Chapter 81: Altai Mountains Breached

In the Northern Border Army, Xiao Simo personally went to the front line to supervise and command.

Although the soldiers failed to breach the defense line at the Northeast Pass, Xiao Simo was not disappointed.

The commotion here was vigorous, but in reality, it was ultimately just a feint attack to attract the main force of the Naimans.

“Li Xiao, don’t disappoint this King.”

Xiao Simo, wearing armor, stood on high ground looking at the mountains, hands behind his back, saying secretly in his heart.

This time, he almost put all his bets on Li Xiao.

If Li Xiao failed, then Xiao Simo would probably find it difficult to breach the Altai Mountains and could only withdraw troops back to the Northern Border.

The Naimans would always pose a threat behind him, preventing him from dealing with the Royal Court with full strength.

So, the Battle of the Altai Mountains was crucial to Xiao Simo.

He placed high hopes on Li Xiao.

“Pass the order down…”

Xiao Simo was just about to order the army to rest temporarily, but at this moment, he saw two personal guards rushing over from the distance.

“Report!”

The voice came from far to near. The two quickly rode their horses in front of Xiao Simo and said loudly:

“Great King, wolf smoke, the wolf smoke has risen.”

“What?”

Hearing this, Xiao Simo’s face instantly became ecstatic.

He naturally understood what this meant.

According to the agreement with Li Xiao, once Li Xiao arrived near the Northeast Pass, he would light the wolf smoke immediately.

After Xiao Simo’s people saw it, they would launch a general attack directly to coordinate with Li Xiao’s action.

Having waited for the wolf smoke for so many days, he finally waited for it.

“Hahahaha!”

“Great.”

Xiao Simo was overjoyed.

Once the wolf smoke rises, the great matter is accomplished!

“Order all divisions.”

“Gather all troops, breach the pass at all costs, and flatten the Naiman main camp.”

Xiao Simo shouted spiritedly.

Sweeping away the previous annoyance and helplessness, now the offense and defense of the Altai Mountains had reversed.

Attacked from front and rear, the Naimans absolutely couldn’t hold on for long; the time for the general attack had arrived.

Xiao Simo’s military order quickly reached the hands of the military leaders of various divisions in the Northern Border.

“General attack of the whole army?” Xiao Linta received the order, his face changing.

While letting his soldiers prepare for attack, he also wanted to figure out the situation.

After all, being a veteran general with strong connections, he soon knew the reason why Xiao Simo issued this order.

“Li Xiao?” Xiao Linta was dumbfounded.

Unexpectedly, Li Xiao had already detoured to the enemy’s rear and launched an attack on the Naimans from the other side.

“No wonder…” Xiao Linta murmured to himself, looking very helpless.

At that time, Li Xiao selected troops from various divisions with great fanfare, but soon there was no movement.

Even where Li Xiao went, no one was clear.

Now he finally figured it out; turns out he had unknowingly sneaked into the Naiman hinterland?

“The Naimans are really stupid enough!” Xiao Linta shook his head and laughed.

Then he mounted his warhorse and led his army to launch an attack.

Other divisions were the same; those with ability all received the news.

“Li Xiao went to stab the Naimans’ ass?” Xiao Tuolatu was stunned.

Immediately after, he laughed loudly: “Good, this kid is interesting.”

“Pass the order, the doomsday of the Naimans has arrived. Follow me to charge over, kill.”

And the most excited were Qin Kaishan and the others; Xiao Yanyan specially sent people to inform them of this news.

“Finally there is news.” Qin Kaishan breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

Since Li Xiao led people away, there bad been no news. Qin Kaishan and the others who stayed behind were also fearful.

Now that the news came, Li Xiao succeeded.

“Fortunately Da Long and the others are fine,” Zhao Tiezhu nodded and said.

“It’s time for us to act too, meet up with Da Long as soon as possible.”

Subsequently, the remaining troops of the seven-fortress coalition also attacked the pass under the leadership of the two.

At this time, the Naiman soldiers at the pass also learned the news of the main camp being attacked one after another.

Everyone knew their current situation clearly; they were already attacked from front and rear.

There was probably no hope for this battle.

Associating with the news heard before that a Liao army had penetrated deep into the Naiman hinterland and was frantically looting various tribes.

With worry and longing for their relatives, facing the crazy attack of the Northern Border Army.

The Naiman army collapsed rapidly.

The Northern Border Army finally breached the Altai Mountains Pass, chasing and killing the retreating Naiman soldiers frantically.

In the Naiman main camp, the battle situation was equally fierce. Under the personal leadership of Koke Xue’wu, the Naiman soldiers began tenacious resistance against Li Xiao’s army.

But not long after, a voice rang out in the main camp.

“The General is dead.”

“General Koke Xue’wu was killed by the Liao people.”

Soldiers looked in panic, only to find a Liao general wearing armor, holding a horse lance high.

And on the front of the horse lance hung a corpse.

The commander of the Naiman army, Koke Xue’wu.

This scene directly shocked the Naiman soldiers in the main camp.

Fear and panic appeared on everyone’s face.

In this era, the commander-in-chief was the soul pillar of an army.

Once the commander-in-chief died, it was a huge blow to the soldiers’ morale.

“Koke Xue’wu is dead; those who surrender will not be killed.”

Li Xiao shouted loudly in the Naiman language he had just learned, while making every soldier under his command repeat this sentence.

The effect was also obvious; no one wanted to die, and even fewer people would persist in a battle where victory couldn’t be seen.

The fighting spirit of the Naiman soldiers in the main camp was disintegrated instantly, and they began to scatter and flee.

Only a few die-hards still tried to resist vainly, but were all killed by Li Xiao’s troops.

Naiman main camp breached!

Li Xiao led people to continue chasing and killing the scattered Naiman soldiers.

An hour (two hours) later, Xiao Simo brought people to the main camp.

Looking at the many detained Naiman prisoners in the main camp, and then at Koke Xue’wu’s corpse on the ground.

A satisfied smile instantly appeared on his face.

Dismounting, he came to Li Xiao.

“Good, good, hahahaha!”

“This King indeed did not misjudge you.”

“In this Battle of the Altai Mountains, you, Li Xiao, deserve the first merit.”

“This King is never stingy with his own people and will absolutely not treat those with merit unfairly.”

“Just wait!”

Xiao Simo laughed happily, patted Li Xiao’s blood-stained armor, and generously made promises of promotion and rewards to Li Xiao.

Looking at this Han youth taller than himself in front of him, he became more and more satisfied in his heart.

So what if he isn’t a Khitan?

Khitans might not be absolutely reliable either.

Instead, a Han person like Li Xiao with a clean family background and no relationship with the Royal Court was more trustworthy.

In history, many people defeated enemies in internal political struggles by relying on the power of foreign tribes.

Just like the Jingnan Campaign launched by Zhu Di; the Mongol cavalry under his command played a major role.

Foreign tribes were like isolated ministers, without the capital to play both sides; the only one they could rely on was their patron.

And in Xiao Simo’s eyes, the Han force represented by Li Xiao had clearly become an important arm for him to compete for power with the Royal Court.

So Xiao Simo had already made a decision in his heart; he must cultivate Li Xiao well and keep him for great use.

“The Battle of the Altai Mountains was due to the joint efforts of all generals…”

Li Xiao said some polite remarks, praising other generals well.

He already took the benefits; what did it matter to say some nice words?

Finally, Li Xiao said again: “This lowly general has another gift to present to the Great King.”

Li Xiao paused, looking at Xiao Simo’s doubtful and slightly expectant gaze.

“You kid, don’t send me women again.”

“I, Xiao Simo, have never been fond of lust.” Xiao Simo pointed at Li Xiao and scolded laughingly.

Pah!

Shameless!

You, Xiao Simo, also accepted that Karluk beauty sent to your tent last time against your conscience.

“This lowly general knows deeply that the Great King keeps himself clean; how dare I use women to become a laughingstock?”

“The gift this lowly general wants to present to the Great King is actually the Naiman Prince Kuchlug; he is the son Tayang Khan values most.”

Hearing Li Xiao’s words, Xiao Simo instantly became interested: “Oh, the Naiman Prince was caught by you?”

“Already detained.”

“Good.” Xiao Simo laughed loudly; another piece of good news.

He had also heard of the name Kuchlug. Tayang Khan indeed valued him very much, and he had certain prestige among Naiman tribes.

Capturing Kuchlug was indeed a blow to the morale of the Naimans.

“In this way, we can have a good talk with Tayang Khan.” Xiao Simo nodded smilingly.

Xiao Simo didn’t plan to eliminate the Naimans in one war.

Unrealistic.

The Naimans were the overlords of the Mongolian steppe, with strong power.

If really pushed to a desperate situation, under a dying counterattack, the Northern Border would inevitably suffer heavy losses too.

This didn’t fit Xiao Simo’s interests.

It would only benefit the Royal Court and other tribes on the grassland for nothing.

Therefore, Xiao Simo’s purpose was only to strike at the Naiman power so that they would no longer have the strength to threaten the Northern Border.

“Order all divisions to clean up the battlefield. In two days, march to the Naiman Khan Court,” Xiao Simo ordered.

In a very good mood, he pulled Li Xiao to the big tent, preparing to feast the meritorious official well.

Subsequently, various divisions continued to act, chasing Naiman deserters and organizing spoils on the battlefield.

Still needed to be busy for a long time.

And after thanking Xiao Simo for the banquet, Li Xiao led people away from the Altai Mountains, preparing to continue searching for Naiman tribes.

The six tribes looted before were far from satisfying Li Xiao’s appetite.

He needed more cattle, sheep, supplies, slaves, and women to support the army.

(End of this chapter)