The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 400 The Five Military Commands, Releasing Military Power Over a Cup of Wine

When the month-long mourning period ended, just as dawn broke over Longcheng, the Prince's Palace was already draped in white mourning clothes.

Dressed in mourning attire, with hemp clothes and shoes and a hemp rope tied around his waist, Li Xiao, as the eldest grandson of the Li family, personally held the old man's memorial tablet and stood in front of the mourning hall.

According to the old customs of Jinzhou, the eldest grandson must "break the basin" before the funeral procession.

With a loud crash, the earthenware pot shattered into several pieces. This sound was both a signal to send the deceased on their way and a sign of the descendants' reluctance to part with the deceased.

"Awake!"

The master of ceremonies announced loudly, and eight pallbearers, dressed in plain clothes, carefully lifted the old man's coffin.

The procession carrying the coffin departed from the Prince's Mansion and headed north towards Hexi Fort, twenty miles away.

Initially, the procession was escorted by the Li clan, but as the procession moved forward, people along the way spontaneously gathered around.

Some of them wore plain clothes, while others carried paper money, and silently joined the procession to send off the spirit.

The residents of Longcheng were mostly Jinzhou military officers who rose to power with Li Xiao, as well as many veterans who had followed the old man in the past.

They were grateful for the old man's kindness and even more grateful for the peaceful life brought by the Li family. Even though the old man's last words were not to disturb the people, they still couldn't help but come to see him off on his final journey.

"May the old prince rest in peace!"

It's unclear who shouted first, but soon the people along the way joined in, their cries shaking the heavens.

The procession grew longer and longer, stretching for miles, with white mourning clothes fluttering in the wind like a white ocean.

Li Xiao held the memorial tablet and walked forward step by step.

This is the last time he will accompany the old man on this journey. From now on, he will shoulder the responsibilities of the Li family and the future of the Great Qin alone.

After walking for two hours, the group finally arrived at the Li family ancestral tombs outside Hexibao.

The ancestral graves are located on a sunny hillside, surrounded by pine and cypress trees, creating a solemn and serene atmosphere.

Not far away, the old lady's grave stands quietly, next to the grave of Li Xiao's father, Li Dahai. Now, the old man will reunite with his wife and son here.

There were no valuable burial items, only some personal belongings that the old man used during his lifetime, just as he lived a simple life and did not seek luxury.

Li Xiao placed the items beside the coffin, knelt down and kowtowed towards the grave: "Grandpa, go in peace and reunite with Grandma and Dad."

"Your grandson will fulfill your wish, pacify the world, return to our hometown in the Central Plains, and not disappoint you."

Then, everyone began to fill the hole with soil.

The surrounding people also knelt down and paid their respects to the grave. Flying paper money fluttered in the air, like a winter snow drifting into the distance.

After the burial ceremony, the spirit tablet was returned to the Imperial Ancestral Temple in Longcheng.

Li Xiao was suddenly filled with emotion. If he were to die one day, he would follow Temujin's example and not be buried in a Ming Dynasty tomb, but instead have his remains buried deep in the Jinshan Mountains.

No markings are made, no one is needed to guard the tomb, and no valuables are required for burial. Future generations only need to come to Jinshan to pay homage to their ancestors.

He fought countless battles and killed many people throughout his life. After his death, he only wished to sleep peacefully, without taking any land from the people or leaving any regrets.

The old man's funeral has come to an end, and in the days that followed, Longcheng remained shrouded in a faint atmosphere of sadness.

When people talk about the old man in the streets and alleys, their tone is still filled with regret.

Inside and outside the Prince's mansion, the plain-colored banners had not yet been taken down, and the servants unconsciously slowed their pace when they walked and talked.

But this grief did not affect people's livelihoods; shops remained open on time, and vendors' cries continued as usual.

The craftsmen were busy in the workshops, and the farmers were driving oxcarts to the market. Everything was just as the old man had said in his last words: "Do what needs to be done," peaceful and stable.

On the third day, Li Xiao ordered the removal of the white banners from the palace, leaving only a simple altar in the mourning hall. He then sent people to invite Li Dongjiang and Li Dongshan.

As the sun set, the two arrived at the Prince's Mansion's reception room one after the other. They were still wearing plain cotton clothes, and their faces showed a hint of fatigue and sadness, but could not hide their tough military bearing.

Inside the living room, a simple table of food and drinks had already been set out: a pot of braised beef, a pot of roasted lamb, two large pots of vegetables, a pot of rice soup, and a jar of aged Xifenglie liquor.

Li Xiao personally poured wine for his two uncles, the wine flowing into rough porcelain bowls, creating fine bubbles.

"Second Uncle, Sixth Uncle, you've worked hard these past few days. Have a couple of drinks with me." Li Xiao raised his wine bowl, his voice gentle.

Li Dongjiang and his companion nodded slightly, raised their wine bowls, and gently tapped them against Li Xiao's: "Dalong, no need to be so polite, we're all family."

The three of them took a sip, and the strong, pungent aroma of the west wind spread through their mouths, dispelling some of their fatigue.

After a few rounds of drinks, Li Xiao looked at his two uncles and said with emotion, "Do you still remember when we first came to Hexibao?"

“At that time, we only had a little over two hundred people. The Karluks’ knives were almost at our heads, so we had no choice but to launch a night raid on Sanhe Fort. My sixth uncle followed me into battle and killed many Karluks.”

"Later, they captured several young women from the Qarluq tribe, and when they returned, Aunt Liu gave them a good scolding..."

"Hahaha~"

The three of them chatted amongst themselves, recounting their war achievements, hardships, and interesting stories over the years.

From raising an army at Hexi Fortress, to capturing Jinzhou, then annihilating the Naiman people and becoming the overlord of the northern frontier, to conquering the royal court in the west and the northern desert in the east...

Every battle, every crisis feels like it happened yesterday.

The wine bowl was raised and put down again and again, the dishes on the table were barely touched, but the wine in the jar was almost gone.

"Back then, we never dared to imagine that our Li family would be where we are today, able to build such a large business in Longcheng."

Li Dongshan also said, "The old man has always said over the years, 'Our Li family's roots are in the Central Plains, and we will go back one day.'"

"Now that the old man is gone, we still have to keep going."

"Over the years, I have followed you in your campaigns, conquering Guanzhong and the Western Regions. We are about to pacify the Jin Kingdom and fulfill the old man's wish."

……

Looking at the emotion and pride in his two uncles' eyes, Li Xiao remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

"Second Uncle, Sixth Uncle, I remember all the contributions you have made to the Li family and to the Great Qin over the years, and the world has seen them all."

"Before my grandfather passed away, he instructed me to properly settle the relatives, prevent the Li family from killing each other, and prevent the War of the Eight Princes from happening again."

Li Dongjiang and Li Dongshan exchanged a glance, their hearts stirring, and understood each other perfectly.

They knew that Li Xiao was about to get down to business.

Over the years, they held military power and guarded their respective regions. Although they had no disloyal intentions, they were well aware of the principle that "merit overshadows the master" and understood the profound meaning of the old man's words before his death.

Li Xiao continued, "Now that the foundation of the Great Qin is gradually stabilizing, the next step to pacify the Jin Kingdom and unify the world requires even greater unity of purpose from top to bottom."

"Our territory is expanding, extending west to the Western Sea, east to the Jin border, south to the Song, and north to the frigid snowfields. If we want to coordinate the overall situation, we must ensure that government and military orders are carried out smoothly. We can no longer allow each region to fight its own battle as before."

He paused, picked up the wine pot to refill the cups of his two uncles, and said in a serious tone: "Moreover, the Qin state's system needs to be further improved, especially in the military field."

“In the past, we had fewer people, and we could manage with the help of a large protectorate that oversaw all military affairs. But things are different now.”

"We must guard against the incursions of the Kipchaks in the Western Regions and suppress the rebellion of the local Khwarazmians."

"We need to keep an eye on the Jin Dynasty on the eastern front, and the northern desert is not completely stable either. The Song Dynasty is even planning to provoke another war against the Jin Dynasty."

"With the second Eastern Expedition about to break out, the Protectorate General is no longer able to shoulder such heavy military responsibilities."

"Military reform is imperative; otherwise, it will be easy for things to go wrong in the future."

Li Dongjiang put down his wine bowl and nodded: "Your Majesty is right."

"Last time, news came from the northern desert that the Jin Kingdom was reinforcing its troops on the border. My third brother and I discussed exchanging information, but the back and forth took up a lot of time. If a war really breaks out, we might miss the opportunity to fight."

"That's exactly the reason."

Li Xiao picked up the conversation, a determined glint in his eyes: "So I plan to rebuild the Grand Protectorate."

"The Grand Protectorate remains the highest military command, under which five governorates are established, each responsible for the affairs of the five war zones: the eastern front, the western front, the southern front, the northern front, and the central defense."

“Each governor’s office is responsible for the troop movements, food supplies, and defense deployment within its jurisdiction. This way, each can perform its own duties while also being under the overall command of the Grand Protector, which will greatly improve efficiency.” Li Dongshan’s eyes lit up: “This is a good idea. With regional management, we can focus more on our own areas of responsibility and no longer worry about neglecting one aspect for another.”

"However, our main focus is currently on the western and eastern expeditions. There is no conflict with the Song Dynasty in the south for the time being, and the few rebellions in the northern desert are not a big deal. Therefore, I plan to prepare for the establishment of the Left and Right Governor-General's Offices first."

Li Xiao explained, "The Left Military Governor's Office is responsible for the eastern front, mainly dealing with the Jin Dynasty. The future southern expedition will also be led by the Left Military Governor's Office."

"The Right Viceroyalty was responsible for the Western Regions, guarding against the Arabs and Kipchaks, while maintaining stability in the Western Regions and ensuring the smooth flow of the Silk Road."

At this point, he looked at Li Dongjiang and Li Dongshan, his tone sincere: "The positions of Left Grand Commander and Right Grand Commander are responsible for coordinating all affairs of a war zone."

"One must be able to keep the morale of the troops in check, and also have enough military achievements and prestige to earn the soldiers' respect."

“After much thought, I believe that in the entire Great Qin, only you two, Second Uncle and Sixth Uncle, are most suitable for these two positions.”

Li Xiao's intention was merely to reclaim the military power of the royal family members, not to prevent them from serving the Qin Dynasty.

Although the Left and Right Military Governorates were in charge of military affairs in the war zone, they were more responsible for daily management, military training, logistics and equipment replenishment, reserve recruitment, and appointment and dismissal of junior officers during peacetime.

Secondly, he has no authority to deploy troops: he cannot mobilize any army without authorization; the authority to deploy troops belongs to Li Xiao himself, who is also the Grand Protector.

Financial dependence: The army's food and supplies and logistics were mainly allocated by the Department of Finance, and the Five Military Commissions had no right to interfere.

Li Xiao paused for a moment, looking at his two uncles with eyes full of trust.

"Second Uncle, you have guarded Xianyang for many years and know the situation on the eastern front like the back of your hand. Moreover, you have fought several battles with the Jin Kingdom and are very experienced. I am at ease appointing you as the Left Grand Commander."

"Sixth Uncle, you have been in the Western Regions for so long, you are familiar with the terrain and tribal conditions, and you can coordinate military and political affairs in the Western Regions. The position of Right Grand Commander is rightfully yours."

Looking into Li Xiao's sincere eyes, Li Dongjiang felt a surge of emotion.

He originally thought that after handing over his military power in Xianyang, he could only return to Longcheng to retire and become a hereditary prince after the Qin Dynasty was officially established.

Unexpectedly, Li Xiao was still willing to let him continue to serve the Qin Dynasty, and in such an important position.

What can he say now?
He picked up his wine bowl and said in a deep voice, "Da Long, since you trust your second uncle so much, your second uncle will certainly not let you down and will manage the Left Governor's Mansion well."

Li Dongshan also raised his wine bowl and said firmly, "Leave the Right Governor's Office to me, and I will guarantee the stability of the Western Regions and never allow the Arabs and Kipchaks to cross the border."

Seeing that his two uncles agreed, Li Xiao nodded with a light smile and raised his wine bowl: "With your words, Uncle Er and Uncle Liu, I can rest assured."

"Come, let's drink this bowl of wine and wish our Great Qin Dynasty a speedy pacification of the world and unification of the Central Plains."

The three clinked bowls together again, drank the wine in one gulp, and the atmosphere in the study became lively.

As night deepened, the three of them discussed the specific preparations for the Governor's Office, from the appointment of generals to the mobilization of troops, from the supply of provisions to the defense deployment, carefully discussing every detail.

Finally, Li Xiao made a veiled promise that the two of them would make great contributions to the Qin Dynasty.

Once the Qin Dynasty is officially established, they will be among the first to be granted the title of king, and they will be the highest-ranking princes, hereditary iron-capped princes, and will also be granted imperial edicts.

As long as future generations do not rebel, this title and reward can be passed down from generation to generation, ensuring that future generations will enjoy wealth and honor and will forever remain the royal nobles of the Great Qin.

It wasn't until the moon was high in the sky that Li Dongjiang and Li Dongshan got up to say goodbye.

After seeing the two off, Li Xiao stood by the study window, gazing at the bright moon outside, and breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

The process of removing the general from the royal family from command of troops went more smoothly than he had imagined.

Li Dongjiang and Li Dongshan were the two members of the imperial clan with the highest military achievements and the greatest prestige. With them setting an example, there would be much less resistance in removing the military power of other imperial clan generals.

He did not intend to reclaim all the military power of the royal family members all at once, but rather planned to do so gradually.

Young generals like Da Hu and Er Hu are at the prime of their careers and need to gain experience on the battlefield. Their military power should not be adjusted for the time being.

As for those senior members of the imperial clan who had been stationed in one place for many years and held considerable military power, such as Li Donghe, the commander of the Sixth Garrison and General of the Western Sea, and Li Donggen, a commander of ten thousand households, they were getting old and had lost some of their drive and ambition.

They will be gradually transferred back to the central leadership, leaving positions for younger people.

Assigning them to positions in the Governor's Office would preserve their honor while reclaiming their military power and handing it over to Li Xiao's confidants.

Moreover, the newly established Left and Right Military Governorates are only the first step in military reform.

As the territory of the Great Qin continues to expand, the Central Military Governorate, the Southern Military Governorate, and the Northern Military Governorate will be established in the future.

Each of the five governorates was responsible for the overall coordination of forces in a war zone, mainly undertaking daily military management, army training and border defense, as well as the appointment and dismissal of junior officers.

However, there is one ironclad rule: the Governor-General's Office is not responsible for direct combat and has no authority to deploy troops or manage logistics.

Once war breaks out, Li Xiao will personally appoint a temporary general to command the troops. After the war, the general will return to his original post and hand over military power. This will ensure efficient command during wartime and prevent generals from seizing power.

Three days later, Li Xiao officially issued an order to reorganize the Grand Protectorate and establish the Left and Right Protectorates.

Li Dongjiang was appointed as the Left Grand Commander, in charge of affairs in the Eastern Front, and Li Dongshan was appointed as the Right Grand Commander, in charge of affairs in the Western Regions, and stationed permanently in the capital region.

At the same time, Li Xiao announced that he would continue to serve as the Grand Protector-General and set this as a precedent in the Qin Dynasty: "The position of Grand Protector-General can only be held by the King of Qin, and no one other than the King may hold the position concurrently."

He added, "In the future, those who wish to inherit the throne of Qin must be princes who are soldiers, have made military achievements on the battlefield, and must also serve as Grand Protector after ascending the throne."

"The ruler is the supreme commander of the Qin army."

"The Qin army is loyal only to the king. No one is allowed to mobilize troops privately. Anyone who violates this rule will be punished for treason."

The ultimate goal was to ensure the direct control of the imperial power over military power.

The next day, at the entrance of the former Xianyang General's Mansion, the craftsmen removed the old plaque and replaced it with a brand new vermilion plaque with the four large characters "Left Grand General's Mansion" written in gold powder.

After handling the initial preparations for the Left Grand Commander's Office, Li Dongjiang returned to his residence.

Over the years, he has been fighting on the front lines and stationed in Xianyang for many years, rarely having a moment of leisure. Now he has finally returned and can stay in the capital region to be with his family.

When his aunt learned that he no longer needed to be stationed in another place for a long time, her face was full of joy, and she held his hand and chatted with him.

"Finally, we don't have to go out anymore. From now on, the family can get together every day, and the children can see their father more often."

Throughout his many years of military service, Li Dongjiang had many concubines and children, but the one he valued most in his heart was always his first wife.

Seeing the smile in his wife's eyes, Li Dongjiang felt a warmth in his heart, but then a sense of melancholy arose.

It would be good to stay in Longcheng with his wife and daughters, but after a lifetime of fighting, he had long been accustomed to the smoke and blood of the battlefield. Now, suddenly leaving the battlefield made him feel uneasy.

Moreover, the war to conquer the Jin Kingdom was imminent, and as the Left Grand Commander, he was required to remain in Longcheng to oversee the overall situation on the eastern front, and could not personally lead the troops into battle.

This regret weighed heavily on his heart, causing him to often stare blankly out the window.

That afternoon, Li Dongjiang was leisurely drinking tea, accompanied by his eldest son Dahu and second son Erbao.

The group chatted about the Jin Kingdom: "The situation in the Jin Kingdom is getting more and more tense. Da Hu can't stay in Longcheng for long."

Da Hu nodded in agreement: "Father, I also think we should go back as soon as possible. Donghai is on the front line against the Jin Kingdom. Now that the Jin Kingdom is reinforcing its troops on the border, we need to prepare in advance."

"After you return to Liaodong, you should strengthen communication with the Khitans and, ideally, support their rebellion," Li Dongjiang said.

The Khitans had never submitted to the Jin dynasty's rule, and the Jin dynasty's rule over them was extremely harsh. The contradictions had been accumulating for a long time, just waiting for the final explosion.

When the eastern expedition was launched, it triggered a rebellion among the Khitan people in Liaodong, which was a heavy blow to the Jin Dynasty.

As the father and his two sons were talking, suddenly, footsteps came from outside the study. A servant hurried in, bowed, and said, "Master, young master, someone from the Prince's mansion has come. They say the Prince requests your presence immediately."

Li Dongjiang and Da Hu exchanged a glance, both understanding the situation.

It seems that Li Xiao was also worried about the situation on the East China Sea front and urged Da Hu to return as soon as possible.

Da Hu stood up, patted his chest and bowed to Li Dongjiang: "Father, then I will go to the Prince's Mansion first. After seeing my elder brother, I will immediately set off back to Donghai."

Li Dongjiang nodded and gave some instructions.

In the evening, Da Hu returned and told Li Dongjiang some good news.

He was relieved of his post as deputy military governor and promoted to military governor.

(End of this chapter)