The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 172 One Wife and Two Concubines

Winter is coming!

The gale, like a pack of wild beasts breaking free of their cages, swept across the Jinzhou grasslands, carrying ice shards and yellow sand, and roared deafeningly.

Another cycle has begun, and the long winter has descended upon the land of Jinzhou, with the endless expanse of land and sky completely covered by thick snow.

The land was frozen solid for thousands of miles, resembling a lifeless, forbidden zone for humans.

Night quietly fell, and darkness spread rapidly like a tide, engulfing the entire grassland.

In the distance, several wolf howls echoed, their mournful cries reverberating through the night sky, adding an eerie and sinister atmosphere to the desolate grassland.

Only in the fortified settlements like Hexibao could a few dim lights occasionally shine through the houses and tents, flickering in the darkness.

Outside, the wind howled, but inside the house it was exceptionally warm, adding to the enchanting atmosphere.

After an unknown amount of time, everything returned to calm. There were no more whimpers from women, nor roars from men.

All that could be seen were the figures of a man and a woman curled up in the mattress.

In the firelight, a face with flawless skin came into view.

Han Ying'er quietly curled up in Li Xiao's arms, her fair skin tinged with a faint pink, and her eyelashes still bearing traces of undried tears, clearly indicating that she had been treated roughly by Li Xiao.

She was Han Jiuyuan's daughter, a girl captured by Li Xiao when Husiwoer City fell.

However, Han Ying'er, a young girl, was already of marriageable age, and Han Jiuyuan originally intended to slowly find her a husband.

However, after learning the news, Li Xiao went directly to their door to demand it.

And so, Old Man Han had no choice but to accept the situation, even if he felt guilty.

Han Ying'er became Li Xiao's concubine.

The so-called "noble concubine" refers to the highest-ranking concubine, second only to the wife in terms of status within the family.

Concubines were usually of high social standing, or were especially favored by their husbands, or had made contributions in bearing children.

Han Ying'er is good-looking, with a slender and graceful figure, and is very beautiful. It's secondary that she meets Li Xiao's requirements.

The main reason is Han Ying'er's background.

Han Jiuyuan was originally the Minister of Revenue of the royal court, and now Li Xiao has also entrusted him with the management of part of the financial power of Jinzhou.

Moreover, Han Jiuyuan has an older brother who is currently serving as the Southern Privy Councilor in the royal court, holding a high position and great power.

This is something Li Xiao should pay attention to.

So he simply took his daughter as a concubine.

After more than half an hour of fussing, Li Xiao was full of energy, while Han Ying'er was exhausted.

He had no choice but to beg for mercy, saying, "Grand Commander, Grand Commander, please stop."

"Let the maidservant come."

As a prominent and wealthy family, the Han family would certainly have maids accompanying the bride, but Li Xiao was not very interested in them.

Ultimately, his appearance wasn't particularly outstanding.

In the end, Han Ying'er bore it all alone.

The next morning, as Li Xiao was about to get up, Han Ying'er was instantly awakened and let out a cry of surprise.

She frantically pulled the silk quilt over herself and wrapped it tightly around her naked body, her eyes filled with panic and unease.

Memories of last night flooded back, causing her body to tremble slightly and her cheeks to turn as red as ripe apples.

She had already realized that Li Xiao was not an outsider, but her man.

"Grand Commander..."

She called out timidly, her voice barely audible.

As Li Xiao dressed, his bronze muscles gleamed in the morning light, exuding power.

Even though it was freezing cold outside, Li Xiao still didn't feel any cold.

Han Ying'er caught a glimpse of it and, recalling the madness of the previous night, her cheeks instantly flushed red, as alluring as a ripe apple.

A faint smile appeared on Li Xiao's lips as he sat back down on the edge of the bed, gently stroking her delicate cheek, and said calmly, "Still calling me Grand Commander?"

Upon hearing this, Han Ying'er blushed and whispered, "Husband."

As the Grand Commander of Jinzhou, Li Xiao held a high position and wielded great power, controlling the entire Jinzhou and the desert.

On the battlefield, he was renowned and feared by foreign tribes. He was also handsome and resolute, tall and mighty, exuding masculine charm that captivated countless women.

Han Ying'er was also one of his many admirers, and now that she could serve by his side, she was filled with joy.

She would be content if she could give birth to a son or daughter for Li Xiao in the future.

Thinking of this, she called out softly again, "My husband..."

Her voice was soft and sweet, full of dependence.

Li Xiao laughed, a surge of heat coursing through him, a burning desire to bring her to justice once again.

But there was no other way; today was Han Ying'er's first day of training, and we couldn't let her get up too late.

Before Longcheng was completed, Li Xiao built another courtyard in Hexi Fort after marrying Xiao Yanyan.

The layout is not complicated; it consists of a row of main houses and a few side rooms.

There were several courtyards around, where Li Xiao's personal guards lived.

At this moment, in the main hall, Xiao Yanyan was sitting at the head of the table, with several Khitan Zhuang women attending to her.

Standing on the other side was a Uyghur woman.

Tajiguli, daughter of General Hamili.

Arkus played a significant role for Li Xiao, essentially acting as a puppet ruler of Gaochang. Li Xiao also granted Arkus's daughter the title of a concubine.

At this moment, he stood respectfully to the side, carefully responding to Xiao Yanyan's questions.

Princess Ayina is kind-hearted and has always lived in the palace. Many noble young men want to marry her.

"The Queen dotes on Prince Chibido, and has a terrible relationship with Prince Balshu. She wants to support Prince Chibido to inherit the throne."

What Xiao Yanyan wanted to know was mainly about the Queen of Gaochang and her daughter.

Once high and mighty, the queen and princess, after the fall of Gaochang, lost their halo and became no different from ordinary female slaves.

Aside from their beautiful appearance and being a mother and daughter, there was nothing else that Xiao Yanyan was interested in.

The reason she thought of these two people was mainly because she received news that Li Xiao had gone to the mother and daughter's yard the day before yesterday afternoon and stayed there for quite a while.

Xiao Yanyan simply didn't believe that Li Xiao had genuinely gone to have a heart-to-heart talk with them.

"Although our Li family is not royalty, we are not a small or insignificant family either."

“The Grand Commander is a man, and it’s inevitable that he can’t control his lower body when he’s out. But we, as his wives and concubines, should guard the household for him.”

"Don't bring all sorts of random women into your home."

Xiao Yanyan took a sip of tea and spoke in a soft voice.

"When you have time, go and have a talk with that mother and daughter. If they want to stay in Jinzhou properly, they should serve the Grand Commander well and not think about any other nonsense."

“Yes, madam,” Tajiguli replied softly.

Although the queen and her daughter were once of high status, they are not as good as her now.

Sometimes, the kind-hearted Tajiguli would even secretly take care of the mother and daughter.

"Don't stand, sit down, we'll eat later."

Xiao Yanyan casually waved her hand, letting Tajiguli sit down on the chair below.

Then he looked towards the west wing and, after faintly hearing footsteps, spoke to the strong woman behind him in Khitan.

"It's a bit cold in the main room. Madam Han is frail; we mustn't let her catch a cold."

"Add a few more pieces of coke to the room."

The strong woman nodded gently: "Yes, Madam!"

Then, he took a few pieces of coke from the side room in the courtyard and threw them into the charcoal stove.

Although the temperature hasn't risen immediately, it still feels much warmer psychologically.

Xiao Yanyan then said to Tajiguli, "In previous years when we were in Dongdu, we would burn wood to keep warm every winter."

"The tent was always filled with smoke and fumes, and it smelled terrible and wasn't warm at all."

"If I had known that coke was so useful, I would not have suffered so much hardship for so many years."

Upon hearing this, Tajiguli's fair face showed a hint of fear.

"Are you... still cold?"

The winter weather in Gaochang is warmer than in Jinzhou.

Therefore, Tajiguli could hardly bear the severe cold in Jinzhou. She could hardly imagine that without the charcoal, she would probably freeze to death at night.

"There's a man here!"

"You'll freeze to death," Xiao Yanyan chuckled.

On the grasslands of this era, nobles could use wood for warmth, but ordinary herders and even slaves could only endure the cold.

Or they rely on the most primitive forms of exercise to keep warm.

So every winter, you can see many women with big bellies.

The main problem was that the roads were blocked by heavy snow, so I was stuck at home with nothing to do and could only sleep with women every day.

However, the harsh cold of northern Xinjiang also causes many newborns to die, so the population of northern Xinjiang has never been very large.

However, a heating marvel appeared in Jinzhou this winter.

Coke.

Li Xiao ordered the prisoners of war to mine coal and coke at the Jinshan Coal Mine. Besides supplying Tanggu with blacksmithing, there was still a lot of surplus.

Therefore, the Hexi Trading Company sold these cokes to the people of Jinzhou.

They were also taught how to use coke correctly, and that as long as a vent was left in the sheltered part of the house and tent, they would not be poisoned.

Therefore, many people in Jinzhou started using coke this winter.

The room was much warmer than usual.

Xiao Yanyan's favorite thing to do every day is to sit by the fireplace, drink tea, and watch the snow scene outside.

A short while later, Li Xiao walked into the main hall, and Han Ying'er followed cautiously behind him.

Supported by a young maid, it was clear that every step she took was extremely difficult.

I dared not take any big steps with my legs; every step felt like it was being torn apart.

"Did you sleep well last night, Madam?" Li Xiao stepped forward, sat down in the main seat next to Xiao Yanyan, picked up a cup of tea, drank it all in one gulp, and asked with a smile.

"Hehe, I didn't sleep well."

"The night owl kept meowing all night, it was so annoying I couldn't sleep." Xiao Yanyan chuckled, glancing indifferently at Han Ying'er.

She blushed deeply, wishing she could disappear into a hole.

She could naturally tell that Xiao Yanyan was talking about her.

But I never expected that I was that loud last night.

How could Xiao Yanyan hear it even though it was several rooms away?

Shame, indignation, embarrassment, and anger. Han Ying'er gripped the hem of her clothes tightly with both hands, almost crying with shame.

"Hehe, Madam."

"Han's skin is delicate, so don't make fun of her," Li Xiao said with a smile, trying to smooth things over for Han Ying'er.

He then pointed to the tea on the table and said, "Serve tea to Madam."

This is also a traditional etiquette. Concubines are not qualified to serve tea to their parents-in-law, but on the morning of the second day after the wedding, they are required to serve tea to the legal wife.

It signifies respect and obedience to the legal wife, clearly defining her status and position within the family.

As she spoke, Han Ying'er moved lightly and walked with some difficulty to Li Xiao's side.

The maid quickly picked up a cup of tea and handed it to her, then helped Han Ying'er kneel down.

Then, Han Ying'er respectfully said to Li Xiao, "Master, please have some tea."

In private, she could call Li Xiao "husband" or "sir," but in formal settings, this title was reserved for Xiao Yanyan alone.

Han Ying'er should address Li Xiao as "Master".

When serving tea, you should first offer it to Li Xiao.

Li Xiao took the tea and drank it all in one gulp: "Get up."

Then, Han Ying'er stood up, moved her feet lightly, and with a slight pain on her brow, knelt down next to Xiao Yanyan and said respectfully.

"Madam, please have some tea."

Seeing Han Ying'er's legs trembling, Xiao Yanyan glanced at Li Xiao indifferently.

"Grand Commander Li's prestige remains undiminished."

Xiao Yanyan also had a deep understanding of how ruthless Li Xiao was.

She rode horses and hunted from a young age, and even honed her martial arts skills in the military camp under Xiao Simo's guidance.

Her physical fitness is absolutely top-notch among women.

But it was still very difficult.

Compared to her, Han Ying'er was even more exaggerated.

If it weren't for the tea ceremony, she definitely wouldn't have been able to walk for three days.

"Get up!"

After drinking the tea, Xiao Yanyan spoke calmly.

He then began to instruct Han Ying'er.

"As a woman of the Li family, one should abide by the Three Obediences and Four Virtues."

"We must ensure the Li family has many descendants as soon as possible!"

This can also be considered a tea ceremony, a way to establish the status of the principal wife.

Li Xiao, however, sat to the side with a smile, watching calmly.

His gaze kept shifting between the three women.

During his campaigns, the women around him changed like a revolving door, most of them just for fun. After a night of pleasure, he could hardly remember their faces. They were merely a pastime during lulls in the war.

However, very few women were actually taken into his household.

Currently, there are only three women: one wife and two concubines.

Li Xiao's legal wife, Xiao Yanyan, is dignified, generous, and exceptionally talented. Most importantly, she has an unparalleled background and is the person who provides the most help to Li Xiao.

Secondly, there is Tajiguli, the daughter of the current prime minister of Gaochang. Her appearance can also be considered a political marriage.

Then there's Han Ying'er, who also carries some political motives.

As for the others, such as the Queen and her daughter, Huang Xiuer, etc., they were all kept outside by Li Xiao, who would only take care of them in his spare time, but they were never allowed to enter the Li family's gate.

As for the reason, Li Xiao knew it in his heart.

There are thousands of beautiful women in the world, and Li Xiao is never short of beauties around him.

But at his level, a beautiful appearance can only arouse temporary interest.

What Li Xiao truly valued was the woman's connections and whether they could bring him tangible benefits.

Political creatures need political marriages; physical appearance is secondary.

Winters in Jinzhou are extremely cold.

Sometimes, the snow falls heavily for more than ten days without stopping.

At this time, the people of Jinzhou were basically unable to go out.

Li Xiao could only stay in his room, playing the most primitive games with his three wives.

After the heavy snow subsided slightly, Li Xiao began to receive reports from various departments.

Snow disasters occur every year, and many cattle and sheep freeze to death every year.

But there are an unusually large number this year.

This is because the more than 10,000 households in Dunhuang and Guazhou have not yet fully adapted to the harsh weather in Jinzhou.

"The Grand Commander ordered his men to produce coke, which is truly a meritorious deed."

"Without this coke, I don't know how many people in Jinzhou would have frozen to death," Zhang Xinghua sighed.

Winters in the Hexi Corridor are exceptionally cold, and Zhang Xinghua, as the former governor of Dunhuang, was fairly accustomed to the harsh weather.

But it was also completely covered up, with sheepskin covered by cotton cloth, and cotton cloth covered by cotton cloth, making it look just like a woolly bear.

At this time, the heavy snow had stopped, and Li Xiao was leading his men to inspect the various departments and check the extent of the damage.

Zhang Xinghua is now a staff member of the Jinzhou Governor's Office, and Li Xiao has specially arranged a courtyard for him in Hexi Fort.

However, he insisted on coming to see how these people were doing.

"Not only did some freeze to death, but others suffocated."

Li Xiao spoke in a calm voice, his tone slightly annoyed.

Because he had instructed the Hexi merchants to clearly tell the people how to use the coke when they sold it.

However, after this round of inspections, it was discovered that some people were still poisoned.

"Send an order to each of the hundred households, instructing them to personally inspect the tents of every single household."

"If anyone suffocates again in the future, you'll be in for a beating," Li Xiao said in a deep voice.

The general public in this era had low cognitive abilities and poor learning capacity, requiring repeated instruction and even the supervision of a hundred households with sticks.

In this day and age, the whole idea of ​​democracy and civilization is a joke.

Centralized power is necessary to instill a sense of awe in the people so that they will obediently carry out orders.

After inspecting the area, Li Xiao discovered that while the number of people who had frozen to death was not large, the number of cattle and sheep that had frozen to death was quite significant.

Fortunately, the vast expanse of snow in the world is a natural giant freezer.

There is no need to worry about the cattle and sheep carcasses rotting before next summer.

Then, Li Xiao went into the home of a local resident.

The tent was very old and dilapidated, and there was practically nothing inside except for the bed.

A couple in their thirties, with weathered faces, stood there nervously and awkwardly, followed by their two sons and a daughter.

There was also a young son and daughter on the bed, wrapped in sheepskin blankets for warmth, their eyes filled with a mixture of nervousness and curiosity as they looked at Li Xiao.

A family of seven, which is quite a large family, is crammed into this small tent, making it very crowded.

Li Xiao glanced at him casually, then called the man out and asked, "Are you still managing to get by?"

The man, wearing a sheepskin provided free of charge by the governor's office, said with a bewildered expression, "It's...it's alright~"

"Tell me the truth if you have any difficulties," Li Xiao said, feigning displeasure.

Although he was the Grand Commander, he would never neglect the living conditions of ordinary people.

Because every dynastic change can often be foreshadowed in the lives of ordinary people.

This is a terrifying force capable of overthrowing all rulers.

"How does Jinzhou compare to Dunhuang? Is life better there?" Li Xiao asked, guiding the conversation.

"That's better~"

"The taxes in Dunhuang are very high. Every year, we have to pay a lot of money and grain to those officials. After a year of hard work, there is nothing left in the family, and the children go hungry."

The man spoke slowly, then a simple, honest smile appeared on his face.

"It's different in Jinzhou; we can basically eat our fill every day!"

Jinzhou also collects taxes, but compared to the oppression of the people by the Western Xia Dynasty, Jinzhou's taxes are much lower and well within the people's means.

Moreover, Li Xiao promised these newcomers a tax exemption for five years.

Over the next five years, all that is needed is to return a certain number of sheep each year.

Overall, these people are doing alright, but they're not exactly living well either.

Because there was no other income besides herding sheep.

The weather in northern Jinzhou is cold, and even when crops are grown, yields are very low.

"How many sheep died after this heavy snow?"

"Twenty-two died," the man said with a worried expression.

The man's family consisted of seven people, and they borrowed a total of one hundred and forty sheep from the governor's office.

More than twenty ewes died before the ewes even gave birth.

Although it would allow the family to have a good meal, the man was clearly more worried about their future.

"Twenty-two!"

Li Xiao sighed softly, then gently patted the man's shoulder and said, "Eat as much as you want."

"Make sure your child gets some proper nutrition."

"Come with me next spring to steal the cattle and sheep from the Naiman people."

"As long as you make a contribution, you will be rewarded."

This gave Li Xiao another reason to fight the Naiman people.

He finally understood why these nomadic peoples always went south to plunder.

Because we simply couldn't survive.

Moreover, under the pressure of survival, these people will have more motivation to fight.

Just like the man in front of me, when he heard that he could rob the Naiman people in the spring, the look on his face instantly became firm.

He turned to look at the children behind him, and seeing their longing eyes, the man gritted his teeth.

Even if it's just for his family, he has to fight for it.

"Order each centurion that if any of the people under their jurisdiction are struggling to survive, they must immediately report it to the Governor's Office."

"Distribute grain to relieve disaster."

Li Xiao gave instructions to Zhang Xinghua behind him, and after the order was relayed, he headed to the next centurion's post.

(End of this chapter)