Chapter 215: Those Who Offend The Northern Frontier, Though Far, Must Be Punished
“What the hell are these Eastern Capital Army doing?”
“It’s already been five days, how come there’s not even a single movement?”
On the West Bank of Kohl River, the Leader of the Boyewu Tribe and others stood on a hillside, gazing from afar at the Jin Prefecture Military Camp on the opposite shore.
Except for the few days just after arriving at the Kohl River, the Eastern Capital Army had launched probing attacks on the west bank, then ceased all action.
As if they intended to keep grinding it out with the Kangli Army indefinitely.
But this eerie silence instead made the leaders of the Kangli Tribes feel somewhat uneasy.
“Could they be preparing to send men to cut off our rear?” the Leader of the Guzi Tribe suddenly had a flash of insight and exclaimed.
The Leader of the Boyewu Tribe gently shook his head: “Our scouts have been watching the military camp on the opposite shore day and night, and we haven’t seen any large-scale troop movements.”
“Moreover, the Eastern Capital Army’s troops are equal to ours. If they dare to split forces to our rear, hmph, this Khan wouldn’t mind wiping out this Eastern Capital Army first.”
At that, everyone fell silent, unable to figure out what the Eastern Capital Army was up to, but in the end, this was a good thing.
“In these past few days, how many men have returned to each of your tribes?” the Leader of the Boyewu Tribe asked.
In the battle outside Eastern Capital City, each tribe suffered heavy losses, but many soldiers had also scattered and fled. They had stayed on the West Bank of Kohl River precisely to regroup the army.
“Our Guzi Tribe now has three thousand men.”
“Our Erebelier Tribe has two thousand six hundred men.”
……
Each tribe reported their current troop numbers separately, adding up to roughly fourteen thousand men.
One must know they originally had a thirty-thousand-strong army.
The battle outside Eastern Capital City had truly been too devastating.
“Hmph, those damned Weihers are nothing but a pack of ungrateful white-eyed wolves.”
“If this Khan catches them, I’ll definitely drag out these men’s guts, tie them to a horse, and drag them until they run.” the Leader of the Erebelier Tribe said angrily.
In these past few days, the ones returning to camp one after another were all soldiers from their own tribes. As for those slaves, they had long scattered to who-knows-where, with only a tiny few who had ties coming back to continue as slaves.
Even more, they had discovered some slaves appearing in the Eastern Capital Army on the opposite shore, apparently ready to turn around and fight the Kangli Tribes.
They had truly rebelled against heaven.
“Hmph, just a bunch of slaves. If they run, we’ll just catch more.”
“Moreover, once we break through Eastern Capital City, we’ll have as many slaves as we want.” the Leader of the Boyewu Tribe said coldly.
But just as his words fell, a horn blast suddenly rang out from the distant Kangli camp—a signal for alerting danger.
The faces of the group changed instantly: “Bad, something’s happened.”
With that, they hurriedly rushed back toward the camp.
They hadn’t even returned to the large tent when a general came hurrying over to report: “Great Khan, our scouts discovered a large force of cavalry heading toward our army from thirty li southwest.”
Hearing this, the Leader of the Boyewu Tribe and the others were all shocked.
“What?”
“How is that possible?”
“Southwest? Where did this army come from?”
“How many men?”
These leaders were now panicking badly. Just moments ago, they had confidently claimed the Eastern Capital Army didn’t have enough troops to bypass to their rear.
Now, it was slapping them hard in the face.
Even if it wasn’t the Eastern Capital Army, it was undoubtedly an enemy.
“Roughly, roughly three… thirty thousand…”
The general said in a trembling voice.
As his words fell, the previously panicked and urgent scene instantly turned deathly silent.
“Hiss~”
Everyone’s pupils contracted sharply, involuntarily sucking in a breath of cold air.
“Thirty thousand?”
The Leader of the Guzi Tribe shouted in horror, his face full of disbelief.
The Leader of the Erebelier Tribe was equally shocked, shaking his head: “Impossible? Where did the Eastern Capital get thirty thousand troops from?”
If it had been before, at the Kangli Allied Army’s peak, they might have had the strength for a fight.
But now, with only fourteen thousand left, low morale, and ten thousand Eastern Capital troops facing them head-on.
Plus this thirty-thousand-strong cavalry army, it was practically a death sentence.
“What are you standing around for? Hurry and muster the troops, prepare for battle!” the Leader of the Boyewu Tribe roared with a ferocious expression.
He then turned to the general beside him and bellowed: “Where is Yuli Boli Wusitu?”
“Tell that bastard to stop playing dead.”
“If the army loses again, I’ll chop off his head first.”
Everyone finds excuses for their own failures.
Even the Leader of the Boyewu Tribe couldn’t help but blame the current dire situation on Yelü Wusitu.
After all, if not for his bewitching, why would the Kangli Tribes come all the way to the Northern Frontier to die?
“Wooo wooo woo woo~”
Half an hour later, the outline of the Jin Prefecture Army appeared in the Kangli people’s sight.
Yelü Wusitu, after several days of recuperation, had seen his injuries improve somewhat. He donned his armor again and stood at the front with the tribal leaders.
His expression was full of gravity, gripping his waist saber tightly, his knuckles white as winter frost and snow.
Thirty thousand cavalry—this already far exceeded the Kangli army’s current troops, not to mention the ten thousand troops eyeing them covetously on the east bank of the Kohl River.
“It’s Armored Cavalry!” The Leader of the Guzi Tribe suddenly pointed into the distance and cried out in alarm, his voice filled with fear.
The Jin Prefecture Army’s thirty thousand iron cavalry thundered across the grassland, steadily closing in on the Kangli Allied Army, the land trembling as if in a low hum.
And charging at the very front were naturally the Black Armored Army, renowned for their formidable killing power and defense.
Every cavalryman was clad in heavy iron armor, gleaming with cold metallic sheen under the sun. Even the war horses were wrapped tightly in black iron horse armor, revealing only scarlet eyes.
War drums suddenly boomed, the muffled sound making hearts tremble.
Amid the Jin Prefecture Army, three thousand Wuwei Army formed a neat wedge formation, slowly advancing.
They all wore yellow-based red-trimmed cotton armor, holding two-zhang-long hooked scythe spears, their spear tips glinting coldly in the sunlight.
And protected in the center by the Wuwei Army was naturally Li Xiao.
Clad in dark golden cotton armor inlaid with black dragon pattern, wearing a tasseled helmet, he stood beneath the golden Sun and Moon Battle Flag, holding a telescope, gazing at the distant Kangli army.
He secretly estimated their troop numbers in his mind— a little over ten thousand, roughly matching the scouts’ reports.
“A mere ten-thousand-strong army, still daring to covet my Northern Frontier?”
“Today, not one of them will leave the Northern Frontier Grassland.”
Li Xiao said in a low voice, then slowly drew the gold-inlaid Wu Rong Saber from his waist and swung it forward sharply.
He shouted sternly: “Kill!”
“Wooo wooo woo woo~”
Melodious horn blasts echoed between heaven and earth, like calls from ancient times, making the grassland change color.
With earth-shaking shouts, the Black Armored Army accelerated, the sound of hooves like rolling thunder, the earth trembling beneath their feet.
Yelü Wusitu saw the golden Sun and Moon Battle Flag fluttering in the enemy formation, his temples throbbing.
“Li Xiao?”
The golden Sun and Moon Battle Flag was the mark of Jin Prefecture Governor Li Xiao, and the absence of the Xiao Character Flag in the army meant these thirty thousand troops were under Li Xiao’s direct command.
Though young, this man was extremely difficult to deal with, reminding him involuntarily of two years ago when his eight thousand Kangli Cavalry had perished at Li Xiao’s hands.
“How does Jin Prefecture have so many troops?”
On the other side, seeing the Jin Prefecture Army launch its assault, the Leader of the Boyewu Tribe and others shouted themselves hoarse.
“Form ranks! Form ranks quickly!”
Their voices carried undisguisable panic.
But their orders were soon drowned in chaos. The Kangli Allied Army soldiers stared at the approaching black iron tide, their faces filled with fear.
They instantly recalled the cavalry clash not long ago outside Eastern Capital City.
With nearly equal numbers, they had been slaughtered by the Jin Prefecture Army into total rout.
Countless had been cut down by the Armored Cavalry.
And now, what they faced was a Jin Prefecture iron cavalry several times larger than last time.
“Kill~”
“Block them for me.”
Facing the thundering Jin Prefecture Army, the Leader of the Boyewu Tribe and others looked ferocious, as if in a final struggle.
If they had known it would come to this, they should have retreated with the remnants to the Kipchak Steppe days ago. Now, even their last ten thousand troops might not be saved.
Yelü Wusitu’s face was equally tense, cold sweat beading on his forehead. He shouted loudly to the Leader of the Boyewu Tribe: “Clashing head-on with those iron armored troops is just seeking death.”
“There’s only one way now.”
“What way?” the tribal leaders asked urgently.
“Send men to hold off these iron armored troops, while we personally lead men to attack the Eastern Capital Army’s flank.”
“The iron armored troops on the flank aren’t numerous—mostly ordinary light cavalry. Even in their colorful armor and leather armor, they’re not indestructible.”
These leaders weren’t stupid; they immediately understood Yelü Wusitu’s meaning.
Sacrifice most of their subordinate soldiers’ lives to block the iron armored troops, while they themselves led some elites to assault the Jin Prefecture Army’s light cavalry.
They might even break out.
“Good, as long as the green mountain remains, there’s no fear of running out of firewood.”
“That’s the plan.”
The Leader of the Boyewu Tribe immediately agreed to the plan.
The Boyewu Tribe was vast and powerful; the troops here were only a third of the tribe’s strength.
As long as he survived, once back at the tribe, everything could start anew.
The other leaders, though reluctant to lose these tribal elites, could only nod in tacit agreement.
Preserving their own dog’s life was paramount.
The Leader of the Boyewu Tribe then shouted loudly:
“Warriors of the Boyewu Tribe, this is our battle of honor! Drive back these iron armored troops, and your souls will forever companion Allah!”
With that, his blade suddenly turned toward the Jin Prefecture Army’s left wing, where countless Second Town Cavalry in red cotton armor were surging forward.
“There—that’s the Eastern Capital Army’s weak point.”
“As long as you hold the iron lumps head-on, the brothers on the flank can tear open their lines. Then, those iron-armored bastards will be like shell-less turtles for us to slaughter.”
“Remember! Our wives and children await the warriors’ return. Kill one Black Armored soldier for extra honor; grab one piece of iron armor to trade for ten sheep for your child!”
“Kill~”
Soon after, Kangli Cavalry charged straight at the frontal Black Armored Army.
Amid the chaos, the Leader of the Boyewu Tribe and others discarded all battle flags, leading over three thousand Kangli elites charging wildly toward the Jin Prefecture Army’s left wing.
If they could break through the Jin Prefecture Army in that direction, they could enter the northern Baha’er Mountains, where it wouldn’t be easy for the Jin Prefecture Army to find them again.
Facing these three thousand Kangli elite cavalry head-on were the Wanhu Army under Er Hu, along with part of the Kuli Army.
Seeing the oncoming cavalry, Er Hu merely snorted coldly: “Just dying struggles.”
With that, he raised his hooked scythe spear and shouted loudly: “Loose arrows.”
The next second, countless arrows rose from the Jin Prefecture Army formation, a sky-darkening arrow rain weaving a curtain of death in mid-air.
“Raise shields.”
The Leader of the Boyewu Tribe held a round shield, roaring loudly.
The Kangli people were also brave and skilled nomadic warriors, long prepared with weapons and equipment to counter arrow damage.
A round small shield over three chi, normally kept at the horse’s belly side, used to protect head and chest when arrows came.
But the Jin Prefecture Army’s arrows were far sharper than ordinary ones, forged from Hexi Steel.
Some cavalry had limbs pierced by arrows; even wooden shields were directly punctured.
Soldiers screamed as they fell from horses, war horses whinnying as front hooves buckled.
But fortunately, the Jin Prefecture Army loosed only one volley before the two armies clashed.
“Break through the enemies before us, and we can return to the tribe.”
“Kill!”
The Leader of the Boyewu Tribe, in armor, over forty years old yet still vigorous and full of aura.
Wielding his long saber, he instantly chopped a Kuli Army soldier in leather armor to the ground.
But as he continued charging and chopping, this time he encountered a Three Town Cavalryman in crimson cotton armor.
Taking advantage as the foe fought his personal guard, the Leader of the Boyewu Tribe swung his saber, but the moment it touched the cotton armor, he heard a piercing metallic clash.
Amid flying sparks, he stared in shock as his blade edge curled slightly.
Beneath that seemingly thin red cotton armor hid a layer of hard iron armor.
“What?”
The Leader of the Boyewu Tribe was horrified, staring wide-eyed at the opponent’s cotton armor, incredulous.
But immediately, a young Jin Prefecture Centurion charged from the side.
This was none other than Li Xiao’s cousin, Li Erbao.
“Old bastard, you think we’re made of mud?”
“Die!”
Li Erbao roared, sweeping with his horse’s momentum; the spear blade grazed past his face, instantly knocking off his iron helmet.
In an instant, his gray hair scattered messily over his head. The Leader of the Boyewu Tribe yanked the reins to retreat, only to see more crimson-armored cavalry surging like a tide.
“Kill! Kill through them for me!”
The Leader of the Boyewu Tribe’s face was terrified, roaring hoarsely, but his mount kept backing away.
On the other side, Yelü Wusitu also discovered the prowess of the Jin Prefecture Army’s cotton armor and shouted loudly: “Use maces to strike.”
With that, he directly produced an iron mace and smashed it onto a Jin Prefecture soldier’s cotton armor.
But the next second, a dull “clang!” rang out; the mace was like striking mud. The Jin Prefecture soldier fell from his horse but seemed lightly injured.
Shock appeared on his face too: “How is that possible?”
“What the hell is this thing?”
Iron armor’s defense was sturdy, effectively blocking sharp chops, but poor against blunt strikes.
But cotton armor was different—the multi-layered oil-soaked cotton cloth inside absorbed most of the force, instead jarring Yelü Wusitu’s tiger mouth numb.
The next moment, three Jin Prefecture soldiers surrounded and attacked Yelü Wusitu.
Normally, Yelü Wusitu could counter, but hampered by his injuries, after a few chops he was swept off his horse by Jin Prefecture soldiers.
As time passed, the Kangli Army’s assault grew feebler, while the Jin Prefecture Army fought ever fiercer.
Fallen Kangli soldiers piled up like mountains, blood soaking the ground beneath their feet.
The surviving Kangli men looked at the mechanically cold and ruthless Jin Prefecture Army before them, retreating in terror, muttering nonstop: “Devils, devils.”
“They are a bunch of devils.”
“Run fast.”
But facing the encirclement of thirty thousand Jin Prefecture troops, with Li Dashan leading ten thousand Jin Prefecture troops blocking the rear, the Kangli Army on this battlefield had nowhere to flee.
……
Time reached evening; the setting sun dyed the river water a thick blood-red. The riverbank grassland was unrecognizable, the once verdant turf trampled into mud by iron hooves and soaked in blood.
Severed limbs and corpses were everywhere; the bodies moved by the Jin Prefecture Army had piled into small hills on the grassland.
The intermittent groans of survivors mingled with the shrieks of vultures and crows circling overhead, turning this grassland into a human purgatory.
Only the golden Sun and Moon Battle Flag fluttered loudly in the wind, the sole banner standing unbroken on this grassland.
Li Xiao rode slowly across the battlefield, surrounded by numerous Wuwei Army guards.
Soon, he stopped by a boulder, and Er Hu and others immediately stepped forward to salute.
“Great Governor!”
“These are the leaders of the Kangli Tribes; we’ve captured them all.”
Er Hu said excitedly. This time, the Jin Prefecture Army had nearly annihilated the invading thirty thousand Kangli troops.
Even capturing or killing all the leaders—a complete victory.
At this moment, several Kangli leaders had been bound and brought before Li Xiao.
The instant Yelü Wusitu was set down, he collapsed to the ground. Already badly injured, now further hurt by the Jin Prefecture Army, his breathing was much weaker than usual.
His armor cracked in many places, blood scabs on his forehead mixed with dust, yet he stubbornly held his head high.
Li Xiao simply watched him quietly, shaking his head gently: “You’re quite the tough man.”
“Speaking of which, this governor ought to call you ‘cousin,’ but alas, different paths mean no common plotting.”
“Two years ago, in the Royal Court battle, Big Brother was gravely wounded by arrows—you were involved, weren’t you?”
“So, this governor cannot spare you.”
Yelü Wusitu’s hair disheveled, blood froth at his mouth, his turbid eyes glaring fixedly at Li Xiao’s face.
His hoarse voice growled lowly: “Kill or carve up, come at this Khan directly.”
“I only regret not going all-out to wipe you out, Li Xiao, in that battle—leading to today’s consequences.”
“I regret it~”
At that time, the central and right route armies had suffered heavy blows. In his view, if he had led the Kangli Cavalry in an all-out assault on the left route army, Li Xiao might have been slain at the Royal Court long ago.
Unfortunately, back then he had focused on preserving strength, plundering Kuyun-Ordu before returning to the grassland.
Now, he regretted it deeply.
In contrast, the Leader of the Boyewu Tribe on the other side was far less tough.
Pressed to the ground by two Wuwei Army soldiers, kneeling and speaking in Turkic: “Great general, I am Saladi, leader of the Boyewu Tribe.”
“My sister is the Empress Dowager of the Khwarazmian Dynasty, and my nephew is the Sultan of the Khwarazmian Dynasty.”
“If the general lets me go, not only can he ransom much gold and wealth, but also gain the friendship of the Khwarazmian Dynasty.”
“I hear relations between the Northern Frontier and the Royal Court are very poor.”
“Spare my life, and I can persuade Khwarazm to ally with the Northern Frontier for a pincer attack on the Royal Court.”
It was clear this Saladi was quite shrewd.
He fully stated his value, even making Li Xiao somewhat tempted.
“Muhammad II of Khwarazm is your nephew?” Li Xiao asked.
“Are you Khwarazmian Khan?”
Saladi was slightly stunned, then nodded hurriedly: “I am the Kangli Tribe’s Khwarazmian Khan.”
“Has the general heard of me?”
With that, Saladi looked at Li Xiao hopefully, feeling his chances of survival growing.
Li Xiao wore a look of realization, finally knowing who this guy was.
More precisely, he had a famously infamous son, the next Khwarazmian Khan.
More than a decade later, this man became the City Lord of Otrar.
Coveting a Mongol caravan’s wealth, he slaughtered the entire caravan.
This enraged Temüjin, who sent men to the Khwarazmian Empire for justice, but because Turkhan Khatun was Khwarazmian Khan’s aunt, she chose to protect him.
Ultimately forcing Temüjin to launch the first western expedition.
So, all of Europe should ‘thank’ Khwarazmian Khan—without him, the Mongol People wouldn’t have thought to launch three western expeditions.
Thinking of this, Li Xiao decided to keep Khwarazmian Khan alive for now.
After all, Khwarazm could indeed check the Royal Court from the west, worth good utilization.
“Take him away.” Li Xiao said flatly.
“Yes, sir.”
The two Wuwei Army men nodded lightly, escorting the limp Khwarazmian Khan away.
Then, Li Xiao’s gaze swept over the trembling Kangli remnants: “Pass my military order: nail all captured Kangli nobles and generals to the Kohl Riverbank.”
“Tell the people of the grassland—those who offend the Northern Frontier, though far, will be punished!”
“Yes, sir!”
Amid the Wuwei Army’s resounding roar, the setting sun finally sank below the horizon, leaving the field of corpses to cool gradually in the twilight.
Soon after, over two hundred bowl-thick wooden stakes were erected on the Kohl Riverbank.
Yelü Wusitu and other Kangli leaders and generals were stripped of clothing and armor, iron hooks piercing their clavicles to hang from the stake tops, wounds doused in saltwater, attracting many birds to peck.
Their twisted screams mixed with wolf pack howls, echoing across the grassland all night.
From then on, whenever night fell, the wails from the Kohl Riverbank would drift afar on the cold wind.
The Northern Frontier Army’s name, spread with this battle’s outcome, made the western grassland tribes tremble in fear.
