The description of Empress Dowager Xiao in "The Yang Family General" makes her a ferocious and warlike woman in the minds of most Han people. Empress Dowager Xiao also had a love affair with Han Derang, a Han official. So is this true? What kind of person was the real Empress Dowager Xiao of the Liao Kingdom in history?
In the history of the Liao Kingdom, the well-known regent ?Empress Dowager Xiao? Most people think she is Xiao Chuo. She did rule the Khitan Dynasty for 27 years.
Empress Dowager Xiao, like Wu Zetian and Cixi, is one of the famous figures in history.
Empress Dowager Xiao is known as "Empress Dowager Chengtian" in history. She is a famous female politician and military strategist in the history of Liao Dynasty. Empress Dowager Xiao, whose name is Xiao Chuo and nicknamed Xiao Yanyan, is the daughter of Xiao Siwen, the privy envoy of the Northern Court of Liao Dynasty and the prime minister of the Northern Palace, the queen of Yelu Xian of Liao Jingzong, and the biological mother of Liao Shengzong. During the Jingzong period of Liao Dynasty, Queen Xiao's political and military talents had emerged.
According to the "History of Liao", due to poor health, Liao Jingzong acquiesced that all daily government affairs of the Liao Kingdom should be independently adjudicated by Xiao Chuo. Every time she encountered important military and state affairs, she summoned ministers of all ethnic groups. After consultation, the final decision will be made based on the opinions of all parties.
With Xiao Chuo's efforts, the Liao Kingdom's military became increasingly powerful, and Xiao Chuo's status gradually rose to the same level as Emperor Jing of Liao.
In 982 AD, the 35-year-old Jingzong of Liao died of illness. In his posthumous edict, he handed over the Liao Kingdom to the 29-year-old Xiao Chuo. At this time, the eldest son Yelu Longxu was only 12 years old, the young master was young, the country was in trouble, the clan princes were powerful, and the political situation was very unstable.
Xiao Chuo has two hot potatoes in his hands: one is to control internal affairs. Whether they are Khitans or Han people, if they are enemies of the imperial court, fight; if they are at my disposal, pull. Second, expand diplomacy. Zhao Song in the south, Jurchen in the north, Goryeo in the east, Dangxiang in the west?
None of these old neighbors with thorns on their bodies is easy to mess with. Neither close nor far, the Liao Kingdom's diplomatic relations all depended on this woman's discretion. A woman sheds tears, which means a lot. This made the transfer of power after Liao Jingzong's death smooth.
Xiao Chuo knew his priorities well: first seize the "barrel of the gun" and replace the key departments of the palace guards and Nanjing left-behind with his own confidants. Then establish new rules, especially those arrogant and arrogant princes of the clan, who strictly order the kings to return to the throne and not to have private relations with Yan Hui. To put it bluntly, it means depriving them of their seals and putting them under collective house arrest.
Of course, there are also times when flesh and blood fight against each other. When it comes to this kind of thing, Xiao Chuo doesn't show any kindness to women. When relatives become stumbling blocks, they are still removed. For example, Xiao Chuo's sister was arrested and thrown into prison before she could support her troops and usurp power. How should we express our deep love for each other? Everyone in the government and the public paid close attention to the news. The result was very simple: death!
Empress Dowager Xiao used her outstanding political skills to rectify the government, promoted people with state-governing talents to important positions, boldly reused Han Derang and other Han officials, and strengthened the restraint and control of the clan. The management of officials and people has gradually stabilized the political situation.
She is good at controlling the ministers on the left and right, and she has the power to kill. She also paid attention to improving the relationship between the Khitan people and the Han people. According to the old rules of the Liao Kingdom, if Khitans and Han people fought to death, the Khitans would be punished lightly, while the Han people would be punished severely. When she was in power, she changed the judgment to Han law and punished the same crime.
She is well versed in military affairs and often goes to and from the battlefield. During the battle of Chanyuan, she personally commanded the military chariots, commanded the three armies under her command, was honest about rewards and punishments, and served the soldiers with their lives. Then, she agreed to the peace request put forward by the Song Dynasty, and the two parties entered into the "Chanyuan Alliance", which lasted for a century and basically maintained peace. This is conducive to the stability of production and life of the people on both sides, and also promotes friendly exchanges between the Khitan and Han people.
After many years of governance by Empress Dowager Xiao, the Liao Dynasty not only reversed the "middle decline" situation since Mu Zong and the unstable situation in the early years of Shengzong, but also began to enter its heyday, setting the stage for further reforms in the Shengzong period. and laid the foundation for the prosperity of the Liao Dynasty.
When Empress Dowager Xiao was in charge of the Liao Kingdom, she relied on the generals humbly and appointed Han people without suspicion.
She formulated policies to emphasize farming and reduce taxes on farmers, and educated her son to learn the culture of the Central Plains. Under her teachings, Shengzong of the Liao Dynasty was well versed in the culture of the Central Plains. He was able to write the poems of Lotte (Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi), which is my master's poem. He could also translate Bai Juyi's collected works in Khitan and enjoy them with his ministers. Liao Shengzong also liked to read the book "Zhenguan Politicians" and learn from it the experience of governing the country.
When Empress Dowager Xiao returned the power to Liao Shengzong, Liao's national power was already quite strong.
Because of his iron-fisted political methods and controversial massacre of political opponents, evaluations of Xiao Chuo have been polarized in history.
The evaluation of the Yuan version of "History of the Liao" is very simple. The book says: "Later Mingda governed the country and followed what he heard was good, so all the officials were extremely loyal." There were personal attacks in the Song Dynasty's "Khitan Guozhi". Ye Longli accused him in "Jingzong's Biography of Empress Xiao": "(Empress Xiao) is fond of gorgeous manners but unruly in nature." ?The acquired nature is tolerant, sinister and murderous, resourceful and resourceful, good at controlling left and right, and many ministers will have the power to kill.
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