Chapter 14: Khitan Princess, Xiao Yanyan
Just as Li Xiao was bandaging the Old Master’s wound, the sound of hooves suddenly rang out from the distance.
The young and strong men of Hexi Fort, who were cleaning the battlefield and gathering the Geluolu People’s war horses, instantly stopped their actions and looked up one after another.
From the southwest direction, three people were riding horses quickly toward them.
“Is it them?”
“They’re still here~” Li Xiao shook his head lightly, thinking these people had run off long ago!
“Khitan People?”
The Old Master said calmly; it was clear from their clothes.
“They are indeed Khitan People. We encountered them earlier on the way back to the village, being pursued and killed by the Geluolu People.”
Li Xiao briefly explained the situation to the Old Master.
Soon, the three Khitan People arrived in front of everyone.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa~”
Under the cold gazes of the Hexi Fort crowd, the three immediately pulled their reins, not daring to make too many movements.
In fact, the Han People of the Northern Frontier weren’t too fond of the Khitan People.
In any era, the common people hold some resentment toward their rulers.
Although the Khitan People hadn’t imposed harsh tyranny on the Northern Frontier Han People, they collected massive taxation from the Northern Frontier every year.
Much of the fruits of the Northern Frontier Han People’s hard labor were squandered by the Royal Court people.
Moreover, in the recent Battle of North Mountain, it was precisely because of that Khitan Governor’s reckless commands that Hexi Fort lost a hundred young and strong men.
Hexi Fort held this account against the Khitan People as well.
“We mean no harm; we just came to thank you for your help.”
Seeing the Hexi Fort crowd eyeing them warily, with some even gripping their bows and arrows, Kun Ji hurriedly dismounted to show goodwill and explain.
“Are you Han People living nearby?” Kun Ji said in the Chinese Language.
Western Liao Dynasty was a state jointly formed by Khitan, Han, Turkic, Uyghur, and other ethnic groups, though the Khitan People were the majority shareholders with the greatest say.
Although the Han People contributed a lot, they had little say.
However, there were quite a few Han People in Western Liao.
Historical records indicate that during this period, Western Liao had around 100,000 Han People.
They were mainly distributed in the Four Prefectures of Northern Frontier. Besides that, there were many Han People in the Royal Court too, so Kun Ji had contact with Han People from a young age, learning Han People culture and language.
“No need for thanks.”
Shortly after Kun Ji finished speaking, a youth’s voice rang out. Li Xiao stepped forward, looking calmly at the three Khitan People before him.
“If there’s nothing else, you’d better leave quickly. It’s not safe here; more Geluolu People will come.”
He could tell at a glance that the slender Khitan Person in front was a woman; even after the Geluolu People’s long pursuit, they wanted to capture her.
Her status must be extraordinary.
But that had nothing to do with Li Xiao; he still needed to clean the battlefield and didn’t want to waste time on a woman.
Kun Ji had already recognized Li Xiao as the youth who saved her and couldn’t help but take an interest.
“I recognize you; you saved me just now.”
With that, she drew an arrow from the horseback.
Li Xiao saw at once that it was the arrow he had shot earlier; when bored at night, he would engrave his name on the arrows.
It had no special meaning; nighttime life was just boring.
Only now did Li Xiao begin to seriously size up this Khitan woman.
She was very tall, almost as tall as an average adult man.
Her build was slim, wearing a round-neck narrow-sleeved robe commonly worn by Khitan men, with a sheepskin short jacket over it, a sheepskin hat on her head, her hair all tucked inside, disguised as a man.
Around twenty years old, with big eyes and a high nose bridge.
Perhaps due to the long pursuit and emotional excitement, her deliberately dirtied face faintly showed an apple-like blush.
But her skin was delicate and fair; it was clear she was pampered and not at all like a Grassland woman weathered by wind and sun.
She was a fresh yet alluring Khitan woman, Li Xiao thought to himself.
“This is indeed my arrow.”
“No need for thanks.” Li Xiao shook his head and reached out to take back his arrow.
But the woman pulled the arrow back, raising her head and saying, “This is the arrow you used to save me; why not give it to me?”
“You might think it’s nothing, but we Khitan People are clear on grievances. You saved me, so I must repay you.”
“And these Han People behind you.”
“You killed so many Geluolu People; you’re heroes of Great Liao. I’ll make sure Xiangwen Prefecture rewards you well.”
Perhaps due to her long-pampered habit, the woman always carried an air of superiority when speaking, unconsciously.
She didn’t notice it herself, and ordinary people wouldn’t find it off; nobles were always like that.
Li Xiao found it amusing: “This woman~”
Didn’t she know the saying about a tiger fallen in the flatlands?
Reduced to this state, with only two attendants left, and still so arrogant?
Killing them all and framing the Geluolu People wouldn’t be noticed by anyone.
But though he thought it, Li Xiao wouldn’t easily do such a thing.
Fortunately, the woman wasn’t too foolish and knew to offer Li Xiao and the others flatbread.
Though this flatbread was a bit unreliable.
“Xiangwen Prefecture?”
Li Xiao chuckled lightly and said, “Defeat at North Mountain, Jin Prefecture Army annihilated.”
“Even the Jin Prefecture Governor might have been captured by the Geluolu People; where’s Xiangwen Prefecture now?”
Li Xiao’s tone was very calm; he truly had no fondness for that Jin Prefecture Governor.
Jin Prefecture was now in a state without government officials, so the woman’s promise might not be fulfillable.
But the woman’s expression was quite firm as she said gravely, “It will be.”
“Eastern Capital won’t ignore the Geluolu rebellion; just wait a few days, and once the Eastern Capital Army arrives, the Geluolu People will collapse.”
Just as the woman finished speaking, one of the Khitan Guards beside her suddenly said in a low voice, “Kun Ji, we should go to the riverside first to see if any brothers are still alive.”
That was also the purpose of their return.
Those companions had stayed behind at Dragon Bone River to cover their retreat; if any were alive, they needed to be saved with all effort.
And that required the help of the Han People at Hexi Fort here.
The woman nodded lightly, then looked at Li Xiao and said, “I don’t know your name yet?”
“Is it Long?”
“Li Dalong!”
“You can also call me Li Xiao.” Li Xiao nodded lightly, but his mind was racing.
Earlier, that attendant had called this woman ‘Kun Ji’.
Although Li Xiao didn’t understand the Khitan Language, he happened to know what that pronunciation meant.
Princess!
This woman was actually a princess?
Li Xiao was greatly surprised.
He hadn’t expected a lofty Khitan princess to come to the Northern Frontier.
No wonder the Geluolu People were desperate to capture her!
Historical records on Western Liao were very scarce; aside from a few famous figures in the Yelü imperial family, Li Xiao knew little of the others.
The only princess he knew of was Princess Hunhu.
She was the most beloved daughter of Jie’er Khan, also known as Khitan Emperor Yelü Zhilugu.
Ten years later, she would be married to Naiman Prince Qu Chulü.
So by age, this Kun Ji before him definitely wasn’t that Princess Hunhu.
The latter should still be a little girl now.
And sure enough, the next moment, Li Xiao heard her chuckle, “Li Dalong? Li Xiao is easier to say.”
“The name fits you; you’re a brave and skilled warrior.”
“I’m Xiao Yanyan.”
When saying her own name, the woman unconsciously slipped into her habit, raising her brows proudly, as if the name carried immense honor.
And it did.
“Surname Xiao?”
Li Xiao pondered inwardly.
He naturally understood the significance of the Xiao surname among the Khitan People.
It was no exaggeration to say ‘Yelü and Xiao share the world’.
In Khitan history, many generals came from the Xiao Clan, and most empresses as well.
Undoubtedly the Khitan ‘matrilineal clan’.
It was the same in the Western Liao era.
The empress of Western Liao’s first-generation Jie’er Khan Yelü Dashi came from the Xiao Clan.
After Yelü Dashi’s death, with the heir still young, this Xiao Empress served as regent for ten years.
Moreover, Yelü Dashi’s top general, founding hero, and Sixth Courtyard Department Great King was named Xiao Wulila.
The Xiao Clan held extremely important status in Western Liao as well.
Li Xiao hadn’t expected this woman to be from the Xiao Clan.
But this only puzzled him more; though the Xiao Clan was noble, how could a Xiao family woman be enfeoffed as princess? Empress made more sense.
Of course, Li Xiao couldn’t ask about such things outright, and then he heard Xiao Yanyan say, “Can I ask you for one more favor?”
“My guards chose to stay behind to block the Geluolu People and protect me.”
“I’d like you to go to the riverside; if anyone is still alive, please do your best to save them, and bury the dead properly.”
“Afterward, I’ll give you sufficient reward, and have Xiangwen Prefecture waive your fortress’s taxation for three years.”
Holy crap~
This woman’s tone was huge.
But that was three years of taxation; so tempting.
If it were a promise from the Jin Prefecture Governor’s Mansion, Li Xiao would dismiss it as fart.
But with this woman’s status as princess and daughter of the Xiao Clan, it was different.
The promise’s credibility increased several fold.
In Li Xiao’s plans, Hexi Fort definitely needed to grow and expand, absorbing more population and reclaiming more land.
And that required plenty of money.
Waiving taxation would help Hexi Fort even more.
Other villages would still toil to pay taxes to the Khitan People, while Hexi Fort achieved tax freedom; how could the villagers not be tempted?
Hurry and migrate to Hexi Fort!
“Alright.”
“I’ll personally lead people to the riverside battlefield.” Li Xiao nodded.
He had to admit, though this woman seemed arrogantly a bit silly, being from the Xiao Clan, she had a knack for handling subordinates.
With just a few empty promises, she made Li Xiao have to help her.
And Li Xiao was quite pleased.
“Thank you.”
“Brave youth.” Xiao Yanyan smiled at Li Xiao.
At around twenty, she hadn’t shed her girlish innocence, yet her every move carried a mature woman’s charm.
It was indeed fatally attractive to a youth Li Xiao’s age.
But Li Xiao, having watched dozens of G seeds in his previous life, was an old hand and wouldn’t be easily bewitched by this enchantress.
