The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 187 The Woman of the Grand Commander of Jinzhou
On the vast grassland, the afterglow of the setting sun, like a layer of golden gauze, gently draped over the wedding procession of the Kereit tribe.

In addition to the escorting soldiers, the procession included 100,000 taels of gold, 200,000 sheep, 20,000 warhorses, and 30,000 Han Chinese slaves.

According to the Kereit tribe, all these supplies and slaves were part of Sorghaghtani's dowry.

The entire Yudu Jinshan Mountain was also given to Jinzhou as part of the dowry.

Amazingly abundant.

At this moment, Sorghaghtani was sitting in a carriage.

Wearing the most gorgeous clothes worn by grassland girls when they get married, the intricate embroidery and exquisite accessories shimmered in the sunset.

However, even the most dazzling attire could not conceal the sadness etched on her face.

Her gaze swept over the endless, undulating grasslands and mountains, and her sorrow grew ever stronger.

"Hassan, we've been traveling for almost ten days now."

Solughati tilted his head slightly, looking at Sangkun riding a horse beside him. His voice was soft, yet it seemed to be pulled by the wind of the grassland, making it somewhat ethereal.

At this moment, Sangkun was wearing a thick sheepskin coat and was riding steadily on his tall warhorse.

Compared to before the Battle of Dragu, he appeared more composed, with a slightly weathered look in his eyes.

Upon hearing Sorghaghtani's question, he turned his head slightly, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

"Yes, it's been eight days already."

The main reason was that the large flocks of sheep and slaves slowed them down; if it were a large cavalry force, the journey would only take two or three days.

"After crossing that mountain, it's another 500 li to reach Yudujin Mountain."

"The Naiman tribe no longer exists; now that area is the territory of the Jinzhou people."

Sangkun raised his whip and pointed it at the distant mountain that was becoming increasingly blurred in the twilight.

The last rays of the setting sun shone on his face, outlining an indescribable sense of loneliness.

The last time he led an army of 20,000 to guard Dujin Mountain, he was so powerful. But this time, he came as a loser. The capriciousness of fate filled his heart with bitterness.

But he refused to admit defeat; the war between the Kereit tribe and Jinzhou had only just begun.

“No rush, the slower the better,” Soghukhatni said softly, shaking his head.

My gaze was fixed on the distant mountains, seemingly unfocused, filled with confusion and fear about the unknown future.

"It takes this long to get to Yudujin Mountain, so how far must the legendary Jinzhou be!"

“Even if the birds of Kent have broken wings, they can’t possibly fly to Jinzhou,” Sorukhatheni muttered to himself.

She missed home, missed her father and mother, missed her tent, and missed the grasslands at the foot of the Kent Mountains.

That night, Sorghaghtani suffered from insomnia once again.

The next morning, although the sun shone brightly, it could not dispel the faint chill on the grassland, nor could it dispel the loneliness and unease of Suoluheteni leaving home.

The wedding procession, resembling a slow-moving dragon, continued its leisurely journey along the winding grassy path.

Just then, on a distant hill, a golden flag, like a sharp blade, suddenly ripped through the once tranquil horizon.

Immediately afterwards, as if emerging from the earth, countless cavalrymen appeared like a tide from behind the hillside.

"Boom boom boom~"

The thunderous roar of horses echoed across the land, warhorses neighed, and clashing swords clashed. In a short time, thousands of cavalrymen surrounded the wedding procession on three sides.

"Gee, gee, gee~"

"Roar roar roar roar roar~"

These soldiers let out low, strange growls. They were tall and burly, all dressed in yellow cotton armor with red trim, the mottled bloodstains of which were clearly visible in the sunlight.

Wearing yellow-tasseled helmets and completely covered from head to toe, with only their indifferent faces showing, they stood on the hillside on their warhorses, gazing down at the wedding procession from afar.

Upon witnessing this scene, the faces of the Kereit tribe members turned deathly pale, and horror spread across their eyes.

The sheep, which had been relatively docile, began to panic and run around in all directions, while the warhorses pawed at each other and neighed in distress.

The Kereit soldiers, equally terrified, brandished their swords and spears and shouted, "Oh no! We're surrounded!"

"Who are they?"

"There are too many enemies."

"Damn it, it looks like the Liao army."

The wedding procession was in complete chaos, with a tense and oppressive atmosphere permeating the entire group.

Sorghaghtani, sitting in the carriage, also looked terrified. Her delicate face was tense, and she instinctively gripped the carriage handrails. Her voice trembled slightly as she asked, "Hassan, who are they?"

"It's the Liao army!"

Sang Kun spoke in a heavy voice, looking at the cavalry in the mountains, his face so gloomy it seemed like water could drip from it, his expression extremely solemn.

The horrific scenes of the Battle of Drag instantly flooded his mind.

It was this group of devilish cavalry that defeated his 20,000-strong army with a fierce offensive, a wound that would forever remain in his heart.

"I never imagined that the Liao army would have already crossed the Yudujin Mountains by 500 li and penetrated deep into the heart of my Kereit tribe. They are simply outrageous!"

Sangkun gritted his teeth and said bitterly.

But he was completely helpless in the face of the Jinzhou army's rampant provocations.

Kree was even less likely to break the hard-won peace and start another war with the Golden State Army.

"Liao army?"

Hearing Sangkun's words, Sorukhatheni breathed a sigh of relief.

Then, she looked into the distance and began to carefully examine the Liao cavalry.

Meanwhile, on the hillside directly opposite, Li Xiao stood on horseback beneath the golden sun and moon battle banner.

His cold gaze, like a chilling star, fixed on the convoy below, his eyes revealing scrutiny and decisiveness.

"Grand Commander, the number of sheep, warhorses, and slaves sent by the Kereit tribe is roughly the same."

"Grand Commander, the surrounding area has been scouted, and there are no Kereit troops lying in ambush within a radius of twenty miles."

"Grand Commander~"

Upon hearing his subordinates' report, Li Xiao nodded slightly, then waved his hand, leading his golden-armored personal guards and spurring their warhorses forward slowly.

When they were fifty meters away from the wedding procession, a soldier from the Kereit tribe shouted, "Halt! Who goes there?"

The sound echoed across the empty grassland, trembling slightly.

Upon hearing this, the skinny monkey quickly turned to look at Li Xiao, who nodded slightly in acknowledgment, and then spurred his horse forward.

He shouted, "Li Xiao, the Grand Commander of Jinzhou, is here."

"We have come especially to welcome Princess Soghukhatni."

Upon hearing this, both Sangkun and Soghukhatni were shocked, and their faces showed surprise and doubt.

Unexpectedly, it was Li Xiao who came in person.

Sang Kun's first thought was whether or not to take this opportunity to kill Li Xiao.
But the idea was immediately rejected as soon as it came to mind.

At this moment, whether considering the terrain or the relative strength of the two sides, our side is at a significant disadvantage.

Once they make their move, none of them will have a chance of leaving this place alive.

Moreover, it is still unknown whether the person opposite is the real Li Xiao, so taking rash action would undoubtedly be courting death.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Soghukhatni, who was in the carriage, looked at a figure opposite him.

Despite the dense mass of golden-armored cavalry before her, resembling a golden tide, she immediately recognized a figure that stood out from the crowd.

The man stood beneath the sun and moon battle banner, riding a strong black warhorse; he was tall and imposing.

Unlike the soldiers around him who wore yellow armor with red trim, this person was the only one wearing dark gold cotton armor.

The patterns of the sun, moon, mountains, and rivers are delicately painted in black embroidery, exuding a mysterious and majestic aura.

"Is he Li Xiao?"

Soruktani muttered to himself, a complex and indescribable emotion welling up in his heart as he faced the man before him.

At least, she didn't dislike the person in front of her that much.

On the grasslands, a woman's fate is often like a willow catkin in the wind, difficult to control, and she has no power to choose her own destiny.

But at this moment, she felt that she was perhaps lucky, because she had married a hero, and a young general who was not much older than her.

"Sorukhatheni, Hassan, this is the best I can do for you."

"Li Xiao came to pick you up personally, which at least shows that he values ​​you and our Kereit tribe."

"Go back with him!"

Sangkun walked to the carriage and sighed softly.

Soryughtani nodded slightly, his eyes instantly reddening, tears welling up in them.

She then took a deep breath and quickly wiped away the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand.

He raised his head, his eyes filled with determination: "Hassan, go back and tell Uncle Wang Han."

“I left for the sake of the Kereit tribe, and I owe the Kereit tribe nothing.”

"My only worry is my family."

"I don't know if I will ever be able to return to the Kereit tribe in this lifetime.

"Please take good care of my grandma and Aza."

Before Sangkun could even speak, Sorukhatheni resolutely stepped down from the carriage.

Alone, like a lone warrior, he strode forward with firm steps, without ever looking back.

Upon seeing this, the skinny monkey immediately led his men forward and surrounded and protected Sorukha Teni.

Watching the desolate figure of Soghukhatni depart, Sangkun's face tightened and his hands clenched into fists.

He was filled with shame and resentment. Sorghaghtani had not wronged the Kereit tribe; it was the Kereit tribe that had wronged her.

The safety of the Kereit tribe now rests on the shoulders of a woman—how ridiculous and how tragic!

This is a disgrace to Sangkun, and even more so to all the men of the Kereit tribe.

For Soluqatini, the mere fifty meters was an incredibly difficult and helpless journey.

As they walked up to the Jinzhou army, they saw the young general in dark gold armor nimbly dismount and slowly walk up to Sorghaghtani.

Only then did she see Li Xiao's true appearance.

Extremely young, with strong facial features that exude a resolute and decisive air, and deep, piercing eyes that seem to see through everything.
Her eyebrows were sharp and sculpted, yet a subtle gentleness lingered at the corners of her eyes.

This is her soon-to-be husband, Li Xiao, the Grand Commander of Jinzhou!
This was the first time Li Xiao had seen the real-life Suoluhe Tieni. Although her face still had some baby fat, it was clear that she was a beauty in the making.

In a few years, when she grows up, she will definitely be even more beautiful.

Li Xiao nodded slightly, then unfastened the golden cloak behind him and said in a calm voice, "It's cold, put this on."

With that, the cloak landed steadily on Soghukhatni's shoulders, still warm from Li Xiao's body, instantly dispelling some of the chill from her.

At that moment, it seemed as if something had suddenly touched Sorghaghtani's mind.

But the next second, a sudden force on her waist made her cry out in surprise.

Li Xiao's arms wrapped around her waist like iron clamps, and he easily lifted her up in his arms.

The hem of his wool skirt swept past the sun and moon patterns on his armor, and cheers suddenly erupted from the surrounding Jinzhou army.

"Ooooooo~"

They brandished their swords and spears, shouting excitedly, seemingly more thrilled to see Li Xiao snatch the woman than if they themselves were to plunder.

"Let me go~"

"Put me down and I'll walk on my own."

Soruktani struggled, kicking his legs, his deerskin boots tracing chaotic arcs in the air.

She could clearly feel the body heat emanating from under Li Xiao's breastplate, mixed with a faint scent of pine.

This man, who struck fear into the hearts of the Kreik tribe on the battlefield, now breathed as steadily as a wolf on the grassland, carrying an undeniable power.

"Don't move, or you'll fall."

"You'll break it."

Li Xiao looked down at the girl struggling in his arms like a small animal, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips.

His voice was even softer, yet it carried an undeniable authority:
"Put your arms around my neck."

Soruktani's fingertips hovered in the air for a moment before finally trembling as they touched the shoulder covered in soft armor.

Then, Li Xiao picked him up, mounted his horse, and held him in his arms, shouting to all the soldiers, "From now on, Keresh Sorghaghtani is my woman, Li Xiao's woman!"

"Ooooooo~"

The soldiers erupted in deafening cheers once again.

Solughati's stiff body slowly relaxed, and the warmth from the man behind her seemed to be slowly melting her frozen heart.

"Yeah~"

“I am already the woman of the Grand Marshal of Golden State.”

The next second, Sorghaghtani suddenly picked up the bow and arrow from Li Xiao's horse and aimed the arrow at the wedding procession in the distance.

"簌~"

Although the arrow was shot, Li Xiao's bow was heavy, and a woman's strength is inherently limited, plus the distance was far.

The arrow missed its target and landed in front of Sangkun's horse.

Immediately afterwards, everyone heard Sorukhatheni shout with all his might, "Hassan, tell Uncle Wang Han that I am now Li Xiao's woman."

"From now on, we will have no further dealings with the Kereit tribe."

After calling out, she slowly turned around, tears silently streaming down her face.

Only her voice remained, drifting in the wind, carrying a hint of determination and resolve, echoing for a long time.

Sangkun witnessed all of this, his expression complex and difficult to decipher.

He remained silent for a moment, then slowly reached out and took the arrow from his subordinate, as if he could feel Sorghaghtani's inner pain and struggle from the cold shaft of the arrow.

He understood the meaning behind Sorghaghtani's actions.

Shooting this arrow signifies that she has severed all ties with the Kree tribe and broken off all past connections.

If Jinzhou and the Kereit tribe were to fall into war again in the future, then the Kereit tribe would become her enemy, Sorghaghtani.

Thinking of this, Sangkun felt a pang of sadness. His fingers unconsciously tightened, gripping the arrow tightly in his hand, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

He slowly closed his eyes, his face filled with grief.

He secretly vowed in his heart: "Li Xiao, after I destroy Temujin and unify the grasslands, I will definitely avenge the arrow that struck me today."

In his mind, the greatest threat was always Temujin.

That was a real hungry wolf.

Subsequently, the Jinzhou Army and the Kereit Army's wedding delegation completed the handover.

Two hundred thousand sheep, twenty thousand warhorses, thirty thousand Han slaves, and one hundred thousand taels of gold were seized by the Jinzhou army.

"Back to the Western Sea!"

Li Xiao shouted loudly and led his army back westward with the spoils of war.

The Western Sea was originally the territory of the Naiman tribe.

This includes the territory east of Jinshan, west of Yudujin Mountain, and north of the Western Xia.

The name of this place was originally given by the Naiman people.

Li Xiao rejected it outright and instead named it Xihai (West Sea).

The grassland is a vast sea of ​​grass.

Xihai means the western grassland.

After defeating the Kereit tribe, the territory there was renamed Zhonghai.

The eastern grasslands are the East China Sea.

When they set up camp that night, Li Xiao received a report that the Kereit army had not pursued them.

“After being defeated once, Sangkun has become much more cautious,” Li Xiao said with a soft shake of his head and a smile.

I originally thought that the Kereit troops would take the opportunity to send more troops to hunt down the Jinzhou army.

To this end, Li Xiao specially arranged for Da Hu and Er Hu to lead their troops to provide support.

Unexpectedly, the Kereit army did not come.

"They must have been scared off by our Jinzhou army," Zhang Xinghua said with a laugh.

"The Kereit forces can no longer afford further losses."

He then reported the situation of the 30,000 slaves to Li Xiao.

"As we expected, these Han people were originally from the Xia Kingdom. They were taken back to the grasslands by the Kereit tribe and suffered a lot."

"Some people were even tortured into becoming disabled."

This was inevitable. In order to meet the quota of 30,000 set by the Jinzhou Army, the Kereit tribe sent almost all of their Han Chinese slaves.

There are both good and bad.

"How many capable people do you have?" Li Xiao asked in a deep voice.

"Around five thousand."

Of the 30,000 Han Chinese slaves, there were more women than men.

There are only about 10,000 men, most of whom are either too young or too old.

Or they may be injured or ill.

There were only about five thousand men who were capable of fighting on horseback and working.

This percentage is indeed not high.

"Make all 30,000 people free citizens and settle them in the Western Sea."

"Five thousand capable men will be incorporated into the Kuli army, and their promotion and reward standards will be comparable to those of the Jinzhou garrison soldiers."

The term "Kuri Army" does not simply refer to the slave army, but also to the reserve force of the Golden State Army, and does not belong to any of the three towns of Golden State.

Although these 30,000 Han Chinese slaves became free citizens, they could still only live at the very bottom of the social hierarchy in Jinzhou.

Li Xiao is not their nanny; he won't take care of their basic needs like eating, drinking, and toileting.

After providing them with some basic living security, they have to earn everything else on their own.

If we can mount a horse and fight, then we will follow the Jinzhou army to plunder.

Otherwise, they could herd sheep for others to make a living.

Of course, you could also borrow some sheep from the governor's office to feed them.

In short, Li Xiao will do his best to arrange for these Han people to settle down on the grasslands.

Especially those 20,000 women.

Although many of them are elderly, weak, sick, or disabled, as long as they can still reproduce, they still have value.

Li Xiao will reward them to the meritorious soldiers.

She bore children for the Jinzhou army.

In a few years, more Han Chinese children will be born on this land.

(End of this chapter)