Disco de doble caja

Capítulo 54

After the heads were returned, Xiao Xuan built a shrine for Yang Ye, assigned someone to perform sacrifices and guard it, and cremated the bodies of Yang Ye and Yan Yu, placing the ashes into two small jars.

General, I'm sorry. I reclaimed the lost territory of the Khitan with your head. Forgive me for doing this. You were ashamed to be a surrendered subject, and I am ashamed to be scorned by the Khitan people. My descendants still live on this land. Today, whether we fight or lose, thousands of years from now, who will own this land we have fought for? Who will live on it? We don't know. In my heart, there are only Yan Yu's words: Never again will we fight.

As long as there is no war, we will never again have such conflicts. The people of both the Song and Liao dynasties can then live peaceful and stable lives. I also understand that we can no longer cower in fear. Only by becoming strong can we have the right to fight for peace.

Remembering her promise, Xiao Xuan led her army back into the ancient lands of the Han Dynasty, heading straight for the now-destroyed Jinyang. Meanwhile, upon hearing that the Liao army was advancing from Yanmen Pass, Zhao Guangyi assumed they intended to seize Taiyuan, the newly built city in Tangming Town. He hastily reinforced the garrison in Taiyuan and urgently mobilized troops from various directions to prepare for their advance.

Standing on the ruins of Jinyang City, looking at the broken rocks and rubble before her, Xiao Xuan slowly sat cross-legged on the ground.

More than a decade ago, a young man in this city gave me food and clothes and blessed me to go to the Song Dynasty to see Zhao Kuangyin. More than a decade later, he died at my hands by some twist of fate, and I had to travel a thousand miles to send him back to his hometown.

Yan Yu, we can never be good friends again in this life. If there truly is an afterlife, if there truly is reincarnation, let us meet again in the next cycle of life and walk together. Let us support each other along the way, and complete all the years of the next life together. Holding the small ceramic jar, Xiao Xuan carefully buried the jar containing the ashes of Yan Yu and Yang Ye in the pit that the guards had already dug, and then carefully covered it up. After everything was done, Xiao Xuan stood up, looked at the fresh soil, and said softly, "General, Yan Yu, I have sent you home. You can rest in peace. If we are truly destined, let us meet again in the next life and continue our old friendship."

Turning away from the newly paved land, Xiao Xuan gazed towards Tokyo, thinking to herself: Zhao Guangyi, I know now is not the time to confront you head-on. Once I've settled things within the Liao territory, I will naturally come to settle accounts with you. After some deliberation, Xiao Xuan boarded the carriage and led her army on the journey back to the capital.

Her back-and-forth left Zhao Guangyi completely bewildered, unable to understand what trick she was playing. He was just about to lead his men to reinforce Taiyuan when he received intelligence that Empress Dowager Chengtian had already led her troops back to Liao. What was going on? Regardless of the reason, he was secretly relieved. Yang Ye's death had dealt a heavy blow to his soldiers; if Liao were to launch a direct attack now, the battle would be truly dangerous.

After recovering lost territory, the army returned to the capital in triumph. They proved their capabilities to the people and tribes of Khitan. Empress Xiaoxuan held a banquet for her officials and rewarded all the meritorious soldiers. Yelü Xiezhen, Yelü Ameili, Yelü Sha, and others were all promoted and ennobled, and Xiuge, who had achieved outstanding military exploits, was even granted the title of "King of Song".

During the banquet, Hugh suggested taking advantage of the great victory to continue expanding southward, using the river as the boundary. Xiao Xuan, however, did not agree with his suggestion. The battle had just ended, and the soldiers had just returned home to reunite with their families. If they were to continue attacking at this time, morale would be a problem, and besides, she had more important things on her mind.

Looking at the ministers at the banquet, who were in high spirits, Xiao Xuan said, "The Song Dynasty has always been short of horses, and a large portion of their horses are purchased from the Jurchens. Issue the order: I want to personally lead an expedition against the Jurchens." She wanted to go to the Jurchens to find out news about Zheng Ge, even if it was just a little bit.

The ministers were stunned, their excitement instantly freezing. Xie Zhen immediately put down his wine cup, knelt down, and said, "Empress Dowager, this matter can be left to your subordinates. Please take care of your health." "My mind is made up, you don't need to persuade me anymore," Xiao Xuan said. "Everyone should rest for a while. The soldiers are still a bit tired after just recovering lost territory." Without giving the ministers any further discussion, Xiao Xuan left the banquet after saying this.

After patiently waiting for two months, and feeling that the soldiers' spirits had been restored, Xiao Xuan led her troops straight towards the Jurchens. Xie Zhen led the troops to clear the way, while Han Derang accompanied her, protecting her at her side.

At this time, the Liao army was strong and well-equipped, with numerous soldiers and generals. The Jurchens were no match for them, and after a fierce battle, the Jurchens suffered a crushing defeat. Despite this resounding victory, Xiao Xuan did not order an immediate return to the capital. Instead, she had Jurchen prisoners continuously brought into the main tent for questioning. Three days passed, and she obtained no information about Zheng Ge from them. Five days passed, and still, there were no clues. Seeing the increasingly confused expressions on the soldiers' faces, their excitement turning into bewilderment and impatience, Xiao Xuan had no choice but to order: Return to the capital.

Looking back at the rows of yurts, the scattered corpses, the crying children, and the runaway horses, Xiao Xuan silently cried out: "Brother Zheng, may God bless you and grant you a lifetime of peace. Talaigan Naiwanshi, Dawa'er, I hope you will not fail my trust." Turning her head, she embarked on her journey back to the capital, her heart heavy with worry, yet feeling as if someone were stabbing her repeatedly with a knife. She was a mother; how could she not miss her children?

In the campaign against the Jurchens, the Khitan captured over 100,000 livestock and over 200,000 warhorses. This greatly increased the number of warhorses in the Khitan, whose livestock industry was thriving, and strengthened their cavalry. The people and ministers held the Empress Dowager in increasingly high regard, as if she were a deity igniting a blazing fire of life for the Khitan. After the victory against the Jurchens, the generals expected the next step to be war against the Song Dynasty. However, Empress Dowager Xiaoxuan fell silent, never mentioning the attack on the Song Dynasty, and focusing solely on stabilizing the Liao's internal affairs.

She first implemented the imperial examination system within the Liao Dynasty, creating conditions for ordinary people to utilize their talents and obtain positions through their own abilities, thus rising to the upper echelons of society. She also formulated a series of policies to reward agriculture, promote integrity, rectify wrongful convictions, reorganize tribes, and improve the status of Han Chinese in the Khitan, which led to a better social atmosphere in the Khitan and a decrease in criminal cases.

Han Chinese were originally considered inferior to Khitans in the Liao Dynasty, and were treated differently in every aspect of their lives. For example, if someone committed murder, the Khitans could settle the matter with livestock or money, while the Han Chinese had to pay with their lives, and their family members were often enslaved. This unequal treatment led to social instability, with the Khitans becoming arrogant and the Han Chinese enduring resentment. Empress Xiaoxuan ordered reforms to elevate the status of Han Chinese, ensuring that everyone was treated equally regardless of who committed the crime. This policy immediately caused a huge uproar within the Liao Dynasty.

Empress of Khitan - Empress Dowager of Khitan Chapter 102 Couple

Updated: 2008-09-23 16:40:37 Word Count: 2843

The Khitans felt this was a denial of their identity, while the Han Chinese were delighted. Whether they obeyed or not, most dared not break the law; they knew the Empress Dowager meant what she said. Under Xiao Xuan's influence, the law of "the prince is subject to the same law as the commoner" was finally implemented on Liao territory. No one had the right to commit murder privately anymore, a fact proven in the case of Yelü Guoliu. Yelü Guoliu's slaves, unwilling to accept his brutal treatment, secretly escaped. Upon learning this, Yelü Guoliu flew into a rage, chasing after all the escaped slaves and killing them all. When this was reported to Xiao Xuan, she only said one word to Yelü Guoliu: "Execute!" She dared to kill even a member of the royal family; who else wouldn't she dare kill? This incident taught all the Khitan nobles a lesson: be obedient and dutiful in her presence.

With the implementation of various measures, a few years later, in places like Nanjing, Yizhou, and Pingzhou of the Liao Kingdom, there were even rare scenes of prisons being completely empty. The whole country was prosperous.

In the sixth year of the Tonghe era, Xiao Xuan and Han Derang accompanied Emperor Longxu on an inspection tour of Nanjing. During the tour, remembering Han Derang's playful nature, Xiao Xuan specially arranged a polo match for him and the other ministers to enjoy themselves.

All participants in the polo match were divided into two groups: the royal family and nobles in one group, and the remaining ministers in the other. This was a perfectly normal grouping, but because Xiao Xuan had placed "Han Derang" in the group of royal family and nobles, it aroused dissatisfaction and jealousy among some people.

Since Xiao Xuan took power, Han Derang, who had been rising rapidly in rank, hadn't had such a joyful time in a long time. Riding his horse, he frequently swung his crescent-shaped polo mallet, chasing the ball. Watching his enthusiastic play and excited expression, Xiao Xuan couldn't help but smile. Huli Shi, standing in the ranks of the generals, saw this and, consumed by jealousy, charged at Han Derang with his mallet. "Han Derang! You, a Han Chinese, are actually more favored by the Empress Dowager than I, a Khitan! I truly don't know what methods you used to bewitch the Empress Dowager. Humph, I'll show you!" Huli Shi cursed inwardly, spurring his horse rapidly towards Han Derang. Han Derang, focused only on chasing the polo ball, had no idea he was being hated and couldn't dodge in time. He was knocked off his horse by Huli Shi.

Xiao Xuan, who was watching the game with great interest, suddenly saw this scene and hurriedly stood up to look at the chaotic scene on the field.

"Han Derang!" she cried out, looking at the horses that were blocking her view. She couldn't see him, so she could only shout urgently.

"Han Derang?"

There was no answer. Xiao Xuan had no choice but to rush in from outside the field, heading straight for the spot where Han Derang had fallen from his horse. Hu Lishi was on horseback. Taking advantage of the chaos, he was about to pull the reins and trample Han Derang when he heard someone urgently calling Han Derang's name. When he looked up again, he saw the Empress Dowager, disregarding her status, rushing onto the polo field. He hesitated for a moment, then pulled on the reins. If the Empress Dowager ran over and saw his horse trampling Han Derang, she would definitely become suspicious.

"Get out of my way!" Xiao Xuan shouted.

From among the horses that had parted to make way, Xiao Xuan saw Han Derang slumped to the ground. Seeing the astonished look in his eyes as he stared at Huli Shi, Xiao Xuan felt a surge of rage. "Guards! Drag Huli Shi out and behead him!"

Under the watchful eyes of the courtiers and nobles, Xiao Xuan helped Han Derang, who had fallen to his feet, to his feet. Then she coldly watched as the guards dragged him off his horse and led him out of the horse farm.

"Empress Dowager, why are you killing me? He is Han Chinese, and I am Khitan! Empress Dowager, have you forgotten that you are also Khitan! Empress Dowager!"

Hulishi wailed as he was dragged away. He couldn't believe that he had been sentenced to death for just a deliberate act of collision. "Han Derang, who are you? Why are you so important to the Empress Dowager?"

There was no reply; all he saw was Xiaoxuan's cold, glaring gaze.

The polo match ended badly, and Xiao Xuan and Han Derang returned to their room. Xiao Xuan, with a gloomy face, brushed the dust off Han Derang's clothes.

"Are you worried?"

"How can I not worry? With so many horses, any one of them could trample you and cause you injury," Xiao Xuan said, frowning. "These ministers are truly audacious!"

Gently taking Xiaoxuan's hand, Han Derang said, "Yanyan, isn't this punishment a bit too harsh?"

"Too heavy? Where is it heavy! If anything were to happen to you, you'd be lying on the ground right now!"

"I understand, I'll be more careful in the future," Han Derang said.

Looking at Han Derang, Xiao Xuan sighed and asked with pity, "Is there anything that hurts? I'll go and call the imperial physician to give you a proper check-up."

"Yan Yan," Han Derang said, holding Xiao Xuan in his arms, "I'm fine. That bump won't kill me. Don't worry about me anymore."

Nestled in his arms, the two remained silent, only the scent of love spreading between them.

From then on, the royal family, nobles, and officials in the court became more humble towards Han Derang, fearing that if they offended him, the Empress Dowager would take their heads in a fit of anger.

Xiao Xuan and Han Derang, a pair of lovers, began to appear frequently before everyone's eyes. They strolled together on the vast grasslands, quietly watching the setting sun slowly descend. Occasionally, they would carry wine bags and drink heartily around a campfire, listening to the herdsmen's songs, dancing with them, and enjoying the joy under the moonlight. When with the children, Xiao Xuan would tell them the story of a general named Liu Yanyu. Looking at the peaceful and serene Empress Dowager Chengtian and Han Derang, who was by her side day and night, one couldn't help but envy their idyllic life. Meanwhile, in the remote Jurchen mountains, a family of three also lived happily.

Talaigan Naiwanshi and Dawa'er had a very close relationship, and they doted on their son, Zhengge. Despite their own impoverished circumstances, they were happy. Zhengge's laughter was their laughter; his tears were their sorrow. Their world revolved around Zhengge. Every morning, they would whisper: "Empress Dowager, rest assured, we will ensure the Khitan bloodline continues to thrive on this land."

As autumn arrived, with strong and healthy troops and a stable national situation, Han Derang and Xiao Xuan decided to launch a military campaign against the Song Dynasty. Unlike in the past, Han Derang suggested that Emperor Longxu personally lead the army this time.

Xiao Xuan, fiercely protective of her offspring, refused to let Longxu lead the troops into battle personally, insisting that Han Derang accompany him to take care of him. Han Derang, however, disagreed. He took Xiao Xuan's hand and led her to the grasslands, pointing to the eagles soaring in the sky and the horses galloping on the ground. Han Derang asked, "Yan Yan, open your eyes and look! Even those animals know to release their young back into the wild as soon as possible to cultivate their survival skills in harsh environments. Why are you so conservative?"

"I'm conservative? My child is the apple of my eye. You don't love him, but I do!" Xiaoxuan muttered unhappily.

"Don't I love your child? I probably love him even more than you do. To put your mind at ease, and to ensure our relationship doesn't bring you any disaster, trouble, or gossip, you know I will never have children. I've already treated your child as my own; how could I not love him? Think about it, which emperor of our Great Liao Dynasty didn't grow up riding horses, wielding bows and arrows, running and training on the grasslands? In every battle, didn't they stand at the head of their ministers, commanding the overall situation? They honed their skills to conquer the land..." That is his glory. If he lacks ability and only hides behind his ministers, how can he earn their respect and genuine admiration? Take him, for example—Emperor Tianzan grew up amidst bloodshed. Longxu is no longer young; it's time for him to spread his wings and fly. You should let him soar like his father, why keep him tied to your side? Once he's gone, whether he wins or loses, it's entirely up to him to command the battle. That will only enhance his abilities. Constantly forbidding him from leaving your side will only diminish his ambition; it's harmful and useless.”

Hearing Han Derang's words, she felt a pang of sadness. She understood why Han Derang was infertile. To be with her, this Han man, to avoid causing trouble for the Khitan Empress Dowager and the descendants of Emperor Tianzan, had secretly taken medicine, giving up his right to have children. Looking at Han Derang and remembering everything he had done for her, Xiao Xuan had no choice but to agree to his plan to have Emperor Longxu personally lead the expedition.

Empress of Khitan - Empress Dowager of Khitan Chapter 103 Divine Assistance

Updated: 2008-09-23 16:40:58 Word Count: 3002

Before Emperor Longxu set off on his expedition, Xiaoxuan made an exception and went to the Prince Song's residence in Nanjing.

"You're here?" Xiu Ge, who was eating, looked at Xiao Xuan and stood up to say.

"Keep eating, why be so polite?"

"What about him?" Hugh asked.

"I'm waiting outside," Xiaoxuan replied. Knowing he was asking about Han Derang again, Xiaoxuan gave an awkward smile.

"You left him outside?" Hugh exclaimed in surprise, stopping his chewing and staring blankly at Xiaoxuan.

“Let him in, he’ll just start rambling on and on,” Xiao Xuan said, then looked at Xiu Ge, whose meal was unusually simple, and said, “Is this all you usually eat? Sigh, if a woman really married someone as great as you, the King of Yue and Song, she’d probably say you don’t know how to cherish women.”

"What is it?" Hugh asked bluntly. "You must have something to say. Just say it directly. When did you start beating around the bush? Is this what Han Derang taught you?"

"No way!" Xiao Xuan said, staring at Han Derang with her big eyes, "Last time I asked you to take care of Xian, this time I'm asking you to take good care of Longxu."

Xiu paused again while eating, looking at Xiaoxuan and saying, "You really don't trust me that much? Did you have to come all the way to tell me this?"

“It’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s precisely because I trust you so much that I’m telling you this. If I told others, they would laugh at me, but if I told you, they wouldn’t.”

Hearing this, Hugh's chopsticks trembled slightly, and he said, "Don't worry, it's the same old story, unless I'm dead."

Looking at Xiu, Xiaoxuan smiled. Hearing his promise reassured her. His words carried more weight than anything else. She stood up and said, "Take your time eating, I'm leaving."

"Aren't you worried about me?" Hugh suddenly asked.

Stopping in her tracks, Xiaoxuan turned to Xiu Ge and said, "No. I'm not worried at all, because I don't need to worry about you. I know your abilities perfectly well." With that, she confidently walked out of the room.

Watching her retreating figure, Hugh was speechless.

"Don't worry, yes, I'd rather you were worried, so I'd know there's a woman who cares about me too." After leaving the Song Prince's mansion and getting into the carriage, Han Derang looked at Xiao Xuan's smiling face and asked, "What did you say to Brother Xiu that made you so happy?"

"nothing."

"You've been hiding this from me?" Han Derang's expression was clearly off.

Looking at his face, she called out helplessly, "Derang!" He then obediently sat down beside her, sighing, and didn't press the matter further.

"I told him to keep an eye on Longxu. If anything happens to Longxu, I'll find him the ugliest woman in the world to be his wife."

Upon hearing this, Han Derang raised an eyebrow. Looking at Xiao Xuan with a slight smile, he said, "You!" His initial awkwardness dissipated considerably after hearing her reply.

From autumn to winter that year, Xiao Xuan's brow never relaxed. She waited every day for battle reports, every day for news about Longxu.

The force from Xiuge was advancing rapidly, while the force from Yelü Pan and Lu Bugu was defeated by Song troops at Taizhou. While the two armies were locked in battle, news arrived that Liu Tingrang, the Song Dynasty's military commander in Yingzhou, was leading tens of thousands of cavalry, intending to join forces with General Li Jingyuan and Li Jilong, the military commander of Cangzhou, in Yingzhou to launch a major attack on Nanjing. This news shocked the entire Liao Dynasty.

These three are all important officials of the Song Dynasty and should not be underestimated. If they successfully join forces and strike Nanjing, the tide of war may turn. The ministers and people of Liao once again turned their attention to Empress Dowager Xiao Xuan. Since taking office, she has always resolved or even eliminated crises. It remains to be seen whether she can resolve the crisis that Nanjing is about to face this time.

Understanding everyone's thoughts, Xiao Xuan knew that the matter couldn't be delayed, so she quickly gathered troops and prepared to head to the front lines to provide assistance. Before departing, to ensure the safety of the Liao territory, she urged Xiu Ge not to rush and to act according to circumstances. At the same time, she ordered the Northern Court King, Pu Nu Ning, to lead his army from Shengzhou to feign an attack on Daizhou, using a diversionary tactic to distract the Song army. She also ordered her own brother, the Imperial Son-in-Law Xiao Ji Xian, to strictly guard the southern border in case of any unforeseen events.

With everything prepared, Xiao Xuan ordered her army to head straight for Yingzhou at top speed.

Inside the speeding carriage, Xiao Xuan and Han Derang started arguing. "It's all your fault! I told you, the child is too young to lead troops into battle now. There will be other opportunities later. Look at the current dire situation. What if something changes on Longxu's side and the war gets too intense?"

“Then he’ll have to use his own brain. Does he expect everyone to do everything for him and just let him reap the benefits?” Han Derang said.

Waiting for Han Derang, Xiao Xuan retorted, "I won't talk to you now, I'll talk to you when I see the child."

"You! You get incredibly impulsive whenever anything involves the children. Can't you just stay calm and relaxed like usual?"

"I can't be lenient!"

Sigh! Han Derang sighed, looked at Xiao Xuan, and had no choice but to use the same trick again, pulling her into his arms and whispering in her ear: "I'm also worried about Long Xu. He's also my darling. Do you think I wouldn't worry if I let him go to the battlefield?" Seeing that he had softened his words, Xiao Xuan couldn't bear to say anything harsh anymore, and the carriage returned to calm.