The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 364 The Golden Torrent Sweeps South, White-Armored Cavalry Displays Their Might

Inside the central command tent of Khwarazm, Muhammad was staring at the map on the table.

The news brought back by the scouts made his eyes light up: "The Northern Frontier Army on the other side only has more than 10,000 cavalry, and no other main force behind them?"

The scout knelt on one knee and affirmed, "Your Majesty the Sultan, it is absolutely true."

“We conducted reconnaissance along the surrounding fifty miles, but did not find any other main forces of the Northern Frontier Army.”

Muhammad slammed his hand on the table, his voice brimming with barely suppressed excitement: "Excellent! This is truly divine intervention!"

"Pass down the order to assemble the army and launch an attack at dawn tomorrow to wipe out this vanguard of the northern frontier."

He had initially thought that the main force of the Qin army would follow behind this Qin army, which made him somewhat wary.

But to my surprise, there were only a little over 10,000 people.

This is a golden opportunity.

Timur Myri, standing beside him, quickly echoed, "Your Majesty is wise."

"They are only a little over ten thousand cavalrymen. With our fifty thousand troops surrounding them, we will surely wipe them out."

"When the main force of the Northern Frontier Army arrives and finds that the vanguard has been wiped out, their morale will surely plummet."

Zhalandin, however, was slightly cautious: "Father, should we wait for the Liao army to join us?"

"Yelü Hongxin still has 5,000 Liao soldiers and 50,000 remnants of the Western Karakhanid army. If we go out to fight alone, what if the people of the northern frontier have laid an ambush..."

"ambush?"

Muhammad sneered, his eyes full of disdain: "A mere ten thousand cavalrymen, even with an ambush, do you think they can stop my Khwarazmian elite troops?"

But then he changed the subject, his tone instantly turning gloomy: "As for that brat Yelü Hongxin, he's practically courting death."

"The Persian rebellion in Samarkand was clearly his doing."

"They're really playing a clever game, trying to divert the Karakhanids' hatred towards us."

Thinking of this, Muhammad was furious and clenched his fists tightly: "I thought he was just a callow child, but I never expected him to be so vicious."

“If the Northern Frontier people weren’t still outside the city, I, the Sultan, would definitely teach them a lesson.”

He took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and said to his personal guards, "Go and give Yelü Hongxin an order, instructing him to lead the Liao army and the Karakhanid troops out of the city tomorrow morning to launch a pincer attack on the Northern Frontier army."

The guards obeyed and left, while Muhammad looked out of the tent, his eyes filled with greed for credit.

Once he eliminates this vanguard of the Qin army, he can establish his prestige in Central Asia. At that time, no matter how much dissatisfaction Samarkand may have, it will have to obediently submit.

……

Not long after, in the Liao army camp, Yelü Hongxin received Muhammad's order, but only gave a faint sneer and sent the messenger away.

Tayanggu stepped forward, his tone sarcastic: "That old bastard Muhammad, does he really think he's the sect leader? How dare he order Your Majesty around like that."

"He's only focused on taking down the Northern Frontier Vanguard right now, he doesn't care about etiquette at all."

Yelü Hongxin tapped his fingers on the table, a calculating glint in his eyes: "But it's fine, let him go and fight the Northern Frontier people, we can see the strength of the Northern Frontier army."

"It would be best if they both suffered heavy losses. Then, with Khwarazmian troops weakened, what right would they have to point fingers at our Great Liao?"

Tayanggu smiled knowingly: "Your Majesty is right."

“A weakened Khwarezm is in the best interest of our Liao Kingdom. Tomorrow we should hold back and wait for them to make the first move before slowly ‘joining forces’.”

The following morning, on the steppe outside Samarkand, the Khwarazmian army of 50,000 men took the lead in lining up.

The khaki banners fluttered in the wind, cavalrymen wielded scimitars, and infantrymen formed dense square formations, advancing menacingly towards the Qin army camp.

Before long, the Liao army and the Western Karakhanid army also slowly arrived and lined up on the right side of the Khwarazmian army. They seemed to be cooperating, but they kept a distance from the Khwarazmian army.

Inside the Qin army camp, Li Dongshan saw the enemy's large army pressing in and ordered his cavalry to form ranks to meet them.

The white cavalry army confronted the combined forces of Khwarazmian and Liao armies, and a tense atmosphere instantly filled the grassland.

At Muhammad's command, the Khwarazmian cavalry charged forward like a tidal wave toward the Qin army; the Liao and Western Karakhanid troops were a step behind, advancing only symbolically.

The Qin cavalry also launched a charge, and the white and earthen-yellow waves collided instantly.

With scimitars swung and blood splattered, the Qin army, though brave, could not withstand the sheer number of Khwarazmian troops and gradually fell into a disadvantageous position.

Half an hour later, Li Dongshan ordered the retreat, and the Qin cavalry fought and retreated, fleeing northward.

"Hahaha~ The people of Northern Xinjiang have been defeated."

When Muhammad saw this scene on the front lines, he burst into laughter, his tone full of arrogance.

"I thought the people of Northern Xinjiang were really something, but it turns out they're just a bunch of rabble."

"That useless Yelü Zhilugu can't even defeat an army like this. He has truly disgraced the Khitan people."

Timur Merri also laughed loudly: "Your Majesty, we haven't even used our full strength yet, and the people of the Northern Frontier have already run away."

"If our elephant corps were to come out, they would surely be trampled into mincemeat."

"Chase them! Chase them for me!"

Muhammad waved his hand, his eyes gleaming with greed: "Slaughter every last one of the people of the Northern Frontier, and let them know who the master of this land is!"

He turned to look in the direction of the Liao army and shouted sternly, "Go tell Yelü Hongxin to lead the Liao cavalry in pursuit."

When Yelü Hongxin saw the Khwarazmian cavalry swarming out to chase after them, his face darkened instantly. He muttered to Tayanggu, "That stupid pig, Muhammad."

"This is clearly a trap set by the people of Northern Xinjiang, yet he still dared to chase after them."

"He's courting death, yet he insists on dragging us down with him."

This war was the first battle between Khwarazm and the Qin army, and they were unfamiliar with the Qin army's usual tactics.

Thinking that the Qin army had really been defeated, they immediately sent cavalry to pursue them.

However, the Liao army had fought against the Qin army for many years and knew the Qin army's tactics very well.

Therefore, Yelü Hongxin was certain that the Khwarazmian cavalry who chased after them were doomed.

Tayangu nodded in deep agreement: "Your Highness, it would be better if all the Khwarazmian cavalry were wiped out."

"When they lose their cavalry, they will have to rely on our Liao army. The initiative in Samarkand will then be entirely in our hands."

"Good advice is useless; you're asking for trouble."

Yelü Hongxin shook his head and ordered, "Pass down the order: ignore Muhammad and send the entire army back to the city."

"Hold Samarkand. The main force of the Northern Frontier Army will arrive soon. We must preserve our strength to prepare for the bloody battle ahead."

The Liao army and the Western Karakhanid troops slowly retreated back to Samarkand, leaving only the Khwarazmian cavalry to pursue them frantically across the grasslands.

The dust kicked up by the horses' hooves blotted out the sky, and the Khwarazmian soldiers, their headscarves wrapped in turbans, shouted and yelled, their shouts mixed with the rolled 'r' sounds of Persian, full of arrogant confidence.

"Hey, you northern bastards in white armor, what are you running for? Are your scimitars for cutting naan bread?"

"God above, when I catch up with them, I will skin these barbarians and hang their scalps on my saddle as decorations."

"Let them know that the warriors of Khwarezm are not cowards like the Liao people."

A bearded soldier in the front row also shouted wildly, "Our elephants haven't even gone into battle yet, and they're already scared like this? They're a bunch of useless trash."

"Once we take Samarkand, I'll pick three of the fattest slaves from the northern frontier, and bring a jar of Persian wine to drink in that idiot Ottoman's palace."

The shouts grew louder and louder, and some soldiers even began to sing Persian war songs: "The waters of the Amu Darya have washed the swords of warriors, and the banners of Khwarazm will be planted all over the roads of the Western Regions..."

But just as they had chased for more than ten miles and were about to catch up with the Qin army...

"Boom~Boom~"

Two deafening explosions suddenly erupted from the hillsides on both sides.

The smiles on the faces of the Khwarazmian soldiers had not yet faded when black cannonballs, whistling sharply, crashed into the cavalry ranks.

Blood, flesh, and armor plates flew everywhere in an instant. A warhorse was thrown off its back by a cannonball, and the soldier on its back fell to the ground like a kite with a broken string. A bloody hole exploded in his chest, and he didn't even have time to scream.

"God! What the hell is that?"

The bearded soldier was terrified and turned his horse around to flee.

But before he could urge his warhorse on, a series of whooshing sounds filled the air.

"Fire arrows!"

The crossbow bolts rained down from the hillside like a storm, the sharp sound of the arrows piercing the air more chilling than the hiss of a venomous snake.

A soldier who had just shouted to capture slaves from the northern frontier was instantly pierced in the throat by an arrow. His body slid off his horse and fell to the ground, where the horse's hoof instantly trampled over his chest, making a "crack" sound as his bones broke.

Another soldier, who coveted the gold and silver of Samarkand, had his arm pinned to his horse's back by an arrow. He cried out in agony, "My hand, my hand, someone save me!"

But what answered him was yet another arrow piercing his back.

The arrogant shouts that had been going on turned into terrified screams and desperate curses.

"You barbarians from the northern frontier, you're playing dirty tricks."

"Help, I don't want to die."

"God help us, get out of here quickly, get out of here quickly."

Meanwhile, in the Khwarazmian camp, Muhammad was stroking his beard with satisfaction, saying to Jalal ad-Din beside him, "See, I told you the people of the northern frontier were no match for me."

"When the cavalry returns, they will surely be able to bring back the heads of the northern frontier generals..."

Before he could finish speaking, a personal guard ran up and said, "Your Majesty the Sultan, the Liao army... the Liao army didn't send out any cavalry at all. They have already retreated back to Samarkand."

"what?"

Muhammad suddenly stood up, his eyes filled with anger: "That bastard Yelü Hongxin."

"He dares to disobey my orders?"

"Once I have annihilated the people of the Northern Frontier, I will make them know the consequences of disobeying my Khwarazmian Empire."

He was so angry that his beard trembled, and he was about to send someone to reprimand Yelü Hongxin again when a chaotic sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from afar.

A group of Khwarazmian soldiers, covered in blood and with tattered armor, fled back to their camp in a sorry state, with only a few warhorses left.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, we've fallen into a trap."

"We've fallen into their trap."

The defeated general fell to his knees with a thud, his voice trembling with sobs: "The people of the northern frontier have laid an ambush. The hillsides on both sides are full of ambushes, and there are also cannons that can blast people to pieces."

"Our cavalry...our cavalry is almost wiped out."

"What did you say?" Muhammad was struck dumb, staggering back a step, his face instantly turning ashen. "An ambush? How could there be an ambush? Don't the Northern Frontier only have a little over ten thousand cavalry?"

"Not only that, there are people from the Northern Frontier all around, there are far more than 10,000 of them. Oh, and there's something the Liao people call 'cannons'."

The routed general shook his head frantically, as if lost in a terrible memory: "Those cannons were too powerful; one explosion could wipe out an entire area. We couldn't stop them at all..."

"General Timur also died in battle; he was killed by artillery fire from the northern frontier."

"What? Timur...is dead?"

Muhammad's vision went black and he nearly fell, but was quickly caught by Jalal ad-Din.

Looking at the disheveled state of the fleeing soldiers, his arrogance was instantly replaced by panic, and he murmured, "People of the Northern Frontier..."

"The people of the northern frontier are even more cunning than foxes on the grasslands. I have actually fallen into their trap."

“Father, now is not the time to blame yourself.”

Jalal ad-Din helped Muhammad up, his voice urgent: "The northern ambush troops are still hunting down our remaining forces. If they take the opportunity to attack, we..."

"A Liao person, a Liao person."

Muhammad suddenly realized what was happening, shoved Jalal ad-Din away, his eyes filled with resentment: "That brat Yelü Hongxin must have known it was a trap all along."

“He deliberately didn’t tell me, just to see our Khwarazmian army suffer heavy losses.”

"Shameless, utterly shameless."

"I will definitely twist his head off in the future and make him pay for what he did today."

Just then, the sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from outside the camp.

Muhammad felt a pang of anxiety and quickly climbed the watchtower.

A group of Qin cavalrymen in greyish-white armor were approaching the camp. Although they numbered only about a thousand, the blood congealed on their armor and the coldness in their eyes sent chills down one's spine.

"Quickly, pass down the order: set up shields and crossbows to defend against an attack from the northern frontier."

Muhammad's voice trembled, and his previous arrogance was gone.

The Khwarazmian soldiers hastily formed ranks, their shields forming a continuous line, while archers nocked their arrows and nervously watched the approaching Qin cavalry.

However, the Qin cavalry only circled around the camp once, firing a few volleys of arrows at the formation to test it. Seeing that the Khwarazmian formation was tight, they slowly retreated.

They were there to contain the Khwarazmian infantry. The main force of the Third Division was still clearing the battlefield and hunting down prisoners in the rear, so they didn't have time to launch an immediate attack on the main camp.

Even so, Mahamati was terrified and broke out in a cold sweat.

Looking at the Qin cavalry that had not retreated in the distance, he felt only panic. He hurriedly said to his personal guards, "Quickly, go to Samarkand to find Yelü Hongxin."

"Make him open the city gates, and we'll go into the city and tell him that the people from the northern frontier are about to attack, and we need to join forces to defend the city."

The guards rode at full speed to the walls of Samarkand and shouted to the Liao army on the city walls: "Open the city gates quickly! His Majesty the Sultan wants to enter the city, and the Qin army is about to attack!"

On the city wall, Yelü Hongxin looked at the Khwarazmian personal guards below the city, a cold smile playing on his lips. He said to Tayanggu beside him, "Mahavam does know how to scheme. He thinks he can hide in the city after losing some cavalry?"

"Once we enter the city, will Samarkand belong to the Liao or the Hua?"

Tayangu nodded in agreement: "Your Majesty is right."

"The main force of Khwarezm is intact, and they will surely take over the city after entering it."

"Why not let them linger outside the city and wear down the Northern Frontier's forces?"

"Once they are both severely weakened, we will make our move, and Samarkand will be completely ours."

Yelü Hongxin raised his hand to signal his personal guards to reply, his voice icy: "Tell Muhammad that Samarkand's defenses are weak and cannot accommodate an army of 50,000."

"The northern border people are just a small group harassing us. As the Sultan of Khwarazm, he should hold the main camp and fight to the death with the northern border people. Our Liao army will provide support from inside the city and will never allow the northern border people to break through easily."

The guards had no choice but to return and report.

When Muhammad learned that Yelü Hongxin refused to open the door, he was so angry that he almost vomited blood, but he was helpless.

He dared not leave the camp, fearing that the Qin army would cut off his retreat, but if he stayed in the camp, he would have to face the main force of Qin that could arrive at any time.

"Yelü the brat~"

"I am determined to make you pay."

On the southern grasslands of Bhahanna, a deafening roar spread from north to south.

The main force of the Qin army, like a surging torrent, slowly advanced towards Hezhong Prefecture.

The golden sun and moon battle banner led the way at the front of the column, and the yellow armor on horseback stretched out in the sunlight like a burning golden flame.

This contrasted sharply with the crimson army of the Fifth Division on the other side.

The hoofbeats of hundreds of thousands of warhorses shook the ground slightly, while herds of cattle and sheep followed on both sides of the column, serving as both military rations and mobile supplies.

Countless horse-drawn carriages rolled forward, their compartments loaded with provisions and weapons.

In the middle of the column, Liu Shisan, a centurion of the Imperial Guard, was reining in his horse and moving forward. He was wearing yellow armor, with a curved sword hanging at his waist, and his sharp eyes were scanning the area ahead.

Suddenly, a fast horse galloped from the front. The rider reined in his horse and shouted, "Commander, battle report from the front!"

"General Li Dongshan sent word that he led the Third Garrison's cavalry to a great victory over the Khwarazmian cavalry outside Hezhong Prefecture."

Liu Shisan's eyes lit up. He took the battle report, immediately turned his horse around, and walked towards a huge carriage pulled by eight horses in the center of the procession. It was the carriage of Prince Qin, Li Xiao.

"Your Majesty, battle report from Hezhong Prefecture."

A slight noise came from inside the carriage, and then the curtain was lifted, and Li Xiao stepped out wearing a black robe.

He was tall, with muscles that were faintly visible under his thin clothes, and his face had the languor of someone who had just woken up, but it did not diminish his kingly majesty in the slightest.

He mounted his horse, took the battle report handed to him by Liu Shisan, quickly glanced through it, and said in a calm tone: "Defeated the Khwarazmian cavalry, killed 5,200, took no prisoners, and also blocked the infantry under the walls of the city of Hezhong?"

"Sixth Uncle is as imposing as ever! Haha!"

When Li Xiao was conquering the Xia and Jin states, he would always subconsciously leave behind prisoners to replenish the Han Chinese population of the Qin state.

However, this concern did not exist when they were campaigning westward.

Kill more people, take fewer prisoners.

After Central Asia was decimated, people from China naturally migrated there.

After a century or so of development, this place will once again become an inseparable part of Chinese territory.

Therefore, Li Xiao's order to all departments consisted of only one word: kill.

Liu Shisan bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the Khwarazmian cavalry are known for their ferocity. The fact that we were able to defeat them in one battle is a testament to the strength of our Qin army."

"It's just the normal level of my Qin army."

"Moreover, the Khwarazmian cavalry were mostly light cavalry, which could not compare to the ferocity of the Jin army's iron cavalry."

Li Xiao waved his hand, his eyes not showing much excitement: "But Yelü Hongxin and Mohamma have developed a rift, and Yelü Hongxin is not allowing Mohamma into the city. This is an interesting variable."

He reined in his horse, looked south, and said with a hint of amusement, "Khwarazm has risen rapidly in recent years, thanks in no small part to the help of our Qin state in weakening the Liao state."

“Now that Muhammad has come in person, it’s a good time to leave his 50,000 troops in Hezhong Prefecture, so we don’t have to go through all that trouble later.”

Then there was Muhammad's son, Jalal ad-Din, a ruthless character who could make the Mongol cavalry suffer. In history, he once annihilated 20,000 Mongols in a single battle, and even Temujin praised him, saying, "A son should be like Jalal ad-Din."

If given the opportunity, we must seize it to prevent future troubles.

At the same time, Timur Khan entered the carriage that Li Xiao had just left and was helping Hunhu put on his clothes.

She picked up a light pink silk dress and gently put it on Hunhu. Then she took a comb and combed her daughter's long hair, changing the original girl's hairstyle into a mature woman's style.

Timur Khanni, now in his thirties, may not have the same firm skin as when he was younger, but his time with Li Xiao has given him a renewed glow.

Her brows now held a touch more allure, and her eyes held less of their former fear and more of a sense of calm.

"Hunhu, stop looking so gloomy."

Timur Khanni put down the comb and gently stroked his daughter's cheek: "Now that things have come to this, we can only accept our fate. It is already a blessing that we can live peacefully by the side of the King of Qin."

Hunhu looked at his unfamiliar reflection in the mirror, his eyes filled with loneliness, but he still nodded: "Mother, I know."

“But… I always think of my father, and of the days in Husi Ordos and Ferghana.”

"It's in the past."

Timur Khan sighed: "Forget your identity as a Liao princess. From now on, you will be a woman of the Li family."

"All we can do now is live well and not let your father worry."

Hunhu looked out the window at the receding grasslands and yellow earth, and asked softly, "Mother, where are we going?"

Timur Khan looked out the window and said softly, "If we keep going south, we should be heading to Hezhong Prefecture."

As she spoke, a hint of reminiscence flashed in her eyes: "Back then, your father took me to Hezhong Prefecture once. It was the largest city in the Western Regions, with a large population and many shops. It was much more lively than Husiwoerduo."

"Since Your Majesty intends to take over Hezhong Prefecture, you will naturally bring us along to serve you."

She paused, then added, "I heard that Yelü Hongxin is in Hezhong Prefecture."

Hunhu nodded slightly: "The king said that with the support of General Tayanggu and General Yelü Wohan, he has succeeded to the throne of Jurhan."

"When Father heard the news, he was very happy, saying that the Liao Kingdom finally had an heir and that its reign would not be interrupted in his hands."

During this time, Timur Khani was serving Li Xiao and couldn't go out at all. On the contrary, Hunhu had the opportunity to visit Yelü Zhilugu twice.

His mental state was very poor, and his old injuries had relapsed. Although Li Xiao did not kill him, he had completely lost hope of living.

The fact that Yelü Hongxin declared himself emperor in Samarkand was the only thing that made him happy.

But then Hun suddenly changed the subject, her tone becoming worried: "Mother, do you think the army of Hezhong Prefecture can stop the Northern Frontier Army?"

"If Hezhong Prefecture falls, will Hong Xin be able to escape?"

“He is the last hope of the Yelü family. If something happens to him, Father Emperor may really not be able to hold on.”

Timur Khan fell silent. She walked to the window, gazed at the Qin army camp in the distance, and whispered, "Who knows?"

"We've all witnessed the fighting power of the Northern Frontier Army. We just hope that Yelü Hongxin can be smarter and not be as stubborn as your father..."

"Perhaps, it can still preserve a bloodline for the Yelü family."

Outside the carriage, the sounds of Qin soldiers' hooves, wheels, and shouts mingled together, creating a powerful and imposing atmosphere.

Inside the train carriage, the mother and daughter's conversation was tinged with sadness.

The women of the former Liao royal family can now only pray on the enemy's carriage that the last bloodline of their homeland can be continued.

(End of this chapter)