The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 274 Five Great Generals, Six Garrisons Expanding the Army

Inside the lobby, a detailed geomantic map of northern Xinjiang is prominently displayed in the center.

Li Xiao's finger slowly moved along the boundary of the Hexi Corridor.

Looking at everyone in the hall, he said in a deep voice, "This governor is different from ordinary officials. He not only needs to coordinate the collection of money, grain and taxes, resettle displaced people and distribute land, but also supervise local education and ensure the smooth implementation of Han names and Han systems."

"From now on, disputes among the people of Gansu, water conservancy repairs, and taxes for merchants will all be decided by the governor."

Seeing the thoughtful expressions on everyone's faces, Li Xiao emphasized, "But the power of the governor also needs to be checked and balanced. Military power still belongs to the generals in various regions, and the governor has no right to mobilize troops."

"Only by having both civil and military officials check and balance each other, and clearly defining responsibilities, can Gansu enjoy long-term stability and security."

As soon as Li Xiao finished speaking, everyone shouted, "We will obey the Grand Protector's order!"

Then, Li Shurong, who was in charge of the paperwork, stepped forward with a roll of cloth edged in gold, straightened his back, and said in a passionate voice: "Now that the Hexi Corridor has been pacified, everything is waiting to be rebuilt."

"Zhang Xinghua, the military advisor of the Examination and Merit Department, is well-versed in civil administration and adept at managing finances and grain. He is hereby relieved of his post as military advisor and promoted to the position of Governor of Gansu."

"From this day forward, he shall be in charge of all civil affairs in Gansu Province. He shall have full authority to decide on all matters concerning taxes, corvée labor, city repairs, and the resettlement of the people."

As soon as he finished speaking, all eyes in the hall fell on Zhang Xinghua, a mixture of surprise and envy.

You should know that this is the first governor of the northern frontier!

However, Zhang Xinghua was among the first batch of civil officials to be sent to the northern frontier. He was originally the governor of Dunhuang, in charge of civil affairs in Dunhuang.

In just a few years, he had become a high-ranking official in charge of civil affairs in the entire Hexi Corridor.

This demonstrates the extent of Li Xiao's trust and regard for him.

Clearly, Li Xiao had already informed Zhang Xinghua about this matter; today was simply a formality.

Therefore, Zhang Xinghua's reaction was normal. He looked up at Li Xiao and firmly said, placing his hand on his chest:

"Your subordinate will certainly do his utmost and live up to the great trust placed in him by the Grand Protector."

Having said that, he took the imperial edict from Li Shurong's hand, signifying the official activation of his status.

Li Xiao nodded slightly, looked at Zhang Xinghua and said in a deep voice, "The first thing to do after taking office as the governor of Gansu is to distribute land to the people of Gansu, restore their livelihoods as soon as possible, and recruit the people who have fled to the mountains."

"Secondly, we should build Tiger Wolf Pass and turn it into a sharp sword hanging over the Hexi Corridor."

"Yes, sir," Zhang Xinghua nodded emphatically.

Then, Li Xiao looked at Luo Meng and other generals: "This Gansu region borders Gaochang to the west, the northern frontier to the north, and the fertile Hexi Corridor to the east."

"In the past, Zhang Qian opened up the Western Regions, and Huo Qubing watered his horses at Qilian, all because this strategic location was related to the lifeline of the world!"

Li Xiao stood up and pointed in the direction of Western Xia in the east: "Although the Xia Kingdom has been defeated, its wolfish ambitions have not died!"

"If they lose this prize, they will surely launch a full-scale counterattack!"

"Therefore, we need to assemble a large force in Gansu to guard our northern border."

Then, Li Xiao asked in a deep voice, "Where is Luo Meng, the deputy commander of the Fourth Garrison?"

Luo Meng strode forward, placed his right hand on his chest, and said, "This subordinate obeys your command."

Gazing at his figure, Li Xiao's voice was firm and resonant, like the clash of metal and stone: "In the Battle of Shanle City, you led the Fourth Garrison to fight against the Xia Kingdom's 30,000-strong army."

"The burning of Shanle City and the annihilation of the Xia Kingdom's central army became the key to turning the tide of the Hexi War."

"His military achievements are outstanding, and he should be promoted."

"You are hereby appointed as General of Gansu, in charge of the military power in Gansu, leading the troops of the Fourth Division to guard the Hexi Corridor."

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Shurong, who was standing next to him, quickly handed Luo Meng the imperial edict that read "Gansu General" with both hands.

Holding the imperial edict in both hands, Luo Meng's face was resolute as he shouted, "This humble general obeys!"

"I will lead my northern border men to guard the Hexi Corridor."

"If Gansu is lost, I am willing to offer my head to him."

Li Xiao nodded slightly and patted Luo Meng's shoulder heavily with his rough palm.

He said in a deep voice, "Gansu is now in your hands."

For Luo Meng, this was a matter of trust and honor, but if Gansu were lost, it would become an abyss of no return.

The phrase "bring your head to me" is not something to be taken lightly.

Because the Northern Frontier Army has a very low tolerance for defeat in war.

To die in battle is glorious; to surrender is shameful.

These eight words are etched into the very bones of every soldier in the Northern Frontier Army.

Even in the event of a minor defeat, Li Xiao would hold the generals and soldiers accountable, killing those who deserved it and retreating those who needed to be retreated.

If it were Gansu that had fallen, such a disastrous defeat would have occurred.

Even without Li Xiao lifting a finger, Luo Meng himself couldn't forgive himself.

Therefore, Luo Meng is under tremendous pressure at this moment.

After all, the safety of more than 200,000 people in the six prefectures of Gansu rested on his shoulders. He not only had to face the possible riots that the newly subjugated people of Gansu might launch, but also the counterattack that Western Xia could launch at any time.

There is no room for the slightest slackness.

Regardless, Luo Meng has officially become the fifth general in the northern frontier to hold local military power.

The first four are Li Dongjiang, the General of the Desert; Li Dongshan, the General of Yinshan; Li Donghe, the General of the Western Sea; and Li Ao, the General of Yili.

Because of the integrated military and civilian system in northern Xinjiang, these four people not only controlled the local military power, but also managed all civil affairs.

There are significant hidden dangers.

Therefore, after the more than 500,000 people in Hexi dispersed to various prefectures in the northern border region, Li Xiao planned to establish a governorship system modeled after Gansu.

Gradually reclaim the civil power from the four generals.

However, the Northern Frontier has always been a nation founded on military force. The civil power they hold was not given by Li Xiao, but rather a necessity given the circumstances in the Northern Frontier.

Completely reclaiming it will not be achieved overnight.

We need to gradually increase the population and slowly implement reforms.

Moreover, due to the needs of the war, Li Xiao also planned to continue to strengthen the power of the commanders of each tribe.

After completing Luo Meng's appointment, Li Xiao stood with his hands behind his back in the center of the council hall.

He glanced at his generals, a meaningful smile suddenly appearing on his lips.

The tense atmosphere instantly eased, like a bowstring being slightly released. The generals exchanged glances, a knowing glint flashing in their eyes.

"The last thing is something you've probably all heard about before."

Li Xiao's voice was deep yet carried an undeniable power as he walked past each general, observing their expressions, and said calmly, "That's right, we're going to expand our army!"

As soon as the words were spoken, a suppressed commotion arose in the hall, and the generals' eyes gleamed with excitement.

Although they had no other intentions, who wouldn't want more troops at their disposal?

Li Xiao strode to the wall where the map of the northern frontier was hanging, and pressed his palm heavily on the center of the map: "The current military strength of the six garrisons is nothing more than the wings of an eagle that have not yet grown fully. How can it bear the grand ambition of expanding the territory?"

"The Battle of Hexi was the first blow my northern frontier wielded against the world!"

Having said that, his fingertips swept across the territory of Western Xia like a sharp sword, his voice cold and stern: "Xia has just suffered a defeat but is still stubbornly resisting. Soon we will launch another eastern expedition, flatten Xingqing Prefecture, and wipe Xia completely off the map!"

Li Xiao's gaze shifted to the northern grasslands, his expression growing increasingly sharp: "And those grassland tribes, they burn, kill, and plunder on the border every day!"

"I want them to know that wherever the Northern Frontier Cavalry goes, the grasslands will become my Northern Frontier pastures, and all the horses will be at my service. The former territory of the Turkic Khaganate will surely reappear in my Northern Frontier hands!"

At its peak, the Turkic Khaganate stretched from the upper reaches of the Liao River in the east to the Caspian Sea in the west, from the Pamir Mountains in the south to Lake Baikal in the north, covering an area of ​​835 million square kilometers.

The northern frontier today is far smaller than the territory of the Turkic Khaganate; even after conquering the tribes of the eastern steppes, it is still not enough.

In the western part of the Seven Rivers region, there are still large tracts of former Turkic territory waiting to be recovered by the northern frontier.

"We must march south to conquer the Central Plains and reclaim the homeland of the Han people. As descendants of the Han, how can we allow our land to be shattered and our glorious civilization to be taken by foreign tribes?"

"We must also march west to the royal court, take the head of that tyrannical ruler, and offer it as a sacrifice to the spirit of King Xiao in heaven!"

Li Xiao's deep voice echoed in the hall. The setting sun grew darker, but it only made the burning fighting spirit in his eyes appear even more intense.

The generals in the hall were filled with fervor, clenching their fists, striking their chests, and shouting: "We are willing to follow the Great Protector and conquer this land!"

"I am willing to follow the Grand Protector and recover the Han dynasty's territory!"

The shouts were so loud that even the guards outside the hall straightened their backs.

Looking at his generals, who were filled with enthusiasm, Li Xiao's smile turned into a determined edge as he continued.

"We have the ambition to expand our territory, the ambition to restore the Han dynasty, and even more so, the awe-inspiring military might to make the barbarians of all directions kneel and submit!"

"The capital has decided to expand the army."

"The First Garrison will be reinforced with 10,000 troops, and the other five Garrisons with 5,000 troops each."

When Li Xiao first established the Six Garrisons, he stipulated that each garrison should have 25,000 soldiers.

Five thousand households make one ten-thousand-household unit, and five ten-thousand-household units make one town.

However, at that time, the population of northern Xinjiang was not large, so the size of each town had to be reduced.

Now, with the addition of 100,000 surrendered soldiers from Western Xia and hundreds of thousands of civilians, the organization of the Six Garrisons can finally be made more organized.

Previously, a commander of ten thousand men only had three thousand men under his command, which was indeed unworthy of the name "ten thousand commanders".

The Jin dynasty's Wanhu Office, depending on the circumstances, also had four to seven thousand households.

Therefore, this expansion of the army is mainly to restore the organizational structure of each Wanhu (a military unit).

Because, in essence, the Wanhu (ten thousand households) is the basic combat unit of the Northern Frontier Army, and the town is just a collection of Wanhu.

Every household in each town was a trusted confidant of Li Xiao, and could directly obey his orders.

Because there were too many households, Li Xiao promoted some people to the rank of commander-in-chief to facilitate combat and temporarily put them in charge of the other households.

Just like the Fourth Town, Luo Meng is Li Xiao's brother-in-law, belonging to the maternal relatives; Tie Tou comes from the Wuwei Army and is Li Xiao's playmate; as for Mo Jun, he is the leader of a nomadic tribe in Jinzhou and obeys Li Xiao.

The three were not from the same faction and checked and balanced each other, but they obeyed Luo Meng, the deputy commander, during the war.

If one person harbors disloyal intentions, the other two will not follow, greatly reducing the risk of separatism and rebellion.

Therefore, Li Xiao's increase in the troops under each commander was not to sit idly by and watch the power of the Six Garrisons expand, but rather to provide a form of restraint.

After the expansion, each household had 5,000 soldiers.

This included a heavy cavalry unit of 300 men, each with two auxiliary soldiers, which were essentially light cavalry.

Each heavy cavalry centurion consisted of sixty heavy cavalrymen and one hundred and twenty light cavalrymen.

Adding them together, it's exactly one thousand households.

After the Battle of Hexi, the Northern Frontier Army captured a large number of Western Xia troops and seized a considerable amount of heavy armor, although the quality varied.

But that's enough to nearly double the number of heavy cavalry in the northern frontier.

Then there was a 300-man crossbow unit, many of whom were captured from the Western Xia army.

Finally, there was the Divine Machine Battalion, composed of twenty Tiger-Dignity Cannons.

The Shenji Battalion and the Shenbi Crossbow were both organized as deputy commanders of a thousand households, directly under the command of commanders of ten thousand households.

Therefore, each 10,000-household unit had five 1,000-household units and two directly subordinate deputy 1,000-household units, totaling a little over 5,000 people.

The three households together formed a town, which was directly under the command of a Shenji Battalion of 1,000 households, consisting of 20 Shenwei cannons.

However, the only exception is the First Town, which is directly under the command of Li Xiao.

This time, the military strength will be doubled, becoming four 10,000-household units, with a total strength of 20,000 men.

In reality, it was the same as the combined forces of the First and Fourth Divisions.

Such a large-scale expansion of the army was accompanied by the promotion and transfer of generals, which was what made them happiest.

Where is Li Dongshui?

As Li Xiao's shout rang out, a general stepped out of the hall.

In his thirties, tall and robust with a resolute face, he was Li Xiao's cousin, and Li Donghe's younger brother.

Li Dongshui, who is the fourth child in the family, was originally named Li Sishui.

"I hereby appoint you as the 190,000th household, under the jurisdiction of the First Town."

"Your humble servant obeys." Li Dongshui accepted the imperial edict, patted his chest, and said in a deep voice.

Although he had been notified by Li Xiao beforehand, he still couldn't help but feel excited when the order was officially issued.

His older brother was the commander of the Sixth Garrison, his cousin Erhu was also a commander, and even Dahu was a deputy commander. He had previously held the position of deputy commander of ten thousand men, but it was actually quite awkward for him.

Therefore, Li Dongshui fought hard in the Battle of Hexi and made many contributions, which finally earned him a promotion.

Overjoyed.

However, his path to promotion ended there in a short period of time.

Unless Li Donghe retires one day, his time as a commander of ten thousand households is coming to an end.

Although the northern frontier was ruled by the Li family, only one person from each branch of the family could rise to prominence.

The second wife died young, leaving no children.

The third wife is Li Donghe, and the fourth wife is Li Dongshan.

The main branch of the family has split into two separate households. With the second uncle in power, it will be difficult for Da Hu to become the official head of the household.

As for Erhu, he has already come of age and has essentially separated from Li Xiao, becoming his own separate household.

Sanbao could certainly come up, but he's still young and hasn't made enough contributions, so he can only lie low for now.

However, with his merits in the Battle of Hexi, he could at least become a deputy commander of ten thousand men.

……

The number of households increased by only one person, Li Dongshui, but the number of households increased by a considerable amount.

At least two thousand-household units will be added to each ten-thousand-household unit.

The entire six towns combined have more than forty thousand-household commanders, and there are even more deputy thousand-household commanders, hundred-household commanders, and so on.

Therefore, this expansion of the army naturally became a cause for celebration among the generals of the northern border regions.

But all of this was earned through their battles and military exploits.

Those generals who felt their chances of advancement in the military were limited, or who were too old or physically unable to continue fighting, could also take another path.

He changed careers and became an official.

For example, a deputy centurion, as long as he can make meritorious contributions on the battlefield, can at least be promoted one rank. However, the competition in the army is fierce, and even if you reach the rank, you may not necessarily have a position.

Therefore, one could choose to change careers and be promoted two ranks, directly becoming a thousand-household commander and managing a thousand households.

As the population of northern Xinjiang increases in the future, he may be promoted to deputy commander of ten thousand households, or even commander of ten thousand households.

Therefore, for the generals of the Northern Frontier Army, this is also a bright path.

However, the specific promotion and transfer process is a long one, and some generals need to study at the Hexi Military Academy.

Therefore, Li Xiao only publicly announced the order for Li Dongshui to become a commander of ten thousand households. The other commanders of a thousand households and a hundred households would be evaluated slowly after returning to Jinzhou.

"Nine Fierce Generals, Commander An!" Li Xiao shouted.

"The end will be here."

Jiu Meng Anhe stepped forward.

He was nominally the second-in-command of the Northern Frontier Army, and also served as the Military Advisor, holding a high position and great power, but he did not truly control the military.

"This expansion of the army and conscription is entirely the responsibility of the Military Affairs Department."

"Priority should be given to selecting prisoners of war from the Xia Kingdom, especially the Kuli infantry who fought alongside our army in the Battle of Junmachang, they are all good soldiers."

"You all need to think this over carefully," Li Xiao instructed.

While expanding the army, he was also gradually reducing the power of the generals of the six divisions.

Previously, the Six Garrisons could expand their armies as needed for war, but in the future, the power to conscript soldiers will be returned to the Grand Protectorate.

Unless in an emergency, the commanders of each town may independently form their own Kuril Army to fight alongside them.

However, after the war, they need to be handed over to the Protectorate General for training.

"I will obey my orders."

Jiu Meng Anhe nodded, patting his chest, and then asked, "However, can these newly recruited soldiers be registered as military households?"

Li Xiao slightly raised his eyelids, shook his head and said, "How can one become a military household without making military achievements?"

"Soldiers who made sufficient contributions during the Battle of Hexi were converted into military households."

"The other newly recruited soldiers were civilians."

Military households were equivalent to cadres, who could be allocated land, promoted, and become officials after being demobilized. There were strict standards for this.

Becoming a soldier in the northern frontier doesn't automatically make you a military household.

Entering the Northern Frontier Army meant starting as an ordinary soldier; merit was the first step to promotion.

……

Military and political affairs are numerous and complex, and many require Li Xiao's personal arrangement.

So the day continued until very late.

Daya and Su Renli, along with their child, waited in the backyard for a long time.

Just as it was getting dark, two young and beautiful women entered the room, both with Uyghur features.

One of them said softly, "My esteemed guests, the Grand Protector and other officials are discussing important matters and will not be able to arrive for some time."

"The Grand Protector sent word that the two noblemen may go over and have their meal first."

Today is a family dinner, with only Daya's family and Wei Xuan attending, so there's no need for many formalities.

Besides, there are children here; Li Xiao can simply tell them to eat first.

But the Su family were guests after all, so how could they eat before the hosts arrived?
Even your own brother-in-law is not an option!

In reality, Su Renli and Daya were still terrified of Li Xiao, after all, he was the legendary Protector-General of the Northern Frontier!

A ruthless butcher who kills without blinking an eye.

The couple naturally didn't dare to overstep their bounds as the sister and brother-in-law.

Moreover, Wei Xuan had specifically reminded her that although Er Ya was the Grand Protector's concubine, she wasn't entirely at ease under that glorious halo.

After all, he still has a legal wife above him.

Moreover, that person comes from a prestigious family, has a noble status, and wields considerable influence within the Northern Frontier Army.

Therefore, Wei Xuan told them to keep a low profile and be cautious, and not to cause any trouble for Er Ya.

Furthermore, do not use your status as a relative of the emperor to flaunt your position and cause trouble.

So, although Daya and her husband had been waiting for a long time, they stayed put obediently, while the children couldn't sit still at all.

"no, I'm fine."

"We're not hungry either. Let's eat together after the Grand Protector is finished with his work," Daya and the other woman said, shaking their heads in thanks.

After the woman's attempts to persuade him failed twice, she smiled slightly and turned to leave.

But not long after, the two men brought in a soldier from the northern frontier, carrying a food basket. Inside the basket were three bowls of steamed egg custard.

"Although the two esteemed guests are not hungry, the three children cannot wait any longer."

"Let them have a bowl of steamed egg custard to fill their stomachs first."

"The Grand Protector will be arriving in a while."

The slightly younger woman reached out her delicate hand and placed three bowls of steamed egg custard on the table.

The food was crystal clear and filled the room with fragrance. It was all made by the chefs that Li Xiao brought from the northern frontier, and it immediately attracted the attention of Su Wuji and his younger sister.

As for the youngest, Su Wuyang, he was still nursing in Daya's arms.

It was said to be for the three children, but one of the bowls was also for the eldest daughter.

After the two women left the room, Daya picked up a spoon to feed her youngest son egg custard and remarked, "The women around the Grand Protector are quite nice."

"However, they shouldn't be ordinary maids..."

Those two women were dressed in gorgeous clothes and had a graceful demeanor; they were clearly not ordinary people.

The fact that he could appear in the inner quarters of the Grand Protectorate speaks volumes about his identity.

Li Xiao's woman!
It could even be a concubine.

Thinking of this, Daya felt sorry for her younger sister again.

He said in a slightly sour tone, "The Grand Protector has so many women."

"They even bring it with them when they go to war."

Although in this era, it was considered natural for men to have multiple wives and concubines, especially for capable men like Li Xiao, a hundred would not be too many.

But if someone's younger sister becomes a concubine, wouldn't the family worry about whether she will be bullied in the inner quarters?
Of course, those who seek wealth and glory by betraying their sisters don't care.

And there are quite a few people like that.

But Daya is clearly not.

Not daring to vent her frustrations on Li Xiao, she could only take it out on her man. Turning to Su Renli, she snorted:

"Hmph, if you dare bring other women home, I'll..."

Before he could finish speaking, he noticed that the guy was staring blankly at the backs of the two women as they left.

Daya's expression changed, and she lowered her voice and said, "Su Renli, are you crazy?"

"You dare to covet the Grand Protector's woman?"

Su Renli was quite a womanizer when he was young, but after experiencing some things, he restrained his nature and only had Da Ya as his legal wife, with no other women in his family.

But unexpectedly, this guy was incorrigible and dared to peep at the Grand Protector's women right there in the Grand Protector's headquarters.

That's practically suicide!
Seeing Da Ya's flushed face and her clenched fists, Su Renli panicked and quickly said, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Then, lowering his voice, he explained, "Even if you gave me ten lives, I wouldn't dare to have any improper thoughts about the Grand Protector's woman."

"I just felt that the older woman looked familiar."

"look familiar?"

Daya frowned and glared at him, looking somewhat disbelieving.

Su Renli, meanwhile, racked his brains, looking troubled as he pondered, "I'm sure I've seen her before."

Where have I seen you before?

After thinking for a long time, just as he glanced out the window, a sudden inspiration struck him.

This was the former residence of the governor of Liangzhou, which instantly reminded him of the woman's identity.

"I've got it! She's the governor's wife!"

Su Renli's eyes widened, and he gasped in shock.

He was a scholar who passed the imperial examination in the Western Xia Dynasty, and he had also spent some time with Pucha Ayida, so he had seen Pucha Yu from afar.

She was the wife of Supinaluo, the governor of Liangzhou, and the eldest daughter of the Pucha family.

But he never expected that when he saw her again, it would be in the inner quarters of the Protector-General's residence.

Yes, yes.

"With the fall of Liangzhou City by the Grand Protector, everything in Liangzhou City naturally belongs to the Grand Protector. The mere governor of Liangzhou is now nothing more than a prisoner of the Grand Protector."

"How can I possibly keep such a stunningly beautiful woman?"

Su Renli said with an excited look on his face, as if he was excited because he saw the once high and mighty governor now getting his comeuppance.

After saying that, he sighed softly, "The Grand Protector is truly a role model for us men."

Even those who harbor hatred can mount their warhorses and accomplish such a magnificent feat.

When Da Ya heard about Pu Chayu's identity, she was also shocked: "She's actually the governor's wife?"

"Yet they serve us like maids? Truly~"

But then he shook his head, worried about his younger sister.

The Protector-General takes several women with him after each battle.

The number of women in the inner quarters is increasing; when will it ever end?
With so many women together, there's bound to be infighting. Won't that affect Er Ya's status and the fact that the Grand Protector is her favorite?
Sure enough, men only behave when they're hanging on the wall.

(End of this chapter)