The Rise of the “Resentment Army” and the Fall of Liao

In the sixth year of the Zhenghe era (1116 CE), the Khitan-led Liao Dynasty was embroiled in internal strife following the rebellion of Gao Yongchang. Seizing the opportunity, the Jurchen-led Jin Dynasty captured Liao’s eastern capital, triggering a vengeful response from the Liao court. To counter Jin, Liao established a special force known as the “Resentment Army” (怨军), composed primarily of soldiers from the Liaodong region, symbolizing their intent to avenge their losses against the Jurchens. Among its commanders was Guo Yaoshi, a Han Chinese general whose loyalty would prove pivotal in the coming conflicts.

However, the Resentment Army failed to demonstrate military prowess against the Jurchens. Instead, in 1120, it revolted against the Liao court. Guo Yaoshi sided with the Liao government, suppressing his fellow rebels. The Liao court debated whether to disband the army entirely or restructure it. Two key officials, Yelü Yudu and Xiao Gan, proposed opposing solutions—Yelü advocated for disbanding and executing the troops, while Xiao Gan suggested dividing them into four battalions under separate commanders, including Guo Yaoshi.

When Emperor Tianxi (Yelü Chun) ascended the throne, the Resentment Army was renamed the “Ever-Victorious Army” (常胜军). Guo Yaoshi’s forces were stationed in Zhuozhou, facing the Song Dynasty’s border. However, as Empress Dowager Xiao grew increasingly distrustful of non-Khitan officials, Guo, a Han Chinese, defected to the Song in 1122, bringing 8,000 elite troops and 500 cavalry with him.

The Song’s Illusory Triumph

The sudden surrender of Zhuozhou and Yizhou to the Song without a fight was celebrated by Emperor Huizong as a divine windfall. Emboldened, he ordered an attack on Yanjing (modern Beijing), hoping to crush the remnants of Liao without Jin’s assistance. Guo Yaoshi’s forces were integrated into the Song army under Liu Yanqing, marching toward the Liao capital.

Yet, the Song’s military incompetence soon became apparent. Despite numerical superiority, Liu Yanqing’s forces were routed by Xiao Gan’s smaller Liao army at Liangxiang. Panicked, Liu ordered a retreat, abandoning vast stockpiles of supplies. Only Guo Yaoshi’s tactical brilliance salvaged some dignity, reclaiming lost territories.

Meanwhile, Song diplomats Zhao Liangshi and Ma Kuo negotiated with Jin, whose leader, Aguda (Emperor Taizu of Jin), grew increasingly distrustful of Song’s unreliability. Initially, the Song-Jin “Alliance Conducted at Sea” (海上之盟) had promised joint conquest of Liao, with Yanjing going to Song. But after Song’s repeated failures, Jin took Yanjing themselves in December 1122, forcing Song to negotiate for its return—at a steep price.

The Cost of a Hollow Victory

Jin’s demands escalated with each Song concession:
1. Territorial Losses: Song received only six prefectures near Yanjing (including Zhuozhou and Yizhou, already under Song control). The strategically vital Western Capital (Xijing) and three eastern prefectures (Ying, Ping, Luan) were retained by Jin.
2. Economic Extortion: Annual tribute skyrocketed from 200,000 taels of silver and 300,000 bolts of silk (originally paid to Liao) to an additional 1 million strings of copper coins as “Yanjing lease tax.”
3. Human Toll: Jin forcibly relocated 30,000 wealthy households from Yanjing, leaving Song a depopulated wasteland.

In April 1123, Song troops entered Yanjing—a pyrrhic victory. The city, stripped of wealth and people, was a shell. As chronicler Ma Kuo noted: “Foxes prowled the ruins; the ‘triumph’ was a mirage.”

Legacy: The Road to Catastrophe

The Yanjing “recovery” exposed Song’s fatal weaknesses:
– Military Ineptitude: Over-reliance on defectors like Guo Yaoshi masked systemic corruption and poor leadership.
– Diplomatic Naivety: Jin, sensing Song’s vulnerability, would invade just two years later, leading to the Jingkang Incident (1127) and the fall of Northern Song.
– Cultural Trauma: The betrayal of Yanjing’s populace sowed lasting resentment. Guo Yaoshi himself defected back to Jin in 1125, symbolizing the alliance’s moral bankruptcy.

Historian’s Insight:
“The ‘bought victory’ was no victory at all. It was a down payment on national humiliation—a lesson in how short-term gains, won through desperation and deceit, pave the path to ruin.”

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Word Count: 1,580
Key Themes: Military defections, diplomatic extortion, the illusion of victory, long-term consequences of weak statecraft.
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