Chapter 293: Mongke’s Birth, Making The West Tremble
Three days later, a grand family banquet was held in the Great Protector’s Mansion.
The guests were all members of the Li Clan and relatives, but since most of the men were stationed outside, the attendees were mostly women.
They took the children to the back courtyard, sat together, talked about past family matters, and congratulated Er Ya on her pregnancy.
In the front courtyard, Li Xiao and the Old Master sat at the head of the main table.
In these past few years, the Old Master’s back had become more hunched, and his face bore more wrinkles, but his spirit was still excellent, and his eyes remained clear.
Below them were the heads of the other branches of the Li Family, as well as in-laws from the Luo Family of Hedong Fort, the Zhao Family of Tazhai, and the Qin Family of Gushan Fort.
It is worth mentioning that the former head of the Zhao Family, Zhao Tiezhu, passed away from illness two years prior.
He had spent his life in military service, losing a leg on the battlefield in his early years, earning him the nickname “Old Cripple.” Yet, with sheer grit, he helped Li Xiao establish the foundation of Jin Prefecture.
His descendants were all promising, and he was able to enjoy his twilight years in peace.
At this moment, the Old Master was sitting with a few old friends, drinking wine and reminiscing about the old days.
“Back then, in North Mountain, a few of us fought bandits with swords and spears. Who would have thought we’d be here today?”
“Old Cripple passed away peacefully. It can be said he lived his life without regret.”
Grandfather Qin Kaishan sighed, “Indeed. Back then, our biggest wish was to have enough to eat every meal and ensure the children wouldn’t go hungry.”
“Now we have meat every day, but we’re all getting old.”
“Yes, in a couple more years, we probably won’t even be able to lift a saber.”
As they spoke, the old men couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.
Li Xiao sat to the side, chatting with his cousin Qin Xiong from his Second Uncle’s family, his cousin Zhao Dabao from his aunt’s family, and other young people like Er Bao.
Qin Xiong was currently serving as Deputy Myriad Commander in the Third Division, and because the warfare in Yili had ceased, he had returned for a visit.
Zhao Dabao himself was in the First Division, also serving as a Deputy Myriad Commander.
They were all youths who had followed Li Xiao in battle, and now they had all grown up, becoming the backbone of the Six Garrisons.
These people gathered together, truly representing the top noble families of the Northern Frontier.
In any era, the ruling class is structured like a pyramid, with fewer people holding power as you move upwards.
In the current Northern Frontier, the Li Family undoubtedly occupied the highest position, holding absolute military and political power, with everything from the army to local affairs, people’s livelihood to foreign policy, under Li Xiao’s control.
Next were the families allied with the Li Family through marriage – the Xiao Family, Luo Family, Zhao Family, Qin Family, Wei Family, and so on.
These military nobles jointly formed the power core of the Northern Frontier, intermarrying and supporting each other, firmly upholding the Li Family’s rule.
Such is the way of the times; though nepotism has its drawbacks, it is also the most direct way to solidify one’s foundation.
However, as the territory of the Northern Frontier continued to expand, Li Xiao was also preparing to introduce new forces to balance the power of these clans and imperial relatives.
At this moment, the sounds of children quarreling suddenly erupted from the courtyard.
Everyone looked in the direction of the noise and saw Luo Wenzhong, the nephew of Li Xiao’s eldest sister, and Su Wuji, the nephew of Wei Xuan’s eldest sister, wrestling.
Both little fellows were six years old and born in the same year. Su Wuji was slightly older, but Luo Wenzhong’s physique was no less impressive; his small body exuded a sturdiness.
They grappled, grabbing each other’s collars and waists, rolling on the ground, fighting back and forth, neither willing to concede.
The children of Qin Xiong, Zhao Dabao, and others were even younger and did not participate in their wrestling, instead cheering them on excitedly from the sidelines.
Wei Xuan and Luo Meng were not in Dragon City, so the only ones present were Luo Wenzhong’s paternal grandfather, Luo Ping, and Su Wuji’s paternal father, Su Renli.
Luo Ping, a military officer, merely stroked his beard with a smile, showing no intention of intervening.
Su Renli was originally just a common scholar who had managed to enter the top circles of the Northern Frontier through marriage alliances and was now serving as Deputy Staff Officer in the Great Protector’s Mansion.
However, he always felt insecure, believing he was out of place among these military noble families.
Scholars’ temperaments were not as bold as those of military men, and they tended to be cautious in their actions.
Seeing his son fighting with the Great Protector’s nephew, Su Renli’s heart sank, and he inwardly cursed, “This brat, he truly doesn’t know his place!”
He quickly got up, ready to intervene.
“Don’t rush.”
Li Xiao waved his hand with a smile, his voice full of ease, “Boys will be boys; it’s normal for them to tussle. It’s no big deal.”
“Let them continue fighting. We’ll see who wins and who loses.”
Luo Ping chuckled beside him, “The Great Protector is right. Children who fight often become closer.”
“Back in the day, my Luo Meng and the Great Protector used to wrestle in the mud every day, and they’re great friends now.”
Speaking of childhood memories, Li Xiao also laughed heartily, “That’s because Luo Meng always teased my eldest sister verbally and even said he wanted to marry her, so of course, I had to beat him up.”
“Hahaha~”
Everyone listening burst into laughter, their gazes converging on the two wrestling children on the ground.
Luo Wenzhong suddenly exerted force, pinning Su Wuji beneath him, and shouted triumphantly, “Do you yield?”
Su Wuji refused, his small face tense, and shouted, “I yield to your mother’s ass.”
With that, he flipped over and pinned Luo Wenzhong beneath him, and they were once again entangled.
Li Xiao raised his wine cup, watching the scene, his smile growing brighter.
The future of the Northern Frontier would depend on the capabilities of these children!
The moon was bright, its silver glow illuminating the courtyard of the Great Protector’s Mansion. The sounds of breathing in Xiao Yanyan’s room finally ceased, and she fell into a deep sleep.
Shortly after, Li Xiao left the room to fetch water and happened to see a figure sitting on a stone bench in the courtyard, drinking alone in the moonlight.
Li Xiao was slightly taken aback and walked over to ask, “Sister-in-law, you’re not asleep yet?”
Hearing the voice, Shu Lü Wujin turned and glanced at Li Xiao.
Her expression was slightly enigmatic and resentful, as if to say, “How dare you ask?”
Indeed, for the past few nights, there had been constant activity next door, making it impossible for her to sleep.
Li Xiao understood why she was awake.
He rubbed his nose, feeling a little embarrassed, but there was nothing he could do; he couldn’t just suppress his urges.
Besides, Jin Dao was almost two years old, and Xiao Yanyan was in her prime.
Moreover, Huang Xiuer, Er Ya, and others were consecutively pregnant, which greatly stimulated her, and she pestered Li Xiao daily for a second child.
If she wanted one, then he would give her one.
As for disturbing Shu Lü Wujin, he could only offer an apology.
Thus, Li Xiao immediately changed the subject, sat down on the adjacent stone bench, looked at the wine on the table and the redness in her eyes, and asked, “Sister-in-law, did you cry? Are you missing your brother and Nair?”
Shu Lü Wujin shook her head, her voice hoarse, “I’m just feeling a bit sad.”
At the family banquet today, seeing the lively and active children like Su Wuji and Luo Wenzhong, she naturally felt sorrow.
She thought of her own son.
However, Xiao Helun was not as mischievous and rarely fought with other children, as no one dared to fight him.
It was precisely this aloofness that made his personality somewhat reclusive.
In Xiao Simo’s eyes, this personality became a typical sign of someone lacking ambition, and he sent him into the army for training at a young age, ultimately leading to tragic consequences.
Li Xiao picked up the wine pot from the table, poured himself a drink, and after taking a sip, he spoke of the concubine’s sons in the Royal Mansion.
“I heard those women in the Royal Mansion have become increasingly presumptuous lately. Relying on their sons for support, they’ve even started meddling in the affairs of the mansion?”
Shu Lü Wujin tightened her grip on the wine cup and remained silent.
Li Xiao continued, “Those women have short-sighted views, thinking they’ve won by gaining minor advantages, unaware of how deep the waters in this Royal Mansion run.”
As he spoke, his gaze inadvertently fell on Shu Lü Wujin’s chest, where her magnificent twin peaks were now rising and falling slightly with anger.
It was evident that the antics of those women disgusted her.
Most importantly, the issue of a son remained a sore point for her.
Without a son to support her, wouldn’t the vast estate of the Royal Mansion eventually fall to those concubine’s sons?
That was why they had become even more audacious, and thinking of this, Shu Lü Wujin felt a tightness in her chest.
Li Xiao, however, tried to comfort her, “Sister-in-law, if you’ve been wronged in the mansion, just tell me.”
“Although I’m not in the Yin Mountains, I will never let you be mistreated.”
“If Sister-in-law is feeling lonely in the mansion, I can give you a child. You’ll have someone to rely on in the future.”
Upon hearing this, Shu Lü Wujin stiffened, and her cheeks suddenly flushed.
Give her a child?
He, he, he, he~
How could he say such a thing?
Shu Lü Wujin was not yet thirty years old and could still have children, but she had never considered having another.
As Xiao Simo’s widow, what would others think if she did something so shameless?
How would A Man view her as his sister-in-law?
Moreover, it was A Man’s husband who said it, which made Shu Lü Wujin even more ashamed and indignant.
This Li Xiao was simply going too far.
How could he tease his widowed sister-in-law like this?
But thinking of the muffled sounds coming from Xiao Yanyan’s room every night, her throat suddenly felt dry, and she stuttered with rapid breaths, “No, it’s impossible.”
“We can’t do this.”
Seeing her reaction, Li Xiao felt somewhat bewildered but didn’t dwell on it.
Soon after, Shu Lü Wujin had drunk a bit too much, her cheeks flushed with a tipsy glow, and her eyes became hazy.
Li Xiao saw this, stepped forward to help her up, and felt her soft and delicate hand, possessing the unique tenderness of a mature woman.
As he helped her into the room and onto the bed, Li Xiao couldn’t help but look at her a few more times.
The moonlight fell on Shu Lü Wujin, outlining her full and graceful curves. The undulation of her chest was faintly visible beneath her thin blouse, her waist was ample but not bloated, and she exuded the charm of a mature woman everywhere.
It was a charm that had been tempered by time, possessing a more captivating allure than the innocence of a young girl.
Li Xiao couldn’t help but marvel inwardly – mature women were indeed alluring, especially with the added prestige of Shu Lü Wujin’s status, which multiplied her temptation several times over.
Finally, he suppressed the restlessness in his heart, took one last lingering look at Shu Lü Wujin’s sleeping form, and turned to leave.
The moment the door closed, Shu Lü Wujin, whose eyes had been tightly shut, slightly opened them, a hint of flustered confusion in her drunken gaze.
She raised a hand to touch her flushed cheek, feeling both ashamed and indignant.
Li Xiao’s gaze just now, without any concealment, had almost stripped her clothes off.
But on second thought, although Li Xiao was usually unrestrained in his speech and actions, he had ultimately shown her respect and had not taken advantage of her vulnerability to cross the line.
However, the thought of Li Xiao’s earlier words, “I can give you a child,” made Shu Lü Wujin’s heart feel as if it were being fiercely clutched by something.
The shame and indignation surged within her, as if a demon were whispering in her ear, “Agree to it. This is the best way out for you.”
Without a son to support her, when she grew old, those concubine’s sons and their mothers would only bully her more, and her status as Princess Consort would eventually be worthless.
A woman’s lifelong reliance, in the end, was still a son.
Whether adopting a concubine’s son or an outsider was not as reliable as having one’s own child.
Shu Lü Wujin gazed at the tassels on the canopy, touched her still-firm skin, her eyes filled with confusion.
She was unsure whether to uphold her last line of defense or bow to reality.
And so, in her turmoil, Li Xiao often encountered her drinking alone at night for the next few days.
Until one day, they tacitly left the Great Protector’s Mansion and did not return until the early morning.
Traces of grass stains could still be vaguely seen on Shu Lü Wujin’s clothes.
In the days that followed, Li Xiao continued to be stationed in Dragon City.
Orders were issued from here, driving the entire Northern Frontier to operate like a well-oiled machine, running in an orderly fashion.
The Common People who had migrated last year had already settled down in this land.
The Common People of Jin Prefecture, Western Sea, and North Sea mostly lived by herding.
The Great Protector’s Mansion lent them flocks of sheep, with an agreement to return one-fifth of them annually, and they would be paid off in five years.
However, the benefits of pure herding were ultimately too low, so many strong young men chose to join the ranks of the Six Garrisons soldiers.
They prepared to loot the enemy’s wealth to pay off the loans they had taken out to buy Female Slaves.
As for the Common People in the Great Desert, Gaochang, and Yin Mountains, they mostly became Farmers.
They cultivated Wasteland while planting crops like Soybean and Sorghum, which were resistant to saline-alkali.
Although the harvest would not be very high, it was enough for a family to barely make a living.
After all, the newly cultivated land benefited from a policy of ten years of tax and rent exemption, which filled the Common People with hope.
At the same time, a large quantity of Cloth Armor was being produced.
According to the regional plan of first south, then north, and first east, then west, the Fourth Garrison in Gansu was equipped first.
Next was the Second Division in Western Prefecture, followed by the Fifth Garrison in Yili.
The hotter the region, the sooner the Armor would be replaced, preparing for any potential outbreak of war.
The commercial sector was also developing rapidly.
With the support of Jin Prefecture’s Technology, the light industry in the Great Desert began to develop vigorously.
The newly built Textile factories’ output had reached half of Jin Prefecture’s, and wineries, soap factories, match factories, and others were also growing in scale, presenting a bustling scene.
The entire Northern Frontier was developing in an orderly manner, presenting a picture of prosperity.
One day, good news came from the Great Protector’s Mansion: Xiao Yanyan was pregnant again.
In the room, Jin Dao was held in Shu Lü Wujin’s arms. The initial unfamiliarity between them had long since vanished.
After all, Shu Lü Wujin had been in Dragon City for nearly three months, and Jin Dao was very familiar with her, calling her “Aunt” without hesitation, showing great affection.
Shu Lü Wujin also genuinely liked Jin Dao, as if pouring all the affection she had for her son Xiao Helun onto Jin Dao.
At this moment, she fed Jin Dao with one hand, looking at Xiao Yanyan, her eyes filled with envy, “That’s wonderful. You’re pregnant again, and Jin Dao will have a companion.”
The two sisters-in-law chatted back and forth. Seeing Shu Lü Wujin’s affection for Jin Dao, Xiao Yanyan suggested, “Sister-in-law, your loneliness is not a solution. Why not take Xiao Wutugu as your own son?”
Xiao Wutugu was the eldest of Xiao Simo’s three concubine’s sons. His mother was a Geluolu woman who had committed some offense and was executed by Xiao Simo.
Shu Lü Wujin had never liked his mother and harbored reservations about Xiao Wutugu as well. Upon hearing this, she immediately shook her head, “Let’s forget it. My connection with him is not deep.”
“Besides, that child also harbors resentment towards me!”
Shu Lü Wujin sighed softly, mentioning that his mother’s death was indirectly related to her.
Although the child appeared obedient on the surface, he understood everything in reality.
And as he and the other two concubine’s sons grew older, Shu Lü Wujin felt increasingly troubled.
“His mother brought it upon herself back then; you can’t blame yourself, Sister-in-law,” Xiao Yanyan said, shaking her head.
As they were talking, Shu Lü Wujin suddenly felt a strong wave of nausea.
She had given birth before, so she was all too familiar with the feeling. She started in surprise, her pupils contracting sharply.
It was as if she had remembered something important.
Counting her own cycle, the possibility became even clearer.
However, to avoid being discovered by Xiao Yanyan, she suppressed her nausea, pretended to be fine, and continued feeding Jin Dao, only slowing her movements.
Xiao Yanyan, with her keen senses, noticed her pallor and asked with concern, “Sister-in-law, what’s wrong? Your complexion suddenly turned so bad?”
Shu Lü Wujin quickly brushed it off, “It’s nothing, perhaps I didn’t sleep well last night and am a bit tired.”
Saying this, she fed Jin Dao the last mouthful of rice, then stood up and said, “I’ll go back to my room to rest. You and Jin Dao should also rest.”
After speaking, she hurried out of the room, her mind in turmoil.
As for Xiao Yanyan, she watched her retreating back and only felt that her sister-in-law had been a bit strange lately, but she didn’t overthink it.
Instead, she focused her mind on nurturing her child.
When Li Xiao was with her, he jokingly called her his “little mare.” Xiao Yanyan took it to heart.
She even took pride in it, as it represented her strength, excellent bloodline, and the fascination she held for Li Xiao.
Therefore, she wanted to have many, many children for Li Xiao.
Two days later, Shu Lü Wujin suddenly came to bid farewell to Xiao Yanyan. She had been in Dragon City for three months and it was time to return.
Xiao Yanyan didn’t think much of it and reluctantly saw her off.
She also prepared many good things and told Shu Lü Wujin that if anyone bullied her in the Yin Mountains, she should immediately send a message, and she would not tolerate it.
Thus, Shu Lü Wujin returned to the Yin Mountains with a team of Royal Mansion guards.
However, shortly after they left Dragon City, a detachment of the Wuwei Army arrived behind them.
The leading soldier said, “Madam has an urgent matter and requests the Princess Consort return with us.”
Shu Lü Wujin immediately nodded, then said to the surrounding Royal Mansion guards, “You have been away from home for over three months; you should return first.”
“After this matter is settled, I will have A’man send someone to escort me back.”
The Royal Mansion Guard Commander seemed a bit uneasy and said, “Princess Consort, allow me to stay.”
“There’s no need. Your child is still young, hurry back.”
Thus, Shu Lü Wujin sent all the Royal Mansion guards back to the Yin Mountains, while she, under the protection of the Wuwei Army, headed in another direction.
……
Time passed quickly, and it was already September.
In the original history, after Temüjin was defeated by the Kereit tribe, he successfully launched a surprise attack on the Kereit Khanate in the autumn, after a summer of recovery, staging a dramatic comeback.
However, with the backing of the Northern Frontier Army, Temüjin’s situation was even more dire than recorded in history.
For a full half-year, he was like a stray dog, constantly on the run from the Kereit cavalry, with little chance to even catch his breath.
Despite this, he always managed to escape at the most critical moments, which caused Li Xiao, stationed in Dragon City, great anxiety.
“This fox has a truly tenacious life!”
He had proposed multiple times that the Northern Frontier Army advance eastward to cooperate with the Kereit allied forces to annihilate Temüjin.
But each time, Ong Khan and Sangkun flatly refused.
The cunning Ong Khan always used the excuse that “Grassland affairs should be resolved by the people of the Grassland themselves.”
Sangkun had even privately spread rumors that the Northern Frontier Army had no good intentions, and that under the guise of annihilating Temüjin, they actually intended to sneak attack the Kereit army.
“A bunch of short-sighted fools!” Li Xiao was filled with helplessness.
In his eyes, the seemingly disheveled Temüjin posed a far greater threat to the Northern Frontier than the powerful Kereit tribe.
Once this eagle of the grasslands recovered its strength, it would sooner or later become the most troublesome enemy of the Northern Frontier.
Therefore, Li Xiao could swear that the Northern Frontier Army would not attack the Kereit tribe until Temüjin was eliminated.
But the key was that Ong Khan and Sangkun didn’t believe him!
In their view, the threat from the Northern Frontier far outweighed that of the now-disgraced Temüjin.
If the Northern Frontier Army were to truly march into the eastern part of the Mobei Grassland, the Kereit would immediately abandon their pursuit of Temüjin and join forces with him, turning their attention to the Northern Frontier Army.
Wouldn’t that be akin to saving Temüjin’s life with their own hands?
Li Xiao could only suppress his impatience, waiting for this “Son of Destiny” to utilize his unbelievably good luck and defeat the Kereit tribe in some unfathomable way.
When they had both suffered heavy losses, the Northern Frontier Army would then march eastward and reap the benefits.
However, amidst the setbacks, some good news arrived.
In September, Huang Xiuer gave birth to a son for Li Xiao, his cries so loud they could penetrate the entire courtyard.
Huang Xiuer was overjoyed, and the Huang family was even more excited.
This was Li Xiao’s second son! Although a concubine’s son, he was of pure Han bloodline!
“Longbow~”
This was the nickname Huang Xiuer gave her son, which sounded the same as “Chang Gong.”
It was also to follow Jin Dao’s naming style, with names of weapons.
After all, the Northern Frontier valued martial prowess, and Huang Xiuer did not want her son to be too effeminate.
As for the formal name, that was given by Li Xiao.
It was Li Shixuan.
In October, the atmosphere within the Great Protector’s Mansion became tense again.
Sorghaghtani and Tajiguli simultaneously felt unbearable abdominal pain.
Li Xiao understood; it was likely they had conceived on the same night, which explained the coincidence.
He stood in the courtyard, listening to the pained cries from the rooms on either side, his face calm.
Having two sons and one daughter already, he no longer felt the anxiety he had during Jin Dao’s birth. He only hoped for the safety of mother and child.
After all, in this era, a woman giving birth was like walking through the gates of hell, especially as both women were first-time mothers.
Fortunately, the birthing process was not as difficult as Li Xiao had imagined.
Sorghaghtani’s physical condition was better. Less than an hour after she entered the room, the sound of a baby’s loud cry emanated from within.
The Kereit maidservant guarding the door ran out excitedly and announced in a slightly odd Chinese accent, “Congratulations to the Great Protector, Madam has given birth to a young master!”
It was a son!
Upon hearing the maidservant’s words, although Li Xiao was not as ecstatic as he had been during Jin Dao’s birth, he still smiled happily.
Soon after, the midwife emerged carrying the child wrapped in thick bedding. The little one, crying and kicking in the swaddling clothes, exuded a robust energy.
Li Xiao gently held the child up to his face and laughed, “Look at these eyes, they carry a fierce spirit!”
“He will surely be a general who can sweep through thousands of armies when he grows up.”
“He is worthy of the name ‘Mongke’ that his mother chose for him.”
Then, Li Xiao turned to the others in the courtyard and announced loudly, “Mongke, my son.”
“His name is destined to make the distant barbarians of the West tremble.”
