Chapter 35: Hou Village

Hou Village.

Located forty li east of Sanhe Fortress.

It was a medium-sized fortress village with a population of over six hundred.

The largest surname in Hou Village was ‘Hou’, and the entire Hou family numbered more than a hundred people.

Since fifty years ago, the Hou family had been the greatest power in Hou Village, firmly ruling the entire Hou Village.

They even considered Hou Village as the Hou family’s private territory, and themselves as the masters of Hou Village.

Other families were merely servants raised by the Hou family.

From birth to death, generations had to farm and herd for the Hou family.

This afternoon, a cavalry team of about ten people left Hou Village, heading slowly toward the southeast.

In the middle of the team, riding a horse was a woman with a slender figure.

Not tall, but with a graceful and charming figure, wearing a red silk long dress, a gold and jade hairpin in her hair, and a short sheepskin jacket over it.

This attire appeared much more luxurious and wealthy than ordinary women of the Northern Border.

A pair of watery peach blossom eyes revealed her coquettishness, and her every move exuded the charm of a mature woman.

Coupled with that fair face and delicate skin, those who didn’t know would think this woman was a lady from a noble family in the Central Plains, not looking like a woman of the Northern Border grassland at all.

However, at this moment, this woman had her brows furrowed tightly, her expression revealing a hint of unease.

Turning her head from time to time to look at the man riding beside her.

“Husband.”

“Are we really going to persuade my father?” the woman asked hesitantly.

The man beside her also looked less than twenty years old, fair and tender, very handsome, with a high nose bridge and thin lips.

Holding the woman’s hand, he smiled gently and said: “Wife, we are not going to persuade Father-in-law, but to save him.”

“Saving the entire Huangsha Village.”

“But…” the woman said with a very difficult expression.

“My father has never liked the Karluks. Now asking him to surrender to the Karluks with Huangsha Village, he definitely won’t be willing.”

Although the woman looked charming and coquettish, she was a very traditional woman in her bones.

Always remembering the principle of obeying the husband after marriage.

So, when her husband’s family decided to surrender to the Karluks, although the woman was reluctant in her heart, she never said a word to stop it.

After all, as a woman, she couldn’t stop such a big event.

She just wanted to be a good wife dutifully.

But unexpectedly, her husband actually wanted to take her back to her parents’ home to persuade her father to surrender to the Karluks together.

Her father had a stubborn temper, was obstinate, and hated the Karluks the most.

“I’m afraid, afraid that when the time comes, he will draw his sword and kill us directly,” the woman said worriedly.

Looking at the woman’s appearance, the man snorted carelessly: “Wife, although Father-in-law has a bad temper, I believe he will be a smart person.”

“In this situation, what good is there in continuing to oppose the Karluks?”

“Even the Khitans have been defeated by the Karluks, and the Jin Prefecture Governor-General’s Office is gone. Only us scattered Han people are left; how can we resist the Karluks?”

“Moreover, it’s not like you don’t know that Sanhe Fortress to our west has already been breached by the Karluks.”

“Heard from Dad that many people were killed in Sanhe Fortress, very miserable.”

“Are you willing to see Huangsha Village become like Sanhe Fortress?”

Hearing her husband’s threat, the woman was scared and shook her head hurriedly.

If one could live well, who would want to die?

“Wait until we get to Huangsha Village, persuade Father-in-law properly.”

“Even if he is obstinate, he must consider the life and death of hundreds of people in the village, right?”

“And I don’t believe that those people in the village are all so obstinate,” the man snorted lightly.

His name was Hou Tiancai, the Young Lord of Hou Village.

Beside him was his wife, Huang Xiu’er of Huangsha Village.

The reason for going to persuade Huangsha Village was that the power of Hou Village alone was really too weak.

Hou Village itself only had fewer than seven hundred people, and those who could be pulled out to fight totaled less than two hundred.

Previously, his father went to Sanhe Fortress, preparing to discuss surrender with Aslan’s tribe.

But just because Hou Village was too weak and had too few troops, they were looked down upon by Aslan’s tribe, who refused to agree to the Hou family’s request, ultimately returning without success.

Therefore, the Hou family prepared to win over more villages, increase their own bargaining chips, and surrender to another Karluk tribe, the Moman tribe.

“As long as our villages unite, the Karluks will definitely not look down on us then,” Hou Tiancai said indifferently.

“Once the Karluks occupy the entire Jin Prefecture, we will be the greatest contributors. All Han villages will have to obey the orders of our Hou Village and Huangsha Village from then on.”

“Our two families will be the ‘Kings’ of the Jin Prefecture Han people.”

As Hou Tiancai spoke, his tone became more and more excited, constantly brainwashing Huang Xiu’er.

“As for whether the Karluks can take Jin Prefecture?”

“Hmph, tell you the truth, Wife.”

“The Karluks are supported by the Naimans behind them.”

“With the help of the Naimans, the Karluks will definitely be able to defeat the Khitan army from the Eastern Capital, and even occupy the entire Northern Border.”

“At that time, we will have the merit of supporting the rise of a new ruler.”

Hou Tiancai said with a fanatical tone.

Regarding the current situation, the Hou family had analyzed it thoroughly.

The Karluks had a great chance of winning.

After the Battle of the Northern Mountains, the entire Jin Prefecture had no power to resist the Karluks.

Next, the Karluks would definitely attack cities and seize strongholds, bringing the entire Jin Prefecture under their command.

Although the Eastern Capital would definitely send troops to suppress the Karluks, the Karluks also had the Naimans behind them.

The Eastern Capital Army coming from afar would definitely not be a match for the powerful Naimans.

As for the Royal Court…

It was even further away. By the time the Royal Court’s army arrived, it would probably take several months, and everything would be too late.

“As long as we seize this opportunity, our Hou family can become the leader of all Han people in the Northern Border.”

“We can even bypass the Karluks and let the Naimans enfeoff the entire Jin Prefecture to us.”

Hou Tiancai was fantasizing about a beautiful future. Although the risk this time wasn’t small, thinking of the returns after success, all risks were worth it.

While Huang Xiu’er looked at her husband’s somewhat obsessed and persistent appearance, she couldn’t help but sigh gently in her heart.

“Marry a chicken, follow the chicken; marry a dog, follow the dog.”

She didn’t understand men’s affairs; she only knew to be a good wife and help her husband resolve worries for the future.

Whether the Khitans ruled Jin Prefecture, or the Karluks or Naimans ruled, the status of Han people was just like this anyway.

Fundamentally speaking, Huang Xiu’er thought there was no difference between Khitans and Karluks.

They were all the same.

As long as the family was safe and sound.

The woman’s thoughts were simple, but she completely didn’t understand the cruel nature of power transitions.

Every change of power was accompanied by soul-stirring struggles, and once the bet failed, the outcome was also extremely tragic.

Family ruined and dead.

The group continued toward the direction of Huangsha Village. At this speed, they could definitely arrive before dark.

But at this moment, a burly man in the team suddenly shouted loudly.

“Young Lord, cavalry.”

Everyone’s gaze looked toward the west, seeing twenty-odd cavalrymen galloping scattered on that green earth.

“Who are they? Why are they outside my Hou Village?” Hou Tiancai frowned and asked.

“Young Lord, their numbers are greater than ours; they seem to have come with ill intent,” the man from before said.

Hou Tiancai considered it and decided to return to Hou Village.

After all, being bitten by enemies on the grassland would be troublesome.

Meanwhile, Li Xiao also saw Hou Tiancai’s group.

“Brother Da Long, these people seem to have just come out of Hou Village,” Shou Hou said to Li Xiao.

Li Xiao and the others had just arrived at Hou Village not long ago.

He let Dahu and the others rest on the spot, while he took the twenty-odd cavalrymen of the first team, preparing to scout around Hou Village.

In war, many commanders would go to the front line personally to conduct reconnaissance, observing the terrain and the enemy’s troop deployment.

Then combining with the reconnaissance results of other scouts, formulate the final battle plan.

Li Xiao was the same; he attached great importance to pre-battle reconnaissance and intelligence gathering.

However, after Li Xiao’s observation, he found that the defense of Hou Village was very tight. Not only were there moats and walled battlements around it, but they even dug pit traps.

Forcibly attacking would inevitably lead to heavy losses.

Absolutely unadvisable.

Li Xiao’s original plan was to lure the snake out of the hole, drawing the main force of Hou Village out and annihilating them on the grassland outside.

But unexpectedly, he happened to run into Hou Tiancai’s group, which seemed to give Li Xiao an opportunity.

“The cavalry at the front and back look more like guards, protecting the two in the middle,” Li Xiao murmured.

Tie Tou beside him nodded gently: “Those two must be important figures of Hou Village; one of them seems to be a woman.”

Hearing this, Li Xiao smiled gently: “Hehe.”

“Just capture them all and ask, then we’ll know.”

At this time, Shou Hou suddenly said: “Brother Da Long, those people are running.”

When Li Xiao discovered them, they also saw Li Xiao. After all, the terrain south of Hou Village was relatively flat; as long as it wasn’t very far, one could see.

And Li Xiao naturally couldn’t let them run away.

“Chase them, don’t let them escape,” Li Xiao shouted, leading his little brothers in a wild pursuit.

Because they came with three horses per person, the warhorses had ample stamina.

Twenty-odd cavalrymen behind versus the ten-person team of Hou Village.

The advantage is mine.

Warhorses charged rapidly. Twenty-odd Hexi youths held spears and war sabers, murderous, galloping on this wasteland grassland, accompanied by low and roaring sounds.

Hou Tiancai and the others also immediately discovered the intention of Li Xiao’s group.

“They are coming towards us.”

“Could these people be horse bandits?”

“Hurry back to the village.”

“Don’t panic, this is very close to Hou Village; they dare not do anything,” Hou Tiancai said loudly.

He calmed down the somewhat panicking crowd.

His gaze turned to those cavalrymen in the distance, pondering secretly who the other party was.

Han people? Or Karluks?

The possibility of horse bandits was high.

But regardless, the other party came aggressively, and his side was outnumbered, so it was better to avoid temporarily.

Thus, Hou Tiancai hurriedly sped up to return. Once back in Hou Village and gathering more troops, he wouldn’t be afraid of these people.

It was just that the other party’s speed was very fast, with an attitude of catching up regardless of everything.

“Must wipe out this group of damn horse bandits in the future.”

Thinking this, Hou Tiancai glanced at his wife beside him, feeling a bit disdainful in his heart.

If not for Huang Xiu’er’s poor horsemanship, they wouldn’t be running so slowly.

If this continued, they would probably be caught up by the other party.

With no choice, Hou Tiancai could only shout loudly at Li Xiao and the others chasing behind.

“I am the Young Lord of Hou Village, Hou Tiancai.”

“Who are you?”

“If you continue chasing, we won’t be polite.”

Hou Tiancai attempted to use the prestige of Hou Village to scare off the other party. After all, this was already very close to Hou Village.

People from the village could come to support at any time.

But unexpectedly for Hou Tiancai, upon hearing his identity, Li Xiao’s eyes lit up, not shocked but delighted.

“Young Lord of Hou Village?”

Haha, didn’t expect to catch a big fish while scouting.

So Li Xiao shouted without hesitation: “Capture them for me.”

(End of this chapter)