582 liao
in at times vehement discussions, to increase the annual payments of
silver and silk in return for keeping the ten prefectures. Hsing-tsung
temporarily broke off the negotiations and replied with a letter (Liao
shih 19:3a).
On Sep.18, 1042, Hsing-tsung sent two envoys including Liu Liu-
fu to the Sung court to negotiate a covenant. They argued that since
the Later Chin had ceded the ten prefectures, their occupation by
the Later Chou was improper, and the rights and wrongs of the issue
clear. Jen-tsung accepted the advice of Fu Pi, who had previously
represented the Sung in the negotiations at the Liao court on June
23 and Sep.12, that annual payments to the Liao were better than
war. He therefore agreed that the annual payments to Liao should be
increased to 200,000 ounces of silver and 300,000 bolts of silk and,
under protest, also agreed that these be called “tribute”.^138 In exchange,
Sung kept the ten prefectures. On Oct.11, 1042, three Liao envoys
including Liu Liu-fu presented an oath letter to the Sung court. On
Oct.29,^139 the Liao envoys informed Hsing-tsung. The emperor was
pleased and gave a banquet to the officials in the Hall of Luminous
Blessings (Sung shih 11:4a; Liao shih 19:3a; 96:1a-1b; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao
346:23a).
On Nov.16, 1042,^140 the Liao envoys returned to their court with
an oath letter from the Sung State. On Dec.11, 1042, Liao envoys
to the Sung court presented another oath letter from their state (Sung
shih 11:4b; Liao shih 19:3a). That concluded the treaty.
On Feb.2, 1043, Sung envoys arrived at the Liao court to con-
gratulate on the New Year’s Day of Feb.13 and on the birthday of
the Empress Dowager (Liao shih 19:3b).
On Feb.8, 1043, 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.13 (Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.1272).
On Feb.14, 1043, Hsing-tsung sent an Associate Administrator and
the Recepient of Edicts of the Bureau of Military Affairs to Hsia to
request it to make peace with Sung. They returned to their court on
Mar.29 and informed that Hsia had halted its armies. Hsing-tsung
(^138) As pointed out by Wittfogel, Liao, p.358 note 60, Sung shih 313:4b gives a dif-
ferent version. It claims that Liao accepted the term “payment”.
(^139) Correcting 9th month to 9th intercalary month.
(^140) See previous note.