The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 361 The Liao Emperor is Captured, and the Western Regions Collapse

The fleeing Liao royal court's procession dragged along the grassland, dust and withered grass sticking to the herders' sheepskin coats.

The soldiers hung their heads, their weapons limply at their sides, and even the sound of their horses' hooves seemed heavy.

"When will this day end?"

An old herdsman with a weathered face reined in his horse, gazing at the gray horizon in the distance, his voice full of complaints.

"If Chaqi is lost, we can't stay in Bahan either. Will we be safe if we flee to Hezhong Prefecture?"

"The barbarians of the Northern Frontier are so fierce, are the city walls of Hezhong Prefecture made of iron?"

The young soldier beside him sighed, wiping the stains off his armor: "Who says otherwise!"

"I heard His Majesty said that if Hezhong Prefecture cannot be defended, we should continue south to conquer the Kingdom of Gur and rebuild the Liao Kingdom."

"But Gu'er is all Gobi Desert. How can we grassland people survive there?"

"Our ancestors followed Emperor Dezong on his western expedition and finally managed to establish themselves in the Western Regions, but now they have to flee again..."

Another herdsman's eyes reddened: "My child is only one year old. Since birth, he has been on the run for his life. If we keep running like this, I'm afraid he won't even be able to save his life."

Complaints spread like a plague through the ranks, and morale plummeted to rock bottom.

In the carriage in the center of the procession, Yelü Zhilugu was leaning against a soft cushion, his face as pale as paper, and the wound on his left leg was starting to ache again, so much so that he needed a maid to help him turn over.

Since Chaqi's defeat, he has become a completely different person, and his former majesty has vanished.

He used to throw tantrums at thin air and break a lot of things, but now he doesn't even have the strength to throw tantrums anymore. He can only stare blankly at the grassland receding outside the car window.

He knew the soldiers and herdsmen were complaining, and he sent Tayangu to boost morale, but even he himself could not see any hope, so what use were those empty words of comfort?
In a daze, he recalled the time when he had just inherited the throne.

Xiao Wulila, that old scoundrel, controlled the government. He lived in fear and endured for several years until the old scoundrel died of illness, at which point he finally gained real power.

At that time, he was full of vigor and ambition, and he was determined to make the Liao Kingdom powerful. He even dreamed of returning to the Central Plains and recreating the glory of Emperor Taizu.

But when did everything change?

Did it begin when Xiao Simo went to northern Xinjiang?

That ambitious fellow managed to turn the northern frontier into an independent kingdom, and later even launched a rebellion and repeated westward expeditions, keeping him busy dealing with the situation.

After finally managing to kill Xiao Simo, Li Xiao suddenly appeared.

That opponent, even more terrifying than Xiao Simo, not only completely severed the northern border but also established the Qin state, gradually pushing the Liao state to the brink of despair.

"Xiao Simo, oh Xiao Simo..."

Yelü Zhilugu muttered to himself, his eyes filled with sorrow: "Now the situation has truly turned out exactly as you wished."

"If there is an afterlife, I will make sure that when that old scoundrel Xiao ascends to heaven, I will spare no expense to make you go and accompany him."

He struggled to sit up and shouted outside, "Summon Yelü Hongxin to see me."

Before long, Prince Yelü Hongxin lifted the carriage curtain and walked in.

He was only seventeen years old, his face still showing some childishness, but he was forced to travel with the team, and his eyes were now covered with red veins.

"Father, are you looking for me?"

Yelü Zhilugu grasped his hand, his fingers icy cold: "Hongxin, take a hundred personal guards and go ahead to Hezhong Prefecture to see Yelü Wohan."

"Tell him that I will be there soon, and that he should immediately mobilize the Liao army in Hezhong Prefecture, and prepare provisions and lodging to await my arrival."

Yelü Hongxin was taken aback: "Father, aren't you coming with me?"

"My leg injury prevents me from walking fast, so I will stay behind and hold the line."

Yelü Zhilugu waved his hand, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Remember, once you reach Hezhong Prefecture, keep a close eye on Osman and prevent him from colluding with Khwarazm. If I am not able to arrive in time..."

He didn't say anything more, but just patted his son on the shoulder and said, "Survival is more important than anything else."

Yelü Hongxin's eyes reddened, and he nodded vigorously: "Father, rest assured, your son will definitely do his best."

After saying that, he turned around, lifted the carriage curtain, and led a hundred personal guards, galloping quickly towards the direction of Hezhong Prefecture.

Although Yelü Hongxin was not particularly outstanding, Yelü Zhilugu had no other successor to choose from.

Sending him to Hezhong Prefecture ahead of time was merely to prevent the Northern Frontier people from catching up, so as to preserve a bloodline for the Liao Kingdom.

After all, Yelü Zhilugu knew his physical condition was failing; he was nearing the end.

If you ride a horse to Hezhong Prefecture, you'll probably collapse on the way.

In the following days, the fleeing group moved slower and slower, and more and more people fell behind.

Some herders were too tired to walk any further, so they simply stayed on the grassland.

Some soldiers secretly ran away, preferring to become refugees rather than flee with Yelü Zhilugu.

Yelü Zhilugu sat in the carriage, watching the procession shrink little by little, feeling utterly powerless.

He knew that these people who had fallen behind would eventually be caught up by the Northern Frontier Army, and their whereabouts would also reveal the direction of the Liao army.

As a result, Yelü Zhilugu fell ill, and Hunhu and his mother were extremely anxious.

Just when the mother and daughter were at their wits' end, a series of rapid hoofbeats suddenly came from afar.

This was a scout sent to investigate the enemy's situation in the rear. He looked panicked and hurriedly jumped off his horse, saying, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty."

"The rebels are catching up; they're right behind us."

"what?"

The group instantly erupted into chaos. Their already low morale completely collapsed, and the herders threw down their luggage and ran wildly forward.

The soldiers were in complete disarray; some tried to organize a resistance, but no one listened to orders.

Timur Khan held Hunhu tightly, his voice trembling: "What should we do? How did the people from the northern frontier catch up so quickly?"

Hunhu, suppressing his fear, shouted towards the carriage, "Father, the people from the Northern Frontier are here! Please come out and think of a solution!"

There was no movement inside the carriage, only the sound of horses' hooves getting closer and closer outside, like the urgent beat of a death knell.

"Boom boom boom~"

Soon, a white wave appeared on the distant horizon.

The white sun and moon battle flags of the Northern Frontier Army fluttered in the wind, and the white armor gleamed coldly in the sunlight. Dense cavalry surged forward like a tide.

The dust kicked up by the horses' hooves blotted out the sky, turning even the sunlight grayish-white.

"It's the Northern Frontier Army! Run!"

Someone shouted, and the fleeing crowd was thrown into complete chaos. People pushed and shoved each other as they frantically fled towards Hezhong Prefecture.

"kill."

"Those who resist will be killed without exception."

Amidst the white tide, Li Dongshan, clad in white cloth armor, pointed his cavalry saber diagonally at the ground, his cold shouts echoing across the grassland.

The Northern Frontier cavalry behind him charged towards the chaotic Liao army like arrows released from a bow. As their scimitars were swung, blood splattered and screams rose and fell.

Yelü Moge, carrying a scimitar, tried to organize the remaining soldiers to resist: "Hold on and protect His Majesty and the princess."

The defeated soldiers had long lost their will to fight. Some of them had just raised their weapons when they were shot by arrows from the Northern Frontier Army and fell into pools of blood.

Many more people dropped their weapons and knelt down to beg for mercy.

The grassland was instantly filled with corpses and wails.

Yelü Moge had just cut down a soldier from the northern frontier when he was attacked from both sides by two cavalrymen. A scimitar pierced his chest from behind, and the old general fell to the ground unwillingly with his eyes wide open.

The northern cavalry, like a pack of wolves hunting, chased after the fleeing Liao people across the grasslands.

In the chaos, Princess Hunhu's carriage and Yelü Zhilugu's chariot were surrounded by soldiers from the northern frontier.

The soldiers rode their warhorses, wielding long spears, and circled the wagon, howling like wild beasts.

“Roar, roar, roar, roar~”

"Hahaha~"

Hunhu gripped his mother's hand tightly, trembling with fear as he looked at the Qin army in all directions: "Mother, the rebels are attacking! Will they kill us?"

Timur Khanni, trembling as well, forced himself to speak through his fear, saying, "No, it can't be, Hunhu."

"You must remember that you are a princess of the Liao Dynasty royal family, the Yelü family."

"Although the people of the northern frontier rebelled, they were also related to the Yelü family by marriage."

"They won't make things difficult for a woman like you."

The mother and daughter will most likely survive, but their future will be drastically different from their present fate.

They needed to use their bodies and hardworking hands to earn a living in the Qin state.

"Step aside!"

With a sharp shout, the Qin soldiers stopped yelling and automatically made way for each other.

Li Dongshan, his hand resting on his cavalry saber, rode slowly towards the carriage. The bloodstains on his armor were still wet, and his eyes, sharp as an eagle's, swept over the carriage: "Is His Majesty Yelü Zhilugu, the Khan of the Liao Kingdom, inside?"

A rustling sound came from inside the carriage, and then the curtain was lifted by a maid. Yelü Zhilugu leaned weakly against the window, his face as pale as paper.

He looked at Li Dongshan, his eyes filled with hatred, his voice hoarse: "You are... Li Dongshan, the Yinshan General under Li Xiao, the Third Garrison Commander?"

He didn't recognize Li Dongshan, but he recognized the soldiers in white armor as the Third Garrison Army of the Northern Frontier.

"Your Majesty has excellent taste."

Li Dongshan reined in his horse, his tone calm: "However, he should now be called 'King Qin' instead of 'Li Xiao'."

"King Qin?"

Yelü Zhilugu suddenly laughed, a weak laugh tinged with sarcasm.

"Back then, Li Xiao was nothing more than a dog under Xiao Simo, and you were just an insignificant nobody by Li Xiao's side."

"Now he's become a general? It's true what they say, when the cat's away, the mice will play."

"And that brat Li Xiao, he only got an official position by sucking up to that woman from the Xiao family, yet he dares to call himself 'King of Qin'?"

"You are nothing but a bunch of traitors and rebels, what right do you have to talk about rank and status?"

Hearing Yelü Zhilugu cursing Li Xiao, Princess Hunhu and the others around them turned pale with fright, fearing that they would anger the people of the Northern Frontier and have them all killed.

But Li Dongshan's face remained calm, and he said disdainfully, "The victor is king, the loser is villain. No matter how harshly His Majesty curses, it won't change the outcome."

"Your prince Yelü Hongxin and Tayanggu have already fled to Hezhong Prefecture, haven't they?"

After all, quite a few people in Wang Ting's team had fallen behind, and Li Dongshan could learn a lot of information from them.

Yelü Zhilugu's pupils contracted, and his face instantly darkened.

"They've already arrived in Hezhong Prefecture, so you don't need to waste your time."

Li Dongshan simply shook his head slightly: "It's just a mere Hezhong Prefecture, no need for Your Majesty to worry about it."

"On the contrary, Your Majesty has long been concerned about His Majesty and wishes to have a personal talk with him."

"I will immediately send someone to escort His Majesty back to the main camp."

"Our Qin army will also conquer Hezhong, capture Yelü Hongxin, and reunite you and your son."

After saying this, he sent someone to take Yelü Zhilugu away and send him back to Li Xiao's camp.

Samarkand, also known as Transoxiana, was the largest city in Central Asia at that time, with a population of nearly 600,000.

Historically, Genghis Khan's army besieged Samarkand, which had an army of 100,000, and captured it in just six days, after which they carried out a large-scale massacre.

Whether prisoners of war, civilians, or merchants, none were spared; in the end, only some young women and those who paid ransom survived.

The megacity of 600,000 people was reduced to only 100,000, and never recovered.

Inside the palace hall, Ottoman paced anxiously, his khaki silk robe swaying slightly with his hurried movements.

When the scouts reported that "the Khwarazmian army has breached Ket Bay," he suddenly stopped, gripping the jade belt at his waist tightly with both hands until his knuckles turned white.

"Kert Bay has fallen? How could it have happened so quickly? Didn't I order the garrison to hold it to the death?"

"The garrison was less than three thousand strong and could not stop the elite cavalry of Khwarazm at all."

The scout knelt on the ground, his voice trembling: "Timur Myri has also declared that he will conquer Samarkand within ten days."

Osman staggered and steadied himself against a pillar, turning to his ministers: "Where are the conscripted soldiers? I ordered you to gather able-bodied men; how many did you manage to collect?"

The minister in charge of the conscription, Ahma, looked embarrassed and stammered, "Your Majesty, the people are unwilling to fight. Some have fled the city, and some have lied about being sick... We have only managed to gather less than 20,000 people so far, and most of them are old and weak."

"Unwilling to fight?"

Osman suddenly flew into a rage and kicked over the table next to him.

"They only know how to make money and enjoy themselves. Do they think the Khwarazmians will treat them well when they come?"

"From today onwards, soldiers will be forcibly conscripted."

"Whether they are herdsmen, merchants, or artisans, as long as they are between fifteen and sixty years old, they shall all be incorporated into my army."

"We must gather an army of 100,000 within three days."

The ministers looked at each other, but dared not refute.

Everyone knows that Ottoman, though seemingly angry, actually harbors a fear of death and only wants to buy time with these 100,000 "strongmen".

If the city were to fall, they might have already fled with their treasures.

After venting his anger, Osman's tone softened slightly, and he asked again, "Where is General Yelü Wuhan? When is he coming? The five thousand Liao soldiers in Hezhong Prefecture are our main force."

Everyone knows that although Yelü Wohan's Liao army numbered only five thousand, they were all elite soldiers, and they dared not even provoke the thirty thousand troops of the Western Karakhanid Khanate.

Now that the Khwarazmian army is pressing in, only the Liao army can serve as the main force, leading 100,000 "strong men" into battle.

A palace attendant bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, news has come from the Liao army camp that General Yelü Wohan says he has important matters to attend to and will not be able to come until this afternoon."

"Is it important?"

Osman raised his voice, forcefully suppressing his rage, not daring to express his dissatisfaction with Yelü Wohan in public, after all, Yelü Wohan was the retired emperor of the Western Karakhanid Khanate.

But still, he muttered dejectedly, "What could be more important than the Khwarazmian army pressing in? If my Karakhanid Khanate is swallowed up, what kind of suzerain state will the Liao Dynasty be? Who will still trust them?"

Muhammad quickly stepped forward to persuade him: "Your Majesty, please calm down. The Liao army will certainly not sit idly by and watch Samarkand fall."

"General Yelü Wuhan is probably preparing military equipment. After all, they are going to be the main force, so they have to make sure the soldiers are ready."

Osman snorted coldly, but could only suppress his anger.

Just then, a eunuch rushed into the hall, his eyes filled with panic. He first glanced at the ministers in the hall, then quickly walked to Osman's side and whispered a few words in his ear.

Osman's expression instantly shifted from rage to shock, his pupils contracted sharply, and he exclaimed in disbelief, "What?"

The ministers all turned to look, and Ahma couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, what has happened?"

Ottoman stood frozen in place, taking a long time to recover before his voice was hoarse: "The war in the north is over..."

"The Northern Frontier forces have inflicted a major defeat on the Liao army at Chaqi, and Yelü Zhilugu is leading his remaining troops to flee towards Hezhong Prefecture."

"What?!" The hall erupted in chaos.

"The people of the Northern Frontier actually defeated the Liao Kingdom? Aren't they vassals of the Liao Kingdom?"

"Yelü Zhilugu has brought his remaining troops here? Will the people from the northern frontier come after them?"

"We're doomed! We haven't driven out Khwarezm yet, and now the northern people are coming. We're being attacked from both sides!"

The ministers gasped in surprise. No one had expected that the people of the northern frontier, who had once been suppressed by the Liao Kingdom, would now be able to defeat the Liao Kingdom so decisively.

This means that the landscape of the Western Regions has completely changed.

The sky is falling!
The future rulers of the Western Regions will be the people of the Northern Frontier.

Osman nodded emphatically, his tone grave: "The news is absolutely true."

This message came from one of his deepest spies planted by Yelü Wohan's side, a spy who remained silent most of the time and only became active when something significant happened.

Just moments ago, Prince Yelü Hongxin of the Liao Dynasty secretly led a group into the Liao army camp and informed Yelü Wohan of the news of Chaqi's defeat.

That's why Yelü Ohan didn't come to see Osman.

However, Yelü Hongxin arrived too early and was unaware that Yelü Zhilugu had also been captured by the Northern Frontier Army, and Osman was naturally even less aware of it.

However, the complete annihilation of the Liao army in the Battle of Chaqi was already astonishing enough.

"Are the people of the Northern Frontier really that powerful?"

Ahma murmured, "Even the Liao Kingdom's elite troops couldn't stop them, so how could the Khwarazmians... possibly defeat the people of the northern frontier?"

These words seemed to awaken everyone, and Muhammad's eyes suddenly lit up: "Your Majesty, there is a strategy in the Liao military books called 'driving wolves to devour tigers'."

"Why don't we use the people of northern Xinjiang to drive out the Khwarezmians?"

He stepped forward and continued, “Our Karakhanid Khanate was originally a vassal state of the Liao Dynasty. Now that the Liao Dynasty has been defeated and the people of the northern frontier have risen, the Liao Dynasty naturally has no ability to become the suzerain state of our Karakhanid Khanate, nor does it have the strength to continue protecting us.”

"The people of the Northern Frontier are far to the north. Even if they accept our submission, they will most likely just station an army in Samarkand like the Liao Kingdom, and won't interfere too much in our affairs. They will just pay some taxes every year."

“But Khwarazm is right next to us. If they swallow us up, the Karakhanid Khanate will be completely gone.”

The ministers all nodded in agreement, and even Ahma said, "His Majesty Muhammad is right."

"If we surrender to the people of the northern frontier, at least we can preserve the name of the Khanate. If we are swallowed up by Khwarazm, we may not even be able to save our lives."

A glint of insight flashed in Osman's eyes, and he nodded in deep agreement: "That's right."

"As long as the people of the Northern Frontier can offer the same conditions as the Liao Kingdom, even if they are a bit harsh, I am willing."

"However, this matter must be kept from the Liao people; no one is allowed to reveal it."

"It would be best to give these Liao soldiers as gifts to the people of the northern frontier, as a kind of greeting gift."

The atmosphere in the hall instantly shifted from panic to "calculation." The ministers stopped discussing how to resist Khwarezm and instead began to think about how to negotiate with the people of the northern frontier.

The so-called "Pearl of Central Asia" will ultimately have to choose its allegiance under the iron heel of a powerful nation.

……

Inside the central command tent of the Liao army camp, Yelü Hongxin sat at his desk, his hands clenched tightly, his voice still trembling, as he recounted the horrific events of the Chaqi Battle to Yelü Wohan.

"The artillery of the Northern Frontier seemed endless. The rocks at the North Pass were blasted into pieces, and the soldiers who rushed forward were swept down by the iron shrapnel."

"When General Yelü Xiuduo died in battle, his body was riddled with crossbow bolts..."

Yelü Wuhan's eyes widened upon hearing this, and he slammed his hand heavily on the table: "You bastard!"

"Back when Xiao Simo rebelled, I said we should take advantage of the fact that the northern frontier was not yet strong enough and wipe them out at all costs. But Your Majesty listened to the words of treacherous officials and let them live to become a threat."

His beard trembled with rage, his eyes filled with regret and fury: "If the five thousand Liao soldiers had gone to Chaqi earlier, things wouldn't have come to this."

Seeing Yelü Wohan's anger, Yelü Hongxin quickly stood up and advised, "General, please calm down. Now is not the time to pursue the matter. Let's find a way to protect Hezhong."

Yelü Wuhan took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and softened his tone: "Your Highness, rest assured, Samarkand has five thousand troops, all of whom are elite soldiers who have fought alongside me for many years. They are skilled in archery and horsemanship, and their armor is excellent."

"In the Karakhanid Khanate, the Ottomans are urgently recruiting soldiers and expect to be able to muster an army of 100,000. As long as we defend the city and avoid fighting the northern people in open battle."

"They've come from afar; their supplies certainly won't last long. We'll stall until they retreat..."

He paused, then added, "This humble general has already dispatched a thousand light cavalry to the north to meet His Majesty."

Yelü Hongxin nodded, feeling somewhat relieved.

But the very next day, the light cavalry that had gone to meet them hurriedly returned: "General, Your Highness, something terrible has happened."

“We…we encountered the remnants of the royal court’s army. They said…the royal court was scattered by the Northern Frontier people, and His Majesty…His Majesty has fallen into the hands of the Northern Frontier people.”

"what?"

Yelü Hongxin felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his face instantly turning deathly pale: "What did you say? Father...he's been arrested?"

Yelü Wohan stood frozen in place, his eyes filled with disbelief: "How dare the people of the Northern Frontier? Aren't they afraid that we will join forces with Khwarazm and cut off their retreat?"

He strode up to the cavalryman, grabbed him by the collar, and said, "Say it again, is the news true? Is it possible that the remnants of the army, in their panic, passed on the wrong message?"

The cavalryman nodded vigorously: "It's true."

"Among the remnants were His Majesty's personal guards. He personally witnessed the Northern Frontier army surrounding His Majesty's carriage, shouting 'Ju'er Khan surrenders'...:"

"When they escaped, the people of the northern frontier were still hunting them down, and many of their brothers died."

The tent fell into a deathly silence.

The next second, before Yelü Hongxin could even feel grief, Yelü Wohan suddenly knelt down on one knee before him: "Your Highness, a country cannot be without a ruler for a single day."

"His Majesty has been captured. The Liao Kingdom cannot be without Juerhan. Your Highness, please ascend the throne immediately, take command of the Liao army, and defend Hezhong Prefecture."

"General..."

Yelü Hongxin suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with shock: "No, Father is still alive, and my brothers are all still alive, it's not my turn..."

"The other princes either died in battle at Chachi or their whereabouts are unknown."

Yelü Wuhan spoke firmly and with a resounding voice: "Your Highness is currently the only prince in Samarkand. Only when you ascend the throne can we unite the morale of the Liao army and prevent the Karakhanid Khanate from underestimating us."

Looking into Yelü Wohan's solemn eyes, Yelü Hongxin felt a strange emotion welling up inside him.

Excited~
Ecstasy~
But he concealed everything very well.

He grew up in the shadow of his elder brothers and never imagined that he would inherit the throne.

But now, with the Liao Kingdom on the verge of collapse and his father captured, this burden has truly fallen on his shoulders.

"General, rise. Hong Xin... is willing to take on this mission, to defend the Liao Kingdom, and to rescue my father."

Just as the two were discussing how to defend Hezhong Prefecture, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the tent. A guard lifted the curtain and entered, his face grave: "Your Highness, General, the rulers and ministers of the Karakhanid Khanate are plotting to surrender to the people of the Northern Frontier."

"They also said that they wanted to capture His Highness and the General and offer them to the people of the Northern Frontier as a pledge of allegiance."

"what?"

Yelü Wuhan's eyes widened instantly: "I knew Osman was unreliable, that fickle and treacherous man."

If the Ottomans could plant spies around Yelü Ohan, Yelü Ohan could naturally also plant spies around the Ottomans, and quite a few at that.

Every move in the palace quickly came to Yelü Wuhan's attention.

The retired emperor of the Western Karakhanid Khanate did not hold that position for nothing.

A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he gritted his teeth and said, "What a fine example of 'driving away wolves to devour tigers'."

"He's courting death."

'Your Majesty, this Ottoman cannot be allowed to live.'

(End of this chapter)