Chapter 308: The Northern Frontier People’s Wolfish Ambitions, Meat Grinder Of Blood And Flesh
Woluohai City was on the verge of collapse under the booming cannons and trampling iron cavalry of the Northern Frontier.
At the same time, the atmosphere in the Western Xia Imperial Palace suddenly dropped to freezing point.
“Urgent report – Woluohai City, 800 li express!”
An official from the Bureau of Military Affairs rushed into the Great Hall, his voice trembling as he shouted.
“Your Majesty, Empress Dowager.”
“Report from Gao Yi, Commander of the Heishan Weifu Army.”
“Li Dongjiang, Commander of the Northern Frontier Second Garrison, personally leads 50,000 troops to pressure the border. Lijili City has fallen, all defending soldiers died in battle, and after just one day, Luosi City was breached, the flames burning for three days without extinguishing.”
Before he finished speaking, gasps of shock echoed through the hall.
Several old ministers clutched their chests, their throats emitting frightened gasps.
Li Chunyou suddenly clenched the armrest of the Imperial Throne, his expression shocked: “What?”
“Woluohai City?”
This was a vital northern town of the Xia Kingdom, located at the northernmost section of the Yellow River’s ‘U’ shape. Beyond the Yellow River lay the fertile Hetao Region.
However, if one did not cross the Yellow River and instead went south along its banks, after passing through the two defensive lines of Keyi Gate and Dingzhou, they could reach the gates of Xingqing Prefecture City.
Therefore, at this moment, Li Chunyou could no longer remain calm. His body trembled slightly, and his fierce gaze fell upon the official.
“Give it to me.”
Immediately, Gao Yi’s report was placed before him.
“Your humble servant, Gao Yi, Commander of the Weifu Army, reports with tears: Today, the Northern Frontier Army, led by General Li Dongjiang with 50,000 troops, has already surrounded Woluohai City. All villages outside the city have been looted.”
“We hear that the Northern Frontier’s firearms are incredibly powerful, and the city walls of Luosi City were broken in less than half a day. I fear Woluohai City will suffer the same fate.”
…
“Woluohai City is the key to our nation’s gate. If the city stands, we stand; if the city falls, we perish!”
“Your humble servant Gao Yi wishes to perish with the city, using his flesh and blood to build the last barrier for Your Majesty!”
Li Chunyou tightly gripped the corner of the table, his clothes trembling slightly, his eyes unable to contain his rage, and a hint of undisguised fear.
A few days prior, he had gathered a grand army of 100,000 men, appointing Privy Councillor Nai Ling Sicong as commander, fully intending to seize the Hexi Corridor while the Northern Frontier was short of troops, thereby restoring the former glory of Western Xia.
But he never expected that before the war in Hexi had made significant progress, Woluohai City would be attacked by the Northern Frontier Army.
Woluohai City was an important barrier for the Hetao Region. Once it fell, the entire Hetao Region would be wide open and in grave danger, and even the capital city of Western Xia, Xingqing Prefecture, would be threatened.
This sudden turn of events struck Li Chunyou’s heart like a heavy hammer.
“The Northern Frontier people are all wolves with ambitions!” Li Chunyou suddenly released the table corner and slammed his palm onto the table.
“They are not satisfied with taking our Hexi, and today they even want to covet the Hetao!”
He roared in anger, trying to mask the indescribable fear within his heart with this fierce rage.
Yet, he seemed to completely fail to realize that if he himself had not first dispatched a large army to reclaim the Hexi Corridor and proactively initiate conflict, perhaps today’s dire situation would not have arisen.
Afterward, Li Chunyou abruptly turned around, looked at the assembled ministers standing with bowed heads in the hall, and sternly demanded, “Are you all mute? Woluohai City is in urgent distress, and the Hetao is in peril. Does no one have a plan to repel the enemy?”
Silence filled the hall; all the ministers lowered their heads, none daring to respond.
After all, the Northern Frontier Army was fierce; who dared to claim they could repel them?
What if Li Chunyou clapped his hands in approval and ordered them to go?
Helplessly, the newly appointed Deputy Minister of the Bureau of Military Affairs, Weiming Honglie, took a deep breath and, bracing himself, stepped out from the ranks.
Nai Ling Sicong was still commanding the army in Hexi; he, the nominal second-in-command of the military, could not avoid it.
“Your Majesty, Lijili and Luosi cities have both fallen, and Woluohai City is now an isolated fortress. The situation is critical…”
He paused, his tone grave, “I implore Your Majesty to immediately issue a conscription order.”
“All males in the country, upon reaching the age of fifteen, shall join the army. Select capable generals to lead them north to resist the Northern Frontier barbarians.”
“Furthermore, you may decree Marshal Nai Ling to quickly recapture Liangzhou. If not, a portion of the troops should be dispatched to reinforce Xingqing Prefecture to prevent the situation at Woluohai City from worsening.”
Weiming Honglie added with deep concern.
He was primarily worried that after the Northern Frontier Army breached Woluohai City, they would advance south, and most of the main forces at Keyi Gate and Dingzhou had already been dispatched to Hexi, making it difficult to resist the Northern Frontier Army’s offensive.
In that case, Xingqing Prefecture would truly be in danger.
As soon as Weiming Honglie finished speaking, another official stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, the battle in Hexi has not yet been decided, and the Hetao is in danger.”
“The Northern Frontier Army is powerful, and our troops may not be able to resist them alone. It would be better to seek aid from the Jin Dynasty. If the two countries join forces, perhaps this crisis can be resolved.”
Li Chunyou listened to their suggestions, his brows furrowed. He naturally understood the reasoning behind these methods.
However, implementing them was not so simple.
He scanned the two men and said in a deep voice, “The Deputy Envoy’s words are reasonable, and your plan, my lord, is also feasible, but~”
“The treasury is empty of money and grain. How can we mobilize the army, and how can we ask the Jin Dynasty to send troops?”
For several years, the Xia Kingdom had been constantly at war. Especially the battle in Hexi the year before last, which had almost emptied the Western Xia treasury.
Last year, after a period of recuperation, they had finally accumulated some money, which was all invested in the Western Expeditionary Army.
Now the treasury was so empty that even rats could live there. Both the conscription of a large army and asking the Jin Dynasty to send troops required a large amount of silver and provisions. How could he raise them?
Seeing this, an official suggested, “Your Majesty, now that the nation is in crisis, we can increase the taxes on the common people. Let us call it ‘Northern Pay’ to alleviate the immediate need.”
The pay for pacifying the northern wars was called ‘Northern Pay’.
Li Chunyou’s expression immediately turned grim upon hearing this, and he angrily said, “To reclaim the Hexi Corridor, we have already levied ‘Liang Pay’ on the common people this year. If we increase taxes again, how will the common people bear it?”
However, one official dismissively said, “Your Majesty, the common people have money. Who doesn’t have tens of thousands of coins saved?”
“Even if they truly don’t have any, they can borrow from relatives and friends, or sell their houses and fields to get it.”
“You scoundrel!”
Li Chunyou slammed the table, glaring at the official, “Am I such a ruler who harms his people!”
Although he had not personally witnessed the extent of the common people’s suffering, he knew that ordinary people were not that wealthy.
However, what truly angered him was that this person was trying to fool him like Emperor Hui of Jin.
As the person in power, he could afford to not care about the lives and deaths of the common people.
When the nation is in distress, it’s alright for the common people to suffer a little.
But the key was to have a limit; if the common people were truly driven to a dead end, his emperor’s head might be thrown into the Yellow River.
After his anger subsided, Li Chunyou’s gaze swept over the ministers, and he said in a deep voice, “The nation is in distress. I have decided to lead by example and reduce court expenditures.”
“Effective immediately, the expenses of the Imperial Harem shall be halved, all rare tribute items will be discontinued, and except for festivals, the meals for myself and the Empress Dowager will be reduced to ordinary levels. All surplus palace maids and eunuchs will be dismissed, and the saved silver will be entirely used as military pay.”
He paused, his tone becoming firmer, “At the same time, redundant officials in the Imperial Court will be purged. Anyone who has nothing to do and occupies a position in vain will be dismissed and sent home, and their salaries will be returned to the treasury.”
“The personnel at the post stations also need to be streamlined. For non-critical routes, the staff can be reduced, retaining only the necessary channels for transmitting military intelligence.”
The ministers listened with varying expressions.
Regarding the reduction of court expenditures, they supported it, as it did not concern them.
However, purging redundant officials was a difficult matter. Who didn’t have an incompetent son or a poor relative who came knocking?
If these official positions were eliminated, would they have to support them with their own money?
“Your Majesty, I believe this action should be taken with caution.”
“Your Majesty, there has never been a precedent for dismissing officials in our dynasty!”
“Your Majesty, how will these officials survive once they are dismissed and return home?”
The Imperial Court gradually became boisterous. Once their own interests were involved, these people would not back down an inch.
Finally, a highly respected Minister deliberated for a moment and said, “Your Majesty is benevolent. Reducing court expenditures to fund the military will surely make the frontline soldiers deeply grateful.”
“Purging redundant officials will also save the court a considerable amount of silver, but compared to the massive military expenses, it is like a drop in the bucket.”
“Moreover, distant water cannot quench near thirst! The disadvantages arising from the dismissal of officials are even greater…”
Listening to the old man’s eloquent speech, Li Chunyou’s expression turned cold, and he directly interrupted him.
He said indifferently, “The old Minister is correct, this action indeed cannot quench near thirst, which is why I am seeking advice from all you wise ministers!”
It was only when some of his cronies were about to be purged that these people became unwilling.
The real trump cards had not yet been played.
As Li Chunyou subtly glanced at a certain official, Liang Sansi, the Director of the Ministry of Revenue standing at the end of the queue, took a deep breath, as if he had made a resolution.
He slowly walked to the center of the hall, bowed, and said, “Your Majesty, your humble servant Liang Sansi is willing to donate one thousand guan of his family fortune as military expenses, to contribute a small effort in resisting the Northern Frontier Army.”
As his voice fell, all the officials in the hall were instantly stunned, then reacted, and all glared at Liang Sansi with extreme anger.
“Villain!”
“Scoundrel!”
“I didn’t expect this surnamed Liang to be so cunning.”
Everyone cursed him inwardly, realizing that this Liang Sansi had already betrayed the bureaucratic group.
Moreover, he had put everyone on the spot. With him taking the lead, if others did not donate, they would be seen as disregarding national affairs; if they donated, it would feel like cutting off their flesh.
While the ministers glared at Liang Sansi, Li Chunyou smiled.
“Lord Liang is wise and righteous, and shares the nation’s burdens. This emperor is greatly comforted!”
Then, he turned to the assembled ministers and announced loudly, “Lord Liang has already set an example. This emperor and the Empress Dowager will also immediately inventory the inner treasury and donate half of our property to be used as military funds.”
“All my esteemed ministers and imperial relatives should also prioritize national affairs and donate generously.”
“If the nation is not preserved, how can our families be safe?”
“For those who make substantial donations, this emperor will reward them based on their merit, record it, and let posterity remember their achievements.”
Although he said this, he knew in his heart that getting those imperial relatives and officials, who were long accustomed to a life of luxury, to voluntarily part with their money would not be easy.
But at this moment, he had no other options and could only hope that these measures would somewhat alleviate the current predicament and buy the court a sliver of survival.
But clearly, he had underestimated the shamelessness of these officials. They all started crying poverty.
Some directly went to see the Empress Dowager, wanting her to intercede, arguing that the Emperor had gone mad!
Some even clamored that Liang Sansi must be a corrupt official to have so much wealth, obtained by extorting the common people, and demanded that Li Chunyou send people to investigate him.
Li Chunyou was so angry he almost overturned the table.
The shamelessness of these officials and nobles had simply refreshed his understanding.
They all lived lives of extreme extravagance, but when asked to contribute money to overcome the national crisis, they acted as if their fathers had just died.
Unfortunately, the Xia Kingdom was not the Ming Dynasty.
The most significant difference was that the emperor held military power.
Although military power was still held by the nobles, at least when he truly became enraged, he could silence everyone.
Thus, under the coercion of the “big stick,” these officials and nobles grudgingly coughed up a sum of money.
However, including the “half” of his private treasury that Li Chunyou contributed, it only amounted to one million guan in total.
Subsequently, these officials and nobles directly transferred their losses to the common people.
As soon as the conscription order was issued in the civilian sector, local government officials descended upon ordinary households like ravenous wolves.
A fifteen-year-old youth, who should have been working in the fields, was forcibly conscripted.
An old man of fifty, his back hunched, was also dragged into the ranks, his hoe replaced by a heavy spear.
In the battle of Hexi the year before last, hundreds of thousands of young and strong men from the Xia Kingdom had been lost in Hexi.
Early this year, to reclaim the Hexi Corridor, Xia had conducted another conscription, and there were already very few able-bodied young men left in the country who could fight.
This current conscription had almost completely stripped bare the last able-bodied male laborers from the common people’s households.
To evade military service, some common people fled into the mountains with their families overnight, living a difficult life.
The ensuing taxes became another heavy burden crushing the common people.
Although Li Chunyou had rejected “Northern Pay,” local officials still used various pretexts to collect taxes.
In the village of Li Family, outside Xingzhou City, several men wearing constable uniforms kicked open a wooden gate and entered a dilapidated small courtyard.
“Where is Li Gou Sheng?” The leading bailiff narrowed his triangular eyes, the iron chain in his hand rattling.
Madam Wang hurriedly shielded her son behind her and said trembling, “Officer, my Gou Sheng is still young…”
“Young? Fifteen years old is old enough to carry a gun!”
Madam Wang quickly explained, “Officer, my Gou Sheng is not yet fifteen, only thirteen~”
The bailiff pushed Madam Wang aside and reached out to grab Li Gou Sheng’s arm, cursing, “What you say doesn’t count. I say he’s fifteen, and he’s fifteen.”
“So many young and strong men died in the battle of Hexi, now it’s your turn, you young whippersnappers, to serve the country!”
Li Gou Sheng, terrified, hid behind his mother, “I won’t go! My father died fighting, and it’s just my mother and me left at home!”
“Won’t go?”
The bailiff sneered, and the iron chain slapped onto the ground, “The conscription order was issued by His Majesty. Resisting is a capital offense.”
“Either come with us, or I’ll lock you and your mother in prison right now!”
The two bailiffs behind him grabbed the crying Li Gou Sheng and dragged him out, the youth’s cries heart-wrenching, “Mother! Mother!”
Three days later, it was still the same small courtyard, and the same bailiffs kicked open the wooden gate.
“Li Family, ‘Raid Pay’ of three guan copper coins. You must pay it today.”
Madam Wang, holding her husband’s spirit tablet, her eyes vacant, said, “Officers, I paid ‘Liang Pay’ a few days ago, and all the grain in the house was sold. There’s truly not a single coin left.”
“None?”
The bailiff kicked the broken earthenware pot in the corner of the wall, “The house is still here, isn’t it? We can get some money by dismantling the beams and door panels!”
“If that doesn’t work, you can go work as a servant for a wealthy family to pay off the debt. If all else fails…”
He looked Madam Wang up and down, a lecherous smile appearing, “With your physique, you could serve the brothers in the military camp, and that would fetch a good amount of silver.”
Madam Wang trembled all over, clutching the spirit tablet tightly, “My man died for the country, you can’t treat me like this!”
“Many people have died for the country!”
The bailiff waved his hand, “Search the place! If you don’t find any money, take the person away!”
The bailiffs immediately ransacked the house, throwing the last of their worn-out clothing on the ground.
Seeing the empty rice jar, he spat, “Bad luck! Take the person away and send her to the camp. She’s a bit old, so we’ll consider it two guan copper coins.”
As Madam Wang was dragged out, she saw the widow Zhang next door being held by two bailiffs, her infant son crying so hard he could barely breathe.
Widow Zhang’s screams pierced the sky, “I paid ‘Liang Pay’! I really paid! Why are you snatching my daughter!”
Not far away, a white-haired old man was being whipped by a bailiff, rolling on the ground. He clutched a torn cloth bag tightly, containing the last of his family’s grain.
“That is the child’s lifeline…”
Similar tragedies were continuously unfolding across the land of Western Xia. Young and beautiful women were either forcibly taken by noble officials as concubines or sold as commodities at will.
Those who were old and weak were driven to build defensive fortifications, dying on the construction sites with no one to care.
The entire Xia Kingdom had seemingly turned into a massive purgatory, with the common people struggling in the abyss of suffering, seeing not a shred of light.
Woluohai City.
“Boom, boom, boom, boom~”
The continuous sound of cannons erupted outside the city. Cannonballs the size of fists caused city bricks to crumble and fall. The defending Xia soldiers’ faces turned pale as they pressed themselves tightly against the base of the city wall, trying to evade the terrifying roar.
However, Gao Yi, with a somber expression, faced the roar of the cannons and loudly boosted morale on the city wall.
Wherever he walked, the soldiers there would subconsciously puff out their chests, grip their weapons, and even their fear seemed to lessen.
“Kid, remember this,” Gao Yi said heavily, patting a young soldier’s shoulder.
“There’s nothing to fear about the Northern Frontier people’s cannons. After all this shelling, they’ve only knocked down a few of our city bricks.”
“Hold on for a few days, and our reinforcements will arrive.”
Gao Yi encouraged all the soldiers in this manner, but when he turned his head to look in the direction of the Northern Frontier Army, his expression instantly became grim.
This was the first time he had witnessed the power of the Northern Frontier cannons.
Although he spoke with ease, his heart was heavy.
For a short time, the city wall beneath his feet had blocked the bombardment of the Northern Frontier cannons, but what about in the long run?
Gao Yi could clearly feel that many cracks had appeared between the city bricks on the section of the wall that had been bombarded.
How much longer could it hold?
Because Li Dongjiang’s unit was on a forced march south to the Xia Kingdom, they could not carry the heavy Divine Might Cannons. They were only accompanied by sixty Tiger Zun Cannons equipped by three Myriad Household Commanders.
The power and range of the Tiger Zun Cannons were much smaller. When facing a small trading town like Luosi City, they could easily breach the city. However, against a sturdy fortress like Woluohai City, it was not so easy.
The sixty Tiger Zun Cannons bombarded for several days, but they were not fired continuously.
After each bombardment, they had to wait for the cannon barrel to cool completely before firing the next shot, sometimes even taking half an hour between shots.
Even so, several cannon barrels were damaged.
During this time, Li Dongjiang also ordered the grassland herdsmen to attack the city using ladders. However, Gao Yi defended the city wall like an iron bucket. The herdsmen were knocked down halfway up, unable to climb further.
It wasn’t until five days later that, with a world-shattering roar, a large gunpowder charge exploded at the base of the city wall. The immense impact caused the city wall to shake violently, sending bricks and stones flying and filling the air with smoke and dust.
As the smoke and dust slightly dispersed, a gap of over ten feet wide appeared on the city wall.
Gao Yi on the city tower’s face changed drastically. He slammed the wall bricks and shouted sternly, “Quick! Take men to seal the gap and repair the city wall immediately!”
The Xia soldiers jolted awake as if from a dream. Carrying wooden planks and stones, they rushed towards the gap like madmen, trying to block the opening before the Northern Frontier Army attacked.
Outside the city, the crimson Sun and Moon Battle Flag fluttered in the wind. Li Dongjiang, wearing crimson cloth armor, reined in his horse and stood beneath the flag, his gaze sharp as a hawk.
Seeing the gap in the city wall, he laughed heartily, “This damned city has held me back for a full five days. Today, I can finally chop off its damn head.”
“Pass down my order: Black Armored Army, attack!”
“As you command.”
The order was quickly conveyed. The Second Town’s heavy cavalry, with the help of their auxiliary soldiers, swiftly donned their heavy armor.
To conserve energy, they rode their warhorses slowly to the outside of the gap. Outside the range of the Xia army’s arrows from the city wall, they dismounted.
They transformed into heavy armored infantry, wielding weapons such as spears, giant axes, and iron hammers. With heavy steps, they advanced towards the gap step by step.
“Kill!”
The Xia army on the city wall, seeing this, desperately shot arrows and threw stones downwards, attempting to block the Northern Frontier Army’s advance.
However, the heavy cavalry were clad in heavy armor, and ordinary arrows could not penetrate them. They advanced steadily under the arrow rain.
The moment the Northern Frontier heavy infantry stepped into the gap, the Xia army’s heavy infantry formation blocked them like an iron wall.
“Kill!”
“Hold back those Northern Frontier barbarians.”
“Anyone who dares to retreat half a step will have their entire family executed.”
Deafening war cries erupted at the gap as two groups of heavily armored soldiers collided instantly.
A Northern Frontier heavy infantryman had just pierced a Xia soldier’s cheek when a battle axe swung from the side, striking his chest and causing him to spit blood and fall to the ground.
“Ah~”
Immediately, another Northern Frontier soldier stepped forward to fill the gap, thrusting a hooked scythe spear. The sickle blade got stuck on the Western Xia soldier’s iron armor.
Together with two comrades next to him, they pulled the Western Xia soldier out.
Then, with iron hammers, axes, and various other weapons, they unleashed a barrage on the fallen Western Xia soldier. Soon, he no longer cried out.
In fact, the true purpose of the hooked scythe spear against heavy armored soldiers was this hook.
Because whether facing heavy cavalry or heavy infantry, any cold weapon would find it difficult to kill or severely wound them with a single blow.
If a blow missed, the opponent might escape or pose a threat.
Using a hooked scythe spear could trip the horse’s legs, or pull an enemy off a horse, or pull a heavy infantryman to the ground.
This would cause them to lose their greatest mobility, and then slowly wear them down.
However, the Xia Kingdom’s military industry was renowned throughout the land, and their heavy armor defense was not much inferior to the Northern Frontier’s.
Moreover, the gap was narrow, and the soldiers of both sides were crowded together, making it impossible to deploy formations.
It had completely become a meat grinder, with face-to-face combat.
Both the Northern Frontier Army and the Xia Army had continuous streams of soldiers falling, being dragged off the battlefield by the soldiers behind them.
Gao Yi stood on the city wall, watching the corpses pile up at the gap, his teeth grinding.
He drew the saber at his waist and personally led the reserve force down the city tower: “Follow me and fight, drive out those Northern Frontier barbarians.”
Seeing their commander charge, the Xia soldiers’ morale surged. They roared and counterattacked, forcing the Northern Frontier Army back by half a step temporarily.
Li Dongjiang, watching clearly from outside the city, ordered with a deep voice: “Tiger Zun Cannons suppress both sides of the city wall. The second team of the Black Armored Army will advance.”
“The remaining units will attack with ladders.”
The sixty Tiger Zun Cannons roared again, their cannonballs whistling as they smashed into the sides of the city wall, suppressing the Xia army so they couldn’t raise their heads.
The other Northern Frontier troops and the grassland militia, taking advantage of the fact that all the Xia army’s elites were gathered at the gap, launched siege attacks on various parts of the city wall, which were now weakly defended.
