The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 380 A Letter to the Empress Dowager: From Reign Behind the Curtain to Dictatorship
Yulongjiechi, the capital of Khwarazm, the royal palace.

The long corridor was covered with brocade carpets, and gilded candlesticks burned expensive benzoin incense, filling the air with the rich aroma of spices and silk.

Empress Dowager Turkhan leaned against a soft couch covered with mink fur, holding a snow-white Persian cat in her arms.

Although she was nearly fifty, she was still well-maintained. The fine lines at the corners of her eyes were concealed by heavy rouge. She wore a gilded robe in the style of the Kipchak Steppe, with intricate wolf totems embroidered on the collar and cuffs.

She was born into a nomadic tribe on the Kipchak Steppe, which was a symbol of her tribe.

Inside the hall, her most beloved nephew, Hailhan, stood with his hands at his sides. His golden brocade robe accentuated his imposing figure, but his eyes held a hint of arrogance.

"Has Muhammad not returned from the front lines of the Eastern Expedition yet?"

Empress Dowager Turkhan casually stroked the Persian cat's back, her voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority.

"He's quite capable, ignoring the affairs of the capital and insisting on attacking the Karakhanid Khanate, thinking that winning would allow him to regain power?"

Hail Khan bowed and smiled, "Your Majesty, rest assured, all affairs of the court, large and small, are under your control. Those generals and officials who came from the Kipchak background all listen to you."

"Even if Muhammad wins, he will only have the empty title of Sultan when he returns."

Empress Dowager Turkhan smiled and nodded slightly, saying, "I placed the sons of the Kipchaks in the army and the court in the first place to prevent them from becoming too powerful."

"He thinks he can contend with me by finding some Turkic and Persian subjects? That's laughable."

As they were talking, a child dressed in a brocade robe was led in by a maid. He looked about eight or nine years old and had a timid look in his eyes. He was none other than Muhammad's eldest son, Osraq.

His mother was the daughter of a Kipchak nobleman and was also the daughter-in-law personally chosen by Empress Dowager Turhan.

Wosilah walked timidly to the soft couch, curtsied, and said, "Grandmother."

Empress Dowager Turkhan's eyes softened instantly. She reached out and pulled him to her side, stroking the top of Wosilah's head, and asked in a gentle voice, "Wosilah, what did your master teach you today?"

Wosilahei lowered his head and replied softly, "My master said we should treat the people well and value agriculture and sericulture..."

"wrong."

Empress Dowager Tuerhan interrupted him, her tone suddenly becoming stern: "The common people are grass, and we are trees. Grass needs the shade of trees, but we cannot let grass hinder the growth of trees."

"What do we rely on to govern a country? We rely on power, on the army, and on the swords of our Kipchaks."

She pointed to Haierhan beside her and continued, "Look at your Uncle Haierhan, he holds military power, who in the court doesn't respect him?"

"If you are to inherit Khwarazm, you must learn from him and firmly grasp power in your hands, especially those of Turkic and Persian descent, and your half-brother Jalal ad-Din..."

When Jalal ad-Din was mentioned, Turhan's eyes turned cold instantly, and her tone was full of disgust: "He has the dirty blood of the Turks flowing in his veins and is not worthy of being the prince of Khwarazm."

“Remember this: only you, who share the blood of the Kipchak Steppe with your grandmother, are the sole heir of Khwarezm.”

Wosilah nodded as if he understood, his little hands tightly gripping the hem of his clothes.

Hail Khan chimed in, “The Queen Mother is right. The little prince will follow you and me from now on, and I guarantee he will become the most wise Sultan, ensuring that Khwarazm will forever remain in the hands of us Kipchaks.”

Empress Dowager Turkhan smiled with satisfaction, picked up Oslaq again, and then instructed, "Oslaq's teacher is no longer suitable to teach him."

Hail Khan chuckled: "Understood, Your Majesty. I will find him a good place to go."

As soon as she finished speaking, a maid hurriedly entered the hall, curtsied, and said, "Your Majesty, General Alexei requests an audience, saying he has urgent military intelligence to report."

"Alex?"

Empress Dowager Tuerhan raised her eyebrows slightly.

Alexei was her kinsman, and like her, he came from the Kipchak Steppe. He controlled most of the garrison in Yulongjiechi and was her most trusted confidant.

"Let him in."

Soon, a burly man clad in armor, his face filled with urgency, strode into the hall.

He hadn't even had time to remove his armor before he knelt on one knee as soon as he entered the room, his voice trembling: "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! The Sultan's army of 50,000... has been defeated."

"What did you say?"

The previously nonchalant Empress Dowager Turkhan suddenly sat up straight, startling the Wosilah in her arms, who flinched at her movement.

She stared at Alex in disbelief, her tone sharp: "Even if the Karakhanid Khanate joins forces with the Liao people, they can't possibly win with an army of 50,000. Are you lying about the military situation?"

Hailhan, standing nearby, widened his eyes and stepped forward, scolding, "Alex, are you crazy? The Sultan led 50,000 elite troops and so many Kipchak warriors, how could he be defeated? Have you been scared out of your wits by the enemy?"

Alexei shook his head hurriedly, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead: "They are neither from the Karakhanid Khanate nor the Liao Dynasty."

"They are from the northern frontier, people from the northern part of the Liao Kingdom."

"They marched south and conquered Hus'or, then the Liao royal court in Ferghana, and even Samarkand was captured by them. The Sultan's army was no match for the people of the northern frontier..."

"People from Northern Xinjiang?"

Empress Dowager Tuerhan paused for a moment, then sneered, her eyes full of contempt.

"Aren't they just those people from the fiefdom of Xiao Simo, the former Grand Prince of the Six Courts of Liao? A bunch of Khitan servants, do they think they can defeat my Khwarazmian army?"

In her mind, the people of the Northern Frontier were nothing more than a small force on the border, not even as good as the Khitans, and not worth mentioning at all.

"it is true."

Alexei's face turned red with anxiety: "The cavalry of the Northern Frontier are faster than our Kipchak warhorses, and they also have iron cannons that can blow people up. The Sultan's army simply cannot stop them, and many generals of Kipchak origin have died in battle..."

Upon hearing that "the Kipchak general has died in battle," Empress Dowager Turhan's face finally darkened.

What she cared about most was the strength of her own kind, and at this moment, the contempt in her heart was gradually replaced by panic.

She quickly pressed on, asking, "What about Mahamati? What about my son? How is he?"

Although there was a power struggle between mother and son, Muhammad was ultimately her biological son and the nominal Sultan of Khwarazm.

Alexei lowered his head even further, his voice hoarse: "It's still unclear... The soldiers who escaped said that someone saw the Sultan and Prince Jalal ad-Din charging into battle together, and then they disappeared without a trace."

"Some say they died in battle, some say they were captured by the people of the northern frontier, and others say they escaped in the chaos. We haven't found any definite news yet."

“Zhalandin”.

Empress Dowager Turkhan slammed her hand on the armrest of the soft couch, her eyes instantly blazing with anger: "Is it that bastard child born to that Turkic woman?"

"He is a jinx born with slander and a twin of gossip."

"It must be he who brought misfortune to the army, which led to our defeat."

Prejudice in people's hearts is a mountain. She was completely unwilling to believe that the people of the northern frontier were too strong, and instead pushed all the blame onto Zhalandin.

Alexei dared not reply, but instead took out a rolled-up parchment from his bosom and presented it with both hands: "Your Majesty, this is a letter from the leader of the Northern Frontier people to you."

"It was brought back by a soldier who escaped and risked his life, saying that it had to be given to you."

Empress Dowager Tuerhan gestured to a maid to take the parchment and unfold it.

The paper was written in Persian, the handwriting messy yet exuding arrogance, and the content was even more scathing.

"I am Li Xiao, the King of Qin, the Khan of all Khans, the Lord of the Mandate of Heaven, and the only true god in the world."

Born in the cold wilderness, raised among cattle and horses on the grassland.

"Since the westward expedition, we have conquered Khus'ordo, captured Samarkand, and annihilated your Khwarazmian army of 50,000. Now we have stationed troops on the border, and I am eager to possess your land and women."

"The strong prey on the weak. The strong should rightfully possess the most fertile land, the widest territory, and the most beautiful women in the world. This is the truth that your God has personally told me."

“He has already given me all the land and women of Khwarezm. He has come here only to take back what rightfully belongs to Great Qin.”

"I heard that your husband passed away a few years ago. Coincidentally, many of our great Qin warriors have also lost their wives and are living alone."

"I imagine they would be delighted to marry Empress Dowager Turkhan. If you and my Qin warriors are truly in love, I will personally officiate your wedding. What an honor!"

"I have 300,000 soldiers who can draw bows and shoot arrows under my command, and I command 100,000 tents of the Great Qin. Such power is enough to make the heavens and the earth tremble."

"If you agree to marry my Qin warriors, make Khwarazm a vassal state, offer cattle, sheep, slaves, gold, silver and beauties, and send all the royal women to bear children for my Qin warriors, I may forgive your previous offenses."

"Otherwise, my 300,000 iron cavalry will surely crush Khwarazm, flatten Yulongjiechi, wipe out your Kipchak clan, and erase Khwarazm from the world forever."

When the maid finished reading, Empress Dowager Tuerhan's breathing became heavy, and her face gradually turned from ashen to purplish-red.

After hearing the last sentence, she snatched the parchment and stomped on it angrily.

"Insolent and arrogant."

Empress Dowager Turhan trembled with rage, her voice sharp as a wolf whose tail had been stepped on: "A bastard who crawled out of the icy wilderness dares to call himself 'Khan of the Khans'?"

“How dare you covet Ben-Um? And you even dare to mention my husband! I will skin that scoundrel alive and tear out his tendons, so he will know the consequences of offending me, Turhan, and Khwarezm.”

“Alexei”.

She turned to the kneeling general, her voice hoarse with rage: "Pass on my order to immediately summon all the troops stationed in Yulongjiechi."

"Then issue another order to all Kipchak tribes and Persian nobles outside the city, to bring their warhorses and scimitars and assemble within ten days."

"Ben Um will personally oversee the situation and show those barbarians in the north that the Kipchak warriors of Khwarazm are not to be trifled with."

Hailhan, standing to the side, was also furious, his face flushed red. He clenched his fist and roared, "Your Majesty is wise! We must let the people of the Northern Frontier know that the price of offending Khwarezm is one that they cannot pay with their own blood."

Osilahei was so frightened by the scene before him that he cried even harder, but Empress Dowager Tuerhan paid no attention to him. Her eyes were filled with madness and murderous intent after being humiliated.

She would never allow her power and her people to be destroyed by a group of people from the northern frontier whom she looked down upon.

Half a month later, a group of defeated soldiers staggered along the dirt road outside Yulongjiechi City.

The men on horseback were ragged and covered in dust; they were none other than Muhammad and his son Jalal ad-Din. The once-powerful Sultan had lost even his crown, and Jalal ad-Din's arm was wrapped in blood-stained bandages, clearly indicating that he had fled all the way back.

Inside the royal palace, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, and the ministers, dressed in brocade robes, stood according to their rank.

Upon seeing Muhammad and his son enter, the ministers bowed respectfully, but their voices carried a hint of perfunctoriness: "Long live the supreme ruler of the world, Sultan Muhammad."

Their gazes swept over Muhammad's disheveled appearance, a hint of contempt flashing in their eyes, but no one dared to show it.

After all, Empress Dowager Turkhan had not yet given a speech.

Despite his pain, Muhammad walked to the center of the hall, knelt on one knee before the Empress Dowager Turhan, who sat at the head of the table, and respectfully said with his right hand on his chest.

"Homage to the embodiment of all virtue and truth, the greatest mother in the world, Turhan Turhan."

"Your son... has returned."

Empress Dowager Turkhan leaned against the sable-covered throne, holding a snow-white Persian cat in her arms, and coldly swept her eyes over him: "You still know how to come back? Fifty thousand troops were all wiped out in the east, and you still have the nerve to come back to see me?"

Having said that, she didn't give Muhammad a chance to speak at all, and turned to her personal guards beside her to order: "The Sultan is injured and shall recuperate in the palace from this day forward. Without my order, he shall not step out of the palace."

"Mother."

Muhammad suddenly looked up and said urgently, "You cannot place me under house arrest; the threat from the people of the northern frontier is far from over."

“I have fought them head-on. Their cavalry is faster than the Kipchak warriors, and their cannons can blast through city walls. My entire army of 50,000 was wiped out. It is not that I am incompetent, but that they are simply too fierce.”

“Yulongjiechi needs me, he needs someone who knows how to defend against them.”

"Fierce?"

Empress Dowager Tuerhan scoffed and raised her hand to let the Persian cat jump onto her lap: "I think you've been scared out of your wits. The people of the Northern Frontier aren't as mysterious as they say."

“It is clearly because of the bad luck brought by that Turkic bastard Zhalandin, coupled with the fact that you brought a motley crew of Persians and Turks, that you suffered such a crushing defeat.”

Her gaze suddenly shifted to Jalal ad-Din, who was standing behind Muhammad, and her tone became even more sarcastic: "Look at him, he went to war with you, but he was of no use at all, and he only brought back bad luck."

"If it weren't for him, how could the army of 50,000 have been wiped out?"

Zhalandin's face was deathly pale, and his hands, hanging by his sides, clenched tightly, his nails almost digging into his palms.

He knew that in his grandmother's eyes, his Turkic blood was a sin, and any explanation would only invite harsher rebukes. He could only lower his head silently and endure the strange looks from the ministers in the hall.

Muhammad wanted to persuade her again, but Queen Mother Turhan gave her no chance. She turned to the ministers in the hall and raised her voice suddenly: "Tell me, is this defeat the fault of Jalal ad-Din?"

"Yes, Your Majesty is wise."

The ministers all bowed in agreement, and not one dared to object.

Now the court is completely controlled by Empress Dowager Turhan, and officials of Kipchak descent occupy all the important positions. No one is willing to offend the Empress Dowager for the sake of a "prince of Turkic blood".

Empress Dowager Turkhan nodded in satisfaction: "The son born to that Turkic woman has proven with his actions that lowly bloodlines are not worthy of being the crown prince of Khwarazm."

Then, his gaze fell on Oslaq standing to the side, and he said forcefully, "Only Oslaq, born to the Queen of Kipchak, is worthy to be the heir of Khwarazm."

Wusilah raised his head blankly, looked at his grandmother's serious face, and asked softly, "Grandmother... do I have to go to war like Father?"

"Do not."

Queen Mother Turhan smiled and shook her head, but her eyes gleamed with ambition: "You are still too young. You must become the successor of the world conquerors and ensure that Khwarazm is forever in the hands of the Kipchaks."

As she spoke, she turned to the ministers and asked, "Do you think Voslahey is the most suitable successor?"

"Your Majesty is wise; Prince Voslahei is the chosen one."

The ministers echoed this sentiment again, their voices even louder than before.

Empress Dowager Turhan then looked at Muhammad, who was still kneeling on the ground, and said with an unquestionable authority: "Remember, only the Khans of the Kipchak Khanate can help you conquer the infidels in the East."

“The people of the northern frontier are nothing to fear. I have already sent a message to the tribes of the Kipchak steppe in the north, asking them to send cavalry south.”

"Once they arrive, along with our newly recruited 100,000 troops, we will surely ensure that the people of the Northern Frontier never return."

She waved her hand dismissively, as if shooing away a beggar: "Alright, you're badly injured, go back and rest. You don't need to worry about the palace."

Looking at the scene of agreement in the palace, at the arrogance in his mother's eyes and the sycophancy of the ministers, Muhammad was filled with despair.

In the days that followed, Queen Mother Turhan completely seized control of the military and political power of Khwarazm.

Under the pretext of "resisting the barbarians of the northern frontier," she frantically conscripted soldiers throughout the country, including all the able-bodied men of the Kipchak tribe, as well as men from the Persian and Turkic tribes.

Khwarazm was a major power in Central Asia. Although it had not yet reached its peak, it still had a population of several million. In just one month, it amassed an army of 100,000.

As winter approached, the Qin army in Samarkand indeed ceased its activity, and the Kipchak nobles became increasingly confident, believing that the people of the northern frontier were merely bluffing.

Empress Dowager Turhan even planned to declare war on the Qin state and launch an attack on Samarkand.

Spring arrived in the blink of an eye, and the ice and snow in the river region melted, revealing a vibrant scene.

But this springtime tranquility is about to be shattered by the flames of war.

Despite the impact of the war, Bukhara is no longer as prosperous as it once was.

This major commercial town, second only to Samarkand, is located about 500 miles west of Samarkand.

It was originally the territory of the Western Karakhanid Khanate, but was forcibly occupied by Khwarazm a few years ago.

Now, a large army has gathered here, making it the front line against the Qin state.

At this moment, inside the city garrison, Hailhan and Alexei were sitting opposite each other drinking.

"Alex, do you think those barbarians from the northern frontier would really dare to invade?"

Hail Khan, holding his wine glass, said with disdain, "They hid in Samarkand during the winter and dared not move. Now that spring has arrived, they probably dare not come at all."

Alexei put down his wine glass, frowned, and said, "Although the Empress Dowager advocates an attack, the Qin army has after all destroyed the Khitan royal court and defeated the Sultan, so we still have to be careful."

"With 100,000 troops stationed in Bukhara, we can't afford to make the slightest mistake."

"What are you careful about?"

Hail Khan scoffed, "Our army of 100,000, led by Kipchak warriors and commanded by you and me, will surely make sure the Qin army never returns if they invade."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a soldier rushed into the mansion: "Sir, something terrible has happened! A large number of Qin troops have appeared outside the city!"

Hailhan and Alex quickly climbed the city wall.

Their expressions turned serious when they saw the scene outside the city.

On the distant horizon, golden sun and moon battle flags surged like a tide, fluttering in the spring breeze, their dazzling gold so bright it was hard to open one's eyes.

Beneath the battle banners stood countless yellow-armored cavalrymen, their ranks as disciplined as iron. The thunderous roar of their horses' hooves on the ground shook the city walls.

The cavalry, armed with lances and scimitars and carrying longbows, stretched as far as the eye could see, like a vast yellow ocean, slowly advancing towards the city of Bukhara.

The sheer scale and the awe-inspiring spectacle made the hearts of the Khwarazmian soldiers on the city walls beat a little faster.

"Why panic?"

Hailhan shouted loudly, having never experienced the brutal beatings of the Qin state, he was instead eager to try.

They wanted to defeat the Qin army and outshine Muhammad.

He suddenly drew his scimitar, pointing the blade at the Qin army outside the city, and shouted in a loud voice, "They are nothing but barbarians from the northern frontier."

"We have 100,000 warriors stationed in Bukhara, with high and thick walls and plenty of food. What are we afraid of?"

"This time, let these barbarians from the northern frontier never return, and let them know the might of Khwarazm."

He deliberately puffed out his chest, trying to hide the slight unease in his heart, and glanced at the soldiers on the city wall: "Anyone who dares to back down in the face of battle, don't blame my Khair Khan's scimitar for not recognizing anyone."

"Defeat the Qin army and capture King Li Xiao of Qin alive, and Umu will reward you handsomely."

The soldiers were intimidated by his imposing manner, and their panic subsided slightly. They raised their weapons and echoed, "Hold Bukhara and make sure the barbarians from the northern frontier never return!"

Meanwhile, in the Qin army formation, a scout was galloping towards the central command tent to report to Li Xiao: "Reporting to Your Majesty."

"Thirteen more water sources were found to have been poisoned, with dead animal carcasses floating in the water."

"understood."

Li Xiao sat calmly on horseback, as if he had expected this all along.

"Issue my order to have the scouts expand their search area, mark all available and contaminated water sources, and send another team to the surrounding villages to find alternative water sources."

"In addition, bring the prisoners over and let them try the marked 'usable water source' first."

Such biological and chemical methods were already commonplace for the Qin army.

Since the westward expedition, not only Khwarazmian soldiers, but also previous Khitan soldiers had used this poisoning tactic in an attempt to cut off the Qin army's water supply.

However, Li Xiao had taken precautions and established a complete response system.

Scouts would first investigate water sources, prisoners of war would test the water for poison to eliminate risks, all drinking water had to be boiled, and soldiers would habitually carry low-alcohol mare's milk wine and goat's milk as supplements, which could both quench thirst and kill bacteria.

"In addition, have the logistics team find quicklime and spread it around the barracks and near water sources for disinfection. Strictly follow the internal affairs regulations and do not allow anyone to drink untreated water."

Li Xiao added, a cold glint in his eyes: "The Khwarazmians are delusional to think they can drag us down with such underhanded tactics."

"Follow the order."

(End of this chapter)