Chapter 140: Confiscating Homes And Exterminating Clans, Torturing For Silver
At this moment, Kuyun-Ordu City had already descended into chaos. The entry of the Left Route Army had plunged the imperial capital into immense panic.
“Pass down the order: the Northern Sea Army and the Seven Rivers Army are to strictly guard all four gates and allow no one to leave.”
Li Xiao, mounted on a warhorse, shouted loudly.
He then led the Jin Prefecture Army to restore order within the city.
The city was already in a state of complete disarray, filled with panicked common people and defeated soldiers defending the city.
Many areas were engulfed in flames, and fighting erupted throughout the city.
Li Xiao looked around, observing that many soldiers who had originally garrisoned the city had now become rebel soldiers.
They began to plunder madly within the city, aiming to get one last haul.
Even in front of Li Xiao, a group of rebel soldiers had surrounded a group of common people.
Judging by the clothing and appearance of these common people, they seemed to be retainers of a wealthy family.
Despite there being over thirty of them, they were being pushed back step by step in the face of these frenzied defeated soldiers.
“Kill them all!”
Li Xiao, holding a spear, shouted loudly, and the White Armored Personal Guard behind him charged forward like a stampede.
On the other side, Han Jiuyuan was fighting with his retainers.
However, he was a scholar, and his retainers were also unaccustomed to battle, completely unable to withstand these defeated soldiers.
“I am Han Jiuyuan, the Minister of Revenue.”
“Your act of attacking an official appointed by the Imperial Court is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine clans.”
“Why don’t you stop immediately?”
Despite Han Jiuyuan’s reprimand, the surrounding rebel soldiers showed no sign of panic.
Instead, they burst into laughter: “What imperial appointee? Nonsense.”
“King Xiao’s army has already entered the city.”
“The skies of Great Liao are about to change.”
“You people are nothing more than prisoners. Stop acting so high and mighty in front of me.”
“Brothers, get to work quickly.”
“After we grab the treasure, we’ll leave immediately.”
A soldier who looked like a squad leader said loudly.
The city had now devolved into utter chaos. The magnates who were once high and mighty were now like plucked phoenixes.
Taking advantage of this opportunity to grab a large fortune and then flee, wouldn’t that be a carefree and happy life?
“You are simply audacious.”
“My Han family will never let you go.”
Han Jiuyuan threatened angrily, but it was completely useless.
Seeing his retainers being defeated step by step, and some of them even preparing to flee in all directions.
At this moment, the sound of hooves could be heard from a distance.
Immediately after, the defeated soldiers looked as if they had seen devils, their faces filled with terror, and they scattered instantly.
“Oh no, the Eastern Capital Army is here.”
“Quick, hide.”
“Run!”
Hearing this, Han Jiuyuan looked up, also filled with alarm.
Another group of cavalrymen clad in white armor, wielding spears or sabers, charged through the streets.
Their iron hooves thundered forward, and the overwhelming aura they exuded was like a moving iceberg, causing cold sweat to stream down.
In just a few breaths, the White Armored Soldiers were upon them.
They swung their cavalry sabers and sabers.
The rebel soldiers, who had been arrogant and aggressive moments before, pushing back the retainers, were instantly crushed under the attack of the White Armored Army.
Some were impaled through the chest, some were beheaded, and blood splattered everywhere.
More scattered and fled, or knelt down begging for mercy.
“Whoa~”
Li Xiao reined in his horse, held his spear, and coldly scanned these people.
He said in a deep voice, “Disarm them all and escort them to the prisoner of war camp outside the city.”
Both the rebel soldiers and the retainers, under his indifferent gaze, lowered their heads and knelt.
Only one middle-aged man remained standing, as if clinging to the pride of a scholar.
“Understood!”
The White Armored Personal Guard, ferocious as wolves, quickly advanced, whipping the retainers and rebel soldiers. Even Han Jiuyuan received a lash.
“Everyone stand up, hands on your heads, and gather outside the South Gate,” Tie Tou yelled sternly.
“I’m talking to you, old man, get moving.”
Tie Tou whipped Han Jiuyuan again.
“Stop, don’t hit him.”
“I am Han Jiuyuan, the Minister of Revenue.”
Han Jiuyuan cried out in pain from the whipping, realizing that he had just escaped one den only to fall into another.
These rebel soldiers were even more brutal than the former rebels.
“Heh heh, Minister of Revenue?”
“Even if the King of Heaven himself came, he’d still get beaten today,” Tie Tou sneered.
The old man, thinking himself a scholar, dared to put on airs in front of the Marshal, considering himself noble?
Since his bones are hard, we’ll beat them until they soften.
At this moment, Han Ying’er, who was in the horse carriage, also woke up. Seeing her father being beaten, tears immediately flowed out, and she was heartbroken.
“Dad, Dad~”
Li Xiao’s gaze fell upon this girl, who appeared to be about fifteen or sixteen years old. She had fair and delicate skin and a pretty, refined appearance, possessing the delicate aura of a Central Plains woman.
He then stopped Tie Tou from whipping the man.
“Enough!”
Tie Tou stopped and turned, only to see Li Xiao slowly riding his horse to Han Jiuyuan’s front.
Looking down at him from his height, he asked, “You are the Minister of Revenue?”
“Who is Han Jiuguang to you?”
The Western Liao Dynasty inherited the bureaucratic system of the Liao State, dividing officials into Northern and Southern administrations.
The Northern administration managed nomadic peoples like the Khitan, while the Southern administration managed agricultural peoples like the Han and Uyghur.
The Southern administration was equivalent to the three departments and six ministries system of the Central Plains.
Above the Minister of Revenue were the heads of the three departments, the Left and Right Ministers, the Privy Councillor, and so on.
The status of the Minister of Revenue was not as high as in the Ming and Qing dynasties, but the position was quite crucial.
After all, he was the god of wealth!
“Han Jiuguang is my elder brother.”
After being whipped a few times, Han Jiuyuan immediately became compliant.
He stood up, tidied his robes, and answered truthfully.
“Very good,” Li Xiao nodded with satisfaction.
Han Jiuguang was one of Yelü Zhilugu’s most trusted Han officials, holding the rank of Southern Privy Councillor, with high authority.
The entire Han family enjoyed considerable prestige in the Western Liao.
Although he had captured his younger brother, it was still quite useful for Li Xiao.
“Since you are the Minister of Revenue, you must be fully aware of the money and grain in the city.”
“Find all of it, and I will spare your Han family.”
The primary task after breaching a city was to secure its money and grain, and Kuyun-Ordu was the imperial capital of the Western Liao.
Its accumulated wealth must have been immense.
Li Xiao was very covetous.
Hearing this, Han Jiuyuan shook his head helplessly, “General, the granary is well-stocked with grain, but there is no treasure left.”
Upon hearing this, Li Xiao’s expression immediately turned displeased.
“What? Minister Han, it seems you’ve made up your mind not to cooperate?”
Saying this, Li Xiao waved his hand and ordered, “Arrest all members of the Han family.”
He then pointed at Han Ying’er and said, “Send that girl to my tent tonight.”
Hearing this, Han Ying’er’s face turned deathly pale. She trembled like a quail, backing away and shaking her head: “No, no~”
Han Jiuyuan became anxious, looking at Li Xiao with a pleading expression.
“General, please stop. I’m truly not lying.”
“If you don’t believe me, you can come with me to the treasury to see. There really isn’t much treasure left; His Majesty took it all.”
“I am telling the truth.”
“Please, General, do not trouble my daughter,” Han Jiuyuan said with inner anguish.
Hearing this, Li Xiao did not press further and instead ordered, “Escort all these rebel soldiers to the prisoner of war camp outside the city.”
He then turned to Han Jiuyuan and said, “Take me to the treasury.”
On the way, Li Xiao also learned the reason for the city’s lack of money.
Yelü Zhilugu was a foolish ruler who indulged in pleasure. The national treasury’s silver had long been squandered.
Furthermore, not long ago, Yelü Zhilugu had withdrawn all the money from the treasury for some unknown purpose.
Therefore, when Li Xiao arrived at the silver vault, all he saw was an empty space.
“General, I truly didn’t lie to you.”
“Half a month ago, His Majesty used the remaining treasure in the vault to reward the three armies. There is truly no money left now.”
Han Jiuyuan stood beside Li Xiao, saying with a bitter smile.
Li Xiao frowned slightly, feeling greatly disappointed.
He had originally thought he’d strike it rich, but it turned out to be nothing.
“This bastard, dares to spend my money.”
“Damn him~”
Li Xiao cursed angrily.
But having no money wouldn’t do.
Li Xiao’s Left Route Army consisted of fifteen thousand soldiers.
Excluding the Kuli Army, why had the other soldiers followed Li Xiao to Kuyun-Ordu?
For promotion and wealth!
If there was nothing, it would be difficult to lead the troops in the future.
Therefore, the most direct method was to pay the soldiers.
Thus, after much consideration, Li Xiao decided to assign the task to Han Jiuyuan.
“Two days!”
“Within two days, I want to see at least one million strings of copper coins.”
Li Xiao stared fiercely at Han Jiuyuan.
Seeing Han Jiuyuan’s face change and his reluctance, Li Xiao simply snorted.
“Don’t haggle with me, and absolutely do not refuse.”
“Your Han family has been in the Royal Court for decades and knows Kuyun-Ordu like the back of your hand.”
“Which family has money, and how much they have, I don’t believe you wouldn’t know.”
“During this period, I will order the Jin Prefecture Army to fully cooperate with your actions.”
“In short, within two days, I want to see one million strings.”
“If you fail, you will meet your family on the execution ground.”
One million strings, while sounding like a lot, was actually not much at all.
After all, this was the imperial capital.
It was inhabited by princes, nobles, and wealthy families.
Since the Kara-Khanid Khanate era, Kuyun-Ordu had been the center of the Western Regions.
After two hundred years of accumulation, the wealth amassed by those wealthy families was unimaginable.
With the national treasury empty, Li Xiao had no choice but to target those magnates.
It was akin to Li Zicheng’s method of extorting taxes.
The current Western Liao was like the late Ming Dynasty, rife with corrupt officials and rampant corruption. Those wealthy families had hollowed out the national treasury, while they themselves grew immensely rich.
They were ripe for the plucking.
Hearing Li Xiao’s threat, Han Jiuyuan’s face was filled with bitterness. He dared not utter another word of refusal.
He could only lament in his heart, “This is pushing my Han family to a dead end.”
Once this was done, the Han family would alienate themselves from Kuyun-Ordu and offend a large number of magnates.
But there was no choice. If he didn’t do it, his entire family would die, and his daughter would certainly be violated by this scoundrel.
He could only bow his head.
Li Xiao put Da Hu in charge of this matter and had him leave with Han Jiuyuan.
He himself then proceeded to inspect other treasuries.
The armory was also empty, as at the onset of war, Yelü Zhilugu must have distributed the military equipment to the soldiers.
The few remaining items were of poor quality and difficult to use.
The only thing that brought Li Xiao some comfort was the granary.
The grain in the city was relatively abundant, totaling over 100,000 shi, enough to sustain Li Xiao’s army for more than half a year.
…
Soon, Da Hu and Han Jiuyuan began to act, establishing a ‘Treasury Raising and Pacification Department’.
They would visit every noble and wealthy merchant within the city.
Li Xiao, meanwhile, led his men to the Da He Family’s residence; he intended to personally confiscate their property.
The Da He Family was one of the top noble families in the Western Liao Dynasty, almost on par with the Xiao Clan.
Their mansion was also extremely luxurious, second only to the Imperial Palace within the city.
But at this moment, at Li Xiao’s command, countless Jin Prefecture soldiers clad in white armor poured into the Da He Family’s mansion like a tidal wave.
The soldiers, wielding cavalry sabers, broke down the doors and entered, their eyes filled with sternness and determination.
They quickly dispersed, following the pre-arranged plan, and rushed into every corner of the mansion.
“Search thoroughly, leave no suspicious place unchecked!” Li Xiao commanded loudly from atop his warhorse.
His voice echoed through the mansion like a booming bell, carrying an unquestionable dignity.
Instantly, the entire mansion fell into chaos.
The servants of the Da He Family panicked and fled in all directions, but were intercepted one by one by the Jin Prefecture soldiers.
Some timid servants collapsed to the ground, trembling.
The Da He clan nobles, accustomed to a life of luxury, no longer possessed their usual arrogance and dignity; their faces were filled with fear and panic.
“Who told you to do this?”
“This is the Da He family’s courtyard, stop immediately.”
“We have a connection with the Xiao family; aren’t you afraid of punishment from Xiao Simo?” a young scion of the Da He family roared, his face flushed with anger.
However, his response was only a sharp saber.
Li Xiao rode his warhorse to the man, cast a cold glance, and instantly drew his cavalry saber.
The sharp blade sliced through the man’s neck in an instant.
Blood spurted, and his head rolled to the ground.
The surrounding servants trembled in fear.
“Too much talk,” Li Xiao snorted coldly, lightly urging his horse forward, which leaped over the corpse.
He then shouted to his soldiers, “Gather everyone into the courtyard.”
“Do not overlook any property.”
“Search carefully for any cellars.”
The soldiers searched room by room, overturning boxes and cabinets, throwing the contents of the rooms everywhere. Precious porcelain, exquisite calligraphy and paintings were trampled wantonly, and ornate tables and chairs were toppled.
In a hidden room, the soldiers discovered a large amount of gold and silver treasures. Chests of gold and silver ingots and dazzling jewelry sparkled enticingly under the torchlight.
“Marshal, we’ve found something here!”
An excited soldier ran out to report, and then everyone carried out all the chests.
Over a dozen large chests.
All filled with gold and silver treasures.
Copper coins were not even worthy of being in these chests.
Li Xiao grabbed a handful of gold dinars from a chest and nodded with satisfaction.
“The esteemed Da He Family surely cannot have only this little wealth; continue searching,” Li Xiao ordered.
Then, he walked towards another courtyard.
All members of the Da He family were being held there.
“Why are there only so few people?” Li Xiao asked, looking at the sparse group of twenty-odd individuals in the courtyard, his face showing displeasure.
Standing before him was a servant from the Han family, who, having lived in Kuyun-Ordu City for many years, was very familiar with the Da He family’s situation.
“Reporting, Lord. The Da He family has over sixty tribesmen, but most of them have migrated elsewhere with the Royal Court.”
“This place is the ancestral home of the Da He family, and only these twenty-odd tribesmen remain.”
Li Xiao nodded slightly, accepting the explanation.
The Royal Court was the center of power in Western Liao; the Imperial Capital he had broken through was merely an ’empty city’.
Most Khitan nobles had migrated to other regions for nomadic life during this season.
Only a small number of Khitans remained in the city.
Even among the twenty-odd people before him, many were old men and women.
Of course, there was also Da He Hu Da’an, who defended the city gate to the death when the city was breached, and was eventually killed by Er Hu with a single blow.
“Bring these old men for interrogation and force them to reveal the locations where the Da He family’s treasures are buried,” Li Xiao commanded.
“As you command!”
Tie Tou then led his men to inflict cruel punishment on these old men, interrogating them on the spot.
“You are acting recklessly; I demand to see Xiao Simo.”
“I watched Xiao Simo grow up; I even held him when he was a child. If you dare to torture me, he will not let you off.”
“We will naturally explain ourselves to Xiao Simo; let us go.”
These old men were all uncles or even granduncles of Da He Chu Luo Duo, and they were all quite old.
They had stayed at the old mansion in preparation for their retirement, but now they had fallen into Li Xiao’s hands.
While the young men might not know where the Da He family’s treasures were hidden, these old fellows certainly would.
Thus, Li Xiao waved his hand impatiently, signaling Tie Tou to continue the torture.
At the same time, his gaze fell upon the women kneeling on the ground.
He asked indifferently, “What is their status?”
The servant pointed to a few young and beautiful women on the left and said softly, “Reporting, Lord. These women are the concubines of the elderly Da He family lords from just now.”
Upon hearing this, Li Xiao sneered, “A few old men, taking such young girls as wives at their age.”
Li Xiao looked at the youngest girl, who was almost young enough to be their granddaughter.
He then said to Tie Tou, “Cut off those old men’s tools and feed them to the dogs.”
“As you command.”
Tie Tou grinned chillingly, his gaze lingering lewdly on the old men’s crotches.
Then, Li Xiao looked at the girls and said, “You are all unfortunate souls.”
“Come back to Jin Prefecture with me!”
As for their ultimate fate, it was to be bestowed upon meritorious officers and soldiers.
Afterward, Li Xiao looked at a middle-aged woman in the center, also quite attractive and with a mature charm.
“Who is she?”
“She is Da He Hu Da’an’s wife, Da He Chu Luo Duo’s mother.”
Upon hearing this, Li Xiao was suddenly surprised.
“That scoundrel is married?”
He recalled that after the Battle of North Mountain six months ago, Da He Chu Luo Duo had only broken off his engagement with Xiao Yanyan.
In the blink of an eye, he had a wife, and such a beautiful one at that.
This was practically forcing Li Xiao to make a mistake!
“Yes, my Lord.”
“They got married at the end of last year,” the servant said cautiously.
After all, Da He Chu Luo Duo was already in his twenties, considered an overage youth in that era.
Although he already had several concubines and children, the position of his main wife had always remained vacant.
After the broken engagement with Xiao Yanyan, he immediately entered into a marriage alliance with a Khitan noble family from the Royal Court.
“That scoundrel is quite comfortable,” Li Xiao said with a cold snort.
He cupped the woman’s chin, forcibly lifted her face, and examined her from head to toe.
Seeing her trembling in fear, her eyes tearful and swollen from crying.
He then said in a deep voice, “Da He Chu Luo Duo is truly despicable; how could he lay hands on such a beautiful wife?”
“He even beat her eyes until they were so swollen.”
“Send her to my large tent.”
“Let me treat her wounds properly.”
He then looked at a middle-aged woman beside her, also possessing considerable beauty and a mature allure.
The servant quickly explained, “This is Da He Hu Da’an’s second wife, Da He Chu Luo Duo’s mother.”
Li Xiao pinched her chin and examined her again.
She appeared to be in her thirties, with excellent looks and a strong aura of a married woman.
This meant she must have given birth to Da He Chu Luo Duo in her teens?
“Da He Hu Da’an is truly a beast.”
“Neither father nor son are good people.”
Saying this, Li Xiao turned and said, “This Madam looks pale and haggard; she must be suffering from lack of sleep.”
“Send her to my marshal’s tent to rest well.”
After speaking, his gaze shifted to several women on the right; these were older.
They appeared to be the main wives of those old men. Li Xiao pointed to the youngest among them, who still looked to be in her forties, with a pleasant appearance.
“And who is this?”
“This is Da He Hu Da’an’s second wife,” the servant said.
“So she’s also considered Da He Chu Luo Duo’s secondary wife?” Li Xiao raised an eyebrow.
It was not uncommon for a concubine to be older than the main wife; many noble men at that time had concubines before marrying a wife.
If a concubine became pregnant and gave birth to a son, especially the eldest son, she might be elevated to the status of a co-equal wife, her status instantly changing.
Even a legitimate son would have to address her as secondary wife.
With this thought, Li Xiao glanced at the servant and said, “Your master worked hard for me.”
“This woman will be rewarded to him.”
Upon hearing this, the servant froze.
“Rewarded to the master?”
He looked blankly at the woman, then thought of Han Jiuyuan.
He did not dare to refuse and could only nod.
Li Xiao smiled faintly; it was just that this second wife was a bit older and not as beautiful as Da He Chu Luo Duo’s mother; otherwise, Li Xiao would have kept her for himself.
After all, he had a lot of ‘unfinished business’ with that bastard Da He Chu Luo Duo.
Since he couldn’t kill him yet, he would collect some interest from his family first.
Rewarding this woman to Han Jiuyuan also had its benefits.
It would completely sever his ties with the Da He family, forcing him to be firmly bound to Li Xiao’s side from now on.
After all, managing wealth was a skill, and Li Xiao’s Jin Prefecture was indeed lacking talent in this area.
Not long after, Tie Tou finally pried the mouths of those old men open.
After obtaining several hidden treasure locations, some White Armored Soldiers began to dig in the courtyard, while others were dispatched to several other courtyards within the city.
A cunning rabbit has three burrows.
The Da He Family possessed considerable treasure.
After confiscating the Da He Family’s property, Li Xiao ordered all the Da He men to be executed and the women to be conscripted, to be distributed to meritorious soldiers in the future.
The servants were treated the same.
The maidservants were conscripted to be rewarded later.
The house servants were incorporated into the Kuli Army, becoming slaves within the Left Route Army.
They would need to earn military merit to have their slave status absolved.
.
