Chapter 303: Heaven Has Spoken, The Mandate Of Heaven Is With Me
“Temüjin is here!”
“Northern Frontier scoundrels, all of you die!”
Just as the Northern Frontier Army was massacring the Duolun tribesmen, a burly figure suddenly emerged from a haystack in the corner of the camp.
The man gripped a fine steel saber, his eyes blazing like torches, seizing the moment when a Northern Frontier soldier turned around.
He lunged forward fiercely, striking with his saber and chopping the soldier directly to the ground.
Immediately following, a youth charged out—it was Torei.
The father and son moved with swift ferocity, clearly having suppressed their urges for a long time.
“Kill!”
Earlier, the Northern Frontier Army had already checked this haystack, thrusting spears into it many times and seeing no movement, so they thought no one was inside.
Unexpectedly, there was a pit dug beneath the haystack, where Temüjin and his son were hiding.
Temüjin had thought they could evade the Northern Frontier Army’s search, but he hadn’t anticipated these scoundrels being so ruthless.
Unable to find him, they vented their fury on the entire tribe.
Moreover, he knew that once the Duolun tribesmen were all killed, the Northern Frontier Army would surely burn the haystack along with everything else in the tribe, and he and his son would die just the same.
Better to fight desperately in this dire straits than become roast whole lamb—perhaps there was still a slim chance of survival.
After chopping down a Northern Frontier soldier, Temüjin swiftly seized his war horse and mounted it.
He then pulled Torei onto the horseback, and the father and son spurred their horse toward the outside of the camp.
“Temüjin is there, capture him!”
Wei Xuan, seeing this, shouted sternly with a fierce glint in his eyes.
The surrounding Northern Frontier soldiers quickly moved to surround and kill Temüjin and his son.
After several rounds of chase and combat, Torei failed to dodge and was ensnared by a rope flung by a Northern Frontier soldier, dragged harshly off his horse, and thrown to the ground.
Seeing this, Temüjin grew anxious and turned back to rescue him, only to be struck by a cold arrow in the back; intense pain swept through his body instantly, his vision went black, and he also fell to the ground.
Soon, Wei Xuan rode up close, looking down disdainfully at the disheveled Temüjin.
He lay on the ground, teeth clenched, silent, his face ferocious, bloodshot eyes glaring fixedly at Wei Xuan like a trapped beast still roaring.
Wei Xuan completely ignored his ferocious expression and turned to ask a guide beside him: “Is this Temüjin?”
This man was under Zha Heganbu and had seen Temüjin’s appearance.
Moreover, every search unit was equipped with one or two such guides.
“Yes, Lord, he is Temüjin.”
The guide nodded hastily and pointed to the youth nearby: “The one beside him is his young son Torei.”
Hearing this, Wei Xuan let out a breath of relief; they had finally captured Temüjin.
“Temüjin, you’ve made my Northern Frontier Army search hard.”
As the Myriad Household Commander of the Sixth Garrison stationed at the Western Sea, Wei Xuan had learned some grassland languages over the years, enough for simple communication.
“Pah! Victor and vanquished, what more is there to say!”
Temüjin spat out a mouthful of bloodied saliva.
He then raised his eyes to size up Wei Xuan, asking hoarsely, “Are you Li Xiao?”
“No.”
Wei Xuan said coldly: “But you’ll soon meet the Great Protector.”
Temüjin slowly closed his eyes and said no more.
He just wanted to ask Li Xiao: Were there few tribes on the grassland?
Why did he fixate on him alone, relentlessly attacking?
It seemed he had never offended him, yet from the start, the other seemed to harbor great hostility toward him.
Over these years, he had always felt as if he lived under the shadow of the Northern Frontier.
“By the way, you should have another son, right?”
Wei Xuan glanced at Torei nearby, bound like a rice dumpling and still struggling nonstop, and asked indifferently.
Temüjin had three sons; Chagatai had already been captured, leaving only Ogedai Khan.
“He has already fled, I don’t know where he went,” Temüjin said with his eyes closed.
Torei beside him was even tougher, shouting defiantly: “You won’t catch him, give up on that.”
“Ogedai Khan will avenge us, he will kill all of you Northern Frontier people, leaving none,” Torei yelled and cursed.
The next second, he was kicked in the stomach by a soldier, doubling over like a shrimp in pain, curling on the ground and groaning nonstop.
“Is that so?” Wei Xuan shook his head with a smile and turned to look at the haystack where Temüjin had hidden.
“Burn it.”
“You dare!”
Temüjin abruptly opened his eyes, breathing like an ox, glaring at Wei Xuan with blood-red eyes, his chest heaving violently.
Immediately, two soldiers threw matches toward the haystack.
The dry fodder instantly burst into raging flames, and amid the crackling fire, a burst of agonized screams suddenly rang out.
It turned out that Ogedai Khan had been shot by an arrow while fleeing earlier and was gravely wounded.
Temüjin had planned to draw away the Northern Frontier Army himself, leaving Ogedai Khan in the pit under the haystack to recover, but he hadn’t expected them to be so resolute, burning even the haystack clean.
After all, Li Xiao’s orders to the units were crystal clear: Capture Temüjin and his sons, not one less.
Amid the shrill howls, a figure engulfed in flames stumbled out from the haystack, skin charred black, his painfully contorted face faintly discernible.
“Ogedai Khan!”
Seeing his son’s miserable state, tears welled up in Temüjin’s tiger-like eyes, a beastly whimper escaping his throat.
Wei Xuan merely snorted coldly: “If you knew this would happen, why endure this suffering.”
He then ordered the soldiers: “Put out the fire, keep him alive.”
A living captive was worth more merit than a dead one.
But everyone could see that Ogedai Khan was already gravely wounded and now burned like this; even if saved, he wouldn’t live long.
“Myriad Household Commander, how should we handle these herdsmen?” A centurion stepped forward to ask.
Wei Xuan’s tone was icy as iron: “Harboring traitors, unforgivable crime.”
“Kill all except the women.”
Extermination of the clan was the best punishment for those who defied the Northern Frontier.
Only by using thunderous means to deter hearts could the grassland tribes be thoroughly subdued, daring no more thoughts of rebellion.
He glanced at the Duolun tribal leader slumped on the ground and added: “Feed that old thing to the dogs alive.”
“Our hunting dogs have long wanted meat, haven’t they?”
……
Dragon City, Great Protector’s Mansion.
A loud infant cry pierced the courtyard’s tranquility, clear and powerful.
Qin Dani, Er Feng, Su Renli, and others in the yard lit up upon hearing it, their anxious faces instantly clearing.
“She’s given birth!”
Qin Dani reacted first; though she already had several grandsons, she wanted more.
Moreover, Er Ya had been at Hexi Fort long ago and was the most familiar with her mother-in-law.
The other concubines came later; Qin Dani could ignore them, but she valued Er Ya greatly.
In truth, Qin Dani was Er Ya’s greatest confidence in the inner residence.
Er Feng, as sister-in-law beside her, beamed with joy, while Su Renli trembled with excitement.
In his heart, he prayed repeatedly: “Heaven bless, it must be a boy.”
Though the Wei and Su families had long stood firm in the Northern Frontier.
This foundation relied more on Wei Xuan’s military merit and status, plus the Great Protector Li Xiao’s special care for Er Ya.
Only if Er Ya bore a son could the two families’ status become as steady as a rock.
Moments later, the door opened, and Er Ya’s maidservant rushed out, face flushed red.
“She gave birth, it’s a young master, mother and child are safe.”
“Good, good!”
Su Renli slapped his thigh hard, his months of worry finally easing, his back straightening noticeably.
Er Feng handed her child to her own mother, that is, Li Xiao’s Second Aunt, for care, and entered the delivery room with Qin Dani.
The midwife and maidservants were busy cleaning up; Er Ya, just after giving birth, leaned half on soft pillows.
Her originally delicate fair face was flushed from sweat, damp strands of hair stuck to her forehead, looking somewhat weak.
She gazed blankly at the wrinkled little bundle in swaddling clothes, her lips slightly pursed, seeming puzzled.
This was the one she had birthed?
How… so ugly?
Da Ya, guarding by the bed, seeing her expression, couldn’t help laughing and reached out to wipe the sweat from her forehead: “All newborns are like this; once they nurse and their skin smooths out, they’ll be good-looking.”
She paused, her gaze falling on the infant’s face, her tone certain.
“The Great Protector is so mighty, and you’re so beautiful; your child will surely grow into an exceptionally heroic young man.”
Listening, Er Ya looked down again at the little one in her arms, her small hand unconsciously touching the infant’s cheek.
Her weary face gradually bloomed with a gentle smile.
……
Burkhan Khaldun, Wuwei Army camp.
The golden sun and moon battle flag unfurled in the wind, under which countless Northern Frontier soldiers in yellow-based red-trimmed armor stood, war horses neighing, weapons clanging, killing intent permeating the wilderness.
In the distant wilds, a chiliarch cavalry unit in white-based red-trimmed cloth armor was approaching slowly.
Three prison carts in the center of the formation were particularly conspicuous, holding Temüjin and his three sons respectively.
The once grassland-conquering hegemon, ruler of the northern desert’s east, now bore shackles, utterly disheveled.
Yet he still held his head high stubbornly, gazing toward the sun and moon battle flag symbolizing Northern Frontier authority deep in the camp, his expression full of proud defiance.
Only when the unit reached the camp’s edge did his gaze fall on a tall young man.
This man wore dark gold black dragon pattern cotton armor, draped in a dark golden cape, a saber at his waist, no tasseled helmet, revealing a resolute yet dignified face.
Instinct told Temüjin this man was the Great Protector of the Northern Frontier, Li Xiao.
“Wei Xuan~ Wei Xuan~”
“Hahahaha~”
From a great distance, Li Xiao shouted loudly at Wei Xuan, his mood utterly elated.
In this campaign to pacify the northern desert, Wei Xuan’s capture of Temüjin merited the highest honor.
His personal welcome was both to reward the meritorious official and to see for himself the bearing of this “Son of Destiny,” Temüjin.
His gaze swept over the prison carts, seeing the man curled like a fallen wolf king, and his smile grew even brighter.
“Great Protector.”
“This subordinate has not failed his mission; I have captured alive Temüjin and his sons Ogedai Khan and Torei.”
Wei Xuan approached Li Xiao, dismounted, took a few steps forward, and saluted with hand to chest.
His mood was exceptionally excited; such great merit from capturing Temüjin alive would surely advance him further in the next Northern Frontier army expansion.
“Wei Xuan, you’ve worked hard.”
Li Xiao stepped forward, patted Wei Xuan’s shoulder, his tone gratified.
He then said: “Let me tell you good news—you have a nephew.”
“Dragon City just sent a report: Er Ya’s child has been born, a boy.”
Er Ya had become pregnant last year; by the time Li Xiao set out on campaign, her belly was already large, and now it was summer.
Little Fourth Master had finally been born.
Here, Li Xiao had defeated Temüjin and seized the Mobei Grassland—double celebrations.
Wei Xuan paused upon hearing this, then burst into irrepressible joy, cupping his hands hastily: “Congratulations, Great Protector!”
He knew his sister’s bearing a son for Li Xiao would solidify her status in the Great Protector’s Mansion even more, finally easing the weight in his heart.
Li Xiao nodded with a smile, turning his gaze to the distant prison carts: “This child’s birth timing is most apt, right when we pacify the northern desert and capture Temüjin.”
He paused, his gaze meeting Temüjin’s in the cart, and continued: “Temüjin is our enemy, but his spirit in conquering the grassland commands my respect.”
“This is Heaven’s will; let’s name the child after Temüjin.”
The name Temüjin meant artisan or iron-like will in the grassland language.
When Temüjin was born, his father Yesugei had just defeated the mortal enemy Tatar Tribe and captured its leader Temüjin Uge.
Thus, he named his son Temüjin.
Now, perhaps it was Heaven’s will.
When Temüjin was defeated, another child was born similarly—a son of his mortal enemy.
Li Xiao didn’t mind Temüjin being a loser, for he knew it was a glitch in destiny; the problem wasn’t Temüjin, but himself.
He hoped his son would inherit destiny and possess unyielding iron will.
At these words, Wei Xuan looked at Li Xiao in some astonishment: “Temüjin?”
The Li and Wei families were pure Han bloodlines; such a name felt a bit odd.
But fortunately, Li Xiao wasn’t rigid; just as Yesugei had named Temüjin back then, omitting the trailing ‘Uge’.
Moreover, the Northern Frontier valued martial prowess, following the naming conventions of Golden Saber and Longbow; Li Xiao named him Iron Sword.
His formal name was Li Shiyao, meaning the sun.
Also referring to the sun, moon, and five planets—gold, wood, water, fire, earth—collectively the seven luminaries, symbolizing all things in the universe.
“Li Shiyao~”
“Iron Sword~”
Wei Xuan murmured these two names in his heart, pondering them, and nodded slightly.
As uncle, he was very satisfied with them.
“Iron Sword, may he one day possess kingly aura like a sharp sword, invincible wherever he goes, guarding the Northern Frontier’s vast lands,” Li Xiao said calmly.
He had already passed Wei Xuan and walked toward Temüjin’s prison cart.
Temüjin in the cart didn’t understand Chinese and had no idea that Li Xiao, whom he saw as his fated nemesis, would in this way leave his name as another mark on this land.
At this moment, he merely stared fixedly at Li Xiao’s face, his weather-beaten eyes filled with vigilance and defiance.
Li Xiao stopped before the prison cart, gazing calmly at Temüjin, and slowly spoke in Turkic.
“Temüjin, once grassland conqueror, traverser of the northern desert under the Eternal Blue Sky, now a prisoner.”
“Did you ever imagine this end?”
The Kiyan tribe, Kereit Tribe, Naiman Tribe, and others had languages influenced by Turkic, like dialects.
Turkic was akin to the lingua franca of the grasslands and Western Regions.
Li Xiao knew Khitan and Turkic, enough for simple exchange with Temüjin.
Hearing this, Temüjin showed an arrogant cold smile, responding in a hoarse voice: “I have.”
“I’ve dreamed countless times of my defeat, waking drenched in sweat, but I don’t care.”
Temüjin’s fierce gaze fixed on Li Xiao as he said viciously.
“The Eternal Blue Sky chose you today, but so what?”
“A wolf pack leader never bows to the hunter.”
“My grassland, my tribesmen, will remember everything today.”
“Victory and defeat are common in war; I accept it calmly, but my belief in conquering the grassland was never wrong.”
Li Xiao raised an eyebrow and nodded: “You’re indeed not wrong; the fault is Heaven placing me before you.”
“You’re a worthy enemy; given time and chance, you would make the world forever remember the name Temüjin.”
“Unfortunately, you have no chance.”
“The Eternal Blue Sky you revere cannot withstand the mandate of Heaven.”
“The rise and fall of this world is no longer for grassland deities to control, but follows Heaven’s will and the tide of destiny.”
“Heaven told me, Huaxia shall stand at the universe’s pinnacle.”
“I, Li Xiao, believed it.”
“I shall sweep all enemies for Huaxia under this universe.”
“And you, Temüjin, are neither the first nor the last.”
“Silence.”
Temüjin erupted in fury, chest heaving violently, the blood on his back bursting again, staining his robes.
He roared: “Do not blaspheme the Eternal Blue Sky.”
“It is the grassland’s master, eternal existence, never failing.”
“Though I fall into your hands today, the Eternal Blue Sky’s bloodline will endure, my tribesmen will remember; one day, they will bring its wrath, trample your Northern Frontier, grind your bones to dust, and avenge and wipe out the shame.”
He roared, his voice hoarse from utmost rage, every word dripping with towering hatred and resolve.
Facing such vengeful words, Li Xiao was utterly unconcerned.
He took a spear from his personal guard’s hands—the Suludun Spear originally Temüjin’s, a sacred relic of the Mongols.
Equivalent to the Central Plains’ imperial jade seal, seized by the Northern Frontier Army in prior battles.
He planted the spear before Temüjin, overlooking him as the new lord of the northern desert: “Temüjin, your grassland is mine now.”
“Your tribesmen are now my herdsman slaves; your fine horses now carry my warriors; your tribe’s women are warming the tents for my Northern Frontier warriors.”
“The grasslands henceforth will have no faith in the Eternal Blue Sky, nor your tribesmen.”
“This place shall forever become Huaxia’s territory; Heaven’s will shall be born here, the Yan-Huang bloodline shall breed here.”
“And you will be slowly forgotten by this world.”
With that, Li Xiao turned away, back to Temüjin, and said faintly: “In some days, I will sacrifice to Heaven and Earth at the Onon River source in Burkhan Khaldun.”
“Then, I will borrow your head.”
“You won’t be lonely on the road to see the Eternal Blue Sky; many Kiyan tribe warriors will accompany you.”
He waved his hand, ordering the men to drag away Temüjin and his three sons to join the previously captured Chagatai.
He then returned to the golden tent and asked: “Are Muqali, Jebe, and Subutai willing to surrender?”
In the previous battles, vast numbers of Kiyan tribe soldiers were killed or captured.
Among these captives, Li Xiao had no interest in most.
Only these three stirred his desire to recruit them.
Perhaps times make heroes; the backdrop of the Mongol Empire’s rise forged their historical glories.
But undeniably, these three had real talent.
If willing to surrender to the Northern Frontier, Li Xiao would give them a chance.
“No.” The personal guard commander shook his head firmly.
“All three say they would rather die than surrender!”
Li Xiao smiled faintly: “Heh, rather die than surrender?”
“Bring them one by one; I will persuade them to surrender personally.”
“If still stubborn and unrepentant…” Li Xiao’s calm tone suddenly turned cold.
“Then let them bear their entire clan’s lives and accompany Temüjin to see the Eternal Blue Sky.”
Afterward, Li Xiao issued a series of orders, including arrangements for the Burkhan Khaldun sacrifice to Heaven ceremony and wrapping up affairs with the northern desert tribes.
Of course, there was one most important matter.
Dispatching the army urgently south to reinforce Gansu.
