The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 186 Mother of the Four Emperors
Kuoyitian.

The weary traveler, with disheveled hair and clothes covered in dust, knelt before Temujin with a look of guilt: "Great Khan, I am sorry for failing to bring Jochi back."

Upon hearing this, Temujin immediately stood up and asked anxiously, "What happened to Jochi?"

Although Jochi's identity was a taboo, he was, after all, Temujin's acknowledged eldest son, and if he were to die in battle, Temujin would be grieved.

Fortunately, the result was not as bad as expected.

Jelemie said angrily, "Jochi has been detained by the Liao army."

Li Xiao claimed that he and Jochi hit it off immediately, and sent the three of them, including Jelme, back, leaving Jochi alone in the Jinzhou army.

Upon hearing this, Temujin frowned, clenched his fists, and angrily said, "The Liao army is utterly shameless."

"In war, envoys are not to be killed. Why are they detaining my son without cause?"

Kui Timur, who was standing nearby, said, "The Grand Commander of Golden State says that we were the ones who broke the law first."

"Su Wu, an envoy of the Han Dynasty, was detained by the Xiongnu without cause."

Upon hearing this, Temujin became even more furious: "What do the actions of the Xiongnu have to do with us Mongols?"

Although the ancestors of the Mongols were not the Xiongnu, many people in this era did not even know how to read, so how could they care about so many things?

Since you are in the former territory of the Xiongnu, you should settle accounts with the Xiongnu.

"Alright, Temujin, don't be angry."

"Temur has already said that the Liao people are only keeping Jochi as a guest and will not harm him," Wang Khan said to Temujin, sitting in the tiger-skin seat at the head of the table.

Jochi was just a bastard, and he didn't understand why Temujin cared so much.

Whether he lived or died was of no importance to Wang Han.

Now he is only concerned with the Battle of Kuoyitian and whether the Jinzhou army can withdraw.

"That's outrageous!"

In front of Wang Han was a piece of cloth, which was the 'Drag Treaty' drafted by Li Xiao, and it was stamped with Li Xiao's 'Great Liao Jinzhou Governor' seal.

It's still the same six rules as before.

But for Wang Han, these six points were all acts of 'treason'. The Kereit tribe, as the most powerful tribe on the grasslands, had never suffered such humiliation.

Seeing this, Temujin could only pray silently in his heart, "May the Eternal Heaven protect Jochi and bring him back safely."

Then, looking at Wang Han, he said, "Father, Jamukha's army is currently launching a fierce offensive against our army. It is really not advisable to continue fighting with the Liao army."

He had already read the treaty; it had nothing to do with the Qiyan tribe, and it was all about the Kereit tribe having to pay a price.

So Temujin was happy to watch the spectacle.

Wang Han reached out and gently grasped and rubbed his white beard, looking at the Kereit nobles in the tent.

"What do you think?"

The nobles looked at each other, then each offered their opinions, but none of them were substantive.

Although the treaty imposed by the Golden State Army was harsh, it was still within their acceptable range.

One hundred thousand taels of gold, two hundred thousand sheep, and twenty thousand warhorses are a lot, but the Kereit tribe can manage to scrape together the money if they grit their teeth.

Yudu Jinshan has already been effectively occupied by the Jinzhou army, so there is no point in arguing about ownership.

We can take it back when the Kereit tribe becomes stronger.

Opening up border markets and conducting commercial trade is a win-win situation for both sides.

Finally, there was the marriage alliance, where Zha'aganbu's daughter was married to the governor of Jinzhou, which made many nobles sour.

It's not that I'm unwilling, but it's a pity that such a good thing fell into the hands of Zha'aganbu.
Daughters were originally meant for marriage alliances.

Trading a mere daughter for the powerful support of the Golden State Army is an extremely worthwhile deal.

Even Wang Han wanted to use his daughter to replace Sorghaghtani, but unfortunately Li Xiao had made it clear that it had to be this woman.

If other people are sent, then the peace talks are void.

Moreover, the Jinzhou army captured so many Kereit prisoners, including many of the Khan's guards, that someone would surely recognize Sorghaghtani.

We'll see how that is when the time comes.

There's no way to fake something like this.

Ultimately, after discussions between Wang Han and a group of Kereit nobles, they decided to agree to the treaty in exchange for the withdrawal of the Jinzhou army.

……

The Khanate of the Kereit tribe was originally located in Ordo, the capital of the former steppe overlord, the Uyghur Khanate.

Historically, after Temujin destroyed the Kereit tribe, he renamed it Karakorum and made it the capital of the Mongol Empire.

However, nowadays, with the Jinzhou army's massive offensive, the Kereit Khanate has had to move eastward to a grassland at the foot of the Khentii Mountains.

Although the area is rich in water and grass, it cannot conceal the current desolation and panic of the Kereit tribe.

However, when news of the successful peace talks between the Kereit tribe and the Liao army arrived, the entire Khanate seemed to awaken from the dead silence of winter, and everyone was overjoyed. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"Great! Finally, we don't have to fight the Liao people anymore."

"I've been living in fear every day lately, and I can't sleep well at night, for fear that the Liao army will attack."

"Yes, the Dorabogo tribe was attacked by the Liao people, and everyone was captured and enslaved. I don't know how my poor sister is doing now."

"That's good. The peace talks have succeeded, and our Khanate is safe now."

"Thank you, Ahala, for freeing us from having to hide and live in hiding."

"Ahrah, let the war in Koytian end as soon as possible. I have already lost two sons. Don't take away my last son too."

The Kereit Khan's court was filled with jubilation, and many people even knelt down devoutly, chanting prayers and offering their most sincere prayers to Ahala.

Among the jubilant crowd, a beautiful young girl stood out.

Her figure was graceful, like a flower swaying in the wind on the grassland. Her long, black, shiny hair was as smooth as silk and casually draped behind her, with a few strands gently blowing in the breeze.

Her face was round and youthful, her skin as delicate and fair as goat's milk, with a faint glow.

Her eyes were like twinkling stars in the night sky, bright and clear, radiating liveliness and intelligence; the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, and her smile was as warm as the sun.

It was Sorghaghtani.

"Great! Ahala, may the war end soon and the grasslands return to peace."

Soruktani clasped his hands reverently in front of his chest, closed his eyes slightly, and murmured softly.

Her voice was soft yet firm, as if it could drift on the wind to Ahala's ears.

"Great Akhala, you are the guardian of the grassland. Please bless every corner of the grassland so that it can be revitalized, allowing tender green grass to grow freely and the warm sunshine to shine down without reservation."

On the grasslands during this era, many people believed in Nestorianism, with a large number of Nestorian Christians among the Kereit and Naiman tribes.

Although Sorghaghtani was young, he was a staunch Nestorian Christian.

And just as she was basking in the joy of ending the war with the Liao Kingdom.

A girl of about eleven or twelve years old rode up in a hurry and excitedly shouted to her, "Sister Egeqi, you are going to have a husband!"

Upon hearing this, Sorghaghtani was stunned for a moment, and a blush like the sunset instantly appeared on his face.

But the grassland woman didn't hesitate much, she just said reproachfully.

"Dogler, what nonsense are you talking about?"

“How could I not know that Ava (my father) was going to arrange a marriage for me?”

Sorghaghtani is now fourteen years old (she should actually be younger), and she will soon be of marriageable age on the grasslands.

Moreover, Sorghaghtani was exceptionally beautiful, being one of the most beautiful girls in the Khan's court.

She was a member of the Kereit tribe's royal family, and Wang Khan's niece; suitors came in droves to propose marriage.

But his father didn't like any of these marriage proposals and was still choosing.

But when his sister suddenly came to tell him this news, although Sorukhatheni did not admit it on the surface, he guessed in his heart that it was probably true.

She's going to have Herrigan.

Thinking of this, Sorukhatheni's cheeks became even redder.

"It's true, Egeqi."

“Just now, Sangkun Hazan (my cousin) came to see Ava and said he wanted to marry you off to the Liao Kingdom.”

Upon hearing this, Sorghaghtani's eyes widened instantly, filled with shock and disbelief.

She had thought about marrying a noble young man from the Kereit tribe, and she had also thought about intermarrying with other tribes, but she never imagined that she would marry into the Liao Kingdom.

"A marriage alliance with the Liao Kingdom?"

Soruktani's voice trembled, and he looked incredulous.

However, being naturally intelligent, she quickly grasped the key point.

"Peace talks?"

She was initially relieved that the peace talks with the Liao Dynasty had been successful, sparing the Kereit herders from the ravages of war.

But unexpectedly, she became one of the conditions for the successful peace talks.

At that moment, his eyes were filled with confusion and helplessness.

She knew that in the Kereit tribe, tribal interests were paramount, and almost no one could disobey Wang Han's decisions.

Now that the peace talks have been successful, they are determined to marry her off.

"Whom shall I marry?" Sorghaghtani asked with his last hope.

As a woman, she couldn't control her own destiny, but she still hoped to find a good home.

"Li Xiao, Grand Commander of Jinzhou."

"He specifically requested that you become his concubine."

Dogler said, her expression a mix of nervousness and gossipy excitement, all of which she had just overheard from her father's conversation with Sankun.

After saying that, he muttered, "It's just a pity about Brother Torre."

“He had previously said he wanted to find Azati to marry him again.”

The Qiyan tribe and the Kereit tribe were on good terms. When that little brat Tolui last came to the Khan's court, he was immediately awestruck by Sorghaghtani's extraordinary appearance.

They asked Temujin to propose marriage, wanting to marry Sorghaghtani.

Although Za'agan rejected him without being polite, Torre remained persistent.

He vowed to marry Sorghaghtani. Sorghaghtani didn't dislike Tolui, but she couldn't care less about him now; her mind was filled with the name Li Xiao.

Her beautiful eyes widened instantly, and she exclaimed softly, "Is he the one who wants to marry me?"

Although she had always stayed in Khan's court, she was no stranger to the name Li Xiao.

According to the rumors of the Kereit tribe, Li Xiao was a wicked devil who was the commander-in-chief of the Liao army in this eastern expedition. Wherever his iron cavalry went, the wind and clouds changed color.

He single-handedly annihilated the once invincible Naiman tribe and then decisively defeated the 20,000-strong Kereit army led by Sangkun.

It unleashed a bloodbath on the vast grasslands, becoming a demon that struck fear into the hearts of all and silenced even the most innocent children.

However, Sorghaghtani also understood that these rumors were simply because the Liao army and the Kereit tribe were enemies, and the Kereit herders had deliberately exaggerated Li Xiao's threat.

In Soruktani's imagination, Li Xiao should be a fierce general exuding an aura of iron and blood, with a cold face and eyes as sharp as a hawk. Having experienced countless battles, every move he makes carries an undeniable majesty.

The people of the grasslands have always admired heroes, and someone as accomplished as Li Xiao naturally left a deep impression on her.

However, she never imagined that her fate would become so intertwined with this legendary figure in such an abrupt way.

"But... but I've never even seen what he looks like, so why would he specifically ask for me?"

Soruktani frowned, his heart filled with doubt and unease.

In her view, although she was of noble status, she was also very ordinary.

She was neither Wang Han's biological daughter nor did she have much of a reputation on the grasslands.

How did the Grand Commander of Jinzhou know about me? And why did he personally choose me to marry?

……

The atmosphere inside the tent at Sorghaghtani's house was quite somber.

Azagan sat on the stool with a furrowed brow and asked in a deep voice, "What kind of person is that Governor of Jinzhou?"

"I heard he's very young?"

Sitting opposite him was Sangkun.

In just over a month, Sangkun seemed to have matured and become more composed.

After his defeat at the Battle of the Drag River, he endured many hardships and difficulties before finally escaping back to the Khan's court in a sorry state.

Hoping to avenge his previous defeat, he immediately conscripted men from various tribes to prepare for another decisive battle with the Jinzhou army, but cruel reality once again defeated him.

In the end, Wang Khan was forced to withdraw 10,000 troops from Kuoyitian to protect the Khan's court.

Sangkun rallied several thousand remaining soldiers and led the Khan's forces eastward without stopping, arriving near the Khentii Mountains.

Today, the entire Khanate is effectively under the control of Sankun.

“Abaga (Uncle), although I have never met Li Xiao, the governor of Jinzhou, in person, he is definitely a formidable opponent.”

Sang Kun raised his head, his eyes revealing a complex expression, a mixture of resentment at defeat and recognition of Li Xiao's strength.

"He was very capable. Despite having fewer troops than ours, he maintained a firm advantage on the battlefield and even saw through my true offensive intentions."

Sangkun's voice was very deep. Although he had been defeated, he had not been defeated. Instead, he had become even more resilient.

In short, this person is no ordinary individual!

Azagan listened quietly to Sangkun's description, his expression grave.

He slowly walked to the tent, lifted the curtain, and looked out at the grassland in the distance, which was dyed orange-red by the setting sun, his thoughts racing.

My daughter is about to marry such a man. What will her future life be like?

It is really hard to predict whether it is a blessing or a curse.

“Abaga, I know you are reluctant to marry Sorukha Tieni off to such a far place, but this is what Governor Li Xiao of Jinzhou specifically requested.”

"The situation of the Kereit tribe is now extremely precarious, and it is imperative to negotiate peace with the Liao Kingdom."

Sang Kun was silent for a moment, then spoke softly, a barely perceptible hint of shame flashing across his face.

If the men of the Kereit tribe were truly capable, why would they need to use women's wombs to fight for peace?
It was his incompetence, Sangkun.

However, for the future of the Kereit tribe, a marriage alliance was necessary.

Just as Sangkun finished speaking, Soluqatini burst into the tent, looked at the two of them, and said in a firm voice, "Ava, Hazan, I am willing to marry into the Liao Kingdom."

……

In the Eastern Capital, the Xiao residence was shrouded in gloom.

Xiao Simo has been bedridden for many days, and the Crown Prince Xiao Helun also fell into the river by accident. After being rescued, his physical condition is also not optimistic.

In this short period of time, the pillar of the Xiao family and the future heir both fell, plunging the entire Wangfu into extreme panic and creating a suffocating atmosphere.

It was Princess Shulu Wujin who suffered, having to run between her husband and son while also taking care of the foundation in the Eastern Capital, which was quite arduous.

On this day, the sunlight struggled to pierce through the thick clouds and shone in front of Xiao Simo's door.

Shulu Wujin was dressed in a plain brocade robe, her hair was neatly tied up, and her expression was tired but also showed a strong determination.

She stood quietly in front of the door, her gaze calm as she looked at the mother and child before her. Her voice was flat yet tinged with a hint of detachment as she asked, "What brings you here?"

Standing in front of her was a young man of about seventeen or eighteen years old, tall and burly.

The woman beside him appeared to be in her thirties, with a slightly weathered and aged face.

She was originally Xiao Simo's personal maid when he was young. By chance, she became pregnant with Xiao Simo's child and successfully gave birth to his eldest son, Xiao Dalu.

In the traditional Khitan view, legitimate sons were highly valued and held a respected position.

Xiao Dalu, due to his mother's humble origins and his own significant personality flaws—being short-tempered, impulsive, and easily angered—caused a lot of trouble.

Therefore, he was not favored by Xiao Simo and was transferred to a separate household early on.

Upon hearing Shulu Wujin's question, the woman lowered her head slightly and said in a respectful tone, "This servant brought Daru to see the King."

"This is a cordyceps and snow lotus soup that I personally prepared for Your Majesty. I wish Your Majesty a speedy recovery."

Upon hearing this, Shulu Wujin nodded slightly and said calmly, "Your Majesty is in good health and your condition has improved. You will recover soon."

"However, His Majesty is tired today and does not wish to receive guests. You may all return."

"Give this bowl of soup to Sudamara, and let her deliver it to the King."

Upon hearing Shulu Wujin's words, Xiao Dalu nonchalantly shook off his mother's hand, took a step forward, and said loudly with a hint of stubbornness and unruliness on his face, "Mistress, I've come to see my father."

"But you won't let me see him. What is your intention?"

Shulu Wujin frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping coldly over Xiao Dalu. His tone remained calm, but now carried an undeniable air of authority: "Your father is still recovering from his illness and needs to rest and recuperate. He should not be disturbed."

"You rushed here in such a hurry; if you disturb him, can you bear the consequences?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Dalu's face flushed red, and the veins on his neck bulged as he loudly retorted, "I've only come to visit my father, how could that disturb him?"

"You never let me near my father, and now that he is seriously ill, do you still intend to keep me out?"

Seeing this, the woman quickly stepped forward, pulled Xiao Dalu aside, and whispered, "Dalu, don't talk nonsense. The Princess Consort is only doing this for your father's sake."

As she spoke, she raised her head again, looking at Shulu Wujin with a humble expression: "Your Highness, please be magnanimous and don't take this child to heart."

"He's just too worried about the king, that's why he speaks without thinking."

Shu Lu Wujin snorted coldly and said, "Go back!"

"Once His Majesty's condition improves, I will send someone to inform you to come and visit him."

Without giving the mother and son a chance to object, he immediately ordered them to be seen off.

Watching their departing figures, Shulu Wujin's face instantly turned gloomy.

She understood the mother and son's intentions all too well.

It's nothing more than seeing the King and the Crown Prince in trouble, feeling that their day has come, and they can't wait to make their presence felt?
If Xiao Helun dies, then Xiao Dalu, as the eldest son, will very likely inherit the position of the Six Courts Chief.

Therefore, he couldn't wait to show his filial piety and win Xiao Simo's attention.

"My son's affairs are best left unrelated to you, otherwise..."

Shu Lu Wujin thought to himself, a resolute glint in his eyes.

Meanwhile, after the mother and son returned to their room, Xiao Dalu couldn't wait to vent his frustrations.

“She deliberately prevented us from seeing the King, fearing that I would steal Xiao Helun’s position as heir.”

"But doesn't she consider that Xiao Helun's sickly body is not capable of shouldering the great cause of Dongdu?"

"Damn it, they didn't drown him back then," Xiao Dalu said viciously.

Before he could finish speaking, the woman slapped him across the face: "Shut up."

"I've told you so many times, don't act impulsively, and watch your mouth."

"How can you be a king like this?"

Xiao Dalu had a bad temper, but he was most afraid of his mother.

After being hit, he didn't dare to talk back. He sat there looking wronged, like a child who had made a mistake.

"Humph~"

Seeing her son like this, the woman was also angry at his lack of ambition and how she could have given birth to such a fool who couldn't even inherit a tenth of her skills.

Incompetent bungler.

But after all, he is his own son, and even if it costs him his life, he will fight for that position for him.

"Listen, the most urgent task right now is to seize military power."

"As long as we have troops, even if the king insists on installing Xiao Helun as emperor, we can still take it away."

"You should try to win over your brothers; they are your only asset."

Although Xiao Dalu was impulsive and easily angered, he had a good physique and was highly skilled in martial arts.

He attracted a group of like-minded brothers to follow him.

This can be considered one of the assets they used in their struggle for succession.

The woman didn't tell Xiao Dalu anything deeper; she did many things on her own, keeping them from everyone.

I'm afraid Xiao Dalu might act impulsively and ruin things.

After seeing Xiao Dalu off, the woman's face darkened, and she murmured, "Shulu Wujin, since you've cut off our future, don't blame me for being ruthless."

The so-called struggle for succession is essentially a contest for military power.

Xiao Dalu's brothers alone were not enough; she and her son needed the support of a powerful figure.

(End of this chapter)