The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 217 Northern Frontier Protectorate

"The Northern Frontier Protectorate?"

Gu Zizhong and the other man were surprised to hear Li Xiao's words.

"Does the Grand Commander want to rebuild the Beiting Protectorate?" Zhang Xinghua asked.

During the Tang Dynasty, the Beiting and Anxi Protectorates were powerful in the Western Regions, with their jurisdiction extending as far as the Caspian Sea.

The territory of the Beiting Protectorate encompassed a vast area west of the Golden Mountains, north of the Tian Shan Mountains, south of Lake Balkhash, and east of the Caspian Sea.

It largely overlaps with the area currently under the actual control of the northern frontier.

The only difference is that today's northern Xinjiang no longer has the territory west of Lake Barkash, but has gained this vast grassland between Jinshan and Yudujin Mountain.

It roughly replicates the original territory of the Beiting Protectorate.

In addition, given that Li Xiao is a Han Chinese and his surname is Li, it's easy to assume that he wants to rebuild the Beiting Protectorate.

"Could it be that the Grand Commander is a descendant of the Tang Dynasty?" Gu Zizhong suddenly looked at Li Xiao with a thoughtful expression.

Li Xiao shook his head slightly and said, "Maybe so, but maybe not."

Anyway, the Li family's genealogy has been lost for a long time, and the old man has been busy with the matter of reconstructing the genealogy for the past two years.

Whether or not they are direct descendants of the Li Tang dynasty is a matter of a single sentence.

"Your subordinate dares to ask, what are the Grand Commander's ambitions?" Gu Zizhong suddenly raised his head and looked at Li Xiao with a serious expression.

"To seize the royal court and replace it, or..."

Li Xiao looked at him with a half-smile and said in a calm voice, "Both of you are intelligent men, and you should know perfectly well what you both want to do."

Having said that, Li Xiao stood up and said in a leisurely voice:
"Although we are in the Western Regions, the blood of the Yan and Huang Emperors still flows in our veins."

"Over the years, the Western Regions have been isolated from China, as if they were two separate places. Our Han people have been bullied in the Western Regions and have lived a life of uncertainty and fear."

Li Xiao walked to the window, his back to the two of them.

Looking up at the gloomy sky, it seemed as if it were the dark clouds that had shrouded the Han people of the Western Regions for hundreds of years.

Before Li Xiao rose to prominence, the Han people did not have a high political status in the Western Regions.

Even without his arrival, the Han people of Jinzhou might have already become cannon fodder in the war between Dongdu and the Naiman.

It was Li Xiao who changed the fate of the Han people in the northern frontier.

They have led the Han people to where they are today, and they will continue to do so.

"No matter how fierce the winds and sands of the Western Regions may be, they cannot bury the Han blood in our bones. Back then, Ban Chao pacified the Western Regions with only thirty-six riders. Now, with one hundred thousand men under my command, why should I worry about unrest in the Western Regions?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he slowly turned around and looked intently at the two of them, saying, "I do not only want to recreate the glory of the Han and Tang dynasties in the Western Regions."

"Furthermore, we must lead our northern cavalry into the Central Plains, drive out the Tartars, and restore China."

"The fertile lands of China have been occupied by the Jurchen and Tangut barbarians. This is a great disgrace to us Han Chinese."

Hearing Li Xiao's words, Zhang Xinghua and Gu Zizhong felt as if a string in their hearts had been deeply touched.

They were all Han Chinese, but if it weren't for the Hu people who had taken over the Central Plains, how could they have ended up in the Western Regions, thousands of miles away?
Even though they had never returned to their ancestral homeland of the Han Dynasty for the first half of their lives, the blood of the Han Dynasty still flowed endlessly in their veins, and the glory of the Han and Tang Dynasties still made them proud.

"Since Heaven has brought me, Li Xiao, to this era, then I, Li Xiao, have the responsibility to end the century-long humiliation of the Han people."

"The Jurchen Jin dynasty is at its last gasp, the Tangut cavalry are trapped in Hexi, and our iron cavalry in the north are ready for battle. From Yumen Pass to Zhongdu Daxingfu, it's only a distance of ten thousand li."

"If the time is right, the iron cavalry from the northern frontier will arrive in a month or so."

"At that time, I will let the world know—the swords of the Han people can not only slay the wolves of the Western Regions, but also annihilate the Tartars of the Central Plains!"

Li Xiao faced the sky and shouted in a firm voice.

This was also the first time he had revealed his ambitions to outsiders.

Because now he is qualified to say these things.

His current goal is simple.

Entering customs!

Or rather, go home!
These are two words etched into the bones of every Han Chinese from the Western Regions. No matter how good the Western Regions are, without the Chinese civilization, they would be like rootless duckweed, drifting with the tide.

Only by reclaiming the Central Plains and having the Han people there as our backing can the swords of the northern cavalry be wielded further.

As Li Xiao finished speaking, Gu Zizhong's Adam's apple bobbed violently, and he exhaled a heavy breath.

"Huhuhu~"

Thirty years of wind and sand in the Western Regions have etched deep furrows around his eyes. The ideals he thought would be silenced forever, the experiences of being bullied by foreign tribes countless times, and the ambitions that he had long buried in the yellow sand all resurfaced before his eyes and now transformed into the surging hot blood in his chest.

He once thought he had finally met a wise ruler because he had received Xiao Simo's attention and promotion.

But only today did I realize that his ideals had never been extinguished.

It turns out that my true master has always been the land that nurtured the Chinese people.

He stood up, bowed deeply to Li Xiao, and said in a deep voice, "I have wandered for half my life, and now I finally understand."

"If the Grand Commander does not despise me, I am willing to follow him into the Central Plains and restore the traditional Chinese attire."

On the other side, Zhang Xinghua also took off his felt hat, revealing his graying temples and calloused hands pressed against his chest.

With a trembling voice, he said, "Grand Commander, Ban Chao spent thirty-one years in the Western Regions, and on his deathbed, he only wished to be buried in his homeland."

"Now, I am willing to contribute my disabled body to the great cause of the Han Chinese people."

In this world, profit is the primary concern.

The two men followed Li Xiao, and their initial motivation was definitely for their future and interests.

However, if they could also consider the greater national interest, the two would do their utmost.

Both men have earned a place in history for their contributions to the rejuvenation of China.

This marked the beginning of the two men fully joining Li Xiao's command, where they were at his beck and call.

Now that they knew Li Xiao's ambitions, the two seemed to have their passion rekindled, determined to make a name for themselves in history.

"Grand Commander, I believe that it is appropriate for you to change the Garrison Prefecture into a Protectorate Prefecture and move the administrative center to Jinzhou."

“If our northern frontier wants to govern the Central Plains, the Eastern Capital is too remote. Jinzhou is the best central administrative center.”

"The Grand Commander has just assumed the position of ruler of the northern frontier, and he must eliminate the old ways, reform and innovate, and completely sever ties with the royal court."

"Establishing the Protectorate is a key move to continue the hegemony of the northern frontier."

"But if we want to manage the Central Plains, I believe that if we make good use of the Grand Commander's background, it may make our military efforts twice as effective."

Li Xiao and Zhang Xinghua understood what he meant.
"Should we make Bendu acknowledge the Li Tang dynasty as our ancestor?" Li Xiao said.

"Although the Tang Dynasty has been destroyed for more than two hundred years, the people of the Central Plains still cherish the glory of the Tang Dynasty," Gu Zizhong said.

"If the Grand Commander could return to the Central Plains as a descendant of the Tang Dynasty, he might be able to win over many people."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiao stroked the stubble on his chin and said calmly.

"Let Bendu reconsider this matter. The northern frontier is not yet completely stable, and it is too early to talk about the Central Plains."

It's not that this is impossible, but he's still weighing the pros and cons.

While being a descendant of the Li Tang dynasty certainly facilitates rallying the hearts of the people in the Central Plains, it is not without its drawbacks.

This will also become a constraint, a constraint placed on Li Xiao's head.

The Tang Dynasty was truly magnificent.

One day, if the northern frontier were to conquer the Central Plains, would it be known as the Later Tang Dynasty?
Or perhaps it was the Western Tang Dynasty!

He would still be overshadowed by the Tang Dynasty, which was not what Li Xiao wanted.

(If he had inherited the Tang dynasty's legacy, then Li Xiao would not have been Emperor Taizu.)
Therefore, Li Xiao did not make a decision easily.

"The most urgent tasks, besides relocating the capital, are to set up the framework of the Northern Frontier Protectorate."

Li Xiao sat back down in his chair, picked up the slightly cool tea on the table, and took a small sip.

He looked at the two of them and said, "Both of you are well-read scholars. It's just that there is no imperial examination in the Northern Frontier, otherwise you two would at least be top-ranking talents."

"You flatter us, Grand Commander. We are ashamed." Gu Zizhong and his companion quickly shook their heads with wry smiles.

One might aspire to become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), but achieving the highest rank (Yijia) is not something an ordinary person can accomplish.

"Does the Grand Commander intend to build a new Protectorate modeled after the Beiting Protectorate?" Zhang Xinghua asked.

Li Xiao nodded slightly: "That's right."

“We’re no longer a makeshift operation; everything should become more professional.”

"The Protectorate should also look like a Protectorate, and there should be a set of rules for the appointment and placement of officials and generals at all levels."

"It is also necessary to establish a system for who is in charge of which area."

Li Xiao didn't have many scholars under his command.

Besides those two, the only other people who were given important positions were Han Jiuyuan and Chen Chong.

These four men can be considered representatives of the civil officials under Li Xiao's command.

As for those military generals, they can handle fighting and killing, but it's really too much to ask them to wield their pens.

These four people are the ones who know the most about the history of the Beiting Protectorate period.

Even Li Xiao only knew the general outline.

"In the second year of Chang'an, Empress Wu divided the original Anxi Protectorate into two, and established the Beiting Protectorate north of the Tianshan Mountains."

"Its territory was roughly equivalent to our northern border, and it governed several governorates and prefectures, such as the Kunling Governorate, the Desert Governorate, the Yinshan Governorate, and the Jinfu Prefecture Governorate, which managed various ethnic groups in the area, including the Turks and Uyghurs."

Gu Zizhong said in a deep voice.

Then, he looked at Li Xiao with admiration and said, "Since ancient times, many ethnic groups have gathered in this land of the Northern Frontier, and there has been constant conflict."

"Even the powerful Western Turkic Khaganate of yesteryear could only govern the various tribes through a system of appeasement and control."

"For thousands of years, perhaps only the Grand Commander has been able to unite all these tribes and make them speak with one voice."

"With this achievement alone, the Grand Commander can be remembered in the history of the Western Regions, which is unprecedented."

While explaining the history of the Beiting Protectorate, Gu Zizhong didn't forget to flatter Li Xiao, demonstrating that he had thoroughly mastered the art of being an official.

Li Xiao didn't dampen his enthusiasm, but smiled faintly, shook his head, and silently accepted it.

This is also true.

All the tribes and ethnic groups in the northern frontier were subdued by Li Xiao's military might and submitted to the Sun and Moon War Banner of Jinzhou.

There are no other shortcuts; it all boils down to one word: fight.

Foreign races all fear power, not morality.

Once you've terrified them and made them feel the threat of extinction, they'll naturally become even more docile than lambs.

"The people of the northern frontier are fierce and valiant. Only by resolving internal strife can we expand outwards."

“Therefore, the establishment of the Northern Frontier Protectorate is imperative,” Li Xiao said in a deep voice.

The main reason was that as his territory expanded, Li Xiao felt increasingly that he didn't have enough time.

The current northern frontier comprises six prefectures: Jinzhou, Damo, Dongdu, Beihai, Xihai, and Qihe.

Meanwhile, Yili was temporarily placed under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Capital, which was a wonderful place.

Li Xiao planned to clear out the Karluks in Yili and then relocate people from Jinzhou and Western Xia to populate the Yili and Qihe regions.

The Yili region was separated and established as an independent prefecture.

In this way, the northern frontier will have seven prefectures, covering a vast area.

It would be difficult for Li Xiao to handle everything on his own.

Therefore, it was necessary to establish a complete Protectorate system to help him manage the northern frontier.

"The Grand Commander is wise," Zhang Xinghua complimented with a smile.

Then, continuing from Gu Zizhong's words, he said, "Within the Protectorate, the highest-ranking person is called the Protector, followed by two Deputy Protectors."

"The prefecture also has subordinate officials such as the chief secretary, the military commander, and the six military advisors to assist the protector-general in handling daily affairs."

...An hour later, Gu Zizhong and the other man left the study. Li Xiao sat alone at his desk, holding a calligraphy brush in his hand, with a blank sheet of paper in front of him.

His mind was preoccupied with the establishment of the Protectorate, especially the appointment of officials, which was of paramount importance.

After the two explained, Li Xiao gained a basic understanding of the structure of the Beiting Protectorate.

From Li Xiao's perspective on corporate management in his later years, this structure was rather crude, riddled with loopholes, and far from perfect.

But for this era, it is already the best architecture proven by practice.

Excessive detail can lead to a waste of resources and bureaucratic redundancy.

Simple and direct management is often more effective.

Therefore, Li Xiao decided to first imitate the structure of the Beiting Protectorate, make simple modifications, and then establish the Beijiang Protectorate.

As for a more refined management structure, it can be established when it is truly needed in the future.

His first consideration was the appointment of officials.

Deputy Protector-General? Not even worth considering.

With Li Xiao protecting them all, that's enough.

The Northern Protectorate will not allow such a powerful person to exist.

Therefore, the first position he wrote down on the paper was Chief Secretary.

This position is considered the head of the civil service, equivalent to the prime minister of a country.

But when he thought of the things that happened with Lao Zhu, Li Shanchang, and Hu Weiyong, Li Xiao shook his head slightly.

"Let's leave it empty for now!"

The so-called court struggles are, in essence, a struggle between the power of the emperor and the power of the prime minister. The relationship between the two is one of ebb and flow, and it is difficult for them to coexist.

Anyway, Li Xiao never intended to be a lazy and incompetent ruler who indulged in eating, drinking, and having fun; it was only right that he be diligent.

"In the future, we could set up a Military Affairs Office to handle official business," Li Xiao said softly, then lightly drew a line across the words "Chief Secretary."

Immediately afterwards, he wrote the two characters 'Sima'.

Its main function was to assist the Protector-General in handling military affairs, including the training, deployment, and logistical support of the army, which was equivalent to the chief of staff in later times.

As long as he is not given the opportunity to seize military power, it can be established.

“Jiu Meng An He is indeed suitable for this position,” Li Xiao murmured.

Jiu Meng Anhe has more seniority than Li Xiao and enjoys high prestige in the Northern Frontier.

Li Xiao was somewhat uneasy about leaving such a person to continue leading troops outside.

After all, during Xiao Simo's time, the power of the governors of various prefectures was too great, which easily led to the separatism of the prefectures. Li Xiao's rise is a clear example of this.

Therefore, the position of governor must be abolished, and a simple separation of military and political power should be implemented in the seven prefectures of northern Xinjiang to prevent one person from monopolizing power.

Therefore, it would be inappropriate to leave Jiu Meng An He in Qi He.

Therefore, Li Xiao decided to hand over the position of Protectorate General to him.

This position is high-ranking and carries great power; the person in charge is responsible for assisting Li Xiao in handling military affairs and formulating battle plans.

He is the second most publicly known military figure in northern Xinjiang.

However, any order from Sima had to be confirmed by Li Xiao before it could be transmitted to the various military garrisons.

It only grants them weight, but does not directly involve them in military power.

Therefore, this is the most suitable position for Jiu Meng An He.

After deciding on the Sima candidate, Li Xiao wrote down several positions: Recorder, Granary Advisor, Merit Advisor, Military Advisor, Works Advisor, and Law Advisor.

These military officers were the ones who actually handled things for the Protectorate General. Li Xiao didn't make a decision so quickly. Instead, he put down his brush, drank the tea in his cup, stood up, and said...

"Come here, prepare the horses."

"Let's go for a walk around the city."

Although the city was still mostly empty, with most houses now used as barracks for the Jinzhou army, Li Xiao still decided to take a look around.

To make plans for the upcoming relocation of the capital.

After all, moving the capital is a major event; it's not simply a matter of relocating people.

……

The rain shower did not wash away the filth in the Eastern Capital; instead, it turned the dried bloodstains in the corners into bloody water, which flowed on the streets.

The horse's hooves pounded the puddle, startling several crows that had been pecking at carrion.

The Imperial Guards led the way, surrounding Li Xiao as he walked through the city.

The Eastern Capital is not a large city; one can walk through all of it in less than half an hour.

On the devastated street, looking at the blood underfoot and the broken bones and flesh in the corners, Li Xiao knew that he could no longer stay in Dongdu.

In this environment, the large gathering of Jinzhou soldiers not only easily led to the spread of plague, but also posed a significant problem for food supplies.

Dongdu has a lot of land that can be cultivated, but it has not been developed and is still mainly used for animal husbandry.

The capital city of Dongdu couldn't afford to support so many soldiers.

Currently, the Jinzhou army's food supplies are all transported from Jinzhou, and the losses along the way are astronomical.

Therefore, the Jinzhou army should return to base as soon as possible.

"Erhu, you don't need to return to Jinzhou this time. Prepare to go to Yili."

Li Xiao walked down the street in Dongdu and spoke to Erhu, who was wearing a cotton-padded jacket beside him.

I happened to run into them just now, so I explained the matter to Erhu in advance.

"Yili?"

Erhu was astonished and asked in confusion, "Are there still royal troops in Yili?"

Li Xiao shook his head slightly and said, "The royal army has long been driven back to the Chu River area by us. Only a small number of troops remain on guard on the south bank of the Ili River in the Seven Rivers."

"As for the local area of ​​Yili, they dare not send any royal troops there."

"Brother, what do you mean?" Erhu asked softly.

"The Karluks of Yili have never been very peaceful and have rebelled several times."

"Last time, they even colluded with the royal army, causing the deaths of Nairi and more than two thousand soldiers from Dongdu."

Li Xiao said in a deep voice, "Now, it's time to settle accounts with them."

The Karluks had long been labeled as traitors and were an unpopular group in the Western Regions.

The Karluks of Jinzhou had already been wiped out by Li Xiao, and the Karluks of Yili were naturally not spared either.

Most importantly, Li Xiao set his sights on the land of Yili.

With its fertile soil and abundant water and grass, it is known as the "Jiangnan of the North," suitable for both grazing and farming.

Li Xiao planned to introduce a large number of Han people into Yili, so the original Karluk people could not stay.

"Don't worry, brother. Yili is nothing. We'll take it down with ease." Erhu patted his chest and grinned.

Let alone a motley crew of Karluk herders, he could wipe out even another royal army.

"However, after we conquered Yili, those Karluks..." After laughing, Erhu turned to look at Li Xiao.

Li Xiao merely glanced at him and said calmly, "Have you forgotten how your father died? Do I have to teach you something like this?"

Upon hearing this, Erhu's face instantly darkened, and he gritted his teeth as he said, "How could I dare forget!"

"The Karluks are the worst kind of people."

"Big brother, I know what to do, hmph." Erhu snorted coldly, already thinking about how to deal with those Karluks in the most cruel way.

Why did Li Xiao send Erhu to Yili?
It's because of his personality.

When they first broke through Sanhe Fortress and faced the corpses of the Karluks lying all over the ground, the other teenagers felt more or less uncomfortable, and some even vomited.

But Erhu was naturally carefree and didn't feel anything at all.

In subsequent wars, they showed no mercy in killing the enemy.

His journey to Yili marked the end of the Karluk people.

Without delay, Erhu left immediately after receiving the order to muster his troops.

Li Xiao lost interest in strolling around and ordered, "Return to the manor."

The group returned to the Marquis of Wucheng's residence, but just as they were about to arrive home, Li Xiao suddenly reined in the horses outside a house.

Pointing to the intact gate, he asked, "What place is this?"

The houses in the city were more or less damaged, but this mansion was completely intact.

Moreover, it is not far from the Prince's Mansion and the Marquis of Wucheng's Mansion, so the people living in such a residence must be of extraordinary status.

Li Xiao thought through all the nobles in the original capital city, but still couldn't figure out who was here.

At this moment, the guards in the courtyard also heard the noise outside the door, recognized Li Xiao through the crack in the door, and then opened the door and came out.

"This humble servant greets the Grand Commander."

The two guards bowed and said.

"Whose guards are you? And whose residence is this?"

Li Xiao asked, "Judging from their clothes, they are undoubtedly Khitans."

"Reporting to the Grand Commander, we are the personal guards of the Prince's Palace, here on the orders of His Majesty to guard this place."

“This place also belongs to the outer residence of the Prince’s mansion,” a guard stammered.

Royal guards?

This puzzled Li Xiao. Could it be that Xiao Simo personally arranged this? Could it be that there was some important person involved?
"Who lives inside?" Li Xiao asked curiously.

"Reporting to the Grand Commander, they are all prisoners, some of whom you captured from the capital two years ago," the guard whispered.

"Prisoners?" Li Xiao instantly recalled what happened in Husiwoer.

I do remember that they did capture quite a few people.

Li Xiao had taken most of the ordinary prisoners of war to Jinzhou to mine, and now less than half of them remain.

Those who remained in the Eastern Capital were all people of high status.

They were even Yelü Zhilugu's concubines or princesses.

Thinking of this, Li Xiao immediately recalled the treaty he had signed with Yelü Zhilugu.

"It seems Yelü Zhilugu is going to marry a princess to me, isn't he?" Li Xiao muttered to himself.

I've been so busy fighting Kangli's army that I almost forgot about this matter.

Moreover, that scoundrel Yelü Zhilugu is despicable.

He got something for nothing: he married a captured princess to him, gaining Li Xiao as his son-in-law without giving anything in return.

"Is Princess Zheng here?" Li Xiao asked.

The guard immediately nodded: "Reporting to the Grand Commander, Princess Zheng is also inside, and she is the most restless of them all."

Restless? That's because you haven't been beaten enough.

He whipped her with a soft whip every day to see if she would behave.

"Ha~"

Li Xiao chuckled, "It's fine as long as you're inside."

Since I have some time today, I'll get it done!

"Lead the way, let's go in and take a look."

(End of this chapter)