Chapter 139: Imperial Capital Falls
On the grassland, the iron cavalry charged like the wind.
Li Xiao wore white armor, with a sharp saber at his waist, followed by fifteen thousand left route army troops with overwhelming aura.
After three days of marching, the army crossed Hasubo Mountain and finally reached the left wing of Hala Mountain.
Looking into the distance, the outline of Kuyun-Ordu’s city walls gradually became clear.
However, Li Xiao’s brows remained slightly furrowed.
According to the agreement, the three-route armies should rendezvous at Hala Mountain, encircling the royal court’s main force in Kuyun-Ordu, aiming to achieve complete victory in one battle.
But after Li Xiao led his army to arrive, there was no sign of the other two routes’ troops.
Now they had reached outside Kuyun-Ordu City, yet the two-route armies still had not appeared, and even the expected Pishi Army interception had not occurred.
An ominous feeling arose in Li Xiao’s heart.
“Any news? Where are Lord Xiao and Governor Xiao Tula Duo’s troops?” Seeing the scout return, Li Xiao asked directly.
“Marshal, no sign of the other two route armies.”
“The surroundings have all been scouted, with no signs of Pishi Army ambushes.”
“Aside from the city ahead and the common people outside it, everywhere is eerily quiet.” The scout reported truthfully.
Hearing this, Li Xiao’s brows furrowed even tighter.
“The other two routes’ troops might have been intercepted by the Pishi Army’s main force,” Jiu Meng’an He said in a low voice.
Li Xiao nodded slightly, thinking the same.
Now with no sign of the Pishi Army, they must have gone to intercept Xiao Simo’s main force.
The left route army led by Li Xiao had taken a detour over Hasubo Mountain, making the journey longer, and thus not the Pishi Army’s primary interception target.
After all, the royal court lacked troops and could not divide forces to intercept all three routes simultaneously.
“In that case, first breach Kuyun-Ordu, then go to support Lord Xiao and Governor Xiao Tula Duo,” Li Xiao said gravely.
Having come this far, there was no reason to retreat; they must first break this city.
“Good!”
Jiu Meng’an He nodded heavily.
In his view, Xiao Simo’s main force of over twenty thousand had superior numbers, and even if blocked, they would not be in danger.
As long as they breached Kuyun-Ordu, they could severely damage the royal court army’s morale, then join Xiao Simo to encircle the Pishi Army, and the great cause could be achieved.
After discussing the next objective, Li Xiao turned around.
Clad in white armor, with white plumes on his helmet swaying lightly in the wind, he stood on horseback atop the hill, overlooking Kuyun-Ordu.
Beside him, the golden sun and moon battle flag fluttered loudly; his gaze was grave as he said deeply, “Pass the order to all units!”
“Surround Kuyun-Ordu.”
“Rest for one day, craft siege equipment.”
“Attack the city at dawn tomorrow, with the Kuli Army as vanguard.”
“Those who resist stubbornly will be killed without mercy.”
“Understood!”
All the generals responded in unison.
……
Kuyun-Ordu was merely the nominal capital of Western Liao.
The true center of power was the royal court.
The Khitan people, retaining their nomadic traditions, did not like living inside cities.
Instead, they roamed nomadically within the vast Chu River Basin according to seasonal changes.
At this season, Yelü Zhilugu should have led the Khitan tribes to the Muye River.
Thus, those now living in Kuyun-Ordu City were mostly locals and descendants of Han Chinese who followed Yelü Dashi on the western expedition.
Kuyun-Ordu’s east and north were ringed by mountains, precisely Hala Mountain that Li Xiao’s army had just crossed.
Its west and south were vast plains inhabited by large numbers of common people.
After all, as the capital, Kuyun-Ordu was densely populated, and a single city could not accommodate everyone.
There were even more common people outside the city.
However, with news of the left route army entering Hala Mountain, the common people outside the city had all fallen into panic.
Either fleeing with their families to distant places or escaping into the city, hoping the left route army could not breach the tall city walls.
The area outside the city was now empty, leaving only numerous houses.
“Woo woo woo~”
Accompanied by the low horn sounds, the left route army surged forward like a black storm sweeping in from the horizon.
Fifteen thousand soldiers bristled with killing intent, tens of thousands of war horses neighed and roared, the sound of hooves like rolling thunder, shaking the land.
Leading at the forefront were naturally one thousand White Armored Army.
Like a silver snow mountain charging across the land outside the city, surging like waves, with overwhelming aura, dust filling the sky.
The bloodstains on their white battle armor appeared dark red under the sunlight, like bizarre blooming flowers, telling of the brutal battles they had endured.
The cavalry army advanced rapidly, tightly encircling the city.
They galloped back and forth outside the city, the gales they stirred bending the wild grass flat to the ground.
The dust raised by hooves blotted out the sky, enveloping the entire city in a massive yellow fog.
“They’re coming~”
“They’re coming, what do we do?”
“We’re surrounded.”
“At least twenty thousand or more, we can’t get out.”
“Where is His Majesty? Where is the Pishi Army main force? Have they been defeated by the rebels already?”
The garrison in the city was horrified; soldiers gazing at the dense, menacing cavalry army outside wrote fear and tension on their faces.
Kuyun-Ordu was only a nominal capital, so its daily garrison was not large.
The true main force was at Yelü Zhilugu’s royal court.
All told, the city’s troops numbered only five or six thousand.
Facing an attack by several times their number, they probably could not hold out long.
“Don’t panic.”
As the soldiers grew panicked, two generals stepped forward.
With grave expressions, they loudly soothed the soldiers’ morale: “We have not lost!”
“The Pishi Army main force is safe and sound, together with the Kangli Army, they have the rebel main force surrounded in Black Stone Mountain.”
“We have sturdy city walls for support; as long as we hold the city and await rescue from the royal court, the enemy cannot touch us!”
Hearing this, the soldiers gradually calmed.
United in preparing to defend the city.
Meanwhile, the left route army had completed its encirclement of Kuyun-Ordu, with heavy troops guarding all four city walls.
Before each city wall, soldiers on horseback circled the walls, shouting loudly at the garrison on the city head: “People in the city, listen up.”
“Lay down your weapons, open the gates and surrender immediately, and our army guarantees no one will be killed.”
“If you resist stubbornly, once our army breaches the city, no survivors.”
Hearing the left route army’s threats, the soldiers on the city head were indeed panicked, faces full of fear.
But fortunately, with the generals suppressing them, no immediate problems arose.
“The rebels have many troops, nearly ten times ours; without reinforcements, we probably can’t hold out long.”
A middle-aged general said gravely.
He was Guo Sanhuai, a descendant of the western expedition Han army.
However, his ancestors had not been settled in the Northern Frontier but left in Kuyun-Ordu.
After three generations of effort, the Guo family had become a prominent Han Chinese clan in Western Liao.
Currently, Guo Sanhuai served as deputy garrison commander of Kuyun-Ordu.
Kuyun-Ordu’s garrison commander, also known as governor, was Da He Hu Da’an.
He was Da He Chu Luo Duo’s father, the current patriarch of the Da He clan.
He wore armor, his beard gray-white, eyes narrowed, scanning the army outside the city.
He said gravely: “Ten days!”
“Within ten days, His Majesty will surely eliminate Xiao Simo.”
“Then, this rebel force outside the city will be no threat.”
His tone was extremely firm.
Because he was one of the few who knew Yelü Zhilugu’s plan.
Thus, in his view, even if Xiao Simo survived this time, the Eastern Capital Army would suffer heavy losses.
His task was to hold the city to the death until the Pishi Army main force returned to aid.
“Pass the order.”
Da He Hu Da’an’s expression was stern as he scanned the messengers beside him, enunciating each word: “The whole army must guard the city walls strictly.”
“Every embrasure, every section of wall, must have soldiers stationed, no slack whatsoever.”
“Rotate sentries every hour to ensure soldiers remain vigilant at all times; violators will face military law punishment!”
“Prepare the catapults, load boulders into position, ready to fire on command and deal heavy blows to the enemy!”
Clearly, Da He Hu Da’an was a veteran general, arranging the city’s defenses meticulously.
At the same time, he considered the spy problem.
After all, in these days, nobles currying favor with Xiao Simo were not few, and some were surely in the city.
To prevent them from causing chaos, opening the gates to let in the enemy.
Da He Hu Da’an stationed men in the city for nonstop day-and-night patrols; anyone deliberately sabotaging or creating chaos would be killed without mercy.
……
On the second day, at dawn’s first light, horns blared long in the left route army; over ten thousand cavalry surged like black tides, sealing Kuyun-Ordu City watertight.
The cavalry wore black leather armor gleaming coldly in the dawn glow, their spears and hard bows on their backs flashing with chill light.
War horses neighed, hooves pawed the ground, kicking up layers of dust; as far as the eye could see, dense cavalry and war horses stretched endlessly, layering the city in a shocking scene.
Li Xiao wore white armor, riding a black fine horse, standing outside the city.
Surrounded by his white-armored guard unit protecting him on all sides.
His gaze fixed on Kuyun-Ordu’s city walls, he smiled faintly: “Such city walls finally have some capital’s grandeur!”
Unlike Yemili City, Kuyun-Ordu was very large, with very high walls, nearly ten meters tall.
Almost no different from some great cities in the Central Plains.
In the Western Regions, it was already the largest and sturdiest city.
This time, Li Xiao targeted the south gate as the main assault direction, personally commanding the battle.
Jiu Meng’an He led troops to surround the other three gates, guarding them strictly.
Seeing his troops nearly ready, Li Xiao drew his cavalry saber and shouted loudly: “Today we attack the city and must take Kuyun-Ordu!”
“Kill!”
With Li Xiao’s order given, low horn sounds rang out again.
The army began the general assault.
“Attack!”
“The first to scale the city walls will be rewarded with a hundred taels of gold and promoted three ranks.”
“Kuli Army, kill!”
Li Dashan brandished his cavalry saber, roaring loudly.
He was leading his own chiliarch unit at the front line, personally supervising the battle.
Ahead of him, over three thousand Kuli Army handled the siege.
Kuli, in Turkic, meant slave.
These over three thousand Kuli Army were royal court troops captured in the Battle of Saku Su.
Mainly composed of nomadic tribe soldiers and Eastern Kara-Khanid Khanate soldiers.
With weak combat strength and the lowest status.
Used by Li Xiao as cannon fodder.
Under the threat of death and desire for gold, the Kuli Army raised ladders and charged the city walls.
With only one night to prepare, the left route army could not produce siege weapons like catapults.
They merely dismantled houses outside the city to make a batch of ladders and a few battering rams.
The Kuli Army carried ladders, held weapons, and advanced step by step toward the city walls.
Anyone daring to flee or shrink from battle would face immediate bow and arrow fire from Li Dashan’s cavalry.
On the city walls, the garrison was ready, drawing bows and nocking arrows; dense arrow rain shot toward the Kuli Army like locusts.
Kuli Army soldiers fell pierced by arrows, suffering heavy casualties in moments.
As the attackers, they were inherently at a disadvantage.
To capture a great city like Kuyun-Ordu would inevitably cost ten times the garrison’s casualties.
Finally, a few ladders reached the walls; Kuli Army soldiers ignored the danger and climbed up.
Garrison on the walls immediately surrounded them, desperately attacking the climbers with spears, stones, and other weapons.
Spears thrust down, some Kuli soldiers pierced through, screaming as they fell from the ladders; stones smashed down, some soldiers’ heads crushed, brains splattering, dead on the spot.
On the battlefield, shouts of killing, screams, and weapon clashes wove together, deafening.
Blood stained the land red, the air thick with nauseating bloody smell.
Li Xiao, prepared for the brutal scene, viewed it indifferently.
They were all royal court slave troops; he felt no pity.
Besides, Li Xiao had no expectation of breaching Kuyun-Ordu with these slaves.
Seeing the garrison’s forces drawn to the Kuli Army, Li Xiao ordered: “Pass the order to Er Hu, move out.”
“Understood!”
Receiving the order, Er Hu led a group on war horses charging toward the city gate.
These men were fully armed, bodies wrapped in heavy pockmarked armor, even their war horses similarly protected.
Arrows shot from the walls hit them with popping sounds but caused no harm.
The group braved the arrow rain and smoothly reached the city gate.
“Dig for me~”
Er Hu shouted loudly.
A few men quickly dug several holes under the gate, then took square packages from their horses.
They stuffed them into the holes.
“Everyone back, get far away.”
Er Hu shouted loudly to his men.
He himself stayed, taking a deep breath and muttering.
“Old heavens, I’m entrusting my life to you.”
“Please protect me!”
With that, he pulled out a fire starter, lit it, and slowly approached the fuse.
This was precisely the explosive package Li Xiao had devised.
But due to insufficient materials, Li Xiao had made fewer than ten, bringing them all just in case.
Unexpectedly, they were used in the siege.
Back at Hexi Fort, Li Xiao had already taught Er Hu how to use explosive packages.
The huge power in the first test was still fresh in Er Hu’s memory.
So, now actually using it, Er Hu felt a twinge of fear.
“Sizzle sizzle sizzle~”
The instant the fuse ignited, watching the sputtering sparks, Er Hu’s eyes bulged.
Without a word, he turned, mounted, and fled.
This thing was extremely powerful.
At that moment, Da He Hu Da’an on the walls was directing soldiers in defense.
“Hit them hard!”
“Let these rebels know our city walls are impregnable; to breach Kuyun-Ordu, first leave ten thousand lives!”
His voice like a great bell echoed on the walls, boosting every defender’s morale.
Bows drawn, every arrow shot accompanied by enemy screams; the dense arrow rain felled the Kuli Army below in droves.
“Haha, with them, they think to breach our walls?”
“Daydreaming.”
“With me, Da He Hu Da’an here, no one climbs the walls.”
Da He Hu Da’an gripped a spear, personally finishing a soldier who had just climbed up, laughing loudly with arrogant pride.
But at that moment~
“Boom~”
An earth-shattering roar came; the entire city wall trembled violently.
Nearby defenders were shaken staggering by the force, some falling directly from the walls.
The smile on Da He Hu Da’an’s face froze instantly, replaced by horror and disbelief.
“What happened?”
“Thunder from where?”
The massive sound left his ears ringing; looking to the sky, it was clear without a hint of rain.
But what was this thunder?
And the wall’s shaking, an earthquake?
Da He Hu Da’an’s heart filled with shock, a sense of fear arising.
The soldiers on the walls fared worse, many starting to shout and yell.
“The heavens are angry.”
“This is divine punishment; does heaven want to strike us dead?”
“Not the heavens, it’s our Allah.”
“Surely Allah has descended to smite the rebels.”
Even now, some green-minded soldiers argued faiths; Da He Hu Da’an found it absurdly laughable.
Though he didn’t know what had happened.
But he felt it surely related to the rebels outside.
Sure enough, a general soon hurried up, face full of fear, voice trembling as he said.
“Governor, bad news.”
“The city gate is breached.”
Hearing this, Da He Hu Da’an’s mind buzzed as if struck by a heavy hammer.
His vision blackened, nearly collapsing; he steadied himself gripping a nearby embrasure.
“What did you say? Say it again!”
He roared, eyes instantly bloodshot, glaring at the general as if to devour him.
“The city gate… has been breached.”
The general trembled under his gaze, voice growing fainter.
He also wailed: “This general doesn’t know what happened.”
“Just heard a huge boom, and the gate collapsed.”
Da He Hu Da’an’s mind went blank; he could not fathom how the sturdy gate, several feet thick and barred with stones, was breached so easily.
“Impossible? That gate is several feet thick, with stones blocking it, how could…”
He muttered, questioning the general or himself.
Could the heavens truly be aiding the rebels?
Striking with divine lightning to break the gate?
Regaining his senses, Da He Hu Da’an abruptly drew his long saber: “Pass the order, all soldiers assemble at the city gate!”
“Even if spilling the last drop of blood, drive out the rebels!”
His voice hoarse, carrying desperate resolve.
At that moment, Li Xiao watched the rolling thick smoke from the gate, acrid gunpowder smell wafting over.
He heard Er Hu excitedly shouting: “The city gate is breached.”
A smile appeared on his face; he drew his cavalry saber and ordered: “White Armored Army, charge.”
“Kill into the city.”
As the words fell, with low horn sounds, the White Armored Army charged.
“Kill!”
Clad in bloodstained white armor, gripping spears, on war horses they surged forward, kicking up sky-filling dust.
Like a loosed arrow, unstoppable, charging fiercely toward the gate.
Luo Ping and others followed like tides pouring in, brandishing weapons, eyes flashing bloodthirsty light; wherever they went, defenders were beheaded or pierced through the chest.
Kuyun-Ordu, city breached.
“Miss, miss, big trouble.”
“Rebels have entered the city.”
In a courtyard in the city, a maidservant rushed into the room shouting.
Her face pale with fright, body trembling.
Hearing this, the girl in the room panicked.
“How is that possible?”
“Didn’t they say we could hold for at least ten days?” the girl said incredulously.
How was it only the second day and rebels were already in?
“I don’t know either, miss.”
“Second Master says to pack quickly and leave Kuyun-Ordu.”
“Too late and we can’t.”
With that, several maidservants rummaged in the room.
Packing gold and silver valuables and travel provisions.
They changed the miss’s clothes and hurriedly left the courtyard.
After all, upon entering, rebels first looted such grand households.
Staying in the residence was least safe.
But as the girl just exited the courtyard gate, she found the city in total chaos.
Crowds running everywhere, shouts constant; though no rebels seen yet, everyone in the city was terrified.
Soon, though, the girl saw the legendary rebels.
Those men rode tall war horses, wearing white armor stained with filth and blood, looking dirty.
But extremely fierce.
Several rebels on war horses charged to some soldiers in an instant.
The soldiers tried resisting but one was run through by a rebel’s spear.
Other soldiers either knelt begging mercy or turned to flee.
The rebels pursued again, wielding slender sabers, slashing from behind fleeing soldiers, severing heads.
Seeing this from across the street, the girl turned deathly pale, heart pounding wildly.
She fainted directly.
Her family hurriedly threw her onto a horse carriage.
Then planned to hide first in an ordinary house.
Wait for the storm to pass, then find a chance to flee the city.
