Chapter 239: Turning “heluo Chuan” Into A Place Name Through Slaughter
Blackwater River, also known as Ruoshui River.
Originating from the Qilian Mountains, it flows through Shandan, Ganzhou, Heluo Chuan, and other places, heading straight north, crossing the Great Desert, and reaching Heishui City, creating the vast Juyan Lake oasis.
Both sides of the Blackwater River are entirely endless Great Desert.
Only the coastal areas are suitable for human survival.
Therefore, when the Northern Frontier Army marches south into the Hexi Corridor, they only need to follow the direction of the Blackwater River basin to reach the Qilian Mountains directly.
Three days later, the Northern Frontier Cavalry vanguard troops arrived at Heluo Chuan.
This is a Gobi Desert located in the midstream of the Blackwater River, about four hundred li from Heishui City.
Because a large number of Uyghur People belonging to the Heluo Chuan tribe live here, this area is also called Heluo Chuan.
“The Uyghur People of Heluo Chuan are no good.”
“They are very xenophobic, especially hostile to us Han People.”
In the army, Wuwei Army Centurion Yang Shoujing rode on horseback, his gaze toward Li Xiao who was leading by half a body length, and explained in a deep voice.
He, who came from the Western Xia Army, definitely understood the situation in Western Xia more thoroughly than Li Xiao.
Especially on the issue of ethnic relations in Western Xia, Yang Shoujing had more authority to speak than others.
“Heluo Chuan Uyghurs originated from the Ganzhou Uyghurs of that year.”
“Two hundred years ago, the Ganzhou Uyghur Regime was defeated by the Tangut People, the Uyghur People in the Hexi Corridor were slaughtered in large numbers, or fled to Gaochang, and many stayed locally and fused with Han People and Qiang People.”
“But the Heluo Chuan Uyghur tribe has always remained independent, adhering to Uyghur traditions…”
When the Uyghur Khaganate that once dominated the Grassland perished, the remnants split into three parts, establishing the Kara-Khanid Khanate, Gaochang Uyghur Khanate, and Ganzhou Uyghur Regime respectively.
Among them, the Ganzhou Uyghurs were the formidable enemy of the Jinshan Kingdom during the Western Han.
It was precisely because of the war with the Ganzhou Uyghurs that led to the downfall of the Jinshan Kingdom.
The Han People in Dunhuang and Guazhou at that time all wore mourning, which was the evil consequence sown by the Ganzhou Uyghurs.
Later, the Tangut People rose, and the Ganzhou Uyghurs became the formidable enemy of the Tangut People in controlling the Hexi Corridor.
Li Yuanhao personally led the army to conquer multiple times before destroying the Ganzhou Uyghurs.
Many Uyghur People gradually lost their ethnic independence through intermarriage with Hexi Han People and integrated into the Han Chinese.
But in the Heluo Chuan area, almost all are Uyghur People, they refuse to intermarry with outsiders, and still maintain Uyghur ethnic characteristics.
Most importantly, due to historical reasons, they are very hostile to Han People.
For these stubborn elements, Li Xiao believed that the Northern Frontier Army must strike with an iron fist.
Moreover, for the prosperity of the Northern Frontier cause, he also had the responsibility to help the Heluo Chuan tribe integrate into the Huaxia family.
“Since these Uyghur People are so unbearable, there is no need to show them mercy.”
“Pass the order: no sheathing of sabers for three days, raze Heluo Chuan.”
Li Xiao’s voice was flat, as if he was only recounting a trivial matter like killing a chicken.
Most importantly, the Heluo Chuan tribe is located in the Gobi on the west bank of the Blackwater River; if they are willing, they can send troops at any time to cut off the passage between Heishui City and the Hexi Corridor.
They must be exterminated, otherwise the Northern Frontier Army fighting in the Hexi Corridor would feel their backsides exposed.
“Turn Heluo Chuan thoroughly into just a place name.” Li Xiao commanded.
……
The Heluo Chuan tribe has a population of about twenty thousand.
Divided into more than a dozen large and small villages, scattered in the Gobi on the west bank of the Blackwater River.
Sanggar Village is the largest among them, with a population of about two thousand.
But in reality, this so-called largest village in Heluo Chuan is just pieced together from a few hundred crooked adobe houses.
Like a neglected patch on the Gobi Desert, desolate and impoverished.
But this place is the largest devil’s den on the west bank of the Blackwater River.
When night falls, the lights in Sanggar Village are few and far between.
Cold wind pours into the room through the window gaps, making the torch flicker unsteadily.
Women huddle around the stove, boiling grit-mixed batter with saline-alkali water, while men, after dinner, head with heavy expressions toward a large courtyard in the center of the village.
That is the Village Master’s house; though drafty everywhere, it is the most luxurious house in Sanggar Village, consisting of seven or eight rooms.
At this moment, from one of the rooms comes a woman’s miserable wails and gasps, as well as a man’s cruel laughter.
As if whipping something.
Regarding this, this Heluo Chuan man just shakes his head knowingly with a smile: “This idiot is playing with women again.”
With that, he walks directly into the main room.
Inside the room sits a man in his thirties, half-squinting his eyes, yet emanating a terrifying aura.
He is the Village Master of Sanggar Village, Sanggar Hari.
And the man’s identity is Sanggar Hari’s cousin, Sanggar Songlin.
“Elder Brother~”
“You’ve come~”
Sanggar Hari opens his eyes and nods lightly: “Sit first, wait for the others to arrive.”
“Good.”
The atmosphere falls silent like this; the only sound is the woman’s screams from the adjacent room.
Taking the opportunity, Sanggar Hari chats idly: “Suder has high standards and a proud temperament, he looks down on ordinary women.”
“This Han Chinese woman captured this time suits his taste.”
“He’s been entangled with that woman all day and still hasn’t rested.”
“Hmph, useless thing.”
Hearing Sanggar Hari reprimand his son, Sanggar Songlin chuckles: “Playing with some women is nothing.”
“But Elder Brother should still remind Suder to be careful, don’t let that Han Barbarian woman get pregnant.”
“The Sanggar Family’s bloodline cannot be defiled.”
“Better to quickly marry Suder to a noble-blooded Heluo Chuan woman.”
“Mm~”
Sanggar Hari nods lightly: “He will understand.”
Soon, Suder, whom they were discussing, walks in—a young man of seventeen or eighteen, tall and sturdy like a bear.
Half-bald head, scruffy beard, forehead covered in sweat, face full of post-exertion fatigue, and the woman’s voice from the other room has also disappeared.
“Dad, Third Uncle, these Han Barbarian women are really great, skin so smooth, their cries are different too.”
“Keep this Han Barbarian woman as my concubine.”
It is clear that Suder greatly enjoys conquering Han Chinese women.
Hari just nods faintly: “Fine, but you must marry the girl from the Hulerqin family soon; once you produce noble bloodline heirs for our Sanggar Family, you can do as you please, I won’t interfere.”
“The daughter of the Hulerqin family!” Suder feels a pang of distress.
That girl is pretty, but rumored to be a fierce tigress, very ferocious; Han Barbarian women are more enjoyable.
Soon, another seven or eight men arrive one after another, all key figures in Sanggar Village, forming the relatively stable ruling class of the village.
Under the tribal system, the villagers are practically no different from slaves.
“Those Han Barbarians and Tangut People captured this morning have all confessed.”
“Heishui City is under attack by Prairie Barbarians; they escaped ahead of time.” Sanggar Hari says to everyone.
This morning, they blocked a group of people coming from Heishui City on the west bank of the Blackwater River.
Men and women, Han People and Tangut People, all with families in tow.
So these Heluo Chuan people brought them back to the village.
Tortured and interrogated the men, whipped and interrogated the women.
In the end, the compiled information was that Heishui City is under attack by Prairie Barbarians.
“Hmph, the people of Heishui City are utter wastes; back when Li Yuanhao was in power, he made the Prairie Barbarians flee in panic.”
“Now, they’ve actually been attacked at their lair.” Sanggar Songlin says disdainfully.
When those Han People escaped, Heishui City was not yet surrounded, let alone knowing it would be breached in just one day.
“I’ve been to Heishui City more than once; its city walls are tall and sturdy. Prairie Barbarians absolutely cannot breach Heishui City in a short time.” A Sanggar man says confidently.
Sanggar Hari nods lightly; he shares the same view—in this era, for Prairie Barbarians to breach city walls is as difficult as infantry defeating cavalry.
“What worries me most now is one thing.”
“With Heishui City besieged, the Imperial Court will surely send reinforcements; the Gansu Army Command is closest to Heishui City, so they will definitely send troops from there.”
“At that time, the Commander’s Office will issue a conscription order to us in Heluo Chuan.”
“Our Heluo Chuan men probably can’t avoid it.” Hari says with a heavy expression.
As descendants of the Uyghurs, they understand the combat strength of Prairie Barbarians best.
Especially their riding and archery skill, which is the biggest headache for all Central Plains armies.
If facing Grasslanders, Heluo Chuan men would definitely suffer heavy losses.
But refusing to send troops is not an option.
Heluo Chuan has maintained Uyghur ethnic independence to this day, without intermarrying or fusing with Han People or Tangut People; this comes with conditions.
If they won’t even provide troops, what use is there for the Imperial Court to keep Heluo Chuan?
“Hmph, fight then.”
“They’re just some measly Prairie Barbarians!”
“Back then, they were all slaves under our ancestors’ feet.”
“Now they’ve gotten cocky?”
“But the blood of us Heluo Chuan men hasn’t faded; let them see who are the true orthodox of the Grassland.” Sanggar Suder shouts loudly.
With an aura of fearing neither heaven nor earth.
The Heluo Chuan people in the Gobi are typical representatives—barbaric and unruly, defiant of authority.
Even the Imperial Court has a headache with them and can only turn a blind eye.
As long as the Heluo Chuan people don’t cause trouble and provide military service, it’s fine.
They don’t even have to pay taxation, since Heluo Chuan is too barren and doesn’t produce much grain.
Afterward, after discussion among the crowd, if the Gansu Army Command demands troops, they will send some men.
After all, if the Prairie Barbarians really breach Heishui City, Heluo Chuan probably won’t stay peaceful either.
……
The next morning, Suder walks out of the room cursing.
“Damn, these Han Barbarian women can’t take it; she actually died.”
“Chop up her man and feed him to the dogs.”
Last night’s woman couldn’t endure the abuse and suicided during the night, infuriating him greatly.
After killing the woman’s husband, he grabbed another young Han Chinese woman and threw her into the room.
Just as he was about to get started, urgent bronze bell sounds suddenly rang in the village.
“Dang dang dang dang dang~”
Suder stops instantly, standing up with an annoyed expression.
The woman looks terrified, clutching her clothes tightly in panic, tears streaming uncontrollably.
“Hmph, stay in the room and wait for me to return.”
He smiles cruelly, chains the woman with an iron chain, and shuts the door.
He quickly reaches the city wall and asks: “What happened?”
Called a city wall, but it’s actually just a dirt enclosure over one meter high; they stand behind the dirt wall to shoot arrows outward.
By now, many people have gathered behind the enclosure; someone responds: “Enemies are approaching.”
Looking over, about a hundred meters away, a large group of cavalry stands quietly.
Roughly over a hundred men, all wearing a kind of yellow armor, nearly blending into the earthy yellow Gobi.
Everyone holds a spear, wears a tasseled helmet, with cavalry sabers, bow and arrows, and various weapons on their war horses.
The leader holds a wooden stick in hand, covering one eye, peering at the village with the other.
And in the ranks, one person holds high a strange flag.
Yellow flag face with a white circle around it, and a sun and moon emblem on the flag.
“Who are they? Daring to spy on our Sanggar Village?”
Suder asks with a murderous look: “Could they be horse bandits?”
Sanggar Songlin looks at him like an idiot and shakes his head: “Have you ever seen horse bandits with so much armor and weapons?”
The over a hundred men before them are fully armed, undoubtedly regular troops.
But his own nephew asking such a stupid question shows questionable intelligence in his view.
Suder cannot shoulder the heavy responsibility of Sanggar Village; his own son is the best candidate for the next Village Master.
This idea is currently still brewing.
“Definitely not Heishui Army or Ganzhou Army; could it be Prairie Barbarians?” Someone says in shock.
Isn’t Heishui City still besieged and not fallen?
How did Prairie Barbarians reach the Heluo Chuan tribe over four hundred li away?
At the same time, on the other side, Fourth Garrison Centurion Hei Wa is also carefully observing the situation in Sanggar Village.
“Looks like we’ve found a fat sheep, a tribe with at least a thousand people.”
“Go report to the Chiliarch, ask him to quickly send reinforcements.” Hei Wa says to a personal guard.
“Yes, sir.”
The cavalry nods heavily and turns to leave.
Under Li Xiao’s orders, the Northern Frontier Army deploys by Centurion units, with the entire Fourth Garrison conducting a blanket search of Heluo Chuan.
The distance between each Centurion unit does not exceed ten li.
So, when Hei Wa discovered Sanggar Village, within half a shichen, several nearby Centurion units rushed over.
This is a Chiliarch’s troops, including seven hundred garrison soldiers and one hundred Heishui City common people.
The Sanggar Village people seeing this scene are all stunned.
“Damn it, how did so many come?” Sanggar Songlin says in panic.
“Could it really be Prairie Barbarians coming?”
“But, but Heishui City has several thousand garrison, and such sturdy city walls; are they made of mud paste?”
On the other side, Suder has completely lost his earlier arrogance, his face pale, panic flashing deep in his eyes.
“We are descendants of the kings of the Grassland; we absolutely cannot be looked down upon by these slaves.”
“As long as we hold the city wall, we can definitely leave these Prairie Barbarians’ corpses all over the ground.” Suder forces composure and shouts to boost morale.
Hundreds of Heluo Chuan men gather behind the enclosure, drawing bows and nocking arrows, vowing to defend their homeland to the death.
Seeing this, Chiliarch Wang Cunxiao curls his lips in disdainful sneer.
“A rabble, wielding grandfathers’ weapons, still want to test the sharpness of my Northern Frontier war sabers?”
“Hmph!”
In his eyes, these Heluo Chuan people may be brave and skilled in combat, but their weapons and equipment are truly poor; in the Northern Frontier, even the Kuli Army would disdain them.
Even if they shoot freely, they probably can’t penetrate Northern Frontier Army armor.
“Bring up the Tiger Zun Cannons.” Wang Cunxiao orders coldly.
Immediately, ten soldiers drive two horse carriages over.
Each carriage carries one Tiger Zun Cannon.
Weighing only one hundred jin, fully transportable by horse carriage.
It is the firearm most suitable for cavalry equipment.
To raze Heluo Chuan and minimize their own casualties, Li Xiao temporarily allocated two Tiger Zun Cannons to each Chiliarch in the Fourth Garrison.
Then, the artillerymen unload the Tiger Zun Cannons, place them on the ground, and make adjustments.
An Artillery Squad Leader gets Wang Cunxiao’s approval, then walks to the Tiger Zun Cannon and shouts loudly: “Fire cannon.”
As the words fall, two soldiers light the fuses; seconds later, a low muffled thunder sounds outside Sanggar Village.
“Boom boom!”
Two iron shots burst from the cannon muzzles, arcing through the air toward the dirt wall.
One misses, one hits the target.
A two-meter section of yellow dirt enclosure is instantly smashed away halfway.
“What?”
Behind another section of the enclosure, Suder and others who were drawing bows to meet the Northern Frontier Cavalry charge are instantly stunned by the sight.
“How is that possible?”
“What the hell is that thing?”
“We’ve done much evil; it’s thunder god helping the barbarians punish us.”
“Everyone don’t fear; we have Buddha’s protection, thunder god dares not harm us.”
The Heluo Chuan people behind the dirt wall panic; though Hari and others shout loudly, many still involuntarily step back.
On the other side, the Artillery Squad Leader sees one cannonball miss and says nothing.
Very normal; after all, there’s always a test shot before real bombardment.
“Fire cannon.”
“Boom boom!”
The second round of bombardment begins; both solid cannonballs hit the dirt wall this time, only a few meters from the previous impact spot.
This time, the Heluo Chuan people are even more panicked.
Seeing the ever-widening gap in the dirt wall, even the dullest know the dirt wall can’t stop the Prairie Barbarians.
“Sorcery, these barbarians use sorcery; we can’t stop them.”
“We’re definitely going to die.”
Heluo Chuan people start shouting; even as Hari, Songlin, and others try hard to control, even killing one, they still can’t fully stabilize morale.
After eight rounds of bombardment, a five-meter dirt slope is blasted down.
Fourth Garrison Myriad Household Commander Wang Cunxiao laughs heartily: “A tiny dirt wall can’t save their petty lives.”
“Later, find a chance to suggest to the Great Protector: best to allocate a few Tiger Zun Cannons to each Chiliarch as standard; this thing is too useful.”
Wang Cunxiao was a Wuwei Army Centurion who became Fourth Garrison Chiliarch during the Six Garrisons expansion, one of Li Xiao’s direct generals.
Even his name ‘Cunxiao’ was given by Li Xiao.
“Clang!”
Wang Cunxiao draws his cavalry saber, turns to the garrison soldiers and one hundred Kuli Army behind him, and shouts loudly:
“The Great Protector orders:”
“No sheathing of sabers for three days, kill all Heluo Chuan men.”
“Kill!”
As the words fall, the seven hundred garrison soldiers and one hundred Kuli Army bare ferocious expressions, waving spears, charging into Sanggar Village.
At the blasted dirt wall spot, only compacted earth remains on the ground, unable to block the war horses’ leaps.
Leading the charge are a group of garrison soldiers; they control their war horses with legs, draw bows and nock arrows, sharp arrows instantly striking the heads of people behind the enclosure.
In contrast, the Sanggar people’s arrows can’t even pierce cotton armor, merely bouncing off the surface.
The arrows they make themselves are of too poor quality, not on the same level as Northern Frontier Military Industry.
“Kill!”
Hei Wa leaps high over the dirt pile, draws bow and nocks arrow, shooting another enemy.
At this moment, a Sanggar man charges straight on horseback.
Hei Wa, as a Centurion, is naturally battle-hardened; he spurs his horse faster, grips his spear tight, the hard spearhead directly piercing the Sanggar man’s chest.
Hooking the scythe behind, flinging the corpse heavily away.
On the other side, over a hundred Heishui City soldiers also charge in following; though their weapons and armor are inferior to the Northern Frontier’s.
They are still Western Xia standard issue.
In clashes with Sanggar people, they hold some advantage.
“Go die for me.”
Former Huangshi Village military household Huang Daquan, spear in hand, catches up to a fleeing Sanggar man and stabs viciously from behind.
Splashing blood stains his cheek, yet stirs his heart even more.
The once-faded hot blood reignites.
Then, he thrusts again, reaches from horseback to grab the corpse, cuts off the left ear, and discards it like trash.
“One down.”
Huang Daquan breathes lightly, eyes gleaming with excitement.
Just need to kill three enemies to bring his whole family out of slavery and become a Northern Frontier garrison soldier.
A goal once seeming unattainable now appears not difficult.
Three enemies, within reach.
Moreover, each head killed brings corresponding material rewards.
Either copper coins or cattle and sheep.
In any case, the Northern Frontier Army publicizes it as very fair.
Huang Daquan only believes half, because the former Heishui Army also sounded good.
But when real merit was earned, rewards were often just a third.
Now, it depends on whether the Northern Frontier Army honors its promises.
If merit rewards are distributed fairly, Huang Daquan decides to stay in the Northern Frontier.
At least through his own efforts, he can let his family live well.
“You little bastards, your Grandpa Huang is here to collect you.”
“Kill!”
Huang Daquan roars, face fierce, charging at another Sanggar man.
Beside him, numerous Heishui City prisoners of war also charge forward bravely.
They don’t fear giving their all.
They only hope for fair treatment.
On the other side, facing the ferocious and impenetrable Northern Frontier Army, the Sanggar people’s mentality completely collapses.
Some start fleeing backward, planning to take their families and slip away.
“Kill, kill them all for me!”
“Whoever dares flee, I’ll kill his whole family.”
Suder shouts loudly, unavoidable panic and fear in his eyes.
