the Liao Dynasty, ruled as the female monarch, changed the era name to Xianqing, and the biggest instability and most direct threat she had to face was precisely Xiao Wolila, the Grand King of the Six Courts and Grand Marshal of the Army.

It must be known that the Western Liao system followed the old Liao system, divided into two major systems, north and south. The north was the central official system, which, under the Western Liao system, was basically a hybrid of the Han central system and the Khitan palace tent system, directly governing the capital, HusihOrdu, on the banks of the Shatuo River, and the majority of the so-called old country people, such as the Khitan, Xi, Han, and Jurchen people. The south was the distribution official system, directly responsible for dozens of large and small dependent countries, including Gaochang, Eastern Kara-Khanid, Western Kara-Khanid, and Khwarazm.

The division and prevention between inside and outside were very obvious.

In this situation, Xiao Wolila was not only the Grand Marshal of the Army, but also the Grand King of the Six Courts, who controlled the royal clan, and his power was self-evident.

Of course, Yelu Dashi's prestige as the founding monarch who had traveled thousands of miles was also unparalleled, and his widow and orphans were also supported by the palace tent army and the fundamental tribes.

In short, with a young ruler, a suspicious country, a queen mother on the throne, a powerful minister in charge of the army, and the country's situation so special… the two of them could not help but feel embarrassed.

The keys were quickly delivered, and the awkward silence was broken. The surrounding Khitan nobles, including several Xi, Han, and Jurchen close ministers, had also pricked up their ears, wanting to know what the late Emperor Yelu Dashi and that Zhao Song official had said.

The lock on the box was successfully opened, and a full twelve stacks, a total of more than a hundred letters, were taken out, and some of the letters were particularly thick.

The first letter was read in order, and it was indeed the famous letter in which the Zhao Song official sent the current Minister of War, Hu Hongxiu, to meet and form an alliance, inviting them to attack Xixia together – the Zhao Song official directly called Yelu Dashi and the Western Liao tribes homeless dogs in the letter, and those present at the time, including the current Western Liao Grand Marshal Xiao Wolila and the Song Dynasty's envoy to the Western Liao, Liang Jiaying, who had appeared this morning, all knew about it.

But there were also those who didn't know… Only now, when they read it, did everyone realize that the official had actually referred to himself as a homeless dog in the letter as well.

The events of the past, weighed against the subsequent achievements of the two emperors, had long become legendary stories, and one of the protagonists in the story had just passed away, while everyone else was still present, and there seemed to be some secrets… Reading it, one felt both sad and a sense of strange epic significance.

In short, because these letters were both written by the most noble person in the world to the second most noble person, and also inevitably contained a certain amount of the late Emperor's last words, no one dared to underestimate the political meaning of these letters. However, the letters were too many and the content too miscellaneous, so after discussion between Xiao Tabuyan and Xiao Wolila, several close ministers who were proficient in writing were asked to come forward to assist in reading and sorting them out.

But even so, from noon until dusk, they had not finished reading them in front of Yelu Dashi's remains.

Therefore, everyone had to seal the box again, with the Empress Dowager holding the box and the Grand Marshal holding the key, agreeing to return to the palace and read them together again the next day. For now, they would first escort the late Emperor's remains back to the city and ask the monks and Taoists to carefully enshrine them, so that they could set off on time in a few days, according to the late Emperor's last words, and be buried in Linhuang Prefecture.

The next day at noon, the letters were finally read through. But to be honest, most of the letters were the kind that were both smelly and long… They were filled with that Zhao official's messy narratives, from regular greetings to some messy poems, from some triumphant promotions of Zhao Song's court policies to trivial complaints, and even some strange hand-drawn animals.

Of course, there were indeed contents that echoed some famous events of the two emperors, such as the famous Jianyan Northern Expedition eight years ago, and the official's seven-year process of repairing the Yellow River and moving the capital.

There was even a letter that clearly recorded the Zhao Song official's words of encouraging the Western Liao Emperor Yelu Dashi to let go and fight with the Seljuk Turks to establish hegemony in the Western Sea.

If it weren't for this letter, the core ministers of the Western Liao, including Xiao Tabuyan and Xiao Wolila, would never have imagined that the late Emperor Yelu Dashi, who was so decisive and confident in commanding the battle, was actually worried about the strength of the Seljuk Turks several months before the start of the war, and even hesitated whether to avoid the war and wait for Zhao Song reinforcements.

As for the last letter, it was even more poignant. There was only one sentence in the letter:

“The reeds are blooming on the banks of the old capital, Brother Dashi can return slowly.”

Combining the date and the previous text, and thinking of the Zhao Song envoy sending medicine at the time, how could everyone not know that this was Yelu Dashi feeling that his days were numbered, wanting to return to his homeland alive, but perhaps he fell ill suddenly, or perhaps he was constrained by the overall stability of the Western Liao, and ultimately gave up this decision, instead requesting cremation and the collection of his remains to be buried in Linhuang Prefecture.

“I still don’t understand.”

Xiao Tabuyan was silent for a long time before putting down the last letter, then looked around and asked seriously, “Why did the late Emperor want us to read these letters?”

Responding to the Empress Dowager was also a period of silence.

“Empress Dowager.”

After a moment, someone finally spoke, and it was Taishi Nu, the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards. “Your subject is presumptuous, but after listening carefully just now, I noticed that there are two crucial points…”

“Speak carefully.” Xiao Tabuyan immediately raised her eyebrows in response.

“First, it is about the Zhao Song official’s demand for the former Xixia lands of the Hexi six prefectures after our dynasty’s great victory… The words in the letter are casual, and judging from the subsequent letters, the late Emperor did not hesitate at all… It seems that this matter is not the same as what we thought in the past, but rather a tacit agreement between the two emperors.” Taishi Nu, whose face still bore the marks of exile tattoos, analyzed seriously. “This should be a reminder to us not to treat this matter as a humiliation and pay too much attention to it.”

Xiao Tabuyan thought for a while, and did not speak for a moment, but looked at the others. After seeing that the other civil and military officials, whether Jurchen or Han, all nodded, she also nodded in agreement:

“Indeed, there is this meaning… What else?”

“There is also one more thing, that is, His Majesty felt that his body was failing last year, and was once worried. Although the Zhao Song official’s reply also contained many words of comfort, more importantly, he actually added a warning… Combining this with the late Emperor’s immediate launch of the eradication of the Surnamed Yegu after this letter… It seems that the late Emperor both recognized the meaning of the Zhao Song official and realized that the Zhao Song official’s words were by no means a joke, and at the same time, he was probably hinting to the Empress Dowager and the Grand Marshal that this was the bottom line for the Zhao Song official to maintain the two countries and even the continuation of the Great Liao…”

“Bring that letter here.” Xiao Tabuyan’s spirits were lifted when she heard this, and she immediately ordered.

A moment later, a close minister immediately picked out the letter, found the passage, and then read it aloud:

“How ignorant is Brother Dashi? The breadth of the Turks is not due to the prosperity of the Turkic bloodline? It is because the Turks have ruled the Western Sea for hundreds of years, and from a high position, all kinds of barbarian wildlings have attached themselves to them, and thus there has been the growth of Turkification, to the point that everything one sees is like the Surnamed Yegu boasting of being Turks.

Compared to those of this kind, China also has them. In the past, the Xianbei were strong, and Gao Huan was a Han who fully learned the Xianbei ways. China is profound, and Liu Yuan and Yuwen Tai were barbarians who fully learned Han culture. Why are Song and Liao brotherly countries today? Supporting each other's backs is because Brother Dashi communicates with me in Han script, because the palace tents all speak the Han language, because all above and below in the Great Liao know Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism…

If one day, Brother Dashi truly has an accident, and the Liao tents all abandon Han and follow the barbarians, abandon Confucianism and follow Islam… then although the two countries’ blood ties can be counted, they will also be mortal enemies! At that time, although this foolish brother is untalented, I can also lead a hundred thousand troops from the Eastern and Western Mongols, imitating Brother Dashi’s westward march in the past, to cleanse the Western Sea!

Conversely, even if Brother Dashi is no match for fate, and the order in the Western Sea and the Hexi is well-maintained, and the palace tents also follow the ancestral laws, then even if the Great Liao has the danger of a ten thousand-to-one collapse, this foolish brother can also lead a hundred thousand troops to aid the Hexi, so that the Liao Dynasty's national destiny is not interrupted and the Yelu clan’s bloodline does not cease!

This is the so-called fundamental matter, do not say that I did not warn you in advance!”

After everyone listened, they became even more serious. After some discussion, they all felt that this was the reason why Yelu Dashi insisted that everyone come and see it.

As for why they had ignored it for a while before, it was because most of the people present were 'old people', that is, those who came from the east… No matter how they came, whether they initially followed Yelu Dashi, or came to join him later, or were sent like Taishi Nu, or even prisoners of war, they all spoke the Han language and believed in the unity of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, and had always done so, so they did not take this matter as a 'warning'.

“What does Grand King Xiao think?” Xiao Tabuyan pondered again and again, and looked at Xiao Wolila.

Xiao Wolila was silent for a moment, and then spoke sincerely, “Empress Dowager, please forgive your subject for speaking bluntly, but in fact, the late Emperor’s meaning is already very clear, but General Taishi Nu and others are constrained by their status and cannot speak directly, so they can only say half and leave the other half… In fact, the late Emperor only had two meanings.”

This time, it was Xiao Tabuyan's turn to be silent and wait.

And Xiao Wolila did not play games, but paused slightly and continued:

“First, the alliance between Song and Liao is the foundation of the country and cannot be easily shaken… The so-called story of the Hexi six prefectures, the late Emperor's remains returning to Linhuang Prefecture, the eradication of the Surnamed Yegu, and the Zhao official's warning of a hundred thousand troops, all have this meaning… Therefore, your subject believes that in addition to adhering to the major national policies, we may as well put on a show and request a letter of imperial decree from the Zhao Song official, even if it is an uncle enfeoffing a nephew, it will not be a loss of face. I think there will not really be any difficulties or coercion from Yanjing.”

“Then send an envoy specifically for this matter, to accompany the late Emperor’s remains to return east.” Empress Dowager Xiao directly agreed after a little thought.

“The Empress Dowager is wise.” Xiao Wolila quickly responded.

“This first point should be the Grand King’s ‘saying half’, then may I ask what is the ‘leaving half’?” Xiao Tabuyan continued to ask.

“Please enlighten the Empress Dowager… Even with an alliance as stable as that between Song and Liao, there are still words of 'a hundred thousand troops', then may I ask the Empress Dowager, what is the foundation of our Great Liao, located in the Western Sea?” Xiao Wolila asked earnestly.

Xiao Tabuyan laughed when she heard this, and then sighed sadly, “I understand the late Emperor’s meaning, and I also know the good intentions of the Grand King and all the ministers…”

Having said this, Empress Dowager Xiao, still in mourning, stood up, looked around, and said solemnly, “As everyone knows, this dynasty is nominally a continuation of the Great Liao, but in reality, it is a re-establishment of the country after traveling thousands of miles. Last year, when we counted the population, there were only 240,000 households of ‘old people’ in HusihOrdu. To govern a territory of thousands of miles with the foundation of 240,000 households is naturally a matter of trembling and walking on thin ice. And the biggest reliance on the outside is that even an ally like the Great Song has the words of 'a hundred thousand troops'. It can be seen that alliances are certainly important, but external affairs are ultimately just external affairs, and the real internal reliance is only ourselves… Gentlemen, the late Emperor let us see these letters, on the one hand, to remind us that we must maintain the alliance, but more importantly, it is because he feared that after he left, there would be infighting for power in the country, a loss of the spirit of unity and determination to re-establish the country after traveling thousands of miles, and even internal strife, leading to the collapse of the building. Therefore, he specifically warned us!”

“The Empress Dowager is wise!”

After Grand Marshal Xiao Wolila heard this, he immediately took several steps back, knelt down to Empress Dowager Xiao on the spot, and then took out a dagger from his waist, cut open his palm, pointed to the sky, and swore, “The country was lost, and the late Emperor traveled tens of thousands of miles, thus creating the foundation of the Hexi and Western Sea. Your subject is a homeless dog, who received the late Emperor’s great grace, followed him on the western expedition, was granted the title of Marshal, and ranked as a Grand King… In this life, I will definitely uphold the late Emperor’s flesh and blood as the legitimate heir. If there is the slightest deviation, may I not die a good death and not be able to return home for a proper burial!”

The other ministers, one after another, woke up and knelt down to swear, whether they were Khitan, Xi, Han, Jurchen, or Bohai, to show their unity and singleness of purpose.

Four months later, in the season of deep winter, Zhao Jiu waited for Yelu Dashi's coffin in Yanjing. Amidst mixed feelings, he personally went out of the city to meet it, but in addition to many anticipated diplomatic matters, he was surprised to receive a 'reply'.

Opening the letter, there were only a few words.

As the saying goes:

“Flowers bloom on the path, one should return slowly, but the mountain passes are difficult to cross, who will grieve for the lost traveler?”

There were two signatures: ‘Respectfully, Empress Dowager Xiao Tabuyan of the Great Liao’ and ‘Written by Xiao Wolila, Grand Marshal of the Army of the Great Liao’.

After Zhao Jiu finished reading it, he was silent in the cold wind for the time it takes to burn a stick of incense before he came back to his senses. Then, he calmly put away the letter and looked back at Yue Fei, the Deputy Chief of the Privy Council who accompanied him:

“Although Dashi is dead, the national fortune of the Western Liao has not declined, it would be better to first settle Dali.”

Yue Fei naturally cupped his hands and said yes.

ps: Thank you slyshen for the silver alliance, and thank you Floating Life and Drinking Wine with the Moon, Light of Dark Stars, Jiayi1989, Leisurely Clouds and Wild Cranes, nc Children 666, Dancing with the Wind for the alliance.

The appendix after the completion of the book can only be published in works related to pits!