The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 395 The Mountains and Rivers Are Comforted, At the Foot of Yin Mountain, at the Temple of King Xiao
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, thunderous cheers erupted outside Yinshan City as the Qin army finally arrived at the city walls.

On the vast wilderness, golden sun and moon battle flags fluttered in the wind. Under the sunlight, the sun and moon patterns on the flags shone brightly, as if they could dispel all gloom.

Following closely behind the battle flag were a uniform group of Wuwei Army cavalry.

"Boom boom boom~"

They wore yellow cloth armor with red trim, the plates gleaming softly yet sharply in the morning light.

Wearing a plumeed helmet, he exuded valor; his warhorse moved in perfect unison, its hooves striking the ground with a "thump-thump" sound, like an invisible drumstick striking the heart of every person who came to greet him.

The people of Yinshan City had already spontaneously gathered in the wilderness outside the city, their faces filled with excitement and reverence.

As the army approached, cheers and shouts rose and fell, with cries of "Long live the King!" and "Long live the Qin Dynasty!" ringing out incessantly.

At the very front of the army, Li Xiao rode a pure white Akhal-Teke horse, his posture as upright as a pine tree.

He wore a dark gold cloth armor with a black dragon pattern and a gold-inlaid dragon-head cavalry saber at his waist, exuding nobility and majesty.

His sharp gaze swept over the people in the distance, a faint smile playing on his lips. He occasionally raised his hand to greet them, each gesture eliciting even more enthusiastic cheers.

The boxing matches last night did not leave him feeling listless; on the contrary, he seemed even more energetic.

Not far behind Li Xiao, a special group stood out: captured monarchs and nobles from various countries.

At the very front was a very simple horse-drawn carriage, without even a canopy.

A flag bearing the inscription "Liao Kingdom Juerhan Yelü Zhilugu" fluttered on the flagpole beside the carriage shaft.

Inside the carriage, Yelü Zhilugu leaned against a straw mat, his face pale, one leg immobilized by a splint.

It wasn't that he didn't want to walk, but rather that his leg injury had worsened over time, making it impossible for him to walk, which is why Li Xiao had granted him permission to ride in a carriage.

Behind the carriage, Muhammad II and Queen Turhan of Khwarazm were not so "lucky".

The two men, dressed in tattered clothes, with disheveled hair and haggard faces, were struggling to walk through the dust.

Two Wuwei Army cavalrymen followed behind them, each holding a long spear and watching them warily to prevent them from making any unusual moves.

Muhammad would occasionally look up at the distant Yinshan City, his eyes filled with resentment and bitterness, while Empress Dowager Turhan kept her head down, her lips tightly pursed, lost in thought.

Next came the important figures captured from the Liao Dynasty court, Khwarazm, the Ghurid Kingdom, and the Kipchak tribe.

Some of them were tied together with ropes, while others were escorted by soldiers. They all looked dejected, their former arrogance gone.

Once high-ranking nobles, they are now prisoners. This huge fall from grace has filled their faces with loneliness and despair.

Yelü Zhilugu sat in the carriage, listening to the endless cheers around him, and looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar Yinshan City in the distance, his heart filled with a sense of bewilderment.

This place was once the old capital of the Khitan Liao Dynasty, the place where his grandfather Yelü Dashi ascended the throne, and the starting point for the rise of the Western Liao Empire.

Back then, Yelü Dashi launched his campaign from here, conquering the Karakhanid Khanate, defeating the powerful Seljuk Empire, and ushering in the glorious era of the Western Liao Dynasty.

"It's been so many years since I've been here..."

Yelü Zhilugu murmured softly, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

Since Xiao Simo became the Grand Prince of the Six Courts and lost the power struggle in the Liao court, retreating to the northern frontier, Yinshan seemed to become Xiao Simo's separatist territory, gradually drifting away from the royal court.

Later, Xiao Simo used Yinshan City as his base to integrate all the forces in the northern frontier. He even followed the example of his maternal grandfather, Yelü Dashi, and launched one western expedition after another. Even the capital of the Liao Dynasty, Husi Ordos, was captured by his army.

Yelü Zhilugu recalled how he had painstakingly eliminated Xiao Simo, a major threat, and thought he could regain control of the northern frontier and bring the Liao Dynasty back to its peak.

But he never expected that after Xiao Simo's death, he would face an even more formidable opponent like Li Xiao.

This young man not only quickly integrated the forces of the Northern Frontier and took over all the power left by Xiao Simo, but also gradually eroded the territory of the Western Liao, eventually breaching the royal court and capturing him.

"If it weren't for Li Xiao... if it weren't for him..."

Yelü Zhilugu clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms, but no amount of resentment and regret could change the outcome.

The carriage moved slowly forward, getting closer and closer to Yinshan City. The two characters "Yinshan" on the city wall became clearer and clearer, but Yelü Zhilugu only felt a sense of powerlessness.

This city, which holds the glory of the Western Liao Dynasty and countless memories for him, has now changed hands, and he has gone from being a king to a prisoner.

……

At the city gate directly in front of the procession, three local officials and their subordinates were already waiting.

The leader, Zhao Dadao, the governor of Yinshan, was Li Xiao's uncle. He had served in the army in his early years and was a military man who had been transferred from the position of deputy commander of the Third Division.

He wasn't wearing any fancy clothes, just a coarse cotton robe that had been starched until it was faded, and his exposed arms were covered with scars of varying depths.

A scar ran from his brow bone to his jawline, his eyes were sharp as an eagle's, and he exuded a fierce aura of someone who had been through many battles.

Since the Qin state had just been established, there was no unified official uniform yet, and officials mostly dressed according to their personal habits.

Standing next to Zhao Dadao was Zhou Dali, the newly appointed commander-in-chief of Yinshan. He came from the Nine Forts and Eighteen Villages and was one of the first veterans to follow Li Xiao.

He was originally the deputy commander of the Fifth Garrison. During this western expedition, he led his troops to capture three cities in Khwarezm and made outstanding contributions. Li Xiao appointed him as the commander-in-chief of Yinshan and he arrived in Yinshan half a month ahead of schedule to take over military power.

On the other side, Guo Yue, the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner of Yinshan, is a veteran who was transferred from the First Garrison. He made great contributions when he followed Li Xiao to conquer the Jin Kingdom two years ago. After that, he was sent to Yinshan as the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, and he has been in this position for more than two years now.

Upon seeing the army arrive, Zhao Dadao stepped forward first and shouted in a gruff voice, "This humble general Zhao Dadao, leading the officials of Yinshan, respectfully welcomes Your Majesty's triumphant return."

Zhou Dali and Guo Yue followed closely behind, bowing and saying, "Your subject Zhou Dali (Guo Yue) greets Your Majesty."

The officials behind him also bowed in unison, and for a moment the city gate was filled with respectful figures.

Li Xiao raised his hand to indicate that the three of them did not need to be so polite: "You have all worked hard. Yinshan is an important place in Qin. There are many political and military affairs there. I will have to trouble you to take care of them."

Zhao Dadao straightened up and smiled gently: "Your Majesty, rest assured, with me here, there will be no trouble in Yinshan."

Dali and Guo Yue echoed in unison, "Serving the King and being loyal to Qin is our duty."

Behind the three, Shulu Wujin was holding Xiao Xuance's hand, standing at the front of the welcoming procession.

Today, she specially changed into an elegant yet dignified brocade dress, with a jade hairpin in her hair. However, even with her careful makeup, she could not hide the fatigue between her brows.

She had been intimate with Li Xiao until late last night, and her strength was already severely depleted. If today weren't the important day of the army's triumphant return, she would have loved to lie in Li Xiao's carriage and sleep all day.

She led Xiao Xuance forward, bowed slightly, and said, "This humble servant greets Your Majesty."

Xiao Xuance imitated Shulu Wujin's manner and said in a childish voice, "Xuance greets Uncle."

Li Xiao gestured to Shu Lu Wujin for support, saying, "Sister-in-law, there's no need for such formalities."

Although the two had talked all night last night, they pretended to have just met today.

Then she looked down at Xiao Xuance, a smile playing on her lips, and reached out to pat his head: "Xuance is in good spirits today."

Then, his gaze swept over Shaowa and Xiao Cigu behind Shulu Wujin. His eyes were calm and expressionless, but they made Shaowa and the others tense up instantly, not daring to even breathe.

Showa was dressed in gorgeous silk, looking very glamorous. She was originally looking at Shulu Wujin's back with resentment.

But when Li Xiao's gaze swept over, he felt his hair stand on end instantly, as if he were being stared at by a ferocious beast, and his body began to tremble involuntarily.

You have nothing to fear if you have nothing to hide, but she had done something wrong.

Xiao Cigu, standing next to Shaowa, was in no better shape, his hands clenched tightly at his sides, his nails almost digging into his flesh.

He lowered his head, seemingly respectful, but a crazy thought was churning in his heart: everything Li Xiao now possessed should have belonged to him.

He was the eldest son of his father, King Xiao Simo, and the most legitimate heir to the throne in the Northern Frontier.

The position of the Northern Frontier King, the military power under his command, the wealth of the Xiao Royal Palace, and even the cities of Yinshan, Longcheng, Yili, and Husi Ordos should all belong to him.

Li Xiao is just an outsider, his uncle. Why should he take away the glory that should belong to him?

But he could only bury these thoughts deep in his heart.

When Li Xiao glanced over just now, the majesty and coldness in his eyes made his hair stand on end instantly. He didn't even dare to breathe loudly and could only shrink his head deeper, afraid that Li Xiao would notice anything unusual.

……

The army did not fully enter the city, but instead headed towards a lush mountain forest to the east of the city.

This mountain forest is lush with vegetation, and at the foot of the mountain stands a temple with green tiles and red walls, which is the Xiao Wang Temple built to commemorate Xiao Simo.

The main hall of the temple houses the memorial tablet of Xiao Simo, with the inscription "The tablet of the late Xiao Simo, the Grand Prince of the Six Courts of Liao" clearly visible.

Xiao Simo's remains were buried in this mountain forest. However, to prevent tomb raiding and disputes, the burial site was kept extremely secret, and few people know its exact location now.

At this moment, people who had heard the news had already gathered in the open space outside the forest. The dense crowd surrounded the cordon, craning their necks to wait.

The Wuwei Army cavalry quickly formed ranks, enclosing the open space into a neat field. Long spears stood tall, and their armor gleamed, displaying a solemn and imposing aura.

This is a special ceremony to present prisoners of war, to be held before Xiao Simo's spirit, so that this former overlord of the northern frontier can witness his illustrious military achievements.

Li Xiao dismounted, removed his helmet, and strode forward, the gold-inlaid dragon-head cavalry saber at his waist gleaming in the sunlight.

He was tall and imposing, standing on the stone steps in front of the Xiao Wang Temple, his gaze fixed intently on the memorial tablets inside the temple, exuding an awe-inspiring majesty.

Behind them, captured monarchs and nobles from various countries walked past the crowd one by one, escorted by the Imperial Guard.

The onlookers instantly erupted in excitement, bursting into discussion.

Some people pointed at Muhammad and mocked him, saying that a king of a small, barbarian country dared to offend the Qin state.

Some people pointed and whispered about Empress Dowager Tuerhan, simply because this old woman was still extremely arrogant and domineering, and even continued to insult these people.

The mighty Queen Dowager of Khwarazm, the supreme Turghan, had never suffered such humiliation, but the people of Qin would not tolerate it. Many more turned their gazes to Yelü Zhilugu, their eyes filled with complex emotions, for Yinshan had once been the capital of the Liao Dynasty, and many of its people were descendants of Liao subjects.

Among the crowd, several elderly men with gray hair and wearing old armor stood out.

They were veteran Khitan soldiers who had followed Xiao Simo in his campaigns in the Western Regions. The copper studs on their armor had long lost their luster, and their clothes were worn and frayed, yet they still stood tall and straight.

Seeing Yelü Zhilugu being driven by soldiers, his body hunched over as he walked past, the old soldier with a wrinkled face and a scar on his left cheek suddenly clenched his fist: "Pah!"

“Back when King Xiao was alive, you, Jurhan, were enjoying a life of ease in the royal court. King Xiao led us to fight the Kipchaks to the death. How heroic it was.”

“But you are jealous of King Xiao’s achievements. Not only did you steal King Xiao’s military merits, but you also wanted to cut off our retreat and hand us over to the Kipchaks to be killed. You are worse than a beast.”

An old soldier next to him, using an old rifle as a cane, patted him on the shoulder, his eyes reddening first: "Old buddy, don't get so emotional..."

“I still remember that winter when we were trapped in the Kipchak Valley and ran out of food. King Xiao shared his own rations with us and said, ‘As long as I, Xiao Simo, am here, I will not let my brothers starve to death.’”

"And the year he was murdered... we didn't even get to see Prince Xiao one last time..."

"Woooooooo~"

They were talking about when Xiao Simo first became the King of the Six Courts, and he fought against Yelü Zhilugu in the royal court. For military merit, he personally led the army of the Six Courts to the north to attack the Kipchaks.

However, Yelü Zhilugu held them back, and they barely managed to retreat.

Later, after several more court struggles, the young Xiao Simo ultimately failed to defeat the cunning Yelü Zhilugu and had no choice but to relinquish his power in the royal court, leading the Six Ministries directly to the northern frontier.

That's why all the things that happened afterward occurred.

"Yes!" The third veteran wiped his eyes, his voice trembling.

"King Xiao fought his whole life for the stability of the northern frontier and the prosperity of the Liao Dynasty, but in the end he was betrayed by his own people and died an unjust death."

"We old bones have been waiting day and night for years, just to avenge King Xiao and make those who harmed him pay the price."

"Now that Your Majesty has captured Yelü Zhilugu alive and brought all these enemies to the Temple of King Xiao, we can finally comfort the spirit of King Xiao in heaven."

The people's discussions grew louder and their emotions became increasingly agitated.

A young man shouted, "Kill these scoundrels and avenge our loved ones who were killed by them back then!"

Some people waved their fists and roared in the direction of the prisoners. After all, the royal court's northern expedition and the secret instigation of internal strife within the Xiao family had caused the tragic deaths of many people in Yinshan.

Upon seeing this, the soldiers of the Armed Police Force quickly stepped forward to maintain order, thus preventing a major disturbance.

Yelü Zhilugu was helped down from the carriage by soldiers. His leg injury had not yet healed, and every step he took made him sweat profusely, but he had no choice but to be pushed forward.

Hearing the people's rebukes and the veterans' discussions, he lowered his head even further, his face as pale as paper.

"These lowly people... how dare they..."

He roared wildly in his heart, his chest churning with uncontrollable rage and humiliation.

These lowly people were originally Liao people, his own subjects, yet they wholeheartedly followed Xiao Simo in his rebellion, betraying the Liao dynasty. Now they even dare to reminisce about Xiao Simo in front of him, regarding him, the legitimate monarch, as an enemy.

But even the deepest hatred can only be suppressed in one's heart.

He can barely protect his own safety now, so how can he expect the people to respect him?

All his former glory, power, and dignity shattered the moment he was captured.

Behind him, Muhammad had his head bowed, his disheveled hair and stubble beard obscuring his face, making it impossible to see his expression, but his fear could be seen from his slightly trembling shoulders.

Empress Dowager Tuerhan's face was stiff, and several red marks could be faintly seen on her cheeks.

Previously, she had been slapped several times in the groin by soldiers for refusing to cooperate. Her former arrogance had long since vanished, and now she could only obediently submit, not daring to even raise her head.

When everyone was led to the open space in front of the temple, the commander of the Wuwei Army gave the order: "Kneel down."

Although everyone was unwilling, they all knelt down under the pressure of the spears. Only Yelü Zhilugu tried to struggle, but the soldiers next to him held his shoulders down and forced him to kneel down.

At that moment, he felt an overwhelming sense of humiliation.

As for the public figure, he was the Khan of the Liao Dynasty, and Xiao Simo's former ruler. Even though Xiao Simo later rebelled, he never imagined that he would kneel before the temple of his former subject as a prisoner.

Personally, he and Xiao Simo were elder brothers, but now he had to bow down and submit before his younger brother's spirit. This disparity made him wish he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

But in the end, he accepted it. The higher a person is, the more they cherish their life and the more they fear pain. He dared not resist, nor could he resist.

The "thump" of his kneeling was like a heavy hammer blow to the hearts of the Khitan veterans.

"Okay, okay!"

The scarred veteran suddenly shouted excitedly, tears welling up in his cloudy eyes and sliding down his wrinkles: "King Xiao, do you see? Your enemies who harmed you are now kneeling before your temple."

"Your regrets from back then have been made up for by the King. Now that you are in heaven, you can finally rest in peace."

Before the words were even finished, the Khitan veterans knelt down in the direction of the Xiao Wang Temple.

The old soldier, leaning on his spear, choked back tears as he said, "King Xiao, we were incompetent; we failed to protect you while you were alive..."

"But now the revenge has been taken, and the northern frontier is at peace, so you can rest assured!"

Other veterans echoed this sentiment; they had followed Xiao Simo for half their lives, and today they could finally fulfill this long-cherished wish before his spirit.

Seeing this, the onlookers gradually quieted down, and many of them looked on with admiration.

These veterans are witnesses to the history of northern Xinjiang and guardians of Xiao Simo's achievements. Their kneeling is not only a tribute to Xiao Simo, but also a salute to that glorious era.

Li Xiao walked slowly to the incense table in front of the Xiao Wang Temple, where incense and candles had already been prepared.

He looked at the veterans kneeling on the ground, a hint of emotion flashing in his eyes, then picked up three incense sticks and lit them on the candle flame.

As the smoke rose, he turned around, his back to the prisoners and the people behind him, and faced Xiao Simo's memorial tablet. He slowly bowed and inserted incense into the incense burner.

The movements were solemn and dignified, as if they were having a dialogue across life and death with the deceased elder brother and mentor.

At the same time, Hu Li, the military advisor of the Court of State Ceremonial, standing beside the incense table, cleared his throat and began to read the sacrificial text in a loud voice, holding a roll of yellowed cloth:
"In the year 1431 of the reign of Emperor Wuzi, on the first day of the month Xinmao, the royal army returned in triumph. We respectfully offer this pure wine and humble sacrifice before the spirit of the late Xiao Gong Simo, the Grand Prince of the Six Courts of Liao:"

"The Duke rose from the northern frontier, was brave and skilled in battle, assisted the Liao dynasty in securing the borders, and led the army to expand the territory."

"When the Liao dynasty was in decline, you alone supported the precarious situation, defended the Yin Mountains against foreign aggression, conquered thousands of miles of land in the west, and your fame spread throughout the Western Regions. This is your great talent."

"But Heaven did not grant him a long life, and he suddenly passed away, causing shock in the northern frontier and panic among the people."

"Li Xiao is not talented, but he has inherited your will and continued your brother's work, and has been preparing for war and strengthening military preparedness."

"Now I lead the royal army on a western expedition, and after years of bitter fighting, we have defeated Husi Ordos, captured the city of Bhaghana, pacified the Chu River basin, overthrown the remnants of Liao, and captured Jurhan Yelü Zhilugu alive, thus avenging your regret of that year."

"The army was led westward again, the Western Karakhanid Khanate surrendered at the mere sight of them, the Ghurid Kingdom was defeated and destroyed, the Khwarazmian monarch and his ministers were helpless, the Kipchak tribe was routed, and the Delhi Sultanate sent envoys to sue for peace."

"All these achievements are due to the legacy of the Duke, the bravery of the soldiers, the will of Heaven, and the support of the people."

"Presenting the captives before your spirit today is not for boasting, but truly to offer solace."

"The peace in the northern frontier and the submission of the western regions, which you have sought throughout your life, are now beginning to show results."

"I shall carry on your ambition, sweep across the world, unify the land, bring peace and prosperity to the people, and make all under heaven submit to the Great Qin."

"May your spirit remain undimmed and may you rest in peace."

After the eulogy was read, Hu Li rolled up the cloth and stepped aside.

Li Xiao bowed again to Xiao Simo's memorial tablet, then turned around, his gaze sweeping over the kneeling prisoners and veterans, before looking at the onlookers, and spoke in a loud voice.

"Today, we present the captives before the Temple of King Xiao, both to comfort the spirit of King Xiao in heaven and to inform the world: anyone who dares to offend our Great Qin, regardless of distance or strength, will be annihilated."

"All those who wish to submit to the Great Qin, regardless of their ethnicity or origin, may live in peace and prosperity."

As soon as he finished speaking, a deafening cheer erupted from the crowd.

"Long live the Great Qin!"

"Long live the king!"

"Long live……"

The shouts echoed through the mountains and forests, lingering for a long time.

The Khitan veterans slowly rose, wiped away their tears, and their eyes showed a newfound determination.

They knew that King Xiao's legacy had been carried on, and the future of the Northern Frontier would surely be even brighter.

The prisoners kneeling on the ground trembled at the sound of cheers, their former arrogance completely gone.

Yelü Zhilugu closed his eyes, his face filled with despair. He knew that the era of the Western Liao Dynasty had come to a complete end.

Although his son Yelü Hongxin was still in India, he probably wouldn't live to see the day when the Liao Dynasty's battle flags would fly again over the Western Regions.

After all, the northern frontier was too powerful, several times stronger than the Liao Dynasty at its peak, and comparable to the Turkic Khaganate of yesteryear.

There's no hope of revenge!
Standing on the stone steps, Li Xiao gazed at the scene before him, his heart filled with a myriad of emotions.

He knew that this was only the first step, and there were still many things to do, such as establishing an empire, governing the territory, and pacifying the people.

The people continued to cheer, witnessing this historic moment.

The Khitan veterans, supporting each other, gazed in the direction of the Xiao Wang Temple, murmuring, "Xiao Wang, may you rest in peace..."

(End of this chapter)