Chapter 66: Vengeance Must Be Taken, Never Left Overnight
Soon, Xiao Lintta left together with Li Xiao, then summoned all the Jin Prefecture Leaders of Wuya Village, and held a meeting in Xiao Lintta’s large tent.
Distribute military grain!
Not long after, Huang Daquan and the others walked out of the large tent with depressed expressions.
They exchanged glances with each other and all shook their heads.
“This time, we can’t avoid it. Have people go back to gather the grain!” The Changshan Fort Master sighed and said.
“Go back first. Fortunately, it’s not too much. Every household can squeeze out a bit, and it should be possible to gather it all.” The Bohai Fort Master said.
Xiao Simo’s task was ten thousand shi of grain and ten thousand sheep.
Although it seemed like a lot, Jin Prefecture had the Han People’s Nine Forts and Eighteen Villages, and now eight forts and sixteen villages remained.
Moreover, there were more than a dozen nomadic tribes.
Divided up, it wasn’t too much, and basically everyone could bear it.
However, Huang Daquan and the others were still in a very bad mood, worrying anxiously as they said, “This time it’s not much, but we’re just afraid this battle will drag on endlessly.”
“Will the military grain in the future all have to be supplied by our Jin Prefecture?”
As soon as these words came out, everyone instantly felt like they’d been doused with a basin of cold water.
But could they refuse to supply it?
This time it was a polite requisition, but if anyone dared not give face, then the army would come knocking to demand it.
“If it’s always like this, our Jin Prefecture won’t be able to survive.” The crowd left worrying anxiously.
And in the large tent, Li Xiao also bid farewell to Xiao Lintta: “Mission accomplished, General Xiao.”
“This ten thousand shi of grain and ten thousand sheep have finally been assigned, so we can give Lord Xiao an explanation.”
With sufficient military grain, Xiao Lintta was in a great mood, laughing heartily: “This time, it’s all thanks to Chiliarch Li. The Great King won’t forget Chiliarch Li’s merit.”
What Xiao Simo wanted was to collect military grain, not rob it, so he definitely couldn’t use violence.
He needed someone familiar with the local situation to cooperate.
The Jin Prefecture Governor’s Mansion had been wiped out by the Geluolu People, so the most suitable person now was Li Xiao, this newly minted chiliarch.
Having become an official of the Khitan People, he naturally had to work for the Khitan People!
“I don’t dare claim merit; it’s just my duty.” Li Xiao shook his head helplessly.
Fortunately, this task wasn’t too heavy. After assigning it, every village and tribe could bear it.
Otherwise, collecting this military grain really wouldn’t be easy.
This time it was just levying military grain, but after the household registration of commoners later, he, as chiliarch, would have to collect taxes from each centurion every year!
All of it was work that offended people.
But since he wanted to climb up, he definitely couldn’t be a good person.
“For those Jin Prefecture leaders who haven’t arrived at Wuya Village yet, please have General Xiao send someone over. I’ll arrange people to accompany them.”
“This way, within ten days, the military grain should be transported over.”
“General Xiao, Li bids farewell for now.”
With that, Li Xiao stood up and said, “I’ll go home first to see Grandfather, and at the same time bring people to transport the assigned provisions from our Hexi Fort back.”
“Good, thanks for your trouble, Chiliarch Li.” Xiao Lintta also saw him off warmly.
Although Li Xiao was just a mere chiliarch and not yet in his eyes, Xiao Lintta knew exactly how Li Xiao had become a chiliarch.
Besides his own merit, the Princess of Chu had also spoken quite a few good words for him.
Given Xiao Simo’s favoritism toward Xiao Yanyan, in any case, it was best not to offend Li Xiao.
Afterward, Li Xiao returned to his camp.
Luo Ping and the others, who had returned early, all came forward to greet him.
“Da Long, what do we do? Should we go back to the village now to gather grain?”
Just now in Xiao Lintta’s large tent, all the village masters and leaders who had already arrived at Wuya Village had attended the meeting.
Naturally, that included Luo Ping and the others.
Every fort and village needed to provide some cattle and sheep and grain. Fortunately, it wasn’t too much, and Luo Ping and the others could bear it.
But Li Xiao had other plans in mind.
“Uncle Luo, did the Khitan People scare away all your courage when they came?”
“We’ve always been the ones robbing others’ cattle and sheep and grain. When did it become our turn to hand them out?” Li Xiao snorted.
Luo Ping was stunned by his words.
“What do you mean?”
In Luo Ping’s view, this was just normal!
Normally, each fort and village had to pay grain and cattle and sheep to the Governor’s Mansion every year, and during wartime, the army would additionally levy military grain.
It had always been the rule, and Luo Ping and the others didn’t find anything wrong with it.
But Li Xiao shook his head and said, “Uncle Luo, select a group of good hands from our Seven Forts Allied Army.”
“Tell them to come with me to do a job. Our Seven Forts’ share of military grain will naturally be covered by someone else.”
Feiying Fort!
Li Xiao was petty and always got revenge without delay.
Since he knew about the relationship between Feiying Fort’s Wang Family and Hou Family, and the Wang Family even wanted to help the Hou Family vent their anger and take revenge.
Li Xiao naturally couldn’t tolerate it.
To avoid Feiying Fort tripping him up, Li Xiao decided to strike now, or he wouldn’t sleep soundly.
Conveniently, confiscate Feiying Fort Wang Family’s property; it might be enough to offset the Seven Forts’ military grain this time.
Soon, Li Xiao assembled six hundred men from the Seven Forts Allied Army, including one hundred Zhelan slaves led by Zhang Xianfeng.
The group left Wuya Village in grand style.
The reason was to return to the Seven Forts to gather and transport military grain, but in reality, after Li Xiao led the men out of Wuya Village, they did not head toward Hexi Fort.
Instead, they continued south toward Feiying Fort.
Feiying Fort’s location in Jin Prefecture was toward the south, not too close to Wuya Village.
And at this time, on the road to Wuya Village, Feiying Fort’s men were also on their way.
Feiying Fort was not small in scale; nearly two hundred were heading to Wuya Village.
There were three leaders.
Second Master, Third Master, Old Fifth.
“I originally thought this was our opportunity, but I didn’t expect the Geluolu People to be so useless; even taking Wuya Village was such a struggle.”
Wang Wu said disdainfully, looking at his two brothers beside him: “Good thing we stayed calm, or we’d have been wiped out by the Khitan People by now.”
Wang Three beside him also said fortunately, “This time, the Eastern Capital assembled twenty thousand army to come; maybe even the Naiman People can’t hold out.”
“If we’d known it would be like this, we should’ve advised that kid Hou Wen not to mess around. What was he stirring up for? He directly lost the whole family.”
“Sigh, it’s just pitiful for Fourth Sister and the family fortune.”
Wang Two beside them listened to his two younger brothers’ words, and a flash of anger crossed his pockmarked face.
“Hexi Fort people are simply courting death. Knowing Fourth Sister is from our Wang Family, they showed no mercy at all; they simply didn’t take our Feiying Fort Wang Family seriously.”
Wang Two and the two younger brothers beside him were half-brothers, but Hou Wen’s wife was his full blood sister.
So, Wang Two was even more furious about the Hou Family’s extermination.
His hatred for Hexi Fort was greater.
“The grievance between Hexi Fort and Hou Village goes back a long way, but this time Hexi Fort really went too far. Even if the Hou Family was wrong, they shouldn’t have exterminated them!” Wang Wu said as if indignantly.
“When we get the chance later, we must make that Li Family pay.”
Wang Three shook his head and said, “Unfortunately, the Li Family’s momentum is strong right now. Li Dongzhou’s grandson seems quite valued by the Khitan People.”
“To take revenge on the Li Family, we must wait until the Khitan People leave.”
Although Wang Two was angry, he was more rational, saying in a deep voice, “Revenge on the Li Family can wait.”
“First, make sure Hou Wen hides well; don’t let him be discovered.”
The three brothers talked as they led their men toward Wuya Village.
And at the same time, Feiying Fort’s forward scouts suddenly encountered another three scouts.
“Which village are you from?”
One of the three opposite asked.
“We’re from Feiying Fort.”
Feiying Fort’s scouts, from a distance, shouted loudly again, “Which village are you from?”
But at this time, hearing it was Feiying Fort, the three opposite scouts’ expressions changed slightly as they exchanged glances.
“We actually ran into Feiying Fort people.”
“Looks like they’re also heading to Wuya Village.”
“Ask how many they have.” The three whispered.
Then one of them loudly responded according to Li Xiao’s instructions: “We’re from the Eastern Capital Governor’s Mansion, the Sixth Courtyard Department Great King’s army.”
“Heading to the Great Desert on a mission.”
“How many are behind you?”
Hearing it was the Eastern Capital Governor’s Mansion army, Feiying Fort’s three scouts’ faces changed.
“Khitan People?”
“We can’t afford to provoke them.”
“How do Khitan People speak Chinese Language?”
“Khitan People armies definitely have some Han People in them. This is Jin Prefecture; the surrounding forts are all Han People’s. Having Han People as scouts makes communication easy.”
The three Feiying Fort scouts whispered. Facing the Eastern Capital Khitan People’s army, they naturally felt a bit uneasy.
Especially since they had already heard the news that the Sixth Courtyard Department Great King had led twenty thousand army to Jin Prefecture.
They didn’t dare provoke them.
“We from Feiying Fort have two hundred men, preparing to go to Wuya Village to pay respects to the Governor and await orders.”
The opposite scout said again, “Jin Prefecture Governor Da He Chu Luo Duo is right behind. Notify your fort master to come pay respects immediately.”
After that, both sides returned separately.
After Li Xiao heard the news, he smirked: “We actually ran into Feiying Fort people. Saves us the trouble of attacking.”
Earlier on the road, Li Xiao had encountered two teams from Han People’s fortifications, all heading to Wuya Village under orders.
Li Xiao had no grievance with them, so naturally he ignored them.
But now encountering Feiying Fort people, he naturally couldn’t let them go.
“Pass the order: prepare for battle.”
“Surround and annihilate Feiying Fort’s men.”
And on the other side, the Wang Brothers also learned the news from their scouts.
“Jin Prefecture Governor Da He Chu Luo Duo?”
“How is he here? North Mountain was defeated; didn’t the Governor punish him?”
“Heading to the Great Desert? Maybe making him redeem himself with merit!”
The three Wang Brothers were surprised inside and discussed what to do.
Finally, Wang Two said, “Da He Chu Luo Duo committed such a big mistake and is fine; it shows his background is deep. We can’t offend him.”
“Old Fifth, come with me to pay respects to Governor Da He. Old Three, you stay back and watch our men.”
“Yes!”
