Chapter 145: Jin Prefecture People Don’t Fight Jin Prefecture People
The Ili River winds down from the towering Tianshan Mountains, passing through the Yili River Valley, traversing the Seven Rivers Basin, and finally pouring majestically into Lake Balkhash.
At this time, early summer had arrived, and as per the usual pattern, the glaciers were melting, causing the Ili River water to rise, reaching as high as the horseback in the deeper sections.
However, the downstream section of the Ili River this year presented a completely different scene.
The river’s height showed almost no noticeable change compared to when the Northern Frontier Army marched south to the Royal Court more than half a month ago.
This was only because, dozens of li upstream where the riverbed was narrower, a dam had quietly been built at some point.
This dam stood like a sturdy barrier, blocking all the rushing river water from upstream.
And this was precisely Li Sanhe’s masterpiece.
After receiving news of the central army’s defeat and Xiao Simo’s severe injury, Li Xiao made a decisive decision and immediately dispatched Li Sanhe with men to secretly rush to this location, beginning construction of the dam to provide cover for the main force’s retreat.
Since then, the upstream river water had begun to accumulate massively, with the flow becoming increasingly fierce and turbulent.
Li Sanhe had no choice but to lead everyone in reinforcing the dam day and night to prevent the flood from breaking through prematurely.
Fortunately, the long torment finally came to an end.
That afternoon, Li Sanhe was in the river water, busy beyond measure.
His face was tanned black by the blazing sun, his body covered in mud, and at this moment, he bore no resemblance to a proper Jin Prefecture Army chiliarch—he looked just like an old farmer toiling diligently in the fields.
Just then, a young soldier’s excited shout came from not far away: “Beacon smoke!”
“The beacon smoke is up!”
“Chiliarch, beacon smoke has risen downstream!”
Hearing this, Li Sanhe quickly turned his head and looked toward the western horizon.
Sure enough, a column of rolling beacon smoke was rising faintly there.
A smile immediately appeared on Li Sanhe’s face, and he let out a heavy sigh of relief.
“Good!”
“Excellent!”
Li Sanhe burst into loud laughter, then waved his hand and shouted: “Little brats, all withdraw to the bank!”
“Today I’ll show you what earth-shaking really means.”
“Da Ying, Xiao Wuzi.”
“You two are the best swimmers, so the task of breaching the dam is yours.”
“Understood!”
The two young men responded resolutely.
Afterward, all the soldiers quickly withdrew to the north bank, leaving only Ma Daying and Xiao Wuzi behind.
They selected a target spot, exchanged a glance, and then swung their hammers, digging furiously one strike after another.
As the two opened a breach, in an instant, the long-accumulated upstream river water seemed to find an outlet for release.
Like a beast breaking free from its cage, it madly surged toward the breach.
As the breach grew larger under the water’s impact, the two exerted all their strength and desperately ran toward the riverbank.
In a flash, the entire dam collapsed completely under the assault of the surging floodwaters.
The roaring Ili River water, carrying boundless power, rolled downstream like a wild horse breaking free from its reins.
“Hahahaha~”
Amid the deafening roar of the rushing river, Li Sanhe stood on the bank, laughing heartily.
“Royal Court swine.”
“Today I’ll give you a good bath.”
“Then Grandpa will slaughter and eat your meat.”
At the same time, the Royal Court downstream had begun crossing the river.
The water was shallow, just lapping over the horses’ knees.
The first to enter the water were two thousand Kangli Army troops, driving their war horses through the river water, slowly advancing toward the opposite bank.
However, before they reached the river center, they suddenly heard the sound of bowstrings.
“Loose arrows!”
Standing on the opposite riverbank was the Divine Arm Crossbow Company. This time, they did not use three-stage shooting tactics but instead lined up in a single row along the bank.
At Chen Lao Jiu’s command, a hundred Divine Arm Crossbows roared to life, firing toward the Kangli Army.
“Aaaah~”
Screams rang out continuously, war horses neighed, soldiers wailed, and large numbers of soldiers fell into the river.
Soon, the river water was dyed red.
At the same time, the other troops on the opposite bank also raised their bows and arrows, preparing to loose a volley once the Kangli Cavalry drew closer.
Seeing this, Xiao Lintta’s face grew even darker.
His eyes blazed with fire as he roared in fury: “Damn it.”
“It’s the Divine Arm Crossbow team under Li Xiao.”
He knew that in the Naiman War, Li Xiao had captured a hundred Divine Arm Crossbows from the Naiman People, and their power was astonishing.
They could deliver lethal strikes to targets from three hundred meters away.
This made Xiao Lintta quite wary.
“Sulaiman Bey.”
“The Kangli Cavalry’s speed is completely restricted by the river water; staying in the river makes them nothing but lambs to the slaughter.”
“Right now, the only troops unafraid of the rebels’ bows and crossbows are the Iqta Cavalry.” Xiao Lintta turned to Sulaiman with burning eyes and said.
But upon hearing this, Sulaiman frowned slightly.
“Lord Xiao, our Kara-Khanid Khaganate’s army would likely struggle against these crossbows too.”
According to their prior agreement, Xiao Lintta’s soldiers would charge ahead, while the Eastern Kara-Khanid Khaganate’s army only needed to follow behind and reap the benefits.
But now Xiao Lintta wanted the Iqta Cavalry to cross the river and charge?
What a joke?
These five hundred Iqta Cavalry were the Eastern Kara-Khanid Khaganate’s treasures.
Seeing this, Xiao Lintta grew even more furious. He had made such a promise, but the current situation didn’t allow it.
“Bey, you can see the situation now.”
“Whether Kangli People or my subordinate cavalry, continuing to cross means certain death.”
“But the Iqta Cavalry are clad in heavy armor, fearless of ordinary arrows. With a shield held in front, they can minimize damage from the Divine Arm Crossbows.”
“They can fully cross the Ili River and break through the enemy lines.”
At this point, Xiao Lintta’s eyes narrowed, his voice grew lower, and he dismissed those around them before continuing.
“Moreover, the rebels have looted the Imperial Palace and numerous nobles’ mansions.”
“The gold and silver treasures they’ve plundered amount to no less than a million.”
“All that money is right in front of us.”
“Doesn’t it tempt you?”
Hearing this, Sulaiman licked his lips slightly, his eyes darting as his heart began to race.
That was treasure worth at least millions of gold dinars; if he pocketed just a portion, he could enjoy glory and wealth for the rest of his life.
How could it not tempt him?
Though he didn’t want to risk the Iqta Cavalry, he craved that wealth even more.
And Xiao Lintta was right—right now, no other troops could do it except the Iqta Cavalry.
“Fine!”
Sulaiman gritted his teeth and said fiercely.
“After we defeat the rebels, the greatest merit goes to me.”
“The treasure we pocket, we split four-six—you four, me six.”
Of course, not all the treasure, but the portion they pocketed would be split four-six.
Most of it would still have to be handed over to Yelü Zhilugu.
Hearing this split ratio, Xiao Lintta’s eyelids twitched.
They say Uyghur People are good at business and even better at scheming—he was seeing it today.
What a bloody rip-off.
But there was no choice; he still needed to rely on Sulaiman now.
Thus, Xiao Lintta nodded his ferocious face heavily: “Good.”
“It’s decided.”
Soon, five hundred Iqta Cavalry, fully encased in heavy armor with shields held in front, urged their war horses into the water.
The heavy sound of hooves stepped into the river water, advancing step by step with difficulty toward the opposite bank.
Behind them were three thousand light cavalry from the Eastern Kara-Khanid Khaganate providing escort.
Moreover, to break the rebels in one decisive push, Xiao Lintta ordered three thousand Xiong Department Pishi Army to deploy.
At this moment, nearly eight thousand Royal Court soldiers were in the Ili River.
They spread out and advanced slowly, occupying several li of riverbed on both sides.
Like a swarm of locusts, a dense black mass exuding immense oppressive presence.
“Loose arrows!”
The Divine Arm Crossbow Company reloaded arrows and fired again.
But this time, leading the front were five hundred armored cavalry.
They were like five hundred indestructible iron cans.
Ordinary arrows striking their bodies made only pinging sounds, causing no harm.
Even Divine Arm Crossbows, penetrating shields and striking iron armor, had their force almost entirely dissipated.
Only a few Iqta Cavalry fell into the river water.
“Damn it, the Iqta Cavalry are about to break through.”
Jiu Meng’an He said angrily.
Seeing the enemy had passed the river center and was drawing closer to the north bank, while the Northern Frontier Army’s weapons did limited damage to the Iqta Cavalry.
This made Jiu Meng’an He extremely anxious.
He couldn’t help but look upstream.
And at that moment, the originally calm river surface suddenly surged with towering waves.
A low rumbling sound abruptly rose, gradually drowning out the chaos and clamor of the battlefield.
The rumbling grew from far to near, like thousands of cavalry thundering in.
In an instant, the massive flood roared like a clawing giant dragon, surging forward with boundless power.
Jiu Meng’an He’s face lit up with joy: “It’s here!”
“The dam’s breached, hahaha!”
“Royal Court pups, you’re done for.”
Who could stand against the power of nature?
At the same time, the Royal Court Army soldiers sensing the river’s anomaly also looked around in confusion.
Suddenly, one Royal Court soldier stared in terror, pointing shakily at the flood’s direction, his voice shrill with fear.
“My God, what is that?”
The other soldiers turned their heads, their faces instantly draining of color.
“Damn it, it’s a flood.”
“Flood’s coming, run!”
“Too late.”
“No~”
These soldiers’ mouths gaped wide; all stunned by the sudden disaster, their cries instantly swallowed by the flood’s roar.
The battlefield’s shouts of killing, screams, and bow-crossbow shots all came to an abrupt halt.
In their place was dead silence, only the flood’s surging roar echoing between heaven and earth.
Under this apocalyptic upheaval, the Royal Court Army soldiers snapped out of it and descended into total chaos, desperately fleeing toward the Ili River banks.
However, the flood was too fast; many soldiers hadn’t run far before being engulfed by surging waves.
The flood mercilessly battered them, flipping many war horses with waves, their riders swept into the water.
The cavalry struggled desperately in the water, flailing arms to grab anything for salvation, but around them were only raging currents and floating debris.
Especially those five hundred heavy cavalry, now the most wretched of all.
Others could float when falling in, but they sank straight to the riverbed, unable to move.
The once dense, oppressively imposing Royal Court Army formation was now utterly stripped of its earlier might under the flood’s ravage, reduced to chaos and despair.
On the battlefield, only the flood’s roar and the soldiers’ desperate cries echoed endlessly.
On both banks of the Ili River, everyone was stunned by the scene.
But their moods were diametrically opposed.
Soon, cheers erupted from the Northern Frontier Army on the north bank.
The Royal Court Army had committed countless evils; even Heaven could not tolerate them and was coming to take them away.
As for the prisoners of war, their faces were filled with despair.
They had been waiting for the Royal Court Army to cross and cooperate from within and without to completely annihilate the Northern Frontier Army.
But now, that dream was shattered.
They had lost their one chance at self-rescue.
From now on, they would be slaves of the Northern Frontier Army.
Unless they earned merit, they would remain in the Golden Mountain mining until death.
In contrast, the Royal Court Army on the south bank was in total disarray, especially Xiao Lintta, who sat astride his war horse, stunned in place.
His lips trembled slightly, his face as pale as paper, his whole body emanating an icy chill, as if trapped in an ice cellar.
Gazing at the flood, his eyes were full of shock and despair, unable to believe the scene before him.
“How is this possible?”
“No, it can’t be.”
He shook his head repeatedly, hands subconsciously gripping the reins, knuckles whitening from the force.
“Absolutely impossible.”
He seemed to lose his senses, muttering to himself over and over, his voice filled with helplessness and bewilderment.
Beside him, Sulaiman watched as the flood mercilessly swallowed his Eastern Kara-Khanid Khaganate’s five hundred Iqta Cavalry and three thousand cavalry; he was on the verge of collapse.
Veins bulged on his neck, his facial muscles twisting in extreme heartbreak.
“No!”
“My cavalry, my brothers!”
Sulaiman turned his head, eyes bloodshot as he glared at Xiao Lintta, breathing heavily in rage.
“They’re all gone, all gone!”
“How do I explain this to the Great Khan, to their family members?”
“It’s all because of you!”
Sulaiman roared in fury, pointing at Xiao Lintta and cursing: “If not for you ordering my soldiers to cross the river.”
“They wouldn’t have died in this flood.”
“I’ll make you pay with your life for them.”
Sulaiman was going mad.
These five hundred Iqta Cavalry and three thousand light cavalry were the Eastern Kara-Khanid Khaganate’s elites.
Many were even noble heirs themselves.
Now destroyed by a flood—not only crippling the Eastern Kara-Khanid Khaganate, but more importantly, the families behind these soldiers would never forgive Sulaiman.
Even as the Great Khan’s own younger brother, he couldn’t withstand the wrath of so many nobles.
“What the hell are you going crazy for?”
“Get lost.”
Amid Sulaiman’s furious cursing, Xiao Lintta finally regained his senses.
Before, with the Iqta Cavalry, Xiao Lintta had to placate Sulaiman.
Now that the Iqta Cavalry were gone, this bastard still dared to act arrogant in front of him?
Xiao Lintta wasn’t indulging him anymore.
“We’ve been tricked; this flood is absolutely Li Xiao’s conspiracy.”
“Damn it~”
Xiao Lintta gazed at the battlefield ravaged by the flood and cursed in anger.
The soldiers’ struggles and cries in the river water were incessant, but he had no time for them now.
He knew clearly that the Northern Frontier Army would soon launch a fierce counterattack.
“Withdraw!”
Xiao Lintta shouted hoarsely: “Withdraw now!”
Preparing to lead the two thousand Jin Prefecture Army who hadn’t entered the water yet, to flee this nightmarish place.
These two thousand Jin Prefecture Army were his last political capital.
Behind him, Sulaiman cursed Xiao Lintta’s ancestors eighteen generations over, but he wasn’t a fool either.
He knew survival came first; staying here wouldn’t save those Iqta Cavalry.
Thus, he gritted his teeth, led his remaining few guards, and unwillingly followed behind Xiao Lintta in retreat.
However, fate seemed unwilling to let them off easily.
Just as they had gone a short distance, a low rumble of war horse hooves suddenly came from afar, like rolling thunder from the horizon.
“Boom boom boom boom~”
The group, like startled birds, changed color dramatically.
Looking toward the sound, they saw Li Xiao leading three thousand cavalry charging in like a steel torrent.
One thousand White Armored Army charged at the front; the blood on their armor had long dried, but the bloody scent still assaulted the senses.
Though each was filthy and disheveled, under the sunset’s glow, these White Armored Army still emanated a chilling aura.
Their eyes were cold and ferocious, like demons returned from hell, their spears glinting coldly in the evening light.
Seeing this, Xiao Lintta’s heart sank to the abyss.
The soldiers around him also showed fear, many weapons trembling slightly in their hands.
“What do we do, Governor?”
A general asked tensely; from the address, he was clearly Xiao Lintta’s confidant in Jin Prefecture.
“Panic-mongering!”
Xiao Lintta bellowed: “Form up, prepare to fight!”
Though his voice remained loud, he knew deep down their chances against Li Xiao’s menacing troops were slim to none.
Beside him, Sulaiman was utterly broken.
“Damn it, it’s those devils from last night.”
“They’re here; we’re finished.”
Sulaiman usually appeared wise and brave, but like many imperial clan generals, he had a common flaw.
Great at fighting downwind battles, one fiercer than the next.
But facing crisis, his heart would panic.
In summary, Sulaiman’s position as commander of this army was mainly because he was Kara-Khan’s most trusted younger brother.
“Shut up!”
“Dare bewitch morale again, and I’ll behead you.” Xiao Lintta cursed angrily at Sulaiman.
“You~”
Sulaiman’s face flushed pig-liver red.
Bastard Xiao Lintta—when he needed favors before, he called him sweet names.
Now with no leverage, not even “Madam Niu,” and even threatening to kill him?
The fickleness of the world and law of the jungle were on full display at this moment.
Xiao Lintta’s face was ashen; watching Li Xiao’s cavalry close in, his heart filled with reluctance.
“This Li Xiao is truly relentless!”
Soon, the three thousand iron cavalry fanned out, trapping Xiao Lintta’s army on the grassland.
Li Xiao reined in his horse, its front hooves rearing high with a long neigh.
He looked down imposingly at Xiao Lintta and the others, eyes full of cold indifference.
“Xiao Lintta, Sulaiman, you won’t escape today even with wings!”
He shouted loudly, his voice echoing across the grassland.
Facing his arch-enemy now smugly triumphant before him.
Xiao Lintta’s eyes blazed as he bellowed: “Li Xiao, don’t get cocky.”
“Xiao Simo is already dead.”
“The rebel main force has been annihilated by the Royal Court.”
“Soon the Northern Frontier will be leveled, and when that time comes, all of Jin Prefecture and everyone behind you will be reduced to dust.”
“Surrender and reform now while you can.”
“Lay down arms and come with me to see His Majesty Jie’er Khan.”
“Beg His Majesty Jie’er Khan’s forgiveness; perhaps he can spare your family’s lives.”
“Don’t persist in delusion.”
Xiao Lintta shouted loudly, still trying to persuade Li Xiao to surrender.
Whether Yelü Zhilugu would truly pardon him was another matter.
First get through this crisis and save his own skin.
But Li Xiao didn’t believe a word of it.
He roared angrily: “Silence.”
“You traitor.”
“Have no right to mention Lord Xiao’s name.”
“Lord Xiao showed you grace as heavy as mountains, yet you betrayed him to become the Royal Court’s lapdog.”
“Scum like you deserves a thousand cuts and ten thousand dismemberments.”
Hearing Li Xiao’s words, Xiao Lintta roared even more furiously: “Grace as heavy as mountains?”
“Hahaha!”
“If Xiao Simo truly cared for me, he wouldn’t have sent me to be Jin Prefecture Governor.”
“He was clearly wary of me, guarding against me.”
“Xiao Simo is a thorough hypocrite.”
Li Xiao snorted coldly, having no intention of defending Xiao Simo.
Mainly, he didn’t plan to waste words on this cornered dog Xiao Lintta.
“Words are pointless.”
“Surrender, Xiao Lintta; you won’t get away today.”
Xiao Lintta raged: “In your dreams.”
“Even in death, I won’t yield to you, Li Xiao.”
He knew, given his deeds, the Eastern Capital would hate him; falling into Li Xiao’s hands meant a fate worse than death.
Better to gamble again—perhaps he could still escape.
He gripped his spear tightly and shouted to the surrounding Jin Prefecture soldiers: “Brothers, today our lives hang on this fight—charge them!”
Xiao Lintta’s cry was stirring, but responses were few, mostly his own confidants.
Most soldiers were in panic, morale scattered.
Seeing this, Li Xiao sneered: “Xiao Lintta, you’ve lost the people’s hearts—surrender.”
He then shouted to the opposing Jin Prefecture Army soldiers: “Brothers of the Jin Prefecture Army opposite!”
“This commander is Li Xiao, not your enemy.”
“Here today only to capture and kill Xiao Lintta.”
“Has nothing to do with you.”
“Jin Prefecture People don’t fight Jin Prefecture People.”
“Lay down weapons and surrender; this commander guarantees no punishment for past deeds.”
“I!”
“Li Xiao!”
“Will take you home!”
As Li Xiao shouted loudly, Jin Prefecture tribe members translated and yelled beside him.
Hearing this, the Jin Prefecture Army soldiers were instantly stirred.
They had come from afar to campaign against the Royal Court, but due to Xiao Lintta, were forced to switch sides.
Back then, their greatest fear was implicating family far away in Jin Prefecture.
So when Li Xiao shouted “home,” it struck many soldiers’ hearts deeply.
Who didn’t want to go home?
They no longer wanted to fight here; they just wanted to return to Jin Prefecture with their families.
Moreover, sticking with Xiao Lintta now was suicide.
Thus, at this moment, these Jin Prefecture soldiers exchanged glances and slowly lowered their weapons.
Some muttered: “Home.”
“Home~”
Emotions are contagious; more and more soldiers began shouting “home.”
Faces excited, expressions fervent, they yelled at the top of their lungs.
Soon, the shouts merged into a roar shaking the skies.
“Home!”
“Home!”
……
Seeing this, Xiao Lintta was utterly enraged.
“Shut up, all of you shut up.”
His eyes bloodshot, panting like an ox, he swung his war saber threateningly, killing two soldiers outright—but it was futile.
He even faced backlash from the soldiers.
“Thief Xiao, you killed my father; today I avenge him.”
“Brothers, seize Xiao Lintta and deliver him to Governor Li for reward.”
A young soldier roared ferociously in rage.
He leaped from his horse and tackled Xiao Lintta to the ground.
Among Jin Prefecture’s Eight Great Chiliarchs, five belonged to Li Xiao; Xiao Lintta controlled only three.
Even among those three chiliarchs, only one unconditionally obeyed orders.
The upper chiliarch under Xiao Lintta’s confidant.
The other two chiliarch armies, from chiliarchs to squad leaders, were all nomadic tribe members.
They obeyed Xiao Lintta’s orders, but conditionally.
Just like when the Kangli People night-attacked Xiao Simo’s central army before.
Then, Xiao Lintta planned to lead them in a rear sneak attack on Xiao Simo’s large tent to capture him.
But the other two chiliarch armies ignored his orders, unwilling to rebel with him.
Helpless, Xiao Lintta abandoned the plan and led these men away from the camp.
After all, the situation was dire then; those two chiliarch armies didn’t want to betray Xiao Simo but also didn’t want to die with him.
So they simply followed Xiao Lintta out.
But they didn’t expect Xiao Lintta to settle scores with those two chiliarch armies afterward.
With the Royal Court Army as backing, he replaced them top to bottom with his own people.
The original chiliarchs and centurions naturally became souls under his blade.
So at this moment, when the tide turned against Xiao Lintta, the relatives and confidants of those former chiliarchs and centurions were the first to turn on him.
Several young soldiers swarmed forward, pinning Xiao Lintta to the ground.
His personal guards tried to rescue him but were hacked to death by surrounding soldiers.
As for Xiao Lintta’s confidants serving as chiliarchs and centurions, they too were killed or captured by soldiers.
The Jin Prefecture Army internally launched a bottom-up reckoning.
Sulaiman watched this trembling, face ashen.
Terrified, he said to his nearby personal guard: “Surrender.”
“We surrender too.”
“Go tell Li Xiao, this bey is Kara-Khan’s own younger brother~”
“Don’t misunderstand; our Kara-Khanid Khaganate was forced into this, reluctantly opposing the Northern Frontier.”
