Liu Chong explained to the Khitan the ins and outs of the civil strife in the Central Plains, saying that Liu Chengyou had unfortunately passed away and that I should have ascended the throne, but Guo Wei rebelled and stole the throne. He then proposed a specific cooperation idea to the Khitan: to follow the example of Shi Jingtang of the later Jin Dynasty.
Yelu Ruan was overjoyed and immediately agreed to the "Han-Liao Alliance", citing the precedent of Jin and Liao, and establishing a country of father and son.
With the support of the Khitan, Liu Chong led an army of 10,000 with his second son Liu Chengjun in command and launched an attack on Jinzhou under the control of the Later Zhou Dynasty.
The Northern Han army divided into five groups and launched a fierce attack on Jinzhou.
Jinzhou Jiedushi Wang Yan closed the city gate tightly and could not get out. Liu Chengjun was full of confidence and thought he had a chance of victory, so he ordered his soldiers to set up ladders and forcefully climb. Unexpectedly, ambushes appeared in all directions, and more than a thousand siege troops were wiped out. Liu Chengjun then sent An Yuanbao to burn the west city gate, but An Yuanbao revolted in front of the battle and led his troops to surrender to the defenders.
Liu Chengjun gathered the remaining defeated generals and turned north to attack Xizhou. Wang Yan sent his son Wang Hanlun to follow and kill him, and beheaded more than a hundred people.
Liu Chengjun also suffered heavy losses in Xizhou, leaving behind 500 corpses and retreating to Taiyuan in despair.
Although the battles of Jinzhou and Xizhou were not large in scale, their political significance far exceeded their military significance. There are countless pairs of eyes watching, especially the Khitans, who want to see the strength of this ally.
Shi Jingtang demonstrated his strength with a battle to defend Taiyuan and a great victory at Jin'anzhai, which strengthened the Khitan people's confidence in aiding Hedong. The Khitans are not philanthropists. Interfering in the internal affairs of the Central Plains is a political investment, and the most important thing about investment is the rate of return.
Obviously, Liu Chong failed to submit a satisfactory answer sheet.
"Angel investor" Yelu Ruan hesitated. At this time, Guo Wei's envoys had also arrived in Khitan, informing them of the origin of the Zhou Revolution and the Han Dynasty, and expressing their willingness to improve good-neighborly and friendly relations with Khitan.
Yelu Ruan then returned gifts such as good horses to Guo Wei, and sent envoys to congratulate him on his accession to the throne and recognized the regime of the Later Zhou Dynasty.
But the game of politics is never a black-or-white choice. The principle of "one Central Plains" has not become a consensus between the two parties. The Khitan recognized both the Later Zhou Dynasty and the Northern Han Dynasty, so that it would become a hot topic for both sides to win over. In other words, the Khitan most wanted to see the situation in the early days of the Later Jin Dynasty. : Guo Wei, Liu Chong or more forces (such as Murong Yanchao) are competing to betray the country.
After Liu Chong lost the first battle, he sent envoys to Khitan to express that the Northern Han Dynasty agreed to the agreement of "the country of father and son" and asked his father to send troops quickly to help him conquer the world.
I don’t know if Liu Chong is really confused or just pretending to be confused. Can ethics be eaten as food? Do the Khitan people need you as a father? In addition to calling him daddy, Shi Jingtang also ceded the sixteen Youyun states. What about you?
Yelu Ruan and Liu Chong made it clear directly: Guo Wei has also sent an envoy, and he is willing to pay me one hundred thousand yuan every year. Son, what about you?
Compared to being the emperor of the Central Plains, hundreds of thousands of dollars a year is just a drop in the bucket. Liu Chong readily agreed and sent his number one adviser, Prime Minister Zheng Gong, with heavy gifts as an envoy to Khitan, requesting the Liao Kingdom to formally designate him as the Lord of the Central Plains. In his credential, Liu Chong called himself "nephew emperor" and called him Yelu Ruan. As "Uncle Tian conferred the title of Emperor".
Liu Chong's greed and shamelessness forced Yelu Ruan to sit on pins and needles. For example, on the issue of our treasure island, what the Lighthouse Nation hopes most is to "maintain the status quo" and not escalate the conflict, because once it escalates, they will have to make a final statement, which is not in line with their long-term interests.
The same is true for the Khitan. The Northern Han Dynasty issue can become a political bargaining chip for the Khitan and used to blackmail the later Zhou Dynasty. Acknowledging the legitimacy of the Later Zhou regime while being compatible with the rationality of the Northern Han separatist regime, putting aside disputes and maintaining the status quo, both sides benefited.
But now, Liu Chong has given the Khitan an ultimatum: either help me or kill me. Between the Northern Han Dynasty and the Later Zhou Dynasty, you can only choose one, quick, quick!
In the end, the Khitan chose the Northern Han Dynasty.
Zheng Gong, the special envoy of the Northern Han Dynasty, was Liu Chong's confidant. As early as when Liu Zhiyuan became emperor, he had helped Liu Chong expand his power and set the strategic goal of separatism and dominance. After Liu Chong became emperor, Zheng Gong became his Right arm. Zheng Gong is not only a good talker, but also has a good drinking capacity. He is simply a treasure in the wine bureau.
The Khitan people were very unkind and maliciously poured wine on Zheng Gong. They even drank Zheng Gong to death, causing a serious diplomatic incident.
The prime minister of the Northern Han Dynasty died on duty at a wine table. It would seem a bit regretful if Liu Chong was not given an explanation. Zheng Gong's death may be one of the many reasons why the Khitan chose to support the Northern Han Dynasty.
After Zheng Gong died in the line of duty, the Khitans detained Yao Hanying and others, the special envoys sent by the Later Zhou Dynasty, as a token of support for Liu Chong.
In June, the Khitan officially canonized Liu Chong as "Emperor Shenwu of the Han Dynasty". This is the essential difference between the Northern Han Dynasty and the Later Han Dynasty. The Northern Han Dynasty was the puppet established by the Khitan, while the Later Han Dynasty was the orthodoxy of the Central Plains.
In July, Liu Chong sent envoys to visit Khitan again to thank his father for the canonization. At the same time, he urged Khitan to fulfill its alliance obligations and send troops to help the Northern Han Dynasty and invade the Central Plains.
After some discussions, the two sides decided to jointly send troops in September.
In September, Liu Chongxin sent troops southward; Yelu Ruan also sent an army southward to replicate the highlight moment of his second uncle Yelu Deguang.
Just when Liu Chong was full of ambitions, a piece of bad news came: a coup occurred in Khitan, Yelu Ruan was killed, and Yelu Deguang's eldest son Yelv Jing came to the throne, which was the "Vulcan Lake Change". The story about Yelu Ruan and the "Vulcan Lake Incident" will be described in detail later.
Yelujing led the Khitan army to turn eastward to Youzhou, and sent people to express condolences to Hedong.
Liu Chong sent an envoy to express his condolences. He first expressed his congratulations to Comrade Yelujing on his accession to the throne, and then said that he did not care who he calls his father. He is the iron-clad Khitan and the flowing water's father. The agreement between the Northern Han Dynasty and the Khitan is still valid. He implores the Khitan to continue to fulfill its alliance obligations and assist The Northern Han Dynasty was destroyed by the Later Zhou Dynasty.
Liu Chong chose to take the middle route this time and attacked Luzhou, but was defeated again.
Liu Chong changed his route to the west and continued to attack Jinzhou, and asked Khitan to step up support.
The Khitan was very powerful and sent an army of 50,000 in one go. Liu Chong personally led an army of 20,000. The 70,000 army rushed towards Jinzhou aggressively. They camped in the north of Jinzhou City, surrounded on three sides, attacked fiercely, and sent rangers to harass nearby Jiang. States and other places.
At that time, Wang Yan was ordered to move to Xuzhou with Wang Yanchao. Wang Yan has left office, but Wang Yanchao has not yet arrived. The city's defenders Wang Wangang, Shi Yanchao, and He Hui worked together to hold on. While resisting, they wrote letters asking for help.
Guo Wei sent his close confidant Wang Jun to take command to support Jinzhou.
However, Wang Jun led the army but stayed in Shaanzhou.
Guo Wei couldn't sit still and decided to go on the expedition himself and sent someone to notify Wang Jun.
