Chapter 69: Marriage Alliance
Altai Mountains, also known as Golden Mountain.
It is a mountain range running from northwest to southeast, stretching between the Northern Frontier and the Mongolian Plateau, dividing them into two distinct geographical and cultural regions.
At this time, twenty thousand Northern Frontier Army troops set out from Jin Prefecture and boldly entered the Golden Mountain.
They would pass through some passes in the Golden Mountain Range, cross the entire mountain range, and enter the western Mongolian Plateau, the territory of the Naiman People.
Northeast Mountain Pass.
Sunlight was blocked by the towering mountain peaks on both sides, casting a patch of shadow.
The sound of hooves rumbled like thunder, as hundreds of cavalry charged toward the pass like a surging tide.
“Kill~”
They wore heavy armor and held sharp spears, like a yellow giant dragon sweeping in.
The fearless charge reached the front of the pass, but what greeted them was a dense rain of arrows and rolling stones like raindrops.
Fortunately, the ones charging at this time were the Khitan Army of the Sixth Courtyard Department; almost everyone was clad in armor, and the fine arrows could not cause them fatal harm.
But just as they were about to reach the middle of the pass, a moat appeared before their eyes.
The bottom of the moat was covered with dry grass.
As the Khitan Army approached, the Naiman general ordered it set alight.
The flames quickly blazed fiercely, blocking the footsteps of the Khitan Army.
“Si Gele!”
An angry roar came from under Xiao Lintta’s iron helmet.
Seeing his soldiers under his command occasionally smashed by rolling stones from the sides and wounded by the arrow rain, he had no choice but to order a retreat.
The Khitan People’s offensive failed again.
At this time in the rear, Xiao Simo rode on his war horse, clad in armor, always watching the situation ahead.
Seeing Xiao Lintta’s men forced to retreat, a flash of disappointment crossed his face.
“Hoo~”
This mountain valley before them was the most suitable route for marching, but unfortunately it had already been occupied by the Naiman People.
Not only had they dug a moat inside the pass and piled up rubble.
Even more, large numbers of Naiman soldiers were stationed on the mountain peaks on both sides.
To capture this pass, they had to first eliminate the Naiman People on both sides.
But this was even more difficult.
“How are the situations at the other passes?” Xiao Simo asked.
There were several passes to cross the Golden Mountain, but they were all occupied by the Naiman People at this time.
“No progress; we can’t break through at all.” Xiao Tula Duo shook his head and said.
The terrain at the pass before them was already relatively flat; the situations at the other passes could be imagined.
Unless a miracle occurred.
“Withdraw.”
Xiao Simo had no choice but to order the army’s withdrawal, returning to the camp with a grim face.
The Battle of Golden Mountain was likely to fall into a stalemate; the Naiman People were too defensive.
Meanwhile, at another pass, Li Xiao merely sent men to launch a few symbolic attacks and quickly retreated upon encountering resistance.
Looking at the rugged terrain in the mountain valley and the towering peaks on both sides, Li Xiao shook his head slightly.
“Who the hell could get through this?”
The Naiman People held the high ground, occupying favorable terrain, able to control the entire pass with very few troops.
To capture it would require casualties several times greater than those of the Naiman People.
“Looks like we’re not getting through here; let’s wait and see the situation at the main force camp!” Luo Ping shook his head.
He strongly advised against continuing the assault, and the others felt much the same.
And Li Xiao was even more reluctant to trade his own men’s lives for it.
“Have everyone withdraw.”
“Back to camp.” Li Xiao ordered.
Upon returning, everyone’s expressions were not too good.
Staying here to confront the Naiman People meant no more casualties, but they couldn’t afford to drag it out either.
Because the grain supply for these twenty thousand troops currently depended on Jin Prefecture.
If the standoff lasted too long, that turtle son Xiao Simo would surely order Jin Prefecture to gather grain again.
“If this continues, Jin Prefecture will definitely be dragged down.” Li Xiao shook his head lightly and said.
In his heart, he had subconsciously regarded Jin Prefecture as his base and could not let the Khitan People ravage it.
“Looks like we’ll have to take that route.” Li Xiao sighed softly and said.
Golden Mountain was a north-south stretching mountain range with many passes that could be crossed.
Currently, both armies were fighting over those passes easy for large armies to traverse.
And by chance, Li Xiao knew of a relatively obscure pass, though its terrain was quite treacherous.
Though it could allow a large army to pass, the danger was high.
He just didn’t know if the Naiman People had deployed troops there.
……
Khitan camp, Xiao Simo’s face was ashen.
The previous failed offensive had only soured his mood, but the next matter thoroughly enraged him.
“Courting death; Tuoteboluo is courting death.”
“Who gave him the courage to propose this condition?”
In the large tent, Xiao Simo roared in fury, tearing the paper before him to shreds.
That was a letter written to him by Buyiru Khan.
It said he was willing to ally with him to pincer the Naiman Tribe.
But it listed several conditions, such as Buyiru Khan becoming the true Great Khan of the Naiman Tribe after defeating them.
For example, lion-like demands for cattle and sheep, slaves, grain, and so on from Xiao Simo.
These posed no problem; Xiao Simo could agree with his eyes closed.
But there was one condition.
Buyiru Khan wanted to form a marriage alliance with Xiao Simo.
He wanted to marry Xiao Simo’s sister Xiao Yanyan as his wife.
Whenever Xiao Yanyan was sent over, Buyiru Khan would march south to Golden Mountain then.
But it was precisely this last condition that touched Xiao Simo’s reverse scale.
Xiao Yanyan had grown up with him since childhood; he had watched her grow up bit by bit.
Though she was his sister, Xiao Simo had always cared for her like a daughter, even more dearly than a daughter.
How could Xiao Simo bear to let Xiao Yanyan marry an old man?
“Wishful thinking.”
“What is Tuoteboluo? A bastard left by the Turkic People…”
Xiao Simo broke down; usually calm and composed, unflappable in any situation, as if he had everything under control.
But now, he completely shed his usual image and cursed outright.
He could agree to any condition Buyiru Khan proposed—even if it was to become the Jie’er Khan of Western Liao, Xiao Simo would nod without hesitation.
Anyway, he had no intention of honoring it.
But his sister alone—no.
Especially since that guy insisted on seeing her before sending troops south; Xiao Simo hated him for it, grinding his teeth.
“Great King, we absolutely cannot agree to Tuoteboluo’s conditions; the dignity of us Khitan People cannot be placed on a woman’s belly.”
Xiao Lintta’s face was furious as he said firmly.
The others nodded too, shouting one after another: “Exactly, the Princess is the Xiao Family’s cherished pearl; how can lowly Naiman People covet her?”
“After we eliminate the Naiman Tribe, we must not let Northern Naiman off.”
“Make Buyiru Khan’s head into a horse stool to be forever trampled under the Princess’s feet.”
……
The generals were filled with righteous indignation, but not one said anything useful.
Everyone knew Xiao Simo would never use Xiao Yanyan for a marriage alliance, so they naturally echoed his sentiments.
But now the battle at Golden Mountain had fallen into a deadlock.
It would not be easy for the Northern Frontier Army to break through the passes of Golden Mountain on their own.
Objectively speaking, Xiao Simo did need Buyiru Khan’s help to pincer the Naiman People from the other side.
But clearly, this path was also blocked.
Listening to the generals, Xiao Simo nodded expressionlessly and said in a deep voice: “Everyone, go back for now.”
“Have the soldiers stay alert against Naiman night raids.”
“Yes!”
The generals also saw Xiao Simo’s fatigue and did not dare disturb him further, leaving one after another.
The large tent instantly fell into dead silence, eerily quiet.
Only Xiao Simo sitting on the folding stool, and the guard commander standing beside him.
At that moment, Xiao Simo suddenly said in a low voice:
“How did Tuoteboluo know that A Man is in our army?”
At these words, the guard commander, who had been like a wooden statue, was immediately stunned.
Indeed.
After the Battle of North Mountain, many thought Xiao Yanyan was dead; even Xiao Simo had nearly given up hope.
Fortunately, Xiao Yanyan was ultimately fine.
But she had only returned to the camp a dozen days ago; many ordinary soldiers were unaware of Xiao Yanyan’s presence in the camp.
How did Buyiru Khan know?
And he even demanded a marriage alliance, to send her quickly, completely blocking Xiao Simo’s reason for delaying.
At this moment, even the taciturn guard commander realized something was definitely amiss.
Xiao Simo’s face grew even darker, growling through gritted teeth:
“Secretly detain all those who went to Northern Naiman this time; not one can be let go. Make them talk.”
“Who exactly?”
Someone had leaked the information.
Xiao Simo recalled the Khitan generals in the large tent earlier, his heart filled with mixed feelings.
He was unwilling to believe this suspicion, but it was precisely the most likely possibility.
“Yes, Great King.”
Xiao Simo’s personal guard nodded heavily and turned to leave the tent.
Xiao Simo, meanwhile, slowly closed his eyes in disappointment, leaning back on the folding stool. Alone, his figure appeared somewhat helpless and desolate.
But his mind was exceptionally clear, evidently rapidly thinking and reviewing every suspicious point.
Among the generals in the large tent, some were promising young officers Xiao Simo had promoted himself, others old retainers left by his grandfather.
Loyal and devoted; after his grandfather’s death, they had steadfastly stood behind Xiao Simo, all trustworthy.
Xiao Simo truly did not want to suspect them.
“You’d better not disappoint me!” Xiao Simo sighed in a low voice.
But not long after, he was slapped in the face again.
The guard commander came to report that one person was missing from the delegation that went to Northern Naiman.
Originally a Naiman slave, selected as interpreter and guide because he knew the Northern Naiman situation well.
But upon returning to the camp, he had suddenly vanished.
Xiao Simo let out a cold laugh, his voice tinged with sorrow and anger.
“Truly seamless.”
