This autumn, Yelujing went south to inspect, not to echo Emperor Liu's northern inspection, but to target the Xi tribe in the south. Within the Liao Kingdom, the Xi people's status was very important. When Yelu Abaoji dominated the outside world and unified the various ethnic groups, the Xi people provided great assistance.
For a long time, in the military system of the Liao Kingdom, the strength of the Xi people was not weak, and a large number of talents also emerged among them. In addition, the traditional living area of the Xi people stood high outside Yanshan Mountain and was of great strategic value. When the Han Dynasty advanced northward to the north of Guanshan Mountain, its importance rose to another level.
Over the past few decades, the Xi tribe has been divided into six tribes, which are under the leadership of Prince Xi's Palace and have great autonomy. However, with the changing historical situation, Yelujing already had other ideas about this.
The purpose of going south this time was to put pressure on King Xi and the Xi people, initiate the complete annexation of the Xi people, incorporate them into the Liao State's military and political management system, and further realize the unification of military and political affairs.
This is also after feeling the increasing pressure from the southern Han Dynasty, they were forced to seek changes, with the intention of tapping potential from within and improving their strength. And with the accumulation of the previous decades, if you want to do this, there are obstacles, but they are not big.
The result was also significant. When Yelujing led the imperial army to arrive, King Xi surrendered under the huge political and military pressure. Now, the ministers of the Liao Kingdom, headed by King Yelu Bishe of Yue, are planning how to customize and divide the six tribes and territories of the Xi tribe.
Yelujing couldn't help but feel proud after completing one thing, so he started his hunting tour again, within the territory of the Xi tribe, but actually it was also to show off his prestige. It has to be said that Yelujing's frequent patrols certainly caused a certain loss of national power and increased the burden on the patrolled areas and tribes, but this itself was part of its tradition, and the stability of the Liao Kingdom for so many years also benefited from this.
Until August, Yelujing changed his route to the west, first set up a paddock in the upper reaches of the Liuhe River, and hunted for five days, and then arrived at Yangchengluo.
Yangcheng Luo is located in the upper reaches of the Luanhe River, adjacent to Tanshan Mountain in the east. It is not a large lake, and the area of the lake and Luo is only one-tenth of Baishui Lu.
By now, everyone knows that Yelv Jing, the Lord of the Liao Dynasty, had two major hobbies, hunting and drinking. These two things have almost been integrated into his bones. He would not change without drinking, and he would not be happy without hunting.
The escorting troops, plus the accompanying nobles and ministers, amounted to more than 30,000 people, and the momentum was much greater than that of Emperor Liu. The camp was set up on the edge of the lake, and it was several miles around. Everything was in accordance with the requirements for the expedition. After several attacks and civil strife, Yelujing also paid great attention to this aspect.
The army was under tight control, and the imperial troops, including the Pishi Army, were firmly in the hands of Yelujing's trusted generals. If there were rebels who wanted to repeat the Vulcan Lake Rebellion, it would be basically impossible.
Among the accompanying nobles, there were also several of Yelv Jing's younger brothers. In addition to King Yelu Bishe of Yue, who was deeply trusted by him and entrusted with great power, and who behaved modestly on weekdays, there was also King Yelv Sage of Taiping. , King Yelu Dilie of Anping.
He would take the latter two with him wherever he went, especially Taiping King Yelu Sage. This was not a peaceful person, and Yelujing would not rest assured except under his nose. In comparison, Anping King Yelu Dilie became much more humble after more than ten years of suppression and tempering. He surrendered to his elder brother and seemed to have given up his past delusions and ambitions.
The Liao army's camp was organized around the tents of the imperial camp. It was orderly but lively, with the sounds of people and animals wafting in the autumn wind above the Yangcheng River.
It was early afternoon, and Yelujing had just woken up from her sleep. After washing herself, she had just begun to enter a new day of work. In the imperial camp, a high platform was erected, and the emperor's banner whistled in the wind. Yelujing sat on a high bed, enjoying wine and barbecue while watching the Khitan warriors wrestling in the martial arts field.
Seated in two rows were the accompanying noble ministers, and there were a large number of onlookers and applauding soldiers. The scene was spectacular and the atmosphere was warm. Perhaps the fight was so fierce that it knocked Yelujing's drowsiness away. After drinking three glasses of wine, his face was flushed and he was in high spirits. He immediately ordered that the winner of this competition would be given ten good horses and oxen. Ten sheep each, promotion to three levels.
Among the ministers accompanying him, there was a young man, sitting low-key and very high up, wearing aristocratic clothes and a traditional Khitan bun.
Like most people, the attention was focused on the Khitan warriors fighting in the field, but no matter how fierce it was, there was not much movement on the sickly face. But the gaze revealed in his eyes seemed deep and profound, and he occasionally looked at Yelujing cautiously.
This young man's name is Yelu Xian, the second son of Yelu Ruan, Shizong of the Liao Dynasty. Due to the Huoshendian Rebellion, both his parents were lost. He was lonely since he was a child and was adopted by Yelu Jing in the palace. Now he has grown up and is over 20 years old. .
For nearly twenty years, the Liao royal family launched a series of struggles around the throne, which ended with Yelv Jing quelling all rebellions and rebellions.
After ten years of peace, a new crisis seems to be brewing again. The root cause is that Yelujing, as the emperor, has no heirs. Perhaps due to years of drinking and irregular work and rest, the body has been damaged. Now, Yelujing is nearly forty years old and has nothing to go out of. This can almost be said to be fatal.
Yelvxian is a smart man. Although Yelujing treats him well and doesn't have much suspicion, he has experienced too many conspiracies and rebellions since he was a child, making him very precocious and introverted.
The fact that Yelujing had no children also allowed him to see hope and opportunities. Over the past twenty years, a group of people had quietly gathered around him. Among them, there are both his father's old ministers and old people, and there are also frustrated people from Yelvjing's era. There are also ministers of the Hu and Han Dynasties, including Yelv Xianshi, who expressed sympathy for Yelvxian and placed high hopes on him.
The current political arena of the Liao Kingdom is already full of undercurrents. The emperor's lack of heirs is one of the reasons, and Yelujing's sometimes sober and sometimes confused state is also one of the reasons. Although he showed wisdom and wisdom from time to time, did not treat his ministers and people with any cruelty, and even prayed in person during times of famine, it was still inevitable for the court ministers to become disloyal.
It is still difficult and dangerous to work under an emperor who is mentally unstable. That is to say, during Yelujing's time, there were indeed a group of smart and capable Hu and Han civil and military officials who managed the country for him. However, these were not worth mentioning when compared with the Han Empire to the south.
However, Yelujing doesn't seem to have much awareness of this yet. However, worry may not be shown on his face. Judging from the actions of Yelvjing in increasing the power of Emperor Yelvbishe and his close confidant Yelvxian in recent years, it may not be that he did not consider the inheritance of the throne.
"Your Highness!" While Yelvxian was thinking about eating meat, an official next to him called softly. This person's name is Nuli, and he has the official position of Feilongshi. He has always had a close relationship with Yelvxian and has a close friendship.
After coming back to his senses, he turned around and looked with a gentle smile on his face: "What's the matter?"
The girl, who is good at looking at horses, responded: "I saw a wonderful horse the day before yesterday, and I want to present it to Your Highness!"
"If you find a good horse, you should pay homage to Your Majesty!" Yelu Xian responded.
Hearing this, Nuli was slightly stunned, but she noticed Yelvxian's eyes and seemed to understand something, and she responded smartly: "Your Highness is right!"
During the conversation between the two, the winner had been decided in the martial arts arena. Yelujing was overjoyed and ordered to give him wine and meat. A new pair of warriors entered the arena, and a new round of fighting was about to begin.
However, at this time, a guard officer came in a hurry, climbed onto the high platform, and reported something to Yelujing. Not close enough, I could only see Yelujing's surprised expression.
Soon, Yelvjing said something and asked Yelvxian to preside over the next competition, and he led several noble ministers back to the imperial tent.
Yelvxian only found out later that the Han Dynasty had sent envoys, and the Han Emperor invited Yelujing to go west for hunting. After an account discussion, there was almost no controversy. Yelujing made a decisive decision and went to meet.
Just as Emperor Liu was curious about Yelujing, Yelvjing was not interested in Emperor Liu, his great enemy. He took the initiative to invite him to meet in Saibei, his home stadium, and there was no reason for him to avoid meeting him.
