Chapter 17: Lord of Hexi Fortress

“Brother, you are too amazing! You actually killed nineteen Karluks.”

“Nineteen! These were nineteen vicious Karluks; how did you kill them!”

The entire Hexi Fortress was in shock and excitement. Erhu, standing beside Li Xiao, was especially excited.

He hugged Li Xiao from behind and shouted loudly.

Having grown up following behind Li Dalong since childhood, his admiration for Li Xiao at this moment had reached an unparalleled level.

This was his brother.

Dahu beside him also looked excited. Standing on Li Xiao’s other side, he said excitedly: “Erhu and I combined only killed two Karluks; that’s not even a fraction of yours!”

“Brother, teach us how to kill people later. We want to kill more Karluk dogs in the future to avenge Dad and Second Uncle.” Erhu clamored to learn how to kill from Li Xiao.

Li Xiao grabbed the back of their heads with each hand, rubbed them hard, and comforted the two:

“It was the first time on the battlefield for both of you; inevitably you were unskilled. Taking out two Karluks is already very good.”

“Train archery and martial arts with me in the future, and you will become more and more powerful.”

Hearing this, both looked full of longing, fantasizing about becoming as powerful as Li Xiao in the future, brave and skilled in battle, unmatched by anyone.

But in reality, most of these nineteen Karluks were shot dead by Li Xiao from a distance with arrows.

Only six or seven truly died under his blade.

Moreover, wondering if it was because of the transmigration, Li Xiao felt his strength becoming even greater.

With an eighty-pound cavalry bow like this, Li Xiao in his previous life would start losing strength after shooting ten arrows at most.

But now it was different. Whenever he was slightly tired, he could feel a warm current sweeping through his body, and his strength instantly became even greater.

And Li Xiao also had an intuition that the current him was far from reaching his physical limit.

He was only fifteen years old.

As he aged, while his physique became stronger, his strength would also become even more terrifying.

Li Xiao didn’t know to what extent he would grow in the future.

Would he become a fierce general like the Hegemon-King of Chu (Xiang Yu) or Li Cunxiao, unmatched by thousands?

“Da Long, good job. You didn’t shame your grandfather and father.”

“We men of Hexi have guts.”

“Like father, like son~”

“Screw those Karluk dogs. Next time we meet them, we’ll wipe them out just the same.”

While Li Xiao was talking to his two younger brothers, more and more gazes were fixed on him.

Young and old men alike gave Li Xiao a thumbs up, focusing countless admiring and appreciative gazes on him.

The ethos of the Northern Border was heroic; people admired warriors the most.

Undoubtedly, through this battle, Li Xiao had conquered these villagers with practical actions.

No one would treat Li Xiao as a teenager anymore.

His influence in everyone’s heart was rapidly approaching his father’s level.

People would only say ‘like father, like son’.

Li Xiao responded to the praise of those around him with a light smile.

Without any arrogance or complacency, he knew very well that relying on one person’s strength alone was useless.

Even if he were invincible and brave, he couldn’t eliminate all the Karluks.

Ultimately, he had to rely on the power of the people.

And in this world, Li Xiao’s base was these villagers of Hexi Fortress, the Han people of Jin Prefecture and even the entire Northern Border.

Next, Li Xiao also stepped forward to receive his spoils of war.

Having killed nineteen enemies, he received a total of twenty-five horses, twenty-three curved sabers, eighteen longbows, four strings of copper coins, and other miscellaneous items like maces, daggers, leather armor, and so on.

These things previously belonged to the Karluks and Khitans, but now they all became Li Xiao’s property.

Although Li Xiao couldn’t use so many weapons, in a place like the Northern Border facing war at any time, no one would complain about having too many weapons and warhorses; they would only feel it wasn’t enough.

In this place, weapons, warhorses, and food were the hard currency.

These things could be kept, and maybe Li Xiao would use them to build a unit of volunteer cavalry in the future.

After all the spoils of war were distributed, the Old Master walked up slowly, stood on the big rock, and scanned the crowd.

In this instant, all voices stopped abruptly.

The Old Master’s status and influence in Hexi Fortress remained unquestionable.

“Everyone, the Karluks are here. Our peaceful days are over.” As soon as the Old Master opened his mouth, he put enough psychological pressure on everyone.

The joy of the previous victory gradually faded.

Everyone understood that what they wiped out this time was just a small group of Karluk cavalry, and more troops would definitely arrive soon.

Immediately after, the Old Master changed the subject, saying in a seemingly low voice: “I am old.”

“I can’t carry the heavy burden of Hexi Fortress much longer.”

“It is time to choose a young person to take my place.”

As the Old Master’s voice fell, everyone fell into silence. No one spoke; all eyes were fixed on the Old Master.

Many people had already realized this before.

Because several years ago, the Old Master had already stopped managing the affairs of Hexi Fortress much, handing everything over to Li Xiao’s father, Li Dahai.

“In the Battle of the Northern Mountains, Da Hai is gone, Er Jiang’s life or death is unknown, and of our one hundred sons of Hexi Fortress, we don’t know how many can return.”

The Old Master’s deep voice rang out in the open space at the village entrance. As usual, there weren’t many emotional fluctuations, but every sentence seemed to contain unquestionable power.

The Old Master’s prestige in Hexi Fortress remained unchanged.

“But we, the remaining people of Hexi Fortress, still have to avenge them, and more importantly, live on well.”

“Even if us old guys have the heart, we don’t have the strength anymore.”

“We have to rely on the young people.”

Saying that, the Old Master gently beckoned to Li Xiao and said: “Da Long, come here.”

At this moment, everyone’s gaze invariably fell on Li Xiao. They all knew clearly what the Old Master meant, but no one refuted or questioned it.

And Li Xiao also understood that this day would come sooner or later, only he didn’t expect it to come so quickly.

After all, in his view, even if the Old Master wanted to pass on the position, he should wait until the Karluk crisis was over.

Although somewhat sudden, Li Xiao didn’t chicken out.

Taking a light breath, he walked forward with a firm expression and came to the Old Master’s side.

When the Hexi Fortress crowd fixed their gazes on Li Xiao, his gaze also scanned everyone in Hexi Fortress without cowardice.

At this moment, still no one questioned him. Instead, some people nodded secretly, showing smiles and support.

Especially the dozen or so able-bodied men who fought alongside Li Xiao earliest today; they had witnessed Li Xiao’s strength throughout.

Although they were elders, they were genuinely convinced by Li Xiao.

Plus, the position of Hexi Fortress Lord had been inherited by the Li family for so many years.

Everyone tacitly accepted this rule.

So with Li Xiao’s father gone, as the eldest grandson, he could naturally take over power from the Old Master.

“Da Long is my eldest grandson, and also a child you all watched grow up.”

“Everyone saw Da Long’s performance in today’s battle.”

“Precise archery, brave and skilled in battle, and he has learned almost all the skills of deploying troops from me, the old man.”

“It can be said completely that the student has surpassed the master.”

“So, I plan to let Da Long succeed me as the Hexi Fortress Lord today.”

“If anyone has any thoughts, you can speak freely.”

As the Old Master finished speaking, people present began to whisper, but no one raised objections.

Although in their view, Li Xiao was indeed a bit young, and his prestige certainly couldn’t compare to the Old Master and Li Da Hai.

But Li Xiao’s performance today conquered them.

It also made them believe that Li Xiao had the ability to be a good Fortress Lord.

At least he wouldn’t be too bad!

Sure enough, not long after the Old Master finished speaking, Li Xiao’s Third Grandfather, the Old Master’s biological brother, stood up.

He said loudly: “Da Long is a good child, his ability goes without saying. I believe he will do better than his grandfather and father.”

As soon as Third Grandfather spoke, Li Xiao knew the two old men must have discussed it in advance.

And Third Grandfather also had considerable prestige in the village. With him taking the lead, others would have even fewer objections.

“Da Long is a good one.”

“The Lord of our Hexi Fortress should indeed be Da Long.”

“I also believe Da Long can do a good job.”

…

Everyone nodded one after another; no one raised doubts.

Fundamentally speaking, this was the Li family’s private matter.

Normal power transfer in Hexi Fortress wouldn’t be this troublesome, but the accident with Li Xiao’s father caused a vacuum in power inheritance.

For Li Xiao to become the Hexi Fortress Lord, he not only needed the Old Master’s approval but also everyone’s support.

Li Xiao also knew this was because his prestige hadn’t reached that level yet!

But he also believed that as long as he was given time, he would inevitably convince everyone completely.

“Fellow villagers, elders, thank you all for your trust in me.”

“Since I’ve become this Fortress Lord, then I will definitely do a good job.”

“Not only to avenge my father and the others, but more importantly, to lead everyone to survive.” Li Xiao said facing everyone in Hexi Fortress.

…

At this moment, the fourth-generation Lord of Hexi Fortress was born: Li Xiao, Li Da Long.

A fifteen-year-old boy.

From now on, the heavy burden of the two hundred and fifty-two households and one thousand three hundred and fifty-eight people of Hexi Fortress fell entirely on Li Xiao.

And Li Xiao’s primary goal was to lead these people to survive the upcoming Karluk ravages.

(End of this chapter)