After Emperor Shizong's campaign against the Khitans, they lost three territories in quick succession. In an e…
After Emperor Shizong's campaign against the Khitans, they lost three territories in quick succession. In an effort to recover from these setbacks, the Khitans sent an envoy to the Southern Tang in Jiangnan, hoping to revive earlier proposals for a joint campaign to reclaim the Central Plains and to strike from both sides. However, the Khitan envoy was assassinated during a banquet hosted by the Southern Tang. Diplomatic relations collapsed, leaving an opening for a "third party" to take advantage of the growing rift between the two states.