The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 399 Dragon City's Death Knell: To Live Up to the World, To Not Bring Disaster to One's Clan
"grandfather……"

Li Xiao was startled. Looking at the almost stubborn expectation in the old man's eyes, he did not hesitate at all and knelt down in front of the bed with a "plop".

He held the old man's hands in both, his voice choked with emotion: "You said that as long as your grandson can do it, he will definitely agree, and if he can't do it, he will do his best to do it."

Li Dalan watched from the side, already sobbing uncontrollably, but subconsciously held her breath, not daring to interrupt the grandmother and granddaughter's final conversation.

Qian Zhongyong, Lu Tingxun, and other outsiders quietly left the room, leaving only Xiao Yanyan and the rest of the Li family.

Besides Li Xiao's branch of the family, the old man's brothers, namely Li Xiao's third and fourth grandfathers, as well as other cousins ​​who worked in Longcheng, all rushed over upon hearing the news.

They looked at the emaciated old man, their faces filled with anxiety and sorrow, but they were helpless. They just stood quietly to the side, their eyes full of concern.

The old man looked at Li Xiao kneeling in front of him, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes. He spoke slowly, each word as if he had used all his strength.

"Our Li family of Hexi... from your great-grandfather following Yelü Dashi on the westward expedition, to your father struggling to survive in the Nine Forts and Eighteen Villages, and then to you leading people to build a foundation..."

"It hasn't been easy to get to where we are today! It's not because of any one person's ability, but because the entire Li family is united as one."

He paused, his breath growing weaker, but he still insisted on saying, "Your second uncle guards Guanzhong, your third uncle manages the northern deserts, your sixth uncle leads the cavalry into battle... They helped you conquer the world without the slightest disloyalty."

“Your younger brothers have grown up and become your right-hand men.”

"Grandpa wants you to swear that if you become emperor in the future, as long as they do not rebel or cause chaos among the people, you must never easily kill members of the Li family."

Li Xiao's heart tightened, and he quickly nodded: "Grandson will remember, and will never do anything to harm the clan."

"It's not just remembering, it's swearing an oath."

The old man emphasized, his eyes filled with urgency: "You must know, 'Those who start things will have no descendants!'"

"When Emperor Taizong of Tang killed Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji to seize the throne, how often did princes and members of the imperial family kill each other throughout the Tang Dynasty?"

Power can indeed turn even the closest people into enemies.

"When fighting for power, everyone is focused on external forces, and your second and third uncles can entrust their backs to each other; but once they sit on the throne and have power in their hands, people's hearts can easily change."

The old man took a breath, his eyes filled with worry: "Grandpa's scared!"

"I'm afraid that once you become emperor, if the people around you say a few provocative words, you'll start to suspect your uncles and your brother."

"I'm afraid that if they hold military power for too long, and others stir things up, they might develop inappropriate thoughts."

"When that happens, brothers will turn against each other, uncles and nephews will become enemies, and all the wealth our Li family has worked so hard to build will be destroyed."

More importantly, we must not set this precedent for future generations to follow.
"There was also the War of the Eight Princes in the Jin Dynasty, where members of the imperial family fought for power, which shattered the country and caused immense suffering to the people."

He gripped Li Xiao's hand tightly, his voice pleading: "Grandpa wants you to make proper arrangements for them. Those with military power, give them a stable fiefdom so they can guard their territory."

“Those who understand governance should be sent to local government positions to benefit the people. Even those who are not very capable should be given generous salaries so that they can live a peaceful life.”

Looking into the old man's cloudy yet clear eyes, Li Xiao understood that his grandfather was not simply giving him instructions, but was clearly helping him solve the most troublesome problem: reducing the power of the princes and restraining the power of the imperial clan.

When they were conquering the country, the Li family relied on the unity of the clan. The second, third, and sixth uncles all led troops and fought to the death with the enemy.

But as the country was about to be pacified, these military powers became a hidden danger.

Historically, the Cao Wei, Sima family, and Li Tang dynasties all rose to power through their clans, only to fall into internal strife due to power struggles among their members.
Li Xiao had seen countless scenes of the devastation of the War of the Eight Princes and the displacement of the people of the Jin Dynasty in historical records.

He had long been planning how to reclaim military power from the imperial clan, but he could never find the right opportunity.

If we act rashly, we risk being branded as "discarding a donkey after it has served its purpose," which would dishearten our relatives; but if we let it go unchecked, we risk repeating the same mistake.

But at this moment, his grandfather's dying words paved the way for him.

In front of all the Li family members, the old man took the initiative to propose "restraining the power of the clan." This was not Li Xiao's suspicion, but a painstaking arrangement by the family elders for the long-term benefit of the Li family and for the stability of the world.

Anyone who dares to express dissatisfaction is going against the old man's last wishes and disregarding the family and the world.

Grandpa is playing the "bad guy" for him, using his last bit of strength to clear obstacles for him.

Li Xiao's eyes reddened even more. He looked at the old man's pale but determined face and said, word by word, "Grandson Li Xiao swears an oath before our ancestors."

"If I were to become emperor in this life, I would certainly treat the Li family members well, make proper arrangements for my uncles and brothers, and never allow them to kill each other, nor would I allow the Li family to become sinners in the eyes of the world."

Li Xiao's words were not directed at the old man, but rather at the other elders of the Li family, such as his third and fourth grandfathers.

The old man looked at him with a hint of relief in his eyes, then slowly turned his head to look at his third and fourth grandfathers and other younger brothers standing under the courtyard corridor.

They were all very old, and their eyes were red.

Seeing his elder brother looking over, the third grandfather, leaning on his cane, quickly took two steps forward and came to the bedside.

Her voice choked with emotion: "Brother, don't worry, we all understand what you mean."

"For the long-term prosperity of the Li family, and for the sake of preventing further turmoil in the world, we have no objections."

Fourth Grandfather nodded in agreement, his tone firm: "Yes, eldest brother, back then we struggled alongside you in Jinzhou, wasn't it all so that our descendants could live in peace?"

"If we fight to the death over something so trivial, then all the suffering we've endured over the years will have been for nothing."

The old man looked at his brothers and gave them a final smile.

His younger brothers always respected him, and as long as they nodded, the other collateral relatives and nephews would not object.

He gently raised his hand, wanting to pat his younger brothers' hands again, but he had no strength left. He could only murmur, "Okay...okay...I'm sorry to have wronged you...but Da Long...will make arrangements for you..."

"Don't worry, brother, we're not wronged."

Third Grandfather quickly grasped his hand, tears dripping onto the back of the old man's hand, "We are overjoyed to see the Li family today, to see peace coming to the world."

Upon hearing this, the old man's tense body finally relaxed a little. He took a breath and looked at Li Xiao, continuing, "And... the roots of our Li family... are in the Central Plains..."

"You must... take the Li family... back to Zhongdu to see... even if... even if everything is gone."

"We also need to...we also need to erect a memorial tablet for our ancestors on our ancestral land...to tell them...that the descendants of the Li family...have not disgraced them..."

"Grandson will remember."

Li Xiao responded with a sob in his voice, "Your grandson will definitely return to our ancestral home in Zhongdu to set up memorial tablets for our ancestors, so that they will know that the descendants of the Li family have not only not disgraced them, but have also built a peaceful and prosperous world."

The old man's breath grew weaker and weaker, his eyes gradually unfocused, yet he still murmured to himself, "Don't follow the example of Emperor Taizong of Tang... Don't follow the example of the Jin Dynasty... The Li family must be well... The world must be well..."

Li Xiao held the old man's hand tightly, tears silently streaming down his face.

He knew that the old man's heart was entirely with the Li family and with the world.

He had to shoulder this heavy responsibility, not only for his grandfather and the Li family, but also for the people of the world.

The air inside the room grew increasingly heavy, and Li Dalan's sobs gradually subsided, leaving only the old man's faint breathing.

After a while, the old man's breathing suddenly stopped, his hands fell completely to his sides, and his eyes closed forever.

"Big brother."

"father."

"grandfather."

Crying erupted instantly, both inside and outside the house.

Third Grandfather, Fourth Grandfather, and others knelt before the bed, tears streaming down their faces; Li Dalan collapsed beside the bed, crying so hard she almost fainted; the collateral relatives and nephews also knelt on the ground, their clothes soaked with tears.

Xiao Yanyan stood to the side, covering her mouth with a plain handkerchief, tears streaming silently down her face.

Li Xiao knelt before the bed, remaining seated for a long time.

The old man has passed away, but he has completely entrusted him with the responsibility of protecting the Li family and the world.

From now on, he will not only pacify the Jin Kingdom and unify the world, but also properly arrange the clan members and restrain the power of the imperial family in accordance with the old man's instructions, so as not to repeat the tragedy of the War of the Eight Princes and not to let the old man's hard work go to waste.

The news of the old man's passing spread like wildfire throughout the Qin Dynasty.

Inside the general's study in Xianyang, Li Dongjiang was carefully examining the intelligence sent by the Embroidered Uniform Guard spies from Chang'an.

Just then, a guard rushed in with a letter in his hand and said in a deep voice, "General, urgent report from Longcheng."

Li Dongjiang suddenly frowned, a vague unease creeping into his heart.

"What happened?"

The moment he saw the contents, the document in his hand fell to the ground with a "thud".

This tough guy, who had never been afraid on the battlefield, instantly had tears welling up in his eyes, and the tears in his tiger-like eyes could no longer be held back, sliding down his cheeks.

He slammed his fist on the table, his voice choked with emotion: "Father... how could you leave like this... Your son didn't even have a chance to have one last drink with you..."

After his grief subsided, Li Dongjiang immediately stood up and ordered his guards, "Prepare the horses immediately, I'm returning to Longcheng." "Leave the defense of Xianyang to Huo Wu, and tell him to guard the city well and wait for my return."

As the old man's only living son, he had to go back to see his father off on his final journey and also help Li Xiao with the funeral arrangements.

On the Xihai Grassland, Li Donghe was leading his cavalry to inspect the pastures. He reined in his horse and stood on a vast grassland, watching the herdsmen graze their livestock.

After the guards relayed the news, Li Donghe remained silent for a long time, only gazing in the direction of Dongfang Longcheng, letting out a heavy sigh, his voice filled with sorrow.

"Uncle... you still didn't live to see us return to the Central Plains..."

He raised his hand to wipe the corner of his eye and said to his guards, "Pass down the word that the ranch is in the care of Liu Da Nao. We'll set off for Longcheng tomorrow to see Uncle off on his final journey."

Inside Suyab, Li Dongshan and Qiu Chuji were standing beside the foundation of a Taoist temple, discussing the details of its construction.

Li Dongshan had just been appointed as the General of Suyab by Li Xiao when he received orders to help Qiu Chuji coordinate missionary work.

Currently, Qiu Chuji is preparing to establish the Sanqing Temple, the largest Taoist temple in the Western Regions, in Suyab City, as the headquarters for spreading Taoism in the Western Regions.

Just then, a guard rushed over, glanced at Qiu Chuji, and after receiving Li Dongshan's permission, said in a deep voice, "General, news has come from Longcheng."

"Your Highness, Your Highness has passed away..."

Upon hearing this, the smile on Li Dongshan's face vanished instantly.

He stood there, stunned, for a long time without reacting. After a while, he murmured, "Uncle..."

Qiu Chuji, standing to the side, gradually understood as well.

It is said that Qin King Li Xiao's father died in battle in his early years, and only his grandfather is still alive.

Therefore, within the Qin Kingdom today, the only person qualified to be called "Old Prince" is that Old Master Li.

Qiu Chuji then stepped forward and bowed slightly to Li Dongshan, saying, "General Li, please accept my condolences."

"The old prince devoted his life to his country and his clan. Now that he has passed away, his soul has returned to the Three Pure Ones. There is no need to be too sad."

"Although I was unable to personally come to Longcheng to offer my condolences, I can, according to my Taoist rituals, set up an altar in Suyab to perform rituals, chant scriptures, and pray for blessings. May the old man's soul rest in peace, and may the Li family's foundation be forever secure, and may the world soon be at peace."

Upon hearing this, Li Dongshan snapped out of his daze, suppressed his grief, and bowed to Qiu Chuji, saying, "Thank you, Daoist Master."

"If my uncle could know this from beyond the grave, he would surely be grateful for the Taoist priest's kindness."

Meanwhile, in Hezhong Prefecture, Erhu was riding a horse, standing in front of a pile of ruins, dealing with a rebellion by the Gur people.

Erhu was known for his violent nature and ruthlessness on the battlefield, earning him the nickname "Butcher".

He had just led his army to suppress the Ghur rebellion and was preparing to count the prisoners when he heard the sound of rapid hoofbeats in the distance.

A messenger, riding a fast horse and covered in sweat, rushed up to Erhu, holding a letter, and saluted with his hand on his chest: "General, urgent report from Longcheng, a document sent with the utmost urgency."

Erhu frowned, a sense of unease rising in his heart.

Dragon City rarely issues such urgent documents unless something extremely serious has happened.

He snatched the letter; the sealing wax on the envelope was intact, and it was indeed Li Xiao's mark.

Erhu took a deep breath, unfolded the letter, and quickly scanned the words on it. The seriousness on his face gradually faded, replaced by disbelief.

When Erhu saw the words "Grandfather passed away on the morning of November 8th," his hand holding the letter trembled violently, and the letter fell to the ground with a "whoosh."

He stood there, frozen in place, his mind blank, the voice of his grandfather from his childhood still echoing in his ears.

"Erhu, come on horseback, Grandpa will teach you how to shoot arrows."

"Don't be afraid, Grandpa is here, no one will dare to bully you."

"You must practice martial arts diligently, because the future of our Li family still depends on you brothers."

Those heartwarming scenes now felt like knives stabbing into his heart.

The old man who protected him and longed for peace in the world has finally passed away.

My eyes welled up with tears, and hot tears welled up in them.

This "butcher," who had killed countless people on the battlefield and never felt fear, was now acting like a child.

"General..." The guards stood aside, seeing his expression, and dared not say anything more, only calling out in a low voice.

Erhu suddenly looked up, wiped away the tears on his face, his eyes filled with anger and sorrow.

He looked at the captured Ghurs, and the sorrow in his heart instantly turned into a raging rage.

My grandfather passed away, yet he's still here dealing with these rebels. These people even dare to cause trouble at this time; it's practically blaspheming my grandfather's spirit in heaven.

"Kill them all, leave no one alive."

Erhu shouted angrily, his voice hoarse and filled with boundless rage: "Dare to rebel at this time, dare to disturb Grandpa's peace, I will make them pay for Grandpa's death."

In an instant, screams and pleas for mercy rose and fell, and blood stained the ruins.

Erhu stood aside, watching the bloody scene, his eyes filled with no pity, only remembrance of the old man and the pain of losing a loved one.

After venting his anger, Erhu took a deep breath and ordered his guards, "Prepare the horses immediately."

"The defense of Hezhong Prefecture is entrusted to General Xiao Chilu. Tell him that if there is any rebellion, kill without mercy."

When Da Hu learned the news on the East Sea Grassland, he was overwhelmed with grief. After arranging military affairs, he hurriedly returned to Longcheng with his personal guards to pay respects to his grandfather.

In an instant, members of the Li family clan from all over the Qin Dynasty put down their affairs and rushed towards Longcheng.

The old man was no ordinary person; he was the biological grandfather of Li Xiao, the King of Qin, and the founder of the Li family's rise from the Nine Forts and Eighteen Villages to the world. There must have been many relatives, officials, and generals who came to pay their respects.

After discussing with the elders of the clan, Li Xiao decided to keep the old man's body in state for a month. This would make it easier for relatives from all over the country to come and pay their respects, and also give them enough time to choose an auspicious day for the old man to be laid to rest.

However, in accordance with the old man's last wish to "not disturb the people," Li Xiao issued an order: during the period of mourning, the Qin state would not hold grand ceremonies, the government would not hold fasts, and the people could continue farming and doing business as usual, without having to be superstitious about the old man's passing.

After the decree was issued to various places, the people were all moved. The old prince lived a simple life and even thought about not troubling the people with his funeral arrangements. No wonder such a family could win the hearts of the people.

But the death of this "ordinary old man" is seen in a completely different light by people in other countries.

Inside the Zhongdu Imperial Palace, Wanyan Yongji was reclining on a soft couch covered with a white fox fur, having a palace maid feed him grapes while watching a dancer perform.

In just two or three years, this Jin emperor became so fat from indulging in pleasure that he looked like a pig and needed eunuchs to help him get up.

When the eunuch carefully reported the news from Qin that "Li Xiao's grandfather in the Northern Frontier has passed away."

Wanyan Yongji was taken aback for a moment, then sneered and spat the grape skins from his mouth onto the ground: "Just that the old thief died?"

He paused, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes: "It's just a pity that it wasn't that little thief Li Xiao who died."

"If that brat Li Xiao is gone, I will immediately send a large army westward to take back Guanzhong."

The favored minister beside him quickly echoed, "Your Majesty is wise."

"But with Li Xiao still alive, Qin will definitely strengthen its border defenses. Besides, that old man is just a senior member of the royal family and has little impact on the morale of the Qin army. We don't have a chance for now."

Although the old man held a prestigious position in the Li family, he ultimately did not wield significant military or state power. Qin did not even deliberately conceal the news, demonstrating that his influence on the overall situation was minimal.

However, if something were to happen to Li Xiao, the Qin state would definitely keep the news a secret until the new king ascends the throne and the situation stabilizes. That would be the Jin state's chance.

Thinking of this, Wanyan Yongji lost interest again and waved his hand: "I know, go down, don't disturb my mood."

Upon receiving the news, Emperor Ningzong of Song consulted with his ministers and ultimately decided to send an envoy with offerings to Longcheng to offer condolences, in accordance with protocol.

The ministers all knew that the two countries were far apart, and even if the envoys rushed to Longcheng, the deceased would have already been buried. This trip was just a formality.

"It's good to observe proper etiquette."

"But I believe there is an even more important reason for sending envoys this time. We can use the pretext of offering condolences to discuss with the Qin state another northern expedition to jointly attack the Jin state from both sides." Prime Minister Han Tuozhou brought up the northern expedition again.

The hall fell silent instantly. In recent years, with the rise of the Qin state and the decline of the Jin state, the Song state felt that it was back in power.

They wanted to launch a northern expedition to recapture Kaifeng and avenge the Jingkang Incident of that year.

Previously, Qin had focused on its western expedition, and the northern expedition was temporarily put on hold. Now that Qin's western expedition has come to an end, and with the passing of the old man, it is a good time to repair relations between the two countries and finalize cooperation.

A glint of light flashed in Emperor Ningzong's eyes, and he nodded, saying, "What Prime Minister Han said is absolutely right."

“Send the Minister of Rites as the chief envoy, carrying sacrificial offerings, and send the Vice Minister of War as the deputy envoy to secretly discuss the details of the northern expedition with the Qin state.”

"Tell the King of Qin that if Qin is willing to send troops, our dynasty can send 100,000 troops northward from Huainan and Jingdong to join forces with the Qin army to attack Jin and reclaim lost territory."

The ministers echoed their agreement, and soon the Song delegation set off, ostensibly to offer condolences, but in reality carrying the important mission of discussing a northern expedition, speeding towards Longcheng.

(End of this chapter)