Chapter 217: Northern Frontier Governor’s Mansion
“Northern Frontier Governor’s Mansion?”
Hearing Li Xiao’s words, Gu Zizhong and the other were surprised.
“Does the Great Governor wish to rebuild the Northern Ting Governor’s Mansion?” Zhang Xinghua asked.
During the Great Tang Dynasty, the Anxi and Northern Ting Governor’s Mansions were renowned throughout the Western Regions, with their rule extending to the Caspian Sea.
The territory of the Northern Ting Governor’s Mansion included the vast area west of the Golden Mountains, north of the Tianshan Mountains, south of Lake Balkhash, and east of the Caspian Sea.
This highly overlaps with the actual ruling area of the present-day Northern Frontier.
The only difference is that today’s Northern Frontier lacks the territory west of Lake Balkhash, but includes the vast grasslands between the east of the Golden Mountains and Yudu Jin Mountain.
This roughly replicates the territorial map of the former Northern Ting Governor’s Mansion.
Furthermore, with Li Xiao being a Han person and having the surname Li, it is easy for people to assume he wishes to rebuild the Northern Ting Governor’s Mansion.
“Could it be that the Great Governor is a descendant of the Li Tang?” Gu Zizhong suddenly looked at Li Xiao thoughtfully.
Li Xiao shook his head slightly and said, “Perhaps, but perhaps not.”
In any case, the Li family’s genealogy has long been lost, and the Old Master has been busy reconstructing it for the past two years.
Whether or not he is a direct descendant of the Li Tang is a matter of a single word.
“I, your subordinate, dare to ask the Great Governor’s ambition?” Gu Zizhong suddenly looked up at Li Xiao with a serious expression.
“To replace the Royal Court, or…”
Li Xiao looked at him with a half-smile and said in a faint voice, “You are both intelligent men; you should know exactly what I intend to do.”
After speaking, Li Xiao stood up and said in a leisurely voice:
“Although we are in the Western Regions, the blood of Yan and Huang flows within us.”
“For years, the Western Regions and Huaxia have been separated, like two different lands. We Han sons have been bullied in the Western Regions, living lives of constant peril and anxiety.”
Li Xiao walked to the window, his back to the two men.
He looked at the overcast sky, as if it were the dark clouds that had hung over the Han people in the Western Regions for centuries.
Before Li Xiao’s rise, the political status of the Han people in the Western Regions was not high.
Without his arrival, the Han people in Jin Prefecture might have already become cannon fodder in the war between the Eastern Capital and the Naiman people.
It was Li Xiao who changed the fate of the Han people in the Northern Frontier.
He led the Han people to their current position, and he will continue to lead them forward.
“No matter how fierce the wind and sand of the Western Regions are, they cannot bury the Han bloodline within our bones. Just as Ban Chao’s thirty-six riders pacified the Western Regions, how can my hundred thousand soldiers under my command not bring peace to the Western Regions?”
As his voice faded, he slowly turned around, his eyes burning as he looked at the two men: “I do not only intend to recreate the glory of Han and Tang in these Western Regions.”
“I will also lead my Northern Frontier Iron Cavalry into the Central Plains, expel the Tartars, and restore Huaxia.”
“The fertile lands of Huaxia are occupied by Jurchen and Dangxiang barbarians; this is a profound humiliation for us Han sons.”
Hearing Li Xiao’s words, Zhang Xinghua and Gu Zizhong felt as if a string in their hearts had been profoundly touched.
They were all Han people, but if not for the Hu people usurping the Central Plains, how could they have ended up thousands of miles away in the Western Regions?
Even though they had not returned to their Han homeland for the first half of their lives, the blood of Han still flowed unceasingly within them, and the glory of Han and Tang still made them proud.
“Since Heaven has allowed me, Li Xiao, to come to this era, then I, Li Xiao, have a responsibility to end the century of humiliation for the Han descendants.”
“The Jin Dynasty Jurchens are merely at the end of their strength, the Dangxiang cavalry are confined to Hexi, and my Northern Frontier Iron Cavalry are ready for war. From Yumen Pass to Daxing Prefecture in the Central Capital, it is only ten thousand li.”
“If the time is ripe, the Northern Frontier Iron Cavalry will arrive within a month.”
“At that time, I will let the world know—the sabers of the Han sons can slay the jackals of the Western Regions, and more importantly, they can vanquish the Tartars of the Central Plains!”
Li Xiao faced the sky and declared with a firm voice.
This was also the first time he had revealed his ambitions to outsiders.
Because he was now qualified to speak these words.
His current goal was simple.
To enter the Pass!
Or, to go home!
These two words were etched into the bones of every Han person in the Western Regions. No matter how good the Western Regions were, without Huaxia, they would be like rootless duckweed, drifting with the currents.
Only by regaining the Central Plains and having the Han people of the Central Plains as their support could the Northern Frontier Iron Cavalry’s war sabers strike further.
When Li Xiao finished speaking, Gu Zizhong’s Adam’s apple bobbed violently, and he let out a heavy sigh.
“Hoo hoo hoo~”
Thirty years of wind and sand in the Western Regions had carved ravines at the corners of his eyes. The ideals he thought would remain buried forever, the countless experiences of being bullied by foreign races, the ambitions he had long buried in the yellow sand, all surfaced before his eyes, now transforming into surging hot blood in his chest.
In the past, he had been valued and promoted by Xiao Simo, and he thought he had finally met a wise lord.
But only today did he realize that his ideals had never been extinguished.
It turned out that his true wise lord had always been the land that nurtured the Huaxia bloodline.
He stood up and bowed deeply to Li Xiao, saying in a deep voice, “Your subordinate has wandered for half a lifetime, and now I finally realize the truth.”
“If the Great Governor does not abandon me, I am willing to follow the Great Governor into the Central Plains and restore our Huaxia attire.”
On the other side, Zhang Xinghua also took off his felt hat, revealing his frost-white temples. His calloused hands pressed against his chest.
He said with a trembling voice, “Great Governor, Ban Chao spent thirty-one years in the Western Regions. At the end of his life, he only wished to be buried in his homeland.”
“Now, I wish to contribute my remaining strength to the great cause of our Han descendants.”
In life, interest is paramount.
When the two first followed Li Xiao, their initial motives were certainly for their future and interests.
However, if they could also uphold the righteousness of the nation, they would dedicate themselves wholeheartedly.
By earning the merit of helping to rebuild Huaxia, they would also be recorded in history.
This was considered their full commitment to joining Li Xiao’s banner, ready to be commanded.
Now that they knew Li Xiao’s ambitions, their hearts seemed to reignite with passion, determined to be recorded in history.
“Great Governor, your subordinate believes that it is appropriate for you to change the Governor’s Mansion to a Protectorate and relocate its headquarters to Jin Prefecture.”
“If our Northern Frontier wishes to manage the Central Plains, the Eastern Capital is too remote. Jin Prefecture is an excellent core for governance.”
“As the new master of the Northern Frontier, the Great Governor must eliminate old practices, innovate, and completely sever ties with the Royal Court.”
“Establishing a Protectorate is a crucial step in continuing the hegemony of the Northern Frontier.”
“However, if you wish to manage the Central Plains, your subordinate believes that if the Great Governor’s origins are utilized well, our military efforts could be twice as effective.”
Li Xiao and Zhang Xinghua understood his meaning immediately.
“You want me to acknowledge the Li Tang as my ancestors?” Li Xiao said.
“Although the Great Tang has been extinct for over two hundred years, the common people of the Central Plains still cherish the glory of the Great Tang,” Gu Zizhong said.
“If the Great Governor can return to the Central Plains as a descendant of the Great Tang, perhaps he can win over many hearts.”
Hearing this, Li Xiao stroked the half-green stubble on his chin and said faintly.
“I will consider this matter further. The Northern Frontier is not yet completely stable, and discussing matters of the Central Plains is still premature.”
This matter was not impossible, but he was still weighing the pros and cons.
The identity of a Li Tang descendant would indeed be convenient for gathering the hearts of the Central Plains people, but it was not entirely beneficial.
It would also become a constraint, imposed upon Li Xiao.
The Tang Dynasty was too glorious.
If, one day, the Northern Frontier were to rule the Central Plains, would it be called the Later Tang?
Or perhaps the Western Tang!
It would still be shrouded in the shadow of the Tang Dynasty, which was not what Li Xiao desired.
（ If he were to inherit the Great Tang, then Li Xiao would not be the Founding Ancestor.）
Therefore, Li Xiao did not make a hasty decision.
“The immediate priority, besides relocating the capital, is to set up the framework of the Northern Frontier Protectorate.”
Li Xiao sat back in his chair, picked up the lukewarm tea on the table, and took a sip.
He looked at the two men and said, “You two are both learned scholars. If only the Northern Frontier had the Imperial Examination, you two would at least be top scholars.”
“The Great Governor is too kind. We are ashamed,” Gu Zizhong and the other hurriedly shook their heads with wry smiles.
They might aspire to be Jinshi scholars, but becoming a top scholar was not something an ordinary person could achieve.
“Does the Great Governor intend to follow the structure of the Northern Ting Governor’s Mansion to build a new Protectorate?” Zhang Xinghua asked.
Li Xiao nodded slightly: “That’s right.”
“We are no longer a makeshift team; everything should become standardized.”
“The Protectorate should also look like a Protectorate. The appointment and placement of officials at all levels and generals should also have a system.”
“Who is responsible for which task should also form a convention.”
Li Xiao did not have too many scholars under his command.
Those who were heavily relied upon, besides the two of them, were Han Jiuyuan and Chen Chong.
These four could be considered representatives of the civil officials under Li Xiao.
As for the generals, they were capable of fighting and killing, but it was difficult for them to handle writing.
Regarding the history of the Northern Ting Protectorate period, only these four individuals knew it relatively clearly.
Even Li Xiao only knew the general outline.
“In the second year of Chang’an, Empress Wu divided the original Anxi Protectorate into two, establishing the Northern Ting Protectorate north of the Tianshan Mountains.”
“Its ruling area was roughly equivalent to our Northern Frontier. It had several subordinate Governorates and Prefectures, such as Kunling Governorate, Great Desert Governorate, Yin Mountains Governorate, and Jin Fu Prefecture Governorate, managing the local Turkic, Uyghur, and other ethnic groups.”
Gu Zizhong said in a deep voice.
Then, with a look of admiration, he looked at Li Xiao: “This land of the Northern Frontier has always been a gathering place for many ethnic groups, with constant disputes.”
“Even the powerful Western Turkic Khaganate could only implement a policy of indirect rule over the major tribes.”
“For thousands of years, it is likely only the Great Governor who has been able to unify all these tribes and form a single voice.”
“For this achievement alone, the Great Governor is worthy of a place in the history of the Western Regions, truly unprecedented.”
While explaining the history of the Northern Ting Governor’s Mansion, Gu Zizhong did not forget to flatter Li Xiao. He had truly mastered the art of officialdom.
Li Xiao did not dampen his enthusiasm, smiling faintly and nodding, accepting it in silence.
This was also a fact.
All the tribal peoples of the Northern Frontier had been subdued by Li Xiao’s military might and had all submitted under the Sun and Moon Battle Flag of Jin Prefecture.
There were no other shortcuts; there was only one word: fight.
Foreign races fear power more than benevolence.
If they are beaten into submission and made to feel the crisis of national extinction, they will naturally become as docile as lambs.
“The people of the Northern Frontier are fierce. Only by resolving internal conflicts can we expand outwards.”
“Therefore, the establishment of the Northern Frontier Protectorate is imperative,” Li Xiao said in a deep voice.
The main reason was that as the territory expanded, Li Xiao increasingly felt that time was running out.
Currently, the Northern Frontier has a total of six prefectures: Jin Prefecture, Great Desert, Eastern Capital, North Sea, West Sea, and Seven Rivers.
At the same time, Yili is temporarily under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Capital, which is a good place.
Li Xiao planned to clear out the Geluolu people in Yili and then immigrate people from Jin Prefecture and Western Xia to fill Yili and the Seven Rivers region.
He would separate Yili and establish it as its own prefecture.
This would bring the Northern Frontier to seven prefectures, with vast territory.
With Li Xiao alone, it would be difficult to manage everything.
Therefore, a complete Protectorate system must be established to help him govern the Northern Frontier.
“The Great Governor is wise,” Zhang Xinghua also complimented with a smile.
Then, continuing from Gu Zizhong’s words, he said, “Within the Protectorate, the highest position is called the Protector, followed by two Deputy Protectors.”
“The Prefecture also has subordinate officials such as Chief Clerk, Sima, and six departmental military advisors to assist the Protector in daily affairs.”
…
An hour later, Gu Zizhong and the other left the study. Li Xiao sat alone at his desk, holding a brush, with a blank sheet of paper in front of him.
In his mind, he was contemplating the establishment of the Protectorate, especially the appointment of officials, which was of utmost importance.
After the explanation from the two men, Li Xiao gained a basic understanding of the structure of the Northern Ting Governor’s Mansion.
From Li Xiao’s perspective as a manager from a later era, this structure was quite rough, with too many loopholes and imperfections.
But for this era, it was the best proven framework.
Overly meticulous management would lead to waste of resources and bureaucratic bloat.
Simple and direct management was often more effective.
Therefore, Li Xiao decided to first imitate the structure of the Northern Ting Governor’s Mansion, with minor modifications, to establish the Northern Frontier Protectorate.
As for a more refined management structure, it would be established when it was truly needed in the future.
The first thing he had to consider was the appointment of officials.
Deputy Protector? No need to consider.
Having Li Xiao as the sole Protector was enough.
No one as formidable as that was allowed to exist in the Northern Frontier Protectorate.
Therefore, the first position he wrote on the paper was Chief Clerk.
This position was the head of the civil officials, equivalent to a prime minister of a nation.
But remembering the matters of Old Zhu, Li Shanchang, and Hu Weiyong, Li Xiao shook his head slightly.
“Let it remain vacant for now!”
The so-called court struggles were, in the final analysis, a struggle between imperial power and ministerial power. Their relationship was one of inverse proportion, making coexistence difficult.
In any case, Li Xiao had no intention of becoming a decadent ruler who only indulged in pleasure and leisure; diligence was expected.
“In the future, a military affairs department can be established to handle official business,” Li Xiao said softly, then lightly drew a line through the words ‘Chief Clerk.’
Immediately after, he wrote the words ‘Sima.’
He would primarily assist the Protector in military matters, including army training, deployment, and logistical support, equivalent to a chief of staff in later eras.
As long as he was not given the opportunity to interfere with military power, the position could be established.
“Jiu Meng’an He seems suitable for this position,” Li Xiao murmured.
Jiu Meng’an He had more seniority than Li Xiao and possessed great prestige in the Northern Frontier.
Li Xiao was slightly uneasy about leaving someone like that in charge of troops.
After all, during Xiao Simo’s tenure, the power of the governors of various prefectures was too great, easily leading to regional separatism, with Li Xiao’s rise being a prime example.
Therefore, the position of Governor must be abolished, and a simple separation of military and civil affairs should be implemented in the seven prefectures of the Northern Frontier to prevent any one person from monopolizing power.
In this way, it would no longer be appropriate for Jiu Meng’an He to remain in Seven Rivers.
Thus, Li Xiao decided to give him the position of Sima of the Governor’s Mansion.
This position held high status and significant responsibility, tasked with assisting Li Xiao in military affairs and formulating battle plans.
He would be the de facto second-in-command of the Northern Frontier Army.
However, any order from the Sima had to be confirmed by Li Xiao before being conveyed to the military towns of each region.
He held significant power but did not directly control military power.
Therefore, this was the most suitable position for Jiu Meng’an He.
After determining the candidate for Sima, Li Xiao also listed the positions of Recorder Adviser, Granary Affairs Adviser, Merit Affairs Adviser, Military Affairs Adviser, Engineering Affairs Adviser, and Law Affairs Adviser.
These advisers were the ones who truly handled affairs in the Governor’s Mansion. Li Xiao did not make a quick decision but put down his brush, finished his tea, stood up, and called out.
“Someone, prepare my horse.”
“I’m going to tour the city.”
Although the city was still sparsely populated, with most civilian houses converted into barracks for the Jin Prefecture Army, Li Xiao still intended to walk around and observe.
To make plans for the upcoming relocation of the capital.
After all, relocating the capital was a major event, not simply a matter of moving people.
……
The rain showers had not washed away the filth of the Eastern Capital City; instead, they turned the dried bloodstains in the corners into blood, flowing onto the streets.
Hooves crushed puddles, startling a few crows pecking at rotten flesh.
The Imperial Guards cleared the way, escorting Li Xiao through the city.
The Eastern Capital City was not large; it would take less than half an hour to traverse all its parts.
Looking at the blood on the ground and the broken bones and minced meat in the corners on the devastated streets, Li Xiao knew that the Eastern Capital was no longer habitable.
In this environment, the gathering of a large number of Jin Prefecture soldiers could easily breed plague, not to mention that grain would also be a significant problem.
The Eastern Capital had much land suitable for cultivation, but it had not been developed and still relied primarily on animal husbandry.
The foundation of the Eastern Capital could not support so many soldiers.
Currently, the grain for the Jin Prefecture Army was transported from Jin Prefecture, and the consumption on the road was an astronomical figure.
Therefore, the Jin Prefecture Army had to return as soon as possible.
“Er Hu, you don’t need to return to Jin Prefecture this time. Prepare to go to Yili.”
Li Xiao said to Er Hu, who was wearing cotton armor, as he walked through the streets of the Eastern Capital.
He had just encountered him and had pre-arranged the matter with Er Hu.
“Yili?”
Er Hu was astonished and asked in confusion, “Are there still Royal Court troops in Yili?”
Li Xiao shook his head slightly and said, “The Royal Court troops were long ago driven back by us to the Chu River area. Only a small number of troops remain for border defense on the south bank of the Ili River in Seven Rivers.”
“As for Yili itself, the Royal Court troops would not dare to come here.”
“Elder Brother, what do you mean?” Er Hu asked softly.
“The Geluolu people in Yili have always been restless and have rebelled several times.”
“Last time, they even colluded with the Royal Court troops, killing Nair and over two thousand Eastern Capital soldiers.”
Li Xiao said in a low voice, “Now, it’s time to settle the score with them.”
The Geluolu people had long been branded as traitors and were unwelcome in the Western Regions.
The Geluolu people in Jin Prefecture had already been completely wiped out by Li Xiao, and the Geluolu people in Yili would naturally not be spared.
Most importantly, Li Xiao had his eyes on the land in Yili.
It was fertile, with abundant water and grass, known as the ‘Jiangnan beyond the frontier’, suitable for both grazing and cultivation.
Li Xiao planned to introduce a large number of Han people to Yili, and the original Geluolu people could naturally not remain.
“Don’t worry, Elder Brother. Taking Yili will be effortless,” Er Hu said, patting his chest and laughing heartily.
Let alone a rabble of Geluolu herdsmen, he could defeat another Royal Court army.
“However, after taking Yili, those Geluolu people…” After laughing, Er Hu turned to look at Li Xiao again.
Li Xiao merely glanced at him and said lightly, “Have you forgotten how our father died? Do you need me to teach you something like this?”
Hearing this, Er Hu’s face instantly darkened, and he gritted his teeth and said, “How would I dare forget!”
“The Geluolu people are the worst.”
“Elder Brother, I know what to do. Hmph.” Er Hu snorted heavily, already pondering in his heart how to deal with the Geluolu people in the most brutal way.
Why did Li Xiao send Er Hu to Yili?
It was because of his temperament.
When Sanhe Fort was broken through, facing the corpses of Geluolu people all over the ground, the other youths felt more or less uncomfortable, even vomiting.
But Er Hu was naturally thick-skinned and felt nothing.
In subsequent battles, he was ruthless in killing enemies.
His arrival in Yili meant the doom of the Geluolu people.
Without delay, after receiving the order, Er Hu left immediately to gather troops.
Li Xiao also lost the mood to wander and ordered, “Return to the mansion.”
The group headed back towards the Marquis Wu Cheng’s mansion, but just as they were nearing home, Li Xiao suddenly reined in his horse outside a courtyard.
Pointing at the intact gate, he asked, “What is this place?”
The houses in the city were more or less damaged, but this courtyard was completely intact.
Moreover, it was not far from the Royal Mansion and the Marquis Wu Cheng’s mansion, so the person living in such a courtyard must have an unusual status.
However, Li Xiao thought through all the nobles in the former Eastern Capital City and could not think of who lived here.
At this moment, the guards in the courtyard heard the noise outside the gate, recognized Li Xiao through the crack, and opened the gate to come out.
“We pay our respects to the Great Governor.”
The two guards bowed.
“Whose guards are you? And whose residence is this?”
Li Xiao asked. Judging by their attire, they were undoubtedly Khitans.
“Reporting to the Great Governor, we are personal guards of the Royal Mansion, ordered by the Great King to guard this place.”
“This place also belongs to the outer residence of the Royal Mansion,” one guard said, stuttering.
Royal Mansion personal guards?
This puzzled Li Xiao. Was there someone important arranged by Xiao Simo himself?
“Who is living inside?” Li Xiao asked curiously.
“Reporting to the Great Governor, they are all captives, some of whom you captured from the Royal Capital two years ago,” the personal guard said in a low voice.
“Captives?” Li Xiao’s mind instantly recalled the events at Kuyun-Ordu.
He remembered that quite a few people had indeed been captured.
Ordinary prisoners of war had all been taken by Li Xiao to Jin Prefecture to mine, and less than half remained.
Those left in the Eastern Capital were all people of noble status.
Some were even consorts and princesses of Yelü Zhilugu.
Thinking of this, Li Xiao immediately recalled the treaty he had signed with Yelü Zhilugu.
“Yelü Zhilugu was supposed to marry a princess to me, wasn’t he?” Li Xiao muttered to himself.
He had been so busy fighting the Kangli Army that he had almost forgotten about it.
Moreover, that bastard Yelü Zhilugu was despicable.
He was trying to get something for nothing, marrying a captive princess to him and gaining Li Xiao as a son-in-law without paying anything.
“Is the Princess of Zheng here?” Li Xiao asked.
The personal guard immediately nodded, “Reporting to the Great Governor, the Princess of Zheng is also inside, and she is the most restless of them all.”
Restless? She hasn’t been beaten enough.
Whip her every day and see if she’s restless.
“Heh~”
Li Xiao chuckled. It was good that she was inside.
Since he had time today, he would settle this matter!
“Lead the way, let’s go in and see.”
