| The Northern Song Dynasty existed one and half century, which successively coexisted and confronted with Liao (Kitan) and Xixia (Tankgut) long time, and respectively occurred many large-scale wars with them. Military intelligence activities had been accompanied by their steps to open the way of the actions and to be the followed. We can see many failures from the wars and diplomatic activities the Northern Song Dynasty took with Liao and Xixia in intelligence field in certain blunder places; But there was also some desirable parts because the dynasty could maintain long-term coexistence and confrontation with Liao and Xixia in adverse conditions. This article probes the view of song officials towards military intelligence, the expression and function of military intelligence in war diplomacy among Song, Liao & Xia, the preventive measures the Song Dynasty took about military intelligence activities to against enemy countries. Above them, conclude the military intelligence's successes and failures and show the reality faced by Song Dynasty's monarch and minister and their choices. We can understand the wisdom, the courage and the helpless.In different periods of the Northern Song Dynasty, the officials had corresponding understanding about the importance of military intelligence. Because many ministers had central and local work experiences, many officials in border war back directly leaded and then went back to ruling in central court, many officials directly took part in the negotiations with Liao or Xia, they commanded and participated in military intelligence activities, all had their own opinions on military intelligence activities.When the Song Dynasty sent spies on each other to take foreign information, foreign spies perhaps went to the song somewhere to steal secrets in contrary. In order to prevent their intelligence leaked out, and threatened the activities of the enemy spies, Song Dynasty might try its best to involve disclosure of the confidential information to prevent leak.The superiority or inferior of military intelligence Of the Northern Song Dynasty had considerable influence on the formulation and implementation of diplomatic policy, the win or fail of the foreign wars .what's more, the formulation of the Northern Song Dynasty's national strategic decision also affected the normal field of military intelligence. Because when the central government once Mired in the dispute or fighting and couldn't make a decision, it leaded to intelligence work departments and people at loose ends, which many times was in peacetime-- "make efforts at the last moment" .It would make the intelligence keep not up with need of the country's policies, even affected the song's diplomatic and wars. |
