The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 209 Using the Emperor's Head to Commemorate Xiao Simo
The next day, Li Xiao left a portion of his troops to guard the prisoners of war and led the main force south, crossing the Sihun River. At the same time, he also received news of the Wang Ting army.

"Grand Commander, Commander Jiu Meng'anhe reports that the main force of the Wang Ting army broke camp early this morning and is retreating towards the Ili River."

Yelü Zhilugu's move was also within Li Xiao's expectations.

After all, Li Xiao's army had already crossed the Sihun River. If the Wangting army did not retreat, they would be attacked from both sides by Li Xiao and Jiu Meng'anhe.

“Go tell Governor Jiu Meng’anhe to keep an eye on Wang Tingjun and not let them leave like this,” Li Xiao said in a heavy voice.

Although Tayanggu's forces were wiped out in yesterday's battle, the strength of the royal army should not be underestimated.

Based on the interrogation results of the captured officers, Yelü Zhilugu still had at least 35,000 men under his command at this time.

This included 8,000 herdsmen from the Five Courts and 9,000 imperial guards from the Pishi Palace. These two armies were the core forces under Yelü Zhilugu's control.

Then there are more than 5,000 herders from the Tuju and Wuhuai tribes.

The rest were the herders and common people from tribes such as the Uyghurs, Karluks, and Turks who lived within the royal territory.

The elite soldiers, along with ordinary herders, numbered at least 35,000.

If Yelü Zhilugu were to leave safely with so many people, it would still pose a huge threat to the Seven Rivers Grassland.

Therefore, Li Xiao prepared to fight another battle, hoping to capture Yelü Zhilugu alive.

"As ordered!"

The guard nodded heavily and then went to inform Jiu Meng'anhe of Li Xiao's orders.

Soon, the Qihe Army crossed the Sihun River upstream. Because the water was shallow, the soldiers did not need a pontoon bridge and could wade across the river. So, around dusk, the two armies met on the grassland on the south bank of the Sihun River.

"Commander Li!"

“Governor Jiu Meng’an, it’s been a long time. You look even more energetic.”

After Li Xiao and Jiu Meng'an met, they exchanged greetings. It had been more than a year since they last saw each other since the last western expedition.

Perhaps due to the immense pressure he had been under lately, Jiu Meng Anhe appeared quite haggard, with his hair and beard turning noticeably grayer, making him look much older.

"Hahaha, Governor Li, you flatter me. I'm almost an old man now, how can I still have any energy?" Jiu Meng Anhe laughed.

"But you, Commander Li, are becoming more and more heroic and strong, and full of vigor."

At this moment, Jiu Meng Anhe looked at Li Xiao, his heart filled with emotion.

I remember when I first met Li Xiao, he was just a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy.

However, after several years of fighting, Li Xiao has long since shed his naivety and become more composed and mature.

The youthful gleam in his eyes was gone, replaced by cold indifference and wisdom.

Every move he made exuded the aura and authority of a superior.

In comparison, Jiu Meng Anhe felt a sense of desolation for the first time, as if his youth was fading away.

He's almost forty years old this year, soon to be an old man. I wonder how many more years he can keep fighting.

"This world ultimately belongs to the young," Jiu Meng Anhe thought to himself with emotion.

He then gathered his thoughts and began discussing with Li Xiao how to deal with Wang Tingjun, just like when the two of them were the commanders-in-chief and deputy commanders of the left wing army.

……

The north wind swept across the horizon, carrying sand and gravel, and the royal army stretched across the barren plains like a winding, steel python.

Eight thousand cavalrymen from the Fifth Academy formed the vanguard, their soldiers clad in leather armor, their scimitars billowing in the wind along with their horses' manes, the sound of their hooves like muffled thunder rolling across the grassland.

At the central command post, a densely packed square formation of nine thousand leather-clad imperial guards stood, with some heavy cavalry clad in chainmail and their warhorses covered in full-body cowhide armor.

On either side of the main army were infantry forces composed of numerous Uyghurs and Karluks.

They were arranged in groups of ten, with each group spaced three steps apart, forming a layered defensive matrix. The edges of their shields were serrated, and three thousand archers were positioned on each flank to guard against a sudden attack by the Jinzhou army.

Under such tense circumstances, Wang Ting's army marched more than eighty li (approximately 40 kilometers) in a single day.

As evening approached, Yelü Zhilugu looked at the crimson sunset on the horizon and frowned, saying, "At this rate, how many more days will it take us to reach the Ili River?"

Tayanggu pondered for a moment, then said softly, "It will take at least eight more days."

“These Tawers slowed us down. Without them, we could have made a swift and easy march and be eating mutton on the south bank of the Ili River in just three days.”

Tayanggu added fuel to the fire from the sidelines.

The word "Tawer" in the Khitan language means native or local.

This refers to the local tribes such as the Uyghurs, Karluks, and Turks who lived within the territory of the royal court before Yelü Dashi's western expedition.

After the establishment of the Western Liao Dynasty, these people inevitably became second-class citizens. During the reign of Yelü Pusuhan, a ban was even issued against the Karluks, prohibiting them from carrying weapons.

Due to a lack of warhorses, the army had to be used as infantry in this campaign.

Yelü Zhilugu understood Tayanggu's meaning and gently shook his head, saying, "They are all subjects of my Great Liao. How could I bear to abandon them?"

"There's no need to discuss this further."

After saying this, Yelü Zhilugu looked into the distance and said, "Give the order to find a suitable location, set up camp, and continue tomorrow."

"As ordered."

Tayanggu nodded emphatically, then hesitated before adding, "However, Your Majesty, what if the Jinzhou army launches a night attack on us?"

Yelü Zhilugu snorted and said confidently, "I'd love for them to launch a night raid."

Subsequently, Yelü Zhilugu ordered his men to prepare some traps in the camp, so that if the Jinzhou army dared to launch a night attack, they would not be allowed to have an easy time.

That night, although Wang Tingjun appeared to be resting, he was actually on high alert, preparing to repel the Jinzhou army's night attack.

But nothing happened until dawn; all was calm.

Early in the morning, Wang Tingjun began to break camp and set off.

Another day passed, and nothing happened.

After setting up camp for the night, Yelü Zhilugu ordered the soldiers to take turns resting, with half of the soldiers on duty for the first half of the night and the other half taking over for the second half.

Yelü Zhilugu himself was also exhausted, and after finishing the arrangements, he fell into a deep sleep.

Late at night, a loud shouting suddenly woke him up.

"what sound?"

"Enemy attack?"

"Someone, order all units not to panic, and to ensure the complete annihilation of the invading enemy."

Yelü Zhilugu roared loudly, hurriedly got up, hastily put on his armor, and walked outside.

But once outside, they found the camp filled with torches and the figures of Wang Ting's soldiers, but no sign of the Jinzhou army.

"Where is the Jinzhou army?"

"Wasn't there an enemy night attack? Where are they?" Yelü Zhilugu asked angrily, gripping his scimitar.

All I could hear were the shouts of the royal army soldiers; there were no sounds of battle or the neighing of warhorses.

Soon, a Pishi army general came over looking disheveled and reported: "Your Majesty, the Jinzhou army has been driven away by us."

"They ran away? How many Jinzhou soldiers came?" Yelü Zhilugu was full of doubt. He had made many arrangements in the camp, intending to annihilate the Jinzhou army that launched the night attack. How could they have run away?

"It's too dark to see very well."

"There should be several hundred men?" the Pi Shi army general said hesitantly.

Upon hearing this, Yelü Zhilugu's face instantly turned as black as an iron pot, and he roared angrily, "Idiot, how can this be a night raid?"

"They are clearly harassing our troops and preventing us from getting proper rest."

Although he had grown old and become somewhat senile, Yelü Zhilugu was once a man who could reap the benefits from the power struggle between Yelü Pusuhan and Xiao Wulila.

They were by no means lacking in wisdom and courage, and they saw through the Jinzhou army's intentions at a glance.

Looking back into the camp, Yelü Zhilugu was even more furious to see the royal soldiers, who had all been awakened and were preparing to fight.

"Send word: everyone go back to rest and take night duty."

"Tell the scouts to assess the enemy's numbers before issuing a warning."

After saying that, he plunged into the tent, muttering, "Being played like a fool by a mere few hundred people, they're just a bunch of useless trash."

On the third night, a small group of Jinzhou troops launched a night attack on the Wangting army camp. Once the camp was lit up with torches, they immediately withdrew.

In the latter half of the night, the Jinzhou army attacked again, exhausting the Wangting army.

Even under Yelü Zhilugu's eyes, dark circles could be faintly seen.

"Damn Li Xiao, one day I will tear you to pieces!" Yelü Zhilugu said through gritted teeth, his eyes bloodshot.

At this moment, his hatred for Li Xiao even surpassed that for Xiao Simo.

Instead of engaging in a direct confrontation with Wang Tingjun, they resorted to such treacherous schemes.

This deprived Wang Tingjun of rest, leaving them without energy or strength, causing their morale to plummet and ultimately leading to their defeat without a fight.

However, Yelü Zhilugu didn't have a good solution for this, and could only urge the army to speed up. Once they crossed the Ili River, they would be able to defend against the Jinzhou army's night attack with the help of the river.

Therefore, the soldiers of the Wang Ting army had no choice but to muster their strength and continue marching.

The cavalry could rest on their horses, but the infantry were in trouble; they were swaying as they walked, and their marching speed was much slower than the day before.

As for Yelü Zhilugu, he was in a much better position. He didn't have to ride a horse; instead, he sat in a spacious carriage with several of his concubines.

You can catch up on sleep during the day.

But shortly afterward, urgent bugle calls suddenly rang out in the army.

"Is there an enemy?"

"Ready to fight."

"Quickly, swordsmen and shieldmen, get into position; spearmen, prepare!"

The drowsy royal army soldiers were instantly awakened and began to form ranks under the command of their respective generals.

Swordsmen and shieldmen were positioned on the outermost edge, followed by spearmen, with longbowmen at the back.

This is the standard defensive formation for infantry. Even when facing a large cavalry charge, as long as the soldiers have the mental fortitude, the formation can stand firm. On the other side, the cavalry of the various Khitan tribes are also ready to meet the enemy at any time.

"Your Majesty, look over there."

"The Jinzhou Army!"

In the center of the army, Yelü Zhilugu had just emerged from his carriage when he saw Tayanggu approaching and pointing towards the flank of the main force.

Although the distance was far, a large cavalry force could be vaguely seen galloping across the grassland.

Many people wore white armor, while other soldiers wore ordinary leather armor or even tattered leather coats.

Yelü Zhilugu's eyes narrowed: "These are the White-Armored Army of Jinzhou?"

Tayanggu nodded emphatically: "That's right, Your Majesty. It was Li Xiao who led this army to conquer the capital back then."

"Moreover, in the Jinzhou army today, in addition to these white-armored soldiers, there are many soldiers wearing red and yellow armor, whose combat power is no less than that of the white-armored soldiers."

After the defeat, Tayanggu was stripped of all his official positions and no longer commanded troops personally. Instead, he served as an advisor to Yelü Zhilugu.

But Tayanggu was actually quite happy, because the previous two times had been like this; he only needed to lie low for a while, and Yelü Zhilugu would naturally reinstate him.

"It seems this is the main force of the Golden State Army."

“But it’s definitely not the entire main force,” Yelü Zhilugu said with a somber expression.

He carefully observed the Jinzhou army in the distance, estimating their numbers in his mind.

There are approximately three thousand people.

"Your Majesty, they're charging in!" Tayangu suddenly said.

Yelü Zhilugu immediately shouted, "Issue an order to the entire army: anyone who dares to retreat even a step will be killed without mercy."

"The cavalry of the Fifth Academy will support the infantry and engage the Jinzhou army."

"The Pishi Army, along with the Tuju and Wuhuai cavalry, should be on alert for a possible surprise attack from the Jinzhou Army from other directions."

Although the royal army had deployed many scouts around the perimeter, the Jinzhou army's cavalry charged very quickly.

Often, the Jinzhou army would arrive shortly after the scouts brought news.

Meanwhile, Wang Tingjun only had three thousand Jinzhou soldiers on his flank. Yelü Zhilugu suspected that Li Xiao was just feinting and would focus his attack on other directions.

"Kill~"

In the distance, three thousand Jinzhou soldiers charged toward the royal army, their iron cavalry thundering across the land.

Wang Tingjun's soldiers were also ready for battle.

But just as the Jinzhou army was about to reach the front of the battle line, they suddenly scattered to both sides, fired a volley of arrows, and then left.

"Damn it, this is harassment again."

Yelü Zhilugu was furious and clenched his fists.

He had already understood Li Xiao's intention: to numb himself with endless harassment and play the boy who cried wolf.

The moment Wang Tingjun truly lowered his guard, the harassment immediately turned into an attack.

"Order the cavalry of the Five Courts to annihilate these Jinzhou cavalry!" Yelü Zhilugu roared.

Soon, a large cavalry force from the Fifth Academy set out, bypassing the infantry formation from both flanks and charging towards the Jinzhou army.

"Their cavalry is coming, retreat."

With a shout, Da Hu immediately led his cavalry in a hasty retreat, showing no intention of engaging in battle.

Since both sides were light cavalry, their speeds were roughly the same.

They were chased for a long distance until they reached a desolate place, where the outline of an army appeared on the horizon.

The bright yellow sun and moon battle flags fluttered in the wind as countless soldiers in yellow cotton armor led the new recruits who had just joined the three towns to charge forward.

"Hahaha~"

Big Tiger gripped his spear, reined in his warhorse, and laughed, saying, "Brothers, kill them!"

The soldiers of the Fifth Academy were all shocked when they saw this.

After a fierce battle, the soldiers of the Fifth Academy fled back to their army. Of the original eight thousand men, less than six thousand returned.

On the central army carriage, Yelü Zhilugu looked at the defeated soldiers and his face turned red with anger.

"Damn it, he deserves to die!" Zhilugu slammed his fist heavily on the carriage, roaring angrily.

Only then did they realize it was a trap; Li Xiao was far too cunning.

At this moment, Tayanggu, with an air of righteous indignation, said, "Your Majesty, let me lead my men to charge again!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Yelü Zhilugu cursed angrily and threw the water bag at Tayanggu's head.

"Fool, are you still going to lead the Pishiro army to their deaths?"

The Jinzhou army is clearly just trying to fish for us.

If too few cavalry are sent, it's just piecemeal tactics; but if too many are sent, what will happen to the main army?
Without sufficient cavalry protection, these infantrymen were easy targets for the Golden State Army.

"Ignore the Jinzhou army and leave immediately."

“If they really dare to attack, then stop fighting,” Yelü Zhilugu said with great confidence.

He didn't want to waste any more time here.

These troops here are the true main force of the royal court. Without absolute certainty, Yelü Zhilugu did not want to fight a deadly battle with the Jinzhou army.

Because the Wang court's enemies were not only the Jinzhou army, but many others as well.

Even if they manage to defeat the Jinzhou army with all their might, how can they control the Eastern and Western Karakhanid Khanates if the royal army suffers heavy losses? How can they deal with the ambitious Ghur Kingdom?

Therefore, Yelü Zhilugu no longer had the will to fight a decisive battle with the Jinzhou army; he only wanted to return to the south of the Ili River and maintain the original border.

With the order given, Wang Tingjun began a slow retreat.

This time, however, there were many more Golden State Army rangers on both sides.

Moreover, it was an open and blatant act of following.

If they were pursued by the royal cavalry, they would immediately retreat.

The Wangting cavalry, fearing it was another trap set by the Jinzhou army, dared not continue the pursuit.

So the Jinzhou cavalry turned back again, assuming a charging posture, but when they reached the front of the formation, they fired a volley of arrows and then turned back.

This went on countless times, causing Wang Tingjun immense suffering.

Even if Wang Tingjun wanted to rely on the rivers for defense, the rivers along the way did not have the same water flow as the Ili River and the Sihun River.

The Jinzhou army quickly crossed the river from other locations and continued to harass the royal army.

In just five days, Wang Tingjun was on the verge of collapse.

It was only through a stroke of genius that Tayanggu found a few eloquent soldiers and had them tell stories and ballads to the soldiers, which barely managed to keep the morale of the army afloat.

Under the cover of night, many soldiers sat around a campfire listening to the stories of the Yang family generals.

However, the main characters of the story are not the Yang family father and son, but Empress Dowager Xiao of the Liao Dynasty and Prime Minister Han Derang.

The Yang family army and the Song Dynasty were the main villains, invading the Liao Dynasty's territory several times.

Ultimately, under the wise leadership of the Empress Dowager and the Prime Minister, the Liao soldiers fought bravely and defeated the Song army.

The story was finished, which drew cheers from the soldiers.

It was as if he had stepped into the body of the Liao army back then, becoming Han Derang, the prime minister of the Liao Dynasty.

The Jinzhou army at present is the evil Song army.

The moonlight shone on the camp and also fell on a distant mountain.

The night wind howled as Li Xiao rode his warhorse, leading a troop of cavalry to the top of the mountain, looking down at the royal army camp in the distance.

Tens of thousands of torches were lit, illuminating that part of the night sky as if it were daytime.

Wang Tingjun had been harassed for so many days, and although he was exhausted, he had found some ways to deal with it.

For example, torches would burn all night long, with half the soldiers on night duty and the other half sleeping. As long as the Jinzhou army did not launch a real decisive battle, even if they were woken up, they would just continue to sleep soundly.

"They will reach the Ili River in two more days."

"The Ili River is very wide, far wider than the rivers we have crossed before, which is not conducive to the effective use of our cavalry's advantages."

Standing next to Li Xiao was Gu Zizhong, the governor of the desert. Although he was a civil official, he had gained a lot of experience following the Jinzhou army these past few days.

Although his combat skills have improved, he is still far behind Li Xiao and others.

Furthermore, he was originally a civil official who was parachuted into the desert, and he had no foundation in the desert army. Military power was mostly in the hands of Deputy Commander Xiao Chilu.

Moreover, his patron Xiao Simo is now dead, so Gu Zizhong is well aware of his situation and is preparing to retire to the second line. He is currently working as a civil servant in the army, which is comparable to Zhang Xinghua's situation.

"Grand Commander, I believe we have exerted enough pressure; it is time to launch a final offensive."

"Moreover, we don't have much time to waste," Gu Zizhong said in a deep voice.

I don't know when it started, but he also began to address Li Xiao as Grand Commander.

Li Xiao nodded slightly. Compared to Wang Tingjun a few days ago, their physical strength and morale had dropped by at least 30% to 40%, and their combat effectiveness had been greatly reduced.

Launching a general offensive in this way would also reduce casualties among the Golden State soldiers.

"Prepare for the final battle."

"Tomorrow morning, wipe out the royal army and capture Yelü Zhilugu alive."

Li Xiao spoke in a cold voice, turned his horse around, and returned to the camp.

When Li Xiao proposed to Xiao Yanyan, he said he would capture Yelü Zhilugu alive and give him to Xiao Simo as a betrothal gift.

Although Xiao Simo is now dead, Li Xiao's promise remains valid.

They captured Yelü Zhilugu alive and sent him to Xiao Simo's grave to be executed.

(End of this chapter)