The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 211 Please promote the Grand Commander
On the north bank of the Ili River, the morning wind howls, causing the sun and moon battle flags to flutter loudly.

Erhu, dressed in full white cotton armor and wearing a plumed helmet, with only his young face visible, gazed at Wang Tingjun on the opposite bank.

He drew his cavalry saber with a 'whoosh' and shouted, "Cross the river! Attack!"

The deep horn blasts tore through the dawn, and forty Tiger Cannons trembled simultaneously.

"Boom boom boom~"

The pitch-black cannon barrel spewed out crimson flames and emitted a deafening roar.

The blast wave from the cannons sent rocks flying from the riverbank. The first wave of shells, trailing dark red flames, streaked across the sky, traversing the entire length of the Ili River, and exploded with a deafening roar amidst the chevaux-de-frise formation of the Wangting army on the opposite bank.

Iron nails flew everywhere, and all the soldiers of the Wang Ting Army within a ten-foot radius let out painful howls.

Some people clutched their stomachs tightly to stop their intestines from spilling out, while others clutched their necks tightly, yet they couldn't stop their life force from slipping through their fingers.

The artillery bombardment by the Jinzhou army threw the defenses of the royal court on the opposite bank into chaos.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Jinzhou cavalry launched an attack.

"kill!"

"Hoohoho!"

The Jinzhou cavalry roared in unison, and the river water quickly overflowed the horses' bellies. The icy water made the warhorses neigh and charge forward with all their might.

But the next moment, a hail of arrows from Wang Tingjun rained down from the sky.

The arrows pierced the cotton armor with a dull "thud." Unless they hit the gaps between the iron plates directly, given the quality of the Wangting Army's arrows, it would be difficult to break through the Jinzhou Army's cotton armor defense at such a distance.

But the Kuli army, the Seven Rivers army, and the Desert army were in trouble.

People kept screaming as they fell into the surging waters of the Ili River.

The rear of the royal army.

The cowhide tent rustled in the morning breeze. Yelü Zhilugu leaned slumped against the tiger-skin cushion, his broken leg wrapped in a blood-soaked bandage and securely fastened to the folding chair frame with three cowhide straps.

Although he was lucky enough to lead his men back to the south bank of the Ili River, he was unlucky and fell off his horse during the retreat, hitting his right leg on a rock. Now he can only stay in his tent to recuperate.

Hearing the sounds of war drums and battle coming from afar, Yelü Zhilugu looked anxious and tense. The pain in his legs and the torment in his mind made his knuckles turn white and creak as he gripped the edge of the bed.

"Li Xiao, you scoundrel! I have already withdrawn to the south bank of the Ili River, yet you still refuse to let it go."

"This is absolutely outrageous!"

Outside, a fierce battle raged, but Yelü Zhilugu could only stay in his tent, barking helplessly.

I thought back to when I led tens of thousands of troops on a northern expedition, how spirited and exhilarated I was.

Just when it seemed they were about to sweep away the Seven Rivers and capture the Eastern Capital, Li Xiao led the Jinzhou army to arrive. In just a few days, they inflicted heavy losses on the royal army.

This shattered Yelü Zhilugu's dream of unifying the northern frontier.

Although he managed to retreat to the south bank of the Ili River by chance, after taking stock, Yelü Zhilugu's heart sank again.

The infantry composed of Uyghurs and Karluks were almost entirely wiped out at Qihe, and the Khitan cavalry also suffered heavy losses.

Of the Five Courts directly under Yelü Zhilugu's command, and the Pishi Imperial Guard, only 13,000 men have returned to the south bank of the Ili River.

As for the troops of the Wuhuai and Tuju tribes, they immediately returned to their respective royal residences upon withdrawing to the south bank of the Ili River, disregarding Yelü Zhilugu's orders.

Enraged, Yelü Zhilugu cursed them as deserters and ordered the execution of all these scoundrels.

Therefore, Yelü Zhilugu is now fighting against tens of thousands of Jinzhou troops on the north bank with only 13,000 men.

The pressure is immense.

"What if we can't stop these rebels?"

"Then we can only go to Kashgar to hide, regroup, and retake the royal court..."

Yelü Zhilugu was in a state of utter confusion and muttered to himself.

They had even planned their escape route, since the territory of the royal court was originally seized from the Eastern Karakhanid Khanate.

This forced the Eastern Karakhanid Khanate to move its capital to Kashgar.

It's just another round of robbing.

As a loyal vassal state of the Liao Dynasty, the Eastern Karakhanid Khanate surely understands the difficulties faced by the royal court.

Moreover, Kashgar is far away, separated from the royal court by the massive Southern Tianshan Mountains. Even if the Jinzhou army conquers the royal court, it will not be able to continue its long-distance expedition in the short term.

After a long while, the sound of cannons stopped, and the shouts of battle gradually faded away.

Soon, the tent flap was lifted, and Tayangu stumbled in, a broken arrow hanging from his chainmail, his cloak torn into strips at some point.

He knelt down with a thud and said loudly, "Your Majesty, I have successfully completed my mission. The Jinzhou army has been driven back and retreated to the north bank."

Yelü Zhilugu forced himself to remain calm, swallowing hard as his Adam's apple bobbed, but the voice he heard was still hoarse and unfamiliar: "Really?"

"You've really abdicated, Your Majesty."

After receiving confirmation, Yelü Zhilugu breathed a heavy sigh of relief, his heart churning with a complex mix of elation and resentment. He was overjoyed that he didn't have to abandon the royal court immediately, but resentful that he had to rely on luck to get a breather.

However, the crisis was not truly over; it was merely a repelling of one attack by the Jinzhou army, and endless attacks were yet to come.

The royal court remains in a precarious situation.

Thinking of this, Yelü Zhilugudu felt a sense of sorrow. The once mighty Liao Dynasty, which had shaken the grasslands, was now being sustained on this crumbling bed, relying on the "mercy" of its enemies.

“These rebels have committed treason and their entire families should be exterminated.”

"However, the most urgent task is to defeat these rebels first."

"Tayanggu, what's your plan?"

Yelü Zhilugu slowly leaned back on the bed, as if all his strength had left, and asked in a weak voice.

Tayanggu pressed his forehead against the cold mud, his Adam's apple bobbing twice with difficulty before he spoke in a hoarse voice: "Your Majesty, please forgive my bluntness, but the Jinzhou army has been unstoppable this time, defeating tens of thousands of my troops. The Thunder God Pillar and the armored cavalry's combat power far exceeded our expectations."

He secretly glanced up and saw Yelü Zhilugu's knuckles turning white as he gripped the headboard, his face full of resentment and lingering fear. He quickly lowered his head again and said, "I think we should first send an envoy across the river to discuss with Li Xiao a ceasefire with the current Ili River as the boundary."

"Emperor Taizu once made an alliance with the Tang Dynasty to gain a respite, but now our army has only seven days' worth of provisions left, and the camp is full of wounded soldiers..."

Tayanggu was about to use some grand principles to persuade Yelü Zhilugu to negotiate peace, but before he could finish speaking, he heard Yelü Zhilugu nod slightly and say, "Then let's prepare for peace talks."

"However, who should be chosen as the envoy?"

Yelü Zhilugu's words left Tayanggu momentarily speechless.

He certainly understood that Yelü Zhilugu wanted to negotiate, but was quite concerned about saving face.

Tayanggu originally intended to give him a way out by lecturing him with grand principles, but he did not expect that Yelü Zhilugu would be so shameless now.

It seems they were truly terrified by the Jinzhou army.

"Regarding the selection of the envoy, I believe there is one person who is suitable."

……

As dusk fell, on the north bank of the Ili River.

Inside the golden tent, Erhu stood before Li Xiao with a look of shame on his face and said in a deep voice, "Brother, give me another chance."

"I will definitely be able to reach the other side tomorrow and capture Yelü Zhilugu alive."

Li Xiao sat on the couch with a smile on his lips, seemingly in a good mood and unaffected by today's setback in attack.

"The Ili River is the largest of the seven rivers, far surpassing the Tar River and Sihun River that we crossed before."

"The river is wide and the water is deep."

"Wang Tingjun relied on the advantageous terrain for defense, and it would have been difficult for anyone else to break through the Ili River in such a short time."

Li Xiao waved his hand gently, shook his head slightly, and smiled.

"Alright, no need to feel guilty. We can always fight again tomorrow."

"Go back and sit down."

It is currently the high-water season on the Ili River, and Wang Tingjun has taken advantage of the terrain to launch an attack while the river is halfway across.

The Jinzhou army also suffered considerable losses during the day's offensive.

Even a force as strong as the Three Towns Iron Cavalry would find it difficult to exert its advantages in this environment.

Although cotton armor is sturdy, it absorbs water.

Once a soldier falls from his horse, it is difficult for him to get up without the help of others, which limits the performance of the soldiers in the three towns.

"Grand Commander, I will still be the vanguard tomorrow," Erhu shouted defiantly, determined not to give up until he had breached the other side. He then turned and sat down in his seat.

At this moment, the tent was filled with all the senior generals of the Jinzhou Army, the Qihe Army, and the Damo Army stationed on the banks of the Ili River.

Li Xiao was the leader, sitting high on a folding chair at the head of the table.

On the left and right sides are Qihe Commander Jiu Meng'anhe, and Damo Commander Gu Zizhong and Deputy Commander Xiao Chilu.

As for Da Hu, Er Hu, Luo Meng, and the others, they all sat at the lower end of the table, since their status was not as high as that of the chief and deputy commanders.

"Although our army failed to break through the south bank in today's battle, it has greatly damaged the morale of the royal army."

"Today's setbacks are merely the foundation for our success tomorrow."

Li Xiao stood up, glanced around at everyone, and gave a brief summary of the battle.

Then, he clapped his hands lightly, and a group of women entered the tent.

They were dressed in light, revealing clothes, and all of them were very beautiful and attractive, with some even being stunning beauties.

However, their expressions were filled with fear and unease. They huddled together, their trembling eyes staring at the generals in the tent, as if they were a group of man-eating demons.

Their presence seemed somewhat out of place on this bloody battlefield.

However, it was not that Li Xiao was obsessed with this, but rather that these people were all concubines and maids brought by Yelü Zhilugu, who had all been captured alive by the Jinzhou army in the previous battle.

"The five women standing in front are Yelü Zhilugu's concubines, while the women behind them are his maids."

Li Xiao pointed at the women, glancing to the left and right.

"Brother Jiu Meng'an, Brother Gu."

"We are fighting in the Seven Rivers, and these are the conditions, so please don't complain."

Upon hearing Li Xiao's words, Jiu Meng Anhe smiled gently and shook his head: "Governor Li flatters me."

"I am but a rough and uncouth warrior. To be served by His Majesty's concubine is something I could only dream of. How could I dare to complain?"

Gu Zizhong, on the other hand, was even more terrified. He stood up, patted his chest, and said to Li Xiao, "Thank you for the reward, Grand Commander."

He was originally just an ordinary scholar of humble origin, never expecting that one day he would be able to enjoy the treatment of an emperor.

I'm still a little excited.

"Hahaha~"

"Whether she's an imperial concubine or a princess, once she falls into the hands of us brothers, she's just an ordinary woman."

Li Xiao chuckled and then distributed the women as rewards.

As for singing and dancing?

They were all rough men with knives; they had no interest in appreciating that kind of thing.
Simple and direct is what they like; cuddling and kissing is much more enjoyable than watching a dance. Of the five concubines, Li Xiao chose two to serve him on either side.

The other three sat next to Jiu Meng Anhe, Gu Zizhong, and Xiao Chilu, all looking trembling and nervous.

As for Da Hu and Er Hu, they could only divide up the maids among themselves.

However, those who could become attendants in the royal court were all quite beautiful, with good looks and figures.

"Hahaha, I never thought I, Xiao Chilu, would get to taste the flavor of an emperor's woman. My life has not been in vain."

Xiao Chilu held the concubine in his arms, his hands reaching inside her clothes and rummaging around, while a wild laugh echoed across his rough face.

The young concubine, however, was stiff and trembling, too afraid to move.

Then, Xiao Chilu looked at Li Xiao and said, "This is all thanks to the Grand Commander's efforts; otherwise, how could we enjoy such a privilege?"

"I'm afraid our heads have already been hung on the city walls of the Eastern Capital by Yelü Zhilugu."

“In my life, there are not many people I can truly respect. The King is one, my father is another, and the last one is you, Grand Commander.”

"From this day forward, my life, Xiao Chilu's life, is in your hands."

“If the Grand Commander says go east, I, Xiao Chilu, will never go west.”

The rebellion of the Uyghurs in the desert was instigated by the royal court, and Xiao Tuladuo was essentially killed by Yelü Zhilugu.

Therefore, Xiao Chilu and Yelü Zhilugu were sworn enemies.

He wouldn't hesitate to sleep with even the empress, let alone his concubines.

Moreover, it was because Li Xiao led his army to support them in the desert that Xiao Chilu's family was able to survive in Beshbaliq.

Not to mention that Li Xiao also avenged Xiao Tuladuo's blood feud.

Therefore, Xiao Chilu had long been convinced of Li Xiao's abilities, but this was the first time he had explicitly stated that he would follow Li Xiao.

As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Zizhong, who was standing next to him, hurriedly said, "Now that the King has passed away, the eldest son has died of illness, the eldest son has been executed for treason, and the other sons of concubines are all mediocre and I'm afraid they are not up to the task of the Northern Frontier."

"But we can't leave our northern border region leaderless forever."

"After counting them all, only the Grand Commander is capable of shouldering the heavy responsibility of the northern frontier."

As he spoke, Gu Zizhong stood up, transformed into 'Li Chui', and said without any politeness, "In terms of status, the Grand Commander is the son-in-law of the Princess of Chu, so he can be considered half a member of the Xiao family."

"In terms of merit, the Grand Commander quelled the rebellion in the Eastern Capital, recovered the Seven Rivers Grassland, defeated the royal army, pursued the enemy for thousands of miles, and fought all the way to the banks of the Ili River."

"In terms of merit, no one can surpass the Grand Commander; in terms of law, no one can be more reasonable than the Grand Commander."

"I hope that the Grand Commander will carry on the King's legacy and shoulder the heavy responsibility of reviving our northern frontier."

Gu Zizhong stood in the tent and spoke these words with great passion. Finally, he knelt down and touched his chest in deep emotion before Li Xiao.

It was as if he wouldn't get up unless Li Xiao moved up.

Watching his performance, Li Xiao mentally gave him a score of 90.

That's what professionalism is all about.

No wonder many monarchs liked sycophants, because these people could not only take the blame, but also knew how to get things done, and were really useful.

At this moment, the most excited people in the tent were not Li Xiao, but the Jinzhou army generals such as Da Hu and Er Hu.

As soon as Gu Zizhong finished speaking, they all stood up and said excitedly, "Governor Gu is right."

“Grand Commander, you are the King’s brother-in-law and a meritorious general of the Northern Frontier who has made outstanding military achievements. No one is more suitable than you to inherit the King’s legacy,” said Da Hu.

Erhu clenched his fists excitedly and said loudly, "Eastern Capital was conquered by our men, and Wang Tingjun was also driven away by our men."

"Apart from the Grand Commander, anyone who wants to lay their hands on the northern frontier should first see if our 60,000 brothers in Jinzhou will submit."

Luo Meng and the others stood up at the same time and shouted, "Please, Grand Commander, take your seat!"

"Please, Grand Commander, take your seat."

"Please, Grand Commander, take your seat."

Although there were only a few commanders in the tent, the momentum they had accumulated from years of fighting and bloody battles on the battlefield erupted completely at this moment.

It seemed to have the force of a thousand troops, which frightened the maids around them so much that they trembled.

But the next second, Li Xiao threw the sheep bone in his hand heavily onto the table.

"Bang~"

A deep, muffled sound boomed in the tent, startling everyone. The concubines on either side huddled in fear at the back.

Li Xiao stood up and looked intently at Gu Zizhong, Da Hu, and the others.

He shouted sternly, "Are you trying to put me in an unjust position?"

“The five prefectures of the Northern Frontier are the family fortune that my elder brother has accumulated through many hardships. Even if Nairi is gone and Abutou is gone, aren’t there still my elder brother’s other sons?”

"The Xiao family isn't all dead yet. How can I, the capital, disregard human ethics and morality and commit such an unjust act?"

After saying that, Li Xiao waved his hand, sat down, and shouted, "Don't mention this matter again."

Then, his gaze fell on Jiu Meng Anhe, who was sitting to the lower left, and he chuckled and said, "This subordinate is being disrespectful and just talking nonsense."

"Brother Jiu Meng'an, please don't take this seriously."

Jiu Meng'an's white eyebrows trembled slightly, and his hand seemed to habitually run around his half-bald head as he said with a smile, "Since it was a slip of the tongue, a slight reprimand will suffice. Governor Li doesn't need to get so angry."

"However, I do think that Governor Gu is right."

"Although Your Majesty still has three illegitimate sons alive, judging from their appearance, none of them are outstanding individuals."

"He may be able to maintain the status quo, but our northern frontier is now in turmoil, surrounded by powerful enemies who are eyeing us covetously."

"We should choose someone with outstanding martial arts skills to ensure the survival of our northern border."

After saying that, Jiu Meng Anhe seemed to realize something and slapped his head, shaking his head and saying, "I'm getting old, and I've become more talkative. I misspoke, I misspoke."

Although Jiu Meng Anhe did not name names, it seems he said a lot.

Li Xiao didn't reply, but just chuckled and said, "I remember when we went on the western expedition a couple of years ago, you were quite robust!"

"Tens of thousands of royal troops wouldn't be enough for you to kill, my friend. Your prowess is as impressive as ever."

Jiu Meng Anhe seemed to recall those days when he followed Li Xiao across the royal territory, forcefully conquering Husiwoerduo and looting all the wealth in the city.

Although that time was fraught with danger, it was the most exhilarating moment in Jiu Meng Anhe's life.

But history always rolls forward, and the trend is unstoppable.

As familiar people leave one by one, all that remains in life are memories.

"No, I'm getting old." Jiu Meng Anhe shook his head with a chuckle.

"My health has deteriorated significantly in the past two years."

"Sometimes I think it's pretty pointless. What's the point of all this fighting and struggling in life?"

In the end, it's all just a handful of dust.

"After working hard all my life, I've neglected my children, grandchildren, and family more and more."

"Life is short, only a few decades. What can compare to the comfort of enjoying the company of grandchildren and the joys of family life?"

Li Xiao laughed heartily, walked over to Jiu Meng Anhe's side, plopped down, put his arm around his shoulder and said, "You're still very young, you can at least work hard for another ten years."

"The northern frontier can't do without you, my friend."

"As for enjoying the company of grandchildren? There will be plenty of time for that in the future."

"With the contributions you've made to the northern frontier over the years, your children and grandchildren will enjoy wealth and honor for generations to come."

The two began to reminisce about their previous westward expedition, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious until the banquet ended, at which point they returned to their respective tents.

"Is it really that terrible?"

"come over."

Li Xiao sat in front of the bed and beckoned to the two concubines.

The two exchanged a glance, both able to see panic and tension in each other's eyes, yet they had no choice but to silently move forward a few steps and kneel before Li Xiao.

Although they were once high-ranking princesses, they are now prisoners of the Jinzhou army.

Women on the grasslands are not so delicate; they are fully aware of the consequences of being captured, so they know exactly what will happen next.

"What two beautiful young ladies! It's really a waste for you to follow that old bastard Yelü Zhilugu."

"From now on, you will stay by Bendu's side and serve him."

"Although I cannot grant you the status of imperial concubines, I can guarantee your dignity."

Li Xiao pinched his two delicate cheeks and said in a calm voice.

Since leaving Jinzhou, Li Xiao has been living in the tense atmosphere of war and hasn't been with a woman for a long time.

Right now, I'm feeling a bit thirsty.

"Thank you, Grand Commander!"

“We sisters will certainly serve the Grand Commander wholeheartedly from now on.”

With Li Xiao's permission, the two concubines gradually relaxed.

At least Li Xiao wouldn't kill them, much less send them to the military camp for ordinary soldiers to vent their frustrations on after he got tired of them.

Although she no longer held the status of a concubine, being by Li Xiao's side was still quite good.

After all, Li Xiao is very young and much better looking than Yelü Zhilugu, so it's not like he's wronged them.

"It's getting late, Grand Commander, please change your clothes!"

A concubine spoke softly and stepped forward to help Li Xiao undress.

Then, the two of them took off their outer garments, revealing their undergarments, their bare, fair skin glowing in the firelight.

For a moment, the scenery inside the tent was magnificent.

On the other hand, things weren't so easy for Jiu Meng An He.

After all, he was not young, so the meeting ended quickly, and he ordered the concubine to be taken to another tent to rest.

He himself lay in his tent unable to sleep, recalling his conversation with Li Xiao that day. Although it seemed ordinary, every word was sharp and pointed, and they were all testing each other.

He also received a promise from Li Xiao that his power would never fade and that he would enjoy eternal honor.

Although Jiu Meng Anhe also had great ambitions, the Jinzhou army was now sweeping across the northern frontier, invincible.

The northern frontier was no longer his era, and he could only accept his fate.

Thinking of all this, Jiu Meng Anhe sighed heavily: "Your Majesty, it is fate and destiny that you left us so hastily."

Although he left behind three sons, they were all only good at maintaining the status quo and were unlikely to achieve great things.

The northern border is now in turmoil, surrounded by wolves, and a strong figure is needed to stabilize the situation.

And this person could only be Li Xiao.

(End of this chapter)