Chapter 188: The Army Triumphant, General Of The Western Sea Protector Army
Kuyitan Battlefield.
It was once a paradise of melodious pastoral songs and abundant water and grass, but now it has become a human purgatory.
“Great trouble, Gurkhan, Temüjin’s army is attacking us from behind.”
Upon hearing this, Zhamuha’s face instantly showed extreme shock. He leaped off his horse and grabbed the soldier’s clothes with his hands like pincers,
“What did you say?”
“How is that possible?”
The soldier, trembling, dared not answer.
The Battle of Kuitian had been going on for over a month. In the initial stages, Zhamuha’s Nine Tribes Allied Army held the upper hand due to their numerical advantage.
However, several attacks were thwarted by Temüjin, resulting in heavy losses for the Nine Tribes Allied Army, low morale within the ranks, and the emergence of multiple dissenting voices.
In recent days, the allied forces of Temüjin and Ong Khan had focused on defense, but they never expected that Temüjin was harboring a sinister plan.
As they spoke, dust billowed in the distance, and the sound of hooves, like rolling thunder, approached from afar. Temüjin’s army, like a surging black tide, rapidly attacked from the rear of the Nine Tribes Allied Army.
Leading the charge was Temüjin himself. He was clad in iron armor, riding a tall black fine horse, brandishing his spear, and shouting loudly, “My brothers, today is the day to achieve great deeds.”
“Whoever captures Zhamuha will be granted the rank of Chiliarch and rewarded with two thousand cattle and sheep. Charge!”
Temüjin’s army surged like a tidal wave, attacking forward with overwhelming force.
Caught off guard, the Nine Tribes Allied Army was routed.
Looking at the chaotic scene before him, Zhamuha’s heart was filled with regret and unwillingness.
“Damn Temüjin, he’s even more cunning and treacherous than the foxes on the grasslands.”
Toqto’a, the leader of the Merkit tribe, and Huluge, the leader of the Oirats, their faces etched with fear, rode up to Zhamuha.
“Our defeat is now certain. You cannot be Gurkhan any longer. We should flee quickly,” Toqto’a said loudly to Zhamuha.
When the Nine Tribes allied, they jointly elected Zhamuha, the leader of the strongest Jadalan tribe, as ‘Gurkhan’.
Now that the Nine Tribes Allied Army was defeated, his position as Gurkhan was naturally gone.
“No, I cannot end like this,” Zhamuha roared in anger, utterly unwilling to accept this outcome.
As long as he could defeat Ong Khan and Temüjin, he would be the overlord of the grasslands, the strongest Gurkhan.
Alas, he was just one step away.
“What, you still want to fight? If we keep fighting, our tribesmen will all be wiped out. The Oirats will not continue to fight with you,” Huluge, the leader of the Oirats, said irritably.
Zhamuha was extremely annoyed but also helpless.
If this battle had been successful, he would naturally have been the supreme Gurkhan, but now he was nothing.
“What should we do now? Our army has been completely routed, and Temüjin will not let us go easily,” Toqto’a asked tremblingly.
If there was anyone Temüjin most wanted to kill, it was undoubtedly Toqto’a.
The hatred between the Kiyan tribe and the Merkit people was as high as the heavens and as deep as the sea.
He absolutely could not fall into Temüjin’s hands.
“Our forces are unevenly matched, and there is no way we can confront Temüjin head-on. We can only temporarily avoid his sharp edge and make other plans,” Huluge said.
“I plan to return to the Oirats and seek aid from the Liao people.”
“The Liao people have just eliminated the Naiman tribe and defeated the army of the Kereit tribe. They are powerful, and Temüjin and Ong Khan would not dare to provoke the Liao people rashly.”
The Oirats were located north of the Kereit tribe, with only the Dujin Mountain separating them from the Naiman tribe.
After the Naiman tribe was eliminated by the Jin Prefecture Army, some Naiman herdsmen fled to the Oirats.
Therefore, Zhamuha and others had also received this news not long ago.
As for Sangkun’s defeat, it was mainly learned from Kereit prisoners of war and defectors.
Although Ong Khan had imposed a gag order on this, the Battle of the Drag River resulted in so many casualties and captured soldiers from the Kereit tribe that the news could not be completely concealed.
“Seek the protection of the Liao people?”
Although Toqto’a hesitated, he could not think of a better solution at the moment and could only nod helplessly.
“There’s no time to lose. We’ll set off now, before Temüjin’s army completely surrounds us,” Huluge said loudly.
Seeing the two of them so simply discuss and decide on their escape route.
Zhamuha had no choice but to follow closely, leading his remaining troops to transfer towards the Oirats.
Ubsu Lake, surrounded by mountains, is a low-lying plain.
At the center is a lake, and around it are vast grasslands, one of the most fertile grasslands east of the Golden Mountain.
This was originally the Naiman Khanate.
This area is separated from Jin Prefecture by the Golden Mountain Range, with convenient transportation, abundant water and grass, and can support a large number of herdsmen and cattle and sheep.
However, due to the attack by the Jin Prefecture Army, Sun Khan had hastily moved his khanate north to Tannu Uriankhai.
Now that the war was over, Li Xiao designated Ubsu Lake as the administrative seat of Xihai again.
On this early morning, the sky was clear.
Orange sunlight, like fine threads, gently passed through the gaps of the large tent, casting its glow on the soft fur felt blankets.
Sorghaghtani slowly opened her eyes in the hazy light and shadow.
Her consciousness was not yet fully clear, and her gaze fell on the man lying beside her.
“Ah~”
In an instant, her pupils dilated, a strong shock surged through her heart, and she instinctively wanted to get up quickly.
However, as soon as she moved, a tearing pain struck from her lower body, causing her to gasp and freeze in her movements.
With this pain, the memories of last night flooded back like a tide.
Her cheeks flushed slightly, and a hint of shyness and complex emotions flickered in her eyes.
At this moment, she clearly realized that she had become a true woman.
And her husband was the man beside her.
Li Xiao, the Great Governor of Jin Prefecture.
“You’re awake?”
While Sorghaghtani was lost in thought, Li Xiao’s slightly hoarse yet magnetic voice sounded in her ear.
She turned her head in a fluster, only to find that Li Xiao had opened his eyes at some unknown time.
Her face instantly turned red to the roots of her ears, and she instinctively tried to avoid his gaze, murmuring, “Yes… I…”
A maiden’s shyness is always innate, regardless of ethnicity or custom.
Especially for the first encounter with a man, she would certainly be very shy.
Li Xiao had planned to formally take her into his household after returning to Jin Prefecture, but last night he had drunk a little, and in a fit of passion, he couldn’t help but take her.
But perhaps his actions were too rough, as Sorghaghtani had suffered greatly last night.
“Don’t be afraid, from now on you are my Li Xiao’s woman, and I will protect you,” Li Xiao said in a calm voice.
His voice was deep and firm, as if carrying an irresistible power.
This made the woman’s initially uneasy heart settle down a little.
She nodded slightly and softly said, “Thank you, Great Governor… no, thank you, husband.”
Li Xiao nodded gently, “I have important matters to attend to today and cannot stay with you for too long. Please rest well in the tent, and if you need anything, just command the servants.”
With that, he got up and began to dress himself with neat and tidy movements.
After Li Xiao left, Sorghaghtani’s maidservant entered the tent carrying a bowl of millet porridge and two flatbreads.
“Madam, please eat something.”
As a princess by marriage alliance, the Kereit tribe had naturally equipped her with attendants.
Maidservants, rough servants, and guards were all present, showcasing the ‘grand tribal style’ of the Kereit tribe.
However, Li Xiao planned to slowly clear out the many Kereit scouts among them.
“Madam, did the Great Governor bully you?”
While eating, another younger maidservant looked at Sorghaghtani with a wronged expression and asked.
Hearing the young maidservant’s words, Sorghaghtani’s face instantly turned as red as blood, wishing she could disappear into the ground.
“Be quiet, Solonu, if you dare to speak nonsense again, I’ll throw you into the soldier’s camp,” the maidservant Huluge reprimanded.
Sorghaghtani, still blushing, carefully asked Huluge, “Was I really loud last night?”
Huluge was the maidservant who had grown up with her and was the person she trusted the most.
Seeing Huluge nod gently, Sorghaghtani was completely resigned.
She wondered if rumors of her debauchery would spread through the tribes in the future.
Huluge, on the other hand, looked at Sorghaghtani with a pained expression, saying, “The Great Governor really didn’t know how to cherish you.”
Sorghaghtani’s body was covered in bluish-purple bruises, and her legs were swollen, meaning she wouldn’t be able to get out of bed for a while.
“Alright, Huluge, no more criticizing the Great Governor.”
“No one is allowed to spread this matter,” Sorghaghtani said in an annoyed tone.
It wasn’t until three days later that Sorghaghtani could barely get out of bed and walk around outside.
However, she noticed that many unfamiliar faces had appeared on the Ubsu Grassland during these days.
“Slap~”
An old man, riding a horse and driving a hundred cattle and sheep, walked among the crowd, heading somewhere unknown. He wielded a whip and struck the leading bull.
The bull, in pain, shook its large head, let out two “moo” sounds, and quickened its pace.
Behind the old man was an even more spectacular sight.
A seemingly endless procession of herdsmen.
Most of the men wore white sheepskin jackets, with thick leather belts around their waists, while the women wore gray-white turbans and had simple smiles on their faces.
They drove their cattle and sheep, group after group, as if they were going to fill the entire grassland.
Sorghaghtani’s gaze fell to the very front of the procession, where a man on a war horse held a whip in one hand and a flag on his other arm.
“They are from the First Division?”
Sorghaghtani was a smart woman, and in just a few days, she had understood the military towns of Jin Prefecture.
The yellow flag belonged to the First Division, personally commanded by her husband; the red flag belonged to the Second Division, commanded by Second Uncle; and the white flag belonged to the Third Division, commanded by Sixth Uncle.
These three divisions were the most important forces of Jin Prefecture.
The herdsmen procession before her, carrying a yellow Sun and Moon Battle Flag, clearly belonged to the First Division.
While the cattle and sheep stopped to graze, Sorghaghtani sent someone to inquire about the origin of these herdsmen.
Soon, a Han Chinese girl, one of Sorghaghtani’s maidservants, returned.
“Madam, these herdsmen are all from Jin Prefecture, and most of them are Han people.”
“They said they received orders from the Great Governor’s Mansion to graze here at Xihai from now on.”
Sorghaghtani was slightly surprised to hear this, “Are they migrating to Xihai this quickly? How will the original Naiman people be resettled?”
For the rest of the afternoon, Sorghaghtani saw two more groups of Jin Prefecture herdsmen.
They carried white and red flags respectively.
In the evening, Li Xiao came to Sorghaghtani’s tent again. Taking this opportunity, she asked, “Husband, when are we returning to Jin Prefecture?”
“Why do you ask?” Li Xiao inquired.
“I haven’t yet paid my respects to my grandfather, grandmother, and mother, nor have I served tea to my sister!” Sorghaghtani said softly, appearing obedient and compliant.
Although Li Xiao had taken her, she had not officially entered the Li family’s doors and could not yet be considered a true Noble Concubine.
“We will return in a few days,” Li Xiao said with a faint smile.
That very day, Li Xiao received a formal letter from the Eastern Capital, issued by Xiao Simo in his capacity as Eastern Capital Governor.
There were no other words, only an order for Li Xiao to guard Jin Prefecture and guard against counterattacks from the grassland tribes.
The implied meaning was to stay in Jin Prefecture and not return to the Eastern Capital.
As a border general, under what circumstances would one be forbidden from entering the capital?
When the imperial throne is unstable.
Xiao Simo was worried that Li Xiao and other border generals would take the opportunity to cause trouble, hence the strict order.
Li Xiao had anticipated this and decided to return to Jin Prefecture first to observe the situation.
“That’s good. I still have time to prepare some gifts from the grasslands for my grandfather, grandmother, mother, and elder sister,” Sorghaghtani said with a light laugh.
“Oh, and husband, I saw several herdsmen’s groups passing by today.”
“Are they all from Jin Prefecture?”
Listening to Sorghaghtani’s seemingly casual words, Li Xiao merely glanced at her lightly and said softly, “A batch of Jin Prefecture herdsmen have come to settle in Xihai.”
“However, these matters have nothing to do with you. You just need to do your own job and give birth to children for this governor as soon as possible.”
“You don’t need to concern yourself with other matters.”
Li Xiao reprimanded Sorghaghtani in a neither light nor heavy tone.
This woman was very intelligent, emotionally intelligent, and had displayed extraordinary political acumen in history.
However, in Li Xiao’s view, interference in state affairs by those in the imperial harem would lead to endless troubles.
Therefore, he had to curb this unhealthy trend as much as possible.
Li Xiao did not need Sorghaghtani to display her political talent; he only needed her to fulfill her duties as a Noble Concubine and, ideally, to bear him several excellent children.
The great undertaking of Jin Prefecture would naturally be carried out by the civil and military officials under Li Xiao’s command.
“I have overstepped my bounds, husband, please forgive me.”
Hearing Li Xiao’s words, Sorghaghtani quickly said.
She immediately realized that her husband was not easily appeased.
He was clear about public and private matters.
Anything was acceptable in bed, but when it came to the important affairs of Jin Prefecture, he was absolute and decisive.
Sorghaghtani already understood what she should do.
Be honest and dutifully do a woman’s work, and don’t concern yourself with anything else.
Afterward, Li Xiao stood up to change his clothes, but Sorghaghtani said with a troubled expression, “Husband, my injuries have not yet healed~”
Even after three days had passed, due to the mismatch in size and Li Xiao’s lack of consideration at the time.
Sorghaghtani was quite severely injured and had not yet fully recovered.
“Perhaps Huluge can serve husband?”
Huluge was considered her dowry maidservant, and when she was inconvenient, she was responsible for relieving Li Xiao’s fire.
But Li Xiao gently shook his head and said, gently pinching her cheek, “Today, husband will teach you a new skill.”
Under Li Xiao’s personal tutelage, Sorghaghtani’s new world was thoroughly opened.
Nothing else, just a sore jaw.
Li Xiao looked down at her working hard and said in a faint voice, “Among the dowry maidservants and guards, except for those who were already with you, all others arranged by the Khanate should be dismissed.”
“The maidservants and maids will be married off to good families, and the guards will be assigned to the Kuli Army, and they will have a future.”
“As for the staff you need, I will make other arrangements to supplement them.”
Hearing Li Xiao’s words, Sorghaghtani immediately stopped her head, looked up at Li Xiao with surprise, her beautiful eyes full of confusion.
But Li Xiao pushed her down again and said with a firm voice, “This matter is not up for negotiation.”
Sorghaghtani had many Kereit Tribe spies around her, and Li Xiao had no time to play spy games with them.
In such matters, it is always better to kill a thousand by mistake than to let one go.
It was only out of consideration for Sorghaghtani that Li Xiao did not kill them all.
For his own safety, and for the secrets of Jin Prefecture, this matter was not negotiable.
“Yes, Sorghaghtani understands.”
Sorghaghtani slowly lowered her head and said with a slightly wronged voice.
But being intelligent, she naturally understood Li Xiao’s intentions.
Half a month later, Li Xiao, wearing a light cotton Han robe, sat on a folding stool. Eight chiliarchs stood in the tent, reporting the situation of their respective chiliarch households to Li Xiao.
“Great Governor, my chiliarch household has a total of four thousand five hundred and eighteen garrison soldiers, and five hundred Naiman Tribe slaves, who have arrived near Lake Jir.”
“Great Governor, my chiliarch household has a total of four thousand eight hundred and sixty-two garrison soldiers~”
The Jin Prefecture Army originally had thirty-seven chiliarch households, thirteen in the Great Desert and twenty-three in Jin Prefecture.
This time, Li Xiao migrated eight chiliarch households from Jin Prefecture to settle in the Western Sea.
In addition, there were ten thousand Han Slaves from the Kereit Tribe, who would also be kept in the Western Sea.
However, most of these people had been ruined by the Kereit Tribe, with only about five thousand capable of fighting, but they were far inferior to the elite Jin Prefecture Army.
Therefore, Li Xiao only kept them as auxiliary soldiers, and they could only be promoted to real garrison soldiers after accumulating enough military merit.
In short, the Three Town Cavalry does not want waste.
As for the Han female slaves, Li Xiao carefully selected a batch of good quality ones to bring back to Jin Prefecture to increase the proportion of Han Chinese population in Jin Prefecture.
“The future of the Western Sea will depend on you eight chiliarch households to guard it.”
“The Kereit Tribe and other grassland tribes are still engaged in a fierce battle at Kuoyitian. Even if the war ends, they will only recover their strength and will not easily provoke us in Jin Prefecture.”
“But if there are any who don’t know better, then hit them hard.”
“If the enemy is too numerous, then temporarily retreat and destroy them when my Three Town main force arrives.”
Listening to Li Xiao’s words, the eight chiliarchs heavily struck their chests and said, “Your will be done.”
Although they only had eight thousand garrison soldiers, each chiliarch also had five hundred Naiman slaves as cannon fodder.
In addition, there were ten thousand Han auxiliary soldiers.
Therefore, the actual number of troops in the Western Sea was not small.
Afterwards, Li Xiao looked at Li Sanhe sitting below and said in a deep voice, “Third Uncle, I am entrusting this Western Sea to you.”
Upon hearing this, Li Sanhe immediately stood up and said with a rough and firm voice, “Great Governor, rest assured, the Western Sea is our Jin Prefecture’s territory, and no one can take it away.”
Li Xiao nodded gently, then solemnly shouted, “Li Sanhe!”
“Your subordinate is here.”
“I order you to be the General of the Western Sea Protector Army, in charge of the troops in the Western Sea.”
“Your will be done!”
After arranging everything in the Western Sea, Li Xiao led the army back to Jin Prefecture.
When they came, six hundred men were drawn from each of the three chiliarch households of Jin Prefecture, a total of over twenty thousand soldiers.
When they returned, all the soldiers from the eight chiliarch households of the Western Sea stayed behind.
Li Xiao also took away fifteen thousand Naiman Captives and ten thousand Kereit Tribe Captives.
These captives would become cannon fodder in the next war. If they survived the war and earned military merit, these captives would become glorious Jin Prefecture Army Soldiers.
