Chapter 247: Rewarding Military Merit With Money And Grain, And Women
The setting sun was blood-red, dyeing the broken walls and ruins of Ganzhou City into scorched black silhouettes.
The golden sun and moon battle flag had long stood atop the city wall, fluttering loudly in the cold wind.
“Da da da da da~”
Accompanied by a low rumble of hoofbeats, three hundred Imperial Guards slowly approached the city gate.
All holding spears slanted toward the sky, under the sunset’s glow, they resembled a wall of reddish-yellow steel.
In the middle of the formation, Li Xiao wore dark gold dragon pattern cotton armor, fully armed, hand resting on his dragon head cavalry saber, riding a flashy black Dawan horse, stepping over the gravel pile under the city gate toward inside Ganzhou City.
“Great Protector!”
“Great Protector!”
Qin Chunsheng, Lin Dazhuang, and other First Division generals all dismounted and stood at the city gate to welcome Li Xiao.
It was now evening; after a full day of cleanup, inside Ganzhou City had been basically cleared.
All surviving soldiers and common people in the city had been driven to the prisoner of war camp outside the city, guarded by the Fourth Garrison.
When attacking the next town, it would be the Fourth Garrison’s turn to enter the city for looting.
The First Division would rotate with the Fourth Garrison, looting villages outside the city, guarding prisoners, and so on.
Comparatively, there was more profit inside the city, so rotation was necessary.
Both garrisons were Li Xiao’s direct troops; he could not be overly biased.
“Have you found Mi Qin Tiele?” Li Xiao nodded lightly to them, then asked.
After the First Division entered the city, they quickly quelled the unrest inside, dragging out those rebel soldiers one by one.
But Mi Qin Tiele was never seen.
Li Xiao suspected the old man might have disguised himself, hiding among the prisoners outside the city, or still concealed in some secret spot inside the city.
In any case, with the army surrounding the city, the chance of escape was low.
Thus, he ordered the Fourth Garrison to screen the prisoners and the First Division to search further inside the city.
Mi Qin Tiele was his defeated subordinate; though he could no longer make waves, he was still the Gansu Army Command commander, with lingering influence.
If he could be captured and publicly executed.
It would not only boost morale but also demoralize the Xia Army.
“He’s already been captured,” Qin Chunsheng said.
“Mi Qin Tiele was hiding in a cellar under a courtyard in the east of the city; also found were over a dozen large boxes filled with gold and silver treasures, worth no less than 300,000 liang of silver.”
“Finding his hiding spot was thanks to the Imperial Guard scouts who infiltrated the city.” Qin Chunsheng was also pleading merits for Gou Sheng and the others.
Speaking of which, Mi Qin Tiele was truly unlucky.
Among the soldiers who dug his cellar, five were Northern Frontier scouts.
Afterward, Mi Qin Tiele ordered them silenced, but the five noticed something wrong and incited the other soldiers to resist.
Ultimately, with backup from other scouts, three survived.
Thus, the cellar’s location was exposed; upon learning the news, Qin Chunsheng immediately sent men to the east of the city and found Mi Qin Tiele himself inside.
He had stockpiled large amounts of food and water inside, seemingly waiting for Xia reinforcements to retake Ganzhou or for the Northern Frontier to abandon it voluntarily.
“Bring him up,” Qin Chunsheng shouted.
Soon, Mi Qin Tiele was brought forward under escort.
His arms were tightly bound, hair disheveled and filthy, face pale; he showed no trace of a high-ranking official in a border region, looking instead like a beggar.
“Kneel.”
The two soldiers behind him barked, kicking his knees so he heavily knelt on the ground.
Mi Qin Tiele grimaced in pain, body curled on the ground, yet he struggled to lift his head.
He forced an ugly smile, full of fawning sycophancy, and said.
“I am Mi Qin Tiele, Gansu commander; I have seen the Great Protector of the Northern Frontier.”
As he spoke, his eyes quietly sized up Li Xiao.
Shock appeared on his face; he had heard before that Northern Frontier Great Protector Li Xiao was excessively young.
But seeing him in person still brought surprise.
His build was tower-like and burly, short black hair neatly standing on end, star-like eyes under sword brows cold as blades, faint stubble adding killing intent.
On his dark gold armor, a black dragon coiled around sun, moon, and mountains; every gesture carried cold majesty and murderous aura rushing forth, his sharp gaze seeming to pierce the heart.
This was the Northern Frontier Great Protector, Li Xiao!
“Great Protector’s fame resounds like thunder; seeing you today, rumors fall far short,” Mi Qin Tiele said in a fawning tone despite his disheveled state, all for survival.
“Your stance is like a green pine in snow, the black dragon coiling sun and moon patterns on your armor displaying heavenly might, eyes sharp as a hawk breaking through clouds, unspoken pressure like a thousand troops.”
“Truly a once-in-a-century true dragon of the world; even if Bai Qi or Han Xin were reborn, they couldn’t match half your battlefield heroism!”
Hearing Mi Qin Tiele’s words, Li Xiao immediately laughed.
“Hehe~”
“Hahaha~”
Riding his war horse, hand pressing the dragon head hilt, looking down from above, he smiled faintly and said: “One moment’s victory doesn’t define a hero; able to bend and stretch—that makes a real man.”
“This line fits Commander Mi perfectly!”
Hearing Li Xiao’s tone, Mi Qin Tiele’s face showed a hint of joy.
He thought he might live.
But then Li Xiao changed tack: “You’re not the first commander to fall into my Northern Frontier’s hands, but the first to kneel and beg mercy.”
“I’ve never seen a general as shameless as you.”
Li Xiao snorted disdainfully.
Like Weiming Zhongshi before, defeated but unyielding to death—Li Xiao somewhat respected his integrity.
But as fellow Tangut People and Xia commanders, Mi Qin Tiele was far inferior to Weiming Zhongshi.
Especially hearing that Mi Qin Tiele was unpopular, causing resentment among Ganzhou’s soldiers and common people.
Such a person was useless alive.
“Before my Northern Frontier Army formally went to war, if you’d surrendered, I might have spared your dog’s life.”
“But now, if I spare you, how can I face the Northern Frontier officers and soldiers who died in the Han Great Wall battle and last night’s siege?”
With that, Li Xiao waved his hand: “Go in peace; I’ll take good care of your wife and daughters.”
Hearing this, Mi Qin Tiele panicked instantly, begging: “Great Protector, Great Protector, spare my life.”
“I have money, I’m useful; I can help you reach Xingqing Prefecture.”
“From now on, I’m your dog~”
Mi Qin Tiele shouted in panic; he really didn’t want to die.
The world was full of wonders, beauties endless—why die?
Even if he lost all power later, as long as given a stable, wealthy life, he’d betray Xia without hesitation.
But unfortunately, his utilitarian value was too low; Li Xiao scorned him.
Amid screams, he was dragged away by two soldiers and, before the numerous prisoners outside the city, beheaded on the spot.
Then, his head was preserved and hung on a flagpole above the city gate.
And on that flagpole were two other heads.
They belonged to Blackwater Town Yan Army Division commander Weiming Zhongshi and, appointed two years ago as Guazhou Xiping Army Command commander, Suo Ren Dewang.
The latter, after Li Dongjiang’s western route army successively broke through Dunhuang and Guazhou, fought to the death unyieldingly until the last moment, dying in the Xiping commander’s office.
Compared to Suo Ren Dewang, Mi Qin Tiele truly exemplified cowardice to the extreme.
Everywhere is the same: some die heroically unyielding, others cringe in fear of death.
Li Xiao merely glanced faintly at the three heads on the flagpole and said softly: “Wonder if this time we can collect all twelve heads.”
Xia had twelve army commands, equivalent to twelve regional military districts.
Now, the Northern Frontier Army had eliminated Blackwater Town Yan Army Division, Guazhou Xiping Army Command, and Ganzhou Gansu Army Command.
Three of the twelve gone, nine remaining.
If all twelve heads were collected, Xia would be doomed.
Of course, what Li Xiao wanted most was the Xia Emperor’s head.
……
In the evening, the Northern Frontier Army slaughtered cattle and sheep to reward the three armies.
In the commander’s office, the one seated at the head was now Li Xiao.
He was listening to Gou Sheng’s report, looking satisfied, nodding from time to time.
Though he had learned of Gou Sheng and others’ actions from Zhang Shitou’s report, hearing directly from frontline operatives was Li Xiao’s habit.
This way, he could spot if anyone concealed merits of grassroots soldiers, avoiding disheartening those who truly risked life and limb.
“Good!”
“Brave and strategic, able to incite a camp riot under Ganzhou Army’s nose, making them kill each other, and bring back most brothers intact~”
“Gou Sheng, you’re excellent.”
Li Xiao laughed heartily, very pleased with Gou Sheng’s actions.
Not only did it allow the Northern Frontier Army to take Ganzhou City early, but it also effectively reduced Northern Frontier Army casualties.
Had they waited until the next day for a frontal siege, it would waste cannonballs, shorten the Divine Might Cannon’s lifespan, and cause more soldier deaths.
But Gou Sheng’s ploy caused the city garrison to slaughter each other, allowing the Northern Frontier Army smooth entry.
Still, of the hundred brothers with Gou Sheng, over twenty died in the city.
“Generals die in a hundred battles, warriors return after a decade.”
“Once war breaks out, casualties are inevitable.”
“But we survivors must honor our fallen brothers.”
Li Xiao stood, his deep voice serious.
Looking to Jiu Meng’an He beside him: “Jiu Meng’an Sima, record the names of the soldiers who died in the city following Centurion Gou Sheng; collect their bodies properly and inter them all in the Forest of Meritorious Deeds.”
“Family pensions must be fully paid; additionally, from my personal funds, double the consolation.”
Jiu Meng’an He nodded firmly: “Great Protector, rest assured; this general will oversee it personally.”
The Forest of Meritorious Deeds was like a martyrs’ cemetery, in a northern mountain of Dragon City, burying martyrs who died for the Northern Frontier since the Jin Prefecture Governor’s Mansion era.
It had altars and monuments; Li Xiao personally paid respects every year.
Then, to Gou Sheng and others: “In this Ganzhou City battle, you take first merit.”
“I will reward you heavily.”
“Including the fallen brothers, each gets 100 liang of reward silver.”
“Gou Sheng, acting deputy chiliarch; Zhao Erniu, acting centurion…”
Li Xiao rewarded them on the spot; 100 liang per person far exceeded ordinary soldiers’ standards—a huge sum in this era.
Enough for a hundred sheep or twenty cattle, or ten beautiful female slaves.
Mainly because Gou Sheng and his men’s task was truly dangerous, their merits real and great.
Since ancient times, top military merits were beheading generals, seizing flags, first to scale walls, breaking formations.
Beyond that, outstanding scout missions yielded merits no less than those four.
In battles between armies, intelligence was crucial.
These scouts penetrated deep alone, even near enemy camps for reconnaissance—a high-risk unit often surrounded.
Their intelligence was vital for generals’ deployments.
Thus, every scout was military elite.
And upon gaining intelligence, scouts received heavy rewards.
Northern Frontier Army even had an unspoken rule: many squad leaders and captains had scout experience.
Every scout was a reserve officer seed, prioritized for promotion.
This time, Gou Sheng and others’ merits were huge; fewer than a hundred opened Ganzhou City’s gates.
Higher risk, greater difficulty, so Li Xiao rewarded lavishly without stint.
To show Northern Frontier’s respect for meritorious officials and firm upholding of “merit above all” iron rule.
Then, Li Xiao drew his dragon head cavalry saber from his waist; the blade whistled through air, slamming heavily onto the table.
Wood chips flew, table split in two; he swept his gaze over the courtyard crowd: “Remember! In my Northern Frontier, military merit is life!”
“Dare risk your life, and even a beggar can become a general.”
“But tamper with merits, and my blade shows no mercy.”
All generals’ faces turned solemn upon hearing, none thinking Li Xiao joked.
All rose, thumping chests heavily: “We obey the Great Protector’s command.”
Clear rewards and punishments, heavy rewards and penalties—this rule Li Xiao always emphasized.
It was the foundation of Northern Frontier Army’s powerful combat strength.
Xia Army’s corruption shocked Li Xiao.
Parasites like Mi Qin Tiele constantly gnawed at Xia, turning its once formidable army into something anyone could bully.
Northern Frontier Army must take warning.
Anyone daring to erode the army’s foundation must die.
In the time that followed, the generals continued eating and drinking, the atmosphere growing ever more lively.
Jiu Meng’an He and Camp Cultivation Department deputy staff officer Gao Zhongyi took the chance to report this battle’s spoils to Li Xiao.
“Ganzhou City is far wealthier than Blackwater City; though common people are poor, the magnates are fat with oil~” Gao Zhongyi said.
“By my count, our army captured gold, silver, copper coins, etc., totaling about 300,000 liang in silver value.”
“Additionally, Mi Qin Tiele’s assets, though many fields, shops, and residence deeds are in eastern Xingqing Prefecture areas, converting to cash requires time to sell low.”
“Excluding those hard-to-liquidate, other gold and silver add up to 150,000 liang.”
Mi Qin Tiele was indeed greedy; his personal assets alone nearly half of Ganzhou City’s magnates combined.
Of course, this was just gold, silver, copper coins; other valuables not included.
“Dispose of those field deeds,” Li Xiao nodded lightly, instructing.
Northern Frontier Army had no use for fields in Xingqing Prefecture areas; if they broke through, they’d just enclose land directly.
Such deeds were waste paper.
But residence deeds were useful, so he ordered: “Give those residence deeds to Imperial Guard chiliarch Zhang; let him handle them.”
“Understood,” Gao Zhongyi nodded lightly.
These included courtyards and shops; Imperial Guard could select useful ones as bases.
Useless ones could be slowly sold low to Xia merchants and magnates, proceeds as Imperial Guard activity funds.
Then, Gao Zhongyi reported captured grain to Li Xiao: not much, only about 100,000 shi.
Because city reserves were mostly taken by Mi Qin Tiele, already captured by Northern Frontier Army in the last Han Great Wall battle.
The remaining 100,000 shi were magnates’ cellar stocks.
Sounds like a lot, but not enough, especially with Northern Frontier Army capturing the city’s soldiers and common people to escort back—couldn’t starve them dead.
“Non-Kuli Army get five-tenths full daily; as long as they don’t starve to death,” Li Xiao said gravely.
In this man-eating era, no such niceties.
Even without Northern Frontier Army, ordinary common people risked starvation.
Northern Frontier Army weren’t their nannies, wouldn’t care comprehensively; not dying was enough.
Only valuable people deserved full bellies.
“Understood.” Gao Zhongyi nodded lightly, reporting other supply captures.
Then Jiu Meng’an He reported prisoner numbers: “Just received Sixth Garrison report: they’ve linked with Second Garrison, taken Suzhou City, now heading to Ganzhou City.”
“Thus, our four garrisons swept the Five Prefectures of Hexi, capturing over 200,000 common people.”
But not final count, as many villages outside cities untended, especially around Ganzhou—next prime looting targets for Northern Frontier Army.
Five Prefectures of Hexi total population estimated at about 300,000.
Mostly from Ganzhou and Suzhou.
“Select all young and strong to serve as auxiliary soldiers with the army,” Li Xiao said gravely.
Same old rule: make them cannon fodder for dirty, tiring, dangerous work.
Rebel? Their families were in Northern Frontier Army hands.
Once military discussions wound down and it wasn’t late, after the two withdrew, Li Xiao saw generals nearly done eating and waved; a group of women was brought in under escort.
Chattering beauties, over a hundred.
Some in plain hemp clothing, some in silk finery.
Though different backgrounds, all stunningly beautiful.
These were naturally war captives from this Ganzhou battle.
