The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 282 The Coup in Gaochang, the Imperial Concubine's Visit to Relatives

"You unfilial son, what a terrible thing you've done!"

Arcus's roar echoed through the main hall of the Prime Minister's residence.

He grabbed something from the table and started smashing it at Pei Luo, who was kneeling on the ground.

"Mocuo Wuba is a brave general of Gaochang with outstanding military achievements. He is also extremely loyal to his father. How can you, a beast, insult him like this?"

"Someone, bring me the whip!"

The guards dared not delay and immediately brought over a whip.

Arkus snatched it away, turned around and walked to Motsoubah, shoving the whip into his hand.

"Mocuo Wuba, take it!"

"Beat this beast to death! I'll pretend I never had him!"

Mocuo Wuba gripped the whip handle tightly, looking at Pei Luo kneeling on the ground. Although Pei Luo's face was panicked, it still carried a hint of lewdness. Mocuo Wuba felt the anger in his chest churning like magma.

This beast not only defiled the woman he cherished, but now his eyes also held a hint of contempt as he looked at him.

He wanted nothing more than to kill that bastard, but he wasn't stupid.

While Alcus's words sounded satisfying, they were actually a show of respect for him.

If Pei Luo is really killed, that old thief will definitely not let him off the hook.

Seeing Alcus's 'furious' appearance, Pei Luo hurriedly begged for mercy from Mocuowuba, saying, "General Mocuowuba, I was wrong, it was my fault!"

"I was blinded by greed, I'm so sorry! From now on, whatever kind of woman you want, I'll find her for you, ten, a hundred!"

Pei Luo spoke earnestly, but in his heart he was full of disapproval.

That woman was nothing more than a concubine kept by Mocuo Wuba in his outer residence; no matter how well she dressed, it couldn't change her lowly origins.

In aristocratic circles, such women have always been considered objects to be given away as gifts. What's wrong with letting yourself have some fun with them?
Mocuo Wuba's overreaction is simply shameless.

"Shut up, stop making excuses!"

Arkus kicked Pei Luo in the lower back. "General Mocuo Wuba is kind-hearted, but I, your father, will not forgive you!"

Having said that, he snatched the whip and lashed it across Pei Luo's back.

The whip struck the brocade robe with a dull thud, and Pei Luo immediately screamed like a pig being slaughtered, rolling around on the ground.

But after only two lashes, Mocuo Wuba suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Alkus's wrist.

"Prime Minister, stop!"

“Young master is young and inexperienced in the ways of the world, let’s just drop this matter!” Mo Cuo Wuba said in a deep voice.

He knew that those two lashes were meant to be a warning to him; if they continued, things would really come to a head.

"How can that be? I won't be able to quell my hatred until this beast is killed."

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, please report this."

After a struggle, the whip ultimately failed to fall.

"You beast, aren't you going to thank General Motso Wuba?"

"In a couple of days, I will take ten beauties to apologize to Mocuo Wuba in person."

Then, he bestowed some gold and silver as an apology upon Mocuo Wuba.

Mocuo Wuba walked out of the gate, looked back at the heavily guarded Prime Minister's residence, and could only turn away angrily.

Inside the main hall, Arkus looked at his son's disheveled appearance and sneered, "Remember this humiliation. When I ascend the throne, not only will you not be able to take any of the women in Gaochang, but you can take them all at your will."

A hint of joy flashed in Pei Luo's eyes, and he nodded heavily: "I don't want other women, I only want Mo Cuo Wuba's concubine."

But just as Mocuo Wuba returned to his outer residence, he received devastating news.

The woman he loved left a letter and then departed.

"General, I have been defiled by a beast, my body is no longer pure, and I have no face to serve you. I only wish to find an ancient temple, shave my head, and end my remaining days. General, you need not search, just forget me..."

The last few words were crooked and distorted, as if all the strength had been used up.

After reading it, Mocuo Wuba became even more agitated and shouted at the servants, "Which way did the lady go?"

The servant pointed in the direction outside the city, and Mocuo Wuba immediately led his men to give chase.

After searching for a whole day and night without finding a trace, Mocuo Wuba knew that he would lose the woman he loved forever.

"Ah~"

……

The Tengri Festival is an important festival for the Uyghur people, where they worship heaven and earth and their ancestors, praying for a year of favorable weather and abundant harvests, similar to the spring sacrifice in the Central Plains.

Just before the festival, a letter from Jinzhou arrived at the Prime Minister's residence.

Arcus's eyes narrowed instantly after he opened the letter.

"Tajiguli is pregnant!"

He slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly, his white beard bristling with elation, and a smile playing on his lips at the corners of his eyes: "Excellent! It's truly heaven's help!"

Tajiguli was his most beloved daughter. Since marrying into the northern border region, although she was favored by Li Xiao, she had not conceived for a long time, which was always a thorn in his heart.

Now that the good news has arrived, it means that his bond with the Northern Frontier Protectorate has been further strengthened by blood ties.

"If this girl could give birth to a son for the Grand Protector..."

Arcus stroked his goatee, a glint of fanaticism flashing in his eyes.

He could almost see his grandson dressed in golden armor from the northern frontier, receiving homage amidst a vast army.

If this child can take charge of the northern frontier in the future, even if he, Alkus, dies, he can close his eyes with a smile.

But as soon as this thought crossed my mind, reality poured cold water on it.

Li Xiao's legal wife was Princess Xiao Yanyan of the Liao Kingdom, a fierce woman.

Moreover, her influence in the northern frontier was as solid as a rock, and her son, Jin Dao, was the eldest son of the legitimate wife, naturally holding the priority right to inherit the throne.

It would be incredibly difficult for one's own grandson to rise to power.

"But it's not impossible."

Arkus gritted his teeth, his fingertips tapping heavily on the Gaochang territory on the map, a fierce glint in his eyes.

The struggle for succession depends half on one's own abilities and half on the power behind one's backing.

Although Jin Dao's maternal clan was powerful, her grandson was not much less so.

"If I can sit on the throne of the King of Gaochang, the entire army, provisions, and trade routes of Gaochang will be my grandson's support." He clenched his fist and said to himself.

The northern frontier has always relied on Gaochang for supplies, and even if Li Xiao favors his eldest son, he cannot underestimate Gaochang, the bulwark of the southern frontier.

The stronger Gaochang was, the more weight the grandson carried on the scales of inheritance.

And once the grandson takes charge of the northern frontier, he can also give back to Gaochang.

Let's set a small goal first: make Gaochang the most powerful vassal state under the Northern Frontier, and then elect my grandson to the throne.

Then it's just a matter of waiting for the right time...

This idea spread like wildfire, instantly fueling Arcus's ambition.

His determination to usurp the throne became unwavering, and by the end of the year at the latest, the King of Gaochang would have to be replaced.

"Guards!" Alcus shouted, his voice carrying an undeniable authority.

The guards entered in response and stood with their heads bowed.

"Go to the warehouse and select the best tonics. Tian Shan snow lotus, deer antler and cordyceps are all essential. Also prepare two carts of gold, silver and silk and send them to Jinzhou overnight."

Arkus walked to the desk, picked up his pen and wrote quickly: "Tell Tajiguli not to worry about anything, just take good care of yourself and make sure you give me a healthy grandson."

The letter was folded and sealed, and the sealing wax melted into golden-red droplets on the candle flame, then "snap" onto the seal.

"Have Pei Luo come over here again."

Arcus's voice suddenly turned deep, his eyes filled with expectations for his descendants: "You're not getting any younger, you can't keep fooling around all day."

“The guard duties for the Tengri Festival can be a good opportunity for him to gain experience.”

……

The drums of the Tengri Festival resounded throughout Hami City, and the square in front of the ancestral temple was crowded with Uyghurs dressed in their finest attire.

The altar stands tall in the square in front of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and the gilded Gaochang flag gleams coldly in the morning sun.

"The auspicious time has arrived, let's offer the sacrifice!"

As soon as the officiant finished announcing the sacrificial ceremony, nine snow-white lambs were carried onto the altar. The moment the blade sliced ​​across their necks, blood gushed out and trickled down the grooves of the altar.

As Qi Biduo watched this scene, he appeared calm and composed, but in reality, his mind had already wandered far beyond the Temple of Heaven Square.

Success or failure hinges on today.

Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Arcus beside him. The old thief was stroking his beard, giving the kneeling people a smug smile.

If the rebels can be eliminated, Gaochang will regain its rightful place; but if the plot fails, everything will be over.

Looking at the towering altar before him, Chibido adopted a devout expression and slowly knelt on the cold bluestone slab.

Silently praying, "Tengri above, ancestors above, I earnestly request your protection."

“Arkus usurped power and the people were displaced. Gaochang is in imminent danger. Today’s actions are not for personal grudges, but for the sake of the country.”

"Qi Biduo is willing to risk his life, just to see Gaochang return to its rightful place."

The worship ceremony ended, and everything was fine.

Arcus glanced at Chibido beside him and saw that the other man kept his head down and looked submissive. He couldn't help but sneer in his heart: "This guy is getting more and more self-aware."

But no matter how compliant he is, he absolutely cannot be spared after the usurpation.

He then waved to his trusted aide: "His Majesty is unwell, quickly send His Majesty back to the palace."

In his eyes, Chibido was nothing more than a figurehead, a puppet whose mere presence was enough to let the people know that the royal family still existed; the affairs of the court were none of the puppet's business.

They went to great lengths to prevent Chibido from meeting with foreign officials, forbidding them from uttering even a single unnecessary word.

Qi Biduo silently boarded the carriage and returned to the palace ahead of schedule.

Arkus remained where he was to continue presiding over the Tengri festival, where singing and dancing filled the bonfire feast, creating a joyous scene.

The ceremony didn't end until mid-afternoon.

As the setting sun painted the sky a golden-red hue, Alcus, already seven-tenths drunk, was escorted back to the Prime Minister's residence by a hundred-man guard.

He leaned back on the carriage cushions, half asleep, a smug smile still on his lips. The ceremony had gone smoothly today, and Qibi was as obedient as a cat. It seemed that the usurpation was a done deal.

Just as the carriage left Taimiao Street, a series of rapid clanging sounds of armor clashing came from outside, accompanied by the angry shouts of the guards: "Who goes there?!"

Arcus was jolted awake, his drunkenness mostly gone.

Before he could react, an arrow flew and pierced through his carriage. Fortunately, Alcus was always afraid of death and had installed an iron plate in the carriage's lining to prevent assassination.

At that moment, a dozen or so people dressed in Uyghur civilian clothing suddenly attacked, and a group of men rushed out of the houses on both sides of the street.
Armed with swords, spears, bows, and arrows, they charged towards the guards, shouting in unison, "Kill the traitors!"

"Assassins! Protect the Prime Minister!" the guard captain roared.

Chaos erupted outside the carriage in an instant, with the sounds of clashing swords, screams, and the neighing of warhorses filling the air.

Alcus peered out through the gaps in the car, his face filled with disbelief.

He never expected to be attacked on Taimiao Street.
In preparation for the Tengri Festival, he ordered Pei Luo to lead a team to set up defenses in advance: to check the people from house to house and to conduct strict checks at the city gates to prevent the influx of weapons.

Even in the mansion of Kudinayaan and his group of 'traitors,' spies were planted to monitor the every move of their family and servants, yet nothing seemed amiss. If Kudinayaan had orchestrated an assassination, he would have certainly mobilized the assassins and servants within his mansion first, but he did not.

The assassins before them were all young and strong, and worked together seamlessly, clearly seasoned veterans.

Arcus couldn't understand where such an elite force came from.

Fortunately, although assassins are fierce and brave, the difference in combat power between those who are armored and those who are not is completely different.

Faced with the armored guards' counterattack, the assassins gradually fell into a disadvantageous position.

Just as Alcus was beginning to breathe a sigh of relief, the deep sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from afar.

He squinted and saw over a hundred armored cavalrymen galloping towards him; judging by their attire, they were the Imperial Guards.

"It's Motso Uba!" Alkus smiled.

With these hundred-plus elite reinforcements, the assassin is doomed.

"Leave them alive; I will personally interrogate the mastermind!"

He snorted coldly, already convinced that it was Kudinayan and his group who were behind it, and decided to take this opportunity to wipe them all out in one fell swoop.

Just when he thought victory was assured, a shrill scream suddenly erupted outside the carriage.

Mochuo Wubali pulled his horse forward, spear in hand, and shouted sharply, "Fire!"

Dozens of cavalrymen drew their bows and unleashed a rain of arrows, but their targets were not the assassins, but rather Arcus's guards.

Although they wore armor, it only protected vital parts of their bodies. They never expected their own people to kill them, and they suffered a great loss instantly.

The other guards looked at Mocuo Wuba in horror, their eyes filled with disbelief.

Alcus, inside the carriage, was struck dumb, his face drained of all color.

"Mocuo Wuba! Are you going to rebel?"

Arcus's voice trembled with shock. He never expected that this general, whom he regarded as a loyal dog, would turn his sword against him at this moment.

Mocuo Wuba pulled out a bright yellow imperial edict from his bosom and shouted sternly, "The traitor Arkus has colluded with foreign enemies and plotted to usurp the throne. Today, we are here by His Majesty's decree to take his dog's life!"

He swept his gaze over the guards, his voice suddenly turning stern: "The commander of the Imperial Guard, Zhuo Luojin, has been executed, and all units of the Imperial Guard have surrendered. You are now isolated and helpless!"

"No one will come to save you anymore. Lay down your weapons and surrender. His Majesty has personally decreed that your past actions will be forgiven."

"If they resist stubbornly, their entire family will be executed!"

Motsoubah shouted at his guards to surrender, but he only wanted to take down Alcus as soon as possible.

Because what he said was a lie; he only got Jorojin drunk and didn't dare to kill him, otherwise Alcus would have found out beforehand, and all his efforts would have been in vain.

They had no way to control all the Imperial Guards, and could only slow down their deployment.

But as long as we can take down Alcus, everything else will be fine.

Sure enough, seeing the bright yellow scroll in his hand and seeing no other Imperial Guards coming to support him, many guards began to waver.

Not everyone was loyal to Alcus; these guards also had to consider their families.

"Impossible! It's fake!"

Alcus roared from inside the carriage: "He's lying! The Imperial Guard will be here soon to help. Hold them off, and I will reward you handsomely."

Motivated by the money, the guards' resistance intensified once again.

But Mocuo Wuba was, after all, a fierce general. Clad in armor and riding a tall horse, he was like a tank, leading his cavalry in a frenzied charge.

He knew that if he couldn't capture Arcus in time, he would surely die when the Praetorian Guard arrived.

Once they started, there was no turning back.

His many soldiers shared the same idea. They were all Uyghur soldiers who had followed Mochuo Wuba on his eastern expedition, and many of them had experienced the Battle of Shanle City, so their fighting strength was not weak.

With their numerical advantage, they quickly dispatched most of the guards, leaving the rest with no choice but to surrender.

Soon, Mocuo Wuba rode his warhorse and led his men to the front of the carriage.

"A bunch of traitors and rebels!"

Arkus was trembling with rage. He pointed at Mocuowuba's nose and cursed, "I have treated you well, how dare you betray me?"

"You've treated me well?" Mocuo Wuba sneered.

The spear was pointed at his chest: "Your beastly son defiled my beloved concubine, forcing her to shave her head and become a nun, yet you treated it as a mere brawl between servants and let it go so easily."

“I, Motso Wuba, cannot accept such kindness!”

"Today is your death day!"

Before he could finish speaking, the sharp tip of the spear pierced through Alcus's chest.

Arcus looked down at the protruding spearhead on his chest, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes.

He had schemed his whole life, even turning the king into his puppet, but he never imagined that he would be defeated by the foolish things his son did.

……

In the royal palace, more than half of the candles had already burned.

Chibido paced back and forth in the main hall, glancing towards the palace gate every now and then, his mind in turmoil.

Suddenly, a chaotic sound of footsteps came from the palace gate, mixed with shouts from armored soldiers, and the sound grew louder and louder.

Chebido's heart leaped into his throat, and he instinctively clenched his fists.

Fortunately, in the face of life and death, Tengri ultimately gave him a way out.

A moment later, a familiar voice came from outside the hall: "Your Majesty, the traitor has been executed!"

Kudinayan led a group of officials in quickly, followed by Motso Wuba and other "rebel" imperial guards, whose armor was still stained with blood.

He walked to the palace gate, knelt down with a thud, and held up a tray with both hands: "The traitor Arcus is dead. Your Majesty, please assume personal rule!"

On the tray, Arcus's head lay with its eyes wide open, the fear of death still frozen at the corners of its mouth, a grotesque sight that sent chills down one's spine.

"Your Majesty, please assume personal rule!" the ministers and soldiers shouted in unison.

As Chebido looked at the familiar head and then at the bowing officials below, he suddenly trembled and his face broke into a look of wild joy.

He staggered forward, his fingers almost touching Alcus's cheek, muttering to himself, "The old scoundrel is dead, the old scoundrel is really dead..."

"Great!"

"May Tengri protect me, may my ancestors protect me, I did it!"

He suddenly took two steps back, burst into laughter, tears streaming down his face: "Old thief, you never thought you'd end up like this!"

The laughter contained years of suppressed resentment, the relief of escaping death, and the excitement of regaining power.

He wiped his eyes with his sleeve, his voice suddenly turning stern: "Issue my decree to reward meritorious officials!"

Motso-Uba was appointed commander of the Imperial Guard, Kudin-Nayan was promoted to the new prime minister, and the other officials who participated in the uprising were all rewarded.

Meanwhile, the remaining members of Alcus's faction were dealt with swiftly: all the male members of the family were executed, and the female members were enslaved; ordinary soldiers and officials were spared punishment, and only the core members were investigated.

The hall was filled with jubilation as officials congratulated each other, as if spring had arrived early in Gaochang.

Just then, Kudinayan stepped forward and reminded him in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, the most urgent task is to contact the Northern Frontier as soon as possible."

"It is stated that my Gaochang Kingdom will continue to submit to the northern frontier, pay tribute, and follow in battles, with everything remaining unchanged from before."

Upon hearing the words "Northern Frontier," Qibido's smile slowly faded, his earlier elation instantly cooling down as if doused with cold water.

No matter how much he struggled, a colossal figure always hung over Gao Changguo's head.

If the northern border is angered and its iron cavalry marches south, the Gaochang Kingdom will be overthrown in no time.

Therefore, the northern border is currently a territory that Gaochang absolutely cannot offend or challenge; they can only continue to submit.

And since Arcus is Li Xiao's father-in-law, that scoundrel Li Xiao will definitely use this as leverage.

This time, the Kingdom of Gaochang will have to bleed a lot of money.

Send money, send grain, send land, send women~
It must be delivered until that scoundrel Li Xiao is satisfied.

But that wasn't what angered Chebido the most.

At this moment, upon hearing the words "Northern Frontier," he couldn't help but recall the scene when Li Xiao was still in Hami City.

That night, he was summoned to the palace.

Li Xiao stood behind the table, looking down at himself kneeling on the ground.

A slightly amused voice said, "Aisha is very knowledgeable; we talked for quite a while."

"Everyone thought what she said made a lot of sense."

"For her sake, I'll make you a promise."

"We will not interfere in Gaochang's internal affairs."

Upon hearing this, Chebido felt grief and indignation.

However, what came next energized Chibito.

Non-interference in Gaochang's internal affairs?
In other words, Li Xiao didn't care who won the fight between him and Alcus.

This promise filled Chebido with ecstasy.

The reason why Arkus was able to control the government was not only because he held military power, but also, most importantly, because of the support from the northern frontier.

Now, no one knows what that old scoundrel did to anger Li Xiao, that dog.

But as long as the northern border doesn't support him, that would be a great thing.

At that moment, Chebido was plotting how to get rid of the old thief.

But before he left, Li Xiao patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile, "I will be returning to Jinzhou soon and I will miss Aisha very much."

"But she is, after all, your imperial concubine, and it is not right for her to take away someone else's love."

"Therefore, when Gaochang pays tribute to the northern frontier in the future, it can bring Aisha along and let her stay in Jinzhou for a while. We will send someone to send her back."

That night, Chibido didn't know how he left the palace. He was in a daze, and in his heart, he kept cursing Li Xiao's shamelessness.

"Li Xiao, you shameless scoundrel!"

Inside the main hall, Chibido was still cursing Li Xiao in his heart.

Although I hate to admit it, the fact is that he was able to regain power.

It wasn't just because of his sister and mother, but also because of Aisha's contribution.

Gaochang made offerings to the northern frontier once a year, meaning that Aisha needed to be sent to the northern frontier as a "guest" once a year.

Thinking of this, Chebido felt as if his heart was being torn apart, and he almost gritted his teeth in anger at his own powerlessness.

But there's nothing we can do; Gaochang can't afford to mess with the northern frontier right now.

Then, as if his bones had been broken, he slumped onto the throne and whispered, "Draft a royal decree."

"Just say... Gaochang is willing to be the shield of the northern frontier forever, just like before."

"We are willing to offer gold, silver, treasures, provisions, cotton..."

"In addition, I am concerned about my mother and sister, so I have specially ordered Consort Aisha to accompany me to the northern frontier to visit them."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chebido closed his eyes in despair, his heart aching terribly.

Although the sky over Gaochang has changed, the sun and moon over the northern frontier still hang overhead.

(End of this chapter)