154 korea
Liao forces soon faltered, which made Sheng-tsung willing to discuss
peace. On Dec.24, Wang Hsün’s envoys proposed that he personally
would come to the Liao court. This was accepted. In the 1st month
(Feb./Mar.) of 1011, the Liao army withdrew from Koryo, and its
conquests were lost (Liao shih 15:2a, 2b; 115:2a; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao
325:51b).
Wang Hsün did not keep his promise to visit to the Liao court.
Instead he sent an envoy, who was received on Apr.26, 1012. The
Liao shih claims that Wang Hsün through this envoy “declared himself a
subject as of old”. Sheng-tsung insisted that Wang Hsün come person-
ally. A Koryo envoy informed the Liao court on Sep.12 that the king
was too ill to make the journey (Liao shih 15:4a; 115:2b). This was a
standard excuse which deceived no one and yet had to be accepted.
On July 29, 1013, Sheng-tsung sent the Palace Assistant Secretary,
Yeh-lü Tzu-chung, to the Koryo court, requesting a border adjust-
ment. This envoy returned without results on Oct.7 (Liao shih 15:6a,
6b; 115:2b). On Nov.13, Sheng-tsung questioned the Jurchen on the
best way to attack and defeat Koryo and accepted their advice (Liao
shih 15:7a).
On Mar.11, 1014, Sheng-tsung sent Yeh-lü Tzu-chung, now pro-
moted to Vice Regent of the Supreme Capital, on another mission to
the Koryo court with the same errand (Liao shih 15:7b; 115:2b). This
was not only unsuccessful but Tzu-chung was detained by the Koreans.
Being under pressure from Liao, Wang Hsün made new overtures to
Sung. On Jan.8, 1015, a mission of his, consisting of 78 members,
was received at the Sung court and offered two saddles ornamented
with dragons and phoenixes and 12 horses. He was presented with
garments, belts, horse trappings etc. (Sung shih 8:10b; Hsü Tzu-chih
t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.736; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 325:51b).
On Dec.30, 1015, Koryo envoys together with the Eastern Jurchen
offered gifts to the Sung court. On Jan.9, 1016, they requested the
Sung calendar. The envoys also informed that the Khitan had built a
floating bridge across the Yalu and had erected fortifications east of
the river. They proposed that these be burned (Sung shih 8:12b; 487:
9a;Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.756; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 325:
51b).
In the 1st month (Feb./Mar.) of 1016, Liao engaged a Koryo army
(Liao shih 15:10a; 70:15b). That same year, the Sung presented Wang
Hsün of Koryo with the calendar, garments, golden belts, [porcelain]