Chapter 127: Clearing The Sovereign’s Side, Pacifying Heaven On Imperial Order
Under Li Xiao’s command, Jin Prefecture’s six chiliarch armies began to assemble.
They selected the most elite soldiers, four thousand in number, and arrived at Hexi Fort in grand array.
After all, Li Xiao had promised that all participating soldiers would be exempt from one year of taxation, so the soldiers’ enthusiasm was quite high.
Thirty li north of Hexi Fort, the temporary encampment of Jin Prefecture’s army resembled a fortress forged of steel, proudly standing on this vast land.
Tents stretched endlessly, like a gray ocean surging in the wind.
The massive central army tent stood at the center of the camp, with military flags fluttering high and making a hunting sound; the golden sun and moon totem upon them gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight, emanating dignity and solemnity.
Around the camp, war horses neighed, their voices shaking the four fields.
The soldiers bustling back and forth added a touch of killing intent to the camp.
They wore leather armor, the thick leather covered in traces of years and scars from battle, each line seeming to recount the glorious past.
At this moment, inside the large tent.
Li Xiao sat on the folding stool at the head, with six generals wearing leather armor seated to his left and right.
Hexi Chiliarch Li Erjiang.
Golden Mountain Chiliarch Li Sanhe.
South Chiliarch Li Dashan.
Eastern Mountain Chiliarch Luo Ping.
Lower Chiliarch Amo.
And seated at the end, the Huormar Tribe leader whose appearance differed slightly from the others, Bu Ermahei.
Plus the chiliarch army personally commanded by Li Xiao himself.
All the forces under his command added up to nearly seven thousand men.
And now, gathered outside Hexi Fort, were the most elite four thousand five hundred among them.
All of them strong and vigorous men.
“Everyone, the Battle of Khorasan is over, and the Royal Court Army has suffered heavy losses.”
“Therefore, Lord Xiao, the Eastern Capital Governor, has decided to take this opportunity to raise troops and campaign against the Royal Court.”
“The military order has arrived in Jin Prefecture; after resting for three days, the army will set off.”
Li Xiao looked at everyone, explaining the purpose of this campaign in a solemn tone.
Before, it had only been a private letter from Xiao Yanyan to Li Xiao.
And while Li Xiao was assembling troops, Xiao Simo’s official military order had arrived in Jin Prefecture.
It ordered Jin Prefecture to send out at least six thousand troops and arrive in the Eastern Capital before the eighteenth of the third month.
After receiving the order, Xiao Lintta did not dare to delay and hurriedly assembled troops.
According to the information Li Xiao obtained, Xiao Lintta had mobilized all three remaining chiliarch armies.
After kicking out a few of the old, weak, sick, and disabled, he had at least assembled two thousand five hundred soldiers.
The reason he dared to be so bold was partly fear of being looked down upon by Xiao Simo, and partly worry of being secretly plotted against by Li Xiao.
After all, on the battlefield, if he only had one or two thousand men around him, in case Li Xiao had evil intentions, he could directly wrap him up like dumplings.
And afterward claim it was done by the Royal Court Army.
In that case, Xiao Lintta would die unjustly with no place to appeal.
Therefore, Xiao Lintta was also mobilizing more troops regardless.
After all, nomadic people did not need to worry about spring plowing.
As for his home base being raided? He was not afraid.
Because with Li Xiao suppressing it, Xiao Lintta no longer considered Jin Prefecture his home base from the bottom of his heart.
Worst case, he could slip back to the Sixth Courtyard Department; what did he care if Jin Prefecture suffered floods?
It was still most reassuring to have the army in his own hands.
Therefore, the troops dispatched from Jin Prefecture this time had exceeded Xiao Simo’s expectations, reaching seven thousand.
Then, Li Xiao routinely read out Xiao Simo’s military order simply.
“Now, villains dominate the Imperial Court, misleading the Emperor, causing the state to be tainted and the common people to suffer.”
“We martial men of the Northern Frontier, bearing the heavy responsibility of family and country, how can we ignore it? We must clear the Emperor’s side, eliminate treacherous ministers, restore order…”
But as he read on, knowing smiles appeared on everyone’s faces.
This was Xiao Simo’s military order, but also his manifesto against the rebels.
Summing it up, it was just one sentence.
“Lord Xiao wants to be Emperor.”
Li Dashan chuckled, stroked his chin stubble, and then said.
“I guess these flowery words were definitely written by that Gu Zizhong; not straightforward at all.”
Luo Ping chuckled: “Literati, you know!”
“If they don’t write it all vague and incomprehensible, how can they seem superior to others?”
Li Xiao also placed the military order on the table, casually tapping the desktop with his fingers: “If you ask me, a military order only needs one sentence.”
“Defeat the Royal Court, and everyone gets promoted, rich, enfeoffed as marquises and ministers, with wives ennobled and descendants shaded.”
“With that goal, the officers and soldiers will definitely charge forward howling.”
Everyone laughed heartily.
Indeed, that was how it was.
What lofty ideals did ordinary officers and soldiers have?
Duty to family and country was not something they considered.
They only wanted promotions and wealth, to seize land, seize women, and let their descendants live in riches.
Such ideals were simple and realistic.
“If Lord Xiao really becomes Emperor, could the Governor become Eastern Capital Governor and control the Northern Frontier?” Amo asked curiously.
As soon as he said this, all the generals were momentarily stunned.
Then, after a brief moment of thought, Luo Ping nodded and said somewhat excitedly: “Amo, you kid have big ideas.”
Amo did not know what this meant and just chuckled.
A smile was the most powerful weapon to break down unfamiliarity and estrangement.
After all, Li Dashan and the other three were Li Xiao’s clan relatives, his most direct lineage forces.
Amo still felt somewhat out of place in this circle.
“We must fight this battle well, earn merit, and push Da Long to the position of Governor.” Li Sanhe said.
“Such an important position as Eastern Capital Governor, can it be obtained just by military merit?” Li Dashan shook his head with a smile.
Then, looking at Li Xiao, he said: “Da Long, hurry up and marry Xiao Yanyan into our Li Family.”
“That way, we’ll be family with Xiao Simo.”
“As long as we earn some more military merit, won’t the Eastern Capital Governor position be in our pocket?”
Hearing Li Dashan’s joking words, everyone chuckled.
But no one really took it as a joke.
This time, Li Erjiang had come with a mission.
“Heh, the position of Eastern Capital Governor, if there’s a chance, we definitely have to fight for it.”
“But talking about these things now is still a bit premature.” Li Xiao shook his head with a faint smile.
“The most important thing right now is to fight the battle well.”
“Everyone, some of you may know that over this winter, we assembled the forces of Jin Prefecture’s departments to forge military equipment.”
“Now, it has taken initial shape.”
With that, Li Xiao waved his hand, and Tie Tou led people in from outside the tent.
Each person held a saber in their hands.
It was the style of a cavalry saber.
However, compared to ordinary cavalry sabers, these six sabers looked more exquisite.
On both sides of the blade, golden patterns wound and coiled, like ancient mysterious totems or nimble soaring dragons.
At the top of the hilt and the guard, similarly embedded with exquisite golden pattern decorations, echoing the patterns on the blade.
The scabbard was made of black rosewood, with a fine touch but actually hard.
Li Xiao took the cavalry saber from Tie Tou’s hand and gently drew it out.
In an instant, a flash of cold light seemed to pass, the blade’s sharpness cutting into everyone’s mind.
The golden patterns on the blade became even more dazzling.
Li Xiao raised the saber and swung it lightly in the air a few times; the blade cut through the air, emitting a low and sharp whistling sound, as if proclaiming its extraordinary nature.
Looking at everyone, he smiled slightly and said: “This saber is the result of my Hexi Weaponry Shop.”
“It is forged using the world’s hardest steel, Wootz Steel.”
“The Hexi Weaponry Shop has forged a total of one thousand such sabers.”
“However, these six sabers before you are different from the others.”
“Not just because they are decorated with exquisite patterns and cast with gold, but because they represent the status and honor of Jin Prefecture’s generals.”
“Today, I bestow these six cavalry sabers to you six respectively.”
“I hope that in the future, holding them, you will be invincible on the battlefield.”
“Dyed with the blood of enemies.”
Li Xiao’s ethereal voice said, as if recounting the glory and responsibility of the cavalry saber.
After speaking, his gaze turned to Li Dashan, and he called out: “Jin Prefecture South Chiliarch Li Dashan.”
Then, Li Dashan shot to his feet, right fist to chest, and responded loudly: “Here.”
Li Xiao strode to Li Dashan, solemnly handing over the cavalry saber with both hands.
Li Dashan, with a solemn expression, under everyone’s gaze, slowly extended both hands and steadily received this cavalry saber bearing glory and mission.
Li Xiao stepped back, eyes fixed on Li Dashan, and said loudly: “From today onward, this saber fights alongside you; you must make its prestige resound on the battlefield!”
Li Dashan straightened his spine and responded loudly: “This subordinate will not fail the Governor’s expectations and will make enemies tremble at the sound of it!”
In fact, the Hexi Weaponry Shop had forged over a thousand cavalry sabers, and Li Dashan had already gotten one.
But the one before him was completely different.
Not just because of the golden patterns and gold-inlaid hilt, but because of the different significance it represented.
This was the saber of a chiliarch.
He gently drew half the blade, revealing the characters on both sides.
One side engraved in simplified Chinese characters with Li Dashan’s official title and name.
“Jin Prefecture South Chiliarch, Li Dashan.”
And on the other side of the blade, four large characters.
“Succeed or die.”
After bestowing the cavalry saber to Li Dashan, Li Xiao’s gaze turned to Luo Ping.
He bestowed the Eastern Mountain Chiliarch saber belonging to him.
Then to the others, and when only one remained, Li Xiao walked to Bu Ermahei.
“Bu Ermahei.”
“This subordinate is here.”
Bu Ermahei immediately stood up and saluted Li Xiao.
His eyes full of excitement looked at the cavalry saber in Li Xiao’s hand.
He had never imagined he could receive one too.
After all, he was not Li Xiao’s direct subordinate but had surrendered on the battlefield.
Not even a collateral branch.
He thought he was far from comparable to Li Dashan and the others.
But unexpectedly, when bestowing the cavalry sabers, Li Xiao had not forgotten him, Bu Ermahei.
