liao 581birthday of Jen-tsung^133 (Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien pp.1192-
1193).
On Dec.26, 1041, two Sung envoys arrived at the Liao court to
congratulate on the birthday of Hsing-tsung^134 (Liao shih 19:2a).
When Hsing-tsung learned that Sung, in violation of the treaty of
Shan-yüan in 1005, was stengthening fortifications and improving
waterways at the border, he made plans in the 12th month (Dec./
Jan., 1942) of the Liao year of 1041 to seize ten contested prefectures
(hsien)^135 (Liao shih 19:2a-2b).
On Jan.9, 1042, six Sung envoys arrived at the Liao court to con-
gratulate on the birthday of the Empress Dowager and on the New
Year’s Day of Jan.25, 1042 (Liao shih 19:2b).
On Jan.16, 1042, a discussion was held at the Liao court on whether
to go to war with Sung (Liao shih 19:2b).
On Jan.19, 1042, 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.25 (Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.1228).
On Jan.29, 1042, Hsing-tsung sent the Commissioner of Court
Ceremony of the Southern Administative Division and a Han-lin
Academician^136 as envoys to the Sung court to announce that he
intended to retake the ten prefectures. They also were to inquire why
Sung had attacked Hsia. These envoys were received at the Sung court
on Apr.18 (Sung shih 11:3a; Liao shih 19:2b).
On May 3, 1042, envoys from the Liao Empress Dowager and from
Hsing-tsung arrived at the Sung court to congratulate on the birthday
of Jen-tsung.^137 They had received their orders on July 1, 1041 (Liao
shih 19:1b; Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.1239).
On June 23, 1042, two Sung envoys arrived at the Liao court on
a goodwill mission. Hsing-tsung responded with a letter (Liao shih 19:
2b).
On Sep.12, 1042, two Sung envoys arrived at the Liao court on a
goodwill mission. They presented a letter from Jen-tsung and proposed,
(^133) It fell on May 16.
(^134) It fell on Apr.9, 1042.
(^135) These had been first ceded by the Later Chin to the Khitan in 938 as part
of the Sixteen Commanderies, were then occupied by the Later Chou in 959, and
had thereafter been under Chinese rule. 136
The Han-lin Academician was Liu Liu-fu, a Chinese in Liao service, who
also had been sent on previous missions.
(^137) It fell on May 6.