Chapter 117: Seizing Power

“Enough.”

Just as Xiao Lintuo’s thoughts were churning and his expression changing, Xiao Sima’s reprimand came from the head seat.

His solemn gaze swept across the tent.

Especially giving Li Xiao and Xiao Lintuo fierce glares.

Two troublemakers, not letting him have a moment of peace.

Xiao Sima didn’t dare to imagine whether these two would beat each other’s brains out in Jin Prefecture after he returned to the Eastern Capital.

No!

It was highly probable that Li Xiao would unilaterally beat Xiao Lintuo’s brains out.

Subsequently, Xiao Sima stood up, walked slowly in front of Li Xiao, and extended his hand.

Li Xiao immediately handed the token in his hand to Xiao Sima.

He saw Xiao Sima weigh it in his hand, then look at Xiao Lintuo and ask in a faint voice, “Does this token belong to a personal guard under your command?”

Hearing Xiao Sima’s question, Xiao Lintuo seemed to understand something.

Xiao Sima’s stance.

Thus, he calmed down instantly in his heart and hurriedly crossed his arms and said, “Replying to my Lord.”

“This token indeed belongs to a personal guard under my command. However, not long ago, one of my personal guards died in battle while fighting the Naimans.”

“His token also disappeared without a trace.”

“Presumably, it must have been taken by the High Priest of the Wuliji Tribe. He used this to impersonate my token and use my name to bewitch others in the Wuliji Tribe to kill Wuliji with him.”

“Thereby conspiring to seize power.”

“My Lord, this subordinate is guilty. Losing a personal guard token caused harm to Thousand-Man Commander Wuliji.”

Saying this, Xiao Lintuo knelt down, looking heartbroken.

As soon as these words came out, everyone was dumbfounded.

But Xiao Sima nodded slightly and said softly, “That is indeed possible.”

Then he looked at Li Xiao and said, “Governor Li, what do you think?”

“Is this token the one lost by Governor Xiao’s personal guard?”

When Xiao Sima spoke, his tone was slightly emphasized.

Seeming to tell Li Xiao that he already knew the origin of this token.

It was you, kid, who bewitched Xiao Yanyan to steal it from the central army warehouse.

Li Xiao’s own butt wasn’t clean, using a token without identity to frame Xiao Lintuo.

Xiao Sima could choose not to expose this matter, but don’t expect Xiao Sima to pretend not to know and help him mess with Xiao Lintuo together.

Understanding the meaning, the corner of Li Xiao’s mouth twitched unconsciously, and he sighed helplessly.

Xiao Sima really protected this dog Xiao Lintuo very much.

Although Li Xiao never expected to completely bring down Xiao Lintuo with such a small matter.

But he couldn’t let Xiao Sima brush this matter aside lightly either.

So, he nodded gently and said, “This subordinate thinks what my Lord says is extremely true.”

“It must be the High Priest of the Wuliji Tribe holding Governor Xiao’s personal guard token, pretending to be Governor Xiao’s order, to bewitch the Wuliji tribesmen.”

Very standard political means.

When unable to completely bring down the opponent’s big shot, one must each take a step back and exchange interests.

Turning to push out that small character who no longer had utilization value as a scapegoat.

So, the final result could only be the High Priest of the Wuliji Tribe coming out to take the blame, becoming the final big explosion.

This was Xiao Sima’s intention, and Li Xiao could only agree.

“Mm.”

“It seems Thousand-Man Commander Wuliji’s death was not directly caused by Governor Xiao Lintuo.”

“However, it is related to him after all.”

Saying this, Xiao Sima shouted solemnly, “Xiao Lintuo.”

“This subordinate is here!”

Immediately, Xiao Lintuo knelt on one knee.

“You were lax in military discipline, indifferent to the token of a personal guard killed in action, giving ambitious people an opportunity to harm Thousand-Man Commander Wuliji.”

“Now I punish you with one hundred lashes and a fine of one thousand sheep to compensate the Wuliji Tribe.”

“Do you accept?”

This could be considered a small punishment for Xiao Lintuo.

After all, Wuliji was truly plotted to death by Xiao Lintuo.

It was just that Xiao Sima didn’t want to punish Xiao Lintuo excessively yet.

After all, he still needed him to check and balance Li Xiao.

Just a small punishment as a warning.

Among them, Wuliji’s life was only worth one thousand sheep.

And those one hundred lashes were actually because of Xiao Lintuo planting spies in Xiao Yanyan’s personal guard team.

When Xiao Lintuo learned the news that those three spies had lost contact, he would immediately understand that these one hundred lashes were actually Xiao Sima’s warning to him.

Don’t cross the line—don’t do things you shouldn’t do.

“This subordinate accepts.”

“I deserve the punishment!”

Xiao Lintuo immediately said loudly, actually secretly relieved in his heart.

This matter was his careless handling, caught by Li Xiao.

Now was already the best result.

If not for Xiao Sima’s protection, it wouldn’t be as simple as lashes and compensating sheep.

“Good!”

Xiao Sima nodded gently, fairly satisfied with Xiao Lintuo’s attitude of admitting mistakes.

Subsequently, he ordered again, “The High Priest of the Wuliji Tribe issued false orders, offended superiors, and murdered a heavy minister of my Northern Frontier.”

“His crime deserves death!”

“Order! execute all males in the High Priest’s family of the Wuliji Tribe, and exile the female family members as slaves.”

On the steppe, population represented wealth, and women were wealth capable of reproducing population, so no one would kill women easily.

Living women had higher value.

“Yes, my Lord!”

Gu Zizhong responded softly not far away, preparing to draft the order.

At this time, Li Xiao stepped forward and said, “My Lord, although Thousand-Man Commander Wuliji was murdered…”

“His Thousand-Man Commander position is currently vacant and undecided.”

“Please make a decision, my Lord.”

Although Xiao Sima let this matter go lightly, Li Xiao couldn’t take no benefits at all.

This Thousand-Man Commander was something in his bag.

And Xiao Sima naturally understood Li Xiao’s meaning clearly. Although he didn’t really want Li Xiao’s power to continue expanding, lest he form absolute suppression over Xiao Lintuo…

Regarding this Thousand-Man Commander position, he really couldn’t decide casually.

Thus, Xiao Sima looked at Amo and said in a faint voice, “Amo, listen to the order.”

“Here!”

Amo instantly became spirited and shouted directly in salute.

“You are Wuliji’s son; his official position should be inherited by you.”

“From now on, you are the Lower Thousand-Man Commander of Jin Prefecture,” Xiao Sima said in a faint voice.

Ultimately, he gave this Thousand-Man Commander position to Amo.

Because Jin Prefecture had just completed the registration of the population.

Taking back the power originally belonging to fortresses and tribes initially.

At this time, everyone was watching.

Wuliji died; if someone else became this Thousand-Man Commander, what would others think?

Thousand-Man and Hundred-Man Commanders couldn’t be inherited by their own descendants; once they died, would they be taken back by the Garrison Commissioner’s Office and passed to others?

In this way, the leaders who originally ruled fortresses and tribes for generations would inevitably have a great sense of imbalance in their hearts.

They would think that this reform would eventually leave them with nothing.

Therefore, not to challenge the sensitive nerves of these interest groups, Xiao Sima could only follow the customary rules and let Amo inherit this Thousand-Man Commander position.

To stabilize the hearts of various Thousand-Man and Hundred-Man Commanders in Jin Prefecture.

Although Xiao Sima indeed intended to turn Thousand-Man and Hundred-Man Commanders into rotating officials.

But the time wasn’t ripe yet— he could only wait for later.

“Thank you, my Lord.”

“In the future, this subordinate will definitely uphold my late father’s wish and dash my brains out on the ground for my Lord.”

Amo said loudly, his voice becoming excited.

Done!

He really inherited this Thousand-Man Commander position.

At this moment, his gratitude and admiration for Li Xiao were simply beyond addition.

If not for Li Xiao, let alone becoming a Thousand-Man Commander now, his small life would probably have already been ended by the joint hands of Xiao Lintuo and the High Priest.

And Li Xiao also smiled gently in his heart, obtaining the result he was satisfied with.

Just based on this matter, he never thought he could overthrow Xiao Lintuo.

The ultimate goal was just to seize power.

After this disturbance, Xiao Lintuo was not only Amo’s father-killing enemy but also a constant threat to his own life.

So, from now on, Amo could only rely on Li Xiao.

The Jin Prefecture Lower Thousand-Man Unit, composed of the Wuliji Tribe and several other Hundred-Man units, would be incorporated into the forces under Li Xiao’s command.

Of the eight major Thousand-Man Commanders in Jin Prefecture, Li Xiao had already obtained five.

This time, it could be considered a gain.

Subsequently, Xiao Sima used fatigue as an excuse to drive everyone out of the large tent.

After leaving, Li Xiao took Amo and walked towards Wumeng and another nomadic Thousand-Man Commander.

“Thousand-Man Commander Wumeng, Thousand-Man Commander Huliji.”

Hearing this, the two stopped immediately and shouted one after another, “Governor Li.”

At the same time, their gazes looked somewhat guilty at Xiao Lintuo ahead.

“Ignore him,” Li Xiao chuckled.

Since things had reached this stage, Li Xiao didn’t care if he tore off his face with Xiao Lintuo.

Now, the most important thing was to enhance strength.

“I know that regarding today’s matter, you two were coerced.”

“Not deliberately making things difficult for me, Li Xiao,” Li Xiao said with a light smile.

Immediately after, he pointedly said, “Moreover, you were also deceived by certain people with bad intentions.”

“Some people don’t treat the brothers under their command as humans.”

“How much merit did Thousand-Man Commander Wuliji establish on the Naiman battlefield? He was a resounding man.”

“Unfortunately, he died just like that.”

“Hehe…”

Li Xiao sneered and said vowedly, “I, Li Xiao, am not that kind of person.”

“Everyone knows that I, Li Xiao, always put loyalty first; the most important thing when coming out to mix is to be worthy of brothers.”

“Two Thousand-Man Commanders, we can contact each other often in the future. With more opportunities to get along, you will naturally understand my, character.”

“Coincidentally, my Hexi Fortress has just brewed a fine wine, West Wind Fury. If you have time, you two can come to find me for a drink anytime.”

Listening to Li Xiao’s words, Wumeng and Huliji felt even more guilty.

They could vaguely feel the murderous aura emanating from Xiao Lintuo ahead.

So, they could only laugh awkwardly: “Okay, okay.”

“When there is time, we will definitely disturb Governor Li.”

Subsequently, amidst Xiao Lintuo’s gaze that almost wanted to eat people, Li Xiao gave a light laugh and strode back to his own military camp with Amo.

This time, the harvest was full.

Taking Amo as a younger brother was equivalent to taking down a thousand households of nomadic cavalry.

Secondly, Xiao Lintuo’s act of killing Wuliji would definitely make Wumeng, Huliji, and others vigilant.

They would dare even less to trust Xiao Lintuo, afraid that one day, Xiao Lintuo would kill them and then let his people be the Thousand-Man Commanders.

They would definitely be on guard in their hearts.

At the same time, Li Xiao showed favor to the two just now. Although it might not play a big role…

It would definitely make Xiao Lintuo feel very uncomfortable in his heart.

Uncontrollably suspecting— would these two Thousand-Man Commanders betray him and defect to Li Xiao?

And once this seed of suspicion appeared, taking root and sprouting was only a matter of time.

So, Li Xiao successfully created a rift between Xiao Lintuo and the two Thousand-Man Commanders.

Now, the only one Xiao Lintuo could truly trust and mobilize was just one Thousand-Man Commander.

That Thousand-Man Commander was a Khitan and Xiao Lintuo’s trusted aide.