Chapter Seventy-Nine: The Sound of an Explosion

From Yelü Dashi’s perspective, no matter how he treated Zhao Yu, he acted as a loyal and upright minister should. Yet one must not forget: where there are loyal subjects, there must also be an enlightened ruler; otherwise, all this vaunted loyalty becomes nothing more than a farce.

The welcoming banquet hosted by Yelü Dashi was a resounding success, and Zhao Yu expressed his heartfelt gratitude. There was much camaraderie and joviality—yet, upon returning to his lodgings, the newly appointed Governor of Youzhou, His Highness Prince Song, fell ill.

If you wish to sideline me, then I shall not play your game any longer!

Feigning illness, Zhao Yu immediately memorialized Emperor Tianzuo, claiming he was unfit for the heavy responsibilities of Youzhou’s governorship and respectfully requesting that the wise and incomparable emperor appoint another worthy candidate.

Zhao Yu’s move played right into Yelü Dashi’s hands; in his view, such an important post could never be entrusted to a Han official. Thus, General Yelü Dashi showed great concern for Prince Song’s illness, took over all official business, sent a cartful of nourishing delicacies, and stated he would memorialize the court, agreeing to let Prince Song return to Shangjing to recuperate.

Those attending the banquet were not limited to Zhao Yu and Xiao Yiyi, the soon-to-be-wed couple; Yelü Min, a commander of the Imperial Guards, was also present. To command the Imperial Guards meant being among the emperor’s closest confidants, yet this favorite had not realized that his heart’s balance was already tipping toward Zhao Yu.

Thus, Zhao Yu’s memorial had not yet reached Shangjing when Yelü Min’s secret report arrived ahead of it.

In his letter, Yelü Min spoke highly of Zhao Yu and his entourage, detailing Zhao Yu’s illness, and, of course, made sure to disparage Yelü Dashi—after all, the man was not well-liked.

With Yelü Min’s report submitted, Xiao Yiyi’s was inevitable. She described Yelü Dashi’s arrogance and prejudice against her husband, embellishing the account before sending it to Empress Dowager Xiao.

It is truly said, women stand with their husbands...

The New Year was approaching, and Emperor Tianzuo was busy—busy with the hunt, busy organizing the harem, busy selecting new garments for the court ladies, and most annoyed by interruptions at such a time.

Upon reading the secret report, his brow furrowed. What was Yelü Dashi playing at? He'd been told to keep an eye on Zhao Yu discreetly, not to make such public moves.

He was about to call Xiao Fengxian for advice when the attendant reported Xiao Fengxian had already arrived.

Xiao Fengxian, however, was not gifted with foresight. His younger brother, Xiao Sixian, had suffered a devastating defeat at Huanglong Prefecture at the hands of the Jurchen army; over a hundred thousand troops wiped out, with only Xiao Sixian himself escaping.

News had not yet spread, and Xiao Fengxian needed to suppress it quickly, lest the emperor learn and he lose the initiative.

“You’ve come at just the right moment. What should we do about this?” When Xiao Fengxian entered, the eunuch sent by the empress dowager had just left. Her message was clear: her niece’s husband must not be allowed to suffer too much.

Confused, Xiao Fengxian took the secret report. After a glance, a sly idea flashed in his mind.

“To tell the truth, Your Majesty, I have come precisely for this matter. I have just received secret intelligence that Yelü Dashi has already clandestinely surrendered to the traitor Wanyan Aguda.”

Emperor Tianzuo had only intended to hear Xiao Fengxian’s opinion and then wash his hands of the affair, but was caught off guard by this sudden revelation.

He paused, then said, “Yelü Dashi is of the royal clan. Without evidence, we cannot make such accusations.”

“Such a grave matter—I wouldn’t dare fabricate it. Fresh reports from the front at Huanglong Prefecture reveal someone handed our defensive plans to the Jurchens, leading to our defeat. Upon investigation, the thief was a subordinate of Yelü Dashi. Under torture, he confessed it was at Yelü Dashi’s orders. Your Majesty, I believe we must not wrong a loyal subject, but neither should we spare any traitor who sells out his country for personal gain. Therefore, I suggest we recall Yelü Dashi to Shangjing for thorough investigation before passing judgement.”

Xiao Fengxian’s words, blending truth and falsehood, trapped Yelü Dashi completely.

Emperor Tianzuo was so startled, he stood up, still incredulous. “You mean we suffered defeat at Huanglong Prefecture again?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. We were on the verge of victory—had it not been for the traitor betraying our plans, we might already have captured Wanyan Aguda. But rest assured, I have dispatched reinforcements and will soon reverse the situation.”

To spin such a tale required a sturdy conscience. After speaking, Xiao Fengxian silently apologized to Yelü Dashi: Sorry, my friend, you just happened to be caught in the crossfire.

When one man catches another's eye, nothing can be done. Emperor Tianzuo was partial to Xiao Fengxian’s nonsense—whatever he said, the emperor believed.

“Bang!” He slapped the table angrily. “Send men immediately to arrest this traitor. Yelü Min will temporarily take his place.”

“Your wisdom is unmatched, Your Majesty. I will see to it at once!”

Xiao Fengxian exhaled in relief, thinking he had passed another hurdle. Still, that young man owed him one more favor...

Xiao Fengxian not only learned the Han saying “deceive those above, not those below,” but had mastered it to perfection. As for whether someone would later expose him, he had not the slightest worry; by then, he would have plugged every hole.

Emperor Tianzuo was lost in the beautiful vision woven by Xiao Fengxian, wholly oblivious to what the defeat at Huanglong Prefecture meant for the Liao dynasty.

North of Shangjing, chaos reigned as the front-line army’s defeat sent waves of disorder—rampant soldiers and fleeing civilians everywhere.

The Jurchens’ brutality was innate, and their enmity with the Khitans deep-seated; massacres were commonplace. In their eyes, all other races were targets for slaughter.

If history followed its course, the Jurchen army, led by Wanyan Aguda, would soon march upon Shangjing and bring an end to the Liao dynasty.

But at that very moment, outside Huanglong Prefecture, a thunderous explosion shattered the heavens.

The incident occurred just outside the city gate as Wanyan Aguda and his generals prepared to leave the city to comfort their troops—after all, the New Year was approaching, and even Jurchens celebrated.

Although gunpowder weapons such as thunder-crash bombs were no longer rare, none had ever witnessed an explosion of such magnitude.

The earth-shaking blast instantly leveled everything within two miles of Wanyan Aguda’s position. When the smoke cleared, only a heap of mangled limbs remained; not a single intact body could be found.

Those accompanying Wanyan Aguda were all high-ranking Jurchen officials, chief among them Aguda’s fourth brother, Wanyan Wuqi Mai.

Wuqi Mai was a “Anban Bojilie” of the Jurchens, essentially Aguda’s first heir. Now, both brothers perished together, leaving all the Jurchens in utter confusion.

It must be noted that the Jurchen leadership was not hereditary; the tribe’s chiefs would gather and decide their leader through contests of strength and wit.

Complicating matters, Wanyan Aguda’s sons were also formidable, and Aguda had several brothers.

In such circumstances, continuing the assault on Liao was clearly inappropriate. The tribal chiefs, displaying rare accord, conferred briefly and promptly withdrew their forces.

Moreover, Aguda’s son, Wanyan Zonggan, voluntarily relinquished control of Huanglong Prefecture...