hsia 489On Aug.30, 1040, envoys from Jen-tsung to the Liao court
announced that Sung was at war with Hsia (Liao shih 18:8b; 115:8a).
On Oct.17, 1041, Hsia presented Sung prisoners of war to the Liao
court (Liao shih 19:1b; 70:17a; 115:8a).
Liao had been at peace with Sung since 1004 and was eager to see
the war ended. On Jan.29, 1042, Hsing-tsung sent envoys to the Sung
court, asking why it was at war with Hsia (Liao shih 115:8a).
On Feb.14, 1043, Hsing-tsung sent an Associate Administrator and
the Recepient of Edicts in the Bureau of Military Affairs to request
Hsia to make peace with Sung (Liao shih 19:3b; 115:8a).
On Mar.24, 1043, Hsia congratulated Hsing-tsung on his honour-
able appelation (Liao shih 19:4a; 115:8a).^14
On Mar.29, 1043, the Liao envoys who had been sent to Hsia
returned to the court and reported that Yüan-hao had halted his
armies. Hsing-tsung immediately sent envoys to inform the Sung court
(Liao shih 19:4a; 115:8a).
On May 14, 1043, Hsia envoys to the Liao court offered horses
and camels (Liao shih 19:4a; 70:17b; 115:8a).
The Sung court was quick to take advantage of the detente. On
May 17, 1043, Jen-tsung sent an Administrative Assistant of the Army
Which Protects Peace to again recognize Yüan-hao as ruler of Hsia.
He was to be presented annually with 10,000 bolts of pongee and
30,000 catties of tea (Sung shih 11:5a).
On Sep.1, 1043, Hsia envoys to the Liao court requested Hsing-
tsung to attack Sung. This was rejected (Liao shih 19:4b; 115:8a).
On Nov.22, 1043, Hsing-tsung sent the Commissioner of the Yen-
ch’ang Palace to Hsia with the request that it rescind its attack on the
Tang-hsiang (Liao shih 19:5a; 115:8a).
In the 4th month (May) of 1044, Hsing-tsung levied troops against
five rebellious Tang-hsiang tribes which had joined the Hsia State. In
the 6th month (June/July) he sent envoys to inform the Sung court
about the coming attack (Liao shih 115:8a).
On Aug.16, 1044, Hsia envoys were received at the Liao court.
On Aug.31, the authorities found these envoys to be deceitful, since
they had not answered questions in accordance with the facts (Liao
shih 19:6a; 70:17b; 115:8a).
(^14) On Jan.1, 1043, Hsing-tsung had accepted from his officials the appelation
of Emperor Who Is Astute, Refined, Sagacious, Martial, Brave, Strategic, Divine,
Meritorious, Shrewd, Wise, Benevolent, and Filial (Liao shih 19:3a).