The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 340 Going Home
The Jin army, fleeing hastily from the walls of Qingyang, moved like a disorganized snake, struggling along the muddy official road.

The soldiers hung their heads, their morale low, their weapons casually slung over their shoulders, their faces filled with fear and exhaustion.

"Have you heard? The entire Eastern Route Army is wiped out, and General Jiagu even committed suicide."

A young soldier leaned close to his companion, his voice trembling despite his low whisper: "We're still hundreds of miles from Chang'an. Could we be surrounded by the Northern Frontier Army as well?"

"Don't talk nonsense."

His companion's face turned pale, but he still tried to remain calm: "The commander said that we have a full fifty or sixty thousand men, and we have no shortage of cavalry, crossbowmen, spearmen, slingers, or anything else."

"If those barbarians from the northern frontier dare to attack, we'll make sure they suffer a bloody defeat."

"We'll be safe as long as we retreat to Chang'an."

"But...but I heard that the Northern Frontier Army is almost catching up. Can we outrun their cavalry?"

Rumors spread like wildfire through the ranks, with some saying that the Northern Frontier Army had divine assistance and that the Yongzhou Cauldron could summon wind and rain.

Some say that the Northern Frontier Army wanted to slaughter all the Jin soldiers, not even sparing those who surrendered.

Fear spread like a plague, and many soldiers slowed their pace as they walked, their eyes filled with confusion.

Some even secretly deserted the group and fled into the mountains, only to be killed on the spot by the Jin army generals who were covering their retreat.

In the middle of the group, several Han dynasty marquises and aristocratic generals rode together on horseback, their faces so gloomy they could drip water, their voices full of frustration.

"Originally, we thought that since the barbarians of the northern frontier had wiped out most of the gentry in Weibei, we could head north and seize their land, houses, and shops. But we never expected this..."

A general from a powerful family in Chang'an slammed his fist on the saddle, his voice filled with resentment: "The entire Eastern Route Army has been wiped out."

Not only did they not gain any benefits, they also had to flee in panic, otherwise they would have been surrounded and wiped out by the Northern Frontier Army.

"Who says it isn't?"

Another Han dynasty marquis sighed: "The properties of those Weibei gentry were a piece of fat meat. We prepared for so long, just waiting to drive out the Northern Frontier people before we made our move, but we fell into the Northern Frontier army's trap."

"Now look what's happened! We didn't get to eat the fat, and now we have to worry about our lives!"

"Jiagushaning actually has the nerve to call himself a famous general of the Jin Dynasty? His 40,000-strong army was completely wiped out by the northern barbarians. He's simply...useless!"

"Even if I were in their shoes, the fight wouldn't have turned out like this."

"Alas, these Jurchens still don't trust us."

"If you ask me, who cares about the Jurchens or the northern frontier? We should just live our own lives."

"But the people of northern Xinjiang don't want us to live a good life."

"I heard that the gentry in Weibei have been dealt a terrible blow."

These aristocratic generals and Han dynasty marquises gathered together to complain.

Ahead, Wanyan Gang reined in his horse and stood on a high slope, looking at the chaotic procession with a solemn expression.

He repeatedly dispatched his personal guards, sending them at breakneck speed to the Central Plains to urge reinforcements.

"Go and tell Grand Councilor Wanyan that no matter what, he must lead his troops to Guanzhong as soon as possible, otherwise my Guanzhong army will be in danger."

"If Guanzhong falls, half of the Jin dynasty's territory will be lost."

The guards obeyed and left. Just as Wanyan Gang was about to order the march to be sped up, a scout rushed over.

"General, scouts from the Northern Frontier Army have been spotted ahead. There are at least a dozen of them, and they are spying on our army's movements."

Wanyan Gang's pupils contracted sharply, and he murmured in a solemn voice, "They came so quickly."

He immediately ordered: "All troops to stand at attention, infantry to form ranks, cavalry to guard the flanks, and prevent a surprise attack by the Northern Frontier Army."

The Jin soldiers hurriedly stopped and frantically tried to reorganize their formation.

They continued walking in fear until evening, when the afterglow of the setting sun shone on the earth, and suddenly the deafening sound of horses' hooves came from afar.

"Boom boom boom~"

Wanyan Gang looked up and saw a torrent of yellow and red on the horizon.

Tens of thousands of northern cavalrymen were galloping toward the Jin army, their banners fluttering and the sound of their horses' hooves thundering across the land, shaking people to their core.

Li Xiao rode a black horse, standing beneath the golden sun and moon battle banner, holding a telescope in his hand, coldly gazing at the heavily guarded Jin army.

The soldiers from the northern frontier behind him, their armor still stained with blood and mud from the previous battle, had eyes as sharp as knives and exuded a murderous aura.

Even the Jin army's warhorses seemed to sense this invisible force and began to become restless.

The Jin soldiers were even more solemn.

"It's the Northern Frontier Army! Lots of cavalry!"

The Jin soldiers stared at the yellow and red waves, some of the militiamen even turning pale with fear and beginning to tremble: "Are they...are they going to attack?"

"Don't panic! Form ranks! Form ranks!" the generals shouted sternly.

This Jin army consisted of roughly equal numbers of elite troops and militia, with many veterans, which naturally helped them maintain their formation and prevent it from collapsing.

Li Xiao lowered his telescope, a cold glint appearing in his eyes.

He muttered to himself, "Having killed so many warriors of my northern frontier, you think you can just run away?"

This army besieged Qingyang for more than ten days, causing heavy casualties to Lin Dazhuang's troops. Although the Jin army also suffered even more casualties, he had to settle this score.

However, Li Xiao did not immediately order an attack, but instead ordered the troops to set up camp and rest ten miles away from the Jin army.

In the days that followed, the Northern Frontier Army clung to the Jin army like a stubborn plaster.

During the day, as the Jin army marched, the northern cavalry followed on both sides, occasionally letting out deafening shouts and making charging gestures, forcing the Jin army to stop and hastily form ranks for defense.

But once the Jin army had formed its battle formation, the Northern Frontier cavalry immediately dispersed to the sides, avoiding any direct confrontation with the Jin army.

Once the Jin cavalry couldn't resist pursuing them, the Northern Frontier Cavalry would turn their horses around and retreat, luring the Jin cavalry away from the protection of the infantry corps, and then take the opportunity to gather superior cavalry to encircle and annihilate them.

At night, the Northern Frontier Army was even busier.

They pushed the Tiger-shaped cannons and set them up not far from the Jin army camp, randomly bombarding the camp.

The shells landed inside the tent, exploding into a cloud of mud and flames. Although the damage wasn't too great, it kept the Jin soldiers awake all night, their nerves on edge.

Thus, the Jin army could only advance less than twenty li each day, and the soldiers were exhausted and their morale was extremely low.

More importantly, because the northern cavalry cut off the Jin army's supply lines, the soldiers' rations kept decreasing, and a sense of panic began to spread among the Jin army.

Faced with this situation, Wanyan Gang was furious but helpless.

These people from northern Xinjiang have truly mastered the essence of steppe cavalry tactics.

When nomadic tribes of the grasslands faced armies from the Central Plains, they often used this harassment tactic.

However, the steppe cavalry only dared to harass and never dared to confront the Jin army head-on, but the Northern Frontier Army was different.

Their armor and weapons are sharp and their combat power is formidable. Even when facing the onslaught of the Ironclad Cavalry, they dare to confront it head-on and, most importantly, always manage to win.

They were practically a bunch of hexagonal monsters, which made Wanyan Gang feel even more desperate.

If things continue like this, they will be worn down by the Northern Frontier Army before they can even retreat to Chang'an, and ultimately be completely wiped out.

After pondering for a long time, a ruthless glint flashed in Wanyan Gang's eyes.

He muttered to himself, "A merciful general cannot command an army."

The Jin army's morale plummeted as they were repeatedly entangled by the Northern Frontier Army without launching an attack.

On this day, in the early morning mist, they dragged their weary bodies and packed their belongings. Many of them yawned and looked at the Northern Frontier cavalry lingering in the distance with impatience on their faces.

"It's the same old routine again, all they do is follow along and shout nonsense. If they're so capable, why don't they actually come and fight?"

A Jin infantryman leaned against his shield, munching on a dry, hard flatbread while muttering to himself with a numb contempt in his voice.

His companion chimed in, "That's right. I think they're just too scared to fight head-on; they're only going to use these tactics to wear us down."

"Once we retreat to Chang'an, with the city walls providing cover, let's see how arrogant they can be then."

But no sooner had he finished speaking than a sharp bugle call suddenly rang out from the distant Northern Frontier army formation.

"Woooooo~"

Unlike the usual harassment and shouts, this bugle call was urgent and loud, carrying an undeniable signal of attack.

Immediately afterwards, the northern cavalry in the distance quickly assembled, their yellow and red armor forming a dazzling torrent in the morning light.

What alarmed the Jin army even more was that dozens of Tiger-shaped cannons were pushed to the front of the formation, their muzzles already pointed at their troops.

"Oh no! They're really going to attack."

The Jin generals finally reacted and roared orders to form ranks: "Shield bearers in front, spearmen follow, archers prepare."

The demoralized Jin army had lost its former tacit understanding. The soldiers grabbed their weapons in a panic, and before the shield bearers could form a complete shield wall, the Northern Frontier Army's cannons roared first.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The cannonballs streaked through the thin mist like meteors, crashing into the Jin army's ranks with a piercing whistle and exploding instantly.

"Ahhhhh~"

"My legs~"

Dirt and rubble flew everywhere, shields were shattered, and Jin soldiers hiding behind them screamed as they fell, their blood instantly staining the ground beneath their feet.

Before the Jin army could recover from the shock of the artillery barrage, the Northern Frontier Army's crossbowmen had already formed three ranks and launched a volley.

A dense barrage of crossbow bolts, like a black rainstorm, pierced through the morning mist, accurately striking the Jin army's archers and spearmen.

The air was filled with the constant whooshing sounds of arrows cutting through the air as Jin soldiers fell to the ground, and cannons opened fire simultaneously.

This made the already chaotic formation of the Jin army even more disorganized, and many people began to instinctively retreat.

"Hold on! Don't retreat!"

A Jin army centurion brandished his scimitar, trying to stop his soldiers from fleeing, but before he could even utter a sound, a crossbow bolt pierced his throat, blood gushing from his mouth as he collapsed heavily to the ground.

Just then, the bugle sounded again from the Northern Frontier army ranks.

"Boom boom boom~"

A thousand armored cavalrymen charged out of the formation like steel behemoths. Their heavy armor gleamed coldly in the morning light, and the sound of their hooves thundered across the ground, unsettling the Jin soldiers.

"It's the Ironclad Cavalry, the Ironclad Cavalry of the Northern Frontier Army has arrived."

"Not good~"

"Block them! Shieldmen, block them, or we'll all die!"

"Where are our Ironclad Cavalry?"

Amidst the terrified cries of the Jin army soldiers on the front lines, the Black Armor Army's charge had already reached the front lines.

"Kill!" The commander of the Black Armor Army shouted fiercely, heading straight for the weakest flank of the Jin army's formation. He held his spear horizontally, like an unstoppable torrent of steel, and slammed it into the Jin army's shield wall.

"boom!"

A dull thud resounded, and the Jin army's shield wall, bombarded by cannons and crossbows, was instantly torn open with a huge gap.

"Kill~"

The armored cavalry's armor-piercing spikes pierced the shields, knocking the soldiers behind them off their horses. The warhorses trampled over the fallen corpses and rampaged through the Jin army's ranks.

A black-armored cavalryman brandished his saber, cleaving a Jin soldier's spear in two with a single stroke, and then beheading the soldier. Blood splattered on his armor, but it did not affect his charging speed in the slightest.

"Come on!"

The First Division's cavalry followed closely behind the armored cavalry, pouring into the Jin army's ranks through the gap, their sabers flashing as they reaped lives.

The Jin soldiers completely collapsed. Some threw down their weapons and ran away, while others knelt down and surrendered. Their original formation was completely destroyed, leaving only fleeing soldiers and desperate screams.

Upon seeing this, the Marquis of Han and the aristocratic generals in the middle of the group turned pale, but they still suppressed their fear and led their private soldiers forward.

"Stop them, don't let the Northern Frontier Army break through."

They knew that once the Jin army was completely defeated, they would also be doomed. They could only fight to the death in the hope of stabilizing the situation.

But they hadn't gone far when a guard came running up in a panic, crying out, "Sir, something terrible has happened!"

"The commander... the commander has run away with his men."

"What?!" The aristocratic generals were struck dumb, and they turned their heads sharply to look in the direction of the central army camp.

There was chaos everywhere. Wanyan Gang was leading the elite troops of the central army to retreat from the battlefield and speeding towards Chang'an, showing no intention of turning back.

What remained were tens of thousands of demoralized ordinary soldiers and a chaotic battlefield where the Northern Frontier Army had slaughtered them at will.

"Shameless! Wanyan Gang is such a shameless scoundrel!"

A gentry general trembled with rage, slamming his spear to the ground: "He actually abandoned his army and fled, treating us all as scapegoats."

"It's over...it's completely over now."

Another Han dynasty marquis slumped on his horse, staring at the approaching northern cavalry with despair in his eyes.

Without Wanyan Gang's elite troops in command, these private soldiers were no match for the Northern Frontier Army's attack. All that awaited them was capture or death in battle.

The Northern Frontier Army's offensive continued, with armored cavalry charging through the Jin army's ranks, archers constantly reaping the lives of resisting soldiers, and cavalry pursuing the fleeing Jin troops.

……

The scorching sun baked the earth, revealing the devastation of the battlefield.

Corpses lay strewn across the ground, interspersed with the tattered armor and weapons of the Jin army.

Teams of Jin prisoners of war were escorted by the Northern Frontier Army into temporary prisoner-of-war camps.

Meanwhile, more soldiers in the northern frontier were clearing the battlefield, treating the wounded, and registering and burying the bodies of soldiers who had died in the battle.

On the high slope in the center of the battlefield, Li Xiao reined in his horse and stood under the golden sun and moon battle banner. Looking at the tragic scene before him, his heart was filled with solemnity.

The cold voice said, "Wanyan Gang is ruthless enough. Knowing he was no match for them, he used these militiamen as shields while he led his elite troops and made a hasty retreat."

He paused, then turned his gaze toward Chang'an: "I just wonder how he will face those aristocratic families after he returns to Chang'an."

"After all, most of the generals who command these militias are sons of the gentry in Chang'an. Now that they have been used as pawns by him, this debt is probably not so easy to settle."

"The Grand Protector is right."

Zhang Xiong, a centurion of the Imperial Guards, chimed in, "These aristocratic families were already dissatisfied with Wanyan Gang. Now that their sons have died in battle and their troops have been weakened, they will surely harbor resentment towards him. Perhaps we can take this opportunity to divide the defensive forces of Chang'an."

Li Xiao nodded and ordered his personal guards, "Bring all the captured Jin generals here. I want to interrogate them personally."

Before long, dozens of Jin army generals, bound hand and foot, were brought over.

Most of them were sons of noble families, and their faces were filled with despair and resentment.

"The reason I'm sparing your lives is because you're still useful."

"If you can capture Chang'an for my northern frontier, I will spare your lives and the lives of your entire families."

"If we can't take Chang'an, my Northern Frontier Army won't waste our food feeding a bunch of useless people."

After Li Xiao finished speaking, some of the generals cursed loudly, while others knelt down and begged for mercy.

Most people were pragmatic and expressed their willingness to persuade the elders in Chang'an to surrender.

But this is ultimately just a side move. The true weight of these people, and how many troops their families still control in Chang'an, are all uncertain.

That evening, Gao Zhongyi rushed over with a battle report in his hand: "Grand Protector, in this battle our army captured more than 32,000 Jin soldiers."

"Wanyan Gang took away more than 20,000 elite troops and soldiers who fled into the nearby mountains and fields. Li Dongshui, the commander of ten thousand men, is leading troops to pursue and kill Wanyan Gang."

Listening to Gao Zhongyi's report, Li Xiao rubbed his temples.

The results of these two wars were unprecedented, yet a hint of worry still appeared on his face: "More than 50,000 prisoners..."

More than 30,000 prisoners of war were captured in this battle, and with the addition of more than 20,000 prisoners captured in the Battle of Sanhe Town, that brings the total to more than 50,000 prisoners of war.

So many prisoners, all young and strong men, have not been reformed and could rebel at any time, so we must leave enough elite guards to watch over them.

Including the Jin and Xia prisoners of war captured in previous wars, the number of prisoners has reached nearly 100,000.

Fortunately, some of them had been reorganized into the militia of the northern frontier and could help guard the prisoners later.

Even so, Li Xiao's available forces were already stretched thin.

But misfortune never comes singly. Just then, Zhang Shitou, commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, arrived on horseback.

He stopped in front of Li Xiao, saluted with his hand on his chest, and said in a low voice, "Grand Protector, urgent military report."

"The Jin Kingdom has dispatched another 30,000 reinforcements from the Central Plains, which have already arrived at Tongguan and will soon reach Chang'an."

"what?"

Li Xiao frowned slightly, his tone full of frustration: "This is never going to end."

“We just wiped out Jia Gushaning’s 30,000 elite troops, and now another 30,000 are coming.”

He couldn't help but curse, "Those useless Song soldiers couldn't even hold back the main force of the Jin army. If they hadn't been defeated in the Central Plains, how would the Jin have had the energy to send troops to support Guanzhong?"

Zhang Shitou nodded slightly and said, "Grand Protector, according to the latest battle situation from the Central Plains, the two armies of the Song army have been completely defeated."

"The Jin army not only recovered the lost territory, but also launched a counterattack to the north bank of the Yangtze River, only a few hundred miles away from Lin'an City."

"The Song court is currently in chaos, preparing to defend Lin'an, and has no ability to go north to contain the Jin army."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiao's face grew even darker, and he continued to curse, "These Song pigs, they won't stand up for anything."

"Even pigs are more useful than them."

The reasons for the Song army's defeat were complex. The pro-peace faction in the court kept dragging things down. Although Shi Miyuan was imprisoned, the pro-peace faction immediately put forward a new party leader, turning the Song court into a sieve.

If intelligence could be obtained from the Song court from the northern frontier thousands of miles away, how much more so from the Jin dynasty?

More importantly, Yue Fei's death had a profound impact on the Song army. The generals, feeling a sense of shared fate, became cautious and conservative, seeking to avoid mistakes rather than achieve merit.

The army's sense of belonging to the imperial court has greatly declined. They have long lost the fighting spirit of Yue Fei's era and are more like a group of mercenaries who fight for money.

"I heard that the Song army now sets prices for every battle they fight."

Zhang Shitou lowered his voice, his tone tinged with disbelief, and said, "How much money do you get for shooting an arrow? How much reward do you get for advancing a certain distance? You won't move unless you get paid."

"The soldiers have no trust in their generals or the imperial court. How can such an army possibly win battles?"

“This is all the Song court’s own doing,” Li Xiao said coldly, shaking his head.

The Song court was suspicious of its generals and embezzled military pay. Over time, the soldiers naturally only recognized money and not the court.

Although Li Xiao changed Han Tuozhou's fate and prevented the Song court from immediately surrendering to the Jin Dynasty, he ultimately failed to change the corrupt nature of the Song Dynasty.

Mud can't support the wall.

Fortunately, Li Xiao's efforts paid off. If Han Tuozhou hadn't continued to resist, the two countries would have already begun peace talks.

Without the threat from the Song Dynasty, the Jin Dynasty would likely send 100,000, not 30,000, to reinforce Guanzhong.

Despite the complaints, the real difficulties still need to be faced.

Li Xiao turned his horse around and headed towards the wounded soldiers' camp: "Let's go see the wounded."

The wounded soldiers' camp was set up in an abandoned village, with tents stretching out in rows, and the air filled with the smell of herbs and pus.

The medics were busy treating the wounded soldiers' wounds; some were boiling herbal medicine, while others were bandaging them.

They held a powder made from garlic, called "Golden Jade Powder," and applied it to the wound to prevent infection before wrapping it tightly with a clean bandage.

Upon seeing Li Xiao's arrival, some of the lightly wounded soldiers struggled to get up and salute, but Li Xiao pressed them down with his hand: "Just lie down and take good care of your injuries."

He walked over to a soldier with a broken arm, took the Jin Yu San powder and bandages from the doctor, and bandaged the soldier himself: "If it hurts, just say so, don't bear it."

Tears welled up in the soldier's eyes, and he choked out, "Great Protector, I'm not in pain."

"As long as I can fight alongside the Grand Protector, it's worth it even if I lose an arm."

Li Xiao felt a warmth in his heart and looked at the soldier, saying in a deep voice, "You are a good soldier, and even more so, a warrior of my northern frontier."

"Take good care of your injury; the northern frontier still needs you."

"No one will be treated unfairly for every warrior who has shed blood and contributed their strength to the northern frontier."

Li Xiao spent a day in the wounded soldiers' camp, personally treating the wounded soldiers and making them truly feel the care and kindness from the Grand Protector.

Looking at these wounded soldiers, Li Xiao became even more determined in his decision.

After two consecutive high-intensity battles, the Northern Frontier Army inflicted heavy losses on the Jin army in Guanzhong, but also suffered more than 5,000 casualties, leaving the soldiers exhausted.

They campaigned eastward for two years, and countless people were promoted and made a fortune, but the mental and physical exhaustion they suffered was not something that could be easily relieved.

The Jin dynasty could mobilize a continuous stream of troops to support Guanzhong, but not the northern frontier.

First, the journey was long, making it difficult to move troops and supplies.

Secondly, the northern frontier had just conquered the Xia Kingdom and had not yet been fully assimilated, and places like Lingzhou had not yet been completely transformed into a rear area, making the cost of war extremely high.

Faced with these real difficulties, Li Xiao had no choice but to compromise.

"It's time to go home."

Li Xiao murmured softly, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness and a touch of relief.

This time, they ultimately failed to completely conquer the Guanzhong region.

"First, hold Qingyang and Xianyang, consolidate the gains in Guanzhong, and once Lingzhou has become a stable rear, then return to fight the Jin Kingdom."

(End of this chapter)