By a Single Decision (Alternate History)

[das]

OOC: I'm actually unsure whether to do something with that "North King", now that I'm using him in a separate althist... ah well.

IC:

Chapter Ninety Three.

Generally, Chao Chen, for all his Confucianism and belief in "good government", was at first not too popular an emperor, as the rebellions near the capital itself in 1031 have indicated - however, perhaps it is more reasonable to blame the conservative and rather corrupt buerocrats for that as well. Either way, this persuaded the Xixia vassal state to declare independance, while the Liao Empire demanded more tribute for the "lease" on the lands between Xijin (called "Beijing" in OTL, but probably not here) and the Great Wall.

And these three... troubling developments finally persuaded Chao Chen that not all was right in the Empire of the Chinese. That, in turn, propelled the not-very-idealist (about the current state of affairs that is) Idealist Faction to a greater degree of control within China - after all, they were saying something was wrong all along, not mention that they had a plan as to what to do with it. Chao Chen decided to let them do SOME reforms. A quick overhaul of administrative system took place; quick measures were taken to reinforce the defenses of the northern and northwestern borders. Rebels were negotiated with succesfully, the Xixia invaded and were defeated in a series of skirmishes; they were forced to renounce their previous declaration. However, the Song forces, before they could "persuade" the Xixia to surrender, had to advance fairly deeply into Xixia territory; this gave the Liao Khitans an excellent opportunity to invade.

The Song armies were not yet sufficiently reformed, and as the officer corps was traditionally repressed thoroughly by the Song government, the generals often being suddenly removed from service on the brink of battle at worst - at best, they were simply subordinated to civilian officials who weren't exactly Sun Tzus. The Idealists temporarily ended that practice, on paper at least, but this was rather too late. The Khitans soon enough advanced to and besieged Xijin, taking it after a brief siege. Much of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms era kingdom of Yen in the northeast was conquered, and multi-national Khitan army set out for Daming; the Song tried to sign peace, offered tribute, but the Khitans wanted more money AND more land - not just the disputed territories, but Xijin as well. From their point of view this was reasonable, those territories being so close to the great Liao city of Dading and Liaoyang as they were.

The Song seemed doomed. They needed a cunning plan. Desperately.

 

[Lord_Iggy]

And when all is darkest, a light appears...

Or not. Haha, nm that, the person in the dark just died.

 

[Dachs]

"...Isildur, son of the King, took up his father's sword..."

This seems parallel to Rome in ITNES. I wonder if they get rid of their enemies the same way I will.

 

[das]

Chapter Ninety Four.

The Song army desperately reorganized, officers having lost much initiative after being subordinated to civilian officials for so long, horses (in needed amount) still sorely lacking. Against them stood the Khitan army, rigidly disciplinned, mobile, powerful.

It thus hardly came as a surprise that the smaller Song armies sent to delay Khitan advance were defeated one after one. Daming, reinforced, offered stout resistance but eventually was captured and burned to the ground. As of mid-1033, the Khitans stood poised to strike at Kaifeng - the capital of Song China - itself. The only thing between them and Kaifeng was a great Song army, somewhat larger in size... but infinitely inferior in pretty much everything else. Chinese morale was low. The realization that they are fighting for their homes is the only thing that prevented them from breaking as soon as the battle at Kaifeng started.

The Chinese forces fought bravely, holding out until receiving further reinforcements, but finally, the superior Khitan mobility and morale broke their back. Kaifeng fell soon after. The Liao Khitans now wanted even more. China was facing one of its darkest hours, as Khitan hordes plunged into its very heart, marching towards Yangtze. But already in that dark hour, as the Emperor was nowhere to be found, first glimmers of light appeared - the northern peasants refused to succumb to Khitan rule, and village-by-village did the Khitans have to subdue them. Yet finally, the Khitans stood on the Yangtze in early 1035. To the south from it lied the still-underpopulated but increasingly important lands of South Song China. But already, the Khitan control of the north was shaking due to their own ethnic problems. The Song army, somehow regroupped, prepared for a counteroffensive, and using the (ultimately-doomed) Jurchen rebellion it struck north, led by Chao Chen who has resurfaced once more. In 1036, the Khitans were defeated at Kuizhou, but refused to give up. Long story cut short, the Song armies managed to drive Khitans back to the Yellow River, but north of it the Khitan power was consolidated. All attempts to dislodge them from it failed, and the Songs had to be content with their smaller southern realm (with the capital in Yangzhou) for now...

 

[Lord_Iggy]

Alright, another update! So much for the cunning plan.

 

[das]

Chapter Ninety Four.

The Song army desperately reorganized, officers having lost much initiative after being subordinated to civilian officials for so long, horses (in needed amount) still sorely lacking. Against them stood the Khitan army, rigidly disciplinned, mobile, powerful.

It thus hardly came as a surprise that the smaller Song armies sent to delay Khitan advance were defeated one after one. Daming, reinforced, offered stout resistance but eventually was captured and burned to the ground. As of mid-1033, the Khitans stood poised to strike at Kaifeng - the capital of Song China - itself. The only thing between them and Kaifeng was a great Song army, somewhat larger in size... but infinitely inferior in pretty much everything else. Chinese morale was low. The realization that they are fighting for their homes is the only thing that prevented them from breaking as soon as the battle at Kaifeng started.

The Chinese forces fought bravely, holding out until receiving further reinforcements, but finally, the superior Khitan mobility and morale broke their back. Kaifeng fell soon after. The Liao Khitans now wanted even more. China was facing one of its darkest hours, as Khitan hordes plunged into its very heart, marching towards Yangtze. But already in that dark hour, as the Emperor was nowhere to be found, first glimmers of light appeared - the northern peasants refused to succumb to Khitan rule, and village-by-village did the Khitans have to subdue them. Yet finally, the Khitans stood on the Yangtze in early 1035. To the south from it lied the still-underpopulated but increasingly important lands of South Song China. But already, the Khitan control of the north was shaking due to their own ethnic problems. The Song army, somehow regroupped, prepared for a counteroffensive, and using the (ultimately-doomed) Jurchen rebellion it struck north, led by Chao Chen who has resurfaced once more. In 1036, the Khitans were defeated at Kuizhou, but refused to give up. Long story cut short, the Song armies managed to drive Khitans back to the Yellow River, but north of it the Khitan power was consolidated. All attempts to dislodge them from it failed, and the Songs had to be content with their smaller southern realm (with the capital in Yangzhou) for now...

 

[Lord_Iggy]

Once again, another great chapter.