Chapter 117: Seizing Power
“Alright.”
Just as Xiao Lintta’s thoughts were churning and his expression was changing, Xiao Simo’s scolding voice came from the head seat.
His stern gaze swept over the tent.
Especially toward Li Xiao and Xiao Lintta, he glared fiercely at the two.
These two troublemakers wouldn’t let him have a moment’s peace.
Xiao Simo didn’t even dare imagine that once he returned to the Eastern Capital, whether these two would beat each other’s brains out in Jin Prefecture.
No!
More likely, Li Xiao would unilaterally beat Xiao Lintta’s brains out.
Then, Xiao Simo stood up and slowly walked to Li Xiao’s front, extending his hand.
Li Xiao immediately handed the token in his hand to Xiao Simo.
He weighed it in his hand, then looked at Xiao Lintta and asked in a faint voice: “This token, is it from one of your personal guards?”
Hearing Xiao Simo’s question, Xiao Lintta seemed to understand something.
Xiao Simo’s stance.
Thus, his heart instantly calmed down, and he hurriedly cupped his hands and said: “Reporting to the Great King.”
“This token indeed belongs to one of my guards, but not long ago, one of my guards died in battle against the Naiman People.”
“His token also went missing.”
“It must have been taken by the High Priest of the Uliji Tribe, who used it to impersonate my seal, exploiting my name to bewitch the other members of the Uliji Tribe, and together they killed Wuliji.”
“Thereby conspiring to seize power.”
“Great King, this subordinate is guilty of losing a guard’s token, which led to the death of Wuliji Chiliarch.”
With that, Xiao Lintta knelt down, looking heartbroken.
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was dumbfounded.
Xiao Simo, however, nodded slightly and said softly: “In that case, it’s possible.”
He then looked at Li Xiao and said: “Governor Li, what do you think?”
“Is this the token lost by Governor Xiao’s guard?”
When Xiao Simo spoke, his tone was slightly heavier.
It seemed like he was telling Li Xiao that he already knew the origin of this token.
It was you, kid, who bewitched Xiao Yanyan to steal it from the central army warehouse.
Li Xiao’s own ass wasn’t clean; he took an anonymous token to frame Xiao Lintta.
Xiao Simo could choose not to expose this matter, but don’t expect him to pretend not to know and help gang up on Xiao Lintta.
Understanding the meaning, Li Xiao’s mouth twitched involuntarily, and he sighed helplessly.
Xiao Simo really protected this bastard Xiao Lintta.
Although Li Xiao never expected to completely topple Xiao Lintta with this minor issue.
But he couldn’t let Xiao Simo brush it off lightly either.
Thus, he nodded lightly and said: “This general believes Lord is absolutely right.”
“It must be the High Priest of the Uliji Tribe who, holding Governor Xiao’s guard team’s token, impersonated Governor Xiao’s orders to bewitch the Uliji tribespeople.”
Very standard political means.
When unable to completely topple the opponent’s major figure, both sides take a step back for an interest exchange.
Instead, push out that little figure who no longer has utilitarian value as a scapegoat.
So, the final outcome could only be the High Priest of the Uliji Tribe taking the blame and becoming the ultimate big loser.
This was Xiao Simo’s intention, and Li Xiao could only agree.
“Mm.”
“It seems Wuliji Chiliarch’s death was not directly caused by Governor Xiao Lintta.”
“However, it is ultimately related to him.”
With that, Xiao Simo shouted sternly with a serious expression: “Xiao Lintta.”
“This general is here!”
Xiao Lintta then half-knelt on the ground.
“You failed to discipline your army strictly, ignored the token of your guard who died in battle, allowing an ambitious person the opportunity, which harmed Wuliji Chiliarch.”
“Now, you are sentenced to one hundred lashes and a fine of one thousand sheep to compensate the Uliji Tribe.”
“Are you convinced?”
This was also a small punishment for Xiao Lintta.
After all, Wuliji was indeed killed by Xiao Lintta’s conspiracy.
But Xiao Simo didn’t want to punish Xiao Lintta excessively yet.
After all, he still needed him to check Li Xiao.
Just a minor reprimand.
Among them, Wuliji’s life was only worth one thousand sheep.
And those one hundred lashes were because of Xiao Lintta planting spies in Xiao Yanyan’s guard team.
Once Xiao Lintta learned that those three spies had lost contact, he would immediately understand that these one hundred lashes were actually Xiao Simo’s warning to him.
Don’t cross the line, don’t do things you shouldn’t.
“This general is convinced.”
“I deserve punishment!”
Xiao Lintta immediately said loudly, though he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
This matter was due to his own carelessness, and Li Xiao had seized the handle.
Now, this was already the best outcome.
Without Xiao Simo’s protection, it wouldn’t have been just lashes and sheep compensation.
“Good!”
Xiao Simo nodded lightly, quite satisfied with Xiao Lintta’s attitude in admitting fault.
Then, he ordered again: “The High Priest of the Uliji Tribe falsely transmitted orders, committed treason as a subordinate, and killed a key minister of my Northern Frontier.”
“His crime warrants execution!”
“Pass the order: the entire family of the Uliji Tribe High Priest, all male laborers to be executed, female relatives distributed as slaves.”
On the grassland, population represents wealth, and women are wealth that can breed population, so no one kills women lightly.
Living women have higher value.
“Understood!”
Gu Zizhong, not far away, softly echoed, preparing to draft the order.
At this moment, Li Xiao stepped forward and said: “Lord, although Wuliji Chiliarch was killed.”
“His chiliarch position is currently vacant and undecided.”
“Please decide, Lord.”
Although Xiao Simo had brushed off the matter lightly, Li Xiao couldn’t walk away with zero benefits.
This chiliarch position was already in his pocket.
Xiao Simo naturally understood Li Xiao’s intention, though he didn’t really want Li Xiao’s forces to continue expanding, lest they form absolute suppression over Xiao Lintta.
However, for this chiliarch position, there really was no way to decide casually.
Thus, Xiao Simo looked at Amo and said in a faint voice: “Amo, hear my order.”
“Here!”
Amo instantly perked up, saluting and shouting loudly.
“You are Wuliji’s son; his official position should be inherited by you.”
“From now on, you are the Lower Chiliarch of Jin Prefecture.” Xiao Simo said in a faint voice.
In the end, he still gave this chiliarch position to Amo.
Because Jin Prefecture had just completed household registration.
He had preliminarily taken back the power originally belonging to the fortresses and tribes.
At this time, everyone was watching.
Wuliji was dead; if someone else took this chiliarch position, what would others think?
Chiliarch and centurion positions unable to be passed to one’s descendants, taken back by the governor’s office upon death and given to others?
This would inevitably create a great sense of imbalance in the hearts of the leaders who had ruled fortresses and tribes for generations.
They would think this reform would ultimately leave them with nothing.
Therefore, to avoid challenging the sensitive nerves of these interest groups, Xiao Simo could only follow established custom and let Amo inherit this chiliarch position.
To stabilize the hearts of Jin Prefecture’s chiliarchs and centurions.
Although Xiao Simo did intend to turn chiliarch and centurion positions into transferable officials.
But the timing wasn’t ripe yet; he could only wait for later.
“Thank you, Lord.”
“This general will henceforth uphold my late father’s last wishes and sacrifice myself for Lord.”
Amo said loudly, his voice becoming excited.
Success!
He had truly inherited this chiliarch position.
At this moment, his gratitude and admiration for Li Xiao were simply boundless.
Without Li Xiao, not only would he not become chiliarch, his life would probably have been taken by Xiao Lintta and the High Priest together.
Li Xiao smiled lightly in his heart, having obtained the result he wanted.
With just this matter, he hadn’t expected to topple Xiao Lintta.
The ultimate goal was merely to seize power.
After this incident, Xiao Lintta was not only Amo’s father’s killer but also a constant threat to his own life.
So, from now on, Amo could only rely on Li Xiao.
The Lower Chiliarch of Jin Prefecture, composed of the Uliji Tribe and several other centurions, would become forces under Li Xiao’s command.
Of Jin Prefecture’s Eight Great Chiliarchs, Li Xiao now had five.
This time, he had profited.
Afterward, Xiao Simo used fatigue as an excuse to drive everyone out of the large tent.
After leaving, Li Xiao took Amo and walked toward Wumeng and another nomadic chiliarch.
“Wumeng Chiliarch, Huliji Chiliarch.”
Hearing this, the two immediately stopped and called out: “Governor Li.”
At the same time, their gazes guiltily glanced toward Xiao Lintta ahead.
“No need to mind him.” Li Xiao chuckled.
Since things had reached this point, Li Xiao no longer cared about tearing face with Xiao Lintta.
Right now, the most important thing was to strengthen his strength.
“I know today’s matter, both of you were coerced.”
“It wasn’t deliberate trouble with me, Li Xiao.” Li Xiao said with a light smile.
Then, pointedly: “Besides, you were also deceived by certain people with ill intentions.”
“Some people don’t treat their subordinates as humans.”
“How much merit did Wuliji Chiliarch earn on the Naiman battlefield? He was a real man.”
“Unfortunately, he died just like that.”
“Hehe~”
Li Xiao sneered, then said confidently: “I, Li Xiao, am not that kind of person.”
“Everyone knows, I, Li Xiao, always put righteousness first; the most important thing in this business is to live up to your brothers.”
“You two chiliarchs, we can keep in touch often in the future; more chances to get along, and you’ll naturally understand my character.”
“Just in time, my Hexi Fort recently brewed the fine wine Western Wind Fierce; when you have time, feel free to come find me for a drink.”
Hearing Li Xiao’s words, Wumeng and Huliji felt even more guilty.
They vaguely sensed the killing intent emanating from Xiao Lintta ahead.
Thus, they could only smile awkwardly: “Sure, sure.”
“When we have time, we’ll definitely visit Governor Li.”
Then, under Xiao Lintta’s almost man-eating gaze, Li Xiao chuckled and strode back to his camp with Amo.
This time, it was a bountiful harvest.
Taking Amo as a little brother was equivalent to gaining one thousand nomadic cavalry.
Secondly, Xiao Lintta’s act of killing Wuliji would definitely make Wumeng, Huliji, and others wary.
They would be even less inclined to trust Xiao Lintta, fearing that one day he would kill them and put his own people in the chiliarch position.
They would certainly be on guard in their hearts.
At the same time, Li Xiao’s overt overtures to the two might not have much effect.
But it would definitely make Xiao Lintta very uncomfortable.
He couldn’t help suspecting whether these two chiliarchs would betray him and defect to Li Xiao.
Once this seed of suspicion took root and sprouted, it was only a matter of time.
Thus, Li Xiao had successfully created a rift between Xiao Lintta and the two chiliarchs.
Now, the only ones Xiao Lintta could truly trust and mobilize were one chiliarch left.
That chiliarch was Khitan, and also Xiao Lintta’s confidant.
Not Li Xiao’s target at all.
