Chapter 93: Merits and Heavy Rewards

Tayang Khan retreated, and the Liao army took advantage of the momentum to pursue.

They chased all the way to the location of the Naiman Khan’s Court, capturing a large amount of cattle, sheep, and supplies.

However, before the war broke out, Tayang Khan had already considered a retreat route.

He had let his Queen Consort, Gurbesu, take most of the cattle and sheep and migrate north. What was left in the Khan’s Court was only a small portion of supplies that hadn’t been transferred in time, which naturally fell into the hands of the Liao army.

Under these circumstances, Xiao Sima issued an order to stop the pursuit.

“Tayang Khan has become a stray dog. The other tribes of the steppe will not let go of this opportunity to beat a drowning dog.”

“Order all units to rest in place. We will return in triumph in ten days.”

Xiao Sima sat on his warhorse, gazing at the chaotic Naiman Khan’s Court at the foot of the mountain, and spoke faintly in a deep voice.

The steppe was a hodgepodge with numerous tribes.

Everyone wanted to annex other tribes to achieve their own hegemony.

Just like the Keraites, who had years of grudges against the Naimans.

Now that the Naiman tribe had suffered heavy losses under the blow of the Liao army, Wang Khan would certainly not let go of this opportunity.

Tayang Khan’s situation would likely become increasingly difficult.

Of course, the most important reason was that the Liao army was also exhausted and urgently needed rest.

“What are the casualties of each unit?” Xiao Sima asked in a deep voice.

Standing beside him was Gu Zizhong, the strategist Xiao Sima had arranged to go undercover in the Desert Military Governor’s Office.

He had just finished counting the casualties and quickly rushed over to report to Xiao Sima.

“The Six Divisions lost eight hundred men in battle, and about a thousand are seriously injured.”

As soon as these words came out, Xiao Sima slowly closed his eyes. He didn’t say a word, but it wasn’t hard to see from the expression on his face…

Just how angry he was in his heart.

The Six Divisions could be said to be the core of Xiao Sima’s direct line.

The entire tribe had only a little over eight thousand able-bodied men.

To win against the Naimans, Xiao Sima had brought five thousand men directly. Unexpectedly, after one decisive battle, eight hundred died directly in battle.

And given the medical level of this era, the remaining one thousand seriously injured were basically issued critical condition notices.

The few who survived probably wouldn’t be able to go on the battlefield again.

The combat losses of the troops from the Six Divisions exceeded one-third; Xiao Sima’s heart was bleeding.

“Are there any suspected targets?” Xiao Sima said in a low voice, a sharp gleam flashing in his slowly opening eyes.

Gu Zizhong naturally knew what Xiao Sima meant; he was asking about the culprit who caused such heavy casualties—that venomous snake.

“Last night, General Xiao Tuladuo went to drink with Governor-General Uqai Tubuli. The entourage he brought should have had the opportunity to access Governor-General Uqai Tubuli’s warhorse,” Gu Zizhong mused.

Then he looked at Xiao Sima’s face and found that he didn’t even blink. Gu Zizhong couldn’t guess his thoughts and didn’t dare say more.

“Continue investigating this matter. Interrogate all the personal guards around Governor-General Uqai Tubuli thoroughly,” Xiao Sima’s faint voice sounded.

“Besides Xiao Tuladuo, see if there are any other suspicious persons.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

Next, Gu Zizhong continued to report the casualties of other units.

“The various tribes of Yin Mountain lost about a thousand men.”

“The situation in Beihai is special. Many soldiers fled, and less than three thousand remain in the military camp.”

Hearing this, Xiao Sima’s face darkened again.

One must know that initially, Beihai had a total of six thousand cavalry. Now, less than half remained?

It was impossible that the rest all died in battle; they must have fled to who knows where.

It was precisely because of the rout of the Beihai tribes that the soldiers of the Six Divisions suffered heavy casualties, making Xiao Sima’s hatred for those people even deeper.

“A bunch of bastards.”

“Pass the order down: any Beihai tribal soldiers found fleeing are to be arrested.”

“Officers are to be executed; ordinary soldiers are to be made military slaves.”

Xiao Sima had to implement thunderous measures to awe the army’s heart, letting all soldiers understand the cost of deserting in the face of battle.

Making others afraid to follow suit.

At the same time, it was also preparation for the succession of the next Governor-General of Beihai, establishing authority for the upcoming registration of the population in Beihai.

“Yes, my Lord.”

After the messenger left, Gu Zizhong continued to report casualties.

“The situation in Jin Prefecture is also not optimistic. Soldier casualties are around one thousand eight hundred. Just within the unit of Thousand-Man Commander Li Xiao, casualties reached one thousand four hundred.”

“The situation in the Desert is better, with fewer than five hundred casualties.”

After listening to the reports from all units, Xiao Sima’s expression didn’t change much.

After all, except for the direct line of the Six Divisions, the losses of these motley troops didn’t have a very big impact on Xiao Sima.

However, when he heard that Li Xiao’s unit suffered such heavy casualties, Xiao Sima couldn’t help but feel a twinge of compassion.

“One thousand four hundred men, combat losses approaching half.”

Especially considering that at the final moment, it was Li Xiao leading the army in a desperate charge that saved the grand army from danger.

Such heavy casualties seemed reasonable in Xiao Sima’s view.

Although human lives were just cold numbers in Xiao Sima’s eyes, facing this situation, he still needed to give heavy rewards.

Otherwise, who would risk their lives for him in the future?

“For Li Xiao’s unit, every surviving soldier is rewarded with twenty sheep. For those killed in action whose bodies can be found, send fifty sheep to their families.”

This decision made Xiao Sima bleed heavily too.

But after all, this was what Xiao Sima had said. In the Battle of Altai Mountain, Li Xiao led three thousand surprise troops to cross the Alai Ridge at the risk of the whole army being wiped out, and Xiao Sima had promised heavy rewards for this.

Now, even if it hurt, he had to honor it.

As for soldiers other than the Six Divisions, although they also had to be rewarded, they certainly wouldn’t be rewarded this much.

However, what Xiao Sima didn’t know was that the casualties of the soldiers under Li Xiao were actually not that great.

Among the one thousand four hundred men, apart from the three hundred killed in the previous continuous battles, the remaining one thousand one hundred or so were hidden by Li Xiao.

Li Xiao didn’t intend to return these people; they were currently guarding Li Xiao’s ‘treasury’.

After the war, they would all be taken back to Jin Prefecture.

Ten days passed in a flash. The Liao grand army finished resting and was about to embark on the return journey.

The day before the return in triumph, Xiao Sima summoned all the generals, preparing to announce the rewards for the grand army.

Inside the large tent, the banquet was in full swing.

On the table in front of every general were fine wine, fragrant roasted lamb, and other dishes.

In the center of the tent, a group of Naiman women with good figures and half-open clothes were dancing gracefully.

In this great battle, the Liao army had captured many Naimans. Moreover, after learning the news of Tayang Khan’s escape, some Naiman tribes voluntarily came to submit to Xiao Sima.

Therefore, now the entire area east of the Altai Mountains, all the way to the Zhabu River basin, had become Liao territory.

Xiao Sima’s sphere of influence had expanded by nearly half, and he had no shortage of Naiman beauties under his command.

At this moment, he was sitting on a folding stool, hugging a Naiman woman on each side, his face ruddy, smiling at the generals.

“Gentlemen, how are the looks of these Naiman women? This is a gift I specifically had people prepare for you meritorious warriors.”

Xiao Sima sat on the head folding stool, raising his cup to the generals with a chuckle.

The generals chimed in with laughter: “Naiman women have delicate skin and slender figures; they have a unique flavor.”

“The Prince’s taste naturally wouldn’t be bad.”

“Thank you for the reward, my Lord.”

“Hahaha.”

Xiao Sima laughed loudly, very satisfied with everyone’s answers, then waved his big hand: “Continue playing music, continue dancing.”

“Today, we won’t go home until we’re drunk.”

Until the atmosphere was about right, and the eyes of those generals looking at the dancing girls became increasingly covetous and blurred.

Xiao Sima chuckled. How could he not be clear about the thoughts of these bastards?

He waved his hand, and these women scattered one after another, walking towards each general.

After experiencing these few major battles, Li Xiao’s seat in the tent had moved forward a lot; he was considered a relatively important figure now.

Facing Xiao Sima’s kindness, he didn’t intend to refuse at all.

“Pour wine.”

Li Xiao tapped his finger lightly on the table, and the Naiman woman beside him immediately picked up the wine pot.

This was a girl of fifteen or sixteen. Being selected to dance for the generals, her looks were naturally beautiful enough.

It was just that she was a bit timid, trembling while pouring wine, simply like a frightened little white rabbit.

Li Xiao’s gaze couldn’t help but glance over, and he said in a flat voice, “Am I that scary?”

But the woman put down the wine pot, looking blank.

Li Xiao instantly realized—he hadn’t learned the Naiman language yet, so they couldn’t communicate at all.

He couldn’t bring Hutu to this kind of occasion.

“Forget it…” Shaking his head, he ate the lamb on his own.

He had to say, roasted lamb was just tastier than boiled.

Meanwhile, the Naiman girl beside him was secretly rejoicing in her heart.

She was originally just the daughter of a chief of a small Naiman tribe. After Tayang Khan was defeated, her father voluntarily submitted to the Liao people to preserve the tribe.

And he presented her to the Liao army.

However, when she saw the room full of crude Liao generals who were old and didn’t like to bathe, she was extremely nervous.

But fortunately, she was lucky enough to be assigned to serve a young general.

Compared to those crude old men, this Liao general was much younger.

And he was handsome too, so she didn’t feel like she was losing out.

If she could follow this young general in the future, she actually felt a faint expectation in her heart.

As the wine went down continuously, the generals in the big tent gradually began to act presumptuously.

They groped the Naiman women beside them, and Li Xiao could clearly hear the faint panting sounds of some women.

“Damn, a bunch of obscene trash.”

Wasn’t this just the steppe version of a KTV hostess bar?

According to the normal process, it wouldn’t take long for these guys to turn this place into an orgy.

At this moment, Li Xiao suddenly felt a bit emotional; he was still not despicable and obscene enough, so he always felt a bit out of place with them.

But when he looked at Xiao Sima, who was also hugging two Naiman women and making a fool of himself…

He simply let go of his scruples.

The company was having a team-building event!

Since the boss had taken the lead, as a subordinate, he had to fit in.

“Isn’t it just being obscene? Who doesn’t know how to do that!”

Li Xiao wiped the grease off his hands, openly pulled the woman into his arms, and likewise slid his hand inside through her collar.

In a short while, the girl’s gaze became increasingly blurred, her legs clamped tight, and panting sounds also arose from Li Xiao’s embrace.

However, this was a celebration banquet after all. The women were just there to enhance the atmosphere of the banquet; no one would treat them as the main course.

Seeing the atmosphere was lively enough, Xiao Sima pushed away the two women on his left and right and said to the generals.

“This great battle was won entirely thanks to your capable command of the troops, and the soldiers of the three armies risking their lives. That is why we could achieve a great victory over the Naiman tribe.”

“Merit must be rewarded.”

“Order the three armies: every soldier receives ten sheep, and soldiers killed in action are heavily rewarded with twenty.”

As soon as Xiao Sima said this, smiles immediately appeared on the generals’ faces.

“The Prince is wise.”

“On behalf of the brothers killed in action, this general thanks the Prince for the reward.”

“Thank you for the heavy reward, my Lord.”

With so many generals, everyone said something different, and for a moment the scene was chaotic.

Li Xiao also instantly stopped his hand movements, focusing all his attention on Xiao Sima.

The soldiers’ rewards were finished; now it was the turn of these generals.

The main event was coming.