Chapter 286: Gaochang Falls, Northern Frontier Army Ravages Hami
Dragon City, Honglu Temple Inn.
This newly built inn finally welcomed its first batch of guests, the envoy group from Gaochang Kingdom.
Newly appointed Minister of Rites Tongluo Ximi served as the chief envoy, a Uyghur man over forty years old with a thin frame, always wearing a cautious smile on his face.
But this smile completely froze on the evening of the second day after arriving at the inn.
A team of Wuwei Army personal guards wearing armor with yellow bases and red edges suddenly surrounded the inn, the crisp sound of armor plates clashing breaking the tranquility of dusk.
“Everyone, no one is allowed to leave their rooms!”
The leading Centurion’s voice boomed like a bell, his cavalry saber half-drawn, the cold gleam stabbing painfully at people’s necks.
Tongluo Ximi’s heart tightened. He pushed open his door to go out and inquire about the situation, but was fiercely blocked by a charging Wuwei Army soldier who drew his saber.
“Get back inside!”
The soldier’s voice was cold as ice, the saber tip nearly poking his nose: “Anyone who moves dies!”
Tongluo Ximi stumbled back half a step, his cheeks flushing pale then green.
He was after all Gaochang Kingdom’s Minister of Rites, the king-appointed chief envoy, representing Gaochang’s face, yet now humiliated by a mere Northern Frontier soldier.
But as the saying goes, weak countries have no diplomacy, so he could only endure humiliation and retreat back to his room.
However, in that moment of shoving, the corner of his eye still caught a glimpse of a figure.
Wearing a black brocade robe edged with gold, tall in stature, ascending to the second floor surrounded by a crowd of Wuwei Army soldiers.
That familiar silhouette made Tongluo Ximi’s heart suddenly clench.
“Great Protector of the Northern Frontier Li Xiao!” he cried out silently in his heart.
Last year when Li Xiao stayed temporarily in Hami City, Tongluo Ximi was still an Attendant Official of the Ministry of Rites and had seen this Northern Frontier overlord from afar.
No mistake, that man was definitely Li Xiao!
And upstairs~
“Hiss~”
Especially thinking of some rumors in Hami City about Li Xiao and Imperial Consort Aisha, Tongluo Ximi couldn’t help but suck in a cold breath.
At this moment, he finally understood Aisha’s true purpose in coming to the Northern Frontier.
What visiting the Queen Dowager and Princess, it was all just an excuse.
He understood Qibidu’s helplessness, but felt even deeper bone-chilling disappointment toward this king and the entire Gaochang Kingdom.
To cling to survival, even sacrificing a royal Imperial Consort—what difference was there from the previous Alkus?
The inn was dead silent, all envoy group members huddled in their rooms, terrifyingly quiet.
Wuwei Army soldiers stood like stone sculptures everywhere, their armor gleaming coldly under the corridor lanterns.
Only that sound kept drifting, like a dull knife repeatedly slicing at the envoy members’ dignity.
Finally fading to inaudibility, bringing quiet to everyone’s ears.
But the deathly silence in the inn was even more suffocating than the earlier sounds.
Upstairs.
Seeing Li Xiao’s figure about to leave.
Aisha snapped back to her senses; she still had the most important thing unsaid.
She forcibly endured the exhaustion from the journey, her voice hoarse, no longer her usual gentleness: “Great Protector… Your Humble Servant comes on behalf of Qibidu to Jin Prefecture to apologize to you.”
“It was really because Alkus was too arrogant and overbearing, actually trying to force Qibidu to abdicate, so he had no choice but to eliminate him.”
“It was not intentional disrespect toward you, Great Protector.”
“Moreover, Qibidu is sincerely submitting. As long as you allow him to rule personally, Gaochang Kingdom is willing to forever be the Northern Frontier’s vassal, submitting wholeheartedly generation after generation, with no disloyalty.”
She pressed her face against Li Xiao’s back, tears mixing with sweat soaking his brocade robe: “Your Humble Servant… Your Humble Servant is willing to stay by your side forever, to be your ox and horse…”
Listening to the woman’s tearful pleas, Li Xiao’s heart remained unmoved.
He smiled faintly: “Apologize?”
“Why didn’t Qibidu come to Jin Prefecture personally? Why send a woman like you to apologize?”
“When something goes wrong, sending a woman to take the blame—what kind of man is he?”
Hearing Li Xiao’s icy words, Aisha panicked and quickly said: “Though Alkus is dead, his remnants remain, and Qibidu truly cannot spare himself.”
“In a few days, he will definitely come personally to Dragon City to apologize to the Great Protector.”
But Li Xiao suddenly turned around, pinching her chin with his hand, his thumb rubbing her trembling lips, a playful smirk on his mouth: “No need!”
His gaze was like quenched ice, chilling Aisha’s heart.
“As early as ten days ago, This King already ordered the Northern Frontier Army to march south to Gaochang.”
Li Xiao’s voice was light, yet carried the weight of a thousand jun: “By the distance, they have probably already broken through Hami City by now.”
Hearing this, Aisha’s eyes widened, her pupils contracting in fear: “No~”
She stumbled forward to grab Li Xiao’s hand, but he easily dodged.
“You think with your deflowered body, you can save Gaochang, save Qibidu?”
Li Xiao leaned down, whispering in her ear, his breath hot but words icy cold: “From the moment three years ago when Yue’ersi Faction’s army attacked the Great Desert, Gaochang’s fate was sealed.”
Three years ago, Gaochang Kingdom attacked the Great Desert under the royal court’s bewitchment, causing Great Desert Governor Xiao Tula Duo to perish.
From that moment, Gaochang Kingdom had ceased to exist in Li Xiao’s heart.
Even if Hami City was left to cling on, it was merely to have them grow grain and cotton for the Northern Frontier.
Now, Li Xiao had migrated large populations from Gansu to fill the Northern Frontier regions.
With abundant labor, there was no need to keep Gaochang Kingdom in the way anymore.
After all, Gaochang was too close to the Northern Frontier; no independent state could be allowed.
Listening to Li Xiao’s cold words, Aisha collapsed onto the couch, oblivious to the brocade quilt sliding off her body.
“Broken through Hami City…”
She knew better than anyone what that meant.
Qibidu’s throne, the safety of Gaochang’s common people—all turned to bubbles.
She had offered herself with all her might, only to get an elaborately woven deception.
“Why…”
She murmured, tears surging out, mixed with humiliation and despair: “If you wanted to destroy Gaochang, why… why treat me like this…”
Li Xiao adjusted the belt on his robe, his tone flat as if discussing something trivial: “Gaochang is Gaochang, you are you.”
“This King likes your body; what does that have to do with whether to destroy Gaochang?”
He walked to the window, pushing open half, evening breeze entering the room with a chill.
The Wuwei Army downstairs still guarded everywhere, like silent stone statues.
“Stay here peacefully; This King will come see you again.”
Li Xiao glanced back at her: “As long as you obey obediently, This King might let the Kudi family leave a bloodline.”
The charity in that tone, like a dull knife, severed Aisha’s last shred of hope.
So from beginning to end, she was just a plaything.
Gaochang’s rise and fall, her sacrifice—in Li Xiao’s eyes, just a pawn on the chessboard, discardable at any time.
Moonlight outside the window shone on her pale face, reflecting two trails of clear tears.
She knew from then on, there was no more Gaochang Imperial Consort Aisha in the world, only a plaything imprisoned by the Great Protector of the Northern Frontier.
At the same time, the Second Town’s three-pronged army invaded Gaochang Kingdom like three crimson floods, iron hooves sweeping away all resistance.
Gaochang was originally the Northern Frontier’s vassal state, and the Gaochang Army had followed the Northern Frontier Army into battle multiple times, witnessing the ferocity of the Northern Frontier Iron Cavalry firsthand.
The forest of spears, whistling arrows, and cannons that could collapse city walls had become bone-deep fear.
So when the Second Town Iron Cavalry appeared on the horizon like a crimson tide, the garrison in roadside military villages watched the fluttering Sun and Moon Battle Flag, hands gripping weapons trembling uncontrollably.
Someone tried to raise the drawbridge but was held down dead by comrades behind.
Someone just nocked an arrow, but fingers shook too much to even draw the bowstring.
“It’s the Northern Frontier Army…”
“Run quick, we can’t beat them at all!”
“Open the gate and surrender, at least we’ll live!”
Whispers spread through the ranks, soon turning into cries everywhere.
A military village’s Centurion gritted his teeth and slashed down two shouting soldiers, but when Northern Frontier Cavalry’s arrow rain whistled overhead and pierced his shoulder blade, the saber clanged to the ground, courage for resistance gone.
“Open the gate!”
No one knew who shouted first, then the heavy wooden gate slowly opened.
Garrison soldiers threw down weapons one after another, kneeling in the dust before the gate, heads to the ground, without even the courage to look up.
Such scenes repeated endlessly across Gaochang territory.
Once somewhat sturdy military villages opened their gates one by one; soldiers who should have fought to the death laid down arms in teams.
Li Donggen’s force attacking west toward Gaochang City had the longest march but met no real resistance, consecutively capturing five fortifications before turning east, easily charging toward Hami.
The three Myriad Household Commanders’ troops snowballed together, meeting under Hami City in just three to five days.
Crimson Sun and Moon Battle Flags connected into a sea below the city, dense cavalry arrays deployed, armor gleaming with bloody sheen in the sun, hooves thundering against the ground, shaking the city bricks.
Gaochang soldiers on the city wall clung tightly to the battlements, not daring even heavy breaths.
A young archer gripped his bow with shaking hands, as if the crimson flood below hid beasts ready to devour men.
“Legs… legs gone soft…”
The veteran beside him slumped on the bricks, face paper-white, lips quivering: “Last year’s Hexi battle, I saw the Northern Frontier Army’s Divine Might Cannons—one shot blows half a city wall away…”
“Why are we enemies with the Northern Frontier? Weren’t we allies?”
“Why is the Northern Frontier Army attacking us?”
“Because the king killed the Prime Minister, angering the Great Protector of the Northern Frontier.”
“Let the king go apologize to the Great Protector.”
“We can’t hold them off; the Northern Frontier Army is too strong.”
“If they siege, we’ll all die.”
These words spread like plague, soldiers on the wall growing more panicked.
In the royal palace great hall, Qibidu gripped the throne’s armrest.
Even from far from the city wall, the thunder of Northern Frontier Iron Cavalry hooves was clear.
At this moment, he couldn’t help recalling Aisha’s reddened eyes before leaving—turns out from start to finish, Li Xiao never planned to leave Gaochang a way out.
Aisha was just buns thrown to the dog, cheaply letting Li Xiao enjoy her day after day.
“Your Majesty, how about… how about we open the city and surrender?”
Kudina Yan’s voice carried faint trembling.
As the saying goes, dynasties last a hundred years, noble families a thousand.
Why do noble families stand a thousand years unbroken? Because whenever heaven and earth change, they surrender first.
Like Kudina Yan, whose daughter Aisha gave Li Xiao so many days.
Even without formal status, there was some affection.
Perhaps enough for the Kudi family to safely weather this crisis.
So Kudina Yan softly advised: “Your Majesty, the Northern Frontier Army is too strong, and they’ve brought Divine Might Cannons outside the city—we can’t hold at all!”
“Can’t hold?”
Qibidu suddenly raised his eyes, bloodshot: “Kudina Yan, have you forgotten how Alkus died?”
“If we surrender, will Li Xiao spare us?”
He stood abruptly: “Pass my order: all soldiers including royal palace Imperial Guard, all to defend the city.”
“Kudina Yan, conscript all male laborers in the city to transport grain and supplies. If wall soldiers die out, you lead men to watch—whoever retreats a step, execute!”
Seeing madness in Qibidu’s eyes, Kudina Yan opened his mouth to speak but finally just bowed: “Your… Your servant obeys.”
…
“Woooooo~”
Outside Hami City, low and desolate horn sounds rose across the land.
Twenty Divine Might Cannons were pushed to the front, black muzzles aimed at Hami City walls, barrels gleaming cold and hard in the sun.
After expansion, the Six Garrisons each equipped a Divine Machine Camp directly under twenty Divine Might Cannons.
Though Second Town’s troops weren’t fully expanded, brand-new Divine Might Cannons had arrived from Tang Valley.
“Load!”
The Divine Machine Camp Chiliarch ordered, soldiers carrying heavy cannonballs rushing to fill gunpowder and iron shot into breeches, fuses carefully extended.
Uyghur garrison on the wall gazed at those pitch-black muzzles, faces whiter than corpses.
Veterans clamped ears tight, young soldiers scared limp on the ground, unable to hold weapons.
They’d heard of Northern Frontier cannons’ power in the Hexi battle but never dreamed twenty would aim at them at once.
“Fire!”
With the Chiliarch’s roar, twenty Divine Might Cannons spat flames simultaneously.
“Boom boom boom~”
Deafening blasts erupted in succession, smoke instantly shrouding the gun line, scorching blast waves hitting faces.
Iron shot whistled into the walls, rammed-earth bricks shattering, debris flying as breaches were blasted in the wall.
Some cannonballs flew over the wall into city houses, screams rising everywhere.
“Roar roar roar~”
Northern Frontier Army suddenly erupted in wolf-howls, officers and soldiers raising spears high, thirsting to charge in and plunder.
“Hahaha, look at those Sali Bazi shaking worse than chaff!”
A bearded cavalryman slapped his war horse, pointing at trembling Uyghur soldiers on the wall laughing wildly.
“See that? This wall’s softer than the sole of my boot.”
“Let these Gaochang rats see, our Northern Frontier Iron Cavalry isn’t just invincible on the grassland—siege warfare too!”
“Chiliarch, when the gate opens, we gotta be first in!”
A young cavalryman shouted impatiently: “Hami City’s money and grain outnumber Liangzhou City’s—this time no letting Zhang Bighead’s Chiliarch take first.”
“Right~ Grab Hami’s women, divvy one per brother!”
Laughter and yells mixed like hungry wolves eyeing prey.
Compared to Northern Frontier soldiers’ excitement, wall’s Uyghur garrison felt bone-deep terror.
Sure, some Uyghur warriors waved sabers roaring to perish with Hami, but most were ordinary soldiers without such noble patriotism.
They just thought how to save their lives.
Daily tyrants were those noble masters; these rank soldiers had no fields, barely scraping by farming for nobles.
No share in the good times, but dragged to die when city falls—who’s that stupid.
Amid cannon thunder, panicked yells and screams of hit soldiers rose chaotically.
“Aaaah~”
The wall’s arrow tower—bricks, beams, bodies torn to fragments in an instant, mixed with flying mud hurled skyward.
Imperial Guard Commander Mocuowuba waved his saber, trying to rally: “Brothers, hold the wall!”
“Northern Frontier barbarians will only burn, kill, plunder in the city—our families are behind, no retreat!”
Then a personal guard tumbled over, voice shaking: “Commander… the gate… the gate’s breached!”
Mocuowuba stunned: “Impossible? Cannons just fired two volleys…”
“Not blasted by cannons!”
Personal guard wailed: “The… gate soldiers, they opened it themselves!”
Mocuowuba’s face twisted red in rage, roaring: “Traitors! Cowards! Spineless bunch!”
Outside, Northern Frontier Cavalry saw the gate open—trap or not, opportunity couldn’t be missed.
So dispatched a Centurion’s soldiers to seize it.
Only then discovering city Uyghur soldiers either surrendered weapons or fled scattered, few resisting.
Confirming no ambush, outside’s Bali’ala waved his spear.
“Brothers.”
“Charge into Hami City, grab money! Grab grain! Grab women!”
“Kill~”
Crimson flood surged like burst river through the open gate into the city.
Hooves, shouts, screams instantly drowned Hami City, once prosperous capital turned human purgatory in moments.
Mocuowuba watched incoming Northern Frontier Cavalry tide, knowing all was lost.
And he was Alkus’s killer—Northern Frontier people wouldn’t spare him.
So he led few personal guards, face twisted, charging at Northern Frontier Army.
After killing two Northern Frontier soldiers, a heavy blow from a cavalryman sent his saber flying.
“Pfft,” another’s spear pierced his chest.
Mocuowuba’s eyes bulged, staring at sky’s crimson Sun and Moon Battle Flag, blood gushing from mouth, finally dying.
In royal palace great hall, Qibidu heard approaching shouts outside, slumped on throne, face ashen.
Body shaking, muttering nonstop: “Done for… all done for…”
Suddenly, as if thinking of something, madness flashed in his eyes.
Grabbed saber by throne, strode out of the hall.
Bursting into Miguli’s imperial bedchamber, chaos already reigned inside.
Palace maids fleeing or cowering in corners trembling.
Miguli saw Qibidu with saber, rushed grabbing his sleeve, voice tearful: “Your Majesty, Northern Frontier Army’s killing in—let’s flee!”
“Flee south, maybe a way out…”
But next second, with a ‘puff,’ cold blade instantly slashed her throat.
Blood sprayed, splattering Qibidu’s face hot and sticky.
Miguli’s eyes widened in disbelief at him, lips moving as if to speak, but only gurgling, softly collapsing.
Qibidu coldly wiped blood from face, gritted teeth: “Northern Frontier barbarians are coming, beasts in human skin.”
“This King wants you to guard chastity for me.”
Through dynasties, when country falls family perishes, women always lambs to slaughter.
Jingkang Incident’s humiliation, Caizhou’s fall brutality, chaos after Li Zicheng took capital…
Women became victors’ bed playthings.
Qibidu had personally sent Aisha to Li Xiao’s bed, regretting immensely.
Absolutely couldn’t tolerate other women ravaged by Northern Frontier barbarians.
“Kill!”
Like a berserk wild beast, he charged at other concubines and palace maids with saber.
Screams everywhere, blood staining gilded pillars red.
Once fragrant imperial bedchamber turned human hell in moments.
Palace maids fled, he chased chopping until killing the last before him, then Qibidu leaned on saber panting.
Suddenly recalled one more—imprisoned queen, Alkus’s youngest daughter.
During coup he spared her in a moment’s softness; now, no.
Gripping dripping saber, blood-soaked, disheveled, rushed to cold palace.
But meanwhile, palace gates breached.
A young general in crimson armor led charging into palace, guided by surrendered soldiers quickly found Qibidu.
“Qibidu’s here.”
“Giddyup~”
Amid clashing metal and thundering hooves, young general blocked Qibidu’s path.
About fifteen or sixteen, upright as pine, brows somewhat like Li Xiao’s.
It was San Bao, now Chiliarch in Second Town.
Riding war horse, spear at ready, eyes scanning palace maid corpses behind Qibidu, face showing pity: “These women, what a pity.”
“If alive, could breed many heirs for our Northern Frontier officers and soldiers.”
He smacked lips, then leveled spear at Qibidu, gaze turning icy: “Qibidu, you killed our Northern Frontier’s women—truly deserving death!”
Qibidu jerked head up, bloodshot eyes fixed on San Bao, already broken and fearless.
Raised saber charging at San Bao: “Northern Frontier barbarian, I’ll kill you!”
San Bao snorted coldly, wrist flicking, spear like striking snake precisely knocking Qibidu’s saber flying.
Then kicked his chest, stomping him down hard.
“Crack,” several ribs broke, blood surging from Qibidu’s mouth.
Struggling to look up at San Bao’s young cold face, feeling familiar.
“Where’s Li Xiao? Have him see me! I want to watch him swallow Gaochang…”
San Bao ignored his nonsense, already instructed by Second Uncle.
Upon finding Qibidu, no mercy—send him to Buddha directly.
Spear thrust pierced his throat. Qibidu’s curses stopped, eyes bulging round as if still cursing.
“Gaochang King Qibidu, killed by Kudina Yan remnant.”
“Bury with honors!”
San Bao looked at corpse coldly.
Retracted spear, wiped blood from tip with cloth, gaze to cold palace: “Anyone inside?”
Palace-guarding surrendered general reported: “Lord, cold palace holds former queen.”
San Bao raised brow: “Former queen? Alkus’s youngest daughter?”
And Alkus’s eldest daughter was Li Xiao’s concubine, San Bao’s sister-in-law.
With that relation, must care for this woman well.
“Bring her out, care for properly—no one offends.” San Bao ordered.
Turned horsehead, eyeing palace depths.
Hami fallen; next, merits and rewards. Women killed by Qibidu were few—how many can one man kill?
Surviving women perfect to divide among brothers.
Shouts outside palace gates faded, replaced by Northern Frontier soldiers’ wolf-howls echoing through city.
Hami City’s wealth and women awaited their plunder.
