Emperor Shengzong of Liao - Conflict With The Song

Conflict With The Song

The Song leader Emperor Taizong sought to take advantage of the young emperor by launching an invasion on the Liao Southern Capital (Beijing) in the contentious Sixteen Prefectures in 986. Three large forces were sent to three different strategic locations on the approach to the Southern Capital. While initially successful, the young emperor along with the Empress Dowager led a Khitan cavalry force and defeated the Song forces at the Battle of the Qigou Pass in June. The Empress Dowager appointed Yelü Xiuge as her senior general continued attacks on the Song in retaliation until the next year.

In 1004, the Liao led a large-scale invasion of Song territory, camping out in the town of Shanyuan, about 100 miles north of the capital of Kaifeng. This resulted in the Treaty of Shanyuan, signed in mid-January, 1005. According to this treaty, the Chinese paid an annual tribute of 200,000 bolts of silk, 100,000 ounces of silver. This arrangement would remain in place with modifications until the end of the Liao Dynasty, and in fact, the Jurchen could continue this arrangement with the Song with the founding of the Jin Dynasty.