The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 235 Take a handful of soil from the northern frontier, drink a bowl of water from the northern frontier

As dusk fell, the Northern Frontier Army's camp resembled a giant golden python coiled across the vast Gobi Desert.

The 15,000 soldiers of the First and Fourth Garrisons, all clad in yellow armor, formed a flowing, molten gold sea in the afterglow of the setting sun.

Yellow flags fluttered across the camp, and from a distance, they looked like a golden curtain hanging from the sky, covering the earth.

Warhorses neighed, smoke billowed, and a cacophony of sounds rose and fell as soldiers ate their dinner, their laughter and shouts filling the air.

This is a rare moment of relaxation during the day. Once the sun has completely set, the entire camp will be under complete curfew, and no one is allowed to make any loud noises.

Just then, on the watchtowers ten zhang high on either side of the camp gate, a soldier on guard shouted to the general below: "Commander, a cavalry force of about two hundred men is coming towards us. They seem to be from the Sixth Garrison."

The first town's hundred households on duty immediately looked around and could only see a group of small white dots on the grassland.

It is somewhat similar to the armor of the Sixth Town.

"Send someone to check it out."

Three cavalrymen rushed out of the gate, made contact with the approaching cavalry, and confirmed their identities.

The Sixth Garrison, the Eighteenth Hundredth Household, was responsible for escorting the Jin Kingdom delegation to meet the Grand Protector.

At the same time, Wanyan Yongxi was in a very sorry state, like a plucked pheasant.

The original luxurious carriage was seized by the Sixth Town, and all the guards around it were disarmed and imprisoned.

He was given a dilapidated carriage and a small number of accompanying officials, and escorted north by the Northern Frontier Army cavalry.

This infuriated Wanyan Yongxi: "I am the special envoy of the Emperor of the Great Jin Kingdom, and I have come to discuss important matters with Xiao Simo."

"How dare you treat me with such disrespect?"

“Barbaric, you are a bunch of barbarians.”

At first, Wanyan Yongxi kept cursing and demanding to be received with the highest level of courtesy as an envoy from the superior country, but the cavalrymen of the Sixth Garrison responsible for escorting him completely ignored his angry curses.

Left with no other choice, he could only shut up, but sitting in this dilapidated carriage, the jolting made him feel like he was about to vomit.

Until that evening, when he saw the Northern Frontier military camp stretching across the vast land like a giant beast in the distance, Wanyan Yongxi's eyes narrowed sharply.

"This is~"

As far as the eye can see, the entire Gobi grassland is dotted with densely packed tents, stretching from one hilltop to the foot of another.

It seemed boundless and endless, with only the yellow-armored soldiers moving about and the sun and moon battle flags fluttering above the gate.

"What a huge military camp!" Wanyan Yongxi murmured in shock.

Based on his experience, he judged that such a huge military camp could hold at least 100,000 troops.

However, considering that there are more cavalry in the northern frontier, and warhorses occupy most of the space, there are still at least 20,000 to 30,000 troops.

"If they are all cavalry, the military strength of the Northern Frontier should not be underestimated," Wanyan Yongxi said heavily in his heart.

Then, after estimating the distance from Blackwater City to this location, it was determined that this place was definitely not in the northern frontier.

"Why are so many troops stationed so close to Blackwater City?"

Could it be...?

"Is the Northern Frontier Army going to attack the Xia Kingdom?"

Wanyan Yongxi was shocked by his own guess.

He couldn't wait to go back and tell Weiming Zhongshi this information, but then he thought that he could let Xixia test the strength of the Northern Frontier first.

Soon, Wanyan Yongxi was sent to the Northern Frontier Army Camp.

They set up a tent at random, gave him a smelly sheepskin rug, and made him sleep on the hard ground.

That night, Wanyan Yongxi couldn't sleep.

He didn't fall asleep until late at night, but was woken up by the noise of the Northern Frontier Army just two hours later.

"An envoy from the Jin Kingdom, the Grand Protector requests your presence."

A centurion found Wanyan Yongxi and led him toward the main tent.

On the way, Wanyan Yongxi noticed that the soldiers of the Northern Frontier Army all seemed very busy.

Wearing heavy cotton armor to ward off the cold wind, they ate hard naan bread while packing up tents, cooking stoves, and other equipment and placing them on their horses.

When they saw Wanyan Yongxi dressed in Jurchen clothing, they all looked at him with wary and sharp eyes.

These soldiers, who had emerged from mountains of corpses and seas of blood, exuded a powerful and menacing aura with expressionless faces, making Wanyan Yongxi feel a chill run down his spine.

Trying to remain calm, he asked, "Where are you going to break camp?"

"Are we going to attack Blackwater City?"

He had hoped to extract some useful information, but the centurion beside him, dressed in yellow armor with red trim, merely glanced at him coldly and offered no reply.

Soon, Yang Shoujing led him to the outside of Li Xiao's golden tent.

The Wuwei Army is dismantling its tents, and the army will soon continue its advance towards Heishui City.

At this moment, Li Xiao was sitting outside the tent, eating a naan bread in big mouthfuls and drinking a bowl of millet porridge in one go.

"Send word to Li Donghe, the commander of the Sixth Garrison: the main force of my central army will arrive at Baiji Rock, north of Heishui City, in three days."

"Order the troops of the Sixth Garrison to first clear out the military camps outside Blackwater City, cut off their wings, and block the passage of the Blackwater River."

While Li Xiao was speaking, a young man next to him also transcribed Li Xiao's original words in simplified Chinese characters.

This young man, named Li Shurong, looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old.

My father was once a low-level official in Shazhou, so he was able to send me to school to learn to read and write.

After arriving in the northern frontier, because of his intelligence and beautiful handwriting, he was chosen by Li Xiao to serve as his 'scribe'.

He held no official position and had no power; his only responsibility was to write things for Li Xiao.

After he finished writing, Li Xiao checked it and then directly stamped it with his own 'Northern Frontier Protector' seal.

Finally, the wax seal was applied, and the messenger was given a fast horse to deliver it to Li Sanhe.

"Grand Protector, the Jin envoy has arrived."

Seeing that Li Xiao had some free time, Yang Shoujing stepped forward to report.

Upon hearing this, Li Xiao glanced at the 'fat man' in the distance and nodded, saying, "Let him come over."

Then, Wanyan Yongxi came to Li Xiao.

Looking at the young man dressed in dark gold armor, he was somewhat surprised.

"Are you Xiao Simo, the Eastern Capital Garrison Commander of the Liao Kingdom?"

Li Xiao stood still, surrounded by a dozen or so imperial guards who stood with their swords drawn, staring intently at Wanyan Yongxi.

He said calmly, "I am not the garrison commander of the Eastern Capital."

"It was Li Xiao, the Grand Protector of the Northern Frontier."

"Your elder brother Xiao Simo has passed away. What business does the patron have with you? You can tell me."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wanyan Yongxi's eyes narrowed slightly, but he remained outwardly calm.

He gleaned three meanings from Li Xiao's words.

Xiao Simo is dead.

The northern border is now in the hands of this young man named Li Xiao.

He was Xiao Simo's brother, and judging from his name and language, he seemed to be a Han Chinese.

Wanyan Yongxi nodded slightly, not seeming to care much.

It doesn't matter whether Xiao Simo lives or dies, as long as he can see the person in charge of the Northern Frontier.

"Your Excellency, I am Wanyan Yongxi. I have come here on the orders of His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty, hoping that Your Excellency can present two things to my Great Jin."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiao became somewhat curious.

If I remember correctly, the emperor of the Jin Dynasty at this time should be called Wanyan Jing.

"What does the sugar daddy want?" Li Xiao asked.

Wanyan Yongxi straightened his chest and smiled faintly: "My Emperor hopes that the Grand Protector can offer a handful of soil from the Northern Frontier and a bowl of water from the Northern Frontier."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiao immediately laughed.

"Hahaha~"

"My northern frontier soil and water?"

"Hahahaha~"

But the next second, Li Xiao's laughter stopped abruptly, and his calm and indifferent gaze pressed down on Wanyan Yongxi.

I thought the Jin Kingdom was a little greedy, but I never expected them to be so insatiable.

They actually want to swallow up the entire northern frontier; aren't they afraid of bursting their stomachs?

As an envoy, Wanyan Yongxi was not someone to be trifled with. Faced with Li Xiao's imposing aura, he merely glanced at him indifferently, stroked the gyrfalcon embroidered in gold thread on his brocade robe, and pretended to be nonchalant.

A mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips: "What? Has the Grand Protector finished laughing? Or perhaps the sandstorms of the grasslands have blocked your ears, preventing you from understanding what I'm saying?"

He raised his head again and looked at the busy soldiers and officers of the northern frontier around him.

Although they were already wary of the strength of the Northern Frontier Army, on the surface they represented the dignity of the Great Jin Dynasty and could not afford to be compromised.

Looking again at the vast grasslands in the distance, he said in a calm voice, "My Emperor said that the soil of the Northern Frontier should be dyed the color of the Great Jin, and the waters of the Northern Frontier should be used to raise the warhorses of the Great Jin."

"If Your Excellency the Grand Protector knows what's good for you and obediently hands it over, we can still retain some dignity."

Li Xiao's eyes grew even sharper. He smiled faintly, clapped his hands lightly, and said, "Good, Lord Wanyan has great courage."

“No one has ever dared to threaten Bendu like this before. You are the first.”

Wanyan Yongxi smiled faintly and nodded, saying, "The men of our Great Jin have always been courageous."

"Not only do they dare to think, but they also dare to do."

He then added pointedly, "I've heard that the Northern Frontier and the Royal Court have always been at odds. If the Emperor of our Great Jin were to send troops to help the Liao Emperor quell the rebellion, I wonder if the Great Protector of the Northern Frontier could handle that situation."

This was also the source of the Jin Dynasty's confidence.

The Northern Frontier and the royal court were locked in a struggle, and the Jin Dynasty was the key factor that could alter the balance of power in the Western Regions.

However, due to the information gap, the Jin dynasty's rulers and ministers were unaware that the royal court could no longer pose a threat to the northern border.

As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of clashing swords rang out. The surrounding Imperial Guards drew their cavalry swords, their eyes cold and menacing as they stared at Wanyan Yongxi.

Yang Shoujing's curved blade was almost touching his neck. His face was contorted with rage as he shouted, "Arrogant!"

They were just waiting for Li Xiao's order to cut him in two.

But when faced with swords and axes at his feet, Wanyan Yongxi remained unmoved, instead giving his personal guards a disdainful look.

With his head held high and chest out, hands behind his back, and a calm and composed demeanor, he said, "If the Grand Protector wants to taste the might of the Great Jin cavalry, then please kill me right here and now."

"After the moon sets, our Emperor will surely send 300,000 troops to the northern frontier to raze your camp to the ground!"

"Don't think you can become a hero just by hiding in this yellow sand. In the eyes of the Great Jin, the northern frontier is nothing but a lamb waiting to be slaughtered!"

After saying that, Wanyan Yongxi's face showed a slight sneer, and he looked at Li Xiao's face, speaking in a seductive tone.

"However, if my Great Jin Iron Cavalry were to go on an expedition, it would surely cause devastation to the grasslands."

"Our Emperor cherishes life and does not wish to see such a tragic scene."

"That's why the Grand Protector was given a special chance to live."

"Offer up the land and water of the northern frontier, and become an eternal subject of my Great Jin Kingdom. At that time, we will be one family."

"Our Great Jin will also help the Northern Frontier, eliminate the threat to the Royal Court, and make you, the Grand Protector, the ruler of the Liao Kingdom."

"Isn't it beautiful?"

Throughout Wanyan Yongxi's performance, Li Xiao remained expressionless. This Wanyan Yongxi was indeed a capable minister; he remained unfazed even with swords and axes at his side, and even under such circumstances, he still managed to coerce and entice Li Xiao, who held considerable military power.

He is definitely a qualified diplomat.

However, Li Xiao did not believe any of the promises he made.

Help the Northern Frontier eliminate the Royal Court?

Ha ha.

The Jin people were hoping that the Northern Frontier and the Royal Court would both be weakened, but they simply wanted to use the Northern Frontier to expand their sphere of influence to the entire Western Regions.

"Does the Jin envoy know about the cutting and seizing of the Han slaves?" Li Xiao suddenly asked in a calm voice.

Upon hearing the name, Wanyan Yongxi was first taken aback, then his expression changed, and he looked at Li Xiao with surprise and suspicion.

Niange Hannu was a general in the early years of the Jin Dynasty. He followed Wanyan Zongbi in his campaigns in the south and north and made great contributions.

In the fourth year of the Huangtong era (1144), the Jin dynasty appointed Niange Hannu as General Wuyi and sent him as an envoy to the Western Liao.

Upon his arrival in Western Liao, Empress Dowager Xiao Tabuyan happened to be out hunting.

Upon seeing Xiao Tabuyan, he not only refused to dismount and kneel, but also demanded that Xiao Tabuyan dismount to receive the imperial edict.

Xiao Tabuyan was furious and ordered his men to tear him to pieces. The wine vessel made from his skull is still kept in the royal court.

Wanyan Yongxi was naturally well aware of these matters, but Li Xiao's sudden mention of them made him feel uneasy.

"What does the Grand Protector mean?"

"When two countries are at war, envoys are not to be killed. Empress Dowager Gantian has already broken the rules by killing our Great Jin envoy."

"His Majesty, considering her status as a woman, will not pursue the matter further, but the Grand Protector should not repeatedly challenge the bottom line of our Great Jin."

Wanyan Yongxi threatened in a stern voice.

However, in the face of his threat, Li Xiao simply shook his head slightly.

If Li Xiao had known that the Jin Kingdom had such intentions, he wouldn't have wasted his time listening to this guy's nonsense.

He slowly walked up to Wanyan Yongxi, his tall figure exuding a strong sense of oppression.

He lowered his head slightly, looking down at Wanyan Yongxi, who was barely taller than Li Xiao's nose.

“The people of the Northern Frontier are tough; they would rather break than bend,” Li Xiao said in a deep voice, his sharp gaze piercing his eyes.

"Want the soil of the northern frontier? You Jin people will have to pay with your lives first! Want the water of the northern frontier? I'll see if you have the ability to drink a sip while you're still alive!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Xiao kicked him away.

"Ah~"

A scream rang out, and Wanyan Yongxi's round body rolled a long way.

Li Xiao's icy voice rang out from behind: "If the Jin dogs dare to step into the Northern Frontier, I will make sure they never return."

"Mix your blood into the soil, sink your corpses into the river, and let the whole grassland know—those who invade our northern border will die without a complete corpse!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Xiao shouted, "Cut off his head, put it in a box, and write down everything Ben Du just said. Send them all back to Zhongdu together."

"As ordered."

Yang Shoujing patted his chest and shouted, then his face turned cold and stern as he led his men toward Wanyan Yongji.

He'd been putting up with this guy for ages and had been wanting to chop him up with a knife for a long time.

As for the rule that envoys should not be killed during war between two countries?

Just listen.

That idea is outdated; nowadays, the strong rule the world.

Besides, where is this place?
The wild northern frontier, the untamed grasslands.

When fighting against a group of barbarians, who would still abide by the rule of not killing envoys?
If we're talking about who killed the most envoys, the Jurchens were number one.

Faced with the menacing Yang Shoujing and his group, Wanyan Yongxi was truly panicked.

Struggling to his feet, he shouted, "In war between two countries, no one shall be killed..."

But before he could finish speaking, two soldiers of the Armed Police Force pinned him to the ground.

Yang Shoujing drew his cavalry saber, stood aside, and suddenly swung his hand, delivering an execution-style beheading.

With a "splat," blood splattered, staining the grass red, and the terrified head rolled on the ground.

"Great Protector, the Jin Kingdom is unlikely to let this go this time."

"Then let them come," Li Xiao said coldly.

He killed Wanyan Yongxi to provoke the Jin people, hoping to get Wanyan Jing to send a large army on a distant expedition to the northern frontier.

Although the Jin Dynasty has begun to decline, its strength should not be underestimated, with a standing army of hundreds of thousands.

The strength of the northern frontier is naturally incomparable to that of the north.

Attacking the Central Plains at this time would be tantamount to suicide.

However, if the decisive battle were to take place on the grasslands, luring the Jin army to launch a long expedition, then the pace of the war would be completely in Li Xiao's hands.

He was confident that he could completely annihilate the Jin army on the grasslands.

The massive supply lines, weapons, and warhorses of the Jin army, and most importantly, the hundreds of thousands of Han men, will all be used to provide sustenance for the northern frontier.

Therefore, Li Xiao was eager to hear news of the Jin army's expedition!

"Whoo~"

“Pickle his head, and get rid of the guards who were with him.”

Li Xiao glanced coldly at the corpse on the ground, then mounted his warhorse and continued leading his army toward Blackwater City.

Even if the Jin Dynasty sends a large army on a distant expedition, the war will definitely not break out this year.

Putting aside the long distance, the mobilization and logistical preparation of 100,000 troops alone could not be completed in a short period of time.

By the time all the preparations are complete, it will probably be almost autumn.

If the Jin army dared to enter the grasslands in autumn, Li Xiao would be laughing in his dreams.

Therefore, the most urgent task is to resolve the issue of Western Xia first, and then deal with the possible expedition launched by the Jin Dynasty next year.

……

Just as the armies of the First and Fourth Divisions were about to arrive at Blackwater City, the Sixth Division, which had received orders from Li Xiao, had already launched an attack.

Huangshi Village is a small military village located about ten miles north of Heishui City.

It was the first line of defense north of Blackwater City, used to guard against attacks from nomadic tribes in the north.

Huangshi Village is not large, with a permanent population of just over a hundred people, all of whom are military households, and the military and civilians are integrated.

This was their home, so they reclaimed a piece of land around Huangshi Village to grow grain.

Although spring plowing has ended, there are still many people weeding and carrying water in the fields.

Amidst the howling wind, an old farmer, dressed in a thick sheepskin coat and with a face etched with deep lines, carried water from the river in a wooden bucket and poured it into the seed holes, ladle by ladle.

Looking at this field full of hope, a bitter smile appeared on his face.

"Sigh, I hope God will be kind to us this year and give us more food."

The Northwest is barren, with the average grain yield being less than 200 jin per mu.

Military pay was often delayed, and the whole family depended on these few acres of land for a living.

The old farmers were a little better off, with a few acres of poor land, but others could only cultivate the land belonging to important figures such as commanders and military governors.

The amount of grain that can be harvested throughout the year is very small.

"Sigh, when will this end!"

In the distance, a middle-aged man sighed heavily.

Paying rent, taxes, and military service—the heavy burden was almost suffocating him.

Especially now, when food is scarce, our household supplies are almost gone.

The kids at home are crying for food every day, and the men are exhausted too.

"Be patient."

"If I endure for another ten years or so, my life will be over."

"As long as we accumulate good deeds, we will be able to live a good life in our next life."

The man's wife spoke with a devout expression, while also putting her hands together in prayer to Buddha.

The Western Xia was a country where Buddhism flourished; even in a frontier town like Blackwater City, there were two Buddhist temples.

There are quite a few people who believe in Buddhism.

The hardships of life have numbed them, leaving them with no choice but to place their hopes on the elusive afterlife.

Although the man remained skeptical, he had believed for half his life and couldn't abandon his belief halfway, so he also put his hands together in prayer.

But in the next second, he suddenly heard a low rumble coming from afar.

"Boom boom boom~"

Like a muffled thunderclap from the horizon, everyone's expression changed drastically.

"Horse hooves?"

"There was the sound of horses' hooves, at least several hundred of them."

"They came from the north; there are enemies."

"Quickly, hurry back to the village and light the beacon fire."

The soldiers and civilians working in the fields were thrown into chaos. They mounted their horses and fled towards Huangshi Village as if their lives depended on it.

At the same time, the wild roars of the men of the northern frontier echoed across the northern lands.

"Giddy up, giddy up!"

"Drive~"

"Roar roar roar roar roar~"

Hundreds of figures in red-edged white armor leaped out from behind the sand dunes, like a blizzard sweeping towards the village.

It occasionally let out a roaring howl, constantly putting psychological pressure on the soldiers and civilians of Huangshi Village.

"It's the Northern Frontier Army."

"They're charging at us."

"Quickly light the signal fire and request reinforcements from Blackwater City."

Although there was a tense atmosphere in Huangshi Village, everything was in good order, and everyone knew what they were supposed to do.

Regardless of age or gender, everyone who could draw a bowstring stood on the city wall.

He gripped his bow and arrow tightly, aiming them at the distant cavalry.

They shot arrows as soon as they got close.

However, the Northern Frontier Army will not let them succeed so easily.

They stopped a hundred meters apart and then rushed to the left and right, surrounding Huangshi Village.

Seeing the smoke signals being lit in Huangshi Village, a deputy commander reined in his horse, stood at a distance, and said in a deep voice, "The Grand Protector will arrive at Blackwater City in three days."

"We must break through Huangshi Village within two days."

"Welcome, Grand Protector!"

(End of this chapter)