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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 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…