When it comes to Yelu Longxu of the Liao Dynasty, one may think of an emperor who was favored by his mother, but his image is much more than that. In that turbulent era, how did the little emperor, who ascended the throne at the age of 11, under the protection and guidance of his mother, Empress Dowager Xiao, navigate the storm and deal with the threat of the Northern Expedition of the Song Dynasty?
Under the sky of the Liao Dynasty, there are always changes in the wind and clouds, and Yelu Longxu and his mother Empress Dowager Xiao are undoubtedly the protagonists in this historical drama. Yelu Longxu, the sixth emperor of the Liao Dynasty, grew up under his mother's wing. Empress Dowager Xiao is not only the mistress of the deep palace, but also a female politician who is well versed in military and political affairs. Her political prowess began to be evident when her son, Yelu Longxu, ascended to the throne at the age of 11.
As the regent empress dowager, Empress Dowager Xiao's skill and wisdom helped the Liao Dynasty stabilize the situation in an eventful time. She reused capable ministers such as Yelu Xianzhen and Yelu Xiuge, which not only consolidated the rule of the Liao Dynasty, but also demonstrated extraordinary strategies in diplomacy. Especially in 1004, the contradiction between the Liao and Song dynasties intensified again, in the face of the Northern Expedition of the Song Dynasty, Empress Dowager Xiao and Yelu Longxu jointly drove the chariot south, this southern expedition not only demonstrated the military strength of the Liao army, but also confronted Song Zhenzong in Lanzhou (now Puyang, Henan).
In the face of the gradually weakened Liao army and the Song army, which quickly organized defense, both sides understood that a protracted war would be beneficial to no one. In this stalemate, the Liao and Song dynasties finally signed the Yuanyuan Alliance, which not only allowed the Liao Dynasty to receive a huge amount of annual coins from the Song Dynasty every year, but also brought an opportunity for stable development to the Liao State, and the Liao-Song relations entered a century-long period of peace.
In the political arena, there is no such thing as eternal prosperity. Empress Dowager Xiao died of illness after reigning for nearly forty years, leaving power intact to Yelu Longxu. Yelu Longxu grew up under the protection of his mother, and although he relied on her mother in his early years, he was not incompetent, and his governance also showed great political talent. During his reign, he not only continued to strengthen the military power of the Liao Dynasty, but also focused on cultural development, and he was himself an erudite monarch who excelled in poetry, music, and painting, and had a deep interest and understanding of Han culture.
In addition to his political and cultural achievements, Yelu Longxu's private life is no less remarkable. In particular, his deep affection for his mother has made him a "mom boy". This image did not prevent him from becoming a wise ruler. Under his leadership, the Liao Dynasty's territory became more stable, and its relations with neighboring countries remained relatively harmonious.
Yelu Longxu's private life and his philosophy of statecraft show his multifaceted and complex nature. He was both the filial son of his mother and the leader of the country. Under his leadership, the Liao Dynasty not only remained strong militarily, but also diversified culturally. He encouraged the flourishing of literature and art, respected and integrated Han culture, and made the cultural landscape of the Liao Dynasty more colorful.
It is worth mentioning that Yelu Longxu's love for natural landscapes is equally deep. He especially loves Qingyun Mountain in the Great Khing'an Mountains, which is not only a place for him to hunt for leisure, but also a spiritual sustenance. Yelu Longxu once said that he hoped that his final resting place would be in this feng shui treasure between mountains and rivers. This love for nature also reflects his soft and affectionate side.
The good times did not last long, and as time passed, the internal contradictions of the Liao Dynasty began to appear, and the subsequent inability to govern the Liao Dynasty eventually went into decline. Although Yelu Longxu worked hard to maintain the prosperity of the Liao Dynasty, the wheel of history was cruel after all, and the rise and fall of the Liao Dynasty left a profound inspiration for future generations.
The story of Yelu Longxu and his mother, Empress Dowager Xiao, is not only a legend of imperial power and maternal love, but also a historical drama about power, responsibility and cultural inheritance. Their governance reflects not only the rise and fall of the Liao Dynasty, but also the epitome of an era. Although the Liao Dynasty did not escape the cycle of history in the end, Yelu Longxu's concept of governing the country and its contribution to culture undoubtedly left a valuable legacy for the diversified development of Chinese civilization.