Chapter 165: Western Xia Imperial Court Shocked, 100,000 Common People Captured
“Boom boom boom~”
Just as people’s hearts were wavering and Dunhuang City was in peril.
A sudden violent roar erupted between heaven and earth, plunging Dunhuang City completely into the abyss.
“Commander, this is bad!”
“The south gate city wall~”
“Has collapsed~”
A pale-faced, terrified general hurriedly ran over to report to Ji La Si Yi.
He, who had been commanding the city defense, was instantly stunned.
His face filled with shock, an incredulous expression.
“Collapsed?”
“How is that possible?”
Although Dunhuang City was old and in disrepair, its walls were still thick and heavy—how could they suddenly collapse?
“Gunpowder, the Jin Prefecture Army used gunpowder and blew up the city wall.” The general, covered in dirt, said with a mournful face.
In this era, gunpowder development in the Central Plains had already reached a certain scale, and they had begun producing firearms to equip troops.
Western Xia already had a small number of bronze cannons, fire lances, and other firearms.
However, due to immature technology, the power of the firearms was not great, and they played little role on the battlefield.
It felt like a superfluous item.
And precisely because of this, Ji La Si Yi could not believe this explanation.
“Gunpowder?”
“Absolutely impossible.”
“How could something like gunpowder blow down a city wall?”
Ji La Si Yi said angrily, his face ferocious as he grabbed his subordinate by the collar, his eyes wide open like he wanted to devour him.
“It’s true, Commander, that was clearly the smell of gunpowder.” The subordinate explained in panic.
During the explosion, he had been very close to that section of the wall, watching it tilt and collapse, followed by gravel flying and a deafening roar.
He had seen gunpowder before and clearly remembered its smell.
“Whoosh whoosh whoosh, gunpowder~”
“Mere gunpowder actually blew down my city wall?” Ji La Si Yi said with grief and indignation, in pain.
It was certain that the Jin Prefecture Han people had mastered a gunpowder formula of enormous power.
And at that moment, terrified shouts from the soldiers came from the direction of the south city wall.
“Uyghur people have entered the city.”
“They’ve charged in.”
“Run fast~”
At this time, a gap about ten meters wide had appeared in the south city wall.
This section of the wall had already been unstable, and Yang Shouzheng and his brother, as former prisoners repairing the city wall in Dunhuang, knew this spot.
Thus, Li Xiao arranged for it to be blown up.
The result was even better than expected.
“Black Armored Army!”
“Kill!”
With Li Xiao’s loud shout, hundreds of Black Armored Army soldiers surged forward like a tidal wave toward the gap.
Clad in full iron armor, they gleamed under the sunlight like a black steel flood, their iron cavalry charging with endless killing intent and aura.
Zhang Xianfeng held a shield in one hand and a hooked scythe spear in the other, leading a hundred Black Armored Army soldiers under his command as the vanguard, charging ferociously and kicking up rolling sand and dust behind them.
Countless arrows shot from both side walls, and in a short time, Zhang Xianfeng’s shield was bristling with arrows.
Crackling sounds rang out continuously; most arrows hitting the armor bounced off, and the armored men and horses continued their charge, ignoring everything.
Zhang Xianfeng led the way, charging unhesitatingly into the wall gap.
His spear thrust out, the powerful impact instantly sending a Dangxiang cavalryman who tried to block him flying, bones shattered.
After the Black Armored Army charged into the city, the White Armored Army followed closely, sweeping through the city.
Half a shichen later, Dunhuang City had been completely occupied by the Jin Prefecture Army.
On the city wall, the golden sun and moon battle flag fluttered loudly in the wind and sand.
Soon, Zhang Xinghua and Ji La Si Yi were brought before Li Xiao by the Jin Prefecture Army.
They looked at the young general riding a tall war horse and wearing white armor, unable to imagine that he was the Jin Prefecture Great Governor Li Xiao, who had led tens of thousands of troops to break through Dunhuang and annihilate the main force of the Xiping Army.
He was too young, almost the same age as their nephews.
“Dunhuang Prefect Zhang Xinghua?”
“Xiping Army Deputy Commander Ji La Si Yi?”
“You harbored the criminals who killed the King of Gaochang, showed no remorse, do you now know your guilt?”
Li Xiao rode his war horse, his cold gaze looking down on the two.
Zhang Xinghua was still okay, just with torn clothes and a disheveled appearance, but Ji La Si Yi was seriously injured, having been forcibly captured by the Jin Prefecture Army.
“What crime when you want to frame someone?”
“Stop using the King of Gaochang as a pretext hypocritically.”
“The King of Gaochang was clearly killed by you, right?”
Ji La Si Yi roared in anger, staring fiercely at Li Xiao, blood still flowing from his mouth.
“You attacked our Shazhou, killed our common people—our king will not let you go.”
“Wait and see, when our Great Xia elites arrive, it will be your day of annihilation.”
Ji La Si Yi lived up to being Western Xia’s last fierce general; even now, he showed no awareness of being a captive.
He was completely a defiant tough guy, unyielding to the death.
“Xia Kingdom elites? The famous Iron Falcons?” Li Xiao sneered coldly.
“This governor would like to meet them, to see if today’s Iron Falcons have even a fraction of their prowess from Li Yuanhao’s era.”
Though he said this, Li Xiao had no intention of underestimating Western Xia.
After all, none of the monsters in East Asia’s beastly arena were weaklings.
Western Xia might seem to lack presence, repeatedly rubbed on the ground by the Jin Dynasty and Mongols.
But that wasn’t because Western Xia was too weak—it was because their opponents were too strong.
They had successively faced the Jin Dynasty and Mongols at their peaks; anyone would have been doomed.
But with Western Xia’s current strength, if they mobilized the full might of the nation for a western expedition, all the Central Asian states would be done for.
Western Xia’s strength was very great.
Advanced military industry, army with strong combat strength.
The reason Li Xiao could so easily eliminate the Xiping Army’s main force and break through Dunhuang City.
The most important reason was that Western Xia’s focus was always in the east, with the Iron Falcons, Qinsheng Army, and other troops guarding Xingqing Prefecture in the east.
The Hexi Corridor defenses were empty, with only three local army commands formed by conscripting locals.
These soldiers were brave and skilled in combat, with strong individual fighting power, but they lacked equipment, and there were conflicts between Hu and Han.
That was why the current situation had arisen.
With the current strength of the Jin Prefecture Army, Li Xiao was confident in clashing with the Iron Falcons.
After all, today’s Iron Falcons were no longer the Great Xia iron cavalry from the founding era.
But with just this one ten thousand Jin Prefecture Army and thirty thousand Uyghur auxiliary army, reaching Xingqing Prefecture was absolutely impossible.
Li Xiao’s goal in attacking Western Xia was very clear: looting!
“Hmph, big talk!” Ji La Si Yi roared in anger.
Meanwhile, Zhang Xinghua beside him hurriedly tried to placate, fearing that provoking Li Xiao would get him killed too.
Then he slowly bowed to Li Xiao and offered the seal representing the Dunhuang Prefect from his waist with both hands.
“General, you are divinely brave. Our Dunhuang garrison could not resist. Now I am willing to lead all the common people of the city to surrender, only begging the general to kill as few as possible and spare the common people and soldiers in the city.”
Zhang Xinghua’s eyes were full of sincerity as he bowed deeply to Li Xiao.
At this time, Yang Shouzheng whispered a few words about Zhang Xinghua’s background into Li Xiao’s ear.
“Prefect Zhang is actually a descendant of Chancellor Zhang?” Li Xiao said curiously.
Zhang Xinghua smiled bitterly: “My ancestor was indeed Duke Lei Fu, but I am just an insignificant member of the Zhang family descendants. I dare not arrogantly boast or use my ancestor’s name to glorify myself.”
Li Xiao laughed: “The esteemed Dunhuang Prefect is hardly insignificant.”
Dunhuang Prefect was equivalent to a high official or high-ranking official in a border region in later generations.
And Zhang Xinghua’s ancestor was even more impressive.
Named Zhang Yuan, courtesy name Lei Fu.
A man of the Northern Song era, who repeatedly failed the exams and faced exclusion, rebelliously defected from Song to Xia in a fit of anger.
He was soon highly regarded by Li Yuanhao, devoted his life to destroying Song, helped Li Yuanhao defeat Song armies multiple times, and rose to Prime Minister of Western Xia.
Many Song people hated him to the teeth, cursing him as a traitor, national disgrace, one who forgot his ancestors, and so on.
But Zhang Yuan remained steadfast, his abilities and talents greatly exercised in Western Xia.
However, after Zhang Yuan’s death, the Zhang family declined.
Now, the highest status in the Zhang family was Zhang Xinghua, this prefect.
And even he was the Dunhuang Prefect, which was essentially a form of exile.
As a local prefect, Zhang Xinghua believed he had a duty to defend his territory, but surrendering under duress for the safety of the city’s common people was understandable.
Li Xiao did not despise him, but looked at him with a gaze of slight appreciation and said: “We Han people have a saying.”
“Those who understand the times are heroes.”
“Prefect Zhang, for you to think of the common people at this critical moment, you do not betray your ancestor’s legacy.”
Zhang Xinghua hurriedly waved his hands and respectfully replied: “The governor overpraises me.”
“I deeply know that once war begins, lives are ruined—what guilt do the common people of the city bear?”
“I merely did what a parent official should do; how dare I compare myself to my ancestor? I only hope that after the governor enters the city, he can ensure the safety of Dunhuang’s common people, and I will be content.”
Li Xiao laughed loudly: “Good.”
“With Prefect Zhang’s heart for the people, this governor will certainly treat Dunhuang’s common people well.”
“However, you cannot stay in this place called Dunhuang.”
Li Xiao did not explain much, then turned his indifferent gaze to Ji La Si Yi.
They had thought that after accepting Zhang Xinghua’s surrender, Li Xiao would next try to persuade Ji La Si Yi to surrender, as he was also a capable general.
But Li Xiao directly waved his hand and said: “Kill him!”
At these words, both Zhang Xinghua and Ji La Si Yi were stunned.
“Great Governor, why is this~”
“General Ji La is a rare tiger general; let me persuade him properly~”
Zhang Xinghua wanted to save Ji La Si Yi’s life also to have someone to band together with in the Jin Prefecture Army system, so as not to be isolated and helpless.
But Li Xiao did not care about such things at all.
He only believed that those not of his race would have different hearts.
Li Xiao already had many generals under his command; there was no need to add an unstable factor like Ji La Si Yi.
Moreover, Ji La Si Yi had a “prior record” in history.
During Temüjin’s third campaign against Western Xia, the Uyghur people had already surrendered, and Mongol cavalry attacked Dunhuang, intending a pincer attack on Western Xia.
Ji La Si Yi had then become the Commander of the Xiping Military Command.
He feigned surrender but ambushed secretly, causing heavy Mongol losses.
Therefore, Ji La Si Yi was very loyal to Western Xia; even if he surrendered, he could not be trusted.
Li Xiao wanted to be a Cao thief, but not a Cao runaway.
Soon, amid Ji La Si Yi’s angry curses, Thin Monkey wielded a cavalry saber and instantly severed his neck.
“Execute all Xiping Army officers above squad leader.”
“All soldiers, common people, and merchants in Dunhuang City, gather them outside the city and have the Jin Prefecture Army uniformly guard them.”
……
After issuing a series of orders methodically, Li Xiao led the army into the city.
Dunhuang City, sun and moon battle flag flying!
At the same time, news of Dunhuang finally reached Xingqing Prefecture.
At this day’s court assembly, the Privy Councillor reported: “Your Majesty, urgent report from Xiping Military Command, eight hundred li express.”
“Kingdom of Qocho has invaded the border and is besieging Dunhuang.”
Hearing this, the Western Xia imperial court erupted in clamor.
“Kingdom of Qocho invading the border?”
“Why suddenly besiege Dunhuang?”
“Our Great Xia has always had good relations with Gaochang, never interfering with each other—why press with a great army?”
The officials discussed in low voices among themselves.
Meanwhile, the Chancellor also presented the memorial from Zhang Xinghua: “Urgent report from Dunhuang Prefect: Gaochang’s fifty thousand army pressing the border, situation critical, begging Your Majesty to send troops for support.”
Hearing this, Western Xia King Li Chunyou furrowed his brows and said gravely: “What exactly is going on?”
“Why has Gaochang suddenly invaded the border?”
“Did the memorial specify the reason?”
The Chancellor and Privy Councillor exchanged glances and shook their heads.
“Your Majesty, military situation is urgent; perhaps Dunhuang City did not have time to investigate the reason.”
“However, more memorials should arrive soon.”
Hearing this, Li Chunyou snorted lightly: “Investigate immediately.”
He then turned to the Minister of Rites and said: “Immediately dispatch an envoy to Gaochang.”
In truth, Li Chunyou was not truly angry.
Because places like Dunhuang and Guazhou had always been disregarded within Western Xia.
They held no political or economic value, and the local Han common people sometimes even launched rebellions, costing the imperial court effort.
In history, during Temüjin’s first attack on Western Xia, he had looted Dunhuang, Guazhou, and other places extensively, taking away many common people.
But after learning of it, Li Chunyou, perhaps out of fear of the Mongols, did not counterattack, merely rebuilding the damaged walls afterward.
This showed that Shazhou and Guazhou were not that important to Western Xia.
But now, Li Chunyou had just ascended the throne not long ago, his ambitions not yet extinguished by reality.
For the sake of his face, he definitely had to intervene.
However, soon more and more news reached Xingqing Prefecture, making Li Chunyou’s mood increasingly foul.
“Your Majesty, report from Guazhou City: Xiping Military Command Commander Duoluo Jianzan led six thousand troops to support Dunhuang City, ambushed by Uyghur forces midway, entire army annihilated.”
“Your Majesty, Dunhuang City and Guazhou have completely lost contact, suspected fallen.”
“Your Majesty, urgent report from Guazhou City: Uyghur cavalry appeared outside Guazhou City, Guazhou City in peril, urgently needs support.”
All the news these days was bad, making Li Chunyou very depressed.
What madness had the Gaochang people seized?
Why suddenly attack Dunhuang City?
Moreover, if Dunhuang really fell, then Guazhou would be in danger.
If Guazhou also fell, the Hexi Corridor would be in peril.
Sure enough, Li Chunyou’s worries became reality; in the following period, Guazhou completely lost contact.
Ten days later, news came from Suzhou.
Guazhou fallen!
The news shook the Western Xia imperial court.
Li Chunyou was so angry he overturned the table.
From the study came his furious roar: “Are the Guazhou garrison a bunch of pigs?”
“In just a few days, the enemy broke through Guazhou.”
“The court spends so much silver money raising the army every year—better to raise a herd of pigs.”
In fact, Western Xia’s annual investment in places like Guazhou and Dunhuang was very limited.
Western Xia’s focus was always in the east, guarding against Tubo, Jin Dynasty, and Grasslanders.
If too many resources were poured into Guazhou and Dunhuang, the court would worry they would rebel and declare independence.
After all, the common people there had always been unyielding to royal rule.
Now they had been directly occupied by Gaochang people, leaving Li Chunyou furious.
“Your Majesty, after Duoluo Jianzan took away six thousand main force, Guazhou City’s remaining troops were less than four thousand; facing the ferocious Uyghur people, they probably could not hold.” The Privy Councillor said softly.
Giving a reason for Guazhou’s fall.
“Privy Councillor, no need to defend those people.”
“Duoluo Jianzan was reckless and advanced lightly, causing the Xiping Army main force to be annihilated; order his entire family imprisoned.” Li Chunyou snorted coldly.
The Privy Councillor shook his head helplessly, unable to save Duoluo Jianzan’s family after all.
Meanwhile, the Chancellor took out an urgent report and presented it with both hands.
“Your Majesty, this is the urgent report from Suzhou Prefect.”
“After investigation by Suzhou Army, it was found that those invading our border are not only Gaochang Army, but a coalition of Northern Frontier Army and Kingdom of Qocho.”
Hearing this, Li Chunyou was slightly stunned.
“What?”
“Northern Frontier?”
He had heard of Northern Frontier but did not know it well.
More because of the recent civil strife in Liao State.
Sixth Courtyard Department Great King Xiao Simo had rebelled, and in the end, no one gained advantage.
And Xiao Simo’s base was Northern Frontier.
“Northern Frontier is a thousand li from Dunhuang—why invade our Great Xia?” Li Chunyou said he did not understand.
“Xiao Simo just fought Liao Royal Court; why not lick his wounds properly and provoke our Great Xia?”
The Chancellor said: “Your Majesty, Suzhou Prefect sent people to negotiate with Northern Frontier Army.”
“Their response was that the King of Gaochang’s prince launched a rebellion, driving away King of Gaochang Yue’er Si.”
“Yue’er Si fled outside Yumen Pass and was mistakenly killed by our army.”
“Gaochang Army is avenging their king and capturing the culprit.”
“Also, Kingdom of Qocho has now submitted to Northern Frontier.”
“Thus, Northern Frontier Army also joined.”
“According to frontline reports, Northern Frontier Army’s commander is named Li Xiao, Jin Prefecture Governor, Marquis Wu Cheng, and also brother-in-law to Liao State’s Sixth Courtyard Department Great King Xiao Simo.”
After hearing the Chancellor’s words, Li Chunyou’s face turned ashen.
He said angrily: “Utterly absurd.”
“King of Gaochang died outside Yumen Pass?”
“I see they are deliberately stirring trouble.”
As Western Xia’s king, he was very aware of the brutality of political struggles and absolutely did not believe Yue’er Si was mistakenly killed by his own soldiers.
Perhaps the Gaochang people killed him themselves and framed Western Xia.
“Jin Prefecture Governor Li Xiao?”
Li Chunyou frowned angrily: “Sounds like a Han person’s name.”
The Chancellor nodded: “Indeed a Han person, and very young.”
“Hmph~”
Li Chunyou snorted lightly, said no more, but deeply memorized this name in his heart.
He then asked: “Where have the troops from Gansu Army Command, Ganzhou and Zhangye reached?”
Upon first learning Dunhuang was besieged, Li Chunyou had mobilized the nearest Gansu Army Command troops for support.
Now over ten days had passed, but no news had come.
“If all is normal, Gansu Army Command troops should have reached Suzhou by now and will arrive at Guazhou soon.” The Privy Councillor said gravely.
“Order Gansu Army Command Commander to hold Suzhou City at all costs, not letting Uyghur Army advance one more step.”
“At the same time, seek opportunities to retake Guazhou and Dunhuang.” Li Chunyou ordered.
He was not a muddled emperor, just sometimes weak.
From frontline battle reports, the Northern Frontier and Gaochang coalition was large, at least fifty thousand, with a very high number of cavalry.
Gansu Army Command’s troops were only around twenty thousand, and some had to be left to guard against Tubo.
Relying solely on Gansu Army Command and Suzhou City’s garrison, defeating the Northern Frontier coalition would be difficult.
Thus, Li Chunyou’s goal was to first hold Suzhou City and Jiuquan, preventing the Northern Frontier coalition from further threatening the Hexi Corridor.
Then consider recovering Guazhou and Dunhuang.
“As commanded.”
……
Guazhou, two hundred li east of Dunhuang.
Geography, customs, and so on were basically the same as Dunhuang.
The common people in Guazhou City were also mainly Han people, descendants of the old Jinshan Kingdom from the Western Han.
After eliminating Xiping Military Command’s six thousand main force, Guazhou City’s garrison was less than four thousand.
After breaking through Dunhuang, the Jin Prefecture Army rested briefly and marched straight to Guazhou.
The Guazhou garrison was already low in morale and terrified; with the Jin Prefecture Army’s gunpowder advantage, in just one day, the sun and moon battle flag was raised on Guazhou’s city wall.
“Great Governor, the city garrison has all been detained; all officers above squad leader executed.”
Da Hu came before Li Xiao to report.
With officers executed, the remaining soldiers became scattered sand; even if someone wanted to cause trouble, it could be quickly suppressed.
“And the common people?”
“How many common people have been gathered inside and outside Guazhou City now?” Li Xiao asked gravely.
“Around forty to fifty thousand; there are still some villages farther in the mountains and desert—careful search might add a few thousand more.” Da Hu said.
The Jin Prefecture Army had only gathered common people from major settlements near Guazhou City, not yet searched thoroughly.
“No need.” Li Xiao shook his head lightly.
“We should go.”
Adding up common people and soldiers from Guazhou and Dunhuang, there were over a hundred thousand.
For the Jin Prefecture Army with only ten thousand cavalry, managing them was already quite taxing.
This number had already met Li Xiao’s expectations; he did not plan to grab more.
“If we delay, Great Xia’s large-scale reinforcements will arrive soon; with so many common people to guard, it’s not suitable to continue fighting.”
“Pass the order.” Li Xiao said gravely.
“In two days, the army marches to return to Dunhuang and rendezvous with Sixth Uncle and them.”
“Then~”
Li Xiao’s gaze turned to the northern horizon, his voice relieved.
“Back to Jin Prefecture!”
