Chapter 58: That Year At Fifteen, Standing Like A Lackey
In later generations, there are very few historical records about the Western Liao Dynasty, and there is no mention at all of a person like Xiao Simo.
Li Xiao only now realized that this guy was actually preparing to rebel!
“Does this count as boarding a pirate ship?” Li Xiao said to himself with a wry smile in his heart.
Considering the complex relationship between the Xiao Family and Yelü Zhilugu, Xiao Simo indeed had the possibility of rebelling.
Moreover, historically, he probably did not succeed in rebelling, after all, Yelü Zhilugu was overthrown by Naiman Prince Qu Chulü more than a decade later.
“So, this is not only a pirate ship, but also a broken ship.” Li Xiao covered his head speechlessly in his heart.
But there was no choice; under someone else’s roof, one had to bow one’s head. The Northern Frontier was Xiao Simo’s territory, so even if it was a broken ship, he had to board it first.
Moreover, even a broken ship has three thousand nails!
Just like the famous uprising of the Six Garrisons of Northern Wei; although it failed, it dealt a heavy blow to Northern Wei.
Yuwen Tai, as a participant, received a great deal of political legacy in this process, fully preparing for his later rise.
Therefore, Li Xiao was secretly looking forward to how much political legacy Xiao Simo would leave him after his rebellion failed.
In the following time, Xiao Simo and the others began discussing how to eliminate more of the Naiman People’s strength, so they would no longer dare to covet the Northern Frontier.
However, these people were all speaking Khitan language, and Li Xiao could not understand a single word.
He felt like an outsider.
There was no way around it; after all, he had just arrived and certainly could not integrate into Xiao Simo’s core circle.
“Climb step by step to the highest place where no one can look down on me.” Li Xiao drank horse milk wine alone and said to himself in his heart.
This feeling of being isolated and looked down upon was very uncomfortable.
Many years later, when Li Xiao recalled this scene, he might sigh: “That year at fifteen, standing like a mere soldier.”
At this moment, a shadow suddenly fell over his face.
“Princess!” Li Xiao looked up at Xiao Yanyan and greeted.
Xiao Yanyan looked at him with a half-smile: “Why not call me Miss Xiao anymore? Princess sounds too formal.”
Hearing this, Li Xiao shook his head with a wry smile: “I didn’t know Your Highness’s status before, please forgive me.”
“Tch, boring.” Xiao Yanyan huffed lightly.
She still preferred the unruly Li Xiao from before.
Thinking this, she sat down beside Li Xiao without any reservations.
It was mainly because she saw Li Xiao was too isolated and could not join in the conversation of Xiao Simo and the others.
After all, Li Xiao could be considered her person, so it wouldn’t be good to leave him out in the cold.
“Are you curious why General Xiao Lintta showed open hostility toward the Royal Court right in front of you without any scruples?” Xiao Yanyan said softly beside Li Xiao.
“Mm~” Li Xiao nodded lightly: “A bit curious.”
“After all, this is my first time entering this large tent; I’m not familiar with them, let alone trusted.”
“Aren’t Lord Xiao and the others afraid I’ll leak it out?”
In Li Xiao’s view, something like rebellion should be kept as secretive as possible, with as few people knowing as possible.
But these Khitan people’s way of thinking was clearly different.
Xiao Yanyan smiled lightly, her bright eyes looking at Li Xiao as she said: “Do you know Sima Zhao?”
Li Xiao nodded lightly; who wouldn’t know him?
“Did the people of Wei know before the Sima family rebelled?” Xiao Yanyan asked again.
Li Xiao was immediately speechless.
Then he heard Xiao Yanyan’s ethereal voice say: “Actually, the conflict between my brother and Zhilugu isn’t really a secret at all.”
“Everyone in the entire Royal Court knows about it.”
“Everyone knows that if given the chance, my brother would definitely drive Zhilugu from that position.”
“Zhilugu is well aware of this too; he naturally wants to get rid of my brother as well, but unfortunately, he has never had the opportunity.”
“My brother isn’t someone he can easily deal with.”
Hearing this, Li Xiao finally understood.
Damn, so they had already reached the point of open cards.
Both sides were fully aware of each other’s intentions.
But reality was that neither had the ability to eliminate the other in one stroke.
Yelü Zhilugu was the Emperor, with the legitimacy of righteousness.
Xiao Simo also had the political legacy left by Xiao Wulila’s decades of struggle, and his strength was not to be underestimated.
The open and covert struggles between the two sides had long begun.
Li Xiao had just been in the remote corner of Jin Prefecture, knowing nothing about it.
This was awkward; unknowingly, he had become involved in the highest-level political struggle of the Western Liao Dynasty.
“Do you regret what you said earlier?” Xiao Yanyan looked at Li Xiao with a sly smile.
“No!” Li Xiao shook his head firmly.
He definitely couldn’t say he regretted it!
When placing a bet, the worst thing was to hedge both sides.
Although he knew Xiao Simo might fail, wasn’t this also Li Xiao’s opportunity?
“Your Han People have a saying ‘Fortune and honor are sought in danger.'” Xiao Yanyan said softly, personally pouring a cup of wine for Li Xiao.
“Following my brother may seem risky, but for someone from an ordinary Han People family like you, it is the best path to advancement.”
“With your abilities, being enfeoffed as a marquis and serving as prime minister will not be a problem in the future.”
Xiao Yanyan was painting a big pie for Li Xiao again.
Li Xiao fully accepted it, pretending to be moved.
This woman had personally poured wine for him; if he acted ungratefully, the consequences might be serious.
“A true man born between heaven and earth should act with great fanfare; how can he hesitate and look back?”
“Princess, rest assured, I am not the type to waver or forget righteousness for profit.” Li Xiao said firmly.
Then he raised the cup and drained it in one gulp.
“However, I have one more question.” Li Xiao put down the wine cup and said.
“Lord Xiao is dispatching so many troops on an eastern expedition against the Naiman People; isn’t he afraid the Eastern Capital will be left vulnerable, allowing Jie’er Khan to exploit the gap from behind?”
Xiao Yanyan shook her head lightly: “Of course not.”
“My brother left quite a few soldiers to garrison the Eastern Capital, all loyal to him.”
“Of course, most importantly, the Royal Court’s attention is tied up by the Ghur Kingdom and has no capacity to concern itself with the Northern Frontier.”
After Xiao Yanyan’s explanation, Li Xiao gained some understanding of the situation in the Central Asia region.
The Ghur Kingdom was located south of the Western Liao Dynasty, roughly in the position of modern-day Afghanistan.
Ever since the Seljuk Empire was defeated by Yelü Dashi that year, the Ghur Kingdom, as a vassal, gradually absorbed the Seljuk Empire’s legacy and has begun to rise in recent years.
Continuously launching wars abroad, its strength growing ever stronger.
Just last year, the Ghur Kingdom advanced north to attack the Khorasan Region.
As the suzerain state, the Western Liao Dynasty responded to the request of its vassal Khwarazm and sent General Tāyánggǔ with twenty thousand troops on an expedition to the Khorasan Region.
Part of the Royal Court Army’s troops were drawn away, giving Xiao Simo the chance to free up his hands to deal with the Naiman People.
Before the Royal Court Army returned, it was best to turn the Four Prefectures of Northern Frontier into a stable rear area.
“I see.” Li Xiao nodded lightly.
Afterward, Li Xiao chatted with Xiao Yanyan about other matters.
“Princess~”
Li Xiao had just started to speak when Xiao Yanyan raised her hand to interrupt him.
“I treat you as a friend; don’t be so formal with me, don’t call me Princess.”
“Miss Xiao?” Li Xiao said tentatively.
“Hmph~”
Xiao Yanyan huffed unhappily: “Li Xiao, I already said I treat you as a friend.”
“My nickname is A Man; everyone close to me calls me that, so you can too.”
Hearing Xiao Yanyan’s words, Li Xiao nodded.
A Man?
This name was interesting.
“Then, A Man, can you teach me Khitan language?” Li Xiao said.
Hearing this, Xiao Yanyan became interested.
“You want to learn Khitan language? Of course, no problem.”
“If you become an official in the Great Liao in the future, speaking Khitan language is essential.” Xiao Yanyan said happily.
She felt a kind of excitement from being a teacher.
But then she frowned: “Unfortunately, I don’t have much time!”
“After the battle ends, I definitely have to return to the Eastern Capital with my brother.”
“No problem~” Li Xiao smiled lightly.
“I learn things very quickly.”
No sooner said than done; Xiao Yanyan immediately began teaching Li Xiao Khitan language.
At this moment, a burst of laughter from Xiao Simo suddenly rang out in the large tent, as he kept nodding to a Khitan general.
“What did that general say?”
“Lord Xiao seems very satisfied.” Li Xiao asked curiously.
“That is General Xiao Duolatu; he suggested that my brother contact Buyiru Khan of the Naiman People to jointly pincer the Naiman People’s army.”
Hearing this, Li Xiao nodded slightly.
Unlike the scarcity of historical records about the Western Liao Dynasty, there are still some records about the Naiman People in later generations.
So Li Xiao had some understanding of this Buyiru Khan.
He was the brother of the Naiman Sun Khan.
After the old Naiman Khan died that year, the two brothers went to war over the khanate.
Of course, there were also rumors that they fought over their stepmother.
Both brothers coveted their beautiful and young stepmother, but the second brother had superior methods.
While the old Khan was still on his sickbed, he had already gotten together with the stepmother.
Using pillow talk, he smoothly seized more power.
Once the old Khan died, the second brother defeated the eldest, seized the stepmother and the khanate, and proclaimed himself Sun Khan.
The defeated eldest brother led part of his followers north to settle in the northern Altai Mountains, proclaiming himself Buyiru Khan.
From then on, the Naiman split into two parts, their strength greatly diminished.
Buyiru Khan, having lost the khanate and the beautiful stepmother, was surely unwilling and indeed had the possibility of being persuaded to join in attacking the Naiman Sun Khan.
However, based on some records Li Xiao had seen, the relationship between the two brothers didn’t seem that bad.
Although he wasn’t optimistic about this plan in his heart, Li Xiao was, after all, a newcomer.
Not familiar with these Khitan people and without Xiao Simo’s trust, he certainly wouldn’t bother raising objections that would gain him no favor.
Better to honestly play the role of a transparent person.
However, to avoid accidents—after all, Li Xiao didn’t want the Naiman People ravaging Jin Prefecture.
So he subtly reminded Xiao Yanyan: “I’ve heard that the relationship between the Sun Khan and Buyiru Khan isn’t that irreconcilable.”
“Buyiru Khan may not agree to pincer the Naiman People with us.” Li Xiao said softly.
Let Xiao Yanyan remind Xiao Simo; if he didn’t listen, there was nothing to be done.
Hearing this, Xiao Yanyan frowned lightly: “Is that so?”
