Did Kiu Fung's life improve a bit after meeting Yeh Lut Hung Gei?

[Ken Cheng]

To follow Kiu Fung's misadventures from the time he was ousted as Beggar's Union Chief to the time that he killed Ah Chu is to follow one of the most spectacularly depressing character meltdowns of all time. When Kiu Fung sadly buried Ah Chu outside her mother's home by Mirror Lake, you really wondered if a man could be brought lower than Kiu Fung had.

But was that rock bottom for Kiu Fung? Soon after, he met the Liao king Yeh Lut Hung Gei. Back among his own Khitan people, Kiu Fung soon once again found acceptance, and because he had aided the king, he even gained wealth and power. Not long after that, he reunited with Deun Yu and met Hui Juk, and the companionship of his two brothers seemed to bring Kiu Fung some happiness.

So, for a while (until the ugly specter of an impending Sung/Liao war reared its head and forced Kiu Fung's final sacrifice), was Kiu Fung's life back on an upward trajectory and did he enjoy some brief happiness after the long downward spiral that seemed to bottom out with Ah Chu's death?

[kyss of the sword]

if xiao feng was not imprisoned by his king sworn brother, he might have led an army into the song territory. it was because he was turned on by the liao king he ran. otherwise, just like he had protected the song kingdom before, he might have shown loyalty to his people even through he would wanted to have peace instead. probably he would have conquered the whole of song, and his brother would have made him a prince of those territory. and xiao feng would have established a benevolent rule.

[endo]

if xiao feng was not imprisoned by his king sworn brother, he might have led an army into the song territory. it was because he was turned on by the liao king he ran. otherwise, just like he had protected the song kingdom before, he might have shown loyalty to his people even through he would wanted to have peace instead. probably he would have conquered the whole of song, and his brother would have made him a prince of those territory. and xiao feng would have established a benevolent rule.

That's the same argument that I made about Guo Jing. It seems the same theme is brought up in DGSD. If either GJ or XF both took on the role that was given to them and invade Song on behalf of the Mongols/Liao, then they would certainly be made ruler of Song. As the ruler, they can be able to do MUCH MUCH more in terms of helping the common people and lessening their suffering.

Sure, war is hell and lots of people will die but it's the same whether or not they help the conquering army. They both know that the Song government is weak and corrupt. Why not go with the flow and be able to do more good than standing up against the rival army, without the backing of the Song government and eventually lose the war anyways? What good does that do? Die with honor? Honor won't help save civilians lives. Honor won't help ease the suffering of the common people under the rule of the invaders. At least if GJ/XF is around, they can speak on behalf of the Song citizens since they will be made ruler of the land.

[Ken Cheng]

Sure, war is hell and lots of people will die but it's the same whether or not they help the conquering army. They both know that the Song government is weak and corrupt. Why not go with the flow and be able to do more good than standing up against the rival army, without the backing of the Song government and eventually lose the war anyways? What good does that do? Die with honor? Honor won't help save civilians lives. Honor won't help ease the suffering of the common people under the rule of the invaders. At least if GJ/XF is around, they can speak on behalf of the Song citizens since they will be made ruler of the land.

I think the problem is that neither Yeh Lut Hung Gei nor Genghis Khan would be likely to set aside the interests of his own people to acquiesce to Kiu Fung or Gwok Jing's demands for better treatment of the Hans. Sooner or later, it'd come down to a civil war between the armies led by Kiu Fung/Gwok Jing and the main Khitan/Mongol forces, and if it came down to that, who is to say that Kiu Fung and Gwok Jing's armies would continue to follow their generals rather than their king/khan?

In both cases, the Han would continue to live under the conqueror's terms, at the conqueror's pleasure...which can change at any time. It might start off benignly, but what will guarantee that it will stay that way?