Moma Liangshan

Chapter 208 The Great Compassionate Division, with New Ambitions in Mind

While the Jurchen army was sharpening its knives in a tense standoff, the power struggles in the capital city showed no signs of abating. At the Prince of Qin's residence, the Northern Court Prince Xiao Fengxian secretly visited. Prince Yelü Ding of Qin hurriedly came to see him, asking, "Uncle, is there something important that you've come so late at night?" Xiao Fengxian asked, "When does the Emperor order you to leave the city?" Prince Yelü Ding replied, "Two days later!" After a moment's calculation, Xiao Fengxian asked again, "How do you plan to win the support of the twenty Khitan tribes?" The Prince of Qin was puzzled and said, "As a prince, I hold the imperial edict; they only need to follow orders!" Xiao Fengxian was furious and scolded, "Foolish!" Prince Yelü Ding blushed, but dared not retaliate. Xiao Fengxian stared at Yelü Ding and said, "Do you think your uncle has wronged you?" Prince Yelü Ding replied, "I dare not!" Xiao Fengxian sighed deeply and began to speak earnestly, "You were also present in court that day. Don't you know that the affairs of the state are currently difficult?"

Yelü Ding, still doubtful, said, "The main force in the city is intact, and with my elder sister's 60,000 palace troops flanking us from the east, plus 200,000 tribal troops on our side, we might not be without a chance of victory." Xiao Fengxian, enraged, collapsed onto the couch behind him. Yelü Ding was startled and quickly helped Xiao Fengxian up. Xiao Fengxian looked at his nephew, paused for a long time, and slowly said, "If the Liao Dynasty can overcome its current crisis, you only have a 50% chance of ascending the throne!" Yelü Ding looked bewildered and asked, "Why 50%, and not 70%?" Xiao Fengxian seemed used to his nephew's foolishness and said, "Because your elder sister controls the 60,000 palace troops outside the city. If you leave the city empty-handed, we might have to withdraw from the competition for the crown prince position!" Yelü Ding said, "Will she definitely stand against me?" Xiao Fengxian said, "She is the younger sister of the Prince of Jin, what do you think?" Yelü Ding finally realized the burden on his shoulders and said, "Therefore, this time when I leave the city, I must not only win the support of the twenty Khitan tribes, but also achieve merit and lay the foundation for the competition for the crown prince position." This was the most pleasing thing Xiao Fengxian had heard, and he said, "Exactly!" However, Prince Qin, Yelü Ding, suddenly froze on the spot, seemingly thinking repeatedly, and after a long time said, "Uncle, I'm afraid I can't do it!"

Xiao Fengxian seemed to have anticipated this, saying, "There is someone who can help you!" Yelü Ding, as if seeing a lifeline, hurriedly asked, "Who?" Xiao Fengxian replied, "Prince Zhao, Yelü Xinilie!" Yelü Ding was puzzled and asked, "Why is it my fourth brother?" Xiao Fengxian replied, "Because he is in charge of the Great Compassion Bureau, and the twenty Khitan tribes are under his command!"

The Grand Compassionate Office was specifically responsible for coordinating the interests among the various Khitan tribes, and also had military and political functions. After the Liao Dynasty's 700,000-strong army was destroyed, although the twenty Khitan tribes harbored disloyalty, the Grand Compassionate Office still controlled the main supply of weapons and armor to each tribe.

Yelü Ding showed no excitement, but said, "My fourth brother has always been unconventional. Why would he help me?" Xiao Fengxian replied, "Because of a Song man named Wang Hao!" Yelü Ding asked in confusion, "The Song man my sister brought back?" Xiao Fengxian said, "It wasn't your sister who brought Wang Hao, but Wang Hao who brought your sister back. Otherwise, your sister would only be struggling to survive in Liaodong!" Yelü Ding asked, "Why would a Song man like Wang Hao make my fourth brother stand on my side?" Xiao Fengxian said, "Because he controls a wide range of weapon sources! Once Wang Hao gains power, the Great Compassionate Division's last trump card will be taken away!"

The next day, after the court assembly, Xiao Fengxian deliberately walked side by side with Prince Zhao, Yelü Xinilie. Prince Zhao glanced at Xiao Fengxian out of the corner of his eye, initially not paying much attention. After walking for about twenty paces, he said, "It seems the Imperial Uncle has something to discuss with me, Your Highness?" Xiao Fengxian replied, "Your Highness guessed correctly!" Xiao Fengxian's covert cooperation played a significant role in Yelü Xinilie's successful control of the Grand Compassion Bureau, making the two secret allies in the court. Today's court assembly had already announced the news that Prince Qin would be leaving the city tomorrow. Yelü Xinilie had a pretty good idea of ​​Xiao Fengxian's purpose in striking up a conversation, and said, "I wonder if the Imperial Uncle is free today? Would you do me the honor of having a drink at my humble abode?" Xiao Fengxian was slightly surprised and asked, "Does Your Highness Prince Zhao have fine wine in your residence?" Yelü Xinilie smiled casually and said, "It's quite a coincidence. The other day, the Duke of Bohai visited and brought two jars of fine wine!" Xiao Fengxian didn't react for a moment and asked, "When did a Duke of Bohai come to the capital?" Prince Zhao, Yelü Xinilie, explained, "He's the Song man who was with the Princess of Shu, but this Duke of Bohai was personally appointed by the Emperor and also holds the position of Governor of Dongjing!"

Fearing that the Prince of Zhao might be won over by the princess of Shu, Xiao Fengxian immediately said, "Your Highness the Prince of Zhao has extended such a generous invitation; I can only respectfully accept!" Upon arriving at the Prince of Zhao's residence, Yelü Xinilie did not rush to prepare wine and food, but instead said, "The Prince of Qin is to be ordered to leave the city tomorrow; are you not worried at all, Uncle?" Xiao Fengxian replied, "If I weren't worried, how could I have come to Your Highness the Prince of Zhao for help?" Yelü Xinilie hurriedly shook his head, saying, "There are no outsiders here; it's best if we speak frankly and honestly!" Xiao Fengxian nodded, saying, "That's fine too!" After gathering his thoughts, he said, "Among the twenty tribes of Khitan, the King of Qin's thousand words are probably not as effective as a single sentence from His Highness the King of Zhao!" The King of Zhao deliberately shook his head and said, "This humble king cannot bear the weight of the title of Imperial Uncle!" Xiao Fengxian shook his head and said, "If I am not mistaken, the Princess of Shu and Wang Hao visited His Highness the King of Zhao for the sake of the twenty tribes of Khitan, right?" Yelü Xinilie replied, "Yes and no!" Xiao Fengxian asked, "Why?" Yelü Xinilie said, "The Imperial Uncle and the King of Qin want the troops of the twenty tribes of Khitan, while Wang Hao wants the trade rights of the twenty tribes of Khitan."

Xiao Fengxian asked, "Has His Highness Prince Zhao agreed to Wang Hao's request?" Yelü Xini Lie replied, "I had no choice but to agree!" Xiao Fengxian frowned and asked, "Why?" Yelü Xini Lie said, "If the Grand Ceyin Division doesn't want to become an empty shell, I have no choice but to agree!" Xiao Fengxian said, "The Grand Ceyin Division is in charge of the military equipment and supplies of the twenty Khitan tribes. How can it be an empty shell?" Yelü Xini Lie smiled self-deprecatingly and said, "That sounds nice. If I had surplus military equipment and supplies, why would Father Emperor have enfeoffed Wang Hao as the Duke of Bohai, and why would he have concurrently appointed him as the Governor of Dongjing?" Having said this, Xiao Fengxian could only say, "I'll take my leave!" Yelü Xini Lie stopped Xiao Fengxian and said, "I can agree to Wang Hao's request, but I don't need to refuse the Imperial Uncle!"

End of this chapter