Chapter 168: Husband, Give Me A Child
“Is this Jin Prefecture?”
In a horse carriage, the young girl’s head continuously turned, looking up at the scenery of the four directions.
Vast and desolate, an endless grassland, with only one or two villages and patches of farmland occasionally visible.
Compared to Gaochang City, Jin Prefecture was simply the countryside.
There wasn’t even a decent town.
“Yes, this is Jin Prefecture, and from now on, we will live here.”
“I wonder if we’ll ever have a chance to return to Gaochang!” Sitting next to the young girl was a mature young woman, around thirty years old.
Her skin was fair, her figure graceful, and her appearance absolutely stunning.
These two were none other than the Queen of Gaochang Kingdom and Princess Ayina, mother and daughter.
As spoils of war, Li Xiao naturally brought them back to Jin Prefecture.
Moreover, they were not brought back with ordinary common people, but escorted by Li Xiao’s personal guard.
Therefore, at this moment, the mother and daughter, along with Tajiguli, were directly sent to Hexi Fort.
Looking at the wilderness in the distance, many people were riding horses, seemingly coming to welcome their loved ones from the Jin Prefecture Army.
Some soldiers from Jin Prefecture immediately and happily went to meet them.
A scene of joy, laughter, family reunion, and warmth, which was moving.
However, the faces of Princess Ayina and her mother were filled with loss and loneliness.
“They’ve returned home, but our home is gone,” Ayina said with a hint of bitterness.
She thought of Gaochang City, and of her father, the King.
“Don’t cry, Ayina, you must be strong,” the Queen gently wiped away the tears from Ayina’s cheeks.
She said softly, “We women are like dandelions on the grassland, destined to be scattered by the wind.”
“Wherever the wind blows us, that is our home.”
Since ancient times, beauties have been the standard for the strong.
Originally, she was just an ordinary woman in the Kingdom of Gaochang, but because she was beautiful, she was taken by the King of Gaochang and made his Queen.
Now, she had simply been taken by an even stronger man.
She just had her daughter by her side.
The Queen was very clear about the mother and daughter’s future fate: nothing more than sharing one husband.
This kind of life would likely continue for a long time.
But it was not without hope.
“Ayina, we are not left with nothing; we still have Qibidu.”
“As long as he can become the King of Gaochang, and as long as Gaochang’s strength grows, we will have a day to leave Jin Prefecture.”
“But before that, let’s not do anything to anger that leader of the Northern barbarians; we must try our best to please him and make him happy.”
“Persuade him to grant Qibidu more power and a higher status.”
Hearing her mother’s words, Ayina’s face flushed slightly. She naturally understood her mother’s affair with Li Xiao.
She had even heard her mother’s passionate cries on many nights.
And now, her mother wanted her to do the same thing.
Was she pushing her into a fire pit?
No, perhaps it was a new hope.
As women, they had no choice in these chaotic times.
They could only passively depend on the strong.
Ayina’s mind couldn’t help but conjure up Li Xiao’s image.
After all, among the men she had seen, he was the youngest, most powerful, and most influential.
And in another carriage, Tajiguli was also observing the scenery of Jin Prefecture.
It was summer, and Gaochang was already very hot, but the weather in Jin Prefecture was very cool, and the gentle breeze on her cheeks was very comfortable.
“It would be great if we could spend summers in Jin Prefecture and winters in Hami.”
Tajiguli, as Alkus’s most cherished daughter, had always been carefully protected and had not experienced the harshness of life, so her disposition was naturally not so melancholic.
“But Father told me to stay in Jin Prefecture, get pregnant quickly, and raise the child.”
Speaking, Tajiguli gently touched her stomach, and thinking of the passionate moments with Li Xiao on the journey, her cheeks couldn’t help but blush.
A hint of longing filled her eyes.
Just then, a woman’s loud voice sounded from outside the carriage, startling Tajiguli.
“Heizi, where’s my man?”
“Why didn’t he come back?”
Chen Erqiang’s wife looked around everywhere, searching for Chen Erqiang in the crowd, but to no avail, she quickly asked another young and strong man from Hexi Fort.
Beside her, a girl also looked nervous, standing on tiptoe to find someone.
Wang Heizi, holding the son his wife had given him not long ago, smiled and said, “Don’t worry, Erqiang’s wife.”
“Erqiang is fine; he and Dashan stayed in the Great Desert and became Chiliarchs. They’ll be back to see you in a while.”
Hearing this, Chen Erqiang’s wife’s face immediately lit up with surprise.
“Really?”
“Of course, a genuine Chiliarch!”
The Centurions and Captains in the Great Desert were all promoted from the old Jin Prefecture Army, and the eleven Chiliarchs were selected from the four forts of Hexi.
They were the absolute trusted subordinates of Li Xiao.
Chen Erqiang grew up with Li Dashan; they were the best of friends. This time, when Li Dashan stayed to guard the Great Desert, Chen Erqiang chose to stay and help him and was also appointed a Chiliarch.
Although the Jin Prefecture Army’s strength had surged, a Chiliarch was still at the top of the Jin Prefecture food chain.
Therefore, Chen Erqiang’s wife was overjoyed, constantly muttering, “That’s great, that’s great.”
Beside her, Er Ya also gradually relaxed. Her brother, Wei Xuan, had not returned either.
She figured, like Chen Erqiang, he had been assigned to command troops elsewhere.
Indeed, Wang Heizi said, “That brat Wei Xuan didn’t stay in Jin Prefecture; he’s still in the rear guarding prisoners of war.”
“Although he’s still a Centurion, he’s in charge of more people.”
“From now on, Centurions like us will be in charge of two hundred households.”
Wang Heizi was also a Centurion and very proud.
As Jin Prefecture’s influence grew, they, the people of Hexi Fort, also rose in status.
At the very least, they were Captains.
Of those who were Chiliarchs, one-third came from Hexi Fort.
Because of Li Xiao, the fate of the entire Hexi Fort had been completely changed.
“Two hundred households?” Er Ya murmured softly.
She only hoped her brother was safe, but she also knew that in these chaotic times, to live better, one had to strive.
Wei Xuan’s hard work was not only to avenge his parents and relatives but also to allow the siblings to live with more dignity.
“Brother Wang, who are the people in those carriages?” Er Ya asked curiously, looking at the receding carriages.
Because just now, when the carriages passed by, she happened to see a girl sitting inside.
Her facial features were distinctly different from theirs, the Han people, and she was definitely a Hu person.
“Oh, them.”
“They are Uyghurs!” Wang Heizi said, looking at the carriages with a knowing smile.
“In the front carriage sits the daughter of the Prime Minister of Gaochang, given to the Great Governor as a concubine.”
“In the carriage behind sits the Queen and Princess of Gaochang, both of whom are our prisoners of war.”
Hearing this, Er Ya’s expression remained unchanged, but a hint of bitterness arose in her heart.
“His concubine?”
“Yes, he is already married, so she can only be a concubine.”
At this moment, the scene of that night flashed through Er Ya’s mind again.
Sanhe Fort was destroyed, and the Geluolu people rampaged. Just as she was about to be killed by the Geluolu people, that young man appeared.
Like a demon in the dark night, he killed the Geluolu people, but to Er Ya, that figure was like a god.
She thought everything would naturally fall into place, but unexpectedly, he married a princess.
Everything happened so suddenly, making it difficult for Er Ya to accept.
She just didn’t know if he still remembered the girl he saved in Sanhe Fort.
…
However, at this moment, Li Xiao indeed had no time to worry about so much, and was engrossed in hard work.
After the storm passed, he embraced Xiao Yanyan affectionately.
Li Xiao’s current body was full of vigor and strength, and overwhelming Xiao Yanyan was not a problem.
Afterwards, the couple talked about the events that had happened during this period.
Regarding the process of the war, Li Xiao mostly glossed over it, focusing on how many victories he had won, how much money and goods he had seized, and how many civilians he had captured.
“One hundred thousand civilians?”
“Jin Prefecture cannot support so many people,” Xiao Yanyan exclaimed.
Although Jin Prefecture was rich and a treasure land, it had not undergone large-scale development.
Many areas were still barren, making it very difficult to support one hundred thousand civilians.
“Moreover, how can one hundred thousand people be managed?”
“That’s over twenty thousand households, plus our original people~”
“Will Jin Prefecture have over thirty Chiliarchs in the future?”
Xiao Yanyan said, even the people of the Eastern Capital did not have so many.
“If the Chiliarchs and Centurions cannot manage, then we will add Myriad Household Commanders above them.”
“It’s just a matter of appointing a few generals and centralizing power,” Li Xiao said solemnly.
When Temüjin unified Mongolia, he established ninety-seven Chiliarchs.
Jin Prefecture only had over thirty Chiliarchs now, still far behind the Mongols of later generations.
Therefore, Li Xiao still had to continue entering the passes, and the plunder of Western Xia could not stop.
The civilians of Dunhuang and Shazhou, having lived in the harsh Gobi environment since childhood, were exceptionally strong in both physique and will.
Brave and skilled in combat, they were definitely the best soldier source.
With the addition of these civilians, Jin Prefecture’s strength would more than double.
No matter what, they had to be supported.
“It’s just a few tens of thousands of people; we can definitely afford to support them, and we must afford to support them,” Li Xiao’s gaze was firm, his tone full of determination.
“Moreover, over fifty thousand civilians have already remained in the Great Desert, so Jin Prefecture only needs to support over fifty thousand civilians.”
“During this period, the Hexi Merchant Guild will purchase a large amount of grain from the Great Desert and Gaochang to ensure Jin Prefecture’s grain supply.”
“If there is really no grain, I will lead them to plunder again.”
“Last time, Yelü Wusitu caught us off guard with the Kangli Cavalry; if there’s an opportunity, we can go to the Kipchak Steppe to get revenge on him.”
Li Xiao snorted coldly, still harboring resentment towards the Kangli people.
Although the Kipchak Steppe was cold and barren, even a sinking boat has three thousand nails; the land was vast.
Historically, it gave birth to the Golden Tent Khaganate, one of the four great Mongol Khanates, which dominated more than half of Europe.
It was rich in resources and could support a considerable population. Li Xiao planned to go there in the future to raid and steal cattle and sheep.
This would strengthen Jin Prefecture’s power while weakening the Kangli people’s strength.
Speaking of Yelü Wusitu, Xiao Yanyan thought of the war between the Eastern Capital and the Royal Court.
“After the Royal Court learned of Gaochang Kingdom’s attack on the Great Desert, Yelü Zhilugu personally led the army on the Northern Expedition.”
“Fortunately, Jiu Meng’an He blocked the Royal Court Army, and my elder brother provided timely support.”
“Only after the news of your victory over Gaochang Kingdom reached them did Yelü Zhilugu withdraw his troops and return south of the Ili River,” Xiao Yanyan said solemnly.
Although the Eastern Capital Army had repelled the Royal Court Army, there was no smile on her face.
Instead, with a worried expression, she leaned into Li Xiao’s arms and said solemnly, “Everyone advised my elder brother to stay in the Eastern Capital to guard it, but he was worried about the situation in the Seven Rivers and insisted on personally leading the expedition.”
“The battle was won, but my elder brother’s illness worsened.”
Thinking of the news from the Eastern Capital, Xiao Yanyan felt a wave of fear.
Her parents had died early, and only this elder brother had stayed by her side, caring for her as she grew up.
He was practically like a father to her.
Thinking of Xiao Simo’s worsening condition, Xiao Yanyan felt heartache and was terrified of suddenly receiving dire news one day.
“It’s alright, I’m here.”
“I will always be by your side.”
“And your elder brother is blessed with good fortune; he will surely be fine.”
Li Xiao said solemnly, holding Xiao Yanyan tightly in his arms to comfort her.
Not long after, Xiao Yanyan’s emotions stabilized, and then, as if stimulated, she flipped over and straddled Li Xiao.
“Husband, give me a child~”
…
For several days after returning to Hexi Fort, Li Xiao spent his time in bed with Xiao Yanyan.
This woman seemed to have transformed into a wild beast, day and night, frantically wanting a child.
Primarily, her age was no longer young; she was already twenty-two.
Ordinary women at this age would already have children who could wield a knife.
Xiao Yanyan’s stomach showed no signs of pregnancy.
Her maternal instincts overflowing, she couldn’t wait any longer.
Moreover, as Li Xiao’s career grew larger and Jin Prefecture’s power became increasingly dominant, everything required an heir to inherit this foundation.
Xiao Yanyan believed that giving birth to a child for Li Xiao was her responsibility.
Li Xiao did not reject this idea.
Although he felt he was still young, given his current achievements and the tasks ahead, having a child would also put more people at ease.
For the great cause of Jin Prefecture, Li Xiao had been working tirelessly like an old ox these past few days, to the point of wearing himself out.
It wasn’t until Xiao Yanyan could bear it no longer that Li Xiao was finally able to break free.
After a brief rest, he led his men to begin inspecting Jin Prefecture.
The primary focus was on the resettlement of over fifty thousand common people.
“Great Governor!”
Upon hearing the news that Li Xiao had arrived with the White Armored Army, a Chiliarch rushed to greet him with his five Centurions.
“How are these common people being resettled? Are there any issues?”
Li Xiao dismounted, handed his helmet to Tie Tou beside him, and gazed into the distance.
The vast, boundless Great Grassland was filled with cattle and sheep and common people, bustling and lively.
This was the northern region of Jin Prefecture, primarily a pastoral area, where Li Xiao had settled most of the common people.
“The enrollment of military households is complete, and the common people know who their respective Captains and Centurions are.”
“The grasslands for each Centurion have been allocated, and for now, they seem sufficient.”
“But if the common people’s sheep flocks grow and multiply in the future, our grasslands will surely not be enough.”
“These common people also did some grazing when they were in Dunhuang and Shazhou, they just didn’t have this many sheep.”
“And they were all very happy after borrowing the sheep…”
The speaker’s name was Zhao Erdao, the second son of Zhao Tiezhu of Tazhai.
He was among those who followed Li Xiao in forming the Four Fort Allied Army and launching a night raid on Sanhe Fort.
Furthermore, he and Li Xiao were related.
Li Xiao had an aunt who married into Tazhai, and she was Zhao Erdao’s Elder Sister-in-law.
After experiencing so many wars, Zhao Erdao had now also become a Chiliarch.
Li Xiao’s visit this time was to see if he could manage these thousand households of common people well.
After all, managing common people was different from managing a thousand soldiers; it required handling more daily trivialities.
“Not enough grasslands? Then continue expanding northward.”
“To the west of Jin Prefecture is the North Sea, we dare not make a move, but those Wildlings to the north shouldn’t be able to stop you.”
“Expand north!”
“The more territory my Jin Prefecture has, the better,” Li Xiao said with a deep voice.
After listening to Zhao Erdao’s report, Li Xiao led his men directly into the crowd.
He called out to a woman and asked, “How many people are in your family? How many sheep have you borrowed?”
The woman appeared to be in her twenties, with rough skin, and a torn cloth wrapped around her head. She became very nervous upon seeing Li Xiao and his entourage.
She had recognized the tall man before her as the Great Governor.
And the people standing behind him were either Chiliarchs or Centurions.
For a moment, she was so nervous that she couldn’t speak.
Seeing this, Li Xiao forced a kind smile, motioned for Zhao Erdao and the others to step back, leaving only a few Personal Guards by his side.
Then he asked, “Elder Sister, they’ve left, and they can’t hear us. You don’t need to worry about retaliation.”
“Otherwise, I will never spare them.”
Under Li Xiao’s comfort, the woman gradually relaxed.
“How many sheep can each person here borrow?” Li Xiao asked.
“Twenty… twenty sheep!”
“How many ewes, and how many rams?”
…
“How many do you have to return in the first year?”
“Two!”
…
Shortly after, Li Xiao nodded with satisfaction, gave the woman a foot of cotton cloth, and let her leave.
He then inquired with several other common people, and the answers he received were all the same.
This indicated that Zhao Erdao and the others had not deceived him but had followed Li Xiao’s orders faithfully.
The Jin Prefecture Entrepreneurship Group was just beginning and was far from becoming corrupt.
According to Li Xiao’s orders, every common person who came to Jin Prefecture could borrow twenty sheep from the Great Governor’s Mansion.
For a family of five, that would be one hundred sheep.
As for where the sheep that the Great Governor’s Mansion lent to these common people came from?
Li Xiao had captured over a million cattle and sheep during the Battle of Naiman and the Western Expedition. Aside from rewarding his officers and soldiers, the rest were all raised freely in the Jin Prefecture Grasslands, with some Jin Prefecture common people and female slaves tending to them.
Therefore, Li Xiao lent these cattle and sheep to the common people through a loan system.
If each person borrowed twenty sheep, they would need to return two sheep to the Great Governor’s Mansion in the first year, and four sheep in the second year.
They would return six sheep in the third year, eight sheep in the fourth year, and ten sheep in the fifth year.
Thus, the debt would be fully repaid.
Over five years, the common people would return a total of thirty sheep to the Great Governor, including principal and interest. These had to be adult sheep, not old ones.
Any lambs born during this period would belong to them.
Each ewe could produce two lambing seasons per year or three in two years, with each litter ranging from one or two lambs to four or five.
Therefore, the interest of ten sheep over five years was indeed not much.
The ewes could produce milk, and the old sheep could be slaughtered for meat.
Coupled with the belongings they brought from Dunhuang, if they were truly in need of grain, they could borrow from the Hexi Merchant Guild.
With these resources, it was enough for the common people to survive in Jin Prefecture.
As for cattle and horses, they could also be borrowed from the Great Governor’s Mansion in a similar manner.
In this way, the common people solved their basic survival needs, and the Great Governor’s Mansion solved the issue of feeding cattle and sheep.
In essence, it was equivalent to these common people helping the Great Governor’s Mansion feed livestock for five years.
“I thought the Great Governor brought these common people to Jin Prefecture to reclaim farmland, but I didn’t expect it to be for grazing livestock,”
Zhang Xinghua, the former Prefect of Dunhuang, said softly. He was now an Advisor to the Great Governor’s Mansion.
He was very concerned about the lives of the common people from Dunhuang and Guazhou who had come to Jin Prefecture, so he volunteered to accompany Li Xiao on a grassroots inspection.
The results he saw were both surprising and satisfactory.
“Jin Prefecture has abundant grasslands, but little arable land.”
“Moreover, the soil is hard and contains a lot of sand and stones, making reclamation difficult. It would take several years to cultivate enough farmland for a family to be self-sufficient.”
“My Jin Prefecture does not have that much time to waste.”
Li Xiao walked on the grassland, looking at the smiles on the faces of the common people in the distance, and said in a calm voice.
He brought these common people to Jin Prefecture not for farming.
They were here to fight, so he certainly couldn’t tie them down to reclaiming land and be unable to extricate them for several years.
“As for grain?”
“We will hold out for this year. By next year, there will be a continuous stream of grain transported from the Great Desert and Gaochang.”
Long hours spent tending to the fields can easily cause people to lose their martial spirit, become simple and honest, and lack fighting spirit.
On the other hand, a nomadic and high-altitude life can temper the will and maintain a strong physique.
Li Xiao’s plan was a separation of pastoral and agricultural activities.
The common people of Jin Prefecture would primarily engage in grazing, subsisting on meat and dairy, and relying on the Great Desert for grain.
The common people of the Great Desert, possessing vast tracts of high-quality farmland, would produce grain and sell it to the Hexi Merchant Guild for money, which they would use to purchase meat and dairy products from Jin Prefecture.
This would form a beneficial complementarity between the two regions.
When war approached, both regions could dispatch troops simultaneously, sufficient to mobilize a large cavalry legion in a short period.
