Chapter 43: Shock Of The Geluolu People
For the entire morning, Hou Village was a scene of chaos and busyness.
Under Li Xiao’s command, all the herdsmen began packing their belongings and preparing to move.
“Although the Hou family has been eliminated, Hou Wen is not dead yet. After he knows what happened in the village, he will definitely borrow troops from the Geluolu people for revenge.”
“Therefore, Hou Village can no longer be kept.”
“Everyone, follow me back to Hexi Fort~”
This was what Li Xiao said to all the herdsmen of Hou Village.
He used Hou Wen and the Geluolu people to intimidate these herdsmen, forcing them to leave Hou Village and go to Hexi Fort.
It had to be said, this reason was very effective.
The herdsmen still feared the Hou family. Even if only Hou Wen remained, they worried he would bring the Geluolu people back for revenge.
After all, each of them had shed the blood of the Hou family, and Hou Wen would certainly not let them go.
At that time, Li Xiao would have already left with the people of Hexi Fort. If only these people remained, they would definitely not be a match for the Geluolu people.
So, these people also had no choice but to pack their things and prepare to move.
“Brother, a total of five hundred and twelve people are heading to Hexi Fort.”
When everything was almost ready, Da Hu ran to report his count to Li Xiao.
Then, with a worried look, he said, “Not only them, but there are also several hundred people from the former Sanhe Fort.”
“With all these people coming to Hexi Fort, can we support so many?”
Nearly a thousand people crammed into Hexi Fort, and Da Hu was very worried that problems would arise.
After all, the population of Hexi Fort had grown steadily and slowly over the years; it had never doubled in such a short period.
Li Xiao had already considered this and nodded slightly, saying, “We can definitely support them.”
“In two more months it will be autumn harvest. The new grain will be enough to support many people.”
Moreover, that woman Xiao Yanyan had promised Li Xiao that for the next three years, Hexi Fort would be exempt from taxation.
This portion of extra grain from taxation was quite substantial.
Furthermore, the people from both Sanhe Fort and Hou Village were not entirely destitute refugees.
They already had plenty of cattle, sheep, and surplus grain, enough to sustain themselves for some time.
“Although they have become people of our Hexi Fort, it doesn’t mean we will abandon Hou Village and Sanhe Fort,” Li Xiao said in a calm voice.
Li Xiao’s gaze swept towards the farmland outside the village, which was now covered in lush green wheat, ready for harvest in two months.
These farmlands originally belonged to the Hou family and were now directly confiscated by Li Xiao.
“When the autumn harvest comes, we will bring them back to harvest the grain.”
“It will be more than enough to support these people for at least a year.”
Although Hou Village and Sanhe Fort would be temporarily abandoned, Li Xiao would not neglect them indefinitely.
After all, these two places possessed fertile grasslands and already cultivated farmlands, ready for immediate use.
After the current Geluolu rebellion passed, Li Xiao would transfer some of the herdsmen from Hexi Fort, along with some of the original inhabitants of the two villages, and return here.
Hou Village and Sanhe Fort would be directly incorporated into Hexi Fort’s territory.
In this way, the strength of Hexi Fort would directly rise to a new level, becoming the most powerful Han People’s Fortifications in Jin Prefecture.
“Moreover, if we truly encounter a situation where there isn’t enough food, no one will starve,” Li Xiao said in a calm voice.
Da Hu was still a bit too kind.
In this world of the jungle in the Western Regions, why were there constant wars?
It was mainly to compete for survival resources.
If there was no food, they would snatch it from others’ bowls.
If it came to that, Li Xiao would rather let them die in battle than starve.
Furthermore, launching wars externally would also facilitate the integration and unity of the herdsmen from the three villages.
“Alright, whatever happens, we’ll face it when it comes.” Da Hu gently shook his head, feeling relieved that Li Xiao had considered these matters.
He then turned and went to a horse carriage to take care of Li Erjiang, on which were also carried the remains of Li Xiao’s father, Li Dahai.
Next, Li Xiao’s gaze turned to the herdsmen of Hou Village, and he said loudly, “Everyone, take good care of your cattle, sheep, and belongings.”
“We depart now.”
Upon hearing this, the herdsmen began to cheer loudly, driving their cattle and sheep towards the outside of the village.
Although they felt a reluctance to leave Hou Village, everyone’s face showed a yearning for their future lives.
This was because the Hou family’s oppression of them had been too severe.
Not only was the land not theirs, but most of the cattle and sheep they raised also belonged to the Hou family.
They were merely working for the Hou family, not much different from slaves.
Now, Li Xiao promised them that once they reached Hexi Fort, half of the Hou family’s cattle and sheep would belong to these herdsmen.
The remaining half would be distributed among the one hundred youths who participated in this expedition.
Such generosity, of course, satisfied everyone.
Coupled with the pressure from Hou Wen and the Geluolu people, the herdsmen truly agreed with the decision to leave Hou Village from the bottom of their hearts.
Thus, a large group of people left Hou Village in a mighty procession, heading towards Hexi Fort.
After everyone had departed, the vultures that had been circling in the sky descended and began to ravenously feast on the corpses of the Hou family.
Wuya Village.
Located in the eastern part of Jin Prefecture, at the foot of the Altai Mountains, it was a Han People’s village with a relatively low presence.
Facing the siege by the Geluolu people, Wuya Village resisted fiercely, but due to the delayed arrival of reinforcements, it was eventually breached by the Moman Tribe.
Currently, outside Wuya Village, in a large tent, the Moman Tribe Leader Ciputegin sat on a folding stool.
Drinking horse milk wine, he held two Han women in his arms, continuously tormenting them and laughing wildly.
“We Geluolu people are the eagles of the grassland and should soar, not be dogs to the Khitans.”
“The deities are calling us, bestowing upon us eternal strength, leading us to recreate the supreme glory of the Geluolu Khaganate.”
Ciputegin shouted loudly, as if drunk, his spirits extremely high.
The other Geluolu nobles in the large tent echoed Ciputegin’s sentiments: “That’s right, we Geluolu people are born strong, the eagles of the grassland.”
“Leader Ciputegin led us to defeat the Khitans, and we will conquer more Han People’s Fortifications.”
“We will surely rebuild the Geluolu Khaganate.”
“Ciputegin should become the new Yelü of us Geluolu people.”
Hearing the calls of the Geluolu headmen, Ciputegin was very pleased, knowing his efforts were not in vain. He intended to become the new Geluolu Yelü.
He would lead the Geluolu people to restore their former glory and dominate the Western Regions.
“Mr. Hou, when our Geluolu Khaganate is rebuilt, you will be a meritorious official. I, this Yelü, will certainly reward you handsomely and appoint you as the leader of all Han People in the Northern Frontier.”
Ciputegin looked at a man sitting to his left and said with a hearty laugh.
This man appeared to be in his forties, not tall, with a thin face, a high nose bridge, and narrow eyes, giving an uncomfortable, shifty impression.
This was the biological father of Hou Tiancai, the current Village Master of Hou Village, Hou Wen.
He was unaware of what had happened at Hou Village and was happy about the promise Ciputegin had made.
“Thank you, Lord Yelü.”
“My Hou Village will certainly not disappoint Lord Yelü. We will help the Moman Tribe occupy those numerous fortifications as soon as possible.”
Hou Wen stood up and respectfully said to Ciputegin.
In reality, Hou Wen did not believe a word of the promises Ciputegin made to him.
He didn’t even believe the Moman Tribe could rebuild the Geluolu Khaganate.
But it didn’t matter; they were merely using each other.
Hou Wen only needed to use the Geluolu people’s strength to incorporate more Han People’s Fortifications under his command, making the Hou family the leader of all Han People in the Northern Frontier.
At that time, the Hou family would no longer have to depend on the Geluolu people and could completely discard them and act independently.
“Report.”
Just as everyone was in high spirits, the tent flap was lifted, and a confidant of Ciputegin ran in to report.
“Reporting to the leader, something terrible has happened. The Aslan Tribe has been eliminated by the Han people.”
Hearing this, Ciputegin froze instantly, holding his wine cup in stunned bewilderment.
The atmosphere in the entire tent immediately turned cold. The smiles still lingering on the faces of the Moman Tribe headmen were replaced by shock.
“You, what did you say? Han people?”
Ciputegin stammered in disbelief.
After the Battle of North Mountain, the troops of the Jin Prefecture Governor’s Mansion had been routed by their three-tribe allied army. Many Han people had been eliminated or captured.
Now, under the formidable might of their three Geluolu tribes, all the Han people in Jin Prefecture only had the strength to defend themselves. How could they have eliminated the Aslan Tribe?
“It’s true, leader. Some fleeing soldiers from the Aslan Tribe have come to seek refuge with us.”
“Bring them here,” Ciputegin said, not believing this news. He wanted to question them himself.
Soon, several Geluolu people from the Aslan Tribe were brought in. Each of them was disheveled, even covered in blood.
“It was the Han people.”
“They attacked us in a sneak raid the night before yesterday,” said one Geluolu soldier, his face pale. He had escaped from Sanhe Fort.
He had personally witnessed the ferocious assault of the Four Fort Allied Army, descending like ghosts in the rainy night. The overwhelming power that seemed to destroy everything made him tremble with fear even now.
The Geluolu soldier was terrified.
The other Moman Tribe headmen were in an uproar, each with anger and tension on their faces.
The Aslan Tribe and the Moman Tribe were of similar strength. Did this mean their Moman Tribe was also in danger?
“Which Han People’s village was it?”
“Did you see clearly?”
Hou Wen also looked incredulous, asking in surprise.
Unfortunately, the Geluolu soldiers could not explain anything clearly, only that it was the Han people.
Hou Wen felt a sense of absurdity and muttered, “It shouldn’t be!”
“How is that possible?”
“How is that possible?”
