The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 386 The Lion of the Western Regions, King of the Northern Frontier

Amne, a small city located between Bukhara and Yulongjiechi, was under the iron hooves of the Qin army.

The nobles of this small city had already opened the city gates and surrendered before the Qin army arrived. After all, even the 100,000-strong army of Bukhara could not stop the Qin army, so their small city of Amr had no chance of resistance.

Li Xiao kept his promise to the surrendered city and did not order a massacre, but he also did not regard Amu City as Qin territory, but only as a target for plunder.

On the streets of the city, Qin soldiers were wantonly looting treasures. Some were carrying wooden boxes full of gold and silver, some were dragging crying women, and others were searching for valuable treasures in the mansions of nobles.

As long as they don't go too far, Li Xiao turns a blind eye to these "troublemakers".

For him, the western expedition was inherently aimed at plunder, with the goal of nourishing the Qin state with the wealth of Khwarazm.

Interestingly, as the Qin army successively annihilated hundreds of thousands of Khwarazmian troops, the once proud Khwarazmians gradually lost their confidence.

The porcelain and silk of the Qin state, as well as the cannons that could blast down city walls, aroused their awe and even gradually fostered a mentality of "worshiping Qin and fawning on foreigners".

Many minor nobles sent their daughters to the Qin army camp to protect their families, hoping to serve Qin generals and secure their future safety.

Inside Li Xiao's golden tent, two young Persian beauties were nestled in his arms.

They were daughters of minor nobles in Am, their eyes filled with flattery and adoration. They would pour wine for Li Xiao and massage his back from time to time, taking pride in serving this "powerful King of Qin".

Li Xiao casually embraced them, his fingertips tracing the beauties' hair, while in his mind he was plotting his plan to conquer Yu Longjiechi.

"Reporting, Your Majesty, an envoy from Khwarazm requests an audience," came the report from outside the tent.

"Is that old woman, Bald Khan, going to give in? Hehehe~"

Li Xiao waved his hand, signaling the two beauties to step aside, and said calmly, "Let him in."

Soon, an envoy dressed in brocade robes and with a pale face entered the golden tent. He was trembling slightly, and his eyes were full of fear and tension.

Upon seeing Li Xiao, he immediately knelt down, not daring to even raise his head: "The envoy from Khwarazm pays his respects to the great King of Qin."

"Hearing of Your Majesty's divine might, the Queen Dowager specially ordered me to present a small gift, expressing her willingness to cease hostilities and make peace with the Qin state."

As he spoke, Li Xiao's personal guards brought up some wooden boxes. When they were opened, gold, silver and gemstones glittered with dazzling light, and a group of beauties dressed in light gauze stood timidly to the side.

The envoy said cautiously, "These are all prepared by the Queen Mother for Your Majesty. She only asks that Your Majesty will show leniency and withdraw your troops back to your country. Khwarazm is willing to pay tribute to Qin every year."

Li Xiao glanced at the treasures and beauties, his eyes showing no emotion, and coldly asked, "Did you bring Zhalandin?"

The envoy was taken aback for a moment, then quickly said, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Prince Jalal ad-Din is a descendant of our Sultan, and his status is noble..."

"Shut up."

Li Xiao interrupted him, his tone carrying an unquestionable authority: "What I want is not tribute, but Zhalandin's people."

"He instigated Muhammad to attack Samarkand, angering the might of the Qin Dynasty. He was the chief culprit in the war between the two countries and must die."

He paused, then said, "But I know that the real culprit is Muhammad, but considering that he is the Sultan of Khwarazm, I will give you some face and only need Jalal ad-Din."

"Don't be shameless."

The envoy's face turned even paler. He wanted to persuade him again, but when he saw Li Xiao's cold eyes, he was so frightened that he quickly lowered his head.

He forced himself to ask, "If... if Prince Jalal ad-Din were sent as an envoy to Qin, would the Qin army be able to withdraw?"

"retreat?"

Li Xiao chuckled, his tone full of sarcasm: "The Qin army has traveled thousands of miles to fight against Khwarazm, sacrificing countless brothers. How can they be appeased by a mere Jalal ad-Din?"

"The conditions for withdrawing the troops have already been stated in my letter to Turhan."

"If Khwarazm surrenders unconditionally, I will spare your lives."

As for Zhalandin, it was to prevent future troubles.

Historically, after Jalal ad-Din destroyed the Khwarazmian Empire, he caused great trouble for the Mongols, even annihilating 20,000 Mongol cavalry in the Battle of Paluk.

He demonstrated exceptional military strategy and unwavering will, earning the admiration of even Genghis Khan.

He exclaimed that one should have a son like Zhalandin.

The purpose of capturing Zhalantin now is to prevent him from escaping in the future and becoming a hidden danger to Qin's rule over the Western Regions.

As the capital of Khwarazm, Yulongjiechi was a must-capture location, with no conditions to be negotiated.

After saying that, Li Xiao waved his hand: "Bring him up."

Two guards immediately dragged a badly wounded man into the tent. The man was dressed in rags, his face covered in blood and tears. It was Hail Khan.

When he saw the messenger, a glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes, and he struggled to cry out, "Quickly save me! The Empress Dowager sent you to save me, didn't she?"

The envoy was shocked to see Hail Khan's appearance and rushed forward, saying, "Lord Hail Khan, you have suffered so much."

"Suffering? I'm dying."

Hail Khan wept bitterly, his voice filled with despair: "Alexei has been injected with mercury, and his body is still hanging on the flagpole in Bukhara as a warning."

"If you don't save me, I'll be next!"

The envoy shuddered, his robes instantly soaked with cold sweat. He had never imagined that the Qin army would be so cruel.

He gritted his teeth, remembering the Empress Dowager Tuerhan's instructions before his departure: "If you can get the northern border troops to retreat, you will be credited with the greatest merit."

"If things cannot be done, we can exchange Zhalandin for Hailhan."

In the Empress Dowager's heart, her nephew was ultimately more important than her eldest grandson who had Turkic blood.

The people of northern Xinjiang were very firm in their stance, refusing to forgive Zhalandin or withdraw their troops.

Then he had no choice but to follow the will of Empress Dowager Turhan and exchange Zhalandin for Khairhan.

"Your Majesty..."

The envoy knelt on the ground, his voice trembling: "Your humble servant... Your humble servant agrees to your request. I will go back and report to the Queen Mother and bring Prince Jalal ad-Din here."

Li Xiao nodded in satisfaction: "Very good. The transaction will take place in Li'an City in ten days."

“Go back and tell Tuerhan not to try anything funny, otherwise, Haierhan’s fate will be her fate.”

The envoy's heart sank; the city of Drian was two hundred li west of Am.

The fact that people from northern Xinjiang chose to trade here clearly indicates that they had already identified it as their next target.

He dared not say more, and could only agree repeatedly before hastily leaving the golden tent.

Stepping out of the golden tent, the envoy gazed towards the distant city of Drian, thinking to himself, "We must evacuate the people of Drian as soon as possible, otherwise... it will be another calamity!"

……

The envoy hurriedly returned to Yulongjiechi, and upon entering the palace, went straight to the bedchamber of Queen Dowager Tuerhan, reporting on the events in Amu City, Li Xiao's demands, and the tragic state of Alexei.

Hearing that Alexei had been given mercury, and that Hail Khan had been beaten and nearly given mercury as well, Empress Dowager Turhan was terrified.

Praise the envoy for his good work, and you must exchange him for Hail Khan.

This was her most beloved nephew, and she absolutely could not allow him to be tortured to death by the devilish people of the Northern Frontier.

The news quickly reached Muhammad, who was under house arrest. He rushed to Turhan and said, "Mother, we cannot hand over Jalal ad-Din. It's a conspiracy by the people of the northern frontier!"

"They want to eliminate Khwarazm's last hope. Jalal ad-Din is a rare military talent. He understands military strategy and is good at planning. Maybe he can defeat the northern people and save Khwarazm!"

Empress Dowager Turkhan leaned back on her throne, looking at her son with icy eyes: "Hope? The hope of Khwarazm was destroyed long ago by you and this Turkic bastard."

"If he hadn't instigated you to attack Samarkand, how could you have attracted the iron cavalry of the northern frontier?"

She paused, her tone full of apprehension: "Besides, after I pass away, you will surely pass the Sultanate to this bastard. At that time, won't the power of us Kipchaks fall into other hands?"

“Zhalandin must be handed over. This will not only bring back Hailhan, but also eliminate any future troubles.”

Looking into his mother's resolute eyes, Muhammad felt a deep sorrow in his heart.

He knew that his mother had long been blinded by power; in her heart, the interests of the Kipchak tribe and her own power were far more important than the survival of Khwarazm and the life of Jalal ad-Din.

Now he is under house arrest, powerless, and unable to stop his mother's decision. He can only watch the tragedy unfold.

The following morning, Jalal ad-Din was taken from his cell by the Imperial Guards.

The palace servants gave him a simple wash and changed him into a reasonably clean set of robes, but they couldn't hide the despair in his eyes.

He was "escorted" out of the palace by a group of imperial guards to "go on a mission" to the Qin state.

Looking at the walls of Yulongjiechi, the light in his eyes was completely extinguished, leaving only endless sorrow.

He had always worked tirelessly for the prosperity of Khwarezm, but in the end, he was used as a bargaining chip by his own grandmother and pushed into the abyss of death.

It's incredibly ironic.

Just as Zhalandin was being escorted to Li'an City, a piece of bad news reached Yulongjiechi: the Qin army had already captured Li'an City and was rushing towards Yulongjiechi, only three hundred li away from the capital.

The people in the city were filled with fear, and the morale of the defending troops was extremely low. Many soldiers began to secretly pack their belongings and prepare to escape.

Upon learning the news, Empress Dowager Turkhan's panic intensified.

She knew that Yulongjiechi would be conquered by the Qin army sooner or later, so rather than waiting to be defeated, she should make plans as soon as possible.

So she decided to secretly escape from Yulongjiechi and head to Yilalebao on the southern shore of the Caspian Sea.

The fortress was built in the mountains, in a strategic location that was easy to defend and difficult to attack, which allowed her to temporarily escape the Qin army's pursuit.

But before she could escape, she had to stabilize the morale of the army and the people.

That afternoon, Queen Dowager Turhan ascended the high platform of the palace and addressed the soldiers and people gathered in the square: "My people."

“Gyurungjech is the capital of Khwarazm, a holy place protected by God, and must not fall into the hands of heretical rebels.”

"Reinforcements from all over the country are on their way and will soon be able to surround the people of the northern frontier outside the city. With our combined efforts from inside and outside, we will surely be able to wipe them out."

She paused, then continued, "I have mobilized 100,000 Kipchak cavalry to march south. They are all faithful believers of God and warriors of Khwarazm."

"As long as we hold the city and hold out until reinforcements arrive, victory will surely be ours."

She then summoned the city's generals and used an authoritative tone to "kidnap their honor."

"Generals, you are the pillars of Khwarazm and the pride of the Kipchak tribe." "If you lose Yulongjiechi, you will be sinners for all time, traitors to God, disloyal, unfilial, and cowardly."

……

"Even if it's street fighting, even if we fight to the last drop of blood, we will perish together with the people of the Northern Frontier, and we will live and die together with Yulong Jiechi."

"Allah will witness your faithfulness, and the gates of Paradise will be open to you."

Her words stirred the generals' blood, and they all knelt down and swore to live and die with Yulong Jiechi.

But they didn't know that this "mobilization" was just a disguise by Empress Dowager Turkhan.

She had already secretly packed up her gold and silver treasures and prepared her escape route.

That night, as darkness deepened, the west gate of Yulongjiechi quietly opened.

Queen Mother Turhan arrived with Muhammad, Osraq, and other members of the royal family, along with hundreds of confidants and a large amount of treasure.

Escorted by the Imperial Guards, they secretly left Yulongjiechi and sped towards Yilalebao.

As agreed, the Khwarazmian envoy was supposed to take Jalal ad-Din to Lyon for the trade.

However, the Qin army made rapid progress, and when they arrived at Keti City, they ran into the Qin army that had already breached the city walls.

And this place is less than two hundred miles away from Yulongjiechi.

In other words, this is Yulongjiechi's last line of defense. After that, the road will be clear and unobstructed, and Yulongjiechi will be able to retreat without any barriers.

Li Xiao kept his promise and handed over Hail Khan to the Khwarazmians.

However, he had been beaten so badly that his skin was torn and his body was covered in wounds. He couldn't even stand up and could only lie on the ground with a blank look in his eyes.

"This is the Haier Khan you requested."

The commander in charge of the handover said in a calm tone, "Bring Zhalandin up."

The envoy dared not hesitate and immediately ordered the Imperial Guards to push Jalal ad-Din to the front of the battle.

The Qin army immediately brought in several Khwarazmian prisoners of war and made them identify them.

“It’s Prince Jalal ad-Din, it really is him.”

A prisoner of war cried out, trembling: "He is indeed the most favored son of Sultan Muhammad, Prince Jalal ad-Din."

After confirming their identities, the two parties completed the exchange.

Hail Khan was carried away hastily by the Khwarazmian people, while Jalal ad-Din was taken away by Qin soldiers.

He kept his head down, his face filled with humiliation and despair, until he was taken to the banks of the Amu Darya River, at which point he slowly raised his head.

The sight before him gave him a jolt: hundreds of Qin soldiers stood in formation, their yellow armor with red trim forming a continuous line, and golden sun and moon battle flags fluttering high.

A tall figure wearing dark gold dragon-patterned cloth armor stood on the riverbank, his back to him, exuding an awe-inspiring aura with just his back.

"Is this Li Xiao, the King of the Northern Frontier?"

Zhalandin secretly guessed, surprised by the other party's youth and authority.

Just then, the tall figure turned around and said calmly, "The Amu Darya River is very dangerous; the garrison of Yulongjiechi should like it."

Then, looking at Zhalandin, he said in fluent Turkic, "Zhalandin, your mother is Turkic, isn't she?"

Zhalandin looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with shock, which was then replaced by stubbornness.

He gritted his teeth and retorted, "I am a prince of Khwarazm, and my bloodline belongs to the Sultan, not to the Turks."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiao smiled instead of getting angry. He slowly walked up to him, his tone still calm, yet carrying an undeniable force: "Khwarazm?"

"Your grandmother sent you here as a commodity in exchange for a useless nephew."

"Your father is under house arrest and doesn't even have the courage to protect you. Is Khwarezm worthy of your loyal protection?"

“That’s a matter for our Khwarezmian people, and it’s none of your business as a foreigner.”

Jalal ad-Din stiffened his neck, a flash of anger in his eyes: "Even if they abandon me, I will not betray Khwarezm. You think you can make me submit? You're dreaming."

"betray?"

Li Xiao raised an eyebrow and raised his voice slightly: "The Khwarazmian royal family treats you as a 'Turkic bastard,' and uses your life and death as a bargaining chip, yet you still cling to your so-called 'loyalty' to them?"

"You proposed the plan to breach the Amu Darya dike in order to save Yulongjiechi, but what about Tuerhan? She had already fled to Yilalebao with the treasure, leaving the entire city's people and soldiers to the Qin army."

Zhalandin was stunned, his eyes filled with disbelief: "You...what did you say? Grandmother escaped?"

"You think there's still hope for Khwarezm?" Li Xiao pulled a secret report from his pocket and threw it in front of Jalal ad-Din.

"Look for yourself, the garrison of Yulongjiechi has begun to flee, and the people are secretly surrendering the city to the Qin army in order to survive—your 'Khwarezm' is almost gone."

Zhalandin picked up the secret report, his fingers trembling as he flipped through it. Every word on it felt like a hammer, shattering his last shred of resolve.

He recalled how he had racked his brains in his prison cell to devise a strategy to defeat the enemy, and how he had high hopes for Khwarazm, only to find that reality was so cruel.

The country he served had long since abandoned him; the royal family he protected had long since fled.

"But you have great potential."

Seeing that his expression softened, Li Xiao changed the subject, his tone becoming more appreciative.

"Even so, your strategy of flooding the Qin army is still far superior to those Kipchak generals who only know how to run away."

"Your military talent should not be buried in a betrayal that was destined to fail."

Although Jalal ad-Din is still very young and far from being the mighty lion of the Western Regions who could annihilate 20,000 Mongol cavalry and give Temujin a headache in history.

But Li Xiao was still willing to give him a chance.

The reason why the Qin state was powerful was that it embraced all rivers and streams.

Whether they were Han Chinese, Khitans, Turks, Tanguts, Uyghurs, or any other ethnic group, as long as they had the ability and could make military contributions for the Qin state, Li Xiao would treat them all equally.

The same goes for Zhalandin.

The war between Qin and Khwarazm was a war between states, a struggle for hegemony, not a personal feud that could not be resolved.

Although Li Xiao looked down on these self-conscious yet arrogant Khwarezmians, he was still willing to accept capable Khwarezmians.

Historically, Jalal ad-Din has proven his abilities as an outstanding military strategist and commander.

Having accepted Jalal ad-Din, it was impossible to keep him in the Western Regions any longer. After the Khwarazmian campaign ended, Li Xiao planned to send him to the Central Plains to fight against the Jin people and make great contributions to Qin's conquest of the Central Plains.

Only through repeated trials and tribulations in the flames of war could the young Jalal ad-Din grow to the heights of history, or even surpass them.

Zhalandin raised his head, his eyes filled with confusion and resentment, and said angrily, "Even if Khwarazm is gone, I will not surrender to your northern frontier."

“You are an aggressor, the enemy who destroyed Khwarezm.”

"Enemies?"

Li Xiao sneered, his tone becoming forceful: "If Muhammad and Turhan hadn't provoked the Qin Dynasty first and attacked Samarkand, why would I have needed to launch a western expedition?"

"Now, I'm giving you a chance, not to submit, but to give you a way to survive, a chance to showcase your talents."

He stepped forward, stared into Zhalandin's eyes, and said, word by word, "There are many Turks in the Qin Kingdom. They are not discriminated against and can obtain power through their own abilities."

"As long as you have the ability to make enough contributions to my Great Qin, I will only give you important positions, and the warriors of Qin will only admire you."

"When you become stronger in the future, you will be able to deal with the Kipchaks and Khwarezmians who abandoned you."

“If you are unwilling, I will not tolerate you. I will send you to keep Alexei company, fill your body with mercury, and hang you on a flagpole to be pecked at by vultures.”

Which one will you choose?

Hearing Li Xiao's cold voice, Zhalandin was in a state of utter confusion.

At this time, he had not yet developed the maturity he had during his rebellion against the Mongols; he was more like an impulsive and hot-blooded youth.

"Avenging every wrong is a must" is the motto of these young people.

Remembering Khwarazm's betrayal of him and his grandmother's ruthlessness, his stubbornness was gradually replaced by despair and resentment.

He knew that Li Xiao was telling the truth; if he didn't submit, not only would he not be able to take revenge, but even his life would be in danger.

"I……"

Zhalandin opened his mouth, his voice trembling: "After I submit to you, will you really let me take revenge? Will you really let me command troops?"

"I am a man of my word and I never lie."

Li Xiao stood with his hands behind his back, speaking calmly: "If you submit, from this day forward, you will be a centurion in the Kuli army."

"I will hand over two hundred Khwarazmian prisoners of war to you."

"You need to lead them to make contributions for my Great Qin. When you have made enough contributions, I will appoint you as a centurion, chiliarch, or even a ten-thousandth-household commander or general of the Great Qin garrison."

"I will never be stingy with my meritorious officials."

These words were incredibly tempting, and Zhalandin's heart tightened. He finally let go of his stubbornness completely.

He slowly knelt on one knee, placed his right hand on his chest, and bowed to Li Xiao, saying...

“Zhalandin is willing to submit to the King and serve the northern frontier.”

Li Xiao nodded in satisfaction, reached out to help him up, and patted his shoulder heavily.

"Very well, remember your choice. I will not treat you unfairly."

Sunlight shines on the banks of the Amu Darya River, and the golden sun and moon battle flag flutters in the wind.

Zhalandin stood beside Li Xiao, the confusion in his eyes gradually fading. He knew that from this moment on, his life would be completely changed.

Li Xiao looked at Zhalandin and a smile appeared on his face.

He not only eliminated a potential threat but also gained a formidable general, which was of great significance to Qin's rule over the Western Regions and its expansion into the Central Plains.

(End of this chapter)