The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 286 The Fall of Gaochang, the Northern Frontier Army Ravages Hami

Longcheng, Honglusi Inn.

The newly built inn finally welcomed its first guests: an envoy from the Kingdom of Gaochang.

The newly appointed Minister of Rites, Tong Luoxi, served as the chief envoy. He was a Uyghur man over forty years old with a thin build, and always had a cautious smile on his face.

But that smile froze completely on the evening of the second day after arriving at the inn.

A squad of Imperial Guards soldiers, clad in yellow armor with red trim, suddenly surrounded the inn, the clanging of their armor plates breaking the tranquility of the twilight.

"No one is allowed to leave the room!"

The centurion leading the charge had a booming voice, and his cavalryman's sword was half-drawn, its cold gleam making one's neck ache.

Tong Luoxi felt a chill run down his spine. He pushed open the door, intending to go out and inquire about the situation, but was suddenly stopped by a Wuwei Army soldier who rushed over and drew his sword.

"Get back!"

The soldier's voice was as cold as ice, the tip of his knife almost piercing his nose: "Anyone who moves without permission will die!"

Tong Luo Ximi staggered back half a step, his face turning pale and then flushed.

He was, after all, the Minister of Rites of Gaochang Kingdom, the chief envoy appointed by the king, representing the face of Gaochang, yet he was so humiliated by a mere soldier from the northern frontier.

But as the saying goes, a weak nation has no diplomacy, so they could only swallow their anger and retreat back to their room.

However, during the shoving, he still caught a glimpse of a figure out of the corner of his eye.

Dressed in a black brocade robe with gold trim, and tall in stature, he ascended to the second floor surrounded by a group of guards.

That familiar silhouette made Tong Luoxi's heart clench suddenly.

"Li Xiao, the Grand Protector of the Northern Frontier!" he exclaimed in his heart.

Last year, when Li Xiao was temporarily staying in Hami City, he and Luo Ximi were both Vice Ministers of the Ministry of Rites. Li Xiao had seen the appearance of this overlord of the northern frontier from afar.

There's no mistake, that person must be Li Xiao!

And upstairs~
"Sigh~"

Especially when she thought of the rumors circulating in Hamili City about Li Xiao and Consort Aisha, Tong Luo Xi Mi couldn't help but gasp.

At that moment, he finally understood Aisha's true purpose in coming to northern Xinjiang.

The talk of visiting the Queen Mother and the princess was just an excuse.

He understood Chibido's helplessness, but felt even more disappointed in the king and the entire Gaochang Kingdom.

In order to prolong their lives, they were even willing to sacrifice royal concubines. How is such a person any different from the previous Archus?
The inn was deathly silent; all the mission members were huddled in their rooms, the silence eerily profound.

The soldiers of the Wuwei Army stood guard in various places like stone sculptures, their armor gleaming coldly in the light of the lanterns under the corridor.

Only that voice lingered, like a dull knife, repeatedly cutting at the dignity of the mission members.

Finally, it became so faint that it could not be heard anymore, and everyone was finally able to have some peace and quiet.

The deathly silence in the inn was even more suffocating than the sounds from before.

upstairs.

Seeing Li Xiao's departing figure.

Aisha suddenly realized that there was something very important she hadn't said yet.

She suppressed her exhaustion from the journey, her voice hoarse and devoid of its usual gentleness: "Grand Protector... Your Majesty, I have come to Jinzhou on behalf of Qi Biduo to apologize to you."

"It was only because Arcus was too arrogant and domineering, actually trying to force Chebido to abdicate, that we had no choice but to get rid of him."

"It was not out of intention to disrespect you, Grand Protector."

"Moreover, Qibido is truly submissive. As long as you allow him to rule in his own right, Gaochang is willing to be a vassal state of the northern frontier forever, submitting wholeheartedly for generations to come without any disloyalty."

She pressed her face against Li Xiao's back, tears mingling with sweat, soaking his brocade robe: "I...I wish to stay by your side for the rest of my life, to be your servant..."

Despite the woman's cries and pleas, Li Xiao remained completely unmoved.

He smiled faintly: "Apologize?"

"Why didn't Qibido come to Jinzhou in person? Why did he have to send a woman like you to apologize?"

"He makes a mistake and then makes a woman take the blame. What kind of man is he?"

Hearing Li Xiao's cold words, Aisha panicked and quickly said, "Although Arkus is dead, his followers are still around, and Chebido really can't get away from it."

"After some time, he will definitely come to Longcheng in person to apologize to the Grand Protector."

Li Xiao suddenly turned around, reached out and pinched her chin, his fingertips caressing her trembling lips, a playful smile playing on his lips: "No need!"

His gaze was like ice, sending a chill down Aisha's spine.

"Ten days ago, Bendu had already ordered the northern frontier army to march south to Gaochang."

Li Xiao's voice was light and airy, yet carried immense weight: "Judging by the distance, they have probably already breached Hamili City by now."

Upon hearing this, Aisha's eyes widened suddenly, her pupils contracting in fear: "No!"

She staggered and tried to grab Li Xiao's hand, but he gently avoided it.

"Do you really think you can save Gaochang and Qibiduo with your withered and broken body?"

Li Xiao leaned down and whispered in her ear, his breath hot but his words icy: "From the moment Yue'er Si's army attacked the desert three years ago, Gaochang's fate was sealed."

Three years ago, under the instigation of the royal court, the Kingdom of Gaochang attacked the desert, and the desert governor Xiaotuladuo lost his life as a result.

From that moment on, Gaochang Kingdom ceased to exist in Li Xiao's heart.

Even if Hami City were to remain and barely survive, it would only be needed to grow grain and cotton for the northern frontier.

Today, Li Xiao has relocated a large number of people from Gansu to fill various places in northern Xinjiang.

With a sufficient labor force, there is no longer any need to keep Gaochang Kingdom in the way.

After all, Gaochang is too close to northern Xinjiang, and an independent country must not be allowed to emerge there.

Hearing Li Xiao's cold words, Aisha slumped onto the couch, unaware that the brocade quilt on her body had slipped off.

"Break through Hamili City..."

She knew better than anyone what that meant.

Qi Biduo's throne and the safety of the people of Gaochang all vanished like a bubble.

She gave herself up with all her might, only to be met with a meticulously crafted deception.

"Why……"

She murmured, tears streaming down her face, a mixture of humiliation and despair: "Since you wanted to destroy Gaochang, why... why did you treat me like this..."

Li Xiao adjusted the belt on his robe, his tone as indifferent as if he were talking about something trivial: "Gaochang is Gaochang, and you are you."

"What does my liking for your body have to do with whether or not we should destroy Gaochang?"

He walked to the window, pushed it open halfway, and the evening breeze blew into the room, carrying a slight chill.

The armed guards downstairs remained stationed in various places, like silent stone statues.

"You can stay here in peace. They will come to see you again."

Li Xiao glanced back at her: "As long as you behave, Bendu might be able to preserve a bloodline for the Kudi family."

The condescension in that tone, like a blunt knife, completely severed Aisha's last hope.

It turns out that from beginning to end, she was just a plaything.

In Li Xiao's eyes, the rise and fall of Gaochang and her sacrifice were nothing more than a pawn on a chessboard, which could be discarded at any time.

The moonlight outside the window shone on her pale face, reflecting two lines of clear tears.

She knew that from then on, there would be no more Consort Aisha of Gaochang, only a plaything imprisoned by the Protector-General of the Northern Frontier.

At the same time, the three armies of the Second Town, like three red torrents, invaded Gaochang separately, and wherever their iron hooves went, they forcefully wiped out all resistance forces.

Gaochang was originally a vassal state of the Northern Frontier, and the Gaochang army had fought alongside the Northern Frontier army several times, witnessing firsthand the ferocity of the Northern Frontier cavalry.

The forest of spears, the whistling arrows, and the cannons capable of blasting down city walls had long become a fear etched into our very bones.

So when the Second Garrison's iron cavalry, charging like a red tide, appeared on the horizon, the garrison soldiers along the way, seeing the fluttering sun and moon battle flags, couldn't stop their hands from trembling as they gripped their weapons.

Someone tried to pull up the suspension bridge, but was held down firmly by their companions behind them.

Some people had just nocked an arrow when their fingertips trembled so much that they couldn't even fully draw the bowstring.

"It's the Northern Frontier Army..."

"Run! We can't win!"

"Open the gates and surrender, at least you'll have a way out!"

Whispers spread through the ranks, quickly turning into shouts that rose and fell.

A centurion from a military camp gritted his teeth and swung his sword to cut down two soldiers who shouted for surrender. But when a hail of arrows from the northern cavalry swept over his head and pierced his shoulder blade, his sword clattered to the ground, and he could no longer muster the courage to resist.

"Open the gate!"

Someone shouted first, and then the heavy wooden door was slowly pulled open.

The defenders threw down their weapons and knelt in the dust in front of the gate, their heads pressed to the ground, not even having the courage to look up.

Such scenes are constantly playing out in Gaochang.

The once fortified military camps opened their doors one by one; the soldiers who should have fought to the death laid down their weapons in droves.

Li Donggen's troops, which marched the longest distance westward to attack Gaochang City, encountered no significant resistance and captured five cities in succession. They then turned east and easily marched towards Hamili.

The combined forces of the three commanderies converged like a snowball, and within three to five days, they joined forces at the foot of Hamili City.

Crimson sun and moon battle banners stretched out in a continuous line below the city, with densely packed cavalry arrayed in formation. Their armor gleamed with a bloody glint in the sunlight, and the thunderous hooves of their horses shook the city bricks.

The Gaochang soldiers on the city wall pressed themselves tightly against the crenellations, not daring to even breathe loudly.

A young archer's hand trembled as he held his bow, as if a monstrous beast lurked in the crimson torrent below the city, ready to devour its prey.

"My legs... my legs are weak..."

The old soldier next to him slumped on the city bricks, his face ashen, his lips trembling: "Last year during the Battle of Hexi, I saw the Northern Frontier Army's mighty cannons. One shot could blow away half a city wall..."

"Why should we be enemies with Northern Xinjiang? Aren't we on their side?"

Why is the Northern Frontier Army attacking us?

"It's because the king killed the prime minister, which angered the Grand Protector of the Northern Frontier."

"Let the king go and apologize to the Grand Protector."

"We can't stop them, the Northern Frontier Army is too powerful."

"If we attack the city, we will all die."

These words spread like wildfire, and the soldiers on the city walls grew increasingly panicked.

Inside the royal palace, Chibido gripped the armrest of the throne.

Even from a great distance from the city wall, the thunder of the iron hooves of the northern frontier could still be clearly heard.

At this moment, he couldn't help but recall Aisha's reddened eyes when she left. It turned out that from beginning to end, Li Xiao had no intention of leaving Gao Chang a way out.

Aisha was like throwing a meat bun to a dog, giving Li Xiao so many freebies every day.

"Your Majesty, how about... how about we open the gates and surrender?"

Kudinayan's voice trembled almost imperceptibly.

As the saying goes, dynasties last for a hundred years, while noble families last for a thousand.

Why have powerful families been able to stand for a thousand years without falling? Because whenever the world changes, they are always the first to surrender.

Just like Kudinayan, his daughter Aisha gave Li Xiao so many days.

Even without a formal title, there's still some affection between them.

Perhaps this will allow the Cudy family to weather this crisis safely.

Therefore, Kudinayan softly advised, "Your Majesty, the Northern Frontier army is too powerful, and they have even brought in the Divine Might Cannons and placed them outside the city. We simply cannot defend it!"

"Can't hold out?"

Chibido suddenly looked up, his eyes bloodshot: "Kudinayan, have you forgotten how Arkus died?"

"If we surrender, will Li Xiao let us go?"

He abruptly stood up: "Pass on my order, all soldiers, including the royal guards, are to defend the city." "Kudinayan, you conscript all the men in the city to transport food and supplies. If all the soldiers on the city walls are killed, you lead your men to keep watch; anyone who dares to retreat a single step will be executed!"

Seeing the madness in Chibido's eyes, Kudinayan opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he only bowed and replied, "Your subject... obeys the decree."

……

"Woooooooo~"

Outside Hamili City, a deep and desolate horn sounded across the land.

Twenty powerful cannons were pushed to the front of the battle line, their dark muzzles pointing directly at the walls of Hamili City, the cannons gleaming with a cold, hard luster under the sunlight.

After the expansion, each of the six garrisons was equipped with a separate Shenji Battalion, with twenty Shenwei Cannons directly under its command.

Although the Second Division's troop strength has not yet been fully expanded, the brand-new Divine Might Cannons have already been transported from Tang Valley to the army.

"Load!"

At the command of the commander of the Shenji Battalion, the soldiers carried heavy cannonballs and ran around, loading gunpowder and iron balls into the cannon barrels, and carefully probing out the fuses.

The Uyghur defenders on the city wall stared at the dark cannon muzzles, their faces paler than the dead.

The veterans covered their ears tightly, while the young soldiers were so frightened that they collapsed to the ground, unable to even hold onto their weapons.

They had heard of the power of the artillery in the Battle of Hexi, but they never imagined that twenty cannons would be aimed at them at the same time.

"put!"

With a roar from the commander, all twenty of the Divine Might Cannons simultaneously spewed fire.

"Boom boom boom~"

Deafening explosions rang out one after another, and smoke and dust instantly enveloped the artillery position, while scalding waves of air rushed towards us.

The iron bullets whistled as they crashed into the city wall, shattering the rammed earth bricks. Amidst the flying debris, several breaches were blasted into the wall.

Cannonballs flew over the city walls and crashed into houses inside the city, and screams of agony filled the air.

"Ho ho ho ho~"

Suddenly, a wolf-like howl erupted from the Northern Frontier Army. The soldiers, holding their spears high, were already starving and eager to rush into the city and plunder.

"Hahaha, look at those lame Sali, they're shaking like leaves!"

A bearded cavalryman patted his horse and laughed wildly, pointing at the trembling Uyghur soldiers on the city wall.

"See that? This city wall isn't even as hard as the sole of my boot."

"Let these Gaochang rats see that my Northern Frontier Cavalry is not only invincible on the grasslands, but also in conquering cities and fortresses!"

"Commander, once the city gates open, we must be the first to rush in!"

A young cavalryman shouted impatiently, "The money and grain in Hamili City are more than those in Liangzhou City. We absolutely cannot let that Zhang Da-nao-tou commander get there first this time."

"That's right~ We'll share one of the women who robbed Hamili with the brothers!"

Laughter and shouts mingled together, like a pack of hungry wolves about to pounce on their prey.

Compared to the excitement and euphoria of the soldiers in the northern frontier, the Uyghur defenders on the city walls were left with only a deep-seated fear.

While some Uyghur warriors brandished their scimitars and roared that they would live and die with Hami, most of them were just ordinary soldiers who did not have such noble patriotism.

All they could think about was how to save their lives.

Those who usually act arrogantly and domineeringly are the noble lords. These common soldiers don't own even a single acre of land and barely make a living by farming for the nobles.

When people are enjoying the good times, they don't get a share, but when the city falls, they're dragged down to die with everyone else. Nobody's that stupid.

Amid the roar of artillery fire, panicked shouts and screams of soldiers caught in the crossfire rose and fell.

"Ahhhhh~"

The arrow towers on the city walls, bricks, wooden beams, and even human bodies were torn to pieces in an instant, hurled into the air along with flying dirt.

Commander Mocuo Wuba of the Imperial Guard brandished his scimitar, trying to boost morale: "Brothers, hold the city walls!"

"The barbarians from the northern frontier will only burn, kill, and loot when they enter the city. We have families behind us, and there is nowhere to retreat!"

Just then, a bodyguard scrambled over, his voice trembling uncontrollably: "Commander... the city gate... the city gate has been breached!"

Mocuo Wuba was stunned: "How is that possible? The cannons have only fired two rounds..."

"It wasn't destroyed by cannon fire!"

The guards, their faces contorted with grief, cried out, "It was...it was the soldiers at the city gate! They opened the city gate without permission!"

Mocuo Wuba's face instantly turned red and contorted with rage as he roared, "Traitors! Cowards! A bunch of spineless cowards!"

The northern cavalry outside the city had already seen the city gates open. Although they didn't know if it was a trap, they couldn't let go of the opportunity.

So they dispatched a hundred-household soldier to seize the city gate.

Only then did they realize that the Uyghur soldiers in the city had either laid down their weapons and surrendered or scattered and fled, with very few putting up any resistance.

After confirming there was no ambush, Bali'ala outside the city brandished his spear.

"Brothers."

"Charge into Hamili City, loot money! Loot grain! Loot women!"

"Kill them!"

The crimson torrent, like a river bursting its banks, surged into the city through the open gates.

The sounds of horses' hooves, shouts of battle, and screams of agony instantly engulfed Hamili City, turning the once prosperous capital into a living hell in an instant.

As Mocuo Wuba watched the surging tide of northern cavalry pour in, he knew it was all over.

Moreover, he was the murderer of Arkus, and the people of Northern Xinjiang would never let him go.

So he led a small number of his personal guards, his faces contorted with rage, and charged toward the Northern Frontier Army.

After killing two northern border soldiers, a heavy blow from a northern border cavalryman sent his scimitar flying out of his hand.

With a "thud," another soldier's spear pierced his chest.

Mocuo Wuba stared wide-eyed at the red sun and moon battle flag fluttering in the sky, blood gushing from his mouth, and finally died.

Inside the royal palace, Chibido heard the battle cries from outside the city growing ever closer. He slumped onto his throne, his face ashen.

He was trembling all over, muttering repeatedly, "It's over...it's all over..."

Suddenly, as if he had thought of something, a glint of madness flashed in his eyes.

He suddenly grabbed the scimitar beside the throne and strode out of the hall.

When they barged straight into Miguli's palace, the room was already in chaos.

The palace maids scattered and fled for their lives, or huddled in corners trembling with fear.

When Miguli saw Chibido approaching with a knife, she hurriedly grabbed his sleeve, her voice trembling with tears: "Your Majesty, the Northern Frontier army is attacking! Let's run!"

"Fleeing south might offer a chance of survival..."

But in the next second, with a muffled 'thud,' the cold blade instantly sliced ​​through her neck.

Fresh blood gushed out, splattering onto Chebido's face; it was hot and sticky.

Miguli stared at him wide-eyed in disbelief, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she only made a hoarse sound and collapsed softly to the ground.

Qibido coldly wiped the blood off his face and said through gritted teeth, "The barbarians from the northern frontier have come. They are nothing but a bunch of beasts in human skin."

"I want you to remain chaste for me."

Throughout history, when a country is destroyed and a family is ruined, women have always been lambs to the slaughter.

The humiliation of the Jingkang Incident, the devastation of the fall of Caizhou, the chaos after Li Zicheng captured Beijing...

Women were nothing more than playthings on the victor's bed.

Chebido had personally delivered Aisha to Li Xiao's bedside, and he was filled with remorse for it.

We must never tolerate any more women being humiliated by the barbarians of the northern frontier.

"kill!"

Like a wild beast out of control, he lunged at the other concubines and palace maids with a knife in hand.

Screams rose and fell, and blood stained the gilded beams and pillars.

The once fragrant palace was transformed into a living hell in an instant.

The palace maids fled for their lives, and he chased after them, hacking and slashing until he killed the last palace maid in front of him. Only then did Qi Biduo lean on his knife, panting for breath.

Suddenly, he remembered someone else—the imprisoned queen, Arcus's youngest daughter.

He spared her out of momentary pity during the coup, but now it seems he can't spare her.

Carrying a blood-dripping scimitar, covered in blood, and with disheveled hair, he rushed towards the cold palace.

But at the same time, the palace gates had already been breached.

A young general in red armor led the charge into the palace, and with the help of the surrendered soldiers, they quickly found Chibido.

“Cibido is here.”

"Gee, gee, gee~"

Amidst the clang of clashing swords and thunderous hooves, the young general and his men blocked Chebido's path.

This person looked to be about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a tall and straight figure, and his eyebrows and eyes even bore a resemblance to Li Xiao.

It was Sanbao who was now serving as a commander in the Second Town.

He stood on his warhorse, spear in hand, his gaze sweeping over the fallen corpses of palace maids behind Chibido, a look of regret on his face: "These women, what a pity."

"If they survive, they can have many offspring for our soldiers in the northern frontier."

He clicked his tongue, then raised his gun and pointed it at Chibido, his eyes instantly turning cold. "Chibido, you killed my woman from the Northern Frontier, you deserve to die!"

Chebido suddenly looked up, his scarlet eyes fixed on the three leopards, having already given up all hope and showing no fear whatsoever.

He raised his scimitar and charged towards Sanbao: "You barbarian from the northern frontier, I'll kill you!"

Sanbao snorted coldly, flicked his wrist, and his spear shot out like a serpent from its hole, accurately knocking away the scimitar in Qibido's hand.

He then kicked him in the chest, stomping him hard onto the ground.

With a crisp "crack," several of Chebido's ribs broke, and blood gushed from the corner of his mouth.

He struggled to lift his head and looked at Sanbao's young but cold face, feeling a sense of déjà vu.

"Where is Li Xiao? Tell him to come see me! I want to see with my own eyes how he swallows up Gaochang..."

Sanbao was too lazy to waste words with him, having already received a clear indication from his second uncle.

Once you discover Chebdo, show him no mercy and send him directly to see the Buddha.

The spear pierced his throat. Chebido's angry curses stopped abruptly, his eyes wide open, as if he were still cursing something.

"King Qibido of Gaochang was killed by the remnants of Kudinayan's forces."

"A grand funeral!"

Three Leopards looked at the corpse on the ground and said coldly.

He sheathed his spear, wiped the blood from the tip with a cloth, and turned his gaze to the Cold Palace: "Is anyone still inside?"

The surrendered general in charge of guarding the palace immediately reported: "My lord, the former queen is imprisoned in the cold palace."

Three Leopards raised an eyebrow: "The former queen? Alcus's youngest daughter?"

Alcus's eldest daughter was Li Xiao's concubine, and also Sanbao's sister-in-law.

Given this relationship, we must take good care of this girl.

"Bring him out and take good care of him. No one is allowed to offend him," Sanbaozi instructed.

He turned his horse around again and looked into the depths of the palace.

Hami has been defeated, and it's time to reward those who have contributed. The women killed by Chibido were only a very small minority; after all, how many could one person kill?

The women who survived were then distributed among the brothers.

The shouts of battle outside the palace gates gradually subsided, replaced by the wolf-like howls of the northern frontier soldiers echoing throughout the city.

The wealth and women of Hamili await their plunder.

(End of this chapter)