Fu Bi vs Yelu Chucai

Fu Bi was sent as an envoy to the Liao dynasty to negotiate a settlement after Liao threatened invasion. He secured a treaty that increased annual tribute payments but avoided war, stabilizing the northern border for several decades.

Fu Bi was appointed as Grand Councilor of the Song Empire, serving under Emperor Renzong. He advocated for cautious fiscal policies and opposed radical reforms, maintaining stability during his tenure.

Fu Bi joined conservative officials in opposing Wang Anshi's New Policies, which aimed to centralize economic control. He argued the reforms would harm farmers and disrupt traditional governance, leading to his retirement from court.

Yelu Chucai, a Khitan scholar, was recruited by Genghis Khan as an advisor. He counseled the Mongol leader to adopt Chinese administrative practices and tax systems rather than slaughtering conquered populations.

Yelu Chucai persuaded Ogedei Khan to preserve Confucian scholars and Chinese institutions. He established schools, restored the civil service examination system, and protected temples and libraries from destruction.

Yelu Chucai oversaw the first census of northern China under Mongol rule. He implemented a tax system based on households and land, replacing arbitrary plunder with a stable revenue source for the empire.

Yelu Chucai argued against the Mongol plan to turn northern China into pastureland. He convinced Ogedei to keep the agricultural system intact, preserving the economic base of the region.