Chapter 262: Western Xia Court And Country In Uproar, Fearing The Northern Frontier Like Tiger Wolf
Western Xia Imperial Palace.
Ever since Nai Ling Sicong left, Emperor Li Chunyou locked himself in the study and fell into madness.
“Clang~”
“Crash crash crash~”
“Useless, all of you are good-for-nothings.”
“Eighty thousand troops, Great Xia’s eighty thousand elites!”
Hearing the roars and sounds of smashing things from the study, Consort Shu Wang Clan, whom Li Chunyou doted on most, stood trembling outside the door, wanting to see what had happened, but was stopped by the guards at the door.
Soon, Empress Dowager Luo hurried over with her maidservants after being informed.
Not yet forty years old, faint wrinkles inevitably appeared at the corners of her eyes, but her figure was graceful, exuding a mature woman’s charm all over.
She wore a peacock blue fox fur short jacket outside, with fluffy fur collar, tightly bound at the waist with a sword belt, and a sapphire hairpin on her head, fully displaying her noble status.
Seeing Empress Dowager Luo appear, Wang Clan hurriedly stepped forward to bow and said: “Mother Empress.”
“What’s going on? Why is His Majesty so angry?”
Hearing the loud crashes from inside the room, Empress Dowager Luo’s eyelids merely twitched slightly, like a seasoned general hearing arrows whistling through the air, having long tempered panic into composure.
Consort Shu Wang Clan staggered forward, her pearl hairpin shaking wildly at her temple: “Reporting to Mother Empress!”
“Lord Nai Ling Sicong just came by, no one knows what he said, but His Majesty flew into a rage and no one could calm him down.”
Before the words finished, a wooden rack suddenly toppled in the study with a deafening crash.
The palace maids simultaneously shrank back half a step, and even Wang Clan’s hand clutching the silk handkerchief trembled nonstop; it was the first time she had seen the Emperor so furious.
Empress Dowager Luo’s dark brown phoenix eyes narrowed slightly as she gazed at the tightly shut vermilion-lacquered door, a bad premonition rising in her heart.
Nai Ling Sicong was the Privy Councillor, the top figure in Great Xia’s military.
And currently, the only ones fighting Great Xia were the Northern Frontier People.
“Could something have happened in Hexi?”
Empress Dowager Luo was shocked and hurried toward the study door.
The guards at the door wanted to stop her, but were scared into inaction by her sharp rebuke.
The study was now in chaos, with books, paper, and ink scattered on the floor, tables and cabinets all overturned.
Great Xia Emperor Li Chunyou was wielding a Great Xia Sword, slashing wildly everywhere.
Empress Dowager Luo was startled by the scene but asked fearlessly: “Your Majesty, what happened?”
Seeing Empress Dowager Luo enter the study while the guards outside did nothing, Li Chunyou’s face grew even darker.
In the later years of Renzong, Empress Dowager Luo had interfered in politics as Empress, cultivating many followers in the Imperial Court, with her spies everywhere in the palace.
She wielded great influence in the court and officialdom, but the more so, the more wary Li Chunyou became of her.
After all, his throne had gradually stabilized, and he no longer needed her help.
Yet Empress Dowager Luo still clung stubbornly to power, becoming his constraint.
But Li Chunyou knew it was not yet time for an all-out break with her; he had to slowly clip her wings first.
Thus, his displeasure was instantly concealed perfectly, a trace of respect appeared on his face, and he nodded slightly: “Mother Empress.”
“Why such fury? Has something happened in Hexi?” Empress Dowager Luo stepped over the mess and asked as she approached.
Li Chunyou leaned on his long sword, slumping dejectedly onto the steps, his face once again showing ferocity and grief.
In a hoarse voice, he said: “Indeed, a battle report came from Hexi.”
“Great Xia’s eighty thousand troops were completely wiped out, Liangzhou City is in peril, and the entire Hexi Corridor is about to fall into the hands of Northern Frontier barbarians.”
Hearing this, Empress Dowager Luo was also greatly startled.
Her eyes widened in disbelief as she shouted: “What?”
“The Hexi army was defeated?”
As Li Chunyou’s status stabilized, he gradually consolidated power in the Imperial Court, starting first with military power.
The upper echelons of the Bureau of Military Affairs were almost entirely replaced with his people, so Empress Dowager Luo had not received the news first.
Even last time, Li Anquan’s appointment as Deputy Marshal of the Western Expedition Army had gone through Empress Dowager Luo’s back door.
Essentially, it was the ‘Emperor’s faction’ and ‘Empress Dowager’s faction’ vying for military power.
But Li Chunyou was the legitimate Emperor after all, and had begun to gain the upper hand.
“How is that possible?”
“That’s eighty thousand troops, and Waiming Shian is Great Xia’s veteran general, with Anquan assisting~” Empress Dowager Luo blurted out.
But Li Chunyou interrupted her directly, hysterically shouting: “Mother Empress, speak no more of that Li Anquan.”
“The Hexi army’s defeat is all Li Anquan’s fault.”
“He was overconfident and advanced rashly, falling into the Northern Frontier People’s ambush, causing our twenty thousand officers and soldiers to be burned alive in Shanle City~”
“And allowing the Northern Frontier barbarians to find an opening to cut off our main force’s rear.”
“All of this is Li Anquan’s crime!”
Li Chunyou’s anger surged, showing less and less respect for Empress Dowager Luo.
At this moment, his greatest regret was compromising under her pressure and agreeing to make Li Anquan Deputy Marshal.
Now that the Hexi defeat was irreversible, he could only seize this chance to challenge her.
Striving to reclaim more power in the process.
Faced with Li Chunyou’s accusations, Empress Dowager Luo’s face grew grave, her phoenix brows furrowed, drawing in a cold breath.
“Shanle City~ twenty thousand troops~”
She had not expected the Hexi war to be so disastrous.
She was also well aware of the consequences of this Hexi defeat.
Without the Hexi Corridor as a buffer, the Northern Frontier Army could drive straight in at any time, deep into Western Xia heartland, even posing a direct threat to Xingqing Prefecture.
But soon, her emotions steadied somewhat, reverting to the composed and cold-blooded Empress Dowager Luo.
Whether twenty thousand or eighty thousand, in her eyes they were just numbers.
Living in the palace, she could not feel the pain of the families of those soldiers who died in battle.
At this moment, the only thing she cared about was what impact this Hexi defeat would have on her.
Thus, she asked gravely: “What about Anquan? Is he still alive?”
Li Anquan was an important pawn in her hand; she had invested much effort in him.
If he were lost in Hexi, her efforts would be wasted.
“Li Anquan?”
“Hmph!”
“Mother Empress, you might hope he died in Shanle City, otherwise We will not spare him.”
Li Chunyou’s face was sullen as he said coldly.
Shortly after, the mother and son parted unhappily.
Immediately, Li Chunyou said gravely: “Summon attendants.”
“Call all officials of Attendant Official rank and above to the Great Hall.”
The eunuchs outside complied, bowing: “As you command, Your Majesty.”
It was already mid-afternoon, and court would adjourn in another hour, but when this order reached the officials, some instantly furrowed their brows.
They immediately thought of the urgent 800-li express report from Liangzhou City not long ago, murmuring: “Something big has happened.”
For the Emperor to convene court before the next day meant it was surely a major event.
Soon, the ministers gathered in the Imperial Palace Great Hall.
The sun set in the west, slanting rays shining on the hall door, yet unable to dispel the pervasive chill.
Li Chunyou’s face was iron-dark as he scanned the ministers below, saying heavily word by word: “The Battle of Hexi is lost.”
“Eighty thousand troops, completely wiped out.”
At these words, the Imperial Court erupted in uproar, like a thunderclap striking the ministers’ hearts.
The ministers, who had been standing straight, instantly changed color.
The tablet in Chancellor Zhang Peizhi’s hand clattered to the ground; he stared wide-eyed, his voice changing pitch.
“Your Majesty, this… how is this possible? Eighty thousand troops, how could…”
Censor-in-Chief Zhao Jingzhong said tremulously: “That was the army sustained by exhausting the treasury! This defeat leaves Xingqing Prefecture with empty troop strength… what can be done?”
The hall instantly boiled over, ministers whispering and debating furiously.
Some flushed red, shouting: “There must be a traitor, someone collaborating with the enemy, otherwise how could it be such a disastrous defeat!”
“Your Majesty, the urgent matter is to pacify the people’s hearts and quickly mobilize troops to defend against the Northern Frontier Army’s continued advance eastward!”
The entire Great Hall was in chaos.
Li Chunyou watched the ministers coldly, finally fixing his gaze on Minister of Revenue Zhao Jingzhong.
“Zhao Jingzhong.”
At Li Chunyou’s cold call, Zhao Jingzhong’s heart jolted, instinctively sensing something amiss.
Next, he saw Li Chunyou grab the military report from the desk and hurl it at him: “In the Battle of Hexi, eighty thousand officers and soldiers lost all combat strength after three days without provisions! The military report is written in blood; what do you have to say?”
Zhao Jingzhong was struck as if by lightning, knees buckling as he collapsed, loudly crying injustice: “Your Majesty, investigate clearly! I am wronged.”
“I have done my utmost to procure provisions…”
Li Chunyou sneered; of course he knew Zhao Jingzhong was innocent—the Hexi army’s provision shortage was purely strategic error, unrelated to the Ministry of Revenue’s grain transport.
But who let Zhao Jingzhong be a Luo family in-law, a die-hard ‘Empress Dowager’s faction’ member.
Li Chunyou seized this chance to attack, to eliminate dissenters, consolidate power, and focus strength against the Northern Frontier Army threat.
“The Ministry of Revenue controls the realm’s money and grain, yet due to your poor scheduling, the soldiers went to battle hungry!”
“Such guilt is hard to escape!”
“Effective immediately, Zhao Jingzhong is dismissed from his post as Minister of Revenue and imprisoned at once!”
The hall fell deathly silent, only Zhao Jingzhong’s despairing sobs heard.
Then, Li Chunyou pressed the advantage, demoting several more ‘Empress Dowager’s faction’ officials.
Thus, his anger subsided somewhat.
He then said gravely: “Order all prefectures, subprefectures, and counties: regardless of widows, orphans, or the destitute, every household must provide one male laborer! Those hiding will have the whole family conscripted, male laborers sent to the frontier, women confiscated as official prostitutes!”
“The Bureau of Military Affairs shall draft detailed rules for armor and troop levies, to be presented to Us within two days.”
Hearing this, the Privy Councillor and other relevant officials nodded: “As you command.”
Normally, Western Xia armies drafted one from every three households, but with national crisis, every able-bodied man who could draw a bow must go to war.
However, mobilizing these common people would take much time.
No one knew if they could keep up with the Northern Frontier Army’s advance speed.
Moreover, even Western Xia’s eighty thousand elite troops had perished under Northern Frontier Iron Cavalry; no one believed these hastily levied civilian laborers could make much difference.
It was better than nothing.
After everyone else left, Li Chunyou kept only Nai Ling Sicong in the hall—his chosen confidant.
Before Nai Ling Sicong, Li Chunyou hid no weariness, saying gravely: “Lord Nai Ling, you know how swiftly the Northern Frontier Iron Cavalry advances.”
“While forming combat strength for Great Xia’s army will take more time; We are worried~”
“If the Northern Frontier Army advances eastward now…”
This was what Li Chunyou feared most; losing the Hexi Corridor was damaging but recoverable, but if Northern Frontier Cavalry pressed to Xingqing Prefecture, it would be Western Xia’s doom.
Nai Ling Sicong pondered, then shook his head: “Your Majesty, though the Northern Frontier’s armor is fierce, they are mere barbarians outside civilization and cannot persist in Hexi.”
“At this season, the Great River flows ceaselessly.”
“If the Northern Frontier barbarians truly dare advance east, Great Xia has the Great River’s natural defense and can surely block the Northern Frontier Cavalry west of the Great River.”
“Unable to take it long, the Northern Frontier People will withdraw.”
Though at the earlier court session Li Chunyou had declared national mobilization for a decisive battle with the Northern Frontier Army, inwardly he was terrified of their combat strength.
Nationwide conscription was only for self-preservation, with no thought of sending another army to retake the Hexi Corridor.
If the army were wiped out a second time, Western Xia would truly perish.
Thus, Li Chunyou thought the same as Nai Ling Sicong: as long as the Northern Frontier Army did not threaten Xingqing Prefecture, let them rampage.
When the time came, the Northern Frontier Army would naturally retreat, and Western Xia forces could smoothly retake the Hexi Corridor.
“Lord Nai Ling’s words are those of a seasoned statesman; We entrust this war to you.” Li Chunyou said heavily.
“Your Majesty, rest assured; this subject will exert every effort.”
“However, if the Northern Frontier barbarians demand conditions for withdrawal?” Nai Ling Sicong asked cautiously.
At these words, Li Chunyou’s face showed helplessness; he sighed lightly: “As long as it preserves Great Xia’s peace and face, giving the Northern Frontier barbarians some things is no harm.”
Nai Ling Sicong nodded slightly, having gauged Li Chunyou’s bottom line.
Leaving the Imperial Palace, night had fully fallen; gazing at the rising moon, Nai Ling Sicong looked grave, shaking his head and sighing toward the northwest.
“Who would have thought mere Northern Frontier barbarians would become Great Xia’s major confidant threat!”
When the Northern Frontier Army first attacked Western Xia, they only looted Dunhuang and Guazhou.
No one took them seriously.
Western Xia’s ruler and ministers thought them no different from Naiman People or Kereit Tribe grassland tribes—mere skin sores.
But unexpectedly, in just a few years, the Northern Frontier Army’s strength had swelled to this extent.
Forcing Western Xia to mobilize nationwide just to pray for survival.
“The ways of the world are unpredictable!”
With the court orders issued, the prefectures and counties instantly erupted.
In Xingqing Prefecture, at a sheep offal stall, Old Man Wang tremblingly sprinkled green onions into a bowl, saying shakily: “Hexi’s eighty thousand lads all lost to the Northern Frontier People; we’re done for now.”
A woman buying cloth nearby widened her eyes in disbelief: “What?”
“Old Wang Tou, what did you say? Eighty thousand troops all gone?”
“But didn’t the Imperial Court say we won a victory in Hexi?”
Old Wang Tou chuckled and shook his head: “When have the government officials ever told the truth? All lies to fool us!”
“If they told the real story, who would dare be soldiers!”
To cover up the truth of the Battle of Hexi, the Western Xia Court claimed a great victory, having defeated fifty thousand Northern Frontier Cavalry.
The large-scale conscription was only to guard against the unforeseen.
But regrettably, some news still leaked out, especially with Northern Frontier Imperial Guards fanning the flames.
“Good heavens!” the cloth-selling woman exclaimed.
“The Northern Frontier barbarians are that fierce; then… then sending my man is just to die? My Tiger Lad is only three; without a man, how can we orphans and widow survive!”
The woman cried; every household one male laborer, her man was no exception.
She thought it would be like usual, civilian laborer work transporting grain and escorting military equipment, but never expected real death.
A diner nearby nodded fiercely: “Yeah, I heard Northern Frontier barbarians are battle masters, each with three heads and six arms, fighting without regard for life.”
“Chopping heads like we chop firewood, effortless.”
“Us ordinary folk going up is just dying.”
Old Wang Tou agreed deeply: “I heard those Hexi cities, after Northern Frontier People flattened them, not even a living breath could be heard.”
“More than that!”
“My cousin-in-law is a postman in Liangzhou; he sent word Northern Frontier People drain captives’ blood to soak horse feed!”
“Northern Frontier barbarians love eating living hearts and infants’ brains!”
Gradually, the narrative shifted; Northern Frontier People became demons incarnate, synonyms for terror.
No one had truly seen the Northern Frontier Army, just wild rumors and imaginations.
While they spoke, a child’s heartbroken wail came from the stall— from Butcher Li’s alley home, where soldiers were dragging his lame old father out.
Butcher Li had already gone to Hexi, fate unknown; by rights, his family need not provide another.
But inevitably, some minor officials, to meet headcount quotas, forcibly assigned them.
Such things happened anytime in Western Xia territory.
In a cave dwelling in Lingzhou Prefecture, Widow Liu shielded her son behind her, listening to the bailiffs’ shouts outside, biting her lip until it bled.
“Mom, I’ll go be a soldier.”
The twelve-year-old youth’s voice trembled: “Better than… better than them taking you as a camp prostitute.”
“Shut up!”
Widow Liu slapped her son’s face, lighter than cotton, tears falling onto his ragged collar.
“Your dad died to Naiman People, your brother went to Hexi and vanished; they say the Hexi army is all dead, your brother too. Mom has only you left.”
“Northern Frontier barbarians are so fierce, and you’re so young; going is just dying~ Mom will risk this life…”
Western Xia men were not cowards; they did not fear desperate fights, but hoped for fair rewards for their efforts.
But Western Xia’s military was rife with corruption; even military merit brought scant full rewards, dismissed with a few coppers.
Over time, Western Xia men gradually lost their ‘bloodiness’ and were unwilling to enlist.
To them, soldiering was a bottomless pit: delaying crops, risking death.
All dodged if possible, but this time there was no escape.
Outside the cave dwelling, several village women stood together, saddened by Widow Liu’s plight.
“My maternal home village is right by Liangzhou City,”
One woman choked: “Now it’s probably…”
She dared not continue; a young wife holding her nursing child trembled: “If Northern Frontier barbarians come, what of us women and children?”
An elder woman covered her mouth mid-sentence: “Pah pah pah! Don’t jinx it; heaven protect, Northern Frontier barbarians won’t reach us.”
While Western Xia court and populace panicked in terror of the Northern Frontier Army, the demon Great Protector they spoke of led his army out of Liangzhou City.
Vast and mighty, heading toward Tiger Wolf Gorge.
