Chapter 130 — Back to Liaodong: Supreme Capital Huining Prefecture
After staying at home for a day, he departed.
Although it took time, Aguda, knowing that the Goryeo court would not respond, could not hide his delight.
From another angle, it was also proof of how urgent the Liao Empire's situation had become.
How desperate must they have been to even consider cooperation with Goryeo.
Aguda thought that in that case, they too could cooperate with the Song, but he did not push the matter forward in concrete terms.
He only entertained the thought.
One day, cooperation with Song would be necessary.
He considered what conditions they would set.
In the end, it is always the weaker side that seeks such alliances.
Above all, it was a moment that confirmed how much Liao's power had declined.
Meanwhile, the Song court also received news of the Battle of Chulhajeom.
They saw it as an opportunity to break free from the long-standing oppression of Liao.
Song had long paid heavy tribute and begged for peace.
After concluding the Treaty of Chanyuan (澶淵之盟) in 1004, the annual tribute (歲幣) that Song provided to maintain peace consisted of 200,000 bolts of silk and 100,000 taels of silver.
This amount made up only a small portion of Song's military expenditure at the time, and thus did not impose a major burden on its finances.
Through this tribute, Song maintained a balanced relationship with Liao, securing northern stability and expanding trade, while for Liao, the continuous inflow of wealth strengthened its national power.
The so-called "tribute" was, in fact, a payment that could be made with relative ease.
The cost was far lower than that of war.
Buying peace with money was a sufficiently worthwhile choice.
Although the sum was large, according to Chancellor Wang Dan (王旦), it amounted to less than one percent of the cost of maintaining an army.
Whether pro-war or pro-peace, there was consensus that the tribute was "light."
Yet whether it was truly light deserves consideration.
Compared to military expenses, it was cheap, but it had to be paid in silver and silk.
To meet that amount of silver required the entire production of the Jiangnan region.
Considering that rebellions later arose due to this tribute, it invites reconsideration.
Still, compared to the overall wealth of Song at the time, it was indeed a relatively minor sum.
On the other hand, the strengthening of the northern empire as a result of this was not factored into their calculations.
This was the error of reducing everything to monetary value.
The transaction did not end with payment.
They failed to consider that the enemy would grow into a greater threat with that very wealth.
They sought peace with the tribute they sent, yet did not account for Liao growing stronger through it.
They may have believed that silver and silk alone could not enhance military strength.
Yet these functioned as universal stores of value, bearing the nature of currency.
They served as mediums of exchange and standards of payment.
Though framed as the "cost of maintaining peace," in substance they were economic transfers.
Song sent wealth, and Liao used it to build strength.
Setting aside these digressions, it was only natural that Song paid close attention to the Battle of Chulhajeom.
They wanted to know whether the balance of power in the world was shifting.
They sought contact with the Jurchens.
So much so that they even asked Goryeo envoys to bring a Jurchen along on their next visit.
It was inconceivable that Goryeo would grant such a request.
As diplomatic maneuvering among the states intensified, Yeongu arrived at Supreme Capital Huining Prefecture.
Supreme Capital Huining Prefecture
The river came into view first.
It was not wide, but it was deep.
In winter, its waters did not freeze but flowed slowly.
Mist lay low over it, thin as breath, stretching as though it might break.
Crossing the river, a forest appeared.
Tall, straight trees stood densely packed.
Snow rested upon their branches, and when the wind brushed past, it fell in silence.
A path ran through that forest.
It was not a paved road, but one formed by the passage of people and horses.
Footprints lay layered upon one another.
At its end stood a fortress.
It was not built of stone, but of wood.
Thick palisades surrounded it, with ice clinging to their surfaces.
The walls were not high, but they were solid.
They were not easily broken by force.
Many horses were tied before the gate.
With each breath, white vapor rose from them.
It drifted slowly into the air.
Smoke rose from fires lit here and there.
The scent of burning wood, leather, and horse mingled together.
The houses were low, pressed close to the ground, shaped to resist the wind.
People moved among them.
They wore thick clothing, and their movements were not hurried.
Yet none stood idle.
All were engaged in something.
Some tended weapons, some stitched leather, some cared for horses.
There were children as well.
They were small, yet not light.
Their eyes were no different from those of adults.
Toward the center, the space widened.
A large tent stood there.
People gathered around it.
Horses came and went, orders were given, and movement continued.
Set between river, forest, and wind, the place appeared settled.
Yet it was already prepared to depart.
Those gathered within it were the same.
They stood not to remain, but already oriented toward what lay ahead.
It was Supreme Capital Huining Prefecture.