Chapter 288: Enough Idle Talk, I Want Temüjin Dead
In the twenty-seventh year of Tianxi, the Northern Frontier conquered Gaochang and established the Western Prefecture.
Thus, the Northern Frontier had already formed a simplified version of the Nine Provinces’ structure.
However, this event, significant enough to be recorded in history, did not stir great waves within the Northern Frontier.
After all, in the successive wars, the military and civilian population of the Six Garrisons had long grown accustomed to victory. Moreover, Gaochang was already like a fat piece of meat on the chopping block for the Northern Frontier; its annexation was only a matter of time.
Even Li Xiao, after reading the military report, merely said in passing, “The Second Town did well,” before continuing to bury himself in complex affairs.
The review of the expansion roster for the Six Garrisons, the allocation of land for civilian farming, and the production and replacement of the second generation of armor – although none of these required his personal intervention, they were all quite taxing.
Furthermore, because of the prolonged war in the Hexi Corridor last year, the soldiers were weary, and the supply of provisions was stretched thin. Li Xiao had already decided to suspend large-scale external wars for the current year.
Small-scale conflicts could still be waged, but the main focus would be on recuperation and consolidating the gains from the Hexi War.
Amidst this busyness, a contingent of the Wuwei Army escorted over a dozen horse carriages back to Dragon City.
A corner of the carriage curtain was lifted by the wind, revealing Asu Guli’s startled profile.
Stepping onto the land of Jin Prefecture for the first time, she looked at the vast city in the distance with great unease.
The blue-brick city walls stretched for ten li, resembling a giant dragon coiling on the vast land.
“Is this Dragon City?” she murmured to herself, her fingertips tightly gripping the hem of her robe.
Thinking that she might have to live in this place for the rest of her life filled her with confusion.
But her parents and family members had all been murdered by Qibidu, and she had nowhere else to go but to Hami to seek refuge with her sister, Tajiguli.
With a mix of confusion and apprehension, the horse carriage finally stopped outside the Great Protector’s Mansion.
In front of the mansion gate, a woman with a bulging belly was leaning on her maidservant’s arm, gazing out. She bore a slight resemblance to Asu Guli; it was Tajiguli.
“Sister!”
Asu Guli lifted the carriage curtain and leaped out, her voice filled with tears.
“Asu Guli!”
Tajiguli’s eyes also turned red, and she quickly stepped forward, the sisters embracing tightly.
That evening, after Li Xiao finished his military duties, he strolled over to Tajiguli’s courtyard.
As soon as he entered the main hall, he saw two beautiful women sitting under the lamplight – Tajiguli, heavily pregnant, her eyes carrying the lazy charm of pregnancy.
The young woman beside her was slender, with pure and clear features.
Li Xiao had already received news of the Queen of Gaochang’s arrival in Dragon City, and he had come specifically to see his sister-in-law.
Indeed, both sisters were of excellent appearance, each with her own grace.
“Great Protector.”
Hearing the servants’ calls from outside the door, Asu Guli suddenly stood up like a startled fawn, hastily curtsying, not daring to look up.
She spoke in a slightly peculiar Chinese accent: “Your… your servant, Asu Guli, greets the Great Protector.”
In Hami, she had heard too many rumors about this Great Protector of the Northern Frontier, mostly tales of his cruelty and debauchery.
She had even heard that he had summoned that wretch Aisha to the royal palace to indulge in pleasures day and night.
In her heart, Li Xiao was already like a hungry wolf.
“No need for such formality.”
“We are all family now. Calling me Great Protector is too distant.”
“From now on, call me Brother-in-law.”
Li Xiao’s voice was gentle, his gaze sweeping over her flustered demeanor.
Asu Guli lowered her head and said in a soft voice, “B-Brother-in-law~”
Li Xiao smiled faintly, thinking his sister-in-law was quite good.
He then turned to Tajiguli, “Are you feeling unwell today?”
Tajiguli shook her head, taking Asu Guli’s hand and smiling, “Everything is fine. Please excuse my sister, Great Protector. She’s just arrived and is a bit timid.”
Li Xiao sat in the main seat and looked at Asu Guli, saying, “Settle down here in the Northern Frontier. Tajiguli is pregnant, so you should spend more time with her and help out. If you need anything, tell the steward, don’t be shy.”
His tone was plain, and he looked at her deeply.
He then gave Tajiguli a few more words of advice for her pregnancy before getting up and leaving.
After he left, Asu Guli suddenly came to her senses, her palms covered in cold sweat.
“Sister, he… he just left like that?”
Her voice trembled, and her face still showed lingering fear, as if she had not faced a gentle Great Protector, but a fierce beast that had temporarily sheathed its fangs.
Tajiguli smiled helplessly, “The Great Protector is not what you think.”
She stroked her belly, a flicker of warmth in her eyes, “Although he is decisive and ruthless on the battlefield, he has always been kind to his family.”
That night, the sisters shared a room.
Tajiguli leaned against a soft pillow, gently stroking her slightly protruding belly, listening to Asu Guli recount her experiences after the fall of Hami City, occasionally sighing and wiping away tears.
As they chatted about something, Tajiguli suddenly widened her eyes, her voice filled with disbelief.
“You’re still a virgin? How can you still be a virgin? You’ve been married to Qibidu for so long!”
Asu Guli’s face turned red with embarrassment, her voice muffled, carrying unconcealed grievance, “Qibidu never touched me.”
“For these past few years, Father has been wielding power in the Imperial Court, and Qibidu has always been wary of our family.”
“If I were to give birth to a prince, he would be a legitimate son with rightful claim. His throne would be unstable.”
History had already proven how tragic the fate of puppet emperors was during periods of powerful officials in power.
Moreover, manipulating an infant emperor was much simpler than manipulating an adult.
Therefore, if Asu Guli were to give birth to a prince, Qibidu would likely drown in his own broth, choke on water, and die from falling while walking!
Qibidu dared not touch Asu Guli, nor did he want to.
As a result, she was still an inexperienced maiden.
Tajiguli fell silent for a long time after listening.
Suddenly, a bold idea surfaced in her mind.
Although Li Xiao had many women in his harem, he did not have many offspring.
Regardless of whether her pregnancy resulted in a boy or girl, her status in the mansion might not be stable.
Given Asu Guli’s beauty, it would be better for her to stay by Li Xiao’s side than to drift aimlessly.
Besides, Li Xiao had seen Asu Guli today, and although he hadn’t explicitly said it, his eyes showed no aversion.
If it worked out, the sisters could support each other, and their lives in the Great Protector’s Mansion would truly be stable.
Thus, Tajiguli gently patted her sister’s hand and asked tentatively, “What do you think… of the Great Protector as a person?”
Asu Guli was taken aback, recalling the gentle yet imposing man from the evening, her cheeks warming slightly, “He doesn’t seem as terrifying as the rumors say.”
Tajiguli gazed at her sister’s pure features, her voice softening further.
“You are now without support. To stay in Dragon City, you need someone to rely on. I am pregnant and may not be able to look after you much…”
The young woman suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with panic, “Sister, what… what do you want to say?”
“Asu Guli, listen to me. Dragon City is not like Hami. Although I appear prosperous, I am still treading on thin ice within the Great Protector’s Mansion.”
Tajiguli lowered her voice further, “Every woman in this back courtyard is not easy to deal with.”
“Although they seem harmonious, when it comes to matters of interest, they will not hold back.”
Then, she began to enumerate the situation in the mansion to her sister: “The main wife, Madam Xiao, is a Liao Princess, her status is so noble it can suppress half of the Northern Frontier.”
“You didn’t see the grand procession when she went out; even Khitan generals from the Six Garrisons had to bow respectfully.”
“Those people are her shields. Not to mention us wives and concubines in the back courtyard, even the Great Protector has to give her some face. Her status is unshakeable.”
“And Madam Han,”
Tajiguli continued, “her father is Du Zishenjun Han Jiuyuan. Although he is just a civil official, he manages the Northern Frontier’s provision accounts.”
“More importantly, Han Jiuyuan has a life-or-death friendship with the governor of Mobei, Chen Chong. Chen Chong’s daughter is married to the Commander of the Fifth Garrison, who is the Great Protector’s most trusted younger brother.”
“She also gave birth to a daughter for the Great Protector, and she speaks with authority in the mansion.”
Asu Guli had, after all, been a queen. She was not entirely ignorant of palace intrigues.
However, hearing about the inner workings of the Great Protector’s Mansion from her sister for the first time, she found it quite novel.
“Madam Wei is also not to be underestimated.”
Tajiguli sighed, “Her brother is a Myriad Household Commander of the Sixth Garrison. He followed the Great Protector from the Jin Prefecture fortress and has distinguished military achievements.”
“The Han people of Jin Prefecture all recognize her. Even the Han generals who hold real power call her ‘Madam Wei’ when they see her. We foreign women are always at a disadvantage compared to her.”
Asu Guli instinctively asked, “What about the one living in the courtyard next door?”
She was referring to Sorghaghtani, who was hearty and loved lively gatherings, and had even visited them recently.
“Her,”
Tajiguli’s tone was complex, “she seems to have no schemes, but her maternal clan is the overlord of Mobei, the Kereit Tribe, with tens of thousands of troops. Even the Great Protector has to weigh things carefully when dealing with her.”
Saying this, Tajiguli’s voice suddenly choked with emotion, “Before, I could have been like her, with the backing of Gaochang.”
“But now my father is dead, and my country is gone…”
As she spoke, she grabbed Asu Guli’s hand, her eyes filled with desperate urgency, “But you are different!”
“You are a virgin, and you bear the title of Queen of Gaochang.”
“Men all have a desire for conquest, especially a hero like the Great Protector. Even if you resist, he will never let you go.”
Asu Guli’s face instantly turned bright red. She wanted to pull her hand away, but her sister held on tighter.
Li Xiao’s original intention in marrying Tajiguli was for Gaochang. Now that Gaochang was gone, Tajiguli, while not necessarily abandoned, would certainly see her status in the harem decline.
At this juncture, only by joining forces could they win Li Xiao’s heart.
Only by keeping Li Xiao’s attention on the sisters could she protect the child in her womb.
…
Woluoduo, known in later generations as Kharakhorum, was the capital of the Mongol Empire, but at this moment, it was still the Khanate of the Kereit Tribe.
Outside the domed large tent, cattle and sheep grazed leisurely on the distant grassland, and battle flags fluttered in the wind before the tent, yet they could not conceal the somber atmosphere within.
Inside the large tent, Hu Li, clad in a dark brocade robe, stood calmly.
He placed his right hand on his chest and said in a soft voice, “Hu Li, Special Envoy appointed by the Great Protector of the Northern Frontier, pays respects to the Yeke Khan.”
“May Tengger bless the Kereit Tribe with abundant livestock, and may Yeke Khan have a long and prosperous life.”
After he finished speaking, Ong Khan, seated at the head of the table, said gently, “Esteemed Envoy, there is no need for such formality.”
His voice carried a slight wheeze, and he motioned to the attendant beside him, “Grant him a seat.”
After Hu Li sat down on a low stool to the right, Sangkun, seated to the left, suddenly spoke, “May I ask what position the Esteemed Envoy holds in the Northern Frontier?”
Hu Li’s gaze lingered on Sangkun’s face for a moment, and he replied in a gentle tone, “I am but a humble servant, having received the Great Protector’s favor, I am the Staff Officer of the Honglu Temple in the Great Protector’s Mansion.”
Sangkun raised an eyebrow, “Oh? It seems the Esteemed Envoy must be quite trusted by the Great Protector.”
“It is all due to the Great Protector’s grace,”
Hu Li said with a chuckle, full of appropriate enthusiasm, “I am merely fulfilling my duties diligently.”
“I have not seen the Great Protector for two years. How has he been recently?”
“The Great Protector is in good health. He still practices on the training grounds every morning. A few days ago, he personally led the guards to hunt a fierce tiger.”
As he spoke, Ong Khan’s younger brother, Zha Heganbu, who was also Sorghaghtani’s father, sitting on the other side, smiled gently at Hu Li, “Esteemed Envoy, you have traveled far and must be tired. Please have a bowl of milk tea to warm yourself first.”
He personally lifted the copper pot and poured Hu Li a cup.
Hu Li received the milk tea with both hands, a sincere smile on his face, “Thank you, Lord Zha Heganbu.”
“The friendship between the Northern Frontier and the Kereit Tribe is as mellow as this milk tea, able to withstand the trials of wind and snow.”
“The Great Protector often says that the Kereit Tribe is the most steadfast ally of the Northern Frontier on the grassland. This time, he has specifically sent me to discuss important matters.”
He deliberately emphasized the word “ally,” both responding to Sangkun’s probing and elevating the status of the Kereit Tribe.
Ong Khan observed all of this and nodded secretly.
This Hu Li spoke flawlessly, neither fawning nor arrogant like ordinary envoys, yet always able to touch people’s hearts inadvertently. It was no wonder Li Xiao had sent him.
He cleared his throat and got to the point, “May I ask, Great Protector Li, besides greetings, what other important matters have brought you here?”
Hu Li’s smile faded, and his expression became solemn, “May Yeke Khan be enlightened.”
“The Northern Frontier and the Kereit Tribe shall be friends forever. However, there are uninvited guests disturbing the Mobei grasslands, causing the Great Protector great worry. He has sent me, his subordinate, to discuss countermeasures.”
He did not name them directly but first emphasized their friendship, paving the way for the proposal to come.
Zha Heganbu, being the most astute, immediately understood, “Are you referring to Temüjin?”
“Lord Zha Heganbu has keen insight,” Hu Li replied with a nod.
He paused, his gaze piercingly sweeping over the three people in the tent, and said sternly, “Temüjin’s tribe has grown in power on the grasslands in recent years, and his ambition is clear for all to see.”
“Not only has he annexed several surrounding small tribes, but he is also secretly communicating with the Jin Dynasty, coveting the Kereit Tribe and the Northern Frontier, and plotting to unify the Mobei grasslands.”
Hu Li spoke eloquently, portraying Temüjin as the greatest threat to the Kereit Tribe, each word striking the hearts of those present like a heavy hammer.
Sangkun frowned as he listened, his fingers unconsciously stroking the hilt of the saber at his waist.
Hu Li’s words struck a chord deep within him. His feelings towards Temüjin had always been complex.
At his core, he possessed a sort of “Celestial Being” arrogance and disdained Temüjin, a poor boy who had crawled out of the mud.
Back when Temüjin was still a dependent and insignificant figure, it was with the help of the Kereit Tribe that he managed to establish a foothold on the grassland.
Later, Temüjin experienced a meteoric rise, transforming into a powerful force that rivaled the Kereit Tribe. Sangkun was filled only with jealousy and anger.
That ingrained contempt had never faded, only intensifying with Temüjin’s rise.
Therefore, upon hearing of the Northern Frontier’s firm stance against Temüjin, Sangkun was ecstatic.
He slammed the table abruptly, “Esteemed Envoy speaks the truth. I have long seen Temüjin’s wolfish ambition…”
Just as he was about to detail Temüjin’s crimes, Ong Khan, seated at the head of the table, suddenly began to cough violently.
“Cough, cough, cough, cough—”
“Father Khan!”
Sangkun rushed forward, helping Ong Khan to catch his breath and patting his back.
After a long while, Ong Khan recovered, waved his withered hand, and turned to Hu Li.
“If the Esteemed Envoy has come to persuade my Kereit Tribe to become enemies with the Kiyan tribe, then I am afraid I must disappoint the Esteemed Envoy.”
“My Father Khan and Temüjin’s father were Anda, and Sangkun and Temüjin are also Anda.”
He emphasized this most valued bond on the grassland.
Hu Li, however, showed no sign of disappointment. Instead, he smiled calmly and said with conviction, “Does Yeke Khan know the saying that one mountain cannot tolerate two tigers?”
“After the defeat of the Jamukha coalition, the tripartite balance of the grassland collapsed. Temüjin’s power has grown stronger and stronger, and he has subdued many tribes in the eastern part of the grasslands.”
“Although the Kiyan tribe’s influence is not as great as the Kereit tribe’s for now, it will catch up sooner or later.”
“Yeke Khan has a fatherly affection for Temüjin, but he doesn’t realize that the young tiger has grown. Yeke Khan may be nurturing a threat right now.”
Ong Khan fell silent.
Did he not understand these things?
Since the Battle of Koidan, Temüjin’s sharpness could no longer be hidden. He had already secretly made a series of moves to suppress and restrict him.
However, he could not bring himself to kill the son of his sworn brother.
The atmosphere in the tent became heavy again. Sangkun, standing by, stamped his feet anxiously, but dared not disobey his Father Khan’s wishes.
Finally, Hu Li, seeing Ong Khan’s indecision, rose to take his leave: “If that is the case, I will not disturb Yeke Khan’s rest. We can discuss it another day.”
He did not return directly to the courier tent, but went with his retinue to Zha Heganbu’s tent.
Besides official business, he had also brought greetings and a gift from Sorghaghtani to her relatives, and seized this opportunity for a visit.
Sang Kun personally escorted Hu Li out of the tent. As he turned back, he looked at Ong Khan, who was still panting inside the tent, and a trace of almost imperceptible ferocity flashed in his eyes.
“Father Khan is old and has become indecisive, losing the decisive ruthlessness he had in the past.”
He mused in his heart, clenching his fists unconsciously: “Temüjin has the ambition of a wolf. If he is not eliminated quickly, he will eventually turn against the Kereit tribe!”
That afternoon, Zha Heganbu’s tent was filled with joy.
Hu Li and Zha Heganbu sat opposite each other, with freshly warmed milk wine on the low table before them.
They chatted about the grandeur of the Hexi campaign last year. Hu Li spoke of how the Northern Frontier Iron Cavalry had breached Liangzhou City, while Zha Heganbu sighed about the changing fortunes of the world. Their conversation gradually turned to Temüjin.
“Brother is reluctant to act because of the bond of Anda, isn’t he?”
Hu Li smiled and tapped his fingers on the table: “Can the son of an Anda be closer than one’s own son?”
“Yeke Khan finds it difficult to decide, but someone will help him make that decision.”
On the other side of the tent, Zha Heganbu’s wife and daughters were marveling at a pile of gifts.
The soap was held by Sorghaghtani’s sister, who rubbed some water on it and cried out in surprise, “Mother, look.”
“The animal fat is really gone.”
The fire starter was held by Zha Heganbu’s wife. Mimicking Hu Li, she struck it lightly, and a flame shot up with a “swoosh,” startling her into dropping it on the ground.
She quickly picked it up again and clutched it to her chest like a treasure: “With this object, I won’t have to gnaw on flint to start a fire in winter anymore!”
The colored glaze bottle refracted a colorful halo in the sunlight, and the reflection in the glass mirror was so clear that even the stray hairs at the temples could be seen.
The rouge from Gansu, applied to the cheeks, was ten times more vibrant than the flower juice used on the Grassland.
The wool coat from Jin Prefecture was thick and soft, and when worn, it blocked out even the biting wind.
There were many other novel items that opened Zha Heganbu’s family’s eyes.
Soap was made by boiling animal fat with wood ash.
The fire starter was a mixture of sulfur and saltpeter applied to a small wooden stick, essentially a match.
Although not as effective as phosphorus, its practicality far surpassed flint and older fire starters.
Looking at these exquisitely crafted objects, Zha Heganbu’s family suddenly felt that the Mobei Grassland, compared to the Northern Frontier, was like a primitive life lived by wildlings in the mountains.
Even washing a cloth or starting a fire was so difficult.
Unconsciously, they developed a longing and admiration for the Northern Frontier.
The moon is rounder in the Northern Frontier.
In the evening, Hu Li had roast lamb leg at Zha Heganbu’s home. He declined the invitation to stay and, with his retinue, headed for the courier tent arranged by the Kereit tribe.
Not long after they left, a dark shadow flashed across the mountaintop.
“My Lord, be careful!” the guards immediately drew their swords.
Hu Li, however, raised his hand to stop them, looking at the familiar silhouette of the rider, a faint smile touched his lips: “It’s fine, it’s a friend.”
He signaled his retinue to wait in place and walked towards the mountaintop alone.
“Prince Sang Kun has quite the spirits, leaning on the mountaintop alone on this cold night, are you admiring the Grassland moonlit view?”
“But I believe the moonlight in the Northern Frontier is more beautiful~”
Sang Kun interrupted him before he could finish, and snorted coldly: “Less nonsense, I want Temüjin dead!”
