Emperor Deguang of Liao has conquered the North China Plain with ease and packed the Later Jin emperor off to eternal exile. But he doesn’t plan to stick around… instead, he’ll pack up everything – and everyone – he deems valuable to take back home. But when illness strikes him dead, new challengers will arise to do battle over the fate of northern China.
Time Period Covered:
947-954CE
Major Historical Figures:
Liao:
Yelü Deguang (Emperor Taizong) [r. 927-947]
Yelü Ruan (Wuyu, Emperor Shizong) [r. 947-951]
Yelü Jing (Emperor Muzong) [r. 951-969]
General Xiao Han [d. 949]
General Zhang Yanze [d. 947]
Later Han:
Liu Zhiyuan (Emperor Gaozu) [r. 947-948]
Liu Chengyou (Emperor Yin) [r. 948-951]
Northern Han:
Liu Chong (Emperor Shizu) [r. 951-954]
Later Zhou:
Guo Wei (Emperor Taizu) [r. 951-954]
Chai/Guo Rong (Emperor Shizong) [r. 954-959]
Sources Utilized:
Sima Guang, et al. 1084. Zizhi Tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance).
Standen, Naomi. 2009. “The Five Dynasties” in The Cambridge History of China, vol. 5, pt. 1: The Sung Dynasty and Its Precursors 907-1279 (Denis Twitchett and Paul Jakov Smith, ed.)
Standen, Naomi. 2005. “What Nomads Want: Raids, Invasions and the Liao Conquest of 947” in Mongols, Turks, and Others: Eurasian Nomads and the Sedentary World (Reuven Amitai and Michal Biran, ed.)
Toqto’a (Tuotuo), et al. 1344. Liao Shi (History of the Liao).