Chapter 43: The Shock of the Karluks

For a whole morning, Hou Village was in a mess, very busy.

Under Li Xiao’s order, all the herdsmen began to pack up their belongings, preparing to move.

“Although the Hou family has been wiped out, Hou Wen is not dead yet. After knowing what happened in the village, he will definitely borrow troops from the Karluks for revenge.”

“Therefore, Hou Village can no longer be stayed in.”

“Everyone, follow me back to Hexi Fortress~”

These were Li Xiao’s words to all the herdsmen of Hou Village.

Using Hou Wen and the Karluks to intimidate these herdsmen, forcing them to leave Hou Village and go to Hexi Fortress.

It had to be said that this reason was very effective.

The herdsmen’s fear of the Hou family still existed. Even if only Hou Wen remained, they were worried that Hou Wen would bring Karluks back for revenge.

After all, everyone’s hands were stained with the blood of the Hou family; Hou Wen would definitely not let them off.

At that time, Li Xiao would have already left with the people of Hexi Fortress. With only them left, they certainly wouldn’t be a match for the Karluks.

So, these people had to pack up and prepare to move.

“Brother, a total of five hundred and twelve people are going to Hexi Fortress.”

When everything was almost ready, Dahu ran to report his count to Li Xiao.

Then he said with a worried look: “Not only them, but there are also several hundred people from Sanhe Fortress before.”

“With all these people coming to Hexi Fortress, can we afford to feed so many people?”

Nearly a thousand people squeezing into Hexi Fortress; Dahu was very worried about problems arising.

After all, for so many years, the population of Hexi Fortress had grown orderly and slowly, never doubling directly in a short time.

Li Xiao had also considered this and nodded gently: “We can definitely afford to feed them.”

“In another two months, it will be the autumn harvest. The new grain will be able to feed many people.”

Moreover, that woman Xiao Yanyan had promised Li Xiao that Hexi Fortress would be exempt from taxes for the next three years.

This part of the extra tax grain was quite substantial.

Besides, whether it was the people from Sanhe Fortress or Hou Village, they were not destitute refugees.

They themselves had many cattle, sheep, and surplus grain, enough to feed themselves for a period of time.

“Although they have become our Hexi Fortress people, it doesn’t mean we have to abandon Hou Village and Sanhe Fortress.”

Li Xiao said in a calm voice.

His gaze looked toward the farmlands outside the village. At this time, they were full of green wheat, ready for harvest in another two months.

These farmlands originally belonged to the Hou family but were now directly confiscated by Li Xiao.

“When the autumn harvest comes, we will bring them back to harvest the grain.”

“Completely enough to feed these people for at least a year.”

Although Hou Village and Sanhe Fortress were to be temporarily abandoned, Li Xiao wouldn’t leave them alone forever.

After all, these two places had fertile pastures and already cultivated farmlands, ready for direct use.

After this Karluk rebellion passed, Li Xiao would draw a portion of Hexi Fortress herdsmen, mix them with a portion of the original residents of the two fortresses, and return here.

Directly incorporating Hou Village and Sanhe Fortress into Hexi Fortress territory.

In this way, the power of Hexi Fortress would rise directly to a higher level, becoming the strongest Han fortress in Jin Prefecture.

“Moreover, if we really encounter a situation where there isn’t enough food, no one will starve to death,” Li Xiao said in a calm voice.

Dahu was still a bit too kind.

In this Western Regions where the weak are prey to the strong, why did wars break out constantly?

Mainly to compete for survival resources.

If there was no food, snatch it from someone else’s bowl.

If it really came to that point, Li Xiao would rather let them die in battle than starve to death.

Moreover, launching foreign wars was more conducive to the integration and unity of the herdsmen of the three fortresses.

“Alright, anyway, there must be a way when the cart reaches the mountain,” Dahu shook his head gently and said. Knowing Li Xiao had considered these things, he was relieved.

So he turned and ran to a horse cart to take care of Li Erjiang. At the same time, this cart also carried the remains of Li Xiao’s father, Li Da Hai.

Immediately after, Li Xiao looked at these herdsmen of Hou Village and said loudly: “Everyone, take good care of your cattle, sheep, and belongings.”

“Set off now.”

Hearing this, the herdsmen began to shout loudly, driving their respective cattle and sheep toward the outside of the village.

Although they were reluctant to leave Hou Village in their hearts, everyone’s face showed a longing for future life.

Because the Hou family’s exploitation of them was originally too severe.

Not to mention the land wasn’t theirs; even most of the cattle and sheep raised at home belonged to the Hou family.

They were just working for the Hou family, no different from slaves.

Now, Li Xiao promised them that as long as they arrived at Hexi Fortress, half of the Hou family’s cattle and sheep would belong to these herdsmen.

The remaining half would be taken out and distributed to the one hundred youths who went on this expedition.

Such generous behavior naturally satisfied everyone.

Coupled with the pressure brought by Hou Wen and the Karluks, the herdsmen agreed with leaving Hou Village from the bottom of their hearts.

Just like that, the group left Hou Village in a mighty formation, heading in the direction of Hexi Fortress.

After everyone left, the vultures that had long been circling in the sky swooped down, frantically scrambling to eat the corpses of the Hou family members.

Wuya Village.

Located in the east of Jin Prefecture, at the foot of the Altai Mountains, it was a Han village with not much presence.

Facing the siege of the Karluks, although Wuya Village resisted tenaciously, because reinforcements were delayed, it was eventually breached by the Moman tribe.

At this time outside Wuya Village, in a huge tent, the leader of the Moman tribe, Ciputeqin, was sitting on a folding stool.

Drinking kumis, holding two Han women in his arms, ravaging them constantly, laughing presumptuously.

“We Karluks are eagles on the grassland; we should spread our wings and soar, not act as dogs for the Khitans here.”

“The spirits are summoning us, granting us eternal strength, leading us to recreate the supreme glory of the Karluk Khanate.”

Ciputeqin shouted loudly as if drunk, his spirits very high.

Other Karluk nobles in the big tent also echoed Ciputeqin: “That’s right, we Karluks are born strong, eagles on the grassland.”

“Leader Ciputeqin led us to defeat the Khitans and will conquer more Han fortresses.”

“We will definitely be able to rebuild the Karluk Khanate.”

“Ciputeqin should become our new generation Yabgu of the Karluks.”

Hearing the cheers of the Karluk headmen, Ciputeqin was very happy. His efforts were not in vain; he wanted to become the new generation Yabgu of the Karluks.

He would lead the Karluks to restore their former glory and dominate the Western Regions.

“Mr. Hou, when we rebuild the Karluk Khanate, you will be a meritorious official. This Yabgu will definitely reward you heavily, appointing you as the leader of all Han people in the Northern Border.”

Ciputeqin looked at a man sitting below him and said with a loud laugh.

This man looked to be in his forties, not tall, with a thin face, high nose bridge, and narrow eyes, giving people an uncomfortable feeling of being shifty-eyed (thievish).

This person was Hou Tiancai’s biological father, the current Village Lord of Hou Village, Hou Wen.

He didn’t know what happened in Hou Village yet, and was happy about the promise made by Ciputeqin.

“Thank you, Lord Yabgu.”

“My Hou Village will definitely not disappoint Lord Yabgu and will definitely help the Moman tribe occupy those many fortresses as soon as possible.”

Hou Wen stood up and said respectfully to Ciputeqin.

In fact, Hou Wen didn’t believe a word of the big picture painted by Ciputeqin.

He didn’t even believe the Moman tribe could rebuild the Karluk Khanate.

But it didn’t matter; the two sides were just using each other.

Hou Wen just needed to borrow the power of the Karluks to bring more Han fortresses under his command, making the Hou family the leader of all Han people in the Northern Border.

At that time, the Hou family wouldn’t have to depend on the Karluks’ charity and could completely kick them aside and go solo.

“Report.”

Just as everyone was in high spirits, the tent flap was lifted, and a trusted follower of Ciputeqin ran in.

“Reporting to the Leader, bad news. Aslan’s tribe has been annihilated by the Han people.”

Hearing this, Ciputeqin was stunned instantly, holding his wine cup in astonishment, at a loss.

The atmosphere in the entire big tent suddenly became cold and silent. All the Moman tribe headmen still had smiles on their faces, but at this moment, they were directly dumbfounded.

“You, what did you say? Han people?”

Ciputeqin said in astonishment, looking disbelieving.

After the Battle of the Northern Mountains, the troops of the Jin Prefecture Governor-General’s Office were all beaten to collapse by their three-tribe coalition, and even many Han people were eliminated and captured.

Now the Han people in the entire Jin Prefecture, under the powerful might of their three Karluk tribes, only had the strength for self-protection. How could they possibly annihilate Aslan’s tribe?

“It’s true, Leader. Just now, routed soldiers from Aslan’s tribe came to defect to us.”

“Call them in.” Ciputeqin didn’t believe this fact; he wanted to ask personally.

Soon, several Karluks from Aslan’s tribe were summoned in. Everyone was in a sorry state, even covered in blood.

“It’s the Han people.”

“They sneak-attacked us the night before yesterday.” A Karluk soldier said with a pale face. He had escaped from Sanhe Fortress.

He had witnessed with his own eyes the violent offensive of the four-fortress coalition, descending suddenly in the rainy night like ghosts. That overwhelming momentum of destroying everything still made him tremble with fear when he thought about it.

The Karluk soldier was terrified.

The other Moman tribe headmen went into an uproar. Everyone’s face showed anger and nervousness.

Aslan’s tribe and the Moman tribe had similar strength. Did this mean their Moman tribe was also in danger now?

“Which Han village is it?”

“Did you see clearly?”

Hou Wen also looked disbelieving and asked in shock.

Unfortunately, the Karluk soldier couldn’t explain anything clearly, only knowing they were Han people.

Hou Wen only felt it was somewhat absurd, murmuring: “It shouldn’t be!”

“How is it possible?”

(End of this chapter)