The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 391 The Road to Triumph: Ten Thousand Miles of War and the Changing of an Era
Upon entering the main tent, the sand table inside clearly marked the terrain and military distribution north and south of the Wei River.

Qin Xiong pointed to the sand table and got straight to the point: "Lord Gao, our battle plan has been finalized."

"The Jin army had four cities on the south bank of the Wei River as strongholds, from west to east: Qinzhou (Tianshui), Baoji, Chang'an, and Weinan."

"These four cities, when connected in a straight line, are bordered by the Qinling Mountains to the south and the Wei River to the north. They seem to be natural barriers, but in reality, they are their Achilles' heel."

He paused, then pointed to Chang'an: "The main force of the Jin army is stationed in Chang'an. At that time, the commander will lead the main force of the Second Division to launch a feigned attack on Chang'an to attract the Jin army's attention."

"As the commander of ten thousand households, I will act as the vanguard, taking advantage of the fact that the troops in Chang'an are tied down, to be the first to cross the Wei River and capture Baoji."

"Sever the connection between the four cities of the Jin army, so that they cannot support each other from both ends."

"After taking Baoji, the Jin army in Qinzhou will be isolated. The Fourth Garrison stationed in Longxi will send troops eastward to join forces with our troops to encircle Qinzhou."

"Even though Qin Prefecture has a strategic location, it is still within the grasp of the Fourth Garrison. This is called closing the door to beat the dog."

"After taking Baoji and Qinzhou, our Qin army will advance eastward along the Wei River, gradually eliminating the strongholds of Chang'an and Weinan."

Qin Xiong's tone was full of confidence: "The key to the whole plan is logistics. When we cross the river to fight, we must prepare food, ships, and siege equipment in advance. There can be no mistakes."

He then changed the subject, fixing his gaze on Gao Zhongyi with a hopeful look on his face.

The key to the entire plan was the boats. After all, the Wei River was swift, and without enough boats to quickly lay pontoon bridges, the army would not be able to cross the river smoothly.

The task of supervising the construction of ships was entrusted to Gao Zhongyi, the governor of Weibei.

"Lord Gao, how is the progress of the ship construction? Will it be delivered on time?"

Looking at Qin Xiong's anxious eyes, Gao Zhongyi nodded slowly and said in a steady tone, "Don't worry, Commander Qin, I've always kept this matter in mind."

"In order to speed up the construction of ships, I recruited more than 300 experienced shipbuilding craftsmen from various prefectures north of the Wei River, and also recruited more than 2,000 able-bodied men from prisoners of war to assist."

"Fifty warships have already been built, and another thirty are under construction. They are expected to be completed within two months..."

The Qin army was not good at naval warfare. Even though they recruited a group of men skilled in swimming from the banks of the Yellow River to form the Qin navy, they still could not transport a large number of Qin soldiers and warhorses across the river with just these small boats.

The real purpose of these ships is to quickly lay pontoon bridges.

They floated side by side on the water, and a huge rock was sunk into the water and secured with ropes to serve as an anchor. Then, all the boats were tied together with iron chains, and wooden planks were laid on top to form a simple floating bridge.

Historically, many armies have used this method to lay pontoon bridges to cross rivers; it is very practical.

Moreover, as long as there are ships, the amount of work is not large, and the construction speed is very fast.

Therefore, ships also became the key to this operation.

As Qin Xiong listened, his tense brows gradually relaxed, and a smile appeared on his face: "That's great. With Lord Gao personally overseeing this, I can rest assured."

"The Wei River is not as wide as the Yellow River; eighty boats are enough for us."

"At that time, I will lead the vanguard to cross the river by warships and seize the beachhead. The main force will then follow up from the pontoon bridge. We will definitely be able to take the crossing and surround Baoji City."

The two discussed details such as ship scheduling, food transport routes, and siege equipment deployment for a long time until it was late at night before Gao Zhongyi got up to take his leave.

Looking towards the lower reaches of the Wei River, Gao Zhongyi secretly calculated the final progress of the shipbuilding project.

He took a deep breath, strode towards his tent, and prepared to write a memorial overnight to report the latest situation of logistical preparations to Longcheng, awaiting Li Xiao's final approval.

……

Meanwhile, on the Gobi grasslands of the Western Regions, a massive army was slowly marching eastward, raising dust and stretching for dozens of miles. Its scale far exceeded that of the returning army of the first Mongol westward expedition.

Historically, the gold and silver treasures that Temujin brought back could not be contained by horse-drawn carts, and the more than 500,000 female slaves and countless spoils had already shocked the world. But the Qin army's harvest now is even greater.

At the heart of the force was the Qin cavalry of the First Garrison, their armor gleaming coldly in the sunlight. In stark contrast to this iron-blooded army were the thousands of horse-drawn carriages that followed closely behind.

The carriages were filled with gold, silver, jewels, jade, and agate looted from the royal palaces and noble residences of various Western Regions countries. Some carriages were so heavily loaded that their wheels left deep ruts in the Gobi Desert.

Even more striking were the slave caravans linked together by ropes, with the male slaves shirtless and carrying heavy packs on their backs.

The female slaves, dressed in thin clothing, shivered in the cold wind of the Gobi Desert, far exceeding the number captured by Temujin.

To ensure the speed of the march, the Qin army implemented a "last-place elimination system" for these slaves.

Every evening before setting up camp, the last ten people to walk would be killed, their blood staining the land along the way, which also made the remaining slaves dare not slack off in the slightest.

However, the female slaves in the group who were pregnant with the children of Qin soldiers received special treatment.

Not only did they get more food and water, but they also didn't have to carry heavy loads and could even go into the tent to rest, but the others weren't so lucky.

Outside the Qin army ranks, numerous merchant flags fluttered in the wind, creating a scene as bustling as a market.

The Qin state implemented public ownership of land, but vigorously encouraged commerce and industrial development.

Besides the Hexi trading companies with official backing and monopolistic control over special industries such as salt, iron, grain, military equipment, energy, and minerals, a large number of private trading companies have emerged in recent years.

Wanlonghang is Erhu's business, Xinyihang is backed by Li Dongjiang, and Jinshanhang was founded by Xiao Yanyan.

Even Xiao Simo's widow, Shulu Wujin, in order not to live off her family's wealth, established the Six Courtyards Trading Company, specializing in luxury goods such as rouge and spices.

The nascent bureaucratic capitalism in the Qin state had begun to flourish, and small and medium-sized businesses and even street stalls established by private merchants were also springing up everywhere.

For these merchant firms, this westward expedition was undoubtedly a "feast for dividing up the cake."

The Qin soldiers would sell the looted goods on the battlefield to the merchants who accompanied them, in exchange for gold and silver, because they would have to continue marching and fighting.

If there is too much gold and silver to carry, it can be deposited in the Northern Frontier Bank accompanying the army and exchanged for notes with the amount printed on them.

These tickets circulated mainly in the military and were rarely used by civilians. The soldiers habitually called them "military tickets." Upon returning to the Qin state, they could exchange the tickets for gold and silver.

All that's needed is to pay a small commission to the Northern Xinjiang Bank.

So the merchant caravan followed the Qin army, buying up the soldiers' spoils of war and selecting valuable slaves.

In particular, the young and beautiful female slaves and the skilled male slaves were intended to be taken back to the Qin state for resale.

This is why the Qin army's return journey was incredibly slow, covering only forty li (about 20 kilometers) per day, which was as slow as a tortoise crawl compared to the Qin cavalry's daily range of over a hundred li.

Fortunately, the Qin army had already cleared out the enemies on the return route, so there was no need to worry about a surprise attack.

However, Li Xiao still dared not be careless. Every day, a large number of scouts patrolled within fifty miles of the army to ensure the safety of the march.

In the center of the procession, a luxurious carriage, as large as a room, stood out conspicuously.

Sixteen tall, black warhorses pulled a carriage with gold trim, the exterior of which was carved with exquisite dragon and phoenix patterns.

Surrounding the carriage were a large number of Wuwei Army cavalrymen wearing yellow-based, red-trimmed cloth armor, each with a solemn expression, vigilantly observing their surroundings and protecting the safety of the carriage.

Inside the carriage, soft Persian carpets were laid out, and a faint fragrance filled the air.

Li Xiao, shirtless and wearing only a thin pair of cotton trousers, lay half-reclined on Princess Hunhu's lap.

Hunhu's face was rosy, and her eyes held a languid and lingering look, clearly indicating that she had just experienced some tenderness.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Hunhu's mother, Yelü Zhilugu's favorite concubine Timur Khanni, was gently massaging Li Xiao's legs, even her breathing was extremely soft.

They knew that Li Xiao disliked being disturbed when he was contemplating state affairs, so they could only stay quietly and dare not make a sound.

The document in Li Xiao's hand was a joint petition from Li Dongjiang, Li Donghe, and other generals on the eastern front, requesting permission to fight.

This is the third letter since news of the great victory in the western expedition arrived.

Clearly, the generals on the eastern front, seeing the remarkable military achievements in the Western Regions, were eager to wage war against the Jin Dynasty and make further contributions.

Li Xiao's gaze lingered on the memorial for a long time, his mind churning, but he did not immediately express his opinion.

After a moment, he said in a deep voice, "Call Zhang Shi here."

"Yes, sir," the guard outside the door replied.

Before long, the tent flap was gently lifted, and a man dressed in black with a cold expression walked in.

He was Zhang Shi, a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. As soon as he stepped into the carriage, his professionally sharp eyes quickly swept over Hunhu and her daughter.

After confirming that there was nothing amiss, he immediately bowed his head, placed his hands on his chest in a salute, and said in a steady voice, "This humble general, Zhang Shi, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Li Xiao nodded slightly, his tone calm: "How is the disaster situation in the Central Plains now?"

Zhang Shi straightened up, bowed his head, and replied, "Your Majesty, according to the latest news from the Fifth Thousand Household of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the locust plague in the Central Plains is much more severe than before..."

Since the sixth year of the Taihe reign of the Jin Dynasty (1206 AD), sporadic locust plagues have occurred in the Central Plains. In the first two years, the scale was not large, and the Jin court did not pay much attention to it.

However, starting this year, the locust plague has intensified. Shanxi, Hebei, Shandong and other places first suffered from severe drought, followed by locusts that covered the sky, devoured all the crops, and even ate the roots of the grass in the fields.

Historical records indicate that this natural disaster will last for at least two more years.

At that time, the drought and locusts in North China will spread to Henan and Guanzhong, and the famine will become more severe.

The History of Jin records that "there was a great famine in Hebei, and people ate each other." The current situation is gradually developing in this direction.

Rebellions by the Red Turban Army will break out in Shandong and other places, causing grain prices in the Central Plains to skyrocket, with a bushel of rice selling for as much as 10,000 coins, leading to a complete collapse of people's livelihoods.

Listening to Zhang Shitou's emotionless report, Li Xiao nodded slightly, remaining silent. This natural disaster was the key to the Jin Dynasty's decline from its peak, and even directly led to the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Yehuling.

Historically, the Jin army commander Wanyan Chengyu (Hushahu) adopted a conservative strategy of dividing his troops to defend passes in the early stages of the war.

However, after the Mongol army broke through the first line of defense, his main force abandoned the advantageous position of holding the city and chose to engage the Mongol army in a decisive battle in the field near Badger's Mouth, Yehuling.

One plausible explanation is that the Jin army, with its massive forces, faced immense logistical pressure during the famine and could not hold out in food-scarce areas for long, thus necessitating a swift victory.

Otherwise, a prolonged stalemate would wear down the Jin army itself first.

Today, the news that the Embroidered Uniform Guard has sent back from the Central Plains is also confirming the course of history.

"Now is not the best time to wage war against the Jin Dynasty."

Li Xiao spoke slowly, his tone carrying an undeniable determination: "The locust plague in the Central Plains has only just entered its most severe stage. Our Great Qin only needs to wait and see, until the Jin Kingdom exhausts its national strength in this natural disaster."

"If we send troops then, we can recover Guanzhong at minimal cost, and even take over the entire Central Plains."

Listening to Li Xiao's seemingly self-talk, Zhang Shitou stood motionless and silent, like a real stone.

He was merely Li Xiao's eyes and ears; he never interfered in matters of military and political importance and always remained true to his duty.

Li Xiao pondered for a moment, then changed the subject and said calmly, "How have my second uncle and the others been these days?"

"Have you been blinded by the prosperity of Guanzhong? Have you made a few close old friends?"

Zhang Shitou knew perfectly well that Li Xiao's question wasn't out of genuine concern for Li Dongjiang's health; the focus was on social interaction.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was responsible for secretly monitoring military commanders. In addition, Li Xiao also secretly established an intelligence organization called the "Black Ice Guard".

The members of the Black Ice Guard were even more deeply hidden, not only monitoring generals like Li Dongjiang, but also the movements of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, ensuring that their eyes and ears were not deceived.

Zhang Shi dared not conceal anything and reported truthfully: "Your Majesty, General Li Dongjiang has been training the troops recently, personally supervising the soldiers' drills every day, and occasionally discussing military affairs with Qin Xiong and other commanders."

"Governor Gao Zhong visited the Weibei granary multiple times to inspect the grain reserves, seemingly in preparation for war."

Listening to Zhang Shitou's report, Li Xiao nodded slightly and tapped his fingers lightly on his knee: "Understood."

"It's good that they're eager to make a name for themselves, but they can't let their emotions cloud their judgment."

"Now, all we need to do is wait patiently and be prepared."

"Continue to closely monitor the disaster situation in the Central Plains, and report any changes immediately."

"Your subordinate obeys." Zhang Shi bowed again, slowly stepped out of the carriage, and the curtain fell.

Li Xiao then picked up a pen and wrote the word "postponed" on the memorial.

He added a few more sentences to the reply: "Order the troops on the eastern front to continue their military preparations. The logistics will be fully handled by Gao Zhongyi. We will discuss the start of the war after the western army has finished its rest and reorganization."

After finishing writing, he handed the memorial to the guards outside the door: "Send it back to Longcheng by fast horse and give it to the Queen so that she can convey the reply."

The guard took the memorial, bowed, and withdrew.

Several days later, the massive Qin army finally arrived at Suyab.

This place, Husi Ordo, which was once the capital of the Liao Dynasty, has long lost its former prosperity.

The city walls are mottled and collapsed in many places. Only a small number of Qin soldiers remain to guard the city. The "Hu Si Wo Erduo" plaque on the city gate has long been removed and replaced with a simple wooden sign that reads "Suyab City".

The city streets were deserted, most of the houses were dilapidated, and when people passed by, they all looked hurried, no longer as relaxed as they had been during the Liao Dynasty.

As soon as the carriage entered the city gate, Hunhu and Timur Khan lifted the curtain and looked around, their eyes filled with complex emotions.

This place was once their home, the political center of the Liao Kingdom, but now it has become a border town of the Qin Kingdom. Things have changed, and how can one not feel a deep sense of sorrow?
Thinking of Yelü Zhilugu, who was imprisoned, Hunhu's eyes reddened slightly.

Although the mother and daughter gained some status by pleasing Li Xiao, they could only get a brief opportunity to visit Yelü Zhilugu by constantly eating the ball, and they couldn't even get him to move to a better place to stay.

"Father's broken leg is an old injury, and now he only has an old servant woman to take care of him. I wonder how his health is..."

Hunhu murmured softly, his tone full of worry.

Timur Khan sighed softly and could only pat his daughter's hand, signaling her not to show too much emotion in front of Li Xiao.

Everything they have now is in Li Xiao's hands; the slightest mistake could bring disaster upon them.

Li Xiao noticed their expressions but didn't say anything.

He knew that Yelü Zhilugu was in poor health, his old leg injury often flared up, and he lived a rather miserable life, but what did that have to do with him?
As a deposed ruler, Yelü Zhilugu's treatment was already considered quite good.

At the rear of the column, isolated from the other prisoners of war and guarded by special personnel, Yelü Zhilugu sat on a dilapidated wooden cart, his cloudy eyes fixed on the city of Suyab ahead.

His broken leg was wrapped in coarse cloth, and it ached slightly from the bumpy ride. Only the old female servant was carefully supporting him, but he was completely unaware of it, his eyes filled only with longing and sadness for the old capital.

"Husiwoduo...my capital..."

Yelü Zhilugu's chapped lips trembled slightly, and his voice was so hoarse that it was almost inaudible.

Back then, my grandfather Yelü Dashi led the Liao army on a western expedition, crossing the Gobi Desert and fighting powerful enemies. He managed to establish a foothold in the Western Regions, rebuild the Liao Dynasty, and let the Yelü clan's banner fly in the Western Regions for decades.

But now, this capital city, which once carried the glory of the Yelü clan, has become a border town of the Qin state.

And he, the emperor of the Western Liao, became a prisoner, his foundation destroyed in his own hands. How could he not be heartbroken?
Seeing that his eyes were red, the old servant quickly handed him a rough flatbread and gently advised, "Your Majesty, please eat something. Your health is important."

Yelü Zhilugu waved his hand, his gaze still fixed on Suyab, his tone tinged with resentment: "Back then, when I ascended the throne, how prosperous Husi Ordo was."

"The palaces were magnificent, merchants flocked here, and envoys from all over the world came to pay homage, but now... now it has become like this..."

His voice grew softer and softer, filled with self-blame and regret.

Fortunately, he learned from a conversation among Qin soldiers that his son, Yelü Hongxin, had not died, nor had he been captured by the people of the northern frontier, but had gone to India.

Yelü Zhilugu's cloudy eyes gazed in the direction of Suyab City, and he murmured to himself, "Hongxin, my son..."

"You must live well and revive the Yelü clan..."

"The foundation of my Great Liao Dynasty cannot be destroyed like this..."

He believed that as long as Yelü Hongxin was still alive, there was a possibility of the Yelü clan's revival, which became his only spiritual pillar during his suffering.

The army was stationed inside and outside Suyab, and the Imperial Guard was deployed to defend the palace.

That night, Li Xiao stayed overnight at the palace and summoned Hunhu and her daughter to discuss Yelü Zhilugu's affairs.

The next day at noon, a fire was lit in the main hall, and a plump sheep was roasting on the fire, sizzling and oozing oil, with a fragrant aroma.

Li Xiao and Li Dongshan sat around, cutting meat with knives and chewing it in large mouthfuls, their manner rough and unrestrained.

"Sixth Uncle, Suyab is located in a strategic location in the Western Regions. To the north are the Kipchaks, and to the west is Khwarezm, which we have just conquered. You have a great responsibility."

Li Dongshan nodded slightly and said with a firm gaze, "Your Majesty, rest assured, this humble general will certainly not fail in his mission."

"We will closely monitor the movements of the Kipchaks to prevent them from harassing the south and threatening the northern frontier."

"On the other hand, as Your Majesty has instructed, we will conscript soldiers and levy taxes on the Khwarazmians, raid their territories from time to time, and implement a population reduction policy to ensure they never have the opportunity to grow strong and threaten the rule of our Great Qin."

Li Xiao nodded in satisfaction: "Okay."

"Sixth Uncle, ever since you joined me in raising an army, you have repeatedly made military achievements. When you marched east to the northern desert, the grasslands were filled with blood."

"During the western expedition to the Western Regions, you led the army to kill the Khwarazmian general and capture Yulongjiechi City. You are truly a pillar general of our Great Qin."

This was also Li Xiao's promise to Li Dongshan. In the newly implemented system of honorary titles, Li Dongshan would receive the highest honor: Pillar of the State General.

At the same time, he also subtly promised that when the country was officially established in the future, he would be rewarded for his contributions and be granted the title of hereditary prince, sharing the prosperity of the country.

In reality, all of this was in preparation for a series of subsequent military adjustments.

The two then discussed details regarding the deployment of the Third Town's army, food supplies, and diplomatic strategies with neighboring tribes.

The army rested in Suyab for three days. During this time, Li Dongshan, following Li Xiao's instructions, reorganized the Qin army in the city to ensure that the defenses were foolproof.

Three days later, Li Xiao led the main force of his army, carrying a large amount of gold, silver, treasures, slaves and female slaves, to continue their eastward journey, leaving Li Dongshan and the Third Garrison to guard Suyab City.

Inside the carriage, Li Xiao was resting with his eyes closed, but in his mind he was silently planning his future.

The Qin Dynasty is now expanding rapidly and needs a capable general like Li Dongshan to guard the borders and stand alone.

But once the country is officially established, Li Xiao will, like the rulers of previous dynasties, recall all the commanders such as Li Dongshan and Li Dongjiang back to Longcheng and appoint them to important positions in the Privy Council and the Ministry of War.

They were freed from direct command of troops and instead focused on overall war planning and the big picture.

"It's time to replace the commanders of each town with a new batch of people..."

Li Xiao murmured softly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

Military power is the foundation of rule and must be firmly held in one's own hands, ensuring that generals can be promoted or demoted as needed, both leading troops in battle and assisting in government affairs.

This is the only way to ensure the long-term stability of the Qin Dynasty and prevent generals from becoming too powerful.

(End of this chapter)