Harmonizing the World: the Alliance of Chanyuan and the Military and Political Affairs of Song and Liao Dynasties

A popular historical book about the Song-Liao Chanyuan Alliance. In 916, Yelu Abaoji, the Taizu of the Liao Dynasty, rose up in Mobei, unified the Khitan tribes, and began to compete with the Central Plains regime. In the autumn of 1004 (the first year of Jingde in the Song Dynasty and the 22nd year of the Khitan's unification), the Khitan Emperor Tianfu and his mother, the Queen Mother Xiao, led an army of 200,000 to invade the south. Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty was tit for tat, and the emperor personally went on a campaign. The two sides faced off in Chanzhou (Chanyuan). In December of winter, Song and Liao negotiated peace, concluded an alliance, and normalized diplomatic relations, which was called the "Chanyuan Alliance." A paper of covenant dramatically ended decades of grievances between the two sides, turning hostilities into friendship. Song and Liao each ushered in a rare period of development. There was no war between the Song and Liao Dynasties for more than a hundred years. They coexisted peacefully and had friendly exchanges. The people did not suffer from war and social production could proceed normally. There is no doubt about the enthusiasm of the "Chanyuan Alliance", but the alliance has been litigated since the beginning. Some say it is an alliance under the city, some say it is a win-win peace treaty, some say it is a great shame and humiliation of the Song Dynasty, and some even blame it for the weakness and collapse of the Northern Song Dynasty. In fact, this battle between the Khitan and the Northern Song Dynasty, in which they devoted all their resources, was a battle related to the national destiny of both parties. No one could afford to lose. Ending the war honorably became the common choice of both parties. However, there are many puzzling aspects about "Chanyuan Alliance". Who proposed the peace proposal? Can Kou Zhun really influence Song Zhenzong? Who killed the Khitan general Xiao Talin? Why did the monarchs and ministers think that Liao Shengzong was "unwise"? Is the 300,000 yuan paid by Song Ting a ransom or compensation...