562 liao
presented garments, golden belts, bows and arrows, 100 horses, four
trained horses, and golden horse trappings. On Nov.5, the envoys were
given a banquet (Sung shih 4:8a; Sung hui-yao kao 5257:4b; Hsü Tzu-chih
t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.166).
On Dec.8, 978, T’ai-tsung sent envoys to the Liao court to con-
gratulate on the New Year’s Day of Jan.31, 979 (Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-
chien ch’ang-pien p.166).
On Jan.28, 979, Liao envoys arrived at the Sung court to congratu-
late on the New Year’s Day of Jan.31. They presented fine horses and
regional objects. T’ai-tsung summoned them to the Jade Ford Park to
watch archery practice (Sung shih 4:8a; Sung hui-yao kao 5257:4b).
On Feb.4, 979, Ching-tsung sent an envoy to the Sung court to
inquire why T’ai-tsung was attacking the Northern Han. This envoy
returned on Feb.15 with the answer that there could be no peace unless
the Liao refused aid to the Northern Han (Liao shih 9:2a).
In the 2nd month (March) of 979, a Liao envoy to the Sung court
inquired about T’ai-tsung’s well-being. He was presented with golden
belts and silver horse trappings (Sung hui-yao kao 5257:5a; Wen-hsien
t’ung-k’ao 346:20a).
Also in the 2nd month of 979, Northern Han envoys to the Liao
court asked for military help. On Apr.6, envoys thanked for the aid.
On Apr.9, envoys reported on the Sung invasion. On Apr.17, a Sung
army decisively defeated Liao forces in Shan-hsi. On May 1, Northern
Han envoys to the Liao court discussed the conduct of the war. On
May 29, the Sung army won a victory over Northern Han. On June 3,
Emperor Ying-wu surrendered to Sung, and the Northern Han State
ceased to exist (Sung shih 4:10a; Liao shih 9:2a, 2b). But the war between
Sung and Liao continued until 1005, largely in favour of Liao.
On Oct.13, 982, Emperor Ching-tsung of Liao died, aged 35. On
Oct.14, he was succeeded by his 12-year old son. This was Emperor
Sheng-tsung. His mother, the Empress Dowager, took over the gov-
ernment (Liao shih 9:5a; 10:1a).
In the 12th month (Dec./Jan.983), of the Chinese year 982, Sung
envoys to the Liao court presented a belt adorned with rhinoceros
horn. They also proposed peace, which the Liao rejected (Liao shih 10:
1b).
On Sep.13 and Oct.19, 994, Sung envoys to the Liao court proposed
peace. This was rejected (Liao shih 13:5a-5b).
Emperor T’ai-tsung of Sung died on May 8, 997, aged 59, and
was succeed by his third son. This was Emperor Chen-tsung (Sung
shih 5:25b; 6:1b).