The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 369 The King's Judgment: From the Golden Horde Revelry to the Ethnic Cleansing Order
Historically, during Temujin's first westward expedition, the land of the Western Regions was soaked in blood.

Wherever the Mongol cavalry trampled, Samarkand was annihilated, countless cities and tribes were reduced to ashes, and millions of corpses lay strewn across the wilderness.

When the army returned to the grasslands, 500,000 Central Asian female slaves were taken away and became breeding tools for the Mongol warriors, directly contributing to the fusion of Eastern and Western bloodlines.

Although the Qin army's actions in the Western Regions were not as bloodthirsty and destructive as those of the Mongols, they were still firmly controlling the lifeline of Samarkand in their own way.

Outside the Qin army camp, on the grass outside the golden tent, a scene of revelry had already broken out.

Outside the tent, the charcoal fire roared, and the sizzling fat from the roasting meat dripped onto the flames, mingling with the rich aroma of strong liquor to create a rustic atmosphere.

The Qin generals were shirtless, some with only blood-stained silk sashes around their waists, and each had a fair-skinned beauty from Samarkand in their arms.

These women, abducted from noble residences, had disheveled hair and timid eyes. They forced smiles while holding back tears, allowing the generals' rough hands to roam over their bodies.

The occasional soft sobs were instantly drowned out by the boisterous laughter and the clinking of wine bowls.

"Hahaha, Samarkand is truly a piece of fat meat."

Erhu raised his wine bowl and drank the strong liquor in one gulp. The liquor flowed down his chin onto the knife scar on his chest, but he didn't care at all. He slapped his thigh and shouted.

"More than three million taels of gold, more than twenty million taels of silver, and all those jewels, silks, grains and horses could fill our central army camp if piled up."

"This battle was worth fighting."

Li Xiao, who also had a beautiful woman in his arms, smiled and nodded, saying, "Erhu is right."

"Of all the wars we've fought over the years, this one is the most lucrative."

"There are over 200,000 women who can give birth. If we bring them back to Qin and distribute them to our brothers in the army and the people in the country, the population of Qin will increase by over a million in less than ten years."

The 200,000 female slaves were only those captured from within and outside Samarkand; there were also many female slaves captured from other places, bringing the total number to no less than 300,000.

They are all relatively young and capable of having children.

Moreover, Samarkand, as the commercial center of Central Asia, was incredibly prosperous, with many merchants boasting wealth comparable to that of a nation; the value of a single shop could support an entire army.

The wealth seized from Samarkand alone exceeded their expectations, including more than three million taels of gold, more than twenty million taels of silver, and countless other valuables such as jewelry, silk, and grain.

The total value is estimated to be no less than ten million strings of copper coins.

"Don't waste those men either."

Li Dongshan put down his wine bowl, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "Demote them to mine slaves to dig for gold, demote them to serfs to farm the land."

"We cannot waste this wonderful land in the Western Regions."

The Mongols' westward expeditions left the Western Regions in ruins, because they did not consider it their own land, nor did they intend to develop it. They didn't care if it was reduced to ruins.

However, Li Xiao had no intention of wasting this prime land; instead, he planned to develop it.

However, there is a lack of sufficient population in a short period of time, and it is not so simple to immigrate from China.

Therefore, instead of carrying out a large-scale massacre, they left enough slaves to farm, produce food, mine minerals, and support the Qin state.

As for how to manage these hundreds of thousands of prisoners, it was quite simple.

These prisoners of war weren't from the same race; they were Sogdians, Uyghurs, and Khitans, and they had a lot of grudges against each other, so it was good to let them keep an eye on each other.

We'll treat prisoners of war the same way the Russians did.

They promoted South Korean prisoners of war to be foremen to manage the Japanese soldiers.

After all, the Koreans had been bullied by the Japanese for so many years. Now that they had turned the tables, they naturally did everything they could to please the Russians and take revenge on the Japanese.

This approach is useful in any era: it elevates previously oppressed smaller groups to a position of authority over larger groups.

The Qin state only needs to act as an arbitrator.

The Western Karakhanid Khanate was a multi-ethnic country.

The earliest inhabitants here were called Sogdians, who were the most numerous and the main merchants and farmers in the city.

Later, the Uyghurs, Karluks, and other Turkic groups moved south, conquered the Sogdians, and established the Karakhanid Khanate.

Then came the Khitans, who suppressed the Turkic nobles.

Therefore, the real ruling class in this city now consists of two groups of people—the Khitan military nobles and the Turkic military nobles.

When selecting a supervisor, you should definitely avoid these two groups.

As for the Sogdians, although they were bullied in the past, they were numerous and were natives. If administrative power were given to them, they might cause trouble one day under the guise of being "native".

Therefore, what Li Xiao was looking for were those small groups who were powerless and constantly bullied under these three layers of oppression.

The generals continued drinking with their beauties, their conversation ranging from wealth and population to subsequent management, each with a determined look on their faces.

Their goal was not only to capture Samarkand, but also to use these carefully selected "agents" to completely transform this important Central Asian city into the "granary" and "pasture" of the Qin Dynasty in the Western Regions.

Soon after, a guard came to report: "Your Majesty, the chieftain of a minor tribe among the prisoners of war has been brought here."

Li Xiao, with the beauty in his arms, nodded slightly and casually said, "Let them in."

After saying that, he continued to discuss the strategic direction after the Battle of Samarkand with Li Dongshan.

Soon, several men dressed in different clothes were led by the guards to the grass outside the tent.

Most of them kept their heads down, trembling all over, and dared not look up at the scene of revelry.

The generals' bare chests, the shy beauty in their arms, and their undisguised contemptuous gazes made their hearts tremble, and even their breathing became cautious.

Only one middle-aged man was slightly different.

He was wearing a worn-out linen robe that dragged down to his ankles, with worn-out stitches sewn into the four corners, making him look like a scholar or a missionary.

He was holding a parchment book, but it was confiscated by his personal guards.

At this moment, unlike the others who were trembling, he raised his head and curiously looked at the Qin general, his eyes showing no fear, only a hint of inquiry.

When the guards pushed everyone forward to pay their respects, the others hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed.

Only the middle-aged man paused for a moment, then straightened his back, bowed slightly to Li Xiao and the others, and said in broken Turkic, "This humble one... greets all the generals."

Li Xiao narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing him with interest, and said in Turkic, the common language of the Western Regions, "Oh? You're not afraid of us?"

The middle-aged man raised his head and calmly met Li Xiao's gaze: "What the generals want is to manage Samarkand, not to kill everyone."

"The common people are useful to the generals as long as they live, so why should we be afraid?"

These words stunned the Qin generals, and then Li Xiao burst into laughter: "Good, that's interesting."

"What's your name? What's your ethnic group?"

“Xiaomin Shamash is a Yehudi.”

"I just overheard the generals discussing strategies for managing Samarkand, and I have a few words I'd like to say to the generals."

The laughter of Erhu and the other generals gradually subsided, and all eyes were focused on him.

In the military camp filled with valiant warriors, his slightly thin figure and calm demeanor seemed out of place.

Li Xiao looked him over with interest and asked in a calm tone, "Oh? What do you want to say?"

Shamash took a deep breath, nodded slightly, and said with a scholarly earnestness in his eyes, "General's martial arts skills are as bright as the sun in the sky, and no one dares to question them."

“Samarkand, like a ripe fruit, will naturally fall into the hands of the strong.”

"I dare to speak out, not to question the general's authority, but to consider things further ahead."

"General, Samarkand has fallen, and its wealth and people have all returned to the northern frontier."

“But these days, there has been constant killing in the city, and the people are living in fear and unease.”

"I humbly beg the general to reduce the killing and do more good deeds, treat prisoners of war kindly, and appease the people. Only in this way can Samarkand enjoy lasting peace and stability, and can the prestige of the northern frontier spread throughout the western regions, rather than instill fear."

These words stunned the generals outside the tent.

How dare a representative of a small, imprisoned tribe point fingers at the Qin army commander?
Before the generals could react, Li Xiao burst into laughter: "Good, this is interesting."

"You have more courage than those who only know how to kowtow and beg for mercy."

There was no anger on his face, but rather a hint of casualness: "I've heard a lot of people advise me on these things over the years, saying that killing is against the natural order and that I should be merciful."

"I don't want to kill so many people either."

Li Xiao paused, his gaze sweeping across the outside of the tent, his voice deepening: "But we Chinese have a saying, 'Your position determines your perspective.'"

"I am the commander of 200,000 Qin soldiers and the king of all the people of Qin. I am not concerned with the life or death of one or two people, but with the survival of millions of soldiers and civilians of Qin."

"The situation in the Western Regions is currently chaotic. Without waging war and intimidating the enemy through killing, how can Great Qin expand?"

"How do we defend our territory? How do we ensure that the people of northern Xinjiang have food and clothing?"

Shamash didn't respond. Instead, he took two steps forward, his tone suddenly becoming solemn and doctrinal.

“General, the Lord says that forgiveness is a virtue and giving is mercy.” “Although the Great Qin is strong, it should not be maintained by killing. If you can follow the Lord’s will, treat all peoples kindly, and give up conquest, the Lord will surely bless the Great Qin with prosperity and will also grant you eternal peace.”

He became more and more engrossed in his speech, even raising his hand to his chest: "You see, the Yehudi people have endured suffering, but they have held fast to their faith because of their belief in the Lord."

"If the general can accept the Lord's teachings and let the Lord's light shine on the Western Regions, not only will Samarkand be at peace, but the whole world will submit to you..."

The smile on Li Xiao's face gradually faded, but he remained expressionless. His composure, honed by years of holding a high position, made it impossible for others to discern any turmoil in his heart.

The generals also sensed that something was wrong. The area outside the tent gradually quieted down, except for Shamash, who was still preaching "the will of the Lord."

But no one knew that Li Xiao had already sentenced Shamash to death in his heart.

Originally, Li Xiao thought that this person named Shamash would have an interesting soul living inside him, and he was willing to chat with him in his spare time.

But he gradually realized that these so-called "Yahudi" were actually the infamous Squid People.

........................

The Shamash before us speaks of "forgiveness" and "compassion," but in reality, he wants to use his doctrines to persuade the Qin army to abandon their killings and even accept their faith. In essence, it is still for the benefit of the Squid People.

If we really listen to him, Samarkand and even the entire Qin state will likely be secretly thrown into chaos by the Squid People.

Li Xiao's fingers continued to tap lightly on the table, but his eyes turned colder.

But Shamash became more and more engrossed in his speech, even raising his hand to his chest, his fingertips trembling slightly with excitement.

No one knew that his heart was already in turmoil at that moment.

These squid people came from the West, and having heard that Samarkand was "foolish and rich," they flocked to this Central Asian trading port in accordance with the so-called "will of the Lord."

Over the years, through their shrewd calculations, they have quietly monopolized the city's loan sharks and money shops, and even controlled the transit trade of silk and spices.

Those high-profit gray and white industries have almost become the spoils of the squid people.

But who could have imagined that a group of barbarians from the northern frontier would suddenly appear, not only defeating the Khitans but also easily conquering Samarkand.

What alarmed him even more was that the people of northern Xinjiang possessed a terrifying "weapon of terror".

It could shake the earth, crack city walls, and even the Khitan cavalry were no match for it.

He later learned from other prisoners that the thing was called a "cannon".

The thought of "cannons" makes Shamash's heart pound; they represent the hope for the rise of the squid people!

For thousands of years, they have wandered around, been driven away and slaughtered, but they never thought that it was their own greed and banding together that aroused the wrath of the masses, but only felt that other ethnic groups were "evil".

Their greatest obsession is to build a powerful nation for the squid people, but their homeland has been occupied by heretics, and they don't even have the strength to resist.

But cannons are different.

Even the garrison of Samarkand couldn't hold them off, so how long could those infidels last?
If they could acquire the technology for the cannons and bring it back to their homeland, they could build a powerful nation.

Moreover, the military strength of the people of the northern frontier goes far beyond cannons.

That invincible iron cavalry is conquering lands in the east, and it looks like it's about to build a vast empire.

Shamash never intended to defeat the Northern Frontier; he harbored a far more sinister plan: to control them through faith.

Those sitting outside this large tent are all key figures from the Northern Frontier. If he can get them to believe in the Lord, he can indirectly control this Eastern Empire and use the power of the Northern Frontier to help the Squid People reclaim their homeland.

Even if they fail, they can still become a theocratic leader like a "Brahman" in the northern frontier, allowing the squid people to continue living a life of luxury.

Watching the crude manners of the northern generals as they embraced beauties and drank heavily, Shamash secretly straightened his back and slightly tucked in his stomach.

He disdained this barbaric revelry, yet he wanted to use this "barbarism" to realize his own ambitions.

He took a deep breath and spoke to Li Xiao again, his tone deliberately pious and solemn: "General, look at the iron cavalry of the Northern Frontier sweeping across the Western Regions, and the cannons blasting open thousands of cities. This is the power bestowed upon you by the Lord!"

"But power without the guidance of the Lord will eventually lead to destruction."

"Like those Khitans you defeated, they relied on force to plunder but did not believe in God, and ultimately their cities fell and their people perished."

He took another half step forward, his eyes full of "earnestness": "If you can believe in the Lord and become His servant in the East, the Lord will surely bestow more blessings upon you."

"Not only will it ensure the continuation of the Northern Frontier Empire for ten thousand years, but it will also make your soldiers more valiant and your people more prosperous."

"At that time, you will not only be the commander of the northern frontier, but also the messenger of the Lord. The entire East will submit to you, and even the western kingdoms will revere you."

……

Outside the tent, all was completely silent. The generals frowned as they looked at Shamash, and even the beauty in their arms dared not utter a sound.

They were very disgusted by what Shamash said.

The reason why the Qin army was invincible was because the Qin army was well-equipped, the country was powerful, and the soldiers fought bravely.

What does it have to do with that damn 'master'?
Shamash's words were undoubtedly an attempt to erase the merits of the Qin soldiers and the achievements of these generals.

Unforgivable.

Shamash, however, was lost in his own fantasy, staring intently at Li Xiao, as if he could instantly become the "spiritual leader" of the northern frontier and usher in a "glorious era" for the squid people if Li Xiao nodded.

But Li Xiao's face remained a faint smile, without the slightest change in emotion.

He didn't react immediately, but simply picked up his wine bowl, took a sip, and said calmly, "I understand what you've said."

"You may leave now, let me think about it."

Shamash felt a weight lift from his heart instantly. Although the general from the northern frontier hadn't directly agreed, he hadn't refused either, saying he needed to "think about it," which clearly indicated a willingness to compromise.

He knew that haste makes waste, and as long as he spent more time persuading Li Xiao and the generals of the northern frontier, he would surely bring them all under the "glory of the Lord".

He then bowed respectfully and said, "This humble subject obeys your command. May the Lord bless the General so that he may soon understand."

After saying that, he turned around and prepared to leave.

But after taking only two steps, Li Xiao suddenly spoke up: "I plan to select some men from Samarkand to help the Qin army manage those hundreds of thousands of prisoners of war."

He paused, his gaze falling on Shamash: "Summon all of you Yehudi people, I have important matters to instruct you."

Upon hearing this, Shamash's heart pounded wildly, and he couldn't help but show his ecstatic joy on his face.

This means the persuasion worked.

Li Xiao wanted the Yehudi to govern Samarkand.

He suppressed his excitement and bowed, replying, "This humble subject obeys. I will go and gather my clansmen immediately, and I will certainly not fail the general's trust."

As he turned to leave, his steps were unsteady, and he had already begun to make his plans.

With the people of northern Xinjiang as their backers and hundreds of thousands of prisoners of war to "suck" from the squid people, it won't be long before the squid people rise up and reclaim their homeland.

As soon as Shamash stepped out of the tent, the generals couldn't help but speak up. Erhu was the first to ask, "Brother, that Yehudi is obviously a fraud."

"What utter nonsense! You're attributing all the Qin army's achievements to some 'master.' How can you let him gather his people? Do you really want these people to manage Samarkand?"

The other generals echoed, "Yes, Your Majesty, you have always been wise. How could you be deceived by such a fellow?"

"The things he said were clearly an attempt to use us to strengthen the Yehudi people. His intentions are ridiculous."

As Li Xiao listened to the crowd's doubts, the smile on his face gradually faded, but he did not answer immediately. Instead, he asked in return, "When did I ever say that I would let the Yehudi people govern Samarkand?"

He tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his tone slightly amusement: "I only ordered Shamash to gather the Yehudi people together. Did I say anything else?"

The generals were taken aback at first, then suddenly realized what was going on.

The king was not deceived at all; he clearly intended to wipe out the Yehudi people in one fell swoop.

Just then, Li Xiao's expression suddenly turned cold, his smile vanished without a trace, and only a chilling coldness remained in his eyes.

He looked at Erhu, his voice low but carrying an unquestionable command: "Kill them after all the Yehudi people have been identified."

"Where the iron hooves of my Qin state have trampled, the Yehudi people will not be allowed to exist."

"Kill them all."

"Until they are wiped out forever."

Erhu immediately bowed and accepted the order: "This subordinate will obey your command and will ensure that none of these Yehudi people escape."

The other generals nodded in agreement. Shamash's words were not only an attempt to bewitch the king, but also a denial of the Qin army's bloody battle achievements, attributing everything to the "lord," which was simply an insult to the Qin army.

Xiao Chilu gritted his teeth and said, "That guy deserves to die. He dared to slander the achievements of our Qin army. Even if we wipe out his entire clan, it won't be enough to quell our hatred."

"Yes."

Chen Erqiang chimed in, "These Yehu people are no good to begin with. They swindle food and drink from everyone they meet, and they even try to cause trouble on our Qin territory. We should kill them all."

The atmosphere inside the tent instantly became tense, and everyone's eyes were filled with murderous intent.

The only way to eliminate these treacherous individuals who attempt to infiltrate the Qin state with lies and divine authority is to eradicate them completely.

(End of this chapter)