Moma Liangshan

Chapter 220 Raising the Banner High and Riding Across the River

The twenty tribes of the Khitan first appeared during the mid-Tang Dynasty. They were established by the Yaolian clan's Zuwu Khan to counter the exploitation by An Lushan, and gradually became the core administrative system of the Khitan tribal alliance. However, with Yelü Abaoji's ascension to the throne, the Khitan twenty-tribal alliance system gradually became the greatest threat to the Liao Dynasty's imperial power. To consolidate his power, Yelü Abaoji, after establishing the palace army and the Five Capital Circuits, reorganized the twenty tribes, downgrading the troops controlled by the tribal chiefs from the main Khitan force to tribal private armies. The reorganized twenty tribes consisted of seven Yelü tribes, five Shenmi tribes, and eight ancient Khitan tribes.

The seven tribes of Yelü were all collateral branches of the imperial family: the Shuaibin, Dingli, Tieli, Anding, Changling, Zhenhai, and Xingzhong tribes. The five tribes of Shenmi all belonged to the Xiao clan, the imperial family: the Lei, Sen, Yan, Miao, and Xin tribes. The eight ancient tribes were diverse, primarily Khitan, but also incorporating elements of the Xi, Xianbei, Uyghur, and Turkic peoples. Named after their respective regions, they were the Qiaoluo, Tanhan, Wufeng, Yuling, Rilian, Tuhe, Wantan, and Chishan tribes. During the two hundred years of the Khitan state, each ruler was constantly vigilant about the reunification of the twenty tribes, hence the establishment of the Great Compassionate Office to regulate the kings of the twenty tribes.

Prince Zhao, Yelü Xinilie, led his army westward, finally stopping in a birch forest. At this moment, a man disguised as a guard suddenly said, "Three li to the south is the Tieli tribe's camp, and five li to the west is the Lei tribe's camp. Which camp does Your Highness intend to visit first?" The speaker was none other than Cao Hong, disguised as a guard. Cao Hong was a northern Han Chinese and the son-in-law of a Mongol, having lived on the northern grasslands for nearly twenty years. Therefore, he had been sent by Wang Hao to Yelü Xinilie's side as a representative of Jiaozhou's interests. Yelü Xinilie dared not show the slightest disrespect to Cao Hong, this horse trader, and said, "I wish to pass between the two camps and first visit the Rilian tribe!" A knowing smile appeared on Cao Hong's face, and he said, "Your Highness is wise!" The Rilian tribe ranked fifteenth or lower among the twenty Khitan tribes, but they were close neighbors of the Mongols and maintained close ties with various Mongol tribes. Yelü Xini closed his eyes for a moment, then finally made his final decision and shouted, "Raise the royal banner high, target the Rilian tribe!"

A group of twenty-odd people seemed so insignificant amidst an army of two hundred thousand. Even the kings of the Tieli and Lei tribes chose to keep their distance from Yelü Xinilie's appearance. However, avoidance did not mean ignoring him. Scouts from various tribes were constantly monitoring Yelü Xinilie's movements from all directions. To the scouts peering into the distance, Cao Hong said, "I have a bold idea. I wonder if Your Highness Prince Zhao would be interested in hearing it?" Yelü Xini Lie, looking at the gate of the Rilian tribe's stronghold not far away, replied, "Tell me!" Cao Hong said, "Since so many eyes are hiding in the distance watching us, if we just silently enter the Rilian tribe, wouldn't all their efforts be in vain?" Yelü Xini Lie frowned slightly and said, "I wonder what brilliant idea General Cao has?" Cao Hong chuckled and said, "Why not circle the camp once, and then have the Rilian tribe's king respectfully invite us in!" Yelü Xini Lie said, "Circling the camp once is easy, but the Rilian tribe's king might not even invite us in!" Cao Hong said, "Whether he invites us in or not depends on how much prestige Your Highness Prince Zhao and the Emperor of Liao still retain!"

Yelü Xinilie gritted his teeth and said, "I'll do as you say, let's see which ingrate dares to defy imperial authority!" Cao Hong laughed and said, "Please, Your Highness Prince Zhao, lead the way!" Yelü Xinilie snorted coldly and spurred his horse away. The chief of the Rilian tribe, who was hiding behind the camp wall, saw Yelü Xinilie linger at the gate for a moment before turning and leaving. He breathed a sigh of relief and said, "His Highness Prince Zhao is finally gone!" The young chief of the Rilian tribe replied, "Father, why are you so afraid of His Highness Prince Zhao?" The chief of the Rilian tribe said, "It's not that I'm afraid of His Highness Prince Zhao, but that I can't see him. You should know what the situation is right now. Whether the capital can be defended will be clear within a month. We are a third-class tribe that has been driven out of the heartland by the emperor. There is no need for us to shed blood for those nobles living in the imperial palace!"

Just as the King of Rilian was secretly rejoicing, a scout reported, "His Highness Prince Zhao hasn't left; he's galloping around our camp!" The King of Rilian was shocked and said, "Does this mean everyone knows His Highness Prince Zhao is coming to our Rilian tribe?" The young chieftain of Rilian hurriedly asked, "Should we put our entire army on martial law to prevent His Highness Prince Zhao from forcibly breaking into our camp?" The King of Rilian quickly shook his head and scolded, "Countless eyes are watching us! Do you really think our Rilian tribe alone is enough to challenge His Majesty the Emperor's authority?" The young chieftain of Rilian remained silent. The King of Rilian continued, "Why have these two hundred thousand troops traveled thousands of miles to this chaotic battlefield?" The young chieftain of Rilian replied, "Because in this life-or-death battle between Jin and Liao, the victor will become the overlord of the entire grassland!"

The Rilian chieftain said, “Whether the Emperor or the Jurchens win this war, we are merely changing masters. Before the outcome is decided, disrespecting imperial authority and neglecting the princes—either one—would make the Rilian tribe a target of public criticism. We wouldn't get to see the grand spectacle, but instead risk our lives!” The young master of the Rilian tribe cautiously asked, “Then what should we do next?” The Rilian chieftain commanded, “Assemble the entire army and await His Highness Prince Zhao’s inspection. You and I will go out to greet him!”

Hearing the drumbeats coming from the Rilian tribe's camp, Cao Hong smiled and said, "It seems that His Highness Prince Zhao and the Liao Emperor's authority remains unchallenged!" Yelü Xini Lie disliked Cao Hong's style but had no choice but to say, "Perhaps we will still need General Cao's help in the future!" Cao Hong was not stupid and immediately said, "I am merely my young master's envoy. As long as His Highness Prince Zhao acts according to the agreement with my young master, I will certainly give my full support!" Upon hearing this, Yelü Xini Lie exclaimed, "Have all the talented men and women in the world been taken by the Duke of Bohai?" Cao Hong did not give Yelü Xini Lie much face and said, "I have lived in Liao for nearly twenty years. Besides endless taxes, I have encountered countless soldiers, ruffians, and bandits. I have only known you for less than a year!" Yelü Xini Lie suddenly said, "It's not that Liao doesn't have talented horses, it's just that it doesn't have a true discerning eye!" Cao Hong had no interest in listening to Yelü Xini Lie's complaints and said, "The Rilian tribe has arrived!"