Moma Liangshan

Chapter 200 The Ancient Yellow River Road, The Struggle for the Crown Prince

While nurturing Chinese civilization, the Yellow River has also repeatedly tested its descendants. In the eighth year of the Qingli era of the Northern Song Dynasty, the Yellow River breached its banks at Chanzhou and changed its course northward, joining the Hai River near Datong and finally flowing into the Bohai Sea at Dagukou. This route was then known as the "Northern Flow." In the fifth year of the Jiayou era, the Yellow River breached its banks at Weixian in Daming Prefecture, flowing northeast and entering the sea between Hebei and Shandong provinces. This route was known as the "Eastern Flow." For the next ten years, the "Northern Flow" and the "Eastern Flow" coexisted.

Because of the loss of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, the northern border between the Northern Song Dynasty and the Liao Dynasty stretched from Yanmen Pass in the west to the Hai River in the east. For this reason, the Hai River acquired another name – the Boundary River. If the Yellow River flowed north, the Hai River, with its abundant water, could serve as a natural barrier against the Liao Dynasty. If the Yellow River flowed east, it would be more advantageous for connecting the Yangtze and Huai Rivers with the Central Plains via water transport. At the time, the officials of the Northern Song Dynasty debated endlessly about whether to maintain the "northward flow" or the "eastward flow." Finally, Emperor Shenzong personally decided in the second year of the Xining era to close the northward channel of the river and divert the Yellow River eastward. However, "the eastward flow was high and steep, while the northward flow was smooth and downstream," and in the same year, the Yellow River breached its banks south of the closed channel.

In the tenth year of the Xining era (1071), the Yellow River breached its banks again at the Chanzhou section, causing the water to flow into Liangshan Marsh. There, it split into two branches: one flowed from the Si River into the Huai River, known as the South Qing River; the other joined the Ji River and flowed into the sea at Cangzhou, known as the North Qing River. After several more breaches in the following years, the old northward-flowing river channel was finally fully restored, while the South Qing River continued to exist as a tributary of the Yellow River. Liangshan Marsh became a crucial turning point for the Yellow River's flow into the sea starting in the tenth year of the Xining era, and to this day, its waters stretch for eight hundred li.

The Yellow River and the Hai River merge near Datong, resulting in an abundant flow of water. However, due to the undulating terrain and intersecting mountains of Youyun, the river channel meanders like a sheep's intestine, making it unsuitable for large ships. Under the combined influence of the ocean waves and the river, Dagukou is shaped like a trumpet, with its north and south ends separated by ten miles.

The night sky was ablaze with stars. Wang Hao stood alone on the reviewing stand in the center of the training ground, gazing south. At that moment, the Princess of Shu, also alone, slowly approached and asked, "What do you see?" Wang Hao shook his head, saying, "I see nothing!" The Princess of Shu shook her head again, saying, "The night may obscure your vision, but it cannot conceal your heart. I don't understand what benefits the Song Emperor has offered you to make you so devoted." Wang Hao shook his head, saying, "Some things are not as you think. My love for the Song Dynasty is called loyalty to one's country, and it has nothing to do with who is in power. The Emperor has shown me great favor and has betrothed his daughter to me, so he is my father-in-law, and I should naturally fulfill my filial duty. As for official positions and titles, they are merely external things!" The Princess of Shu, somewhat indignant, said, "If you wish, the Liao Dynasty can also recruit you as their son-in-law!"

Wang Hao suddenly burst into laughter, saying, "Throughout history, countless heroes have lost their kingdoms for the sake of beauty. I take this as a lesson, examining myself three times a day, daring not to indulge in the slightest." At this moment, his tone abruptly changed, saying, "You are beautiful; even the bright moonlight and dazzling starlight can only serve as a backdrop. You are brave and decisive, remaining unfazed amidst the clash of swords, advancing by retreating when victory is uncertain." The Shu princess listened intently, but Wang Hao said nothing more. Finally, the Shu princess exhausted all her patience and asked, "And then?" Wang Hao, somewhat embarrassed, said, "There is no 'and then'!" The Shu princess frowned and continued, "Why?" Wang Hao replied, "Because it can only be understood, not explained!" The Shu princess sneered, mocking, "It's not that you can't say it, it's that you dare not say it!" Wang Hao also lost his temper, saying, "There are some things you must understand; I owe you nothing!" The Shu princess's anger intensified, saying, "I wager the treasury of the Liao Dynasty for two hundred years; one day you will beg me!" The two often argued; this was not the first time, and it certainly wouldn't be the last. These verbal disputes would not affect the cooperation between Jiaozhou and Liao. Wang Hao could only smile awkwardly at the angry words of the Shu princess.

After a day's rest, the 5,000-strong army, carrying half a month's worth of provisions, set off north, arriving at Zhongjing Dading Prefecture ten days later. In the later Liao Dynasty, Zhongjing's political status was subtly rivaling that of Shangjing. With various armies marching north to defend the emperor, Zhongjing became the most important supply center. Yelü Dongdan, the Left Chancellor of Zhongjing, was Emperor Tianzuo's cousin. While mediocre in talent, he had followed Yelü Yanxi since the time of the crown prince and had enjoyed the emperor's favor for decades. Xiao Sixian, the garrison commander of Zhongjing, was the younger brother of Empress Xiao Duolilan and the elder brother of Consort Xiao Guige. His elder brother, Xiao Fengxian, was the most powerful minister in the Liao Dynasty, holding the position of Grand Prince of the Northern Court, commanding all the army, and also being granted the title of Prince of Lanling. Six years prior, in the Battle of Chuhedian, Xiao Sixian led 10,000 troops to attack the Jurchens, but was routed by 3,000 enemy soldiers. After this battle, Wanyan Aguda, seeing through the corruption of the Liao Dynasty, formally established the Jin Dynasty. Xiao Sixian should have been executed, but for his own selfish gain, he falsely claimed that after the army's defeat, the soldiers had fled with their crimes and were looting everywhere. He argued that if they were not pardoned, they would cause trouble. Emperor Tianzuo listened to his story, and Xiao Sixian was thus spared death. Unexpectedly, several years later, Xiao Sixian was reinstated and rose to the important position of garrison commander of Zhongjing.

When the Shu princess's 5,000 elite troops arrived in Zhongjing, both Xiao Sixian and Yelü Dongdan were quite surprised. Yelü Dongdan, gazing at the troops outside the city, saw bright banners and well-equipped soldiers, and asked, "This humble subject never imagined that the Great Liao possessed such elite troops!" The Shu princess replied, "This is only the vanguard; within ten days, the rear guard of 5,000 troops will arrive! At that time, I request that Prime Minister Dongdan prepare provisions and warhorses to supply the army!" Although Yelü Dongdan was of mediocre talent, he was not one to betray his master for personal gain, and immediately said, "This humble subject would even tear down his own roof beams to ensure the princess's army has sufficient provisions." The Shu princess nodded and said, "Very good!" For over twenty years since Emperor Tianzuo ascended the throne, the struggle for the crown prince had been fierce. The empress had no children, but her younger sister, Consort Yuan, had given birth to Prince Jin, who, with the strong support of the emperor's uncle Xiao Fengxian, had always been a key candidate for the Liao crown prince. Princess Shu and Prince Jin were born of the same mother, both daughters of Consort Wen, whose younger sister was the principal wife of Yelü Yudu, the Southern Court King. Of the 50,000 palace troops in Shangjing, 30,000 were under the command of Xiao Fengxian, and 20,000 under Yelü Yudu. Now, Princess Shu was leading 10,000 elite troops to reinforce them, completely negating Prince Qin's original numerical advantage. This was because Xiao Yu, the garrison commander of Xijing, was a man of Prince Jin, while Yelü Boge, the garrison commander of Nanjing, along with Right Chancellor Yelü Dashi and Left Chancellor Yelü Chun, were all neutral. After entering the city, Princess Shu asked, "How is the battle situation in Shangjing?" Yelü Dongdan replied, "The arrival of reinforcements from Nanjing and Xijing has temporarily stabilized the situation, but the Jurchens are fierce and seem to be brewing a new offensive!"