The living Lang Jiawei presented a "Tang Dynasty Supplementary Record" (also known as "Tang Nian Supplementary Record") compiled by himself, with a total of sixty-five volumes. It is the unofficial historical information he had collected and compiled from the people, and the time span was Tang Wuzong. To Emperor Ai of the Tang Dynasty. Shi Jingtang greatly appreciated it, rewarded it generously, and handed it to the History Museum for compilation.
With the strong support of Shi Jingtang and the unity and cooperation of Zhao Ying, Zhang Zhaoyuan, Lu Qi and others, the Later Jin regime took advantage of the national system and took more than four years to finally publish a "History of the Tang Dynasty". Because Ouyang Xiu took the lead in rewriting the history books of the Tang Dynasty during the Song Dynasty, in order to distinguish them, later generations called the book written in the Later Jin Dynasty the "Old Book of Tang", and the one written in the Northern Song Dynasty called the "New Book of Tang". Both historical books are ranked among the "Twenty-Four Histories".
It is also worth mentioning that the signed author of "Old Tang Book" is Liu Yu. In fact, Zhang Zhaoyuan, Zhao Ying, Lu Qi, and Zhao Xi made the most contributions.
To compile the history of the Tang Dynasty, it "narrates the chronicles to outline the emperor's career, and writes biographies to describe the meritorious officials." Emphasize that the Jin Dynasty is the orthodoxy of China and maintain the Chinese ethics.
2. “Kneeling tribe” diplomacy
Shi Jingtang ascended to the throne with the help of Khitan forces. At the beginning of the founding of the country, he signed the "Three Traitors" that humiliated the country by losing power and humiliating the country. He ceded territory to pay compensation and recognized thieves as his father. From that moment on, Shi Jingtang never thought of standing up again. Although he is a respected figure in the country, in the eyes of the Khitan, the kingdom of heaven, he is just a watchdog, helping the Khitan to guard the land of the Central Plains. This is the so-called "human-like dog-likeness" and a traitor. The face he should have.
The Later Jin Dynasty and the Khitan were in a relationship of father and son, and Shi Jingtang's status as a "kneeling clan" was established in the form of law. There is no doubt that the diplomacy of the Later Jin Dynasty during the Shi Jingtang period, especially the diplomacy with the Khitan, was very humiliating.
1. Khitan father
1.1 Hello, murderer
As soon as Shi Jingtang took control of Luoyang, Yelv Deguang issued an edict: The corpses of the fallen soldiers of the Later Tang Dynasty were built as a Jingguan on the Fen River.
Almost at the same time, Shi Jingtang also issued an order, ordering Sang Weihan to write an article praising Yelv Deguang.
1.2 Your uncle is still your uncle
Before Li Congke set himself on fire, he sent someone to kill Yelvbei. An old monk collected his body and buried it hastily. After Shi Jingtang took control of Luoyang, he issued an edict to confer the title of "King of Yan" on this man who was seven or eight years younger than himself. He sent people to take out the body and transport it properly to his hometown in Khitan for burial.
Those who are dead must be given away, and those who are alive must be given away. The Khitan prisoners previously detained by the Later Tang Dynasty were high-level prisoners whom Emperor Mingzong Li Siyuan refused to release even if they "killed their envoys without retribution". They were all sent home by Shi Jingtang with courtesy.
1.3 There are always a few days in every month
Shi Jingtang was very respectful to his Khitan father. In addition to sending envoys to contribute during the New Year and festivals, he also received and sent off quite frequently in ordinary times.
In the official records of the Later Jin Dynasty, they were more tactful and reserved, and did not exaggerate the matter. They often used neutral words such as "Khitan sent envoys to hire" to heighten the atmosphere of good neighborliness and friendship.
And when we look through the "History of Liao", we will find that there is almost an endless stream of envoys from the Later Jin Dynasty. There are always a few days every month when people are sent to deliver gifts. Please say hello.
For example, we set the timeline to September of the fourth year of Tianfu (939). The "Old History of the Five Dynasties·Book of Jin·Benji of Gaozu" records as follows: "The Khitan envoy Namoku came to hire and gave cattle, horses and other items." As for why the Khitan sent a group of beasts, no answer was given, giving people the illusion that the Khitan people were very friendly to the later Jin Dynasty.
What about reality? The answer is given in "History of the Liao Dynasty: The Benji of Emperor Taizong". The reason is that in the first month of this year, the Later Jin Dynasty sent envoys twice within one month. The first envoy was "to pay tribute with precious coins", and the second envoy was to reduce some of the taxes on Khitan. To express gratitude; in July, "Jin sent envoys to the Rhinoceros Belt."
After donating the rhinoceros belt, the Khitan "sent a powerful gift to the Jin Dynasty, Wu Guliang Horse", and while sending the horse, he also put forward a condition that was unacceptable to the later Jin Dynasty (which was also the main purpose of this visit).
This leads to the record of "To cattle, horses and other things" in "The Benji of Emperor Gaozu". After obtaining these beasts, "History of Liao" also recorded that "Jin sent envoys to pay tribute coins."
The later Jin Dynasty cut off the beginning and the end and took it out of context. He gave gifts to others three times without mentioning them. They really couldn't save their face, so they returned the gift once and got a big write-up.
Moreover, the official reports of the Later Jin Dynasty used the word "hiring", which means to visit, which is relatively neutral and vague. The official reports of Khitan were not so protective of the later Jin Dynasty, using the words "tribute" and "ci".
Take another example, October of the fifth year of Tianfu (940).
"Old History of the Five Dynasties·Book of Jin·Benji of Emperor Gaozu" says: "In the tenth month of winter...the Khitan envoy Shili came to hire him and gave him hundreds of horses, jade saddles, fox coats, etc."
"History of Liao·Benji of Taizong":
“In the first month of the first month, I sent an envoy to accompany Abo to attend the birthday ceremony;
In March, an envoy was sent to Jin to report his good fortune to Nanjing... Jin sent an envoy to pay homage.
In April, envoys were sent to Jin. Jin sent envoys Yang Duan and Wang Tiao to inquire about daily life; Jin sent envoys to bring tea and medicine; Jin sent envoys to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival;
In the fifth month, Jin sent envoys to advance with bows and arrows;
In June, Jin sent envoys to see him;
In July, Jin sent envoys to pay tribute to the southern suburbs;
In September, Jin sent envoys to pay tribute to famous horses;
In October, Jin sent an envoy to Gongfu. "
The Khitans visited Later Jin in January, March, April and May, and Later Jin visited nine times in total. Among them, there were three visits in April alone.
Moreover, the Khitan people's visit in January was to celebrate Shi Jingtang's birthday, and in March it was because Yelu Deguang was visiting Nanjing (Youzhou), and they came to comfort Shi Jingtang by telling him, "Dad is not going south, don't be afraid, son." After Yelu Deguang came to Youzhou to guide the work, the Later Jin Dynasty quickly sent envoys to Youzhou to meet him.
In April, Yelu Deguang left Youzhou and returned to Beijing, so he sent an envoy to inform the Later Jin Dynasty. The Later Jin Dynasty also quickly sent people to the Khitan capital to greet them.
In other words, the Khitan's real visit to the Later Jin Dynasty was only once in May, when the prince Yelu Tiande led a delegation to conduct a friendly visit to the Later Jin Dynasty.
For another example, in the second year of Tianfu (937), the "Old History of the Five Dynasties·Book of Jin·Benji of Gaozu" happily recorded that "in June...Khitan envoy Ilexiba came to hire two hundred horses, as well as ginseng and mink skins. , walking horses, wooden bowls and other objects.”
Why did the Khitan send these things? Shi Jingtang didn't say anything.
The Khitan people told him, "History of the Liao Dynasty: The Annals of Taizong": "In February, the Jin sent the Lang Jun La Ge and the literary class official Xiao Guanli who had been plundered by the Tang Dynasty to return to the court." As we mentioned above, the Khitan repeatedly begged the Later Tang Dynasty to release them. And those senior prisoners who were repeatedly rejected by Li Siyuan.
Later Jin sent this great favor to Khitan in February, and sent envoys to pay tribute in March. So Khitan sent envoys to pay a return visit, and then Shi Jingtang sent envoys to pay tribute. In June, the Later Jin Dynasty sent envoys again to ask for mercy and return the sixteen states of Youyun. In return, the Later Jin Dynasty was willing to double the annual coins.
