Chapter 264: Li Xiao’s Name Strikes Fear Into Western Xia
The setting sun was blood-red, dyeing Zhuoluo City’s rammed earth city wall dark red, with the battlements on the city wall casting jagged shadows on the ground.
Inside the Commander of Henan Military Command’s office, Yeli Wajie slammed the conscription roster onto the table, looking furious as he said: “We’re still half short of the troop quota set by the Bureau of Military Affairs.”
“With the national crisis at hand, those lowly people actually dare to delay. Do they really think this commander’s sabers are dull?”
With that, he kicked the low stool hard, producing a loud crash that echoed through the room.
“Go call all the Liuguan here, have them take men to the villages and grab every single one of those resisting military service for me.” Yeli Wajie said in a furious tone.
Liuguan can also be called tent masters, mid-level generals in the Western Xia Army managing around one or two hundred men.
In the Hexi battle, part of Henan Military Command’s troops were also completely wiped out, leaving Zhuoluo City critically short of soldiers.
And Zhuoluo City directly faces the Hexi Corridor, so the Bureau of Military Affairs ordered Yeli Wajie to restore at least twenty thousand troops in Zhuoluo City.
But now, the conscription numbers are still less than half, and relying on local officials to mobilize these over ten thousand men would take at least a month.
Yeli Wajie couldn’t wait that long and had no choice but to send out the army to forcibly grab able-bodied men.
“Understood, Lord!”
The deputy general stood with his head bowed to the side, saluting deeply and loudly.
But just as he was about to go relay the orders, a gong sound tearing through the air suddenly came from the city wall.
Accompanied by the soldiers’ terrified shouts: “Northern Frontier barbarians are coming, Northern Frontier barbarians are coming.”
Zhuoluo City was just a small city, so the gong sounds from the city wall could be clearly heard in the Commander’s Office.
Hearing the words Northern Frontier Army, Yeli Wajie froze all over, his horrified gaze turning toward the western city wall.
“What? How is that possible?”
His face, originally flushed with rage, instantly drained of color, his eyes bulging round in utter disbelief.
How long had it been since the Hexi battle?
Xingqing Prefecture had only just issued conscription orders to Zhuoluo City, and the Northern Frontier barbarians had already marched out of Hexi toward Zhuoluo City?
“They~they~”
“Why are the Northern Frontier barbarians advancing so fast? Don’t they need to rest?”
Yeli Wajie looked terrified, hurriedly donning his armor with the deputy general’s help, grabbing his war saber, and rushing toward the west city wall.
The moment he ascended the city wall, a foul wind hit him in the face.
The setting sun dyed the horizon blood-red, and against this intense backdrop, the Northern Frontier Army surged forward like a golden flood from the horizon.
Amid the army, dozens of yellow Sun and Moon Battle Flags fluttered loudly, their sun wheel and crescent moon patterns gleaming in the sunset.
And beneath the battle flags stretched an endless sea of Northern Frontier Cavalry.
Three horses per man, iron hooves thundering like massive drums, shaking the gravel beneath the city wall into tiny jumps.
Those swathes of bright yellow, in the twilight, seemed like flowing molten gold, carrying the windswept sands of the Hexi Corridor, overwhelming everything in their path.
At this moment, Yeli Wajie’s pupils contracted, his throat tightened, his palms gripping the city wall desperately.
“This is the Northern Frontier Iron Cavalry?”
The fearsome reputation of the Northern Frontier Iron Cavalry existed only in Western Xia Army rumors; this was Yeli Wajie’s first time witnessing their formation firsthand.
Majestic aura, terrifying to behold!
That overwhelming golden wave seemed poised to completely engulf Zhuoluo City.
“Yellow armor, this is the Northern Frontier First Division!” Yeli Wajie clenched his fists, his expression growing ever more grave and horrified.
Since the outbreak of the Hexi battle, Western Xia had intensified intelligence gathering on the Northern Frontier.
They had gained a preliminary understanding of the Northern Frontier’s troop divisions.
Named after the Six Garrisons, distinguished by the colors of their armor and battle flags.
Among them, yellow flags and yellow armor belonged to the ‘Northern Frontier First Division’ personally commanded by Great Protector of the Northern Frontier Li Xiao, the ace force of the Northern Frontier Army.
The elite of the elites.
Right now, Yeli Wajie was seeing nothing but yellow-armored iron cavalry outside Zhuoluo City—how could he not be shocked?
Half of Zhuoluo City’s troops were normally stationed in Xining Prefecture on the plateau, and of the remaining half, a considerable portion had been annihilated in Hexi.
At present, Zhuoluo City had fewer than four thousand soldiers left, plus over three thousand hastily conscripted civilian laborers.
With such meager forces, how could they possibly hold off the Northern Frontier’s most elite First Division?
Yeli Wajie’s Adam’s apple bobbed with difficulty, cold sweat soaking his palms and making the war saber’s grip slick.
As he stared in shock at the Northern Frontier Army like a golden flood, the deputy general beside him suddenly cried out: “Lord, look, that flag!”
He followed the deputy general’s pointing finger, his pupils shrinking to pinpricks.
Amid layers of bright yellow armor and fluttering banners, a massive golden Sun and Moon Battle Flag pierced the sky.
The flagpole was over ten feet tall, its sun-and-moon totem at the top gleaming coldly in the sunset.
“It’s Great Protector of the Northern Frontier Li Xiao!!!”
Yeli Wajie said in shock, his voice full of disbelief.
The legendary supreme commander of the Northern Frontier was ruthless in method and invincible in battle, having once led the Northern Frontier Iron Cavalry to flatten the Naiman tribes.
He then led the army to suppress the Kereit Tribe, beating the grassland tribes into submission.
These were all freshly gathered intelligence from Western Xia scouts through various channels, truth unknown.
But the reality of the Hexi battle was beyond doubt.
Under Li Xiao’s command, the Northern Frontier Army annihilated the Imperial Court’s eighty thousand troops in a single battle, sweeping the Hexi Corridor.
Plus the original armies in Liangzhou, Heishui, Ganzhou, Dunhuang, and elsewhere, the Western Xia Army forces eliminated by the Northern Frontier Army numbered over a hundred thousand.
Such might—who could see it without trembling in fear?
But now, Li Xiao had personally led his army to Zhuoluo City…
Yeli Wajie was certain that Great Protector of the Northern Frontier Li Xiao was right now under that Sun and Moon Battle Flag, gazing at Zhuoluo City.
Perhaps even gazing at him~
At the thought, Yeli Wajie’s face darkened, his palms gripping the city wall tightly, teeth gritted in fury.
His heart screamed that he’d been screwed.
What merit did he have to warrant Great Protector of the Northern Frontier Li Xiao personally leading troops to attack?
Fortunately, though, Li Xiao’s goal wasn’t Zhuoluo City.
“Lord, the Northern Frontier barbarians seem to be leaving?” the deputy general suddenly said.
“What?”
Hearing this, Yeli Wajie felt a flicker of excitement in his heart.
As long as they didn’t attack Zhuoluo City, it was fine—the Northern Frontier barbarians could head north to attack toward Xingqing Prefecture.
He himself sought no merit, only no fault.
But the next second, Yeli Wajie’s mood plummeted like a rollercoaster.
Because the Northern Frontier Army had veered off west of Zhuoluo City’s west gate toward the southwest direction.
“Southwest?”
“The Northern Frontier barbarians’ goal is Yuanchuan Granary.” the deputy general said in shock.
Yeli Wajie naturally thought of this too, his face turning ashen, his ferocious gaze gritted in rage.
“Despicable and shameless!”
His palm slammed heavily onto the wall bricks as he angrily said: “How did the Northern Frontier barbarians learn of Yuanchuan Granary?”
Yuanchuan Granary was mainly for storing grain from the Hexi Valley, protected by Henan Military Command.
But Zhuoluo City was a small city unable to store such vast amounts of grain inside, so Yuanchuan Granary was positioned between Zhuoluo City and the Hexi Valley.
That is, in what would later be Lanzhou territory, north of the Yellow River.
Though it had considerable garrison forces, they were far inferior to Zhuoluo City’s defenses, let alone able to stop the tiger-wolf-like Northern Frontier barbarians.
“Lord, what do we do?”
“If Yuanchuan Granary is breached, His Majesty won’t spare us.” the deputy general said anxiously.
The only course now was to intercept the Northern Frontier Army.
But no one dared suggest it.
The Northern Frontier Army was tiger-wolf fierce, with extremely strong combat strength, all pure cavalry.
Relying on the city walls for defense, Yeli Wajie had some confidence, but to lead men out for field battle against the Northern Frontier Army?
That was simply suicide.
Yeli Wajie pondered deeply for a moment, his face conflicted, then gritted his teeth and said: “Hold fast and await reinforcements. Without this commander’s orders, no one leaves the city.”
Of course, facing the infamous Northern Frontier Iron Cavalry, no one dared venture out—why not stay safely inside the city?
Then Yeli Wajie added to save face: “Yuanchuan Granary is built against the mountain with tall enclosure walls; it’s not so easy to breach.”
“Moreover, even if breached, the Northern Frontier barbarians won’t easily take the grain.”
“We’ll immediately report to the Imperial Court and request reinforcements.”
“Once the court army arrives, we can encircle the Northern Frontier barbarians.”
As he spoke, Yeli Wajie seemed convinced by his own idea, a hint of excitement appearing on his face.
He grinned and said: “Great Protector of the Northern Frontier Li Xiao is in the army!”
“If we can capture him in one fell swoop, we’ll not only be blameless but earn great merit.”
At the thought, Yeli Wajie rubbed his hands slightly, secretly assessing the feasibility of his plan.
The more he thought, the happier he got.
In the Hexi battle, the court’s eighty thousand elites had been wiped out by the Northern Frontier barbarians.
The Northern Frontier Army had become Great Xia’s top confidant threat.
Capturing Li Xiao would be a monumental achievement!
The Northern Frontier crisis could be resolved, allowing the court to smoothly reclaim the Hexi Corridor and march north to expand territory.
Hearing Yeli Wajie’s words, the deputy general felt things surely wouldn’t go so smoothly—defeating the Northern Frontier Army was no simple matter.
But with no better option now, he could only nod vigorously: “Lord is wise.”
……
Outside the city, the First Division army quickly passed Zhuoluo City, but no garrison troops ever came out to intercept.
From a distant hill, Li Donghe looked at the tightly shut city gates and shook his head in disappointment.
“These Tangut bald dogs have less courage than rats.”
“Hmph.”
As the First Division headed south, the Sixth Garrison had already set up an ambush.
If Zhuoluo City’s army charged out, they could be annihilated.
But unfortunately, the garrison commander was too cowardly.
Mainly because the Northern Frontier Army’s military might was overwhelming, their fierce reputation keeping Western Xia forces from daring field battles.
“Commander, this is fine too.”
“Our goal is Yuanchuan Granary anyway; leaving Zhuoluo City be doesn’t matter much.” Li Donghe’s personal guard centurion said.
If they wanted to attack, the Sixth Garrison could certainly breach Zhuoluo City, but it would cost considerable troops.
That would be putting the cart before the horse.
The lives of Six Garrisons soldiers were precious; no need to waste them on siege warfare.
“In that case, let them live a few more days.” Li Donghe nodded lightly.
“Order Deputy Governor Li and Myriad Household Commander Wei: this commander will personally oversee Zhuoluo City to guard against Henan Military Command; have them each take men to loot the surrounding villages.”
Yuanchuan Granary held over three hundred thousand shi of grain—one shi being one hundred twenty jin.
With only the forty thousand war horses in the Northern Frontier Army, it couldn’t all be transported.
So they needed large numbers of civilian laborers, cattle, horses, donkeys, and carts.
Zhuoluo City’s garrison was only seven thousand, mostly infantry, even including civilian laborers with no combat experience.
Li Donghe needed just one Myriad Household Commander to hold back Zhuoluo City’s garrison.
……
Yuanchuan Granary was located about fifty li southwest of Zhuoluo City.
On the main road from Zhuoluo City to Xining Prefecture.
Built against the mountain and enclosed by over two-zhang-high earthen walls, it resembled a large military village more than a granary.
The next morning, sentry Zhang Dazhu on the watchtower rubbed his bleary eyes, forcing himself alert, gazing at the faint dawn light on the horizon and yawning widely.
“Ah~”
“What time is it? Where are those bastards?”
Zhang Dazhu grumbled; after a night on watchtower duty, his stomach began rumbling uncooperatively.
“Dragging their feet—I’ll give them a proper lesson later.”
Nearby soldiers started complaining too; shift change time had come, but no one had arrived.
Actually, this was tradition—they delayed relief as much as possible when taking over too.
Just as they finally saw the next squad of soldiers arriving and prepared to descend the watchtower, Zhang Dazhu suddenly froze.
His ears twitched slightly, hearing faint rustling in the darkness, like countless silkworms munching mulberry leaves.
Zhang Dazhu narrowed his eyes: “Huh?”
“Did you hear any sound?”
The others on the watchtower looked puzzled and shook their heads: “No sound!”
“Seems like something?” Zhang Dazhu frowned, scrutinizing the outer wilderness.
“Dazhu, you must be starving delirious!”
“Probably some wild beast in the grass; they’ll run at dawn anyway.” A soldier chuckled and shook his head.
“Maybe.” Zhang Dazhu nodded lightly, about to descend, but with a casual glance…
His gaze fell on a low slope dozens of meters away; the next second, his eyes widened, the hairs on his neck standing on end.
“Bad news, enemies!”
He grabbed the gong to ring it desperately, his throat rasping like a broken gong: “Enemy attack~”
Before he finished, bowstrings hummed in the darkness, dozens of arrows whistling through the air.
“Swish swish swish~”
“Ah~”
Zhang Dazhu screamed as three arrows struck his chest; the gong clanged to the ground, and under its momentum, his body staggered off the watchtower.
The other soldiers around the tower naturally couldn’t escape; in moments, all were shot dead.
The next instant, dark masses of figures surged from behind the low slope.
It was a group of Northern Frontier Soldiers in black armor, all wielding bows and crossbows, advancing rapidly in serpentine formation.
These were elites of the Imperial Guard, a special force specially trained by Li Xiao for stealth attacks and assassinations.
“Quick, open the village gate.”
“Send the signal.” A centurion shouted loudly.
Then, leading his men to the base of the enclosure wall, they tossed iron claws that hooked firm, pulling ropes to climb up.
The two-zhang walls were scaled in moments.
By now, soldiers inside the walls were roused by the recent gong.
They hurriedly donned clothes and armor, grabbed weapons, and exited tents, but the first to arrive were two patrols on night watch.
“Kill!”
The Imperial Guard centurion bellowed; the dozens who scaled the wall split—one team to open the gate, the rest blocking the charging Western Xia soldiers.
Though few in number, the Imperial Guard were all elites, fully equipped with small shields in one hand and small crossbows in the other for ranged shots.
Backed against the gate, they staunchly held off the Western Xia soldiers’ counterattack.
“Boom boom boom~”
Soon, the ground began trembling, growing fiercer, as if a million giant beasts thundered underground.
Mist torn by golden flood, Northern Frontier Army iron cavalry charged in the dawn light, surging over hills like tides.
“Bad, cavalry—so many cavalry!”
Western Xia soldiers roared in terror, faces panicked, staring incredulously at the distance.
“Kill~”
Leading the charge was Wuwei Army centurion Yang Shoujing, clad in heavy cotton armor and tasseled helmet.
Only his black eyes visible, fixed on the distant enclosure wall.
“Loose arrows, loose arrows, stop them~”
The Western Xia general roared hoarsely, but by then Northern Frontier Cavalry were upon them.
Charge formation tightened sharply, Northern Frontier Cavalry vanguard forming a sharp wedge that burst straight through the open gate.
Yang Shoujing led, his hooked scythe spear arcing.
A Western Xia spearman ahead on the right had his neck spurting blood, spraying Yang Shoujing’s face; warm blood mixed with morning frost made his black eyes bloodier.
“Those who resist will be killed without mercy!”
Yang Shoujing thrust his spear skyward, growling loudly.
“Kill~”
Northern Frontier Cavalry behind surged forth, wolfish killing intent in every eye; Western Xia soldiers quickly fell to disadvantage.
Some pierced front-to-back by Northern Frontier Cavalry spears, corpses flung two zhang before crashing down.
Some thrashed impaled in air, guts sliding off spear tips; some spines crushed by hooves, twisting grotesquely on ground.
Yang Shoujing pursued on horseback, spear sweeping to split Western Xia soldiers’ heads like watermelons, white brains splattering green grass.
Western Xia officers paled, trembling as they raised war sabers, only to have stray arrows nail their necks.
Seeing the general slain, someone shouted.
“Run!”
Western Xia Army’s line collapsed utterly; soldiers discarded helmets and armor, fleeing in rout.
More Northern Frontier Cavalry flooded walls like golden tide, saber chops, bone cracks, screams intertwining.
Seeing no Western Xia soldiers ahead, Yang Shoujing led men to the nearest granary.
“Batter it open!” Yang Shoujing commanded deeply.
Soldiers behind violently smashed the door and rushed in.
Stacks of sacks met their eyes; Yang Shoujing drew his saber, slashing several open—golden wheat spilled out.
Yang Shoujing sniffed a handful, relieved.
Indeed grain, no issues; no dry grass or flammables inside the village.
Mainly because Shanle City had scared him—fearing a Western Xia ambush.
But fortunately, Northern Frontier Army marched swiftly; from Tiger Wolf Valley to Yuanchuan Granary in just over two days.
Western Xia had no time to prepare an ambush even if they wanted.
By now, daylight was full.
Yang Shoujing exited the warehouse and immediately saw Li Xiao.
“Great Protector, the battlefield is dangerous—why are you~” Yang Shoujing saluted with hand to chest.
Before finishing, Li Xiao waved him off.
“My Northern Frontier warriors fight bravely—how could I, Li Xiao, stay out of it?”
“Besides, it’s just a battlefield; when has Li Xiao ever feared?” Li Xiao smiled faintly, his resolute face full of confident vigor.
Since becoming Jin Prefecture Deputy Governor, chances to personally charge had dwindled, mostly delegated to subordinates.
Now as Great Protector of the Northern Frontier, his safety tied to Northern Frontier’s fate, even fewer opportunities to fight personally.
But that didn’t mean Li Xiao was incapable.
In valor, few in the entire Northern Frontier could match him.
“Great Protector is heroic; this general is unworthy by comparison.”
“But Great Protector’s status is noble—do not risk yourself lightly.” Yang Shoujing said softly.
Seeing him bloodied, Li Xiao felt gratified, nodding slightly: “Good, this commander will heed you.”
He then pointed at his head: “You and Shouzheng are truly brothers—same temper and nature.”
“Few dare openly advise this commander.”
Yang Shoujing smiled wryly; he and elder brother Yang Shouzheng still differed somewhat.
After the jest, Li Xiao asked: “How’s the granary situation?”
“Reporting to Great Protector, all normal.” Yang Shoujing said gravely.
This Northern Frontier Army strike was a long-range raid, catching Western Xia off guard.
All grain remained in the granary, untransported.
“Good!”
Li Xiao nodded slightly, relieved.
With Yuanchuan Granary’s grain plus Ganzhou and Liangzhou’s, Northern Frontier faced no famine for at least a year.
As time passed, shouts from Yuanchuan Granary grew fainter.
Western Xia soldiers garrisoning Yuanchuan Granary weren’t elites; facing Northern Frontier Cavalry’s prowess, they quickly lost will to fight.
Either surrendering weapons or scattering using terrain knowledge.
Only Western Xia soldiers in two mountain caves still resisted stubbornly, but they were spent.
Indeed, Tangut People had a habit of hiding grain in caves.
Especially with Yuanchuan Granary built against the mountain, huge natural caves midway up held at least a third of the grain.
The other two-thirds in built granaries.
By noon, all grain fell to Northern Frontier Army.
“Great Protector, too much grain—we couldn’t tally it yet.”
“But per confessions from Xia Kingdom officials guarding Yuanchuan Granary, total grain inside was three hundred twenty thousand shi.”
“Only one granary was mostly burned, leaving just over four thousand shi of its ten thousand.”
Camp Cultivation Department deputy staff officer Gao Zhongyi reported to Li Xiao.
During battle, some Western Xia officers and soldiers refused surrender, ready to perish with Northern Frontier Army.
Setting one granary ablaze.
But Western Xia designed granaries with fire prevention foremost.
Granaries spaced far apart; one burning couldn’t quickly spread.
True loss was just over five thousand shi, but Li Xiao still felt pained.
“Did those who burned the granary die? If not, this commander will have them skinned alive; if dead, feed their corpses to dogs.”
“Hmph, wasting grain—worse than beasts.” Li Xiao said angrily.
To him, their crime was unforgivable.
After venting, Li Xiao continued arrangements.
Grain seized, but transporting to Liangzhou City was a major issue.
Required vast manpower and resources, especially mules and horses.
Fortunately, Western Xia had conscripted many horse carriages from locals to bring grain to Yuanchuan Granary.
Northern Frontier Army raid captured most mules and horses, though many drivers fled in chaos.
Thinking it over, Li Xiao ordered: “Grab everyone from surrounding villages—livestock, carts, all; take their belongings too.”
“Tell them: transport grain to Liangzhou, and this commander grants public land.”
“They keep six-tenths of yield, other four-tenths theirs.”
Li Xiao came not just for grain—population was key.
Conscripting able-bodied, grabbing laborers; to boost Northern Frontier Han people ratio, Li Xiao used every means.
“Understood!” The personal guard acknowledged, turning to relay the order.
