The real name of Empress Dowager Xiao is Xiao Chuo. Xiao Chuo was born on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in the third year of the calendar year (June 18, 953) [1] . Xiao Chuo has been smart and agile since he was a child, and he has a sense of failure to achieve his goals in everything.
The spirit of giving up was no exception in some trivial matters. This kind of behavior deeply won the favor of her father Xiao Siwen. Once, several of Xiao Chuo's sisters did housework together, and several sisters ended it hastily.
, but she continued to wipe it carefully, and the furniture was neatly tidied. Xiao Siwen often praised her with approval: "This girl will become a big thing.
On February 22nd of the 19th year of Yingli (March 12th, 969), Yelujing, Muzong of the Liao Dynasty, took Xiao Siwen and other close ministers to Heishan (today's Ganggen Sumu Territory, Bahrain Right Banner, Inner Mongolia) for hunting. At night, he got drunk.
Yelujing was assassinated by a valet and others. Xiao Siwen, who was by Yelujing's side at the time, blocked the news and assisted Yelvxian, who had a close relationship with him, with Gao Xun, the privy envoy of the South Academy, and Li, the flying dragon maid. Yelvxian rushed to Montenegro at dawn.
Yelvxian cried bitterly in front of Mu Zong's spirit. Xiao Siwen, Gao Xun, Nuli and others jointly persuaded him to move forward, and Yelvxian succeeded to the throne in front of Mu Zong's spirit.
After returning to Beijing on the ninth day of March in the first year of Baoning (March 29, 969), Yelvxian appointed Xiao Siwen as the privy envoy of the Beiyuan, and conscripted Xiao Chuo into the palace as a noble concubine. On March 17th, he named Xiao Siwen the prime minister of the Beifu.
On the second day of the fifth lunar month, Xiao Chuo was made queen. On the second day of the eleventh lunar month, Xiao Siwen was granted the title of King of Wei. Because Yelvxian was ill, Xiao Chuo was in charge of state affairs.
In May of the second year of Baoning, Yelvxian went hunting in Lushan (now Fuxin, Liaoning), and Xiao Siwen also went with him. On May 13th, he was assassinated when he was on the way to Pandaoling (now Lushan, Liaoning). On the third day of September, Chade Kingdom
Uncles Xiao Hai and Xiao Haili were the only culprits, and they were both executed. In the tenth year of Baoning, Gao Xun was found out, and Nvli also participated in the murder of Xiao Siwen, and they were both sentenced to death. Gao Xun's family property was confiscated and compensation was paid to the Xiao family.
On December 27, the third year of Baoning (January 16, 972), the prince Yelu Longxu was born. In order to appease Xiao Chuo and the Xiao descendants, Yelv Xian, Xiao Chuo's mother Yelv Lu Bugu was granted the title of Yan.
The eldest princess of the country. On the first day of April in the fourth year of Baoning, Xiao Siwen was posthumously named King of Chu. On the first day of March in the fifth year of Baoning, Xiao Chuo's grandfather Hu Muli was posthumously named the King of Han.
In the center of the Khitan army, the Empress Dowager of Liao stood on her horse, looking at Yang Peng's stronghold two miles away, frowning and saying nothing.
On the fifth day of the second month of the eighth year of Baoning (March 8, 976), Yelvxian issued an imperial edict to collect scholars from the History Museum. From then on, whenever the Queen's words were recorded, they were "also called 'I' and 'Yu'" and were "written as a set form".
Has his wife's status been raised to the same level as his? As time went by, with Yelvxian's acquiescence, all daily government affairs of the Liao Kingdom were independently adjudicated by Xiao Chuo. If there were any important military and state affairs, she would summon the Tibetan people
The Han ministers discussed together and finally made a decision based on the opinions of all parties. For the decision she made, Liao Jingzong could only listen to the briefing and said that if he "knew it", it would count and he would not make any intervention. With Xiao Chuo's efforts,
The Liao Kingdom's military became increasingly powerful, and its political and economic situation was also on the right track.
On the first day of the first lunar month in the second year of Qianheng (January 21, 980), Yelvxian named the prince Yelulongxu the King of Liang, and Yelulongqing the King of Heng.
On September 24, the fourth year of Qianheng (October 13, 982), the 35-year-old Yelu Xian died of illness in the Jiaoshan Palace in Yunzhou while on a hunting trip. When he died, he left a legacy to King Yelu Long of Liang.
Xu succeeded to the throne, and military and state affairs were subject to the Queen's orders [44] . At the same time, Yelu Xiezhen and Han Derang were appointed ministers of Gu Ming [45-46] . On the 25th, Yelu Longxu succeeded to the throne in front of Lingqian, who was only twelve years old?
The first thing Xiao Chuo thought of was the suspicion of the young master. The clan princes had more than 200 troops and strong forces, and the situation was volatile. She shed tears in front of ministers Yelv Xiezhen and Han Derang and said: "The mother is widowed and the son is weak, and the family is weak.
We are strong, but the border defense is not stable, what can we do?" The important ministers came forward to comfort and swore a solemn oath: "I trust you, why worry about it!"
On the first day of October in the winter of the fourth year of Qianheng (October 20, 982), Yelu Longxu came to the court for the first time to oversee politics. On the third day of the lunar month, the officials honored him as Emperor Zhaosheng and honored the queen as the empress dowager. Xiao Chuo general Yelu Xiu brother
He arranged to stay in Nanjing, take charge of the military in the south, strengthen border defense, and appointed Yelu Xiezhen, who was married to Xiao Chuo's niece, as the Privy Councilor of the North Courtyard to manage internal affairs, especially the nobles. At the same time, Xiao Chuo adopted Han Derang, the Privy Councilor of the South Courtyard.
He made suggestions and issued an order to the princes of the clan: "Kings should return to the throne and not meet with each other privately", causing them to lose their military power. At the same time, relatives of each clan were summoned to the palace as hostages, which solved a major internal worry about seizing the throne.
In the fourth year of Tonghe (986), He Lingtu, the magistrate of Xiongzhou (now Xiongxian County, Hebei Province) in the Northern Song Dynasty, and He Huaipu, the governor of Yuezhou, and others heard about Empress Dowager Xiao's romantic affair.
Taizong Zhao Guangyi commented that "the ruler of the Liao Dynasty was young, and the affairs of the country depended on his mother. His general Han Derang was favored and favored, and the people of the country were ill." On the 21st of the first lunar month, Zhao Guangyi launched the "Yongxi Northern Expedition" against the Liao Dynasty. The Song army sent troops in three groups.
, appointed Cao Bin, the military governor of the Tianping Army, as the commander of the army, horse, infantry, and water and land forces in front of the Youzhou Daoxing Camp, Cui Yanjin, the military commander of the Three Cities in Heyang, as deputy; the commander of the guard horse army, and Mi Xin, the military commander of the Changhua Army, as the northwest road commander.
Du Yangui, the Shazhou observation envoy, was the deputy and led the army out of Xiongzhou (today's Xiongxian County, Hebei Province); Tian Chongjin, the commander of the infantry capital and Jingnan Army Jiedushi, was deployed to Dingzhou Road and led his troops out of Feihu (today's Xiongxian County, Hebei Province).
Yu County, Hebei Province)? On February 13th (March 25th), the Grand Master of the Inspection School was appointed, Pan Mei, the governor of the Zhongwu Army, was deployed in Yun, Ying, Shuo and other prefectures, and Yang Ye, the observation envoy of Yunzhou, was appointed as deputy general.
Leading the troops out of Yanmen. On the sixth day of March (April 17), Brother Yelvxiu reported that the Song Dynasty sent Cao Bin, Cui Yanjin, and Mi Xin to leave Xiongzhou Road, Tian Zhong entered and exited Feihu Road, Pan Mei, and Yang Jiye left Yanmen Road to attack, and Qi
Gou, Zhuozhou, Gu'an and Xincheng have all fallen [14] . On the seventh day of March (April 18), Xiao Chuo personally led Han Derang and Yelu Longxu to announce a personal expedition and cooperated with Brother Yelu Xiu. On March 19th (
April 30th) Xiao Chuo used Yelu Xiu Ge to resist the Song Army Cao Bin on the east route, and used Yelu Xiezhen to resist the Song Army Yang Ye on the west route?
On the first day of April (May 12), Xiao Chuo and Yelu Longxu were stationed in the northern suburbs of Nanjing (today's Beijing). On the third day of May (June 12), Cao Bin's army was defeated at Qigou Pass, and the defeated army was dealt with overnight.
Crossing the Juma River? Countless people drowned in the Song army. The remaining troops fled to Gaoyang, but were attacked and killed by the Liao army. Tens of thousands of people died, and piles of discarded armor were piled up [61]. The ninth day of the seventh lunar month (August 17)
, Yelv Xiezhen sent his servant Neridi, and Brother Qianqin reported to the court to conquer Shuozhou and capture Song general Yang Ye alive?
The morale of the Liao army was greatly boosted, while the defenders of the Song Dynasty were severely hit. They lost confidence before facing the enemy and were unable to defend the land they had won. The Liao Dynasty successfully recovered all its territory?
On the fifth day of April in the fifth year of Tonghe (May 5, 987), Yelu Longxu led hundreds of officials to confer the title of Ruide Shenlue to the Empress Dowager. On the sixth day of the sixth lunar month of the reign of Emperor De Guang, Xiao Zhaosheng and Tianfu, he issued an edict and ordered the commanders to submit a list of meritorious service for each general, and to reward him based on his merits and kindness.
On the first day of the first lunar month of the seventh year of Tonghe (February 9, 989), Banshi. On the sixth day of the first lunar month (February 14), Guo Rong, the defender of Jibi Village in Song Dynasty, led his troops to surrender and issued an edict ordering them to garrison in Nanjing? On the 21st (March 1), they attacked Yizhou. The Song soldiers came out of Suicheng to come to the rescue. They sent Tielin troops to attack and captured the five commanders of the Song army alive. On the 22nd (March 2) ), the army marched together and captured Yizhou. The governor Liu Chi surrendered, and the soldiers who defended the city fled south. He personally led the army to intercept, and the Song army did not dare to leave the city. At that time, Ma Zhi was appointed as the governor, and Zhao Zhi was appointed as the military and horse supervisor. The army and the people moved to Yanjing. Xia Xianshou, the son of Xia Zhenxian, the Tokyo cavalry general, was the first to ascend the city of Yizhou and was awarded the title of governor of Gaozhou. On the 26th (March 6), he stationed in Laishui. He paid a visit to Emperor Jingzong's temple and issued an edict. He ordered Yelu Shouxiong, the governor of Zhuozhou, to send 800 surrendered soldiers from Yizhou back to their hometown. On the 27th (March 7), he stationed in Qigou and shot ghost arrows. On the 29th (March 9), he returned to the palace. Stationed in Nanjing on the way, the Sixth Army lifted the state of martial law [72] . On the first day of May (June 6), Pu Ling, the envoy of Xuanhui, and others were sent to separate their troops to guard against the invasion of Song Dynasty. On the second day of the lunar month (June 7), in Baima Village in Ruzhou offered sacrifices to Feng Bo. Brother Xiu led the army to the city and recruited more than 700 Song soldiers. He sent envoys to offer sacrifices and ordered them to be subordinate to Tokyo. On the 13th (June 18), Yan Beijing reported that the Song soldiers had arrived at the border: "The Song soldiers arrived at the border and did not dare to fight in the summer heat. They were stationed in Yizhou. If they move, they will attack and retreat." On July 15th (August 18th), Sent troops for the southern expedition. On the 19th (August 22), they expressed condolences to the soldiers of the southern expedition. On the same day, Xiao Chuo and Yelu Longxu paid a visit to Emperor Jingzong's temple.
On the tenth day of the third month of the eighth year of Tonghe (April 7, 990), a city was built in Xingcheng for the prisoners of the Song Dynasty to live. On the fourteenth day of the fifth month (June 9), the soldiers of the Song Dynasty were surrendered to various armies. On September 20th (October 11th), Li Jiqian presented Song prisoners. On the fourth day of October (October 25th), Li Jiqian defeated the Song army and sent an envoy to report. On the second day of December (December 21st) (Sunday), Li Jiqian captured Song Lin and other prefectures, and sent envoys to report. On the ninth day of the lunar month, Li Jiqian was granted the title of King of Xia?
On the seventeenth day of the first month of the ninth year of Tonghe (February 4, 991), five hundred Song soldiers were selected to form the Xuanli Army. On the fifth day of February (February 22), Xixia sent envoys to report that the Song Dynasty had achieved great victory. On the sixth day of April (May 22), King Li Jiqian of Xixia sent Du Bai to thank Liao for canonizing him.
Because of his iron-fisted political methods and controversial incidents of massacre of political opponents, the evaluation of Xiao Chuo has been polarized in history. The emperor was young, and state affairs depended on his mother. His general Han Derang favored him, and the people of the country were ill? Longxu also hated his actions. , afraid of it. However, the Xiao family is also always afraid of its misfortune. Every first month of the year, they often stop eating meat and meat, conduct large-scale fasting meetings and build temples, hoping to regain blessings. However, their nature is cruel, they often kill and punish, and they have strategies. Are you all convinced? .
The position of Yang Peng's stronghold was right in the middle of the Maligou Valley. A single Qiannu controlled the traffic on both sides, making it impossible for messengers and personnel from both sides of the Khitan army to communicate. Moreover, the stronghold was well-organized and various trenches were laid out.
There are several floors, and behind the trench there is an earthen wall to protect the gunners, an awning, and an earthen fort under the awning. There is an observation tower in the middle of the fortification, and all the facilities that a strong fortification should have.
I heard that this Yang Peng is only twenty years old? It is indeed not simple. This man has now become the close enemy of Daliao. The messenger reported that Daliao entered the pass this time to cut grass and valleys, and lost tens of thousands of horses to Yang Peng, resulting in losses.
It is not a tragedy. Ye Qixu looked at Queen Mother Xiao's face and said: "Queen Mother, the defenders at Qingshan Pass said that Xiao Tianzuo attacked Yang Peng's stronghold some time ago and suffered heavy casualties. I am afraid tens of thousands of people died.
people."
Empress Dowager Xiao sighed and said slowly: "Xiao Tianzuo is still too young. I repeatedly asked him not to attack the strong city. After all, he was too conceited and did not listen to me." After a pause, Empress Dowager Xiao said again: "This time
, Xiao Tianyou also died in the battle, and our Daliao army lost its troops." Xiao Hunian asked: "Queen Mother, will we be able to enter the pass and plunder from now on?"
Empress Dowager Xiao narrowed her eyes and was silent for a while. After a long while, Empress Dowager Xiao said: "We still have to enter the pass!" Xiao Hunian said: "But this Yang Peng is too powerful, we can't defeat him after entering the pass!" Empress Dowager Xiao said: "
Yang Peng has only one lone army, and it is difficult to fight alone. As long as our soldiers and horses entering the pass strengthen sentries and avoid him, there will be no losses. Entering the pass to weaken the Song Dynasty is our national policy of the Liao Kingdom, and it cannot be changed just because of a defeat.
The strings are easy to change."
After a pause, Empress Dowager Xiao added: "Cutting down the Song Dynasty is like cutting down a big tree. You need to cut it from both sides, and then the big tree will fall on its own. Although the Song Dynasty emphasized culture and neglected military affairs, it has become decayed, but as a century-old tree, it has not yet reached its own level.
"If we don't enter the pass, plunder, harass and weaken the Song State, it is possible for the Song State to regain its vitality and become strong again. Once the Song State becomes prosperous, we, the Liao State, will be in danger!"
"
When Xiao Hunian heard what Empress Dowager Xiao said, she was very impressed. She bent down and stood aside without saying anything. Empress Dowager Xiao looked at Yang Peng's stronghold and squinted her eyes again: "But this Yang Peng has become a person.
It’s hard to get rid of it!” Empress Dowager Xiao wanted to test Yang Peng’s reaction with machine crossbows. Yang Peng also wanted to see the level of crossbows in Empress Dowager Xiao’s army, so she asked Empress Dowager Xiao to shoot first. In this kind of mutual testing between the two armies,
Don't argue about the length of the moment. If Yang Peng shot first, the Khitan army would probably collapse in one round.
The war between Yang Peng and the Liao Kingdom is still very long. Yang Peng needs to understand the level of the Khitan army's crossbows in order to make the right decision. The north wall of the stronghold is not full of people at this time, and there are various defense facilities.
If the Khitan army fired one round first, it wouldn't be a big problem.
However, Yang Peng still underestimated the powerful crossbows of the Khitan army. He did not expect that the powerful crossbows of the Khitan army could hit the earth wall and kill two soldiers on guard. The death of two soldiers still made Yang Peng very distressed. The first round
After looking at the shooting, Yang Peng found that the level of Queen Mother Xiao's crossbowmen was not bad, and the level was higher than he thought. They were able to hit the earth wall as soon as they fired. Obviously, the crossbowmen of the Khitan soldiers also had tools to assist in aiming. Compared with the military system
The Song army was used in a chaotic manner and often panicked as soon as they fired. Empress Dowager Xiao's crossbowmen were considered elite.
In fact, the Khitan had already realized the importance of strong crossbows. In the early days of the Liao Dynasty, when attacking the castles in western Liaoning, they were suppressed by the Song army's strong crossbows for a long time, so they racked their brains to obtain strong crossbows through various means.
In the central formation of the Khitan Army, Queen Mother Xiao and Xiao Hunian looked a little pale as they watched the crossbows firing in front of the formation. The firepower of Yang Peng's artillery was so powerful that it far exceeded Queen Mother Xiao's imagination. Six
Ten powerful crossbows fired in one volley, and they accurately hit the Khitan military crossbow position one mile away, destroying nine crossbows. After two volleys, seventeen crossbows were destroyed on the position. And Yang Peng
Of the powerful crossbows, not a single one was lost.
Just imagine how much chaos the army would cause if they were bombarded by such powerful crossbows several times when they attacked the city? Empress Dowager Xiao also wanted to test Yang Peng's firepower, but she did not expect that seventeen powerful crossbows were destroyed in one fell swoop.
Empress Dowager Xiao was also a little distressed. Empress Dowager Xiao took a breath and said slowly: "This Yang Peng's wings have matured, and now it is no longer possible to cut them off." Xiao Hunian looked at Xiao Yi's artillery that suffered heavy losses and said: "Empress Dowager
, this Yang Peng is too tricky."
Empress Dowager Xiao looked to the west and said, "It's time for us to leave. Yelu Longxu is at Huangyakou, so it's time to succeed." On February 28, Xiao Tianzuo sat worriedly in the Chinese army's tent, talking to
The Khitan nobles discussed the military situation. Now the Queen Mother has arrived at Qingshan Pass and is stationed opposite Yang Peng's stronghold. But the middle of the canyon in Maligou is occupied by Yang Peng. Yang Peng's cannons have blocked the canyon, which is only two or three miles wide.
The messengers of Empress Dowager Xiao and Xiao Tianzuo were unable to communicate with each other. Even at night, under the threat of artillery fire, Yang Pengjun lit pyres in the valley for lighting, abruptly cutting off the communication between the two sides.
The day before yesterday, Xiao Tian left a group of thirty dead soldiers to rush to the Queen Mother. As soon as they entered the range of Yang Peng's strong crossbow, they were blasted by ten strong crossbows. More than twenty of these dead soldiers died.
After being defeated, we no longer dare to move forward.
The Queen Mother was a few miles away, but could not communicate, which made Xiao Tianzuo very worried. If this continued, even if the Queen Mother came, she would not be able to lead Xiao Tianzuo's army out. Xiao Tianzuo began to think about how to get from both sides of the valley.
We climbed over the cliff, but the scouts went out to study for two days, but could not find any results. This Yang Peng had obviously studied the terrain when setting up the stronghold, and specifically chose to set up camp in this tricky place.
Looking at the generals in the account, Xiao Tianzuo said: "Now the news is cut off, and the correspondence with the Queen Mother is blocked. The Queen Mother cannot help us. What can you do?" Yibai of the Xi tribe said: "General
, here and now, we can only go out to attack other passes. Even without careful coordination and intelligence, we can only attack by force." Handerang shook his head and said: "I am afraid that if we attack Xiongguan and cannot attack it for a long time, Yang Peng will lead the main force of the Song army from
Attack us from behind"
Everyone took a breath of cold air when they heard Han Derang's words. Yang Peng's troops and horses are so strong. If they get the cooperation of hundreds of thousands more Song troops, they may really attack Xiao Tian's left army of more than 50,000 people. By then,
The Song Dynasty was attacked from both front and back at the pass. It could not be said to be a huge defeat. Then there was no other way but to waste time in this ditch with Yang Peng? It took him half a year?
Generals, you look at me and I look at you, but I can't come up with an idea. Everyone was anxious when they saw a soldier running outside the big tent. He ran to Xiao Tianzuo to say hello and said: "General
, Prince Yelu Longxu’s messenger is here!” Yelu Longxu is Xiao Tianzuo’s brother-in-law, and he has a long history of military exploits.
Everyone was stunned when they heard the words of the soldiers, and they were a little surprised. Didn't Yelu Longxu follow the emperor to contain the Song army in western Liaoning, and Ning soldiers and horses? The Queen Mother's messenger could not pass through the Mali ditch. How did Yelu Longxu's messenger get in?
?He sneaked in by detouring through other passes and sneaking in? But now that Yelu Longxu's messenger has come in, the communication with the Queen Mother has been cleared, and everyone is happy to hear this.
Xiao Tianzuo waved his hand and said: "Let the messenger come in quickly!" After a while, three Khitan soldiers wearing white paint scale armor walked into Xiao Tianzuo's tent. They were the elite guards of Yelu Longxu's army. Those three
The Khitan soldiers came in and bowed their knees to Xiao Tianzuo to pay their respects. They stood up and said loudly: "General, my master Yelu Longxu has captured Huangyakou according to the arrangement of the Queen Mother. Please lead the army out of there, General."
Hearing the guard's words, the eyes of the Xi clan nobles in the big tent lit up and they stood up excitedly one by one. Xiao Tianzuo stood up and asked, "How did Yelu Longxu capture Huangyakou?" The guard said:
"The Queen Mother had long since discovered that Huangyakou's defenses were empty, and bribed Xizuo to ambush inside. My master and Xizuo cooperated inside and outside, and asked the people in the city to open the door. As soon as the door opened, my great Khitan soldiers rushed in.
Huangyakou was occupied."
When the Xi tribe nobles in the big tent heard this, they knew that Huangyakou had really been taken, and they all breathed a sigh of relief. The generals secretly thought that they could finally get out of the seclusion smoothly, as if they could get rid of this devil.
Yang Peng. Xiao Tianzuo stood in the tent and thought about it, and he was also happy.
Huangyakou is in the west, four hundred miles away from Qingshankou. Xiao Tianzuo led his army all the way west and could reach it in ten days. Even if the Song army in Cangzhou got the news and caught up, they could not catch up with him. They were finally able to get out of the pass smoothly.
Although we suffered heavy losses when we entered the customs this time, we still plundered more than 100,000 people. With this population replenishment, we, the Liao Kingdom, can still do something.
Yibai said excitedly: "General, let's go to Huangyakou quickly and exit the customs from there!" Xiao Tianzuo nodded and said loudly: "Bring out the stronghold, and the whole army will go west and exit the customs at Huangyakou.
"
Yang Peng stood on the observation deck and looked at Xiao Tianzuo's army and Xiao Tianzuo's army on the south and north sides at the same time. They marched toward the distance. Yang Bamei asked in surprise: "Master, what's wrong with Xiao Tianzuo?"
After retreating, are they going to attack other passes?" Yang Peng thought for a moment and said, "I'm afraid not. Now that Queen Mother Xiao is here, the Khitan army has the ability to spy on the authenticity of all the passes on the Great Wall. Maybe the Khitan army has already captured them.
I don’t know where the checkpoint is, I’m ready to leave!”
Huyan Chijin said: "City Lord, should we follow him? Wait for the opportunity to hit him?" Yang Peng smiled and said: "In a field battle, ten thousand of us can't defeat Xiao Tianzuo's army, let them go, we
The contribution made this time is great enough." Yang Bamei said leisurely: "The Khitan army has entered the fortress many times, but they have always fled with great force. Is this the first time that they have escaped in such an embarrassing manner?" The officers of the surrounding Tiger Ben division
Hearing Yang Bamei's words, everyone burst into laughter, very cheerfully.
What happened after all? Let’s look at the breakdown next time.