Chapter 287: Gaochang No More In The World, Only Western Prefecture Of The Northern Frontier Remains
Hami City fell, and the Kingdom of Qocho was destroyed.
The Northern Frontier Iron Cavalry surged into the city like a tide, the sound of hooves mingling with shouts and wails, tearing this once prosperous capital city apart.
Immediately upon entering the city, the Northern Frontier Army secured important locations such as the granary, silver vault, and armory.
While there was still a considerable amount of grain in the treasury, there was not much silver; the truly wealthy were the Uyghur merchants and nobles.
In a luxurious courtyard, a fat man in silk was trembling on the ground.
This man was a renowned rich merchant of Hami, formerly Alkus’s front man, who later allied himself with Kudina Yan and had always prospered.
However, when the Northern Frontier Army arrived, his lucky streak came to an end.
The Northern Frontier encouraged commercial development but did not allow such major merchants to compete with the common people for profit.
For businesses that were foundational to the nation, the Hexi Merchant Guild was more than sufficient.
Therefore, this man became the first target of crackdown.
Seeing boxes of gold and silver treasures dragged out from the cellar, the rich merchant felt his heart turn to dust.
But the Centurion in charge of the matter still frowned, delivering a fierce kick to the rich merchant.
“Ah~”
The rich merchant painfully collapsed and vomited, while the Centurion snorted, “Bastard, you’re still not cooperating.”
“Drag him away, bring out the torture implements, you must make him reveal the whereabouts of all his wealth.”
Then, the Centurion’s gaze turned to one of the rich merchant’s concubines: “This woman will be handed over to me to whip and interrogate personally.”
“Ahhhhh~”
The noble’s mansions became the main targets of looting.
Kudina Yan’s mansion was ransacked top to bottom, gold and silver treasures filled ten boxes, even the newly built pond in the back garden was dug up, and more than ten boxes of gold were unearthed from underground.
Most of these treasures were acquired by Kudina Yan after he became Prime Minister, and he had even moved them directly from Alkus’s home to his own.
In the rear quarters, a dozen trembling dancers were discovered; they had been specially cultivated by Kudina Yan, and now they too had become spoils of war for the Northern Frontier Army.
“These tender-skinned beauties will fetch a good price back in Dragon City!”
The chaos in the Royal Palace was even greater. After San Bao dealt with Qibidu, he ordered the palace to be taken over.
The guards, eunuchs, and palace maids were gathered. The men were organized into labor brigades to transport supplies, while the women were confined to a side hall, awaiting distribution based on military merit.
Alkus’s youngest daughter, brought out from the cold palace, looked at everything before her with a terrified expression.
Her father had been killed, her entire family massacred, and now her country was gone; her fate was no longer in her own hands.
But fortunately, she had an older sister in the Northern Frontier, who was also a concubine to the Great Protector and held a high status.
These Northern Frontier soldiers treated her with respect and were preparing to send her to Jin Prefecture to reunite with her sister.
This finally brought a sliver of relief to the Queen of Qocho.
Subsequently, the Northern Frontier Army carried out a great purge in Hami City.
Li Xiao was determined to destroy Qocho, so it was necessary to dismantle the old order.
This did not just refer to royal power, but more importantly, the power of the nobles.
Only by uprooting these deeply entrenched nobles could Qocho truly experience a new era.
Thus, Hami City was purged.
Regardless of noble or commoner, all were driven outside the city.
However, their treatment differed; commoners remained commoners, to be assigned to farming and land reclamation, no different from the common people of the Northern Frontier.
But the nobles fared even worse, all demoted to slavery.
The men had half their heads shaved, the word ‘slave’ branded on their faces, and were led like livestock by ropes, awaiting assignment to work in the mines.
The women and children were penned in wooden enclosures, becoming entertainment slaves for the army.
A literate soldier, holding a roster, began selecting them according to their military merit.
A young soldier who had just earned military merit excitedly pointed at a Uyghur woman holding a child: “I want her!”
The woman clutched her child tightly in fear, but could only cry out as she was dragged away.
As night fell, Hami City gradually quieted down, but the sounds of women’s weeping and soldiers’ curses continuously echoed from the camp.
The crimson Sun and Moon Battle Flag on the city wall fluttered in the night wind, as if proclaiming a new beginning here.
It was not until ten days later that a unit of Wuwei Army soldiers, clad in yellow cotton armor, arrived at Hami City.
They gradually brought an end to the chaos in the city and announced the end of the military administration period.
……
Inside the Great Hall of the Royal Palace, this was once the place where Li Xiao and Aisha had spent countless nights of sweat and toil, but now it presented a different scene.
Gu Zizhong stood at the head, clad in a dark cotton robe, holding a scroll of bright yellow silk in his hands, his expression solemn.
The hall was filled with numerous generals of the Second Town, as well as three Myriad Household Commanders who governed the Han people, all retired generals of the Northern Frontier.
All placed their right hands on their chests and bowed slightly, looking towards Gu Zizhong.
“By the Great Protector’s decree!”
“King Qibidu of Qocho has unfortunately been harmed by remnants of Kudina Yan’s faction. I am deeply pained to hear this news.”
“As it is said, a country cannot be without a ruler for a day. However, the royal bloodline of Qocho has been severed, and there are no male heirs left to ascend the throne.”
“After careful consideration, and in response to the earnest pleas of the people of Qocho, I have decided to incorporate the Kingdom of Qocho into the territory of the Northern Frontier, establishing it as a prefecture of the Northern Frontier.”
“Effective immediately, the former territory of Qocho shall be named Xizhou.”
“Hala Khoja shall be renamed Gaochang City, serving as the administrative seat of Xizhou; Hami City shall be renamed Yiwu City and designated as a commandery under Xizhou.”
Listening to Gu Zizhong’s voice, all the Northern Frontier generals and the three Myriad Household Commanders remained calm, showing no surprise.
After all, the Northern Frontier Army’s southward advance was not for the trivial matter of a coup in Qocho.
The so-called “earnest pleas of the people” was merely a more pleasant excuse.
The true objective was the annexation of Qocho.
From the moment Li Xiao’s decree was issued, the Kingdom of Qocho ceased to exist in the world, replaced by the Xizhou of the Northern Frontier.
The name ‘Xizhou’ originated from the Great Tang.
Since the Han dynasties, Qocho had always been part of the Han family’s territory, with the majority of its inhabitants being Han people.
It had even seen four Han families establish kingdoms in Qocho.
These were the Kan clan’s Kingdom of Qocho, the Zhang clan’s Qocho, the Ma clan’s Qocho, and the longest-reigning Qu clan’s Qocho.
During the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Hou Junji was dispatched to destroy the Qu clan’s Kingdom of Qocho, establish Xizhou, and place it under the jurisdiction of the Anxi Protectorate.
Later, Tubo rose in power, and Xizhou was taken several times, with many Han people massacred.
By the late Tang Dynasty, the Uyghur Khaganate in the northern grasslands collapsed, and some Uyghurs fled to Qocho, renaming Gaochang City ‘Hala Khoja’ and establishing the Kara-Khanid Khanate.
This was the Uyghurs’ own official designation.
However, people from the Northern Frontier and other regions still habitually referred to it as Qocho.
This time, the Northern Frontier destroyed the Kara-Khanid Khanate and changed all the designations to the Han system.
The Kingdom of Qocho was renamed ‘Xizhou,’ becoming a prefecture of the Northern Frontier along with Jin Prefecture, the Great Desert, and Gansu.
Hala Khoja was renamed Gaochang City again, and Hami reverted to its Sui and Tang era name, Yiwu.
The influence of Uyghur culture was completely removed, and the Han system was restored.
“Qocho is secured, and Xizhou is newly established. This is a glorious event of the Northern Frontier expanding its territory, and also a new chapter for the common people to re-establish order.”
“To pacify the nation and consolidate the foundation, wise and capable individuals are hereby appointed to key positions. We hope that all gentlemen will diligently fulfill their duties and jointly strive for this great undertaking.”
Gu Zizhong, holding the decree, continued to read: “I hereby appoint Gu Zizhong as the Governor of Xizhou, to oversee all political affairs of Xizhou!”
“To govern the thirty thousand households of Han people in Xizhou, ensuring that the Han family’s laws and customs take root here; to preside over the assimilation of Uyghurs in Xizhou into Han, registering them, changing their attire, and teaching them the Chinese language…”
“It is also necessary to undertake water conservancy projects to clear the ditches, cultivate fertile land to fill the granaries, and anyone who obstructs this will be beheaded without trial!”
As his words fell, everyone in the hall understood.
No wonder they had Gu Zizhong read the decree; it turned out he was the new Governor of Xizhou.
Moreover, Gu Zizhong’s qualifications were sufficient. He was originally the Governor of the Great Desert, though he was merely a figurehead, he still held a high rank.
Later, he became an Adviser to the Great Protector, holding a prestigious position, and was fully qualified to serve as Governor of Xizhou.
Therefore, everyone bowed to Gu Zizhong, placing their hands on their chests: “Greetings, Governor.”
After all, in terms of status, the Governor and the Commander were of the same rank, and everyone except Li Dongjiang had to salute Gu Zizhong.
“You are all colleagues and old friends, no need for such formality.” Gu Zizhong said to everyone with a smile.
He was very amiable, showing no arrogance.
However, the people of the Northern Frontier had a simple understanding of him: a smiling tiger.
He could get along harmoniously with anyone, but it was also sudden when one was tricked by him.
“Li Dongjiang, heed my order!”
“Your subordinate is here!”
As Gu Zizhong’s expression turned serious again and he shouted, Li Dongjiang, the Commander of the Second Town, stepped forward.
The red armor clanged with a metallic sound, his movements were strong and vigorous, and the scar on his arm was particularly ferocious.
“You are hereby appointed General of Xizhou, to oversee all military affairs of Xizhou!”
“You must rigorously train the soldiers, rectify military discipline, repair city defenses to secure the territory, and clear out remnant bandits to pacify the populace. If encountered by foreign enemies, you may make decisions independently without seeking approval!”
“Your subordinate obeys the order!” Li Dongjiang replied in a deep voice.
When Li Xiao ordered the entire Second Town to march south, Li Dongjiang had already guessed that his position would likely change.
As expected, he was transferred from the position of General of the Great Desert to General of Xizhou, still responsible for the security of the southern border.
After reading the decree, Gu Zizhong handed the scroll to Li Dongjiang and others for circulation, saying to everyone, “From this day forward, Qocho no longer exists in the world, only Xizhou of the Northern Frontier.”
“All matters in Xizhou shall be executed in accordance with the laws of the Northern Frontier, without error.”
“We obey.”
The generals shouted in unison.
As Li Xiao’s decree was issued, the Uyghurs finally understood that the fall of Hami City was not an end, but a beginning.
A beginning of complete assimilation by the Northern Frontier.
Their king was gone, their country was gone, even the name of their homeland had been changed, and perhaps in countless years to come, even their descendants would forget all of this.
After all the generals had departed, Gu Zizhong turned to the Commander of the Wuwei Army beside him and instructed: “Leave two squad leaders’ worth of men to escort the Governor’s Mansion.”
“The rest are to immediately escort the Queen of Qocho and the gold and silver seized in this war back to Dragon City for disposal by the Great Protector.”
“Your subordinate accepts the order!”
The Commander cupped his fists in acknowledgment.
He immediately dispatched men to protect the Queen of Qocho and to take charge of the treasures plundered this time.
Afterward, Gu Zizhong convened the three Myriad Household Commanders of Xizhou’s Han population, preparing to establish the framework of the Governor’s Mansion.
“Zhang Yushi, you are familiar with civil administration. You will temporarily serve as the Director of the Household Department, responsible for household registration and land statistics.”
“Liu Wanliang, you managed provisions. You will temporarily be in charge of the granary and must meticulously inventory the supplies in the Qocho treasury.”
“Zhao He, you served as a soldier. You will first be in charge of the prison, responsible for apprehending offenders and maintaining public order.”
Gu Zizhong had requested three officials from the Great Protector’s Mansion for his appointment, all of whom were from the Han population of the Northern Frontier, and appointed them as Directors of the Governor’s Mansion.
First, he secured control over personnel, finance, and judicial power to prevent being sidelined.
Then, he looked at the three Myriad Household Commanders of the Han population and exchanged pleasantries before seriously stating, “You all have capable individuals under your command, so don’t hold back.”
“We need to set up the structure first to ensure smooth governance.”
The three Myriad Household Commanders of the Han population agreed in unison, as they also hoped that more subordinate officials for the Governor’s Mansion would come from their ranks.
After dealing with civil affairs, Gu Zizhong had someone invite Li Dongjiang to discuss the relocation of the administrative seat.
The administrative seat of Xizhou was to be established in Gaochang City. Li Xiao had long ordered the original Royal Palace of Qocho to be dismantled.
The eastern section was allocated to Gu Zizhong to build the Governor’s Mansion, and the western section to Li Dongjiang to establish the Xizhou General’s Mansion.
Li Xiao had always disliked building temporary palaces while traveling. Even when inspecting various regions, he only stayed in a golden tent. It would be a waste to leave such a large palace idle.
Now, dismantling and renovating it would be making the best use of it.
Before heading to Qocho, Gu Zizhong, in his capacity as Governor of Xizhou, issued several decrees.
The first decree was to conduct a population census.
Preliminary investigations revealed that there were still over twenty thousand households of Uyghurs within Qocho’s territory, the vast majority of whom were commoners or even slaves.
They had no private property and could only survive by farming for the nobles.
Gu Zizhong then issued the order: “Anyone who registers under the Northern Frontier household registration will receive the same treatment as Han people. They may rent public land and pay a four-tenths rent and tax.”
“The Northern Frontier embraces all rivers. Those who abide by the law are all citizens of Huaxia.”
The issuance of this order instantly caused countless Uyghur commoners to rejoice.
Many had previously speculated that the Northern Frontier Army would either kill them all or demote them all to slavery.
After all, throughout history, such occurrences were common; the law of the jungle was the most normal thing.
However, they did not expect the Northern Frontier Army to spare them all and even grant them land.
Consequently, a large number of Uyghur slaves were moved to tears, vowing to farm well for the Northern Frontier.
The second decree was to survey the land and grant public land to the populace.
The third decree was the most eye-catching—the adjustment of marriages.
Due to the war, there were many widows in Qocho, while the immigrants from Hexi were mostly battle prisoners and civilian laborers, with a large number of single men.
Gu Zizhong’s decree stipulated: “Widows must remarry within two months. Those who exceed the deadline will be beaten twenty times; newly annexed Uyghurs are prohibited from taking concubines, and existing concubines must be dismissed and remarried. If one wishes to take a concubine, they must earn military merit on the battlefield and become a military household.”
In this era, farming was strenuous work that widows alone could not manage much of.
Even without the decree, Uyghur widows would eventually find someone to marry, but now a time limit was imposed.
The single men among the Han population, however, wore expressions of joy.
An immigrant stroked his chin and chuckled, “This Governor truly cares for us. We’ll be able to have a home in Xizhou from now on.”
The fourth decree was to completely dismantle the Uyghur clans, re-register all Uyghurs, mix them with the Han people, and relocate ten thousand households to various parts of the Northern Frontier.
This way, the Han population would have an absolute majority in Xizhou, further reducing the possibility of Uyghur rebellion.
……
Xizhou originally had over twenty thousand Uyghur households. After relocating ten thousand households and settling them in various parts of the Northern Frontier, the remaining over ten thousand Uyghur households and over thirty thousand Han households were re-organized into five Myriad Households.
On this day, Gu Zizhong, with a light escort, arrived at the area of the Fifth Myriad Household, located west of Qocho.
On this day, Gu Zizhong, with a light escort, arrived at the Fifth Myriad Household region west of Gaochang.
Fields were being distributed to the newly surrendered Uyghur people using the method of running a horse to mark land. It wasn’t perfectly accurate but ensured basic fairness.
These fields originally belonged to the nobles of Gaochang, while the Uyghur people lining up to receive them were previously tenant farmers or even serfs for the nobles.
Apu huddled in the crowd, repeatedly rubbing the hem of his rough garment, his eyes full of nervousness and anticipation.
His family had been serfs for generations, toiling at the dirtiest and most arduous tasks, yet paying nearly eighty percent of their land rent and taxes.
After the autumn harvest each year, only a pitiful amount of grain remained, barely enough to sustain them, forcing the whole family to forage for wild vegetables for half the year.
But after the Northern Frontier Army arrived, everything changed.
They were freed from their serf status and became commoners of the Northern Frontier, even being allotted fields that once belonged to noble lords to cultivate.
Although it was public land and they had to pay forty percent rent and tax, compared to their past lives, it was like living in honey.
“Apu! Fifty mu!”
The Centurion’s shout startled him, and he quickly stepped forward.
Apu’s hands trembled as he took the wooden sign inscribed with “Fifth Myriad Household, Section B, Number Seven, Fifty mu.”
Yet, he secretly clicked his tongue, regretfully saying, “What a pity, my daughter has grown up.”
Apu’s wife was also from a serf background. The couple had worked diligently their whole lives, raising one elder daughter, two sons, and an elderly mother.
He himself couldn’t be sure if the elder daughter was truly his own.
In the past, when the master was pleased, he would often visit their home, and any daughter born then could only be raised as his own.
Later, when his wife grew old and unattractive, the master stopped coming, so the two sons were definitely his own, as they were as ugly as he was.
Originally, Apu planned to rent sixty mu of land, but his elder daughter had reached marriageable age.
The new decree from the Governor of the Western Prefecture clearly stated that if a woman of age did not marry, not only would she face a heavy fine, but her father would also receive severe punishment.
He dared not take the risk and had to reluctantly marry off his elder daughter, thus losing a vital laborer in the family.
The son-in-law was a Han man around twenty years old, formerly a soldier of the Xia Kingdom who was captured by the Northern Frontier Army and assigned here. He was mainly tall and sturdy, as strong as a calf.
The Gaochang Kingdom was gone, replaced by the Western Prefecture of the Northern Frontier. Although the decree stated there was no distinction between Han and Uyghur people, any discerning person could see that Han people ultimately held a higher status.
With this Han son-in-law, the other Uyghur people no longer dared to bully them.
A few days ago, a Uyghur man from the neighboring family jokingly remarked, “Apu, your daughter married a Han man, we’ll all have to respect you from now on.”
Apu touched the wooden sign in his embrace and looked at the fifty mu of land allotted to his family.
Suddenly, he straightened his back and waved to his wife and elderly mother at the end of the field ridge, “Wait, I’ll go borrow a plow from the Hundred Households Office. We need to turn over our land quickly!”
His elderly mother’s face bloomed with joy. She knelt on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing, “May Buddha bless us! May Buddha appear!”
“Bodhisattvas have opened their eyes, allowing us unfortunate souls to have our own land to cultivate, no longer having to serve the noble lords like oxen and horses!”
“From now on, when our family has grain, and my grandson can eat his fill, I can die with my eyes closed!”
“May Buddha bless this good life to last forever…”
She mumbled as she kowtowed.
The surrounding Uyghur people saw this and also joined their hands in prayer, murmuring prayers, grateful for Buddha’s protection.
Gu Zizhong, not far away, observed this scene clearly. He frowned slightly and asked a Uyghur petty official who understood Chinese, “What are they doing?”
The petty official hurried forward, listened for a moment, then quickly ran back, bowing his waist to report, “My Lord, they are thanking Buddha, saying Buddha blesses them for receiving land.”
“What?”
“Thanking Buddha?”
Gu Zizhong’s expression instantly darkened, and he struck the trunk of a nearby tree heavily with his horsewhip, “Absurd!”
“If not for the Northern Frontier Army crushing Gaochang and eliminating those overbearing Uyghur nobles, these former lowly people and serfs would never have had a chance to rise in their lives!”
Gu Zizhong’s expression was indifferent as his gaze swept over the kneeling Uyghur people, “To be able to farm public land, to eat and dress warmly every year, is given by Buddha?”
“It was clearly earned through the Northern Frontier Army’s bloody battles, and protected by the laws established by the Great Protector!”
He slowly turned, staring at the petty official, “Go tell them who gave them the land to farm and the food to eat, and who they should be thanking!”
The petty official turned pale with fright, stammering his intention to step forward, but was stopped by Gu Zizhong’s wave.
“No need.”
Gu Zizhong shook his head and chuckled, “I was also muddle-headed, arguing with a group of ignorant people.”
Taking a deep breath, his voice was as cold as ice, “So-called Buddhist teachings are nothing but things that bewitch people, harming the country and its people.”
“The Great Protector has long said that these Buddhist monks do no productive work, yet they seize good land, accept offerings from the people, and constantly chant ‘all beings are equal’ while demanding people kneel and worship them.”
“And when it comes to bloodshed and fighting, where are they?”
He pointed at the kneeling elders, his voice filled with disdain, “They only teach people to be submissive and weaken the will of the masses!”
“They let these people believe that enduring humiliation will bring about a good life, forgetting who pulled them out of the mire!”
The Director of the Household Department next to him advised in a low voice, “My Lord, these people have believed in Buddha their whole lives; it’s hard to change them in a short time…”
“They must change, even if they don’t want to!”
Gu Zizhong interrupted him, his eyes sharp as knives, “Issue an order to establish schools in each Chiliarchy.”
“Not only must children be taught to recognize Chinese characters and learn the law, but they must also understand that a good life is not thanks to Buddha and Bodhisattvas, but to the hoe in their hands, the laws of the Northern Frontier, and the protection of the Great Protector!”
He looked at the Uyghur people still praying on the distant field ridge and snorted coldly, “The incense of Buddhism should be cut off.”
“From now on, if the people of the Western Prefecture want to express gratitude, they should thank the sabers and spears of the Northern Frontier Army, and the benevolence and might of the Great Protector!”
Not long after, Gu Zizhong announced a sternly worded order.
“Within the Western Prefecture, Buddhism is completely prohibited.”
“All Buddha statues are to be dismantled, temple plaques are to be destroyed, and households are strictly forbidden from enshrining any Buddhist artifacts or scriptures.”
“From this day forward, a reporting system will be established for mutual supervision among neighbors. If anyone is found privately hoarding Buddha statues or secretly believing, they will be subjected to the Saw Execution, and the three households surrounding them will be held jointly responsible.”
“Heterodox religions such as Manichaeism, Zoroastrianism, and Jing Religion are to be suppressed in the same manner. Violators will be punished equally.”
The reason for his decisive action was precisely that he understood Li Xiao’s intentions.
The Great Protector had always held an unfavorable view of Buddhism and other religions. Previously, when conquering cities in the Xia Kingdom, he would first raze the local temples and distribute their land and property to the army and civilians.
Monks and nuns were either laicized to farm or directly demoted to slavery; those who refused were executed.
Therefore, Gu Zizhong was primarily catering to Li Xiao’s wishes.
Although he seemed like a sycophantic official, he was also a capable official who actually got things done.
A few days after the order was issued, the Director of the Household Department rushed in to report, “My Lord, there are movements among the Uyghur households. Many are gathered before a ruined temple and refuse to disperse.”
Gu Zizhong was reviewing land registers from various regions and replied without looking up, “Please ask General Li Dongjiang to send troops to monitor them. Anyone daring to gather and cause trouble will be executed.”
The iron cavalry of the Second Town soon appeared on the major thoroughfares of the villages.
An old monk with white hair and beard attempted to block Gu Zizhong’s horse to offer counsel, but was impaled through the chest by a cavalryman’s spear. His corpse was hung on the lintel of the ruined temple, and the bloody smell drifted far on the wind, terrifying everyone into silence.
However, Gu Zizhong knew deeply that a void in faith could sometimes be more terrifying than harsh governance, and it was easier for malicious individuals to exploit.
Therefore, the best way to help the Uyghur people abandon their Buddhist faith was to find another faith for them to believe in.
On this day, Gu Zizhong confined himself to his study for the entire day.
It wasn’t until evening that he pushed open the door, holding a scroll in his hand, which he slowly unfurled.
The painting depicted a man wearing dark gold dragon-patterned armor and a golden cloak, riding a tall, fine horse. His posture was as upright as a pine tree. Although his features were not entirely realistic, they exuded an aura of supreme authority over all under heaven.
Upon closer inspection, one could see that the man’s facial features bore a five-tenths resemblance to Li Xiao.
