The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 372 Southern Expedition
Jieshi City, City Lord's Mansion.

The atmosphere was so heavy it was almost palpable. Abdul sat in the main seat, his face ashen, his fingers pounding heavily on the table.

The surrounding nobles also looked tense, some wringing their hands, some sighing, all filled with unease.

“Speak up! We mobilized the entire city’s army, yet we couldn’t even capture a Liao soldier of less than a hundred men.”

Abdul slammed his hand on the table, his voice filled with anger and resentment: "Although we captured a few wounded prisoners, Yelü Hongxin escaped."

"That's Jurhan of the Liao Kingdom. If we could capture him and hand him over to the Northern Frontier people, how much face would we have in front of the Northern Frontier King?"

"Now look what's happened, the cooked duck has flown away."

A nobleman quickly chimed in, his voice full of regret: "Yes, Lord City Lord, those Liao soldiers are too good at fighting, they are the elite of the elite."

"Our men charged in, but they were no match for them. Many of our brothers were killed or wounded. In the end, Yelü Hongxin managed to escape with his men, and we only managed to capture a few wounded soldiers..."

"Don't just dwell on your regrets."

Another nobleman frowned, his tone anxious: "The most important thing now is how to explain this to the people of the Northern Frontier?"

"We failed to capture Yelü Hongxin. Will they be angry?"

Just as everyone was anxious, a servant rushed in and shouted, "Lord, the envoy who went to Samarkand has returned with a message from the King of the Northern Frontier."

Abdul immediately stood up and personally welcomed the envoy in: "Tell me quickly, what did the King of Northern Xinjiang say? Is he blaming us for not capturing Yelü Hongxin?"

The envoy, panting heavily, said with a complicated expression, "The King of Northern Frontier didn't mention Yelü Hongxin, he only said..."

"As long as we pay 50,000 taels of gold, 100,000 shi of grain, 1,000 strong warhorses, and 1,000 young beauties, we will spare Jieshi City and not massacre the city."

"what?"

The council chamber erupted in chaos, with the nobles gasping in astonishment.

The bearded nobleman couldn't help but curse angrily: "These barbarians from the northern frontier are far too greedy."

"Fifty thousand taels of gold and one hundred thousand shi of grain—this will almost empty the city of Jieshi. We're afraid all our savings from these years will be poured into it."

"Exactly! A thousand young beauties! There aren't that many eligible girls in the city combined. Isn't this going to kill us?"

One of the noblemen stamped his feet in distress, his voice filled with heartache.

This wealth was accumulated over generations; who would be willing to just hand it over to someone else?

Despite their anger, no one dared to say "no."

Abdul was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "We have to give it to them even if we're not willing. At least the people of the Northern Frontier said they wouldn't massacre the city, so we are still the nobles of Jieshi City."

"As long as we keep our lives and status, we'll have plenty of opportunities to exploit the slaves in the future. We can earn back this wealth in less than ten years. We don't have a choice now, we can only agree."

The nobles looked at each other, and finally nodded in agreement.

Faced with the threat of massacre, wealth and beauty became "bargains" that could be sacrificed. As long as they could survive and continue to lord it over Jieshi City, this "loss" seemed insignificant.

A few days later, dust filled the air on the roads north of Jieshi City.

A large army clad in crimson cloth armor slowly approached, its cavalry galloping like a colossal crimson dragon, blotting out the sky and even blocking out some of the sunlight.

Abdul, along with all the nobles in the city, stood outside the city early in the morning, dressed in the most gorgeous clothes, but could not hide the humility on his face.

"I, Li Ao, have come to take over Jieshi City by order of the King."

At the front of the army, Erhu rode on his warhorse, his crimson cloth armor gleaming in the sunlight, his tone carrying an unquestionable authority.

Abdul immediately kowtowed, his voice filled with flattery: "General, you have come from afar, you must be tired."

"The tribute has been prepared: 50,000 taels of gold, 100,000 shi of grain, 1,000 warhorses, and 1,000 beauties are waiting outside the city."

"I humbly request that the general enter the city to rest, so that I may properly entertain the general."

Erhu nodded and waved, saying, "Let's go into the city."

But Abdul soon regretted his "enthusiasm".

The soldiers of the Fifth Division revealed their fierce and rude nature as soon as they entered the city.

Some soldiers stormed into shops, grabbing goods and stuffing them into their arms, while others carried women into their rooms.

The city quickly descended into chaos, filled with cries and angry shouts.

"General, look at this..." Abdul was sweating profusely, but dared not step forward to stop him.

Erhu frowned and shouted at the soldiers, "All of you, shut up! Jieshi City has already paid the ransom. No more looting!"

"Anyone who dares to violate military discipline will be dealt with according to military law."

The soldiers reluctantly stopped their actions, but in just half an hour, many people in the city had already suffered.

Abdul looked at the mess on the ground and secretly groaned, but he also understood that these soldiers from the northern border were no pushovers. The fact that they stopped looting was already a great concession.

He could even imagine that after all this turmoil, there might be quite a few children with Qin bloodlines born in Jieshi City next year.

That evening, the city lord's mansion hosted a grand banquet.

Abdul pulled his most beautiful daughter in front of Erhu, his face beaming with smiles: "General, my daughter is quite pretty and is willing to serve you. I hope you will not reject her."

He had already found out that the general in front of him was the younger brother of Li Xiao, the King of the Northern Frontier, and a high-ranking general in the army. As long as he could form a marriage alliance with him, his position as city lord would be completely secure.

Erhu glanced at Abdul's daughter, and seeing her beautiful appearance, nodded slightly: "Since the city lord is so kind, I will gladly accept."

Other nobles followed suit; if they couldn't reach the level of Erhu, they would send gold, silver, and women to the other generals of the Fifth Division.

For a time, the banquet was filled with the clinking of glasses, the flattery of the nobles and the casualness of the Qin generals intertwined, creating a seemingly "harmonious" atmosphere.

Being well served by Abdul's daughter, Erhu was in a great mood and said to Abdul, "Don't worry, with me here, no one will dare to massacre Jieshi City."

"From now on, I will protect you in matters concerning Jieshi City."

Abdul and the nobles breathed a sigh of relief, their faces beaming with smiles of relief.

They had already witnessed how terrifying the people of the northern frontier were, and now that they could cling to Erhu's coattails, they would finally no longer have to live in fear.

"correct."

Erhu suddenly remembered something and asked, "Where did Yelü Hongxin go?"

Abdul quickly stood up, bowed, and said, "General, please forgive me. I am incompetent and failed to capture Yelü Hongxin, allowing him to escape."

"We learned from the prisoners that he should have reached the Iron Gate Pass and was preparing to go to the Kingdom of Gur from there."

"Iron Gate Pass?"

He knew that place; it was located 500 li south of Jieshi City, surrounded by mountains on both sides, with steep terrain, and was a vital passage connecting Central Asia and South Asia.

It is also the shortest route from Samarkand to India, and has always been a strategic location fought over by military strategists. Even the Tang Dynasty monk Xuanzang described its perilous nature in his "Great Tang Records on the Western Regions".

He recalled what his elder brother Li Xiao had said before: "Even if Yelü Hongxin runs to the Kingdom of Gur, it's fine. That place is a gathering place for the weak, where chickens fight each other."

"For thousands of years, many people who were defeated in the Western Regions fled there and were able to conquer the local natives and establish a country with great force."

“The losers who want to prove themselves go to India, but once they go, they never come back.”

Erhu smiled and said to Abdul, "Take these nobles and go to Samarkand tomorrow to pay homage to my elder brother and present him with tribute in person."

"As for the army in Jieshi City, I will hand them all over to myself. I will lead the main force south to Tiemen Pass."

Li Xiao's order for the two tigers to march south served two purposes: first, to conquer the southern regions and towns of the Western Karakhanid Khanate; and second, to complete the strategic pressure on the Ghurid Kingdom.

By the way... hunt down Yelü Hongxin.

"Follow the order."

Abdul readily agreed, though he was very reluctant to hand over his military power, but he had no other choice.

On the morning of the third day, Abdul, along with a group of nobles, carefully headed north to Samarkand with the remaining tribute, determined to make a good impression on Li Xiao and solidify his position.

Erhu led the Fifth Division army southward in a grand procession, heading straight for the Iron Gate Pass.

The recapture went more smoothly than expected.

Although the Iron Gate Pass is famous for its treacherous terrain, with steep mountains on both sides and only a narrow path in the middle, the soldiers of the Western Karakhanid Khanate who were guarding the pass had long lost their fighting spirit.

When news of the fall of Samarkand and the destruction of the Liao Dynasty arrived, morale plummeted, and the soldiers were filled with fear and anxiety, with no will to resist.

When Erhu's army arrived at the pass and offered the choice of "surrender to avoid death, or resist to be massacred," the defending general opened the city gates almost without hesitation and led his soldiers to surrender.

"Commander, this Iron Gate Pass is far too weak to be attacked," a commander said with a laugh, his tone full of disdain.

Erhu reined in his horse and stood before the gate, gazing at the precipitous mountain terrain. A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips: "A pack of stray dogs, what mind do they have for fighting?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a personal guard rode up at full speed and handed him a report: "General, according to the commander of the Iron Gate Pass..."

"After learning of the fall of the Liao Dynasty, the governor of Ghazni, Ledus, led a large army on a northern expedition and persuaded the city of Derm, 500 li south of the Iron Gate Pass, to surrender."

"They are now marching towards Iron Gate Pass, and their forces number about 35,000."

Thirty-five thousand people?

Erhu took the intelligence report, glanced at it, and laughed disdainfully: "What kind of Tom, Dick, or Harry dares to invade the territory of my Qin Kingdom?"

"Pass down the order: leave a team to guard the Iron Gate Pass, and the rest of you follow me south to see if the people of the Kingdom of Naghur are just as weak as they seem."

Meanwhile, outside the city of Diermi, the army of the Kingdom of Gur was slowly assembling.

The army of 35,000 men stretched for miles, most of them dressed in coarse cloth battle robes, some riding camels and others riding elephants.

Most of the men walked, carrying scimitars, spears, and some even carried rudimentary catapults. They looked imposing, but their lax discipline was hard to conceal.

Riding on a camel, Ledus looked at the procession before him with a particularly somber expression.

Although his own army was large and its soldiers were all highly skilled, the barbarians in the north seemed equally formidable.

They didn't know if their northern expedition would succeed, or if the valiant warriors of Ghur could defeat those barbarians. After all, the Kingdom of Ghur was no longer the unified and powerful nation it was four years ago.

Four years ago, when Sultan Muhammad was still alive, the Ghurid Kingdom was ambitious and eager to expand northward.

Unexpectedly, during the attack on Samarkand, they encountered a joint attack from the Liao Dynasty, Khwarazm, and the Western Karakhanid Khanate, suffering heavy losses and returning in defeat.

When news of the defeat reached the southern Indian subcontinent, the untouchables of northern India seized the opportunity to launch a rebellion. Muhammad personally led a large army south to quell the rebellion, but was unfortunately assassinated and died without leaving any heirs.

Overnight, the Kingdom of Gur fell into division.

First, the governor of Delhi, Qutbhudin, declared independence and established the Delhi Sultanate. Other governors followed suit, each ruling their own territory.

The Kingdom of Ghur during this period was like the late Han Dynasty, with many warlords rising up.

The region of Ghazni, where the Ledus were located, was situated in the northern part of the Kingdom of Ghur, considered the "heartland of the kingdom."

He managed to control the central government with his military power, but like Dong Zhuo at the end of the Han Dynasty, he was constantly controlled by the local old nobles.

The Yuan family, Yang family, and other old noble families of Gur were deeply entrenched and coveted him, making it impossible for him to truly become independent.

Last year, he attempted to launch a southern campaign against the Delhi Sultanate in an effort to reunify the Ghurid Kingdom. However, after the battle, he not only failed to gain any advantage but also suffered heavy losses, forcing him to temporarily abandon the idea of ​​a southern campaign.

Just as he was beset by internal and external troubles, news came from the north: the powerful Liao Kingdom had been destroyed by a group of "Northern Frontier People" from the extremely cold land.

This news shocked and terrified Ledus. The Liao Kingdom, which couldn't even defeat the powerful Gur Kingdom at its peak, had been destroyed by the barbarians of the northern frontier.

How strong must the people of northern Xinjiang be?
He immediately sent men disguised as merchants to the north to investigate, and the news they received shocked him even more: the people of the northern frontier were strong, fierce and savage, and they not only massacred cities, but also "ate human flesh raw".

“Governor, perhaps we shouldn’t go north to join the fun. Those barbarians from the northern frontier sound too terrifying,” a trusted confidant couldn’t help but advise.

As Ledoux hesitated, an aide stepped forward and said, "Your Excellency, there's no escaping this."

"The Liao people have a saying, 'If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.' If the Liao Dynasty is destroyed, the northern frontier's military might will eventually move south to the Amu Darya River, and then we will still have to face them."

"It would be better to take advantage of the fact that the Liao Kingdom has just been destroyed and the people of the northern frontier are still cleaning up the mess, and quickly lead the army north to seize the territory north of the Amu Darya River."

"Use the treacherous terrain of the Iron Gate Pass to defend against the barbarians of the northern frontier."

The aide paused for a moment, then continued, “You conquered places like Dermot and Zhihanna with the Sultan back then, but they were later taken away by the Liao people.”

"But the local nobles still trust you, so it's entirely possible to turn it into your base of operations."

"With this territory, you can break free from the constraints of the old Ghazni nobles, establish your own true power, and then gather strength to march south, eliminate the rebels in the Delhi Sultanate, and you will be the sole heir to the Kingdom of Ghur."

These words instantly awakened Letos, who clenched his fist and his eyes blazed with ambition: "Alright, let's do it this way, the Northern Expedition."

To boost morale, he rode a camel and circled in front of the army, shouting in a loud voice: "Soldiers, north of the Amu Darya River lies fertile land and cities filled with gold."

“As long as we take those places, everyone will get land, wealth and slaves. Then you and your families will no longer have to suffer and everyone can become nobles.”

Then, he summoned the nobles of Diermi City and made grand promises: "Gentlemen, I know you are worried about the people of the Northern Frontier, but as long as we join forces, with the formidable Iron Gate Pass, we will surely be able to stop the barbarians of the Northern Frontier."

"At that time, Diermi City will still be yours. I can even guarantee you that you will also get a share of the tax revenue from Zhihanna in the future."

"Wouldn't it be better for us to dominate the North together than to be controlled by the people of the Northern Frontier?"

The nobles were persuaded and expressed their willingness to follow the Letos.

Kledus knew in his heart that this was merely a temporary measure.

What he really wanted was to make Dermí City his base. As for these nobles, he would have plenty of ways to deal with them once he had a firm foothold.

Subsequently, Gur's army officially set out for the Iron Gate Pass.

But shortly after they set off, they suddenly encountered a large number of refugees fleeing south along the way. They were dressed in rags and looked terrified.

Ledus sent someone to inquire, but the news he received greatly surprised him.

"Don't go to Iron Gate Pass. The garrison commander has surrendered to the Northern Frontier people, and the pass has already been occupied."

"what?"

Ledus's heart sank instantly.

The cavalry of the Northern Frontier were even more ferocious than those of the Liao people. The commander guarding the Iron Gate Pass didn't even dare to put up a fight and surrendered without opening the gate.

Looking at the 35,000 troops around him, he began to have second thoughts.

These people were his lifeline, and he originally planned to rely on the treacherous terrain of the Iron Gate Pass for defense.

But now that the pass has been lost, if we were to engage in open battle with the northern frontier people, or even attack the city, even if we won, our army would suffer heavy losses. At that point, it would be difficult to say whether we could even maintain Ghazni's position, let alone seize territory.

"Your Excellency, perhaps... we should turn back?"

His confidant noticed his hesitation and whispered, "The people of the Northern Frontier were able to destroy the Liao Kingdom. With our limited forces, we are probably no match for them."

After a moment of silence, Leduszhe finally gritted his teeth and ordered: "Withdraw the troops and retreat to the city of Diermi."

He was unwilling to give up, but he didn't dare to gamble with his savings. At least Diermi City had city walls, so he could make other plans.

But he didn't expect the army from the northern frontier to arrive so quickly.

In just ten days, Erhu, guided by the surrendered soldiers at Tiemenguan, led his army south and arrived outside the city of Diermi.

The crimson cavalry stretched for miles, their crimson banners fluttering in the wind, making even the sunlight seem tinged with red.

At the front of the column were many soldiers wearing old armor from the Western Karakhanid Khanate. They were surrendered soldiers from Jieshi City and Iron Gate Pass, who had been brought in by Erhu to serve as auxiliary troops and cannon fodder in the siege.

"This...this is the army of the Northern Frontier?"

The nobles of Delmi stood on the city wall, looking at the scene outside the city, their faces pale and their voices trembling.

Ledus's expression was solemn, his gaze fixed on the cavalry in the Northern Frontier army formation, then on the elephants in the city, which were his last source of confidence.

He thought to himself: if he suddenly released the elephant cavalry when the northern people attacked the city, he might be able to break through their cavalry formation and catch them off guard.

Just then, shouts came from outside the city. A man dressed in Gur clothing and speaking Gur language stood in front of the formation and shouted at the city walls.

"Grandpa from the Northern Frontier said that if we surrender, we will not be killed."

"If they resist, after the city falls, we will massacre the city for ten days, leaving no one alive."

The shouts of the "traitors" caused a stir among the Gur soldiers on the city wall.

But there are still 30,000 troops in the city, and they certainly won't surrender as easily as they did at Iron Gate Pass.

With a solemn expression, Ledus ordered those around him, "Pass down the order to strengthen the defenses and prepare for battle."

However, he still harbored a sliver of hope; he did not want to fight to the death with the people of the Northern Frontier.

So, they sent an envoy with generous gifts out of the city to negotiate with Erhu.

"General of the Northern Frontier, my governor wishes to establish the Iron Gate Pass as the boundary with you, with the north belonging to the Northern Frontier and the south to the Kingdom of Gur. From now on, we will not invade each other and will be friendly for generations to come."

But not long after, the messenger returned.

Kneeling before the Lord of the Northern Frontier, he said in a muffled voice, "My lord, the general of the Northern Frontier said... said that there are only two choices: either open the city gates and surrender, or the city will be breached and the city massacred... There is no room for negotiation."

"Insanity."

Ledus was trembling with rage and suddenly overturned the table in front of him: "Since they are courting death, then I, the governor, will represent Allah and grind these unbelievers to dust."

After a day of rest, Erhu officially issued the order to attack the city the next morning.

"Fire! Let these Gur people experience the power of our artillery first."

"Follow your orders~"

The messenger said emphatically, and after conveying the order to the commander of the Shenji Battalion, the cannons were already ready.

Twenty cannons stood outside the city, their dark muzzles pointing towards the city wall.

"Fire!" The commander of the Shenji Battalion drew his cavalry sword and shouted sharply.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Twenty cannons fired simultaneously, and the shells whistled towards the city walls of Diermi, exploding instantly, sending bricks and stones flying, and creating gaps in the walls.

The Gur soldiers on the city wall were terrified and hid behind the wall, not daring to show their faces.

"Order the Karakhanid army to attack the city."

Erhu waved his hand, and the surrendered soldiers of the Western Karakhanid Khanate, who were already prepared, carried ladders and rushed towards the city wall under the supervision of the Qin army.

Meanwhile, inside the city of Diermi, Yelü Hongxin was mingling among a group of soldiers being forcibly conscripted, his expression grave.

After the Battle of Jieshi City, many people around him died, were captured, or fled. Now, fewer than fifty people have followed him to Diermi.

They disguised themselves as members of a small Turkic tribe and originally intended to pass through the city of Delmi to reach the Kingdom of Gur, but unexpectedly they were conscripted by the people of Ledus and forced to defend the city.

Hearing the familiar roar of cannons outside the city and watching the frenzied attack by the auxiliary army, Yelü Hongxin felt as if his heart was being squeezed by an invisible hand.

This scene is exactly the same as when Samarkand and Chachi were captured.

He had only one thought in his mind: "It's over, Diermi is doomed too."

He quietly pulled aside his trusted aide and whispered, "Let's escape quickly while things are in chaos."

“Once the northerners storm the city, they will definitely massacre the inhabitants. We can’t stay here and wait to die.”

The other Khitan soldiers nodded hastily, their eyes filled with fear. They had finally escaped from Samarkand and could not afford to perish in Deirmi.

The artillery fire outside the city continued, and the auxiliary troops had already rushed to the city walls and begun to set up ladders.

Although the Gur soldiers fought hard under the pressure from the Ledus, they gradually lost their fighting spirit in the face of the Qin army's cannons and the frenzied attacks of the auxiliary troops.

The breach in the city wall was widening, and red armor was gradually appearing on it. The fall of Diermi City was only a matter of time.

(End of this chapter)