The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 284 The Northern Frontier Protectorate Order: Suppressing Gaochang

The general's mansion in the desert was filled with generals, and a chilling atmosphere permeated the air.

Yang Shoujing, a centurion of the Wuwei Army, wearing a bright yellow cotton armor and a cavalry saber at his waist, stood in front of the hall, holding a scroll in both hands, and shouted in a deep voice: "Imperial edict of the Grand Protector!"

"Gaochang Kingdom is a vassal state of my northern frontier, and has been a subject of submission for generations, sharing peace and prosperity."

"I have just heard of the coup in Gaochang. The traitors Kudinaya and Mocuo Wuba have murdered the regent, taken the king hostage, slaughtered loyal officials, and disrupted the court. As a result, the city of Hami is filled with bloodshed, and the people are suffering."

His voice echoed in the empty hall, resounding with conviction.

Li Dongjiang, dressed in a red cotton armor, placed his right hand on his chest, his rugged face filled with composure and calmness.

The desert borders Gaochang, and he also received news of the coup in Gaochang.

I thought Li Xiao would first send someone to rebuke them, but unexpectedly he directly dispatched a large army to quell the rebellion.

However, this is also in line with his nephew's personality; he is decisive and ruthless, never showing any mercy.

Li Dongjiang even secretly suspected that his nephew might be behind the coup.

"The responsibility of the sovereign state lies in securing peace and stability for the people, and restoring order to the country."

Yang Shoujing continued reading, his tone suddenly rising: "Gaochang has suffered such a great calamity, how can the northern frontier sit idly by? I hereby order General Li Dongjiang of the Great Desert to immediately lead the Second Garrison's iron cavalry southwards overnight and seize Hamili."

"Your mission should prioritize rescuing the King of Gaochang and quelling the rebellion. You must execute the ringleaders, Kudinayan and Mocuowuba, pacify the people, and restore order to Gaochang."

"We must fight a swift and decisive battle to save the people of Gaochang from their dire straits and to demonstrate the might of the northern frontier to the world."

"On the 18th day of the second month of the 27th year of Tianxi, Li Xiao, the Grand Protector of the Northern Frontier, personally issued the seal."

As the last word was uttered, the hall fell silent.

Yang Shoujing stepped forward and handed the bright yellow scroll to Li Dongjiang with both hands.

The vermilion seal of "Grand Protector of the Northern Frontier" on the imperial edict was as red as blood, and the handwriting of Li Xiao was so powerful that it seemed to penetrate the paper, carrying an unquestionable majesty.

Immediately afterwards, he took the brocade box from the guard beside him, opened it to reveal a tiger tally, made of black iron, which was very exquisite.

Li Dongjiang took out his half of the tiger tally and matched it with the other half in the brocade box. They fit together perfectly, as if they were born as one.

Although he recognized Yang Shoujing and Li Xiao's unique handwriting on the scroll, he still meticulously completed the verification process.

This is a major event involving the mobilization of an entire town's cavalry; any oversight could lead to disaster.

"This humble general, Li Dongjiang, obeys the orders of the Grand Protector!"

He raised the tiger tally and imperial edict high with both hands and shouted in a deep voice.

"Your subordinates obey orders!"

Bali Ala, Li Donggen, and the generals shouted in unison, and a series of crisp sounds of armor plates colliding filled the hall.

Yang Shoujing helped Li Dongjiang up, then took out a letter sealed with wax from his bosom and said in a low voice, "This is a private letter from the Grand Protector. Please read it, General."

After saying this, he bowed deeply to Li Dongjiang, patting his chest.

Li Dongjiang nodded slightly, opened Li Xiao's handwritten letter, and read its contents, which further confirmed his suspicions.

The events in Gaochang were orchestrated by Li Xiao behind the scenes.

"How can I allow others to snore on the side of the bed?"

“Gaochang Kingdom is sitting on its treasure mountain, isolated from the east and west. How can it not perish?” Li Dongjiang understood perfectly.

The Kingdom of Gaochang had an excellent geographical location, guarding the key route of the Silk Road. Even the most convenient route from Jinzhou to the Hexi Corridor had to pass through Gaochang.

In addition, Gaochang Kingdom was an important grain and cotton producing area in northern Xinjiang.

Li Xiao could no longer tolerate the continued existence of this 'country within a country'; he wanted to completely incorporate Gaochang into the northern frontier.

In his secret letter to Li Dongjiang, he specified the outcome of the treatment of Qi Biduo and others.

'The rebels, including Kudinayan, were driven to desperation and forced the king of Gaochang, Qibido, to commit suicide.'

'The royal bloodline of Gaochang has ended; in accordance with the will of the people, it has been incorporated into the rule of the northern frontier.'

Before the northern army even set out, Li Xiao had already predetermined the fate of Gaochang.

The weak have no power to resist fate.

After reading the secret letter, Li Dongjiang folded it and put it in his bosom. He turned to look at his generals, his eyes already burning with the fervor of war.

"Bali'ala, immediately muster three thousand light cavalry as the vanguard, with enough rations for three days, and set off at dawn to camp outside Hamili City!"

"Li Donggen, you lead your light cavalry, follow at dawn, take the western route, detour around Gaochang City, and advance eastward."

"The rest of the units shall follow me, fully equipped and ready to depart via the eastern route, setting off at dawn!"

"As ordered!"

The generals rose to their feet upon receiving the order. As they turned, the clanging of their armor rang out, and their hurried yet orderly steps clearly indicated that they were seasoned veterans.

On this day, the entire Second Division launched an attack.

The three commanderies, totaling over 10,000 cavalry, marched south, determined to wipe out Gaochang in one battle.

This was Li Xiao's order in the secret letter. He would also send a commander of ten thousand men from the First Garrison south to replace the Second Garrison in guarding the desert.

Upon seeing this, Li Dongjiang instantly understood what Li Xiao meant.

It's time to move my position.

……

"Woooooooo..."

Suddenly, a heart-wrenching cry came from the backyard of the Longcheng Grand Protectorate, making everyone's heart tighten.

Tajiguli lay on the wooden couch, her shoulders trembling violently, the brocade quilt soaked with tears.

Li Xiao had just sent word that his father, Alkus, was assassinated during the Tengri Festival, all the male members of his family were executed, and the female members were enslaved.

Overnight, the once-illustrious Alcus family vanished into thin air.

"Father... Mother..." she choked as she called out the names of her loved ones, heartbroken.

Just a few days ago, she received supplements from her father, who also wrote a letter urging her to take good care of her pregnancy. How could they have become separated by death in the blink of an eye?
Footsteps came from outside. Li Xiao had just finished dealing with military affairs, and his black casual clothes still carried a chill.

Tajiguli suddenly raised her head, her face streaked with tears and filled with despair. She struggled to get up from the couch, staggered to Li Xiao, and knelt down with a thud.

"Great Protector, my father is dead, and my whole family is dead!"

She clutched at the hem of Li Xiao's robe, sobbing, "How could they be so heartless? They wouldn't even spare an infant..."

Seeing her crying her eyes out, Li Xiao felt a complex mix of emotions.

Although Arkus's death was not directly related to him, it was a result of his tacit approval of the escalating situation in Gaochang.

The existence of Gaochang blocked the way to the northern frontier, so this thorn in our side had to be removed.

In order to have a legitimate reason for taking action and to take into account Tajiguli's feelings, Li Xiao acquiesced to the development of the situation.

Although his feelings for Tajiguli were purely lustful and it was a political marriage, Tajiguli had been with him for two years and held a place in Li Xiao's heart.

Especially since she was pregnant with her own child.
Li Xiao bent down and hugged her, comforting her, "Tajiguli, don't worry."

"Ben Du has already dispatched the Second Garrison's iron cavalry south to Gaochang, and they will be at Hamili in less than three days."

"I will not let any of the people who killed your father get away with it."

Li Xiao's voice deepened, and a deliberately feigned anger surged in his eyes.

He composed himself and raised his hand to wipe away the tears on her cheeks: "Don't cry, Tajiguli."

"You're pregnant, and you've ruined your health by crying. How can I be at ease?"

Tajiguli cried even harder, burying her face in his clothes, her tears soaking the brocade on his chest.

"But they're all gone... Father may have been power-hungry, but he never harmed anyone..."

Ok!

Another child who has lived in a fairytale world woven by his parents since childhood.

The father she understood was merely the image that Alcus showed him.

She really thought her father was a power-hungry good man.

But since the man was dead, Li Xiao naturally wouldn't sabotage the old man.

Let Tajiguli maintain her lofty image of the old man.

After a long while, Tajiguli's crying gradually subsided, leaving only sobs.

Li Xiao helped her up and saw that her eyelids were red and swollen like walnuts. He softened his tone and said, "You should rest first. I will tell you as soon as news comes from the second town."

He summoned a maid to take good care of him, and when he turned and walked out of the inner room, most of the gentleness on his face had faded.

Standing under the corridor, gazing in the direction of Gaochang, his eyes grew even colder.

It is necessary to appease Tajiguli, but it is absolutely unacceptable to change the established strategy because of this.

The game in Gaochang has only just reached its most crucial step.

Behind the curtains in the inner room, Tajiguli watched his departing figure, and tears welled up in her eyes again.

She didn't know what kind of schemes were behind this revenge; all she knew was that the father who used to braid her hair would never come back.

……

It was early March, and the most biting cold had quietly receded. The ice and snow in Jinzhou melted along the gullies, revealing the dark brown soil underneath, and the grass roots began to sprout tender shoots.

On the open fields outside Dragon City, melting snow and ice formed shallow puddles under the horses' hooves, where a large cavalry army was gathering in formation.

The soldiers were clad in yellow cotton armor and wore helmets with plumes around their necks, covering themselves completely except for their bright, piercing eyes.

The configuration of one person and three horses made the team look particularly majestic. The warhorses were loaded with weapons, food, tents, bedding and other supplies, which gleamed heavily in the morning light.

Outside the city gate, Li Xiao looked at Qin Chunsheng, who was dressed in yellow armor and wearing a yellow cloak, and spoke in a solemn tone.

"Second Uncle, the desert is an important town in our northern frontier. The situation in Gaochang is still unclear. You are stationed here to stabilize the rear and be ready to support the front at any time."

Qin Chunsheng placed his right hand on his chest and nodded emphatically: "Rest assured, Great Protector, I will guard the desert well and will never allow any rebel soldiers to set foot in it."

After conquering Gaochang, the territory of northern Xinjiang will expand directly southward by thousands of miles, and Gaochang will become the new southern border of northern Xinjiang.

At that time, Li Xiao would order the Second Division to garrison Gaochang, connecting Gansu to the east and joining forces with the two tigers to gradually erode the Eastern Karakhanid Khanate to the west.

Qin Chunsheng will lead the 20,000th Household under the First Town to garrison the desert.

At that time, the desert would become the heartland of the northern frontier, and the possibility of foreign enemies invading would be extremely low. The strength of a ten-thousand-household commander would be enough to keep it safe.

After giving his instructions, Qin Chunsheng turned to his army and shouted, "Move out!"

The yellow sun and moon battle banners fluttered in the cold wind as the cavalry of the 20,000th Household trudged through the mud left by the melting snow, their ranks resembling a long yellow dragon, slowly advancing towards the desert.

After watching the army depart into the distance and returning to the city, Li Xiao rode his horse to Jiu Meng Anhe's residence.

"Greetings, Grand Protector."

Jiu Meng Anhe personally came to the mansion to greet him.

"No need to be polite."

Li Xiao waved his hand to signal, then got straight to the point: "The matter of expanding the army that was decided last autumn should be picked up again."

Jiu Meng Anhe was a veteran of the Northern Frontier, his dark face etched with the marks of time. He bowed and said, "The Grand Protector is right." "The frozen ground made travel difficult in winter, which did delay the conscription process. Now that the snow and ice have melted, it's the perfect time to gather the able-bodied men from each household and begin training."

After conquering the Hexi Corridor last year, Li Xiao issued an order to expand the army, but the arrival of winter brought everything to a standstill.

Moreover, the most important thing at the time was to resettle the immigrants, while conscription was not the most important issue.

With spring in full bloom, it is the perfect time to assemble troops and prepare for war.

“The prisoners of war from the Xia Kingdom should be screened carefully. Those who pass the screening will be incorporated into the Six Garrisons. First, we need to train them in military discipline.”

Li Xiao tapped the map heavily with his finger, his tone carrying an unquestionable authority: "The military discipline of my Northern Frontier is not like that of the Xia Kingdom. Violating military discipline is a serious offense and will result in execution. This must be ingrained in them from the very beginning."

"Most importantly, we in the northern frontier will not allow defeat, let alone surrender. Whether generals or soldiers, we must fight to the death."

"They need to change their old bad habits."

Jiu Meng Anhe nodded slightly and said, "Don't worry, Grand Protector, I will definitely have the veterans lead them to learn the military regulations first, and recite the military discipline before morning exercises every day. Those who disobey the orders will be severely punished on the spot, and there will be no leniency."

He took out the ledger and opened it, his fingertips tracing over the densely packed names: "Currently, there are more than 10,000 Xia army prisoners of war who have been incorporated into the army. All of them have been enlisted as soldiers and will be promoted and rewarded according to their military merits."

"According to the quota stipulated by the Grand Protector, we still need to recruit 25,000 new soldiers."

He pointed to the summary figures in the troop register and explained.

The original six garrisons each had 10,000 troops. Now, Li Xiao plans to expand the First Garrison to 20,000 and the other five garrisons to 15,000 each, for a total of 35,000 troops to be conscripted.

More than 10,000 new recruits have been recruited so far, and there is still a shortfall of more than 20,000.

This is not a difficult task for northern Xinjiang.

Back then, when Li Xiao reorganized the prisoners of war in Hexi, he obtained 50,000 new infantrymen from the Kuli Army.

Later, they captured more than 50,000 elite Xia soldiers, along with numerous grain transport laborers and a large number of able-bodied men from Hexi.

Selecting 35,000 people from among them would be a piece of cake.

However, most of these new recruits were civilians who made a living by cultivating public land and had no other income.

Apart from the Wuwei Army, the other towns did not have fixed military pay, so this conscription was mainly aimed at single men who did not need to support their families.

In the military, meals are provided, so one person can eat their fill and the whole family won't go hungry—that's the perfect arrangement.

"But most importantly, we must start the next round of war as soon as possible."

Jiu Meng'an closed the ledger, his tone revealing the wisdom of a veteran soldier: "Only by constantly looting can these new recruits quickly fill their pockets."

"Only then can they afford to buy female slaves, or seize women themselves, and settle down in the northern frontier."

He described his recruitment plan: first, select single young men from the immigrants, and give priority to men with experience in war and hunting.

The remaining elite soldiers were selected from among the Xia Kingdom's captured troops to fill the vacancies.

Li Xiao nodded from time to time, and promptly raised any differing opinions.

Jiu Meng Anhe concluded in a deep voice: "At this rate, the six garrisons will be able to replenish all their troops by early summer at the latest."

"By then, the total strength of the six garrisons in the northern frontier will reach 100,000 men."

Li Xiao gazed at the melting snow outside the window, a sharp glint in his eyes.

With 100,000 troops, he could stir up even greater waves in the Western Regions and the Central Plains.

These new recruits are both the sharp blade for the expansion of the northern frontier and the means to stabilize the hearts of the people through plunder. Only by letting them taste the sweetness of war can they truly become an iron-blooded fighting force rooted in the northern frontier.

The two discussed for another half an hour, covering everything from the new recruits' food rations to the change of their cloth armor.

Li Xiao nodded, stood up, and walked to the map to examine it again.

In early summer in the northern frontier, 100,000 troops are poised to march, possessing sufficient confidence to either advance eastward into the Central Plains or strike westward at the royal court.

Just as Li Xiao returned to the Protectorate General's Office and took off his dusty cloak, Li Shurong, who was in charge of receiving correspondence from the Protectorate General's Office, walked in.

He said softly, "Grand Protector, Governor Chen of the Desert has sent someone to deliver a message."

“A caravan from the Kingdom of Gaochang is heading towards Jinzhou, carrying tributes such as grain, gold, silver and silk sent by Qibido.”

Li Shurong paused and added, "In addition, Aisha, the Noble Consort of Gaochang, was also in the caravan. She said she came to visit the Queen Mother of Gaochang and Princess Aina."

Li Shurong was a scribe by Li Xiao's side, responsible for copying imperial edicts and receiving and summarizing letters sent to the Grand Protectorate from various prefectures and towns.

However, they have no power to handle matters; they merely act as intermediaries, essentially serving as tools.

Li Xiao wouldn't give him much power either.

Upon hearing his report, Li Xiao's lips curled into a cold smile.

Tribute?

This is clearly protection money sent after the coup.

Kudinayan was shrewd enough to recognize who the real master was and immediately pledged his loyalty to the northern frontier.

It's a pity. The northern frontier has long coveted Gaochang, and the Second Garrison Army has already been mobilized. Why would they give up just because of a little tribute?
"Order the Honglu Division to temporarily house all members of the Gaochang delegation at the Honglu Division Inn after their arrival. They are not allowed to move around freely without orders from the capital."

Li Xiao tapped his fingertips on the table, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority: "Accept all the tribute items and register them in the warehouse."

"As for Consort Aisha..."

He stroked the bluish stubble on his chin, his gaze becoming deep.

During his time in Hamili, he summoned Aisha to his bedchamber almost every day. Her graceful figure and melodious moans still stir the heart to this day.

That bone-chilling taste deserves to be savored again.

"Send more people to 'protect' the Imperial Concubine's residence."

Li Xiao's voice carried a hint of amusement: "Tell Aisha that she must be tired from her journey and should rest well. Bendu will 'visit' her later."

Li Shurong acknowledged and withdrew.

Meanwhile, the vanguard army of the Second Division led by Baliala had marched south, its iron hooves trampling across the "Liutiaogou" passage between the desert and Hami, and officially entered Gaochang territory.

Willow Fort is a small military camp located on the south side of Willow Gully.

The rammed earth walls of the stockade are not very tall, but they can still shield the area from the cold winds from north of the Tianshan Mountains.

After Chibido assumed power, he specifically increased the number of troops stationed here.

Although the number was small, only a little over three hundred, it revealed his complete wariness of the northern frontier.

On this day, just past noon, the soldiers in Willow Fort were squatting at the foot of the fortress wall eating their lunch.

The coarse porcelain bowl contained simple millet porridge, so thin you could see your reflection in it. There was no meat in it, and it was gone in a few mouthfuls, not enough to fill your stomach.

"This lousy porridge isn't even enough to fill a tooth gap."

A young soldier slammed his bowl on the ground, the rough porcelain bowl making a crisp sound as it hit the stone: "Drinking this every day, let alone fighting, makes you feel unsteady even when walking."

The old soldier next to him sighed, wiped his mouth with his rough hands, and said softly, "His Majesty has just assumed power, and the country is in dire need of rebuilding. We need to sell the grain to raise money to develop our military."

"Just bear with it. When things get better, we'll have meat to eat eventually."

"Easy? I doubt it!"

Another soldier scoffed and spat on the ground: "Didn't you see those Han Chinese?"

"Nowadays, they have occupied almost all the good fields near Gaochang City."

“That was once the capital of our Gaochang Kingdom, and now it has become the domain of the Han people!”

These words were like a spark falling into a pile of dry tinder, and the soldiers' complaints immediately grew louder.

"That's right! We Uyghurs have been driven to this poor place and are being used as cannon fodder by the people of the northern frontier."

"How many of our Gaochang army brothers died in last year's Hexi War? There's still no sign of compensation, and so many widows with children are struggling to survive, forced to remarry, and some are even marrying newly arrived Han Chinese..."

At this point, the faces of several young soldiers turned bright red, and their fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

They worked so hard to help the people of the northern frontier fight, and when their brothers died, they didn't even get a word of explanation.

Those people from northern Xinjiang occupied their houses, cultivated their fields, and even slept with their wives and beat their children.

Who can swallow this insult?
The general in charge of Willow Fort was standing under the watchtower when he heard these words. His brows furrowed, and he shouted sternly, "Shut up, all of you! What nonsense are you spouting!"

Today, Gaochang still depends on the northern frontier for survival. If these complaints were heard by the people of the northern frontier, the entire Liutiaobao would probably suffer.

The young soldier, however, was unconvinced and retorted, "General, how could the people of the Northern Frontier possibly know what we're talking about?"

"That won't do either!" the general snorted.

He knew very well that since Qibido had just assumed power, the northern frontier was probably eyeing Gaochang and was eager to find a pretext to cause trouble.

At this point, we cannot afford to give the people of northern Xinjiang even the slightest bit of leverage.

Then he looked at the northern land with a complicated expression.

That's the direction of northern Xinjiang, a place where Gaochang had to bow down.

She sighed softly, yet a glimmer of hope arose in her heart.

Hopefully, Qibido possesses extraordinary abilities and can lead Gaochang back to its former glory, freeing them, the soldiers, from this humiliation.

In particular, the wives of those soldiers who died in battle had no choice but to remarry Han Chinese in order to make a living.

Anyone would feel uncomfortable thinking about it, and the same goes for generals.

Looking at the mountains to the north, he spat hard at the ground and thought to himself:

"Damn it, one day I'll definitely march on Jinzhou and taste what the women of the northern frontier are like."

But at that moment, the general suddenly felt a faint tremor under his feet, as if some enormous creature was rushing towards him from afar.

"What's going on?" A soldier suddenly stood up, looking around in confusion.

The tremors became more and more obvious, the rammed earth ground seemed to be shaking slightly, and even the dust on the top of the village wall was falling down in a flurry.

The general's expression changed, and he suddenly climbed up the watchtower, using his hand to shield himself from the wind as he looked north.

Because the climate in southern Xinjiang is warmer than in northern Xinjiang, the atmosphere of early spring is more pronounced.

The ice and snow near Liutiaobao have melted, revealing a yellow sandy background.

On the distant horizon, a cloud of yellow dust rose, obscuring the sky. The dust moved extremely fast, and the muffled sound of horses' hooves could be faintly heard, rolling across the land like muffled thunder.

His pupils contracted sharply, and his lips trembled as he uttered a few words: "It's...it's cavalry!"

The soldiers below the stockade also sensed something was wrong. They all stood up and looked at the approaching yellow dust cloud from the north. Their previous complaints and dissatisfaction were instantly replaced by fear.

"That's... the Sun and Moon Battle Flag of the Northern Frontier?"

Someone pointed to the flag that was faintly visible in the dust and smoke, their voice trembling.

The flag appeared and disappeared in the yellow dust, its crimson background embroidered with sun and moon patterns, like a burning flame, fluttering in the wind.

It was the battle flag of the Second Division of the Northern Frontier Army.

What's even more chilling is that the northern cavalrymen emerging from the dust and smoke also have a striking crimson hue, as if they were ferocious gods pulled out of a sea of ​​blood.

The general's heart sank to the bottom, as if a huge boulder was pressing down on him.

What he was most worried about happened.

The iron cavalry of the northern frontier has finally arrived.

(End of this chapter)