Chapter 7: Blood Debts Repaid In Blood
The entire night, the rain over Hexi Fort grew heavier and heavier, as if it wanted to wash away all the sadness and suffering in the world.
But reality always brings such pain.
Sin cannot be washed away, and hatred cannot be resolved.
Before dawn, more and more people in Hexi Fort learned the news.
The Battle of North Mountain was a devastating defeat, with only six of the one hundred young and strong from Hexi Fort returning; the others were missing.
The entire village was enveloped in a heavy atmosphere of sorrow, with worry, even despair, on everyone’s face.
In some courtyards, women dressed in plain clothes could already be seen embracing and weeping. This was after learning the accurate news from Old Zhu, Wang Wu, and others: their husbands, fathers, and children had died in battle.
But there were even more whose young and strong were missing. Their family members, amid worry and tension, showed mostly prayer and hope.
Many people stood at the village entrance, gazing into the distance, hoping to see the figures of their relatives returning.
The children were also affected by the oppressive atmosphere, no longer laughing and playing, but timidly clinging to the adults.
At the Li Family, an atmosphere of grief had completely enveloped what was once a harmonious household.
Upon hearing that her eldest son was dead and her second son missing, the Old Lady fainted outright. When she woke, she wailed loudly, fainting several times.
“Old Heavens, why are you so cruel to me?”
“I’ve accumulated virtue and done good all my life, never done evil—why take away my son?”
“Da Hai~ my son.”
“Er Jiang, come back soon!”
The Old Lady cried in agony, surrounded by a desperate silence.
Qin Dani was no better off.
She had never imagined that in just half a month, she would be completely separated from her husband forever, not even able to find his body.
Her grief was beyond words; she could only embrace her mother-in-law and daughter, weeping.
Li Xiao’s three brothers had all put on mourning clothes by now.
They wrapped a circle of white cloth around their heads, waists, and both ankles.
This was the heavy mourning for sons; as nephews, Da Hu and Er Bao did not need to wrap white cloth around their waists.
The five brothers all knelt facing Li Dahai’s spirit tablet, sobbing softly.
It was for the deceased Li Dahai, and also for Li Erjiang, who was seriously injured but missing.
Nearby, the Old Master and others sat together. Though everyone’s heart was inevitably filled with grief, they had more important things to do.
“Dongzi just came back.”
Third Grandfather squatted on the ground, looking at the Old Master, who was lowering his head and sharpening a long saber with a whetstone.
He continued: “He went to Hedong Fort. They had already learned the news ahead of time and sent people out to scout last night.”
“And thirty li east at Eagle Beak Rock, they found traces of the Geluolu Rebels.”
Hedong Fort and Hexi Fort were both villages on the south bank of the Dragon Bone River.
Just one in the east, one in the west.
They were not too far apart. Since Geluolu People had appeared around Hedong Fort, it wouldn’t be long for Hexi Fort.
Upon hearing this, the Old Master’s expression didn’t change, but he was like a block of ice, emanating a stern, cold killing aura.
He said calmly: “Send all the children to Dragon Heart Island~ it’s safer there.”
“Good.” Third Grandfather nodded lightly.
Two main rivers pass through Jin Prefecture, both originating from the Altai Mountains in the east.
The northern one is called the Yiehe River, flowing into the far north without end—it is the Irtysh River of later times.
The southern river is called the Dragon Bone River, known in later times as the Ulangur River; it is an endorheic river.
The end of the Dragon Bone River is a lake called Dragon Bone Lake.
Located about ten li northwest of Hexi Fort.
There is a small island in Dragon Bone Lake, which the ancestors of Hexi Fort named Dragon Heart Island.
Nomadic people are generally not skilled in water and dare not take boats into the lake, so Dragon Heart Island became a refuge for Hexi Fort.
When strong enemies attacked, they would transfer women and children to Dragon Heart Island in advance.
The remaining men of Hexi Fort would stay behind to avenge their relatives.
The Geluolu rebellion in Jin Prefecture had been plotted for a long time. After defeating the Jin Prefecture Army, they certainly wouldn’t stop; they would inevitably turn their spearhead toward other places in Jin Prefecture.
The Han villages like Hexi Fort would be the first to bear the brunt.
“According to the news brought back by Xiao Wuzi and the others, the scale of this Geluolu rebellion is not small.”
“All the Geluolu tribes within Jin Prefecture have united, with at least three thousand troops,” Third Grandfather said gravely.
At this number, everyone felt great pressure.
“Geluolu People are already hard to deal with. Now with three thousand gathered and having just defeated the main force of the Jin Prefecture Army, their morale is high—we cannot fight them head-on!”
After Third Grandfather finished, the Old Master’s other younger brother, Fourth Master, spoke up with a solemn face.
Hexi Fort had over two hundred households and more than thirteen hundred people in total, but excluding those one hundred young and strong, all the men who could wield a blade added up to just over three hundred.
Three hundred against three thousand?
That would be suicide.
“Even if we cannot fight head-on, we must fight. The men of Hexi Fort cannot die in vain; we must make the Geluolu People pay,” Third Grandfather said viciously.
His face was full of killing intent. Though it was unknown how many more might return from the previous battle, just Li Dahai’s death was enough to enrage the men of Hexi Fort.
“This hatred cannot go unavenged.”
“And even if we don’t fight, the Geluolu People won’t let us go.”
“If we don’t want to be coerced into rebellion by the Geluolu People, we have no choice but to fight.”
“The news of the Jin Prefecture Army’s devastating defeat has spread. We just need to hold out for a while, and troops from the Eastern Capital will come to suppress the Geluolu Rebels.”
“Hmph, I only hope the Khitan from the Eastern Capital aren’t as useless as Da He Chu Luo Duo.”
……
During Yelü Dashi’s western expedition, he proclaimed himself emperor at Yemili, calling himself Jie’er Khan, equivalent to emperor.
Yemili was located in the Yin Mountains among the current Four Prefectures of Northern Frontier!
Eight hundred li southwest of Jin Prefecture.
Later, Yelü Dashi conquered the Eastern and Western Kara-Khanid Khanate, and renamed the capital of the Eastern Kara-Khanid Khanate, Balašğun, to Kuyun-Ordu, making it the royal court of the Western Liao Dynasty.
The original Yemili was then called the Eastern Capital, the old capital!
The Eastern Capital Governor’s Mansion was established to manage the Four Prefectures of Northern Frontier.
This time, though it was just a rebellion by the Geluolu Tribe in Jin Prefecture, the threat to Western Liao was not to be underestimated.
If not suppressed quickly, it could incite rebellion among Geluolu People across the entire Northern Frontier, or even more places.
Thus, after the news of the Jin Prefecture Geluolu People’s rebellion spread, the Eastern Capital Governor’s Mansion would surely mobilize troops to suppress it.
The Han people of Jin Prefecture might not defeat the Geluolu People, but as long as they held out until the Eastern Capital Army arrived, it would be fine.
Listening to the debate around him, the Old Master finished sharpening the war saber in his hand. He stood up straight, his gaze sweeping over everyone.
He said gravely: “You’re all right~ the men of Hexi Fort cannot die in vain.”
“The men of Hexi do not fear death or battle, but our blood cannot flow in vain.”
“Contact the other villages.”
“Together, exterminate the Geluolu People!”
“Blood debt repaid in blood!”
The Old Master’s prestige in Hexi Fort was unmatched. After he spoke, everyone’s faces showed ferocity and determination.
“That’s right, blood debt repaid in blood~”
“Blood debt repaid in blood!”
The crowd chanted lowly. Li Xiao and his brothers were equally filled with battle intent.
Especially Er Hu, who was the most agitated, veins bulging on his neck, itching to rush out and fight the Geluolu to the death.
Soon after, Third Grandfather took several young and strong and left Hexi Fort to contact the surrounding Han villages.
To jointly ambush the Geluolu Rebels.
That afternoon, Li Xiao and over a dozen young and strong from the village escorted a group of children out of Hexi Fort.
Their goal was Dragon Bone Lake, over ten li away.
It was one of the largest lakes in the Northern Frontier, over a thousand square kilometers, rich in fisheries and an important source of meat for Hexi Fort villagers.
At this moment on the east bank of Dragon Bone Lake, Li Xiao gently ruffled San Bao’s head, prompting the boy to resist, but he couldn’t escape Li Xiao’s grasp.
“Bro, let me stay. I’ve grown up.”
“I want to fight the Geluolu People with you, avenge Dad.”
San Bao stubbornly lifted his head, looking at Li Xiao, his red eyes full of stubbornness and anger.
A ten-year-old child already understood much. He knew his father was dead, and his grandfather and brothers were staying in the village to avenge him, sending him to the island for safety.
But he didn’t want to be a coward; he wanted to stay too.
Li Xiao shook his head gently and said firmly: “You’re still too young. In a couple years, you can fight with us!”
A ten-year-old wasn’t mature enough—short in stature, skinny in build. On the battlefield, he’d just be a live target!
So, at the Old Master’s command, all the village children were sent out.
Only youths like Li Xiao, Da Hu, and Er Hu, whose physiques were just forming, stayed in the village.
As for Er Bao, San Bao, and Li Xiao’s three cousins, they were all sent to Dragon Heart Island in Dragon Bone Lake.
“Bro, I can’t bear to leave you, can’t bear to leave Mom and Dad, can’t bear to leave Grandpa and Grandma~”
San Feng clung to Li Xiao’s chest crying. She was the youngest in the family, only seven this year.
At such a childlike age, facing such a sudden change—how could she bear it?
She had already cried all day.
Li Xiao held her and comforted her softly, wiping the tears from her face: “San Feng, Big Brother and Mom can’t be with you for now.”
“During this time on the island, you must listen to Second Aunt and your third brother.”
“In a few days, Big Brother will come pick you up.”
Li Xiao had little experience coaxing children, so he could only speak kind words to San Feng, making a promise he wasn’t sure he could keep.
This Geluolu rebellion was unusual. If it were just these three thousand Geluolu Rebels in Jin Prefecture, it wouldn’t have put Hexi Fort on such high alert.
It was because Li Xiao, the Old Master, and others all knew that the Geluolu People definitely had support from other forces behind them.
And very likely the Naiman People.
