546 liao
Soon thereafter and not later than Dec.24, the Later Chin ceded
to the Khitan 16 commanderies (chou) at its northern border (Liao
shih 4:2b).
On Jan.18, 939, the Later Chin envoys who had brought the hon-
orific titles were by T’ai-tsung appointed to such nominal offices as
Acting Grand Tutor, Acting Grand Guardian etc. On Jan.27, they
were given a banquet and gifts in accordance with their ranks (Liao
shih 4:2b-3a, 3b).
On Jan.25, 939, T’ai-tsung sent envoys to the Southern T’ang court
to announce that he had accepted honorific titles from the Later Chin
(Liao shih 4:3a).
On Jan.28, 939, a General-in-chief of the Guards of the Gilded
Mace and a Gentleman-of-the-Palace of the Bureau of Evaluations,
who had been sent as envoys by the Later Chin to the Khitan court,
offered precious gifts. T’ai-tsung ordered them to be distributed among
his officials (Liao shih 4:3a).
On Feb.5, 939, Later Chin envoys thanked the Khitan court for
suspending the cash and silk payments in return for four border com-
manderies (Liao shih 4:3a).
In early May, 939, Southern T’ang envoys to the Khitan court
offered gifts. On May 27, T’ai-tsung distributed these gifts among his
officials (Liao shih 4:3b).
On July 27, 939, Later Chin envoys to the Khitan court presented
a belt of rhinoceros hide (Liao shih 4:3b).
On Sep.2, 939, T’ai-tsung sent an envoy to the Later Chin court
to offer fine horses (Liao shih 4:3b).
On Oct.12, 939, Later Chin envoys to the Khitan court announced
that the annual tribute in gold and silk for 938 and 939 had been
delivered to Yen-ching (Peking) (Liao shih 4:3a).
On Oct.26, 939,^25 two Khitan envoys on a goodwill mission were
received at the Later Chin court. They presented cattle, horses, 14
horses with white forelegs, and dogs (Chiu Wu-tai shih 78:3b; Hsin Wu-
tai shih 8:7b; Liao shih 4:4a; Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5035).
In the 11th month (Dec./Jan., 940) of the Chinese year 939, a Khi-
tan envoy was received at the Later Chin court. He then proceded to
Wu-yüeh (Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.9208).
On Feb.2, 940,^26 a Khitan envoy was received at the Later Chin
court (Hsin Wu-tai shih 8:7b).
(^25) Hsin Wu-tai shih gives the date of Oct.23.
(^26) Correcting mou-tzu to mou-wu.