liao 583immediately sent envoys to convey this information to the Sung court
(Liao shih 19:3b, 4a; 115:8a).
On May 22, 1043, envoys from the Liao Empress Dowager and
from Hsing-tsung arrived at the Sung court to congratulate on the
birthday of Jen-tsung^141 (Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.1286).
On Sep.1, 1043, Hsia envoys requested Hsing-tsung of Liao to
attack Sung. This was rejected (Liao shih 19:4b; 115:8a).
On Jan.28, 1044, envoys from the Liao Empress Dowager and from
Hsing-tsung arrived at the Sung court to congratulate on the New
Year’s Day of Feb.2 (Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.1343).
On May 3, 1044, it was learned at the Sung court that Liao was
building two fortifications in northern Shan-hsi. When the Liao envoys
who had congratulated on the birthday of Jen-tsung^142 returned home,
they were requested to ask that these fortifications be abolished. Liao
accepted it (Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.1364).
In the 6th month (June/July) of 1044, Hsing-tsung sent the Com-
missioner of the Yen-ch’ang Palace to Sung court to announce that
he was about to attack Hsia. This envoy was received at the court on
Aug.19 (Sung shih 11:7b; Liao shih 19:5b-6a).
When Hsing-tsung had taken personal command of the army
against Hsia, a Sung envoy presented parting gifts on Oct.3, 1044
(Liao shih 19:6a).
On Jan.16, 1045, envoys from the Liao Empress Dowager and from
Hsing-tsung arrived at the Sung court to congratulate on the New
Year’s Day of Jan.21 (Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.1424).
On Feb.8, 1045, Liao envoys to the Sung court announced that
the war against Hsia had been concluded. On Feb.12, Jen-tsung sent a
Drafter to congratulate on the end of the war. This envoy was received
at the Liao court on Apr.12 (Sung shih 11:9a; Liao shih 19:7a).
On Apr.30, 1045, envoys from the Liao Empress Dowager and from
Hsing-tsung arrived at the Sung court to congratulate on the birthday
of Jen-tsung^143 (Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.1439).
On Nov.14, 1045, Liao envoys to the Sung court presented a Nine
Dragon Chariot and sheep and horses which their army had captured
from Hsia (Sung shih 11:10a).
On Feb.4, 1046, envoys from the Liao Empress Dowager and from
(^141) It fell on May 25.
(^142) It fell on May 13.
(^143) It fell on May 3.