Chapter 249: Hearing The Great Protector Lusts After Women, In The Style Of Prime Minister Cao
Tiger Wolf Gorge, located one hundred li east of Liangzhou City, is the essential route from the Central Plains into the Hexi Corridor.
In later generations called Gulang Gorge, it is easy to defend and hard to attack, holding extremely important strategic position for the entire Hexi Corridor.
It stands alongside Wushao Ridge in the east as the eastern gate of the Hexi Corridor, controlling the vital transportation route into the Central Plains.
Flanking mountain peaks tower high, the central valley narrow, with a total length of about fifty li.
Within the valley, the widest point is no more than one li, the narrowest merely the width of one arrow’s flight, truly a place where one man guards the pass and ten thousand cannot breach.
At this moment, within the gorge, a cavalry army of over ten thousand was advancing slowly. Though not wearing armor, they still emanated a constant killing intent.
These cavalrymen were all tall and robust, with fierce faces; some had long hair tied in Han style buns.
Others wore earthy yellow round-collared robes, bald on top with long braids on both sides.
Those dressed like this were genuine Tangut People.
And this army was precisely the troops dispatched by the Western Xia Court to support the Hexi Corridor.
However, Waiming Shian knew the military situation was urgent, so he left the infantry to advance slowly behind.
He himself led all the cavalry, urging them on with whip and spur, racing ahead to support the Hexi Corridor.
This included three thousand Imperial Guard Cavalry, one thousand Iron Falcons, and over ten thousand cavalry from Xiping Prefecture, Weizhou Prefecture, and Baotai Military Command.
Total troops numbering around fifteen thousand.
They could be called the elite core of Western Xia domestically, capable of clashing head-on with Jin Dynasty armies.
At this point, they only needed to cross Tiger Wolf Gorge to truly enter the Hexi Corridor.
“I hope everything is still in time.”
Waiming Shian’s hair was gray, he wore an earthy yellow round-collared hemp robe, his gaunt face full of heaviness, a flash of worry in his turbid eyes.
Though he had not faced the Northern Frontier Army, he had combat experience against the Kereit Tribe and knew those Prairie Barbarians very well.
All cavalry, coming and going like the wind; though not strong in combat, they rarely engaged enemies directly, specializing in harassment and sneak attacks, extremely troublesome.
In his view, the Northern Frontier Cavalry should be similar to the Kereit Tribe.
Nothing more than a band of fierce horse bandits.
The reason they were rumored to be so formidable was simply because they had not encountered him, Waiming Shian.
But Waiming Shian’s worry was precisely this; he muttered, “I don’t know how the fighting is going at Heishui City and Dunhuang City.”
“Weiming Zhongshi and Suo Ren Dewang must not rashly sortie from the city to fight.”
As long as they held the city, the Northern Frontier Barbarians could not breach it; what he feared most was the two seeking merit and eagerly exiting to battle the Northern Frontier Barbarians.
That would make the situation dire; the Northern Frontier Barbarians were cunning and would surely set traps.
“After leaving Tiger Wolf Gorge, the whole army speeds up; we must reach Liangzhou City before dusk.” Waiming Shian issued orders to the various units.
But soon after, two scouts suddenly galloped up from ahead, dismounted, and said to Waiming Shian, “Reporting to the Marshal.”
“We discovered two messengers ahead; they claim to be from Liangzhou City, sent to Xingqing Prefecture to report urgent military intelligence.”
Hearing this, Waiming Shian instantly had a bad premonition and hurriedly asked, “What happened?”
The scout swallowed hard: “Ganzhou City has already been breached by the barbarians.”
Hearing this, Waiming Shian’s face changed drastically, his voice sharpening: “What?”
“Ganzhou City has fallen?”
They had originally planned to support Heishui City, but unexpectedly the Northern Frontier Army had already reached Ganzhou City.
“What about Weiming Zhongshi? What about Suo Ren Dewang?”
“What were those two doing?”
“Has Heishui City also fallen? Why no news?”
Waiming Shian, who had fought battles his whole life and prided himself on his steady mindset, was shocked by this sudden news, feeling his whole body turn ice-cold, vision faintly blackening.
He admitted the Northern Frontier’s cavalry were formidable, strong in field battles.
But how could they consecutively capture Heishui City and Ganzhou City in such a short time? Not even giving time to react.
Moreover, Ganzhou City was only five hundred li from Liangzhou City; at the speed of Northern Frontier Cavalry, three or four days sufficed to arrive.
Liangzhou City was in danger.
“Hurry, we must reach Liangzhou City before dusk.” Waiming Shian roared sharply.
Soon, the army left Tiger Wolf Gorge, accelerating toward Liangzhou City.
On the road, Waiming Shian encountered many refugees, all fleeing toward the Central Plains with families in tow.
Upon inquiry, it turned out Liangzhou City had sealed its gates, not allowing them entry.
Waiming Shian felt no pity, instead saying, “Su Binara did well.”
“But still too inexperienced.”
Then, he summoned a general and ordered, “Take your men and garrison Tiger Wolf Gorge.”
“Do not allow any Hexi common people to enter the Central Plains.”
Hearing this, the general was slightly stunned, not understanding why Waiming Shian did this, but nodded firmly: “Understood.”
Waiming Shian turned away, looking at the fleeing common people, his heart hard as iron.
Now, the Hexi situation was turbulent, Northern Frontier Barbarians unstoppable, having breached Ganzhou City, with Liangzhou City in peril.
If these common people were allowed into the Central Plains, the news would spread, causing severe unrest domestically and shaking Great Xia’s morale.
It might even make enemy states think Western Xia was in crisis and take advantage.
Thus, news transmission must be controlled; it sufficed for the ruling class to know the Hexi situation.
By dusk, the cavalry army reached Liangzhou City, instantly boosting the panicked Liangzhou soldiers and civilians like a shot in the arm.
Liangzhou will not fall!
……
Meanwhile, after capturing Ganzhou City, the Northern Frontier Army immediately looted surrounding villages, capturing population and seizing grain.
After resting, the main army continued eastward.
The target was a small town one hundred li east of Ganzhou City: Shanle.
This was just a small city, population only twenty to thirty thousand, far smaller in scale than Liangzhou or Ganzhou City.
Thus, this time the Fourth Garrison attacked Shanle City alone.
Inside the city, Prefectural Governor’s Mansion.
He Dagan paced back and forth in the hall, brows furrowed, looking like doom was imminent.
“Sigh~”
“How did this happen? How did they reach Ganzhou City out of nowhere?”
As Shanle City’s prefect, he was essentially a local emperor.
But the news of Ganzhou City’s fall struck like a bolt from the blue, making him uneasy.
Northern Frontier Barbarians were brutally savage, rumored to massacre cities.
Shanle was just a town under Ganzhou Prefecture; given its scale and strength, without a plan, it would be next to be massacred.
Abandon the city’s common people and flee?
That was the crime of losing territory; even returning to Xingqing Prefecture would bring severe punishment.
Moreover, the He Dagan family was originally a great noble family of Shanle City, with roots there—how could they run?
Thus, on his advisor’s suggestion, He Dagan finally decided.
Send money to the Northern Frontier Barbarians to exchange for a promise not to attack Shanle City.
While he paced anxiously, his personal guard brought in a disheveled man—it was the envoy he had sent to the Northern Frontier Army.
“How did it go?”
“Any news?”
“Did the Northern Frontier Barbarians accept our conditions?” He Dagan asked hurriedly.
But the envoy shook his head in grief and indignation, crying, “Master, this slave is useless.”
“Didn’t even see the Great Protector of the Northern Frontier’s face before being beaten out.”
He Dagan anxiously: “Didn’t see the Great Protector? Then who did you see?”
The envoy recalled: “Some commander, don’t know what rank, but he seemed pretty important.”
Commander?
Because the Northern Frontier’s rise was too rapid, Western Xia had not paid enough attention and lacked deep understanding.
A mere prefect naturally did not understand what a commander was.
But knowing it was a high official sufficed; he frowned and asked, “What did that commander say to you?”
“He just glanced at your letter, and his face turned very ugly.”
“Then said to wash your neck clean, and had this slave beaten out.”
The envoy said aggrievedly.
He lifted his clothes, badly worn, with clear beating marks on his skin.
Evidently, the Northern Frontier Army’s attitude was arrogant and vile.
“Bang~”
“Outrageous! When two states war, they do not kill envoys; those Northern Frontier Barbarians are simply rude.” He Dagan said angrily.
The nearby advisor said, “Lord, the Northern Frontier Barbarians surely think we offered too little.”
Hearing this, He Dagan’s face darkened, gnashing his teeth furiously: “Fifty thousand taels of silver is too little?”
“Then how much is enough?”
“Two hundred thousand taels.”
The advisor stated a number that instantly made He Dagan bristle.
“What? Two hundred thousand taels? Where do we get that much money?”
Fifty thousand was like cutting his flesh; two hundred thousand might as well kill him.
“If you don’t abandon the child, you can’t trap the wolf.” The advisor persuaded.
“Though we can’t come up with two hundred thousand taels, surely the great households in the city combined can?”
“Anyway, the more money the better.”
“As long as the Northern Frontier Barbarians withdraw, you remain prefect; whatever spent can be doubled back later.”
The advisor’s words finally moved He Dagan; he gritted his teeth fiercely: “Isn’t it just two hundred thousand taels?”
“As long as the Northern Frontier withdraws, I’ll give it.”
As a Uyghur, becoming this prefect was not easy; it relied on eight or nine generations’ foundation for his current status.
Back then, when Li Yuanhao eliminated the Ganzhou Uyghurs, his ancestor judged the situation and was the first ‘Uyghur traitor’ to submit to Li Yuanhao, gaining Tangut trust through ruthless oppression of his own people.
Over time, the He Dagan family became Shanle City’s powerful clan.
Shanle City’s most prosperous street belonged to the He Dagan family; one-third of the land outside the city was theirs.
In his generation, using money to pave the way, he became Shanle City’s prefect, enjoying utmost honor.
Thus, he could not let the He Dagan family’s heritage end in his hands.
Afterward, He Dagan sent people to notify the city’s great households for crowdfunding.
While others left and only he and the advisor remained in the room, discussing how to coerce and entice the great households to contribute.
A gentle voice sounded from outside: “Husband, it’s already noon; government affairs are important, but you should rest.”
A beautiful woman around twenty entered, her face white and tender as pearl, nose slightly raised, with distinct Uyghur features.
Most alluring was her voluptuous figure; with every step, her waist and hips swayed noticeably, her whole body exuding the mature allure of a foreign woman.
This woman was He Dagan’s main wife, Abugema.
From a great Uyghur clan in Shanle City.
After He Dagan’s original wife died, she married him as a continuation, a political marriage alliance.
Moreover, this wife was young, gentle and capable, beautiful and considerate; He Dagan doted on her most.
Seeing her, He Dagan’s face immediately smiled: “Your husband knows; thank you Madam, I’ll rest shortly.”
With that, Abugema smiled lightly and politely withdrew.
Watching Abugema’s back, a strange gleam flashed in the advisor’s eyes.
His lips curved slightly: “Lord, this subordinate thought of a method, perhaps to repel the Northern Frontier Iron Cavalry.”
“Oh? What method?” He Dagan asked hurriedly.
Whether Tangut or Northern Frontier People, war matters were irrelevant to him.
He only wanted to steadily be Shanle prefect, guarding his own plot of land, with no one provoking him.
Under He Dagan’s gaze, the advisor smiled awkwardly: “Forgive this subordinate’s impertinence; this matter needs to fall on Madam.”
“Madam? What does it have to do with Madam?”
He Dagan said puzzled, very confused.
The advisor grew more awkward, steeling himself to whisper: “Whether the Northern Frontier withdraws, whether Lord’s prefect position remains secure, the key is the Great Protector of the Northern Frontier.”
“Satisfy the Great Protector, and not only withdrawal—even more high office and riches are possible.”
He Dagan nodded silently; it was obvious.
Nominally, Northern Frontier was part of Liao State, highest ruler the Great Protector of the Northern Frontier.
He controlled all Northern Frontier Iron Cavalry sweeping the Hexi Corridor.
With one word from him, neither Northern Frontier commanders nor generals would dare continue attacking Shanle City, right?
The advisor continued mysteriously: “This subordinate heard the Great Protector extremely favors women, especially beauties.”
“Heard on the day Ganzhou City fell, Mi Qin Tiele proactively sent his own madam and daughter to the Great Protector’s bed~”
This was naturally the advisor’s fabrication, but it guessed right; Cao Prime Minister was Li Xiao’s idol, aspiring to inherit the Prime Minister’s legacy.
Only, Mi Qin Tiele’s wife’s age was too advanced, looks average; Li Xiao couldn’t bring himself to it.
So he chose his prettiest daughter for attendance, plus a young general’s widow.
Fulfilling the Prime Minister’s legacy.
But hearing this, it tasted different to He Dagan.
His face changed instantly, glaring at the advisor and roaring: “Bastard! You dare insult me?”
He Dagan was so angry his face turned green.
In this era, attendant concubines were nothing; even good friends could gift them mutually.
Daughters were mere marriage alliance tools, discardable at key moments.
But wives were different—formal family, buried together after death.
Sending one’s wife to another man was utter humiliation.
No man could endure it.
Mi Qin Tiele sacrificing his wife showed his incompetence.
But He Dagan would never be a cuckold.
“I’ll kill you~”
He Dagan roared in fury, drawing his saber and pressing it to the advisor’s neck.
But the advisor remained unflinching, bowing deeply: “Lord, this subordinate thinks of your official position and the He Dagan family’s century-old foundation.”
“Merely a suggestion; if Lord finds it too difficult, pretend this subordinate never said it.”
“However, two hundred thousand taels may not move the Northern Frontier Barbarians.”
With that, he apologized and left.
Hearing the crashing sounds and He Dagan’s roars from the room.
The advisor shook his head disdainfully, a cold glint in his eyes.
“He Dagan, let you taste what it’s like to have your beloved woman stolen.”
With a cold snort, he strode away.
Based on his understanding of He Dagan’s character, He Dagan’s hat was fixed.
By afternoon, all the city’s great households were summoned to the Prefectural Governor’s Mansion.
Close observation showed almost all seated in the hall were Uyghur People.
This was no exception; entire Shanle City was a town dominated by Uyghur People.
When Li Yuanhao destroyed the Ganzhou Uyghurs, he resettled captured Uyghur People around Shanle.
Over generations, Uyghur People squeezed out local Han People and Tangut People, turning Shanle into a Uyghur city.
“Everyone, Northern Frontier Barbarians’ cavalry are at Ganzhou City, less than one hundred li from our Shanle…”
As He Dagan met with these Uyghur great households, a city gate general suddenly rushed in hurriedly.
Steps too hasty, he even tumbled over the threshold several times.
He shouted in terror: “Lord, Prefect Lord.”
“Big trouble.”
“Northern Frontier Army is coming; so many Northern Frontier troops outside the city.”
Hearing this, everyone in the hall first stunned, then all stood, faces filled with terror.
“Clatter~”
Sounds of tables, chairs, and benches being knocked over continuously.
He Dagan’s face rapidly paled: “Wh-what?”
Then realizing something, he roared at the surrounding great households: “Quickly hand over the money, or we’re all dead.”
At the same time, in the wasteland west of Shanle City, iron cavalry thundered; endless Northern Frontier Army swept like a golden sandstorm.
The land shook violently, heaven and earth seemingly filled with Northern Frontier Army figures.
The yellow-bottomed white-edged Sun and Moon Battle Flag fluttered in the wind; the Northern Frontier Fourth Garrison’s banner loomed over Shanle City like a demon’s lair.
In the army, Luo Meng wore bright yellow cotton armor edged in white, draped in bright yellow battle robe, hand on war saber, gazing at distant Shanle City.
Thinking how shortly before, Shanle prefect had sent someone to negotiate surrender, Luo Meng’s face showed a disdainful cold sneer.
“Truly a fool obsessed with money.”
“Even a pig is smarter than him.”
Merely fifty thousand taels of silver to bribe the Northern Frontier Army and abandon attacking Shanle City?
Far underestimating the Northern Frontier Army’s appetite.
“This Shanle prefect has no need to be kept.”
“After capturing Shanle City, all gold and silver are the Northern Frontier Army’s; why need his?”
With that, Luo Meng abruptly drew his cavalry saber, bellowing deeply: “Capture Shanle City before sunset.”
“Kill!”
Previously, Ganzhou City was looted by the First Division upon entry; now it was the Fourth Garrison’s turn.
Though Shanle City’s scale was smaller than Ganzhou, its Uyghur residents were good at business, surely squeezable for plenty of profit.
“Understood!” The messenger shouted.
Then, low horn blasts echoed in the Yanzhi Mountains; thousands of Northern Frontier Iron Cavalry surged violently to surround the other three gates of Shanle City.
Momentum ferocious, trampling endless wasteland like storm and tempest.
Meanwhile, He Dagan on the city wall watched this, feeling ice-cold all over, legs trembling; only with guards’ support could he barely stand.
Bean-sized sweat beaded on his forehead, pale lips murmuring: “They’re here, Northern Frontier Barbarians are here.”
“Devils~”
Suddenly thinking of something, he staggered to the advisor, grabbing his collar.
“Quick, send someone to negotiate with the Northern Frontier People.”
“I accept; I agree to all those conditions.”
To preserve the He Dagan family foundation, let alone a woman—even his own life was negotiable.
But at that moment, a low rumbling suddenly arose from the earth outside the city.
“Boom boom boom boom~”
Then came a sound ten times shriller than whistling arrows.
The city wall beneath feet shook violently.
“Boom boom boom boom~”
Twenty iron shots heavily smashed Shanle City’s gate position.
Outside the city stood twenty Tiger Zun Cannons reared high, muzzles still smoking white.
Because Shanle City was in the Yanzhi Mountains, unfavorable for moving Divine Might Cannons.
Thus, this time the Fourth Garrison brought only twenty Tiger Zun Cannons as siege weapons.
Fortunately, Shanle City was just a small city, not as grand as Ganzhou City.
Of course, Tiger Zun Cannons alone were insufficient; Luo Meng ordered again: “Order the Kuli Army: first to ascend the walls, whole family freed from slave status, rewarded twenty strings of cash.”
“Others, kill three enemies, whole family becomes Northern Frontier Army Household, rewarded ten strings of cash.”
In wars like Heishui City and Ganzhou City, many Western Xia Army soldiers were captured.
All incorporated into the Kuli Army as war slaves.
Now attacking the city, it was their time to contribute; otherwise, the Northern Frontier Army would not waste grain feeding them idly.
“Woo woo woo~”
With the military order, Kuli Army war slaves, armed with spears, sabers, and other weapons, crowded the wasteland outside the city.
Faces ferocious, eyes gradually rising with battle intent.
They had personally seen the Northern Frontier Army’s provisions.
Northern Frontier soldiers said they were originally ordinary Dunhuang common people, rarely eating their fill yearly.
But after becoming Northern Frontier Army Households, eating their fill was routine, even occasionally eating meat with family.
As for grain sources?
Naturally, robbed from elsewhere like now.
But regardless, the Northern Frontier Army could eat their fill—that was skill.
Most Western Xia soldiers came from poor families, diligently working yet few ate their fill regularly.
Thus, unconsciously, they yearned for Northern Frontier Army treatment.
If they too became Northern Frontier Army Households, they could feed their families.
Though requiring desperate fighting, better than starving; plus in Western Xia they often did corvee, plenty died from exhaustion.
But to become Northern Frontier Army Household, first kill three enemies.
Thinking thus, seeing countless Northern Frontier Cavalry bows aimed at their backs, some Kuli Army faces grew mad.
“Shanle City has loads of Uyghur People; just three heads!”
“Brothers, our families wait for us to live well.”
“Retreat means certain death; better charge and fight!”
“Kill!”
