The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 345 What Father? Call Me Dad
After the spring planting season ended, a large procession slowly set off on the official road outside Xianyang City.

Li Xiao led the First Division army and 50,000 Kuli Army prisoners of war on their journey back to Longcheng in the northern border region.

This eastern expedition lasted for nearly three years, but it was the most turbulent and magnificent three years in the history of the rise of the northern frontier.

Over the past three years, Li Xiao led the Northern Frontier Army out of the Western Regions, gradually expanding the territory to an unprecedented extent.

He pacified the northern deserts, and the various tribes of the steppe submitted, extending the northern frontier northward to the north of Lake Baikal, almost recreating the vast territory of the former Turkic Khaganate.

They marched south to the Hetao region, destroyed the Xia state, seized the fertile Hetao Plain and the strategically important Lingzhou, and also took over hundreds of thousands of Xia people and a large amount of resources.

The population and economic strength of northern Xinjiang were greatly enhanced, making it a powerful force capable of rivaling the Jin and Song dynasties.

After destroying the Xia Kingdom, the Northern Frontier Army continued its southward advance, aiming for Guanzhong.

Not only did they recover large tracts of land north of the Wei River, but they also forced the Jin army to retreat to the south bank of the Wei River, firmly controlling the most prosperous region in Guanzhong.

This battle severely weakened the Jin dynasty, giving the northern frontier more time to develop.

Li Xiao sat on horseback, his gaze sweeping over the soldiers beside him and the prisoners of war behind him, his heart filled with emotion.

During his three-year eastern expedition, he not only expanded the territory of the northern frontier, but also united the people and established a complete military and political system.

Now that the army has returned to Longcheng, he will have more energy to govern this vast land, develop production, cultivate talent, and lay a more solid foundation for the future of northern Xinjiang.

The procession continued its journey, and the scenery along the official road gradually changed from the plains of Guanzhong to the mountains of Longyou, and then to the Gobi Desert of the Hexi Corridor.

After arriving in Xizhou, one must travel north across the desert to reach Jinzhou.

The journey covered more than 6,000 li (approximately 3,000 kilometers), with frequent stops along the way, and took nearly four months to reach Jinzhou.

The convoy moved slowly, partly because it was carrying a large amount of supplies and prisoners of war, and partly because Li Xiao needed to inspect the governance of various states along the way.

Wherever he went, he would summon local officials to inquire about matters such as population registration, land distribution, and grain reserves, to ensure the stability of his rule in various parts of northern Xinjiang.

Meanwhile, in Longcheng, the Prince's Mansion was already bustling with activity.

A maidservant hurried into the inner courtyard and bowed to Xiao Yanyan, who was taking care of her twin children, and reported: "Your Majesty, news has come from the front lines that the army led by the King has left the desert and will arrive in Longcheng in less than ten days."

Upon hearing this, a hint of joy flashed in Xiao Yanyan's eyes. She quickly put down the swaddling clothes in her hands and ordered, "Quickly pass down the order, and have everyone in Dragon City prepare to welcome her."

"Our Qin soldiers are going home."

"Yes!" The maid acknowledged the order and withdrew.

Xiao Yanyan turned to the maid beside her and asked, "By the way, where's the golden knife?"

"I just saw him playing in the yard, where did he go?"

Another maid replied with a smile, "Your Highness, the young prince is playing horseback riding with the guards in the front yard, saying he wants to learn from the King and go to war."

Xiao Yanyan laughed upon hearing this: "Boys have always liked fighting and killing since they were little."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a small figure rushed in, none other than Jin Dao, the eldest son of Li Xiao and Xiao Yanyan.

He is five years old this year. Because the Prince's Palace has abundant supplies and good nutrition, he is as strong as a little calf.

He was still covered in mud, clutching a wooden gun in his hand. As soon as he entered the room, he picked up the teapot on the table and gulped down several mouthfuls.

He said, panting heavily, "Mom! I can ride a horse now. Uncle Liu said I ride much more steadily than last time."

Xiao Yanyan pretended to be reproachful and stepped forward to wipe the mud off his face: "You child, you've been playing around and you're covered in mud again."

She paused, then her tone became serious, "You'll be six years old next year, it'll be time for you to go to school."

The "school" that Xiao Yanyan mentioned was the Jinzhou Military Academy, which had already been established in the northern border region.

This school is open to children from all over northern Xinjiang, regardless of their social status; the youngest children can enter the primary school as young as six.

In addition, there is a special provision: if a child's father dies in the war in the northern frontier, or if the mother also passes away or is unable to support the child for other reasons, the school will adopt the child from a young age and subject him to military-style management.

Boys are primarily trained in military skills, while girls are trained to become doctors or nurses. If they lack the relevant talent, they can become factory workers in spinning mills, ensuring that every child has a future.

Li Xiao had long ago decided that his children would not receive any special treatment and must enter the military academy for study and training alongside ordinary children from northern Xinjiang.

Firstly, it is to cultivate their resilience and prevent them from becoming spoiled and arrogant.

Secondly, it allows them to make friends in school and build a reliable team for the future.

Upon hearing "go to school," Jin Dao's eyes lit up instead of resisting: "Really? Mother!"

“They all say that the children in the school can not only ride horses, but also learn archery, wilderness survival, and first aid. I’ve wanted to go for a long time.”

Xiao Yanyan couldn't help but laugh. Boys are lively and active, so they naturally like these kinds of things.

But no one told Jin Dao that in addition to military skills, the military academy also required students to learn literacy, arithmetic, and other cultural knowledge.

I imagine that when he actually enrolls in school, he'll be quite distressed when faced with these "extra assignments."

She gently patted Jin Dao's head and said softly, "You can learn these things at the school, but you must listen to the instructors, not be naughty, and certainly not act like a prince."

"I know."

Jin Dao patted his chest and assured her, then remembered something and leaned close to Xiao Yanyan, whispering, "Mother, I heard from Uncle Liu that Father is coming back soon."

Xiao Yanyan nodded, her eyes full of tenderness: "It's true, your father will arrive in Longcheng in a few days."

Jin Dao froze, his little hands unconsciously clenching the wooden spear.

When Li Xiao went to war, he was only two years old and had just learned to speak, so he could no longer remember what his father looked like.

He only learned from others that his father was a great hero.

This is because, over the past two years, news has been constantly reaching the northern frontier: the king has led a large army to pacify the northern grasslands, subjugating all tribes and being honored as "Tengri Gur Khan".

He led his army to destroy the Xia state, conquered Guanzhong, won a great victory over the Jin state, and became the "King of Qin".

His status also changed from "eldest son" to "eldest prince".

Although he didn't understand exactly how impressive these achievements were, Jin Dao could clearly sense from the awe-inspiring tone of the servants and the admiring gazes of the guards that his father was an extraordinary person.

Upon hearing that his father was about to return, his little face was filled with reverence, and a hint of barely perceptible nervousness.

He didn't know what this legendary "great hero father" would be like.

"Mother, Father... is Father really like Uncle Liu said, able to take on ten people at once?" Jin Dao looked up, his eyes full of curiosity.

Xiao Yanyan smiled and patted his head: "Your father can not only fight ten people at once, but also lead the army to victory and protect the people of the northern frontier."

"When you grow up, you must become a strong and upright man like your father."

"it is good!"

Jin Dao nodded vigorously, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

He gripped the wooden spear tightly, thinking to himself, "When my father returns, I will tell him that I can ride a horse now, and that I will become a great hero like him, protecting the people of the northern frontier."

The sun was shining brightly outside the Prince's Mansion, and the people of Jinzhou began to stir.

After three years of war, the King is finally returning. The head of the family in the northern frontier, the King of Qin of the Great Qin, is about to return to the land he has personally protected.

"Great! The King is back!"

"Back when His Majesty led our Northern Frontier Army to annihilate the Naiman and fight against the Xia Kingdom, I knew that Jinzhou would never again be bullied by others."

A young man dressed in coarse cloth and shorts suddenly stood up, his eyes gleaming: "Now, we have finally established our own country."

"you do not say!"

An elderly woman carrying a vegetable basket chimed in, "Jinzhou was so chaotic back then!"

“There is constant fighting between villages and tribes, and the Naiman people come to plunder from time to time, so our people dare not leave the village too far.”

"Fortunately, the King led us to win so many battles."

"you do not say."

"I heard that this time, the King led our army to first pacify the northern desert, making all the grassland people obedient."

"We destroyed the Xia Kingdom, took Guanzhong, and even the Jin Kingdom's 100,000-strong army was routed by us."

"Now who dares to bully us people from Northern Xinjiang? We have confidence wherever we go!"

The old woman's words drew nods of agreement from everyone, their faces beaming with pride.

A boy who had just finished school at Jinzhou Academy and was heading home added with fervor on his face, "It's more than just having confidence!"

"Our Qin state now spans the Western Regions, the northern deserts, and Guanzhong, making it even larger than the Turkic Khaganate of yesteryear."

"The king was also revered as 'Tengri Gur Khan' by the people of the grasslands and was granted the title of Prince of Qin in Guanzhong. This is an achievement rarely seen since ancient times."

The cheers in the streets grew louder and louder, and many families began preparing to welcome the army's return.

Amidst the festivities, however, lay some concerns. A woman holding a child's hand smiled, but her eyes held a hint of worry.

“My husband was the captain of the First Garrison. He went to war with the army two years ago, and there has been no news of him since.”

"Now that the King has returned, he should have come back with him, right?"

“My heart has been pounding ever since I heard the news. I was afraid... afraid something might happen to him.”

The neighbor quickly comforted her, saying, "Who isn't?"

"Aren't there enough men from Jinzhou serving in the army in the First Town?"

"Don't worry, sister. His Majesty is very considerate of his soldiers. Besides, our Northern Frontier Army has won so many battles and all the soldiers are safe and sound."

"Your husband is definitely fine. He's probably on his way back with the army right now, and the family will be reunited in a few days!"

The woman nodded, but her eyes were still red—it had been almost three years, and she had been hoping for her man's return every day. Now that she had finally received news, her heart was filled with a mixture of excitement and worry, which was hard to describe.

Similar scenes can be seen everywhere in the streets and alleys of Jinzhou.

There are wives who long for their husbands to return, parents who wait for their sons to come home, and younger siblings who miss their older brothers.

They may not understand territorial expansion or military and political systems.

But they knew that it was Li Xiao who led the Northern Frontier Army to victory, allowing them to live and work in peace; it was the soldiers of the Northern Frontier Army who fought bloody battles, ensuring that they would no longer be bullied by foreign enemies.

The next morning, the streets of Jinzhou were even more bustling than usual.

Jin Dao, dressed in a gray outfit, was playing and chasing each other on the street with his friends Li Zhaohui and Xiao Mohe.

Li Zhaohui's mother was a Khitan and was once Xiao Yanyan's personal maid. After accompanying Xiao Yanyan to Jinzhou, she was arranged by Xiao Yanyan to marry a young general surnamed Li from the Black Mountain stronghold.

She gave birth to Li Zhaohui, who was a year older than Jin Dao.

As for Xiao Mohe, he was the grandson of Xiao Tuladuo and the son of Xiao Chilu, the deputy commander of the Fifth Garrison.

Compared to Li Zhaohui's composure and taciturnity, Xiao Mohede's eyes held a hint of shrewdness.

There were also other children of similar age who always hung together, like a group of frolicking ponies.

"Young Prince, slow down, don't fall."

Grandpa Wang, who sells tofu pudding, called out with a smile, and scooped up a spoonful of hot tofu pudding: "Want a bowl? It's fresh out of the pot, and it's salty!"

The old man sold tofu pudding because he was bored.

He has three sons who are all in the Northern Frontier Army. The most capable one has become the deputy commander of the Second Division, and another one has become the commander of the Eastern Sea Garrison.

Jinzhou was where Li Xiao started his career. The people there, unless they were particularly incompetent, generally had a promising future. Jin Dao stopped and waved his hand, "No, Grandpa Wang, we've already eaten. We're going to watch Grandpa Zhang make wooden guns!"

When the surrounding people saw Jin Dao, they all greeted him with smiles.

"The young prince is in great spirits."

“This child is really strong, just like the king when he was young.”

"The little guys in Jinzhou are all as strong as little tigers."

Hearing these words, Jin Dao puffed out her chest even more.

The people of Longcheng are special; most are the families of generals from the northern frontier, and some are former Han Chinese from Jinzhou.

Unlike other capital cities with their strict hierarchical structure, this place is more like a large village where thousands of familiar families live.

The old men and women on the street were either the mothers of this general or the aunts of that official.

Many of the friends behind Jin Dao were the grandsons and youngest sons of these elders. They saw each other all the time and were very close.

Not far away, a group of guards from the Prince's Palace dressed in plain clothes were scattered around street corners and alleyways, their eyes occasionally falling on Jin Dao.

They don't approach and disturb the children's play, but they can rush over the moment any danger arises.

Although Longcheng is safe, we cannot let our guard down.

As the children played, they heard people praising Li Xiao from the street corner: "Your Majesty's eastern expedition not only conquered Guanzhong, but also forced the Jin Kingdom to cede territory and pay reparations. Our northern frontier will be more secure from now on."

"That's right. My husband went to war with the First Garrison and came back to Longcheng yesterday to report the news. He kept telling me how well the King treats the soldiers."

"They can eat meat regularly, and if they get injured, they'll be given an official position."

Jin Dao stopped and listened intently, his little face full of pride.

He had heard these words countless times, yet each time he felt as excited as if it were the first time.

This is his father, the ruler of the Northern Frontier, Prince Qin, Li Xiao.

He put his arm around Xiao Mohede's shoulder and waved to his companions behind him: "Come on, let's go ride horses outside the city."

"I want to practice riding skills so that when my father returns, I can show him how well I ride."

The group of friends cheered and followed, running towards the horse farm outside the city.

Ten days later, the deafening sound of horses' hooves finally echoed on the official road outside Longcheng.

First, a golden sun and moon battle banner appeared on the horizon, followed by a grand procession of Northern Frontier soldiers dressed in yellow armor riding tall horses.

The soldiers' armor was still stained with indelible bloodstains, and their robes were filthy, but amidst the filth and disorder, there was an undeniable wild and fierce spirit.

Even more undeniable was the energy and spirit in his eyes—the pride of a victorious battle, and the joy of finally returning home.

In the middle of the procession followed numerous horse-drawn carriages, some carrying the Northern Frontier Army's supplies, while others held black lacquered wooden boxes.

Inside are the ashes of fallen soldiers, a "special baggage" brought back by the army from Guanzhong, to be returned to their families.

As Li Xiao rode his black horse, looking at the familiar outline of Longcheng in the distance, his tense nerves finally relaxed.

"It's been over two years, and I'm finally back." He murmured softly, his eyes filled with relief.

Over the past two years, from the northern deserts to Guanzhong, we have fought countless battles. Now, we have returned safely with our army. Seeing our homeland right before us, all our fatigue has vanished.

Inside the carriage, Li Lingyang, Zhao Yue, Wang Lan, and the other women breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that they would soon arrive in Longcheng.

The journey of six thousand miles and four months was an ordeal for them.

Zhao Yue, in particular, traveled more than 8,000 li (approximately 4,000 kilometers) from Lin'an to Jinzhou.

She initially struggled with the change in environment and the bumpy ride, but later she became adept at riding a horse and carrying the hardships of the journey on her frail shoulders.

Looking at the walls of Dragon City, a tear welled up in her eyes. This long journey had finally come to an end.

Unfortunately, many of her entourage who came with her from Lin'an perished on the road.

"It is the king's army."

When they were still about ten miles away from Longcheng, many people waiting on both sides of the road shouted at the army.

An old man waved excitedly: "Da Niu! Are you in the line? Dad's here to pick you up!"

A woman holding a child stood on tiptoe, peering into the line, and muttered, "My husband, you must come back safely!"

As the Northern Frontier Army approached, the cheers of the people grew even louder: "Your Majesty!"

"Long live the King!"

"Your Majesty~"

Just as the excitement was reaching its peak, a sudden burst of rapid hoofbeats came from afar, accompanied by the shouts of a young boy and the urgent pleas of the guards, making the place even noisier.

"Get out of the way! Get out of the way!"

"My horse won't stop!"

The crowd looked in the direction of the sound and saw a reddish-brown horse charging madly toward the group, with a small figure sitting on its back—it was Jin Dao.

He gripped the reins tightly, his face flushed red, his body swaying from side to side from the jolting of the horse's hooves. Clearly, it was his first time riding such a spirited horse, and he was completely out of control.

In the distance, several guards from the Prince's Palace were chasing after the enemy on horseback, their voices hoarse from shouting, "Hold the reins! Don't panic!"

"Protect the King."

Seeing that the wild horse was about to charge towards Li Xiao, the guards reacted quickly and rushed out of the ranks, already prepared with ropes.

Upon approaching the spirited horse, the two guards worked in perfect unison, throwing ropes from opposite directions to wrap around the horse's neck and pulling it backward using its momentum.

"Shut up!"

The spirited horse let out a neigh, its front hooves leaving the ground, but it was eventually brought to a stop and began pawing at the ground in frustration.

Jin Dao sat on the horse's back, still panting heavily, his forehead covered in cold sweat. He was clearly terrified, but he still bit his lip tightly, refusing to show any cowardice.

Seeing this, Li Xiao slowly rode up to the spirited horse. There was no reproach in his eyes, but rather a hint of curiosity. He smiled and asked, "At such a young age, you dare to ride such a spirited horse? Aren't you afraid of falling off and getting hurt?"

Upon hearing the sound, Jin Dao looked up at Li Xiao, his eyes still showing some lingering fear, yet he stubbornly puffed out his small chest.

"Don't be afraid! If you fall, just get up again. As our ancestors said, a real man shouldn't be afraid of pain."

"Hehehe, okay."

"They truly are children of our northern frontier."

This indomitable spirit made Li Xiao burst out laughing; he liked the boy's temperament.

Then he asked, "What's your name? Whose child are you?"

"My name is Li Shizhao!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Jin Dao answered crisply, adding, "I am a child of the Li family!"

"Li Shizhao? A child of the Li family?"

Li Xiao was taken aback at first, then suddenly realized what he meant and burst into laughter.

He never imagined that the little guy who dared to ride a wild horse was actually his son, Jin Dao.

When Jin Dao first went on the Eastern Expedition, he was not even three years old. He had just learned to speak and had a chubby face, like a little dumpling.

Now, just over two years later, the child has not only grown stronger but also dares to ride a wild horse. The changes are so great that he almost doesn't recognize him.

"Hahaha, good boy!"

Li Xiao smiled and patted the horse's neck, and the horse obediently lowered its head.

"Do you know who I am? I'm your father!"

At this moment, the guards who had been chasing Jin Dao finally arrived. They dismounted and knelt on one knee with a thud, their voices filled with lingering fear and remorse.

"Your subordinate failed to protect the prince properly, putting him in danger. Please punish me, Your Majesty."

Jin Dao stared blankly at Li Xiao, then at the kneeling guards begging for forgiveness, his little head buzzing.

He had only heard the word "father" in his mother's stories and in his dreams.

I can only vaguely picture my father in my mind, but I can't remember his exact appearance.

He only heard people say that his father was tall and mighty, a great hero who could win battles, and he often imagined what his father looked like by looking at the portrait his mother brought out.

But now, is this man in the magnificent royal robes with a gentle smile really my father?
He subconsciously glanced at Li Xiao's clothes, which were dark gold dragon-patterned royal robes. His mother had said that only his father and mother could wear clothes of this color and pattern.

Seeing the guards' respectful attitude, Jin Dao's doubts gradually dissipated, replaced by an irrepressible excitement. He tentatively called out, "You...you are my father?"

Li Xiao smiled and reached out, lifting him from the horse's back and placing him in his lap. He said with a hint of reproach, "Why are you calling me 'Father'? Call me 'Dad'."

"father!"

Jin Dao immediately let out a crisp cry, her little arms tightly hugging Li Xiao's neck, her eyes sparkling with joy.

"Hey!"

Li Xiao responded loudly and laughed happily.

He patted Jin Dao's head: "From now on, your father will personally teach you riding skills, the best riding skills in the world."

"Next time you ride a spirited horse, I'll make sure you can control it steadily so you don't have to worry about it running away."

Jin Dao nodded vigorously, his little face full of anticipation.

After exchanging a few more words with his father, Li Xiao turned his gaze to the kneeling guard, his tone gradually becoming serious: "Tell me, what happened?"

"How could someone as young as Jin Dao ride a wild horse?"

"At his age, it's already good enough if he can ride an ordinary horse; he should stay away from wild horses."

Commander Liu quickly looked up and apologized, his tone apologetic: "Your Majesty, this fine horse was brought from Khwarezm by the Hexi Merchant Guild some time ago. It is extremely fast and has a fierce temperament. It has been kept at the horse farm outside the city by a special person in charge of guarding it."

"I don't know where the young prince heard that this horse is the fastest, but he secretly untied the reins and rode it out when his subordinates weren't paying attention."

"My men gave chase immediately after they spotted it, but the horse was too fast and they couldn't catch up. Fortunately, Your Majesty was there, otherwise the young prince would have been in danger."

"Your subordinate failed to protect you properly; please punish me, Your Majesty!"

Li Xiao looked down at the golden knife in his arms, his eyes gentle yet questioning: "Is that what happened? Did you secretly go horseback riding?"

Jin Dao looked somewhat embarrassed, as if he had been caught doing something wrong.

He nodded: "It was my own idea to ride the fastest horse so that Father would see how well I ride when he comes back. It has nothing to do with Uncle Liu and the others. Father, please don't punish them."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiao grew even more fond of this sensible child.

He waved to the guards: "Get up. I will not punish you this time, but you must keep a close eye on the young prince from now on."

He then sent a message to Zhang Shitou, instructing the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate.

If it was an accident, that's fine, but if it was orchestrated, then don't blame Li Xiao for being ruthless.

(End of this chapter)