Chapter 275: Family Banquet, Surrendered Women, Triumphant Return
“Thump, thump, thump~”
The sky was dim, candlelight flickered in the room, and two heavy footsteps shattered the silence in the courtyard, like two lions crushing over bluestone slabs.
The door creaked open.
Li Xiao and Wei Xuan entered the room one after another, talking, their sturdy figures almost filling the doorway.
Li Xiao wore a thin black tight-fitting outfit, his shoulders broad and back thick like half an iron tower.
Wei Xuan, on the other hand, wore a grayish-white shirt, still stained with dried mud.
Their appearance made the not-so-small room suddenly feel cramped.
Da Ya and Su Renli, husband and wife, quickly stood up and looked at Li Xiao, a little nervously, and bowed slightly, saying, “Greetings, Great Protector.”
At this moment, the two became even more reserved, but Su Wuji beside them paid no attention to this at all.
Having been waiting impatiently in the room, he immediately darted out upon seeing Li Xiao and the other arrive.
“Uncle, Uncle-in-law~”
With a joyful shout, he pounced directly onto Wei Xuan, and excitedly talked to Li Xiao.
He spoke of how long he had waited and how two beautiful sisters had brought him steamed egg earlier.
Li Xiao nodded and chuckled lightly at this, while Da Ya and her husband across from them watched with trepidation.
Their eldest son was simply too daring.
This was the Great Protector of the Northern Frontier!
While taking advantage of this moment, Da Ya’s gaze quickly swept over Li Xiao’s face. Before this, she had only seen Li Xiao from afar, and this was the first time she had been in such close contact.
His face was as resolute as if carved by a knife, his nose bridge straight as a hanging melon seed, and especially his eyes, which were unfathomably deep under the candlelight, as if they could see through people’s hearts.
In his early twenties, he already had a bluish stubble under his jaw, exuding a composure unsuited to his age. When he walked, his steps were grand and wide, his aura robust.
It made one feel an invisible pressure rushing towards them.
Da Ya and Su Renli became even more nervous.
On the contrary, Li Xiao was very gentle. After speaking a few words with Su Wuji, he unhurriedly waved to the couple and said, “We are family, no need for so much formality.”
“I have been in Liangzhou for a long time, and I should have visited Eldest Sister and Brother-in-law in person, but I have been busy with many matters and never had the time.”
Hearing this, Su Renli quickly shook his head, waving his hands, “Great Protector, you jest. You are busy with state affairs every day, how could we dare trouble you to visit specifically?”
His voice trembled slightly, fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and he subconsciously tugged at his collar, wanting to appear more presentable.
He was not a man of great capability to begin with, and facing Li Xiao directly, he felt even more pressure.
On the other hand, Da Ya beside him was dignified and composed, concurring, “Yes, Great Protector, our humble abode is simple, how could we dare to trouble you to stoop so low!”
Da Ya was merely strong-willed, not an ignorant village woman. On the contrary, she was quite intelligent, and after many years of interaction, she had learned some eloquent ‘elegant words’ from Su Renli.
She just didn’t usually bother to use them.
“Hahaha, what stooping low or not, I, Li Xiao, am not that precious.”
Li Xiao raised his hand to stop her, a faint smile on his lips, “Today there is no Great Protector, only a family banquet. Don’t be so reserved, be at ease.”
“Come, let’s be seated!”
Then, Li Xiao waved his hand gently and led everyone to another room.
Food had already been prepared here.
Da Ya sat aside taking care of the children, while Li Xiao and the other two men gathered together, drinking a little alcohol.
“Er Ya often mentions you and Eldest Sister to me, saying you are honest people. If you have any difficulties when you arrive in Jin Prefecture, don’t hesitate to ask, don’t be formal,”
Li Xiao sat at the head seat, smiling faintly.
Su Renli looked at the gentle and approachable Li Xiao before him, then thought of the Great Protector known for his decisiveness and ruthlessness in external rumors, and couldn’t help but sigh, “Indeed, one cannot judge a person by their appearance. Such a great figure possesses such magnanimity.”
He composed himself, cupped his fists, and said, “Thank you, Great Protector, for your consideration. My wife and I have no difficulties for the time being. We only wish to live in peace and contribute our humble efforts to the Northern Frontier.”
Li Xiao nodded upon hearing this, a look of approval in his eyes, “Good, it is good to have this intention.”
“I heard from Wei Xuan that Brother-in-law is a Juren scholar from the Xia Kingdom!”
“I presume you must be exceptionally talented and have lofty ambitions?”
Su Renli replied, “It is a humble skill, I dare not flaunt it before the Great Protector.”
“Alas, it’s alright,” Li Xiao chuckled.
“Now, our Northern Frontier is recruiting heroes from all under heaven, and we need talents like Brother-in-law.”
“Does Brother-in-law understand the art of calculation?”
“I have a slight understanding.”
Li Xiao smiled, “That’s good. After returning to Jin Prefecture, Brother-in-law will first help out at the Household Administration Department, as they are in need of personnel there.”
If Su Renli could write elegant prose, Li Xiao might not have cared much.
But calculation was different. Currently, the Northern Frontier was in dire need of people who could truly get things done, rather than those who, ignorant of the people’s hardships, directed others with pen and paper.
“Ah?”
Upon hearing Li Xiao’s words, Su Renli was surprised and stunned.
Da Ya reacted the fastest, subtly kicking him. Su Renli immediately came to his senses.
He quickly bowed and thanked him, “I am grateful for the Great Protector’s regard. Your subordinate will certainly work hard and contribute his humble efforts to our Northern Frontier.”
Just today, Da Ya had mentioned that after going to Jin Prefecture, she would ask Wei Xuan to find her something to do.
Otherwise, would she really go farming? Or go herding livestock?
But he was clumsy and knew nothing of agriculture; how could he do those things?
Unexpectedly, Li Xiao had actively arranged everything for him by the evening.
Su Renli was deeply moved.
This brother-in-law was reliable!
Afterward, the three men continued drinking, the atmosphere becoming more lively. Even the usually timid Su Renli gradually loosened up under the influence of alcohol.
His rambling talk increased, and he even suggested taking Li Xiao to the brothels in Liangzhou City.
Unfortunately, the brothels in the city had already been cleared out by the Northern Frontier Army, and the fate of those unfortunate women was to be given as wives or concubines to the Northern Frontier Army.
Therefore, there was no opportunity to visit brothels.
At this moment, he was clearly drunk. Li Xiao chuckled, and Da Ya’s expression darkened even further. She said to Li Xiao, “Great Protector, please forgive him. He’s drunk and talking nonsense.”
“Haha, Brother-in-law’s alcohol tolerance isn’t good!” Li Xiao naturally paid no mind.
“Our Western Wind Fierce is much stronger than ordinary alcoholic beverages from the Xia Kingdom. It’s normal for Brother-in-law to not be able to keep up,” Wei Xuan explained from the side.
Afterward, Li Xiao had his personal guards help Su Renli to a room to rest. He would stay at the military headquarters for the night.
At this point, Wei Xuan still said, “Brother-in-law has never been an official before. Will it be alright if he suddenly goes to the Household Administration Department? This subordinate worries it might cause trouble!”
Li Xiao, however, was unconcerned, shaking his head, “It’s fine. Although Brother-in-law doesn’t seem very capable, he is a smart person.”
He didn’t expect Su Renli to have great abilities; as long as he could be a stable minor official.
For the Su family to rise, it would still depend on the next generation, Su Wuji and Su Wuyang, these two brothers.
Moreover, Li Xiao had already arranged their future path: to join the army.
Because in the Northern Frontier, there was no future without joining the army.
Even though Zhang Xinghua, Han Jiuyuan, and others held positions as Advisers with respected status, it was for their generation.
When the next generation of children in the Northern Frontier grew up, to become officials in the Northern Frontier, one would first have to be a soldier and achieve merit.
Only officers who transferred to civilian posts could become officials.
Currently, the descendants of Zhang Xinghua, Han Jiuyuan, and others had all joined the Northern Frontier Army, becoming military households first, to have the possibility of future development.
The Su family was the same. Su Renli’s achievements were only his own matter.
Whether they could firmly establish themselves in the Northern Frontier would still depend on the abilities of Su Wuji and his brother.
“Li Pang, come here.” Li Xiao beckoned Su Wuji.
“I heard from your uncle that you want to be a general in the future?”
Su Wuji had already finished eating and was dozing off on his stool. Upon hearing this, he immediately perked up.
He nodded vigorously, “I want to, I want to, Uncle-in-law, I want to be a general.”
“I want to fight on the battlefield like my uncle and make the enemy flee in utter disarray.”
As he spoke, Su Wuji struck a pose of riding a horse and wielding a saber. This was how he usually played around with his group of little brothers.
Li Xiao gently pinched his small frame and nodded, “He has the makings of a soldier.”
“But wanting to be a general is far from enough.”
“The Armament Academy should be almost ready. When we return to Jin Prefecture, you will go to school.”
“After you finish your studies, you will come and be my personal guard, and I will give you a chance to be a general in the future.”
Li Xiao quite liked this boy, Su Wuji.
He was smart, exceptionally quick-witted, and also brave, with potential for cultivation.
He would be a good hand at fighting on the battlefield when he grew up.
Hearing this, Su Wuji’s lips quivered, and his expression immediately turned aggrieved.
“Okay, I understand, Uncle-in-law.”
Wei Xuan had the same plan and had told him beforehand, so knowing that he could not resist, he could only nod listlessly.
Li Xiao smiled and patted the boy’s head, “You rascal.”
“You have to seize the opportunity when it’s given. You’ll know the benefits of schooling when you grow up.”
If the Hexi Military School was the Whampoa Military Academy of the Northern Frontier.
Then the Jin Prefecture Military Academy was Jin Prefecture’s ‘Berlin Military Academy,’ specifically training the sons of Junker nobles.
Su Wuji attending the Military Academy would allow him to make many connections, laying the foundation for his future military career.
Moreover, the Military Academy not only aimed to train these children into generals but also imparted many skills for governing the populace.
They were to become both cultured and martial.
Soon after, all three children were sound asleep. Li Xiao arranged for them to be taken to the guest rooms. After chatting with Wei Xuan and Da Ya for a while, he announced the end of the family banquet.
Upon returning to his own quarters and just walking into the room, he heard two soft yet timid voices speak simultaneously.
“Greetings, Great Protector.”
In the room, candlelight flickered on the bronze lampstand, casting long shadows of the two figures kneeling by the door.
Both were wearing gauze. One in white and one in purple. They were Madam Puchá Yu, wife of the Prefect of Liangzhou, Su Binara, and Madam Abugema, wife of the Prefect of Shanle City, He Dagan.
After the fall of the two cities, they had naturally become Li Xiao’s captives, and to survive, they could only actively try to please him.
Puchá Yu had a voluptuous figure, her delicate curves faintly visible under her gauze dress, and her eyes held the gentle charm of a mature woman.
Abugema, on the other hand, was slender, her face flushed with shyness. Her hands were clasped in front of her abdomen, and when she saw Li Xiao looking at her, she hastily lowered her eyes, her long lashes trembling like butterfly wings.
Both were Uyghur beauties, each with her own charm, exuding a captivating pure and alluring aura.
Li Xiao untied his outer garment and casually threw it on the chair, saying lightly, “Get up.”
He then walked to the bedside and sat down, sweeping his gaze over the two, “Are your family members all settled?”
Abugema spoke first, her voice as soft as cotton candy, “Replying to the Great Protector, thanks to you, my family members are living outside the city and have joined the eighteenth thousand households of the Reclamation Group. They have no worries about food and clothing.”
“In some days, they will return to Jin Prefecture with the army.”
As she spoke, the gauze gently rose and fell with her breath, revealing a section of her fair neck. “I, your concubine, thank the Great Protector for sparing my life.”
Puchá Yu also spoke, her voice carrying a hint of exotic charm, but her tone was slightly nervous and fearful, “I… I am also…”
Her fingertips were twisting the hem of her gauze dress, her knuckles turning white, clearly not yet recovered from the shock of her home and family being destroyed.
Su Binara surrendered too late, and Li Xiao did not recognize him, so the Su family naturally did not fare well.
But fortunately, the lives of Puchá’s family members were saved.
Their property, land, and other assets were confiscated, and their family members were demoted to ordinary citizens and relocated to live in the Northern Frontier.
However, compared to the fate of other nobles and officials in the city, the Puchá family had fared much better.
This was naturally thanks to Puchá Yu’s diligence and capability.
Li Xiao took a sip of cold tea, his gaze fixed on their tense backs, “Since you are surrendered women, you should uphold the duties of surrendered women.”
“From now on, stay obediently in the manor. If there are any moves—”
Before he could finish speaking, Abugema had already knelt on the ground with a thud, the gauze clinging to her body, outlining a breathtaking curve, “Your concubine dares not!”
“Your concubine will certainly serve the Great Protector with all her heart, with no divided loyalty!”
Puchá Yu also knelt down.
The candlelight flickered suddenly, casting Li Xiao’s shadow onto the two women. He looked at the trembling figures on the ground and a smile of unfathomable depth curved his lips.
In the middle of the night, the sounds in the room gradually ceased.
It was the usual rule; Li Xiao never spent the night with women whose background he did not know.
…
In the following days, Li Xiao expedited the arrangements for Gansu affairs.
He also issued an order for Su Binara and other principal offenders to be beheaded and displayed, their female family members to be conscripted into the army, and their male laborers to be demoted to slaves and sent to Tiger Wolf Valley to build Tiger Wolf Pass.
Meanwhile, the migration of people had continued for over a month. Every day, as dawn broke, thunderous footsteps could be heard outside Liangzhou City.
Tens of thousands of common people, like countless gray-black serpents, wriggled along the Yellow Earth Road towards the northwest.
The coughs of the elderly, the cries of children, and the creaking of wheels over gravel mingled, but they were strictly controlled by the Northern Frontier cavalry appearing every three miles.
The riders, armed with spears and bows, kept watch in front and behind. Where their horses’ hooves trod, even the restless livestock fell silent.
And the infantry of the Kuli New Army were already considered half of the Northern Frontier Army. Many of them had already received orders from the Military Affairs Department and become real Northern Frontier Army soldiers, or even military households.
Thus, they also played a significant role in this migration.
The migration of these last over two hundred thousand common people was proceeding in an orderly manner. Although they stretched for a hundred miles, departing in batches, there had never been a large-scale stampede or escape.
At the hour of Mao (5-7 AM) on this day, on the earthen slope outside the West Gate of Wuwei, Li Xiao, wearing a faded single-layer shirt, rode a jet-black warhorse.
His gaze swept over the yellow dust raised by the distant migrating crowds, then fell upon Luo Meng and Zhang Xinghua before him.
“The land of Gansu will be entrusted to you.”
“Pacify the populace and restore production as soon as possible. In the autumn, the Northern Frontier will need Gansu’s grain for disaster relief,” Li Xiao said in a deep voice.
Apart from the Great Desert and Gaochang, most of the other lands in the Northern Frontier had not been developed.
These over five hundred thousand people going to the Northern Frontier, many of them would need to reclaim wasteland.
This meant that at least until next autumn, or even the year after, the Northern Frontier would need to provide grain to support these people.
This required replenishment from the Great Desert, Gaochang, and Gansu.
“Great Protector, rest assured, your subordinate will certainly handle the autumn harvest matters.”
“Leave enough grain for use, and send all the rest to Jin Prefecture,” Zhang Xinghua said.
The Hexi Corridor has a dry climate and insufficient accumulated temperature, so grain is harvested once a year, planted in spring and harvested in autumn.
Before the war broke out, the tenant farmers of the Xia Kingdom had already planted the grain. Although much farmland was destroyed during the war, there was still a considerable amount left that could yield grain.
This harvest of grain cannot be divided according to the four-six split; instead, it will all belong to the Northern Frontier.
The Gansu Governor’s office hired common people with grain to harvest it in the autumn, leaving enough for the local common people’s yearly needs, and sending the rest to the Northern Frontier.
It will not be until next spring that the new grain planted by the common people will belong to them, and then it will be divided according to the four-six split in the autumn.
Li Xiao nodded slightly: “Furthermore, the Shandan Military Horse Farm must be utilized again to cultivate a large number of war horses, preferably good horses that can campaign on the plateau.”
“If an envoy from the Song Dynasty comes to discuss an alliance, send them to Jin Prefecture with a fast horse.”
“Regarding commerce and trade, I grant you full authority to be responsible.”
“It would be best to open a trade route to purchase grain from the Song Dynasty,” Li Xiao said, looking at Zhang Xinghua.
The Northern Frontier is short of grain, while the Shu region is a land of abundance. If one can pass through the plateau and cross Biandu Pass, one can enter the Hexi Corridor.
In theory, this trade route can be successfully opened.
Although the journey is arduous and will consume a lot of grain.
However, as long as the grain can be delivered to the Hexi Corridor, no matter how high the price, it will not be a loss for the Northern Frontier.
Silver cannot be eaten, and if it cannot be utilized, it is just a pile of ordinary stones.
Once it’s spent, we’ll just go and snatch more.
It’s just that if one wants to open this trade route, it’s not that simple; it requires the consent of the Southern Song Dynasty officials.
This will depend on the situation during the alliance negotiations between both sides.
“Your subordinate obeys the order.”
“We will pay close attention to the movements of the Song Dynasty,” Zhang Xinghua said in a deep voice.
He had already made up his mind, they could smuggle grain at a high price from the Song Dynasty or the Jin Dynasty!
As long as there are double the profits, it would be enough to make those grain merchants trample on all laws.
As long as there are profits of three times or more, it would be enough to make them risk beheading and commit any crime.
Moreover, the Northern Frontier’s grain shortage is only temporary. In two years, after more farmland is reclaimed, the grain problem will be solved.
After giving some instructions, under the watchful eyes of Zhang Xinghua and Luo Meng, Li Xiao turned his horse, gently urged its belly, and led the Imperial Guards to slowly advance towards Zhangye.
Upon returning to the Northern Frontier this time, except for the Sixth Garrison escorting the common people who needed to be resettled in Hexi, they are returning to Heishui City via the northern route.
The rest of the majority of the common people are taking the western route, passing through Dunhuang and Gaochang, and heading north to Jin Prefecture.
This route is flat, without any dangerous terrain, and there is a town every few hundred miles to rest and replenish grain.
In early July, Li Xiao led his army from Wuwei City, successively passing through Zhangye, Jiuquan, Guazhou, and Dunhuang.
It was not until mid-September that they arrived outside Hami City.
This journey of nearly two thousand li took two and a half months, meaning the common people walked an average of just over twenty li per day.
It was considered quite fast!
“Alkus, Prime Minister of the Gaochang Kingdom, pays his respects to the Great Protector.”
Fifty li east of Hami City, Li Xiao’s father-in-law had already come out with his men to welcome the procession.
Compared to two years ago, this old man had not changed much and seemed even younger.
It was evident that power makes people look good.
As a powerful official in Gaochang, who manipulated the young king of Gaochang at his will, the only person he needed to consider was Li Xiao.
And Li Xiao happened to be his ‘son-in-law’.
Therefore, Alkus had been living a very comfortable life these past few years.
The weather in September was already a bit cool, and to highlight the dignity of the Northern Frontier Army, the Imperial Guards had re-donned their armor.
Li Xiao also put on his unique dark gold dragon pattern cotton armor.
Riding his war horse, he looked at his father-in-law who was bowing with his hand over his chest and laughed, saying: “We are all family, there’s no need for such formality, Father-in-law.”
“Please rise quickly.”
Li Xiao offered a slight support, and Alkus straightened up, revealing his characteristic smile.
“Congratulations to the Great Protector on your triumphant return.”
“This old minister has heard of the battle situation in Hami, and the Northern Frontier Army has annihilated the Xia Kingdom.”
“Those people from the Xia Kingdom have always looked down on us people from the Western Regions with their nostrils in the air.”
“Your command in this battle has truly boosted the morale of us in the Western Regions,” Alkus said with a chuckle and flattery.
Li Xiao also laughed heartily, deliberately putting on an arrogant demeanor and saying: “What is the Xia Kingdom?”
“I intend to lead the iron cavalry of the Northern Frontier to completely destroy the Xia Kingdom, advance eastward into the Central Plains, and conquer a vast territory.”
After a moment of pleasantries, Li Xiao continued to ask: “Have the provisions that I ordered Hami to prepare been fully prepared?”
Alkus quickly replied: “A month ago, General of the Great Desert led his army to Hami and took some of them.”
“The rest, this old minister has stored in the granaries within the city.”
Li Dongjiang, escorting some of the common people, had already set off in advance and must have reached the Great Desert by now.
The reason Li Xiao chose to take the Gaochang route was mainly because of the grain.
Because the Tuha Basin has sufficient sunlight and accumulated temperature, grain can be harvested twice a year, making it the granary of the Northern Frontier.
The winter grain had already been harvested in May, which could perfectly supplement this immigrant group.
“Good, Father-in-law’s actions are very much to my liking.”
“With your ability, Father-in-law, being the Prime Minister of Gaochang is a bit of an understatement.”
“When the time is right in the future, it’s not impossible for you to advance further.”
Hearing Li Xiao’s cheerful words, Alkus felt a shiver run through his entire body.
Advancing further from Prime Minister, wouldn’t that mean becoming the King of Gaochang?
Alkus was instantly excited and pledged his loyalty to Li Xiao.
He knew that whether he could become the King of Gaochang depended on Li Xiao’s agreement.
It seemed now that the throne was within reach!
