Chapter 269: Eastern Strategy Along The Great River, Prefectures Aligned With Qilian
Early 1203, when Li Xiao led the Northern Frontier Army, preparing to launch the second Eastern Expedition.
Anfu Commissioner of Zhejiang East Circuit Xin Qiji submitted a memorial to Song Ningzong, suggesting a Northern Expedition while the Jin Dynasty was weakened.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Han Tuozhou, in order to consolidate his power, immediately convinced the emperor to agree to the plan, dispatching Imperial City Department scouts and envoys multiple times, one overt and one covert, to probe the strengths of the Jin Dynasty and Western Xia.
The envoys reported that the Jin Dynasty was in a state of “thousands of miles of scorched earth, a dou of rice costing ten thousand cash, at enmity with the Tatars, and with internal unrest,” completely solidifying the Southern Song Court’s determination for the Northern Expedition.
In April 1205, the Song Court formally initiated political mobilization.
Posthumously enfeoffing Yue Fei as Prince of E, stripping Qin Hui of his title as Prince of Shen, striking at the peace faction’s power.
In May, Song Ningzong formally issued the decree for the Northern Expedition against the Jin Dynasty, changing the reign era to “Kaixi,” and the Northern Expedition entered the open preparation phase.
In April 1206, the Song Army attacked without declaration, successively capturing Sizhou, Xinxi, Baoxin, and other places, achieving initial victory.
In May, Song Ningzong formally issued the decree to conquer the Jin, and the Northern Expedition fully erupted.
“Kaixi Northern Expedition…”
Li Xiao lightly uttered this phrase, as if savoring a sweet candy.
Memories from his previous life surged: the Eastern Route Army counterattacked to Yangzhou, the Central Route Army defeated at Caizhou, and most fatally, the Western Route Army, where Deputy Commander Wu Xi rebelled and surrendered to the Jin, self-proclaiming King of Shu, handing over the Hanzhong gateway.
The Jin Dynasty took advantage to draw elite troops from Guanzhong, counterattacking and routing the other two Song armies across the board.
This farcical Northern Expedition would ultimately end in a bloodbath in the Southern Song Court.
Thinking of this, Li Xiao slowly folded Da Hu’s letter paper and said in a deep voice: “Pass my command.”
“Song spies need not be escorted back to Zhuoluo City; expel them directly from the border to return to the Song Dynasty.”
He paced back and forth in the hall, his gaze sweeping over the wooden sand table beside him, which only had a rough map of Western Xia’s terrain—now insufficient.
The territories of the Jin Dynasty and Song Dynasty must also be included.
“The longer the Jin and Song fight, the more the Northern Frontier can reap the benefits.”
Afterward, he took up his brush, dipped it in ink, preparing to write a letter to Da Hu, instructing him to act according to plan.
Three years before the historical Kaixi Northern Expedition, the Southern Song monarch and ministers were still weighing pros and cons, and what he had to do was quietly tip the scales on one side.
……
On the land of Hedong, over a hundred thousand Western Xia Army tents were arrayed like a chessboard, gray hemp cloth tent tops rising and falling neatly in the wind, the shouts from drill grounds shaking the heavens.
At first glance, it seemed to have the aura of a tiger wolf army, but in reality, it was just a facade.
Most were civilian laborers urgently conscripted nationwide by the Western Xia Court, with only a small portion of elite bottom-of-the-box troops.
The commander of this army was Privy Councillor Nai Ling Sicong.
Even he, who had fought battles his whole life, could not train this army into elite soldiers in such a short time.
So he could only barely maintain the army from dispersing, not daring to forcibly engage the Northern Frontier Army.
The goal of the Western Xia monarch and ministers had shifted from recovering the Hexi Corridor to holding the Yellow River defense line, preventing Northern Frontier barbarians from threatening the heartland of Xingqing Prefecture.
Therefore, after arriving in Hedong, Nai Ling Sicong did not lead the army across the river but camped in place to guard against the Northern Frontier Army crossing the Yellow River.
This day, in the main army tent, Nai Ling Sicong was discussing military affairs with a deputy general.
The personal guard banner leader hurriedly entered: “Marshal, urgent military report from Hexi.”
Hearing this, Nai Ling Sicong suddenly raised his head and said gravely: “Let the scout in.”
Then, a scout covered in filth entered, kneeling on one knee, panting heavily: “Reporting to the Marshal.”
“The barbarians in Hexi have withdrawn their army!”
The main army tent instantly fell silent, Nai Ling Sicong’s movements abruptly freezing.
He narrowed his eyes, the mustache under his aquiline nose trembling slightly: “Explain clearly—when did they withdraw? How many troops?”
As the lofty Privy Councillor, his emotional fluctuations multiplied the scout’s mental pressure.
The scout wiped the sweat seeping from tension on his face and said softly: “Reporting to the Marshal, since mao hour yesterday, the Northern Frontier bandits set out in three columns.”
“The First Division cavalry of three thousand brought up the rear, the main force sweeping along over a hundred thousand Hexi common people, driving no less than fifty thousand livestock, with provisions and supplies wagons stretching thirty li!”
He swallowed, throat bobbing: “The official road is full of ox cart wheel marks; Zhuoluo City is now an empty shell, not a single soul in sight.”
Hearing this, Nai Ling Sicong abruptly stood, frowning and shouting: “All the common people and livestock taken?”
“Exactly!”
The scout nodded: “Young and strong, old and weak, sick and disabled—all taken.”
“Any who resisted were trampled to death by Northern Frontier people on horseback; young and strong men were forced to pull carts and carry grain; the over three hundred thousand shi of grain in Yuanchuan Granary—all gone.”
Hearing this, Nai Ling Sicong’s face darkened, clenching his fist and slamming it heavily on the desk.
“Damn Northern Frontier barbarians.”
The Northern Frontier Army’s eastward invasion this time was like a ravenous wolf preying.
He had originally thought their goal was just the grain in Yuanchuan Granary, but he hadn’t expected them to spare not even Hexi’s population.
Not minding the trouble, not sparing the grain consumption, they had to take all these common people?
Thinking of this, Nai Ling Sicong’s brows furrowed enough to crush a fly, heavily sitting back in his chair, sighing in a sorrowful voice.
“I thought the Northern Frontier barbarians were just a ferocious wolf that only knew looting, but unexpectedly, they are also a vulture that devours flesh and bone.”
“Population is the foundation of the state; what they took weren’t common people, but clearly Great Xia’s century-long foundation!”
He grabbed the brush from the desk and smashed it to the ground, his ferocious and terrifying gaze faintly revealing a hint of despair.
As Western Xia’s Privy Councillor, he was not merely a general who only knew war, but a strategist who surveyed the big picture.
He deeply understood the importance of population to a nation.
Although nobles like them always treated common people like pigs and dogs, bullying and oppressing at will, without these lowly common people, who would their nobility perform for?
Who would toil like cattle and horses, creating wealth for the nation to supply the nobles’ pleasures?
Thus, population was the nation’s foundation.
Once too much flowed away, it would inevitably cause national upheaval.
The atmosphere in the large tent was immensely oppressive; Nai Ling Sicong sat in his chair, saying in a low voice.
“The old and weak can reclaim wasteland, the young and strong can serve in the military, women and children can breed and multiply.”
“From the Great River westward to Dunhuang, though vast and sparsely populated, less dense than Hedong, there are still nearly a million people.”
“These barbarians migrate them away, and Hexi won’t recover for a century.”
“Even more terrifying is…”
His voice suddenly lowered, a flash of fear in his eyes: “Migrating them to the Northern Frontier—isn’t that strengthening their own foundation? Under this waxing and waning, what will we use to compete with them in the future?”
“This is clearly step-by-step devouring Great Xia’s lifeline.”
The tent was deathly silent; everyone looked at Nai Ling Sicong’s bulging-veined hands, realizing for the first time that behind this looting lay a crisis far more fatal than losing provisions.
Although many common people had fled into the mountains.
But Hexi’s foundation had been hollowed out, impossible to recover vitality for decades.
This was what truly terrified Nai Ling Sicong.
Northern Frontier people were not grassland barbarians who only looted property and grain, but a far more terrifying enemy.
Among them were deep-thinking strategists who knew the importance of population, knew the fatal blow of migrating away Hexi’s population to Western Xia’s foundation.
There were also decisive generals who, even escorting hundreds of thousands of common people and livestock, maintained ironclad order during withdrawal.
Even more terrifying, behind them might lurk an ambitious commander whose ambitions went beyond dominating one region to swallowing the world.
“Marshal, since that’s the case, our army should pursue and strike while the iron is hot, to retake the population and grain.” The deputy general gripped his saber hilt, flames rising in his eyes.
Nai Ling Sicong pondered for a moment, nodding slightly: “Pass the order: collect all ships, place them at the ferry crossings, build pontoon bridges.”
Then his gaze turned to the deputy general beside him, saying deeply: “General Su Nong, I order you to lead five thousand elite cavalry across the Great River to pursue the Northern Frontier bandits.”
Su Nong Wujue knelt on one knee, the clash of his iron armor crisp like cracking ice: “This general obeys!”
Although Hedong’s over a hundred thousand army were mostly hastily conscripted civilian laborers, there were still some of Western Xia’s bottom-of-the-box elites among them.
Five thousand elite cavalry could still be mustered.
“But be extremely careful!”
Nai Ling Sicong suddenly stepped forward, gripping the other’s shoulder with shocking force, saying gravely: “The Northern Frontier people will surely guard against pursuers on their withdrawal route.”
“No need to tangle with them—just stick to their rear.”
“Target the columns transporting common people and provisions, burn their carts, stampede their livestock, kill people on sight, destroy grain on sight!”
“But remember for this marshal—those who seek glory die!”
“Once the Northern Frontier main force turns back, immediately sound the gong and withdraw!”
Su Nong Wujue’s heart trembled, shouting heavily: “This general understands!”
“I will surely make the Northern Frontier bandits know the might of Great Xia’s iron cavalry.”
Afterward, Nai Ling Sicong ordered pontoon bridges built overnight.
Small boats lined up in the Yellow River, connected and fixed with ropes, then wooden planks laid atop, forming a simple pontoon bridge; this process took over a day.
The next day, under the afternoon slant sun, five thousand elite cavalry raised dust clouds blotting the horizon, hoofbeats like muffled thunder rolling over the wasteland.
“Cross the river, carefully.”
Su Nong Wujue stood by the Great River, reining his restless war horse and shouting loudly.
Imperial Guard Cavalry stepped onto the pontoon bridge first, carrying their armor on horseback, bare-chested as they boarded.
Every soldier was tense, and just as the foremost cavalry were about to reach the opposite bank.
On the ancient road of the Yellow River western bank, several fast horses charged from afar, their riders panicked, waving frantically at the cavalry on the pontoon bridge.
Shouting hoarsely: “Go back quickly, Northern Frontier barbarians are coming.”
“Don’t come over.”
The scouts’ roars drifted with the west wind; the cavalry at the pontoon bridge forefront heard, pupils contracting sharply.
The war horses beneath them seemed to sense great terror, growing restless, front hooves nearly slipping off the pontoon edge.
“What? Northern Frontier barbarians are coming?”
This cry exploded like thunder, the formation instantly descending into chaos, horse neighs and armor clashes resounding.
Due to the distance, Su Nong Wujue, who had just stepped onto the pontoon bridge, didn’t hear the scout’s shouts, only seeing figures rushing over.
Reining his restless mount, he frowned and asked: “What happened?”
Upon learning Northern Frontier barbarians had appeared, Su Nong Wujue’s eyes contracted fiercely.
“Damn it, we’ve been tricked.” His expression was horrified, temples throbbing.
He gazed at the cavalry crammed together on the pontoon bridge—war horses head to tail, wooden planks under iron hooves groaning under the weight, the formation unable to turn around.
If attacked by Northern Frontier barbarians now.
“Hiss~”
The consequences were unimaginable.
No way to retreat, then only charge forward.
“Sound the horn, beat the drums.”
Su Nong Wujue slashed his saber fiercely into the air, face ferocious, roaring loudly.
“All hold shields and charge across; any who retreat will face military law punishment!”
Horn blasts tore through the twilight; Western Xia cavalry on the pontoon bridge drew small shields, clamping horse bellies with knees, desperate to reach the western bank.
But at that moment, the Hexi land suddenly trembled, as if myriad giant beasts thundered underground.
“Boom boom boom boom~”
In the sunset’s afterglow, thousands of Northern Frontier Cavalry swept over the dunes like a golden wrathful tide.
A golden Sun and Moon Battle Flag flew high, uniform yellow red-edged cotton armor gleaming with somber killing intent in the dying sun, scarlet trim like congealed blood, adding ferocity to the aura, inspiring fear at first sight.
This cavalry was the Wuwei Army personally led by Li Xiao.
“Kill, sweep them away!”
Under the Sun and Moon Battle Flag rang Li Xiao’s roar; cavalry sabers sliced through twilight, tracing silver arcs.
The foremost hundred light cavalry had drawn bowstrings to full, next instant, arrows whistled like shrieking ghosts; Western Xia cavalry who had first landed on the west bank cried out miserably.
Seeing this, Western Xia cavalry on the pontoon bridge panicked instantly, horses restless, hooves slipping on shaking planks.
Su Nong Wujue’s face paled, gripping his saber, shouting hoarsely: “Hold steady! Hold formation!”
“Charge forward.”
But under the Northern Frontier Army’s overwhelming aura, his voice seemed so insignificant and powerless.
The next second, the ground rumbled dully; forty Tiger Zun Cannons a hundred meters away on Hexi erupted simultaneously.
Western Xia soldiers on the pontoon bridge had no time to look up before the violent explosions tore the air.
Front-rank cavalry and horses were flung by iron shots, smashing into comrades behind, shattered limbs mixed with broken bridge timbers plunging into the Yellow River.
Mid-rank troops pierced by flying iron nails, screams intertwining with horse whinnies, some clutching spurting wounds staggering back.
Others in the panic were shoved off the pontoon bridge by even more panicked comrades, struggling and sinking in the surging river.
Su Nong Wujue tightly reined his spooked war horse, watching the blood and flesh flying on the pontoon bridge, roaring hoarsely: “Form shield wall!”
“Charge forward.”
But a dozen seconds later, the Northern Frontier Army’s second cannon volley struck; a cannonball exploded right before him, dense iron nails sweeping like locusts.
Su Nong Wujue instinctively raised his saber to block, but heard a dull “pfft,” a sharp iron nail piercing his neck.
On the Hedong bank, Nai Ling Sicong gripped the watchtower railing tightly.
The pontoon bridge before him had become a hellscape; severed limbs, drowned soldiers and war horses drifted with the Yellow River, staining the water eerie crimson.
At least nearly a thousand elite cavalry had crossed onto the pontoon bridge, but in mere half a stick of incense, they were annihilated.
Even Nai Ling Sicong’s trusted confidant Su Nong Wujue became feed for Yellow River carp.
Such horrific scene made Nai Ling Sicong’s chest heave violently, a beast-like growl from his throat.
His gaze fixed on the snapping golden Sun and Moon Battle Flag on the west bank.
He knew that when this golden Sun and Moon Battle Flag appeared, it meant Great Protector of the Northern Frontier Li Xiao had come personally.
He hadn’t expected Li Xiao to have such audacity, such ruthlessness.
Like a desperate gambler.
Surely ambushed on the Yellow River west bank long ago, striking only when scouts reported Western Xia building bridges overnight.
Choosing the perfect moment, striking while half-crossed, catching Western Xia cavalry off guard.
Nai Ling Sicong had to admit Li Xiao was a fearsome opponent, a cunning wolf lurking in the dark.
“Li Xiao, ruthless enough! Setting an ambush here…”
Before the words finished, Nai Ling Sicong felt darkness assail his vision, temples throbbing, collapsing backward.
On the Yellow River west bank, the setting sun elongated Li Xiao’s figure, slanting onto the bloodstained riverbank.
Clad in dust-stained dark gold dragon-pattern cotton armor, standing like a towering mountain, evening river breeze brushing his stern face, lifting temple locks, yet unable to shake him.
“This Hexi, from now on, is the Northern Frontier’s domain.”
Gazing at struggling Western Xia cavalry in the torrential Great River, Li Xiao’s eyes held indifferent disregard for life and death.
The pre-expedition vow still echoed: “If the army is defeated, I, Li Xiao, will not live alone!”
At this moment, he fulfilled it with action, personally leading Wuwei Army elites to rear guard.
Behind, Northern Frontier Army main force snaked like a giant dragon, carrying plundered Hexi population, mountains of provisions, and sturdy war horses, slowly moving toward Wushao Ridge.
The vanguard had surely reached Liangzhou City.
He would make Western Xia people understand that Hexi land, once seen as in their pocket, had its offense-defense reversed.
That night, Li Xiao’s army garrisoned the west bank, guarding against Western Xia forces crossing again.
Only after three days did Li Xiao lead the army to break camp, facing the boundless Hexi land, thoughts drifting to the General Huo of ancient records.
A thousand years ago, that youth war god advanced westward, watering horses in the Great River, likely like Li Xiao today, banners snapping in wind, yellow sand burying shattered enemy camps.
Compared to that youth war god’s earth-shaking feats, Li Xiao’s campaigns were merely retracing predecessors’ footsteps, doing it again.
Nothing to boast about.
“Ancient and modern wars are all for the mountains and rivers.”
Li Xiao murmured, gazing at Qilian snow mountains gleaming golden in the sunrise, muttering: “But I, Li Xiao, in this life, will not yield to any!”
“General of Agile Cavalry opened the Western Regions.”
“I, Li Xiao, will make Northern Frontier iron cavalry shatter ten thousand li of mountains and rivers!”
……
In the Western Xia Imperial Palace, sandalwood incense wafted but could not dispel the stagnant silence in the study.
Li Anquan knelt heavily on the cold green bricks, though changed into clean clothes, unable to hide his body’s dejection.
In a mere three months, he seemed to have aged ten years.
“Li Anquan, greedy for merit and rash, causing our twenty thousand army to perish in Shanle City!” Li Chunyou fiercely smashed the brush to the ground.
His ferocious gaze fixed on Li Anquan, gnashing teeth: “And because of you, our army main force’s retreat was cut off, Hexi common people, provisions all seized by the Northern Frontier!”
“Do you admit your guilt?”
Li Anquan’s throat bobbed, forehead nearly touching the ground: “This minister… this minister is willing to die to atone!”
At that moment, Empress Dowager Luo entered the study with several old ministers.
“Your Majesty, since Zhenyi Commandery Prince admits guilt, please, for the sake of shared descent from Emperor Chongzong, punish lightly.”
“Let him redeem himself through merit.”
Empress Dowager Luo spoke for her little lover.
Not that Li Anquan served her particularly well, but mainly he was a relatively obedient dog.
Especially as her son grew more disobedient, trying to seize power from her.
Naturally, Empress Dowager Luo needed Li Anquan to counter the emperor.
Li Chunyou whirled around, saying hatefully: “Li Anquan lost army and humiliated the nation; not killing him, how to establish authority?”
“Establish authority?” Empress Dowager Luo suddenly chuckled lightly: “Is the emperor’s way to establish authority by striking at his own brother?”
She suddenly approached, phoenix eyes frosty: “Founding Ancestor’s legacy injunctions remain—’Imperial Clan as shield, imperial relatives as spear’; if Your Majesty insists on executing Li Anquan, where does that place ancestral laws?”
The several old ministers knelt in unison: “Empress Dowager speaks correctly!”
Empress Dowager Luo continued: “Let Zhenyi Commandery Prince redeem himself, lead remnants to retake Hexi.”
“If victorious, Your Majesty employs talent well; if defeated…”
She glanced at ashen-faced Li Anquan: “It is but his just deserts, and Your Majesty remains benevolent.”
At that moment, an eunuch entered the door, hands raising a memorial high.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, urgent report from Roulang Mountain.”
Hearing this, Li Chunyou set aside dealing with Li Anquan, saying hurriedly: “Quick, present it.”
Western Xia’s nationwide conscripted over a hundred thousand army was now all gathered at Roulang Mountain.
Li Chunyou truly could not bear another defeat’s consequences.
When he opened the memorial, he slightly relaxed—not the worst outcome, but not much better.
Northern Frontier Army looted Hexi, seizing numerous people, grain, war horses, property, etc.
They had swept the land west of the Yellow River clean; now the entire Hexi hundreds of li was deserted wasteland, a white ground.
Moreover, during withdrawal, Northern Frontier Army ambushed and buried a thousand Western Xia elite cavalry in the Great River.
Cruel methods, fierce and vicious.
Making Li Chunyou’s chest feel blocked with stifled breath.
But fortunately, there was one piece of good news.
Northern Frontier Army withdrew from Hexi, now all returned to the Hexi Corridor.
This made Li Chunyou heave a heavy sigh of relief, an inexplicable joy of surviving calamity.
Clearly the Hexi Corridor was originally Western Xia territory too, but their return there oddly reassured him.
At least, Xingqing Prefecture was safe.
“Mother Empress~” Li Chunyou turned to look at Empress Dowager Luo.
Waving the memorial, he said coldly: “Northern Frontier barbarians have withdrawn from Hexi.”
“Zhenyi Commandery Prince has no chance for redemption; why not have him lead troops to recover the Hexi Corridor?”
Hearing this, Li Anquan’s face flushed pig-liver red.
