Chapter 28: The Emperor's Title (Part 2)

  Yang Pu mentioned the matter of urging him to ascend, Cao Guangyi said: "The northern barbarian country has a population of only over 1 million, not even as big as one state in Great Song. To call oneself emperor like this is somewhat excessive." In his heart, he always regarded Great Song as the unshakeable orthodox dynasty.

  Yang Yingqi said, "Not so. If Daliao comes to attack, what does Second Brother think the number of wins and losses will be for both sides?"

  Cao Guangyi hesitated and said: "Liao State wants to destroy Jurchen, I'm afraid it's difficult."

  Yang Yingqi said: "If Liaoguo cannot defeat the Jurchen, what will happen?"

  "If light, then the territory will be torn apart and the land will be lost; if heavy, then it will shatter and break into pieces."

  Yang Yingqi said: "If so, what will happen to the fate of the Jurchen nation?"

  "If it's the former, then the Khitan and Jurchen are the two strong countries in the north. If it's the latter... " He furrowed his brow, looking worried: "If it's the latter, then the Jurchen may possibly rise to replace Liao. However, the Khitan have established their country for over a hundred years, with deep roots and a solid foundation. It won't be difficult for the Jurchen to establish themselves independently, but wanting to swallow up Liao might not be that easy."

  Yang Yingqi said, "If so, then the Jurchen people can resist the Great Liao, and there is no more doubt. The ruler of Liao has been called Emperor for over 200 years, and now that Aguda has also been called Emperor, what's wrong with that?"

  Cao Guangyi snorted and said: "Let him claim the throne if he wants to. Anyway, no one can control him, and it has nothing to do with us."

  Yang Yingqi smiled and said, "How can there be no relation? If Abaoji becomes the emperor, we will also rise with the tide. Everyone can become a general or marshal, no need to be called a leader like now, it's like being a mountain bandit chief."

  Cao Guangyi and others heard this and burst out laughing.

  "On the second day, Xiao Yan rushed to see Abaoji. Seeing that Abaoji's brother Wu Qima and the Khitan minister Sai Jia were both present, he said: 'Uncle! Now we have won great victories one after another, our prestige is spreading far and wide. The various tribes of the Jurchen people are coming over to us, and newly surrendered prefectures and counties are also submitting. Our territory is gradually expanding, and our population is increasing; the old method of ruling by tribal leaders can no longer be used. If we do not reform the old system and establish a new one, if we do not take on an imperial title and confer titles on the various tribes, then each prefecture and tribe will regard you as just another tribal leader! If our name is not correct, then our words will not be in order; without a proper title, how can we issue orders to the various tribes and oppose the Great Liao? If the people's hearts are filled with doubts about your status, then great disaster will surely arise before long. Now that the year is almost over, why not take advantage of the beginning of next year to establish a new era, assume an imperial title, and thereby win the hearts of our people?"

  Aguo Da remained silent. Wu Qibu and Sai Gai, however, were deeply convinced by his words. Sai Gai said: "The son-in-law is indeed a hero of the upper country, what he says makes great sense!"

  Zong Xiong, Zong Han, Zong Wang and others also said: "Now that we have broken with the Great Liao, if we do not claim a noble title, how can we win over the hearts of our people?"

  Aguo Da asked Zhe Yan Chong: "In the Central Plains, is it also said that calling oneself an emperor means being an emperor?"

  Zhe Yan Chong said: "If there is no real power, claiming to be emperor will only invite ridicule."

  "How can I avoid being laughed at?"

  Zhe Yan Chong said: "If we can get recognition from a major power, then no one in the world will dare not to show respect."

  "Ah Gu Da asked: 'A great nation? Is it Liao or Song?'"

  Zhe Yan rushed to say: "In the alliance of Zhenyuan, Song is the elder brother and Liao is the younger brother. Empress Dowager Xiao is the aunt. The two countries are equal in the world. The Great Song is too far away. The Great Liao's prestige and fame spread far and wide, from the East China Sea to the Western Regions, all are intimidated and obedient. If we can get its title, it will be legitimate and reasonable."

  "We have already torn our faces with the Great Liao, how can we get their investiture?"

  Zhe Yan Chong smiled slightly and said: "This is simple. It won't stop until it's sealed, and it will be beaten until it's sealed."

  Zong Han and others burst out laughing: "That's right! Beat it until it surrenders!"

  Sa Ga saw Ah Gu Da's mind was made up and said, "Since that's the case, I'll go prepare for the enthronement. This matter still needs the son-in-law to give more guidance."

  Wanyan Zongdao hastily said, "I dare not." After a pause, he stepped forward and said, "Uncle, if you are to be called Emperor, then you will no longer be the head of one clan, but the respected ruler of a nation. A national ruler should take the world as his public responsibility and view all people as one body. Currently, within our country, the Jurchen people are superior to other tribes, and the Wanyan clan is superior to other branches. Moreover, there are many slaves and servants. Their lives are difficult, like those of oxen and horses - these are all unjust things. Although these matters have been deeply ingrained for a long time and cannot be changed overnight, I hope that after you ascend to the throne, Uncle, you will gradually abolish these unjust systems." The previous words were discussed with Yang Yungui beforehand, but this last part was brought up on the spur of the moment.

  Agu Da hadn't spoken yet, but Wu Qibu and Zong Han had already shaken their heads. Wu Qibu said: "What's wrong with being a slave? Those people are timid, lazy, and stupid, so they naturally become slaves. As for the Wan Yan being superior to all tribes and the Jurchen being superior to all ethnic groups, that is even more a matter of course - if it were as you say, that everyone is equal, then in the future, how would our sons be willing to risk their lives to fight the enemy? After decades of hard work, isn't it all just for wealth and glory?"

  All the women nodded in agreement. Aguda's eldest son, Zonggan, said: "Son-in-law, although you are a hero, not everything about the Song people is good. You let Father claim the throne, that's right. But to say that the Jurchen should not be superior to other tribes and the Wanyan should not be superior to other departments, that's too absurd."

  The national relative saw that Quan Yan's face was full of disappointment, and comforted him saying: "The son-in-law need not be so. The Wanyan clan has always regarded the Han clan as one family, there is no discrimination between our two clans."

  "Exactly! Since the Han people arrived, every child in my family can read and write. You also taught us how to build houses, make coal stoves, and plant corn and sweet potatoes. Our tribe is becoming more prosperous day by day, all thanks to your efforts, Yan Chong! As for what you said about not wanting slaves and implementing a system of equality, it's really not feasible in our tribe. But if you implement the Han system among the Han people, I won't interfere."

  After the Han people arrived in the Jurchen territory, they made many contributions but did not harm the interests of various Jurchen tribes. Therefore, leaders like Aguda and others did not feel that there was anything wrong with the existence of a tribe with such a vastly different system within their domain for some time.

  Zhe Yancong saw this situation and knew that saying more would be useless, so he didn't bring it up again. After returning to the Han department, Zhe Yancong told Yang Yingqi about the whole thing from start to finish. Yang Yingqi remained silent, while Yang Kaifang deeply regretted that Ah Gui couldn't accept the public opinion and thought it was a pity. Cao Guangyue sighed: "The Jurchen people are ultimately a shallow tribe, wanting them to accept the words of the sage now is asking too much."

  Di Yu hesitated as soon as he returned from Pennsylvania: "Even in the Central Plains, how can the words of a saint be carried out?"

  Xiao Tienu suddenly burst out laughing, pointing at Zhe Yan and saying: "Boss, when you're being heroic, even I'm afraid of you, but when you're being stubborn, it's also laughable!" After finishing speaking, she strode away.

  Yang Pu said: "In any case, we have obtained the master's promise of 'not interfering with Han affairs and implementing Han laws', which will be very useful in the future." This sentence can be considered as a conclusion to the previous discussion.

  Yang Yingqi knew that continuing to talk about the matter would not yield any results, so he changed the subject and said: "Since the Jurchen have decided to establish a country and become emperor, most of the tasks will still be undertaken by us Han people. Although this is the northern border, the ceremony of becoming emperor cannot be too shabby. Palaces, clothing, and ceremonial objects are all necessary."

  Yang Pu said, "This morning I looked at the craftsmen's houses and weaving houses in my village, which are enough to meet these needs. As for the ritual system, ceremonial objects, I roughly know a thing or two. It's just that these things cost a lot."

  Yang Yingqi said, "The Wanyan tribe is very familiar with us and has been doing business with us for a long time. They won't just take our things for nothing. But we don't have to make money from this either. Half-giving and half-selling can also be considered as showing our good intentions."

  In order to cope with the scene of the founding ceremony, many idle personnel in the Han Department were mobilized and put into production. The hundreds of daughters-in-law who had just been married were all incorporated into the weaving team, while the 700 or 800 workers under Yang Kai's command took on the heavy responsibility of building palaces for Abaoji. Of course, whether it was the palace or the ceremony, nothing could be as grand as in the Central Plains, it was just a gesture.

  The only branch of the Han army that was not affected by this incident was the eight hundred cavalrymen. These eight hundred cavalrymen were trained in the icy snow by Di Yu and Cao Guangyi, growing stronger day by day. In terms of their physical fitness, they were originally selected from thousands of soldiers, eating Han food, wearing Han clothes, listening to old Han soldiers repeatedly telling stories about Han history, and talking about the ideal country that Zhe Yan Chong and others wanted to establish. Slowly but surely, new and old soldiers merged into one like a hundred mountains of copper, with no distinction between them anymore. After all, they all came from the bottom of Liao State and spoke the same language, the only difference being that some arrived earlier and some later. In this passionate group, the coldness of winter only brought them closer together.

  Finally, this winter of the year has passed.

  In the fifth year of Zhenghe in the Great Song, the fifth year of Tianqing in Liao, under the support of various Jurchen tribes, Wanyan Aguda was proclaimed emperor and the Jurchen officially established a country, with the name "Jin".

  "Guo Ben Zhao Zao" is complete, please pay attention to the third volume "Lie Tu Zhi Mou".