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The Peace of 1044 and a Reluctant Triumph Upon hearing that Li Yuanhao of Western Xia sought peace, the Song court was divided. Prominent officials like Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi, and Ouyang Xiu opposed the move, arguing that Yuanhao was untrustworthy and that true stability could only be achieved by crushing his rebellion. However,…
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The Emergence of a New Power Following the accession of Emperor Renzong of Song, relations with the Liao Dynasty remained peaceful under the Covenant of Chanyuan. However, a new threat emerged in the west that would trouble both empires: the rise of the Tangut people. Originally a branch of the Qiang, the Tanguts had…
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The Liao Southern Expedition In the autumn of 1004, Empress Dowager Xiao and Emperor Shengzong of the Liao Dynasty launched a massive campaign, leading 200,000 cavalrymen southward against the Song Dynasty. Accompanied by their chief strategist Han Derang, they justified the invasion by demanding the return of territories previously reclaimed by Later Zhou’s Emperor…