Chapter 284: Great Protector Of The Northern Frontier’s Order, Annihilate Gaochang
In the Great Desert General’s Mansion, generals gathered, and a palpable killing intent filled the air.
Yang Shoujing, a Centurion of the Wuwei Army, clad in bright yellow cotton armor and with a cavalry saber at his waist, stood at the front of the hall holding a scroll with both hands, and stated in a deep voice, “By order of the Great Protector!”
“The Kingdom of Gaochang is a vassal state of our Northern Frontier, submitting for generations and sharing in peace.”
“Today, we have learned of the coup in Gaochang. The national traitors Kudina Yan and Mocuowuba have murdered the Regent and taken the King hostage, massacred loyal officials, and thrown the court into chaos, causing the city of Hami to be drenched in blood and its people to fall into dire straits.”
His voice echoed in the spacious hall, resounding with power.
Li Dongjiang, dressed in crimson cotton armor, placed his right hand on his chest, his rugged face filled with solemnity and composure.
The Great Desert borders Gaochang, and he had also received news of the coup in Gaochang.
He had initially thought Li Xiao would first send someone to admonish them, but unexpectedly, he was directly dispatching the army to quell the rebellion.
However, this was also in line with his nephew’s character: decisive and ruthless, never showing mercy.
Li Dongjiang even secretly speculated in his heart that his eldest nephew might have been manipulating behind this coup.
“The duty of a suzerain state is to pacify the nation and its people, and restore order.”
Yang Shoujing continued to read, his tone suddenly rising: “Gaochang has suffered such a great disaster, how can the Northern Frontier stand idly by? We hereby order Li Dongjiang, the Great Desert General, to immediately lead the Second Division’s iron cavalry south overnight, and head directly for Hami.”
“Your mission is to ‘rescue the King of Gaochang and suppress the rebellion,’ execute the main culprits Kudina Yan and Mocuowuba, pacify the populace, and restore order to Gaochang.”
“Ensure a swift victory, rescue the people of Gaochang from their dire straits, and display the might of the Northern Frontier to the world.”
“On the eighteenth day of the second month of the twenty-seventh year of Tianxi, sealed by Li Xiao, Great Protector of the Northern Frontier.”
As the last word fell, there was silence in the hall.
Yang Shoujing stepped forward and handed the bright yellow scroll to Li Dongjiang with both hands.
The crimson seal of “Great Protector of the Northern Frontier” on the imperial decree was as red as blood, and Li Xiao’s handwriting, written by his own hand, penetrated the paper, carrying an unquestionable dignity.
Following this, he took a brocade box from a nearby guard, opened it to reveal a tiger tally, cast from black iron, and very exquisite.
Li Dongjiang took out his own half of the tiger tally and fitted it with the other half in the brocade box. They fit perfectly, as if they were made to be one.
Although he recognized Yang Shoujing and Li Xiao’s unique handwriting on the scroll, he still meticulously went through the process of verifying the tally.
This was a major event involving the deployment of an entire division of iron cavalry, and any oversight could lead to disaster.
“Your subordinate, Li Dongjiang, obeys the Great Protector’s order!”
He raised the tiger tally and the imperial decree high with both hands and said in a deep voice.
“We, your subordinates, receive the order!”
Bali’ala, Li Donggen, and the other generals shouted in unison, and the hall immediately filled with the crisp sound of armor clashing.
Yang Shoujing helped Li Dongjiang up and then took out a sealed letter from his embrace, saying in a low voice, “This is a private letter from the Great Protector. Please read it, General.”
After speaking, he saluted Li Dongjiang with a heavy hand on his chest.
Li Dongjiang nodded slightly, opened Li Xiao’s personal letter, and upon reading its contents, his inner suspicions were further solidified.
The matter of Gaochang was indeed orchestrated by Li Xiao behind the scenes.
“How can one tolerate others snoring next to one’s own bed.”
“The Kingdom of Gaochang, guarding the Treasure Mountain and isolating the east from the west, why should it not perish?” Li Dongjiang understood everything in his heart.
The geographical location of the Kingdom of Gaochang was extremely advantageous, controlling a crucial point on the Silk Road. Even the most convenient route from Jin Prefecture to the Hexi Corridor required passing through Gaochang.
Moreover, the Kingdom of Gaochang was an important producer of grain and cotton for the Northern Frontier.
Li Xiao could no longer tolerate the continued existence of this ‘state within a state’; he intended to completely incorporate Gaochang into the Northern Frontier.
And in his secret letter to Li Dongjiang, he clearly stated the disposition of Qibidu and others.
‘The rebel party, including Kudina Yan, in their desperation, killed the King of Gaochang, Qibidu.’
‘The royal bloodline of Gaochang is extinct. Following the will of the people, it is incorporated under the jurisdiction of the Northern Frontier.’
The Northern Frontier Army had not yet marched, but Li Xiao had already set the outcome for Gaochang.
The weak have no right to resist fate.
After finishing the secret letter, Li Dongjiang folded it and put it in his embrace, then turned to face the generals, his eyes already burning with the fire of war.
“Bali’ala, immediately assemble three thousand light cavalry as the vanguard, pack enough for three days of rations, depart at Yinshi, and encamp outside Hami City!”
“Li Donggen, you will lead your contingent of light cavalry, follow at Maoshi, take the western route, detour around Gaochang City, and advance eastward.”
“All other units will prepare to depart with me, heading east at Maoshi!”
“As you command!”
The generals received their orders and rose. As they turned, their armor clanged, and their footsteps were rapid yet orderly, clearly indicating they were elites with extensive combat experience.
On this day, the entire Second Division was dispatched.
The three Myriad Household Commanders, totaling over ten thousand cavalry, all marched south, determined to raze Gaochang in one decisive battle.
This was Li Xiao’s command in the secret letter. He would also dispatch one Myriad Household Commander from the First Division to take over the guard of the Great Desert.
Upon seeing this, Li Dongjiang instantly understood Li Xiao’s intention.
His own position needed to be shifted.
……
“Wuwuwu…”
In the back courtyard of the Dragon City Great Protector’s Mansion, a heartbreaking cry suddenly erupted, making one’s heart ache.
Tajiguli lay on the wooden couch, her shoulders trembling violently, a large patch of her brocade quilt soaked with tears.
Li Xiao had just sent word that her father, Alkus, had been assassinated during the Tengger Festival, all male heirs of the family had been executed, and the female members had been relegated to servitude.
In a single night, the illustrious Alkus family had been annihilated.
“Father… Mother…” she choked out the names of her loved ones, overcome with grief.
Just a few days ago, she had received tonics from her father, and his letter had urged her to rest and take care of her pregnancy. How could it be that in the blink of an eye, they were separated by death?
Footsteps sounded from the outer room. Li Xiao had just finished dealing with military affairs, wearing dark casual clothes still carrying the chill of the night.
Tajiguli suddenly raised her head, her tear-streaked face filled with despair. She struggled to get up from the couch, stumbled to Li Xiao, and knelt before him with a thud.
“Great Protector, my father is dead, my family is all dead!”
She grasped Li Xiao’s robe hem and cried, “How could they be so cruel? They didn’t even spare the infants in their swaddling clothes…”
Seeing her crying like a tearful mess, Li Xiao felt a complex emotion well up within him.
Although Alkus’s death was not directly related to him, it was the result of his tacit approval of the escalation of the situation in Gaochang.
The existence of Gaochang blocked the path of the Northern Frontier, so this thorn had to be removed.
And in order to have a legitimate reason for action, and to consider Tajiguli’s feelings, Li Xiao had tacitly allowed the situation to develop.
Although his feelings for Tajiguli were purely born of attraction, and it was a political marriage, Tajiguli had been with him for two years and occupied a place in Li Xiao’s heart.
Especially since she was carrying his child in her womb~
Li Xiao leaned down, embraced her, and comforted her, saying, “Tajiguli, rest assured.”
“I have already dispatched the Second Division’s iron cavalry south to Gaochang, and they will be at Hami within three days.”
“I will not let anyone who killed your father go unpunished.”
Li Xiao’s voice deepened, and manufactured anger surged in his eyes.
He then reined in his emotions, raised his hand, and wiped the tears from her cheeks, “Don’t cry anymore, Tajiguli.”
“You are pregnant. If you make yourself sick from crying, how can I be at ease?”
Tajiguli, however, cried even harder, burying her face in his clothes, her tears soaking through the brocade on his chest.
“But they are all gone… My father was greedy for power, but he never harmed anyone…”
Fine!
Another child who had grown up in the fairy tale world woven by her parents.
The father she understood was merely the image Alkus had shown her.
She actually thought her father was a good man who was greedy for power.
But since the person was dead, Li Xiao naturally would not expose the old man.
He would let Tajiguli maintain a high image of her father in her heart.
After a long while, Tajiguli’s crying gradually subsided, leaving only sobs.
Li Xiao helped her up and, seeing that her eyelids were swollen red like walnuts, softened his tone, “You rest first. When the news from the Second Division arrives, I will tell you immediately.”
He called for a maidservant to take good care of her, and as he walked out of the inner room, the gentleness on his face had largely faded.
Standing in the corridor, gazing in the direction of Gaochang, his eyes grew colder.
Comforting Tajiguli was necessary, but altering the predetermined strategy because of it was absolutely out of the question.
The game for Gaochang had just reached its most critical move.
And from behind the curtain of the inner room, Tajiguli watched his departing back, tears welling up again.
She did not know what calculations were hidden behind this revenge, only that the father who used to braid her hair would never return.
……
It was now early March, and the harshest cold had quietly receded. The ice and snow in Jin Prefecture melted along the gullies, revealing the dark brown earth beneath, and grass roots began to sprout tender shoots.
On the open plains outside Dragon City, the melted ice and snow gathered into shallow puddles under the hooves of horses. A massive cavalry army was assembling in formation.
The soldiers wore yellow cotton armor and tasseled helmets with neck guards, wrapping themselves tightly, revealing only their bright, sharp eyes.
The setup of three horses per man made the formation appear particularly imposing. The warhorses carried weapons, grain, tents, bedding, and other supplies, glinting heavily in the morning light.
Outside the city gate, Li Xiao looked at Qin Chunsheng, who was wearing yellow armor and a yellow cape, and said with a grave tone.
“Second Uncle, the Great Desert is a vital strategic point of our Northern Frontier. With the situation in Gaochang still uncertain, you are stationed here to maintain stability in the rear and be ready to support the front lines at any time.”
Qin Chunsheng placed his right hand on his chest and nodded heavily, “Great Protector, rest assured. Your subordinate will guard the Great Desert well and will not allow a single rebel soldier to step foot into it.”
After conquering Gaochang, the territory of the Northern Frontier would directly expand southward by a thousand li. Gaochang would become the new southern border of the Northern Frontier.
At that time, Li Xiao would order the Second Division to garrison Gaochang, connecting to Gansu in the east and cooperating with Er Hu in the west to nibble away at the Eastern Kara-Khanid Khanate.
Qin Chunsheng would then lead the Second Myriad Household of the First Division to garrison the Great Desert.
At that time, the Great Desert would become the hinterland of the Northern Frontier, with a very low probability of foreign enemies invading. A force of one Myriad Household would be sufficient to maintain its stability.
After giving his instructions, Qin Chunsheng turned to his army and shouted loudly, “Depart!”
The yellow Sun and Moon Battle Flags fluttered in the cold wind. The cavalry of the Second Myriad Household, treading through the mud left by the melting ice and snow, advanced slowly towards the Great Desert like a yellow dragon.
Li Xiao watched the army depart. After returning to the city, he rode to the mansion of Jiu Meng’an He.
“Greetings, Great Protector.”
Jiu Meng’an He personally came to the gate of his mansion to greet him.
“No need for formalities.”
Li Xiao waved his hand, getting straight to the point, “The matter of army expansion that was decided last autumn should be picked up again.”
Jiu Meng’an He was an old general of the Northern Frontier, his dark face etched with hardship. He bowed and said, “The Great Protector speaks the truth.”
“The frozen ground in winter made travel difficult, and conscription was indeed slow. Now that the ice and snow have melted, it is the perfect time to gather the young and strong from each Myriad Household and begin training.”
After conquering the Hexi Corridor last year, Li Xiao had issued an order to expand the army, but the onset of winter had caused all matters to stall.
Moreover, the most important task at that time was settling immigrants, and conscription was not the top priority.
Now that spring was gradually approaching, it was a good time to organize the army and prepare for war.
“The captured soldiers from the Xia Kingdom must be screened thoroughly. Those who qualify will be incorporated into the Six Garrisons, and their military discipline must be instilled first.”
Li Xiao tapped heavily on the map with his finger, his tone carrying an undeniable dignity, “The military discipline of our Northern Frontier is not like that of Xia. Violating military discipline will result in execution. This must be ingrained in them from the very beginning.”
“The most important point is that our Northern Frontier does not tolerate failure, nor does it tolerate surrender. Whether generals or soldiers, they must fight to the death.”
“Their old habits must be changed.”
Jiu Meng’an He nodded slightly, “Great Protector, rest assured. Your subordinate will have the veterans teach them the military rules first, and they will recite the military discipline before morning drills every day. Violators will be severely punished on the spot, with no leniency.”
He took out an account book, opened it, and traced his finger over the densely packed names, “Currently, there are over ten thousand captured Xia soldiers incorporated into the army. All are classified as soldiers and will be promoted and rewarded based on military merit.”
“According to the troop quota set by the Great Protector, we still need to recruit twenty-five thousand new soldiers.”
He explained, pointing to the summary figures in the troop roster.
The former troop quota for each of the Six Garrisons was ten thousand men. Now, Li Xiao planned to expand the First Division to twenty thousand men, and the other five garrisons to fifteen thousand men each, for a total of thirty-five thousand needed.
Over ten thousand new soldiers had already been recruited, leaving a deficit of over twenty thousand.
This was not a difficult task for the Northern Frontier.
Recall that Li Xiao had reorganized the prisoners of war from Hexi, obtaining fifty thousand new infantry soldiers for the Kuli New Army.
Later, they captured over fifty thousand elite Xia soldiers, plus numerous civilian laborers carrying grain, and a large number of young and strong men from Hexi.
Selecting thirty-five thousand men from this group was as easy as pie.
However, most of these new recruits were from civilian households who lived by cultivating public land and had no other income.
And apart from the Wuwei Army, other garrisons did not have fixed military pay. Therefore, this conscription was mainly for single men who did not need to support families.
The army provided food, and if one person was full, the whole family would not go hungry, making them the most suitable.
“But the most important thing is to start the next round of war as soon as possible.”
Jiu Meng’an He closed the account book, his tone revealing the insight of an old soldier, “Only through constant raiding can these new soldiers’ pockets be quickly filled.”
“Then they will have the means to buy female slaves, or capture women themselves, and settle down in the Northern Frontier.”
He described his conscription plan: first, select single young and strong men from the immigrants, prioritizing those with experience in warfare and hunting.
The rest would be drawn from the elite among the captured Xia soldiers to fill the deficit.
Li Xiao nodded from time to time and offered timely suggestions when he heard differing opinions.
Jiu Meng’an He summarized in a deep voice, “At this pace, the Six Garrisons will have their full troop quotas by early summer at the latest.”
“By then, the total strength of the Northern Frontier’s Six Garrisons will reach one hundred thousand men.”
Li Xiao looked at the melting snow outside the window, a sharpness flashing in his eyes.
One hundred thousand troops would be enough for him to stir up greater storms in the Western Regions and the Central Plains.
These new recruits were both the sharp blade for the Northern Frontier’s expansion and needed to be stabilized through raiding. Only by letting them taste the sweetness of war could they truly become iron-blooded soldiers rooted in the Northern Frontier.
The two of them discussed for another half hour, from the food standards for the new recruits to the replacement of cloth armor, leaving no detail unaddressed.
Li Xiao nodded and stood up, walking to the map to examine it again.
In the early summer of the Northern Frontier, with one hundred thousand troops poised for action, they had sufficient confidence for either advancing east into the Central Plains or striking west towards the royal court.
Just as Li Xiao returned to the Great Protector’s Mansion and took off his dust-covered cape, Li Shurong, who was responsible for receiving incoming and outgoing mail at the Governor’s Mansion, entered.
He said softly, “Great Protector, the Governor of the Great Desert, Lord Chen, has sent a messenger.”
“A convoy from the Kingdom of Gaochang is heading towards Jin Prefecture, carrying grain, gold, silver, silk, and other tribute sent by Qibidu.”
Li Shurong paused and added, “In addition, Imperial Consort Aisha of the Kingdom of Gaochang is also in the convoy, saying she is coming to visit the Queen Dowager of Gaochang and Princess Ayina.”
Li Shurong was a clerk by Li Xiao’s side, responsible for transcribing imperial edicts and receiving and summarizing letters sent to the Great Protector’s Mansion from various prefectures and towns.
However, he had no authority to handle them, only to pass them along, essentially a tool.
Li Xiao also did not give him much power.
After hearing his report, a cold smile curled up on Li Xiao’s lips.
Tribute?
This was clearly protection money delivered after a coup d’état.
Kudina Yan was indeed shrewd, recognizing who the true master was and pledging loyalty to the Northern Frontier immediately.
It’s a pity that the Northern Frontier had long set its sights on the fat prize of Gaochang, and the Second Town’s army had already been dispatched. How could they let go of it for a mere tribute?
“Order the Honglu Temple to temporarily house all members of the Gaochang delegation in the Honglu Temple inn once they arrive. They are not to move around freely without my order.”
Li Xiao tapped his fingertips on the table, his voice plain but carrying undeniable dignity: “Accept all tribute as listed and register it into the treasury.”
“As for Imperial Consort Aisha…”
He rubbed the blue stubble on his chin, his gaze becoming profound.
In Hami, he had summoned Aisha for his bed almost every day. The memory of her graceful figure and soft moans still stirred his desire.
That bone-gnawing pleasure, he would certainly savor it again.
“Send more men to ‘protect’ the Imperial Consort’s residence.”
Li Xiao’s voice held a hint of amusement: “Tell Aisha that she must be tired from her journey, so she should rest well first. I will ‘visit’ her later.”
Li Shurong bowed and withdrew.
At the same time, the vanguard of the Second Town army, led by Bali’ala, had already marched south, their iron hooves treading the Liutiao Gully, the passage between the Great Desert and Hami, officially entering Gaochang territory.
Liutiao Fort was a small military village located south of Liutiao Gully.
The rammed-earth fort walls were not tall but could block the cold wind from north of the Tianshan Mountains.
After Qibidu took the reins of power, he specifically reinforced the garrison here.
Although not many, only a little over three hundred men, they fully exposed his wariness of the Northern Frontier.
One day, just past noon, the soldiers in Liutiao Fort were squatting at the base of the ramparts eating lunch.
Their coarse ceramic bowls were filled with thin millet porridge, so watery you could see your reflection, not a speck of meat in sight. A few gulps and it was gone, not enough to fill their stomachs.
“This lousy porridge isn’t even enough to fill the gaps between my teeth.”
A young soldier slammed his bowl onto the ground. The coarse ceramic made a crisp sound as it hit the stone. “Drinking this every day, let alone fighting, I feel like I’m floating just walking.”
The old soldier next to him sighed, wiped his mouth with a rough hand, and gently said, “His Majesty has just begun to rule, and the country is in a period of rebuilding. We need to sell grain to raise money for military equipment.”
“Bear with it. Once things get better, there will be meat to eat.”
“Get better? I doubt it!”
Another soldier scoffed and spat on the ground. “Haven’t you seen the Han People?”
“Most of the good farmland near Gaochang City is almost all occupied by them now.”
“That was once our capital, Gaochang, and now it’s become the Han People’s domain!”
These words were like sparks falling into dry tinder, and the soldiers’ complaints immediately grew louder.
“Exactly! We Uyghurs are instead driven to this poor place, and we’re even made cannon fodder for the Northern Frontier people.”
“Last year during the Hexi campaign, how many of our brothers from the Gaochang Army died? There’s still no sign of compensation, and many widows with children couldn’t survive and were forced to remarry, some even to the newly arrived Han People…”
As they spoke, the faces of several young soldiers turned red, their fists clenched so tightly they creaked.
They had fought hard for the Northern Frontier people, and their fallen comrades were not even acknowledged.
Yet those Northern Frontier people occupied their houses, farmed their land, and even slept with their wives and took their children.
How could anyone swallow such an insult?
The general in charge of Liutiao Fort, standing under the sentry tower, heard these words, his brow furrowed, and he sharply berated them, “All of you shut up! What nonsense are you spouting!”
Gaochang at this time still depended on the Northern Frontier for survival. If these complaints were heard by the Northern Frontier people, the entire Liutiao Fort might be in trouble.
The young soldier was unconvinced, his neck stiff, he said, “General, it’s just us few people talking, how would the Northern Frontier people know?”
“That’s not allowed either!” the general snorted.
He knew in his heart that Qibidu had just taken the throne, and the Northern Frontier was likely watching Gaochang, eager to find any excuse to cause trouble.
At this time, not even the slightest excuse could be given to the Northern Frontier people.
He then looked towards the land to the north, his gaze complicated.
That was the direction of the Northern Frontier, and the power Gaochang had to bow down to.
He let out a soft sigh, but a flicker of hope arose in his heart.
He wished Qibidu had the power to lead Gaochang back to glory, so that soldiers like them wouldn’t have to endure such humiliation.
Especially the wives of the soldiers who died in battle, forced to remarry Han men to make a living.
Anyone would feel uncomfortable thinking about it, and the general was no exception.
Looking at the mountains to the north, he spat fiercely on the ground, thinking to himself:
“Damn it, one day, I’ll definitely fight my way to Jin Prefecture and taste what Northern Frontier women are like.”
But at this very moment, the general suddenly felt a faint tremor beneath his feet, as if some colossal beast was approaching from afar.
“What’s going on?” a soldier abruptly stood up, looking around in confusion.
The vibration grew more pronounced, the rammed-earth ground seemed to tremble slightly, and even the dust on top of the ramparts fell off.
The general’s face changed, and he quickly climbed the sentry tower, shielding his eyes with a straw roof as he looked north.
Because the Southern Xinjiang had a warmer climate than the Northern Frontier, the early spring atmosphere was more evident.
The ice and snow near Liutiao Fort had already melted, revealing a yellow sand-like base.
On the distant horizon, a dust cloud, so vast it obscured the sky, was rising. The dust moved extremely fast, and the muffled sound of hooves could faintly be heard, rolling across the land like muffled thunder.
His pupils contracted sharply, and his lips trembled as he uttered a few words: “It’s… it’s cavalry!”
The soldiers at the base of the ramparts also sensed something was wrong, and they all stood up, looking at the approaching yellow dust cloud from the north. Their earlier complaints and dissatisfaction were instantly replaced by fear.
“Is that… the Northern Frontier’s Sun and Moon Battle Flag?”
Someone pointed at the flag faintly visible in the dust cloud, their voice trembling.
The flag flickered in and out of sight in the dust, with a crimson background embroidered with a sun and moon emblem, like a burning flame, rustling in the wind.
It was precisely the battle flag of the Second Town of the Northern Frontier Army.
Even more chilling was that the Northern Frontier cavalry emerging from the dust cloud also had a dazzling crimson hue, as if they were fierce gods pulled from a sea of blood.
The general’s heart sank to the bottom, as if crushed by a massive boulder.
The thing he feared most had happened after all.
The iron cavalry of the Northern Frontier had finally arrived.
