Chapter 211: Invite The Great Governor To Ascend To Higher Office
On the north bank of the Ili River, the morning wind howled, making the Sun and Moon Battle Flag flutter noisily.
Er Hu, clad in full white cotton armor and wearing a tasseled helmet, revealed only his young face as he gazed at the Royal Court Army on the opposite bank.
With a *’clang’*, he drew his cavalry saber and shouted, “Cross the river and attack!”
A low ox horn blast tore through the dawn, and forty Tiger Zun Cannons vibrated simultaneously.
“Boom, boom, boom, boom~”
The black cannon barrels spat scarlet flames, emitting a deafening roar.
The blast wave from the cannon muzzles kicked up gravel on the riverbank. The first volley of cannonballs, trailing dark red flames, cut through the sky, spanned the entire length of the Ili River, and detonated explosively amidst the abatis of the Royal Court Army on the opposite bank.
Iron nails flew, and all Royal Court Army soldiers within a ten-foot radius let out pained cries.
Some clutched their bellies, trying to keep their intestines from spilling out, while others desperately held their necks, unable to stop the lifeblood from draining through their fingertips.
The shelling by the Jin Prefecture Army instantly threw the Royal Court’s defenses on the opposite bank into chaos.
Seizing this opportunity, the Jin Prefecture cavalry launched their attack.
“Kill!”
“Roar, roar, roar!”
The Jin Prefecture cavalry roared in unison, and the river water soon covered their horses’ bellies. The icy current caused their warhorses to neigh and charge forward with all their might.
But in the next moment, an arrow rain from the Royal Court Army pierced the air.
Arrows embedded themselves into the cotton armor with dull “thud” sounds. Unless they hit the gaps between the iron plates directly, the quality of the Royal Court Army’s arrows made it difficult to penetrate the Jin Prefecture Army’s cotton armor defenses at this distance.
But the Kuli Army, the Seven Rivers Army, and the Great Desert Army were out of luck.
Screams of agony could be heard continuously as soldiers fell into the surging waters of the Ili River.
Behind the Royal Court Army.
Cowhide tents rustled in the morning wind. Yelü Zhilugu leaned askew on a tiger skin cushion, his broken leg wrapped in a blood-soaked bandage and secured tightly to the folding stool’s frame with three cowhide straps.
Although he had fortunately managed to retreat with his men to the south bank of the Ili River, he had unfortunately fallen from his horse during the retreat, his right leg hitting a rock. Now, he could only rest in the tent.
Listening to the sounds of war drums and fighting from afar, Yelü Zhilugu’s expression was anxious and tense. The pain in his leg and the torment in his heart made him clench the bedside so tightly that his knuckles turned white and creaked.
“Scoundrel Li Xiao, I have already retreated to the south bank of the Ili River, and yet he still won’t let up.”
“He is simply going too far!”
With the great battle raging outside, Yelü Zhilugu could only bark orders uselessly from inside the tent.
He recalled how spirited he had been when leading tens of thousands of soldiers in the Northern Expedition.
But just as he was about to pacify the Seven Rivers and break through the Eastern Capital, Li Xiao arrived with the Jin Prefecture Army and, in just a few days, inflicted heavy losses on the Royal Court Army.
This shattered Yelü Zhilugu’s dream of unifying the Northern Frontier.
Although he had narrowly escaped back to the south bank of the Ili River, after taking stock, Yelü Zhilugu’s heart sank further.
The Uyghur and Geluolu infantry, who made up his forces, were almost all lost in the Seven Rivers, and the Khitan cavalry also suffered heavy casualties.
The Fifth Courtyard Department and the Pishi Imperial Guard, directly under Yelü Zhilugu’s command, now numbered only thirteen thousand men returned to the south bank of the Ili River.
As for the Wuhuai Tribe and Tuju Tribe forces, as soon as they returned to the south bank of the Ili River, they disregarded Yelü Zhilugu’s orders and returned to their respective Royal Court garrisons.
This enraged Yelü Zhilugu, who cursed them as deserters and vowed to execute all those scoundrels.
Therefore, the current Yelü Zhilugu was purely relying on thirteen thousand men to fight against tens of thousands of Jin Prefecture Army soldiers on the north bank.
The pressure was immense.
“What if I can’t hold off these rebels?”
“Then I’ll have to flee to Kashgar, regroup, and then retake the Royal Capital…”
Yelü Zhilugu’s mind was in turmoil as he mumbled to himself.
He had even considered his escape route. After all, the Royal Capital’s territory had originally been seized from the Eastern Kara-Khanid Khanate.
This had forced the Eastern Kara-Khanid Khanate to relocate its capital to Kashgar.
Now, it was just a matter of taking it back.
As a loyal vassal state of the Great Liao State, he believed the Eastern Kara-Khanid Khanate would surely understand the Royal Court’s predicament.
Moreover, Kashgar was a long journey away, separated from the Royal Court by the vast Southern Tianshan Mountains. Even if the Jin Prefecture Army captured the Royal Capital, they would not have the capacity for a prolonged expedition in a short period.
After a long while, the sound of artillery ceased, and the shouts of killing gradually faded.
Soon, the tent flap was lifted, and Tāyánggǔ stumbled in, a half-broken arrow stuck in his chainmail, his cape torn into cloth strips at some point.
He fell to his knees and said loudly, “Your Majesty, your humble servant has fulfilled his mission. The Jin Prefecture Army has been repelled and has retreated to the north bank.”
Yelü Zhilugu forced himself to calm down, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed, but his voice remained hoarsely unfamiliar: “Really?”
“They really retreated, Your Majesty.”
Upon confirmation, Yelü Zhilugu breathed a heavy sigh of relief, a complex mix of joy and resentment surging within him. He was overjoyed that he didn’t have to abandon the Royal Capital immediately, but resentful that he had to rely on luck for a reprieve.
However, the crisis was not truly over; they had merely repelled one attack by the Jin Prefecture Army, and there would be endless attacks to follow.
The Royal Capital remained precarious.
Thinking of this, Yelü Zhilugu felt a sense of patheticness. The might of the Great Liao, which once shook the grasslands, now had to rely on the enemy’s “mercy” to continue its existence from this sickbed.
“These rebels have committed treason and rebellion, and they truly deserve to have their nine clans exterminated.”
“However, the urgent matter is to repel these rebels first.”
“Tāyánggǔ, what is your plan?”
Yelü Zhilugu slowly leaned back on the couch, as if all his strength had drained away, and asked weakly,
Tāyánggǔ pressed his forehead against the cold earth, his Adam’s apple bobbing with difficulty before he spoke hoarsely, “Your Majesty, forgive this humble minister’s bluntness, but the Jin Prefecture Army’s advance this time was like a broken bamboo, defeating our army of tens of thousands. The combat power of the Thunder God Pillars and the armored cavalry far exceeded our expectations.”
He secretly glanced up and saw Yelü Zhilugu’s knuckles white as he gripped the side of the bed, his face filled with unwillingness and lingering fear. He quickly lowered his head and said, “I believe we can first send an envoy across the river to negotiate with Li Xiao, using the current Ili River as the boundary for a truce.”
“In the past, Emperor Taizu also made a pact with the Tang State to gain a breathing opportunity. Now, our provisions only last for seven days, and the injured fill the camps…”
Tāyánggǔ intended to use a long speech to persuade Yelü Zhilugu to negotiate peace, but before he could finish, he heard Yelü Zhilugu nod gently and say, “Then prepare for peace talks.”
“However, as for the envoy’s selection, who would be suitable?”
Yelü Zhilugu’s words caught Tāyánggǔ off guard for a moment.
He knew Yelü Zhilugu wanted to negotiate peace, but he was also concerned about preserving his dignity.
Tāyánggǔ had prepared a grand speech to give him an excuse, but he hadn’t expected the current Yelü Zhilugu to discard all pretense of dignity.
It seemed he was truly terrified by the Jin Prefecture Army.
“Regarding the selection of an envoy, this humble minister believes there is one suitable person.”
…
As dusk approached, on the north bank of the Ili River.
In the Golden Tent, Er Hu stood before Li Xiao with a look of shame and said in a deep voice, “Elder Brother, give me another chance.”
“Tomorrow, I will definitely be able to attack the other bank and capture Yelü Zhilugu alive.”
Li Xiao sat on a folding stool, a smile on his lips, seemingly in good spirits and unaffected by the day’s setback in the attack.
“The Ili River is the largest river in the Seven Rivers, by no means comparable to the Tar River and Sihun River we crossed before.”
“The river surface is wide, and the water is deep.”
“The Royal Court Army is defending on advantageous terrain. Anyone else would find it difficult to breach the Ili River in such a short time.”
Li Xiao gently waved his hand, shaking his head with a faint smile.
“It’s alright, no need to feel guilty. We’ll just fight again tomorrow.”
“Go back and sit down.”
It was currently the flood season on the Ili River, and the Royal Court Army was using the terrain to their advantage, attacking when the Jin Prefecture Army was crossing.
The day’s offensive had also resulted in considerable losses for the Jin Prefecture Army.
Even the formidable Three Town Cavalry found it difficult to exert their advantage in such conditions.
Cotton armor, though sturdy, absorbed water.
Once one fell from their horse, it was difficult to get back up without help, limiting the performance of the Three Town soldiers.
“Great Governor, I will be the vanguard again tomorrow,” Er Hu declared defiantly, showing no intention of giving up until the opposite bank was conquered, then he turned and sat in his seat.
At this moment, all the senior generals of the Jin Prefecture Army, Seven Rivers Army, and Great Desert Army stationed along the Ili River had gathered in the tent.
Led by Li Xiao, they sat at the head of the table on folding stools.
On his left and right were the Seven Rivers Governor Jiu Meng’an He, and the Great Desert Governor Gu Zizhong and Deputy Governor Xiao Chilü.
As for Da Hu, Er Hu, Luo Meng, and others, they sat below, as their status was not comparable to these governors and deputy governors.
“Although our army did not break through the south bank in today’s battle, we have greatly demoralized the Royal Court Army.”
“Today’s setback is merely accumulating strength for our success tomorrow.”
Li Xiao stood up and scanned the faces of everyone present, giving a brief summary of the battle.
Then, he gently clapped his hands, and a group of women entered the tent.
They wore revealing clothes, were brightly adorned, and all looked beautiful and striking, with several being peerless beauties.
However, their expressions were filled with fear and unease, huddling together, their trembling gazes fixed on the generals in the tent, as if they were a group of man-eating devils.
Their presence seemed out of place on this bloody battlefield.
But it was not because Li Xiao was indulging himself; these women were the consorts and maidservants brought by Yelü Zhilugu, all captured by the Jin Prefecture Army during the previous battle.
“The five women standing in front are Yelü Zhilugu’s consorts, and the women behind are all maidservants.”
Li Xiao pointed at the women and looked towards his left and right.
“Brother Jiu Meng’an, Brother Gu.”
“We are campaigning in the Seven Rivers, and this is the situation, so please do not be picky.”
Hearing Li Xiao’s words, Jiu Meng’an He smiled gently and shook his head: “Governor Li is too kind.”
“I am merely a rough soldier, a crude person. To be served by the Emperor’s consort is more than I could ask for, how could I be picky?”
Gu Zizhong on the other side was even more flustered. He stood up, placed his hand on his chest, and said to Li Xiao, “Thank you, Great Governor, for the reward.”
He had originally been an ordinary scholar with a humble background. He never expected to enjoy imperial treatment one day.
He was even a little excited.
“Hahaha~”
“Whether they are imperial consorts or princesses, once they fall into our hands, they are just ordinary women.”
Li Xiao chuckled and then distributed these women as rewards.
As for song and dance?
They were all rough men with knives, who had no mood to appreciate such things.
They preferred things simple and direct; hugging and kissing was much more satisfying than watching a dance.
Li Xiao chose two of the five consorts to serve beside him.
The other three were seated next to Jiu Meng’an He, Gu Zizhong, and Xiao Chilü, all of them looking trembling and nervous.
As for Da Hu, Er Hu, and the others, they could only have the maidservants.
However, having served the Royal Court, their appearance and figures were not bad, and they were quite beautiful.
“Hahaha, I never thought that I, Xiao Chilü, would also get to taste an emperor’s woman. My life has not been lived in vain.”
Xiao Chilü pulled the consort into his arms, his hands reaching inside her clothes and caressing her. A wild laugh erupted from his rugged face.
The young consort, however, remained stiff and trembling, not daring to move at all.
Saying this, Xiao Chilü looked at Li Xiao again and said, “This is all thanks to the Great Governor’s merits. Otherwise, how would we have such enjoyment?”
“Perhaps, our heads would have already been hung on the city walls of the Eastern Capital by Yelü Zhilugu.”
“There are few people in this life whom I, Xiao Chilü, truly respect. The Great King is one, my father is another, and the last one is you, Great Governor.”
“From this day forward, my life belongs to you.”
“If the Great Governor says east, I, Xiao Chilü, will never go west.”
The rebellion of the Great Desert Uyghurs was instigated by the Royal Court, and Xiao Tula Duo was, in a sense, killed by Yelü Zhilugu.
Therefore, Xiao Chilü and Yelü Zhilugu were completely irreconcilable enemies.
Let alone playing with his consorts, he wouldn’t hesitate to take his empress if given the chance.
Moreover, it was Li Xiao who led his army to support the Great Desert, otherwise Xiao Chilü’s family would have long since died in Beshbalik.
Not to mention that Li Xiao had also avenged Xiao Tula Duo’s blood feud.
Therefore, Xiao Chilü had long been completely devoted to Li Xiao, but this was the first time he had explicitly pledged his allegiance.
As his words fell, Gu Zizhong beside him quickly said, “Now that the Great King has passed away, the legitimate heir has died, the eldest son has rebelled and been executed, and all other princes are mediocre, it is unlikely they can bear the responsibility of the Northern Frontier.”
“But our Northern Frontier cannot remain without a leader.”
“After much consideration, only the Great Governor is capable of shouldering the burden of the Northern Frontier.”
Saying this, Gu Zizhong stood up and transformed into a ‘Li flatterer’, stating without hesitation, “In terms of status, the Great Governor is the son-in-law of the Princess of Chu, and thus half a member of the Xiao family.”
“In terms of merit, the Great Governor quelled the chaos in the Eastern Capital, recovered the Seven Rivers Grassland, defeated the Royal Court Army, and pursued them for thousands of miles, all the way to the Ili River.”
“In terms of achievements, no one can surpass the Great Governor, and in terms of law, no one is more just than the Great Governor.”
“We sincerely hope the Great Governor will inherit the Great King’s legacy and shoulder the heavy responsibility of revitalizing our Northern Frontier.”
Gu Zizhong stood in the tent and spoke these words with great passion, finally kneeling before Li Xiao with his hand on his chest, as if he would not rise unless Li Xiao ascended to the throne.
Looking at his performance, Li Xiao mentally gave him ninety points.
This was professionalism.
No wonder many monarchs liked sycophants; these people not only could take the blame but also knew how to manage affairs, making them truly useful.
At this moment, the most excited people in the tent were not Li Xiao, but the Jin Prefecture Army generals like Da Hu and Er Hu.
As Gu Zizhong finished speaking, they all stood up and said with excited voices, “Governor Gu is right.”
“Great Governor, you are the King’s brother-in-law and a meritorious official of the Northern Frontier who has achieved great military success. No one is more suitable than you to inherit the King’s legacy,” said Da Hu.
Er Hu clenched his fists even more excitedly and shouted, “The Eastern Capital was taken by us, and the Royal Court Army was driven away by us.”
“Besides the Great Governor, if anyone else wants to lay claim to the Northern Frontier, let’s see if we, the sixty thousand brothers of Jin Prefecture, agree first?”
Luo Meng and the others rose simultaneously and shouted in unison, “Please, Great Governor, ascend to the throne.”
“Please, Great Governor, ascend to the throne.”
“Please, Great Governor, ascend to the throne.”
Although there were only a few Myriad Household Commanders in the tent, the aura they had accumulated from years of fighting on the battlefield erupted at this moment.
It was as if they had the momentum of thousands of troops and horses, frightening the maidservants nearby into trembling.
It seemed to have the power to command ten thousand soldiers and horses, scaring the surrounding maidservants into trembling.
But in the next second, Li Xiao heavily threw the sheep bone in his hand onto the table.
“Bang~”
A low thud exploded in the tent, startling everyone. The consorts on both sides trembled and huddled behind.
Li Xiao stood up, his gaze intensely fixed on Gu Zizhong, Da Hu, and the others.
He sternly roared, “Are you trying to make this governor act unjustly?”
“The five prefectures of the Northern Frontier are the legacy that my elder brother painstakingly accumulated. Even if Nair is gone and Abu Tou is gone, aren’t there still my elder brother’s other sons!”
“The Xiao family is not yet extinct; how can this governor disregard human relations and righteousness and commit such an unjust act?”
After speaking, Li Xiao waved his hand and sat down, shouting, “This matter shall not be mentioned again.”
Then, his gaze shifted to Jiu Meng’an He on his lower left, and he chuckled, “My subordinates are ill-behaved and spoke nonsense.”
“Brother Jiu Meng’an, please do not take it to heart.”
Jiu Meng’an He’s grey eyebrows trembled slightly. His hand seemed to habitually stroke his semi-bald head as he chuckled, “Since it was a slip of the tongue, a slight reprimand will suffice. Governor Li does not need to lose such a temper.”
“However, I do think Governor Gu is correct.”
“Although the Great King still has three concubine’s sons alive, I observe that none of them are exceptional.”
“They might be suitable as rulers to maintain the status quo, but our Northern Frontier is currently in turmoil, with powerful enemies eyeing us from all sides.”
“We should choose someone with formidable martial arts skills to protect our Northern Frontier from decline.”
After finishing, Jiu Meng’an He seemed to realize something and patted his head, shaking his head and saying, “As I grow older, I talk more. I misspoke, I misspoke.”
Although Jiu Meng’an He did not name names, he seemed to have said a great deal.
Li Xiao did not respond, only chuckling, “I remember during the Western Expedition a couple of years ago, you, old brother, were very robust!”
“Tens of thousands of Royal Court Army soldiers were not enough for you to kill, old brother. Your current prowess is no less than in those days.”
Jiu Meng’an He seemed to recall the past, when he followed Li Xiao to conquer the Royal Court territory, forcefully broke through Kuyun-Ordu, and plundered all the wealth inside the city.
At that time, although there were dangers everywhere, it was the most exhilarating moment of Jiu Meng’an He’s life.
But history always moves forward, and great tides are unstoppable.
Familiar faces one by one departed, leaving only memories in life.
“I’m no longer capable, I’m old,” Jiu Meng’an He chuckled and shook his head.
“My health has declined significantly in the past two years.”
“Sometimes I think it’s quite boring. What’s the point of all this struggle in life?”
“In the end, we all turn to dust.”
“After toiling my whole life, I’ve neglected my children and grandchildren and family more and more.”
“Life is short, only a few decades. What could be more comfortable than enjoying the company of grandchildren and the bliss of family?”
Li Xiao laughed heartily, walked to Jiu Meng’an He’s side, sat down, and put his arm around his shoulder, saying, “You, old brother, are still very young; you can still strive for another ten years.”
“The Northern Frontier cannot do without you, old brother.”
“As for enjoying the company of grandchildren? There will be plenty of time for that in the future.”
“With the merit you, old brother, have earned for the Northern Frontier over the years, your descendants will enjoy glory and wealth for generations.”
The two began reminiscing about their past Western Expedition, and the atmosphere was quite cordial until the banquet concluded, and they each returned to their tents.
“Am I that terrifying?”
“Come here.”
Li Xiao sat by the bed and beckoned to the two consorts.
The two exchanged glances, seeing panic and nervousness in each other’s eyes, but they still had to shuffle forward a few steps and kneel before Li Xiao.
Although they were previously high-ranking Princess Consorts, they were now captives of the Jin Prefecture Army.
Women of the grassland were not so delicate, and they understood the consequences of being captured, so they knew very well what was about to happen.
“What beautiful young women you are. It was truly a waste for you to be with that old dog Yelü Zhilugu.”
“From now on, you will stay by my side to serve me.”
“Although I cannot grant you the status of consorts, I can guarantee your dignity.”
Li Xiao gently pinched their delicate cheeks and said in a low voice.
Ever since leaving Jin Prefecture, Li Xiao had been living in a tense atmosphere of constant warfare and had not touched a woman for a long time.
He was somewhat thirsty now.
“Thank you, Great Governor~”
“We sisters will certainly serve the Great Governor with all our hearts from now on.”
Having received Li Xiao’s promise, the two consorts’ moods gradually relaxed.
At least Li Xiao would not kill them, nor would he grow tired of them and send them to the camp for ordinary soldiers to vent on.
Although they had lost their status as consorts, it was not bad to be by Li Xiao’s side.
After all, Li Xiao was very young and much better looking than Yelü Zhilugu, so it was not a great hardship for them.
“It’s getting late, Great Governor, please change!”
One consort said softly and stepped forward to help Li Xiao disrobe.
Afterward, they each removed their outer garments, revealing their aprons, their bare, tender skin glowing under the firelight.
For a moment, the tent was filled with an intoxicating scene.
On the other side, Jiu Meng’an He was not faring as well.
After all, he was not young anymore. The brief period of two cups of tea concluded, and he had the concubine sent to another tent to rest.
He himself lay in his tent, unable to sleep, recalling the conversation with Li Xiao today. Although it seemed ordinary, every word was laced with hidden meaning, a mutual probing.
He had also received a promise from Li Xiao: unfading power and eternal glory.
Although Jiu Meng’an He also harbored great ambitions, the Jin Prefecture Army was now rampant in the Northern Frontier and invincible.
The Northern Frontier was no longer his era, and he could only accept his fate.
Thinking of this, Jiu Meng’an He sighed heavily, “Great King, it is a matter of time and destiny; you departed too hastily.”
Although he left behind three sons, they were all merely keepers of the legacy, incapable of great achievements.
The Northern Frontier was now in turmoil, surrounded by wolves, and required a powerful figure to stabilize the realm.
And that person could only be Li Xiao.
