The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 15: Big promises, hundred households?

After Li Xiao said something to the old man, he took some people to the river.

In fact, they will definitely come here after they finish cleaning up over there. After all, there are a lot of good things left behind by the Qarlug and Khitan peoples, and there is no reason for Hexi Fort to let them go.

When we got to the river, it was also a tragic scene.

There were more than 20 corpses lying on the shore, most of them were Khitans.

There were still more than a dozen corpses soaking in the river, most of whom were Karluk people.

The blood dyed the river and the grass red. Ownerless horses were grazing not far away, as if what was happening before their eyes had nothing to do with them.

"My condolences~"

Li Xiao stood by the river and after checking all the bodies, he gave Xiao Yanyan a programmed comfort.

In fact, Li Xiao had already known that there was no chance of anyone being alive by the river.

After the Qarlugs rushed ashore, they would definitely massacre the Khitans, and those who were still alive would also have to be killed.

Xiao Yanyan also understood this truth. Looking at the corpses of these Khitan warriors, she looked depressed and sad.

These are all warriors from the Six Academy Divisions, who have always followed me loyally!
Now, they all died in Jinzhou, which made Xiao Yanyan hate that bastard Daha Chuluoduo even more.

"Sigler!"

Xiao Yanyan said it harshly. This was a curse word in Khitan.

Li Xiao didn't understand, and knew that it was not a good thing, but this woman should not be targeting him, she might be scolding the Qarlug people!
Next, Li Xiao and others began to collect the war horses, search for spoils, and fish out the bodies in the river and bury them all together with those on the shore.

While doing these things, Xiao Yanyan followed Li Xiao and suddenly asked, "Have you ever thought about leaving here?"

Li Xiao unceremoniously slung a Khitan bow and arrow behind his back, then looked up at Xiao Yanyan and asked, "What do you mean?"

"Come and be my guard~"

Before Xiao Yanyan could finish her words, Li Xiao interrupted her: "Not interested!"

"I haven't finished yet~ Come to me, I won't treat you unfairly~" The promise Xiao Yanyan made to Li Xiao was nothing more than money and status.

In the future, I will help Li Xiao to rise to a higher level, etc.

After all, she had seen Li Xiao's power with her own eyes.

He is an excellent archer and can shoot an enemy in the chest from a distance of 100 meters. He is brave and good at fighting, and most people are no match for him with just one sword.

Killing the Karluks was as easy as cutting melons and vegetables.

Such a brave man is exactly what Xiao Yanyan desires the most.

After being abandoned by Daha Chuluoduo and having more than 200 Khitan warriors around her die one after another, Xiao Yanyan felt very insecure and had never felt so helpless.

However, the appearance of Li Xiao became a dazzling light in Xiao Yanyan's heart at that time, saving her from desperate situation.

Therefore, her attitude towards Li Xiao is naturally different.

She wants to get this boy!
But it just happened that my lover was not interested in me, and Li Xiao had no interest in the wealth and glory that Xiao Yanyan promised him.

I just think it's ridiculous!

This woman has been so high and mighty for too long. Does she think that ordinary people will crawl before her just by waving her hand?
"I have no interest in what you are saying!"

"I just want to stay in Hexibao!"

"I don't want to go anywhere else!" Li Xiao refused again without hesitation!

Li Xiao is ambitious!
He wanted more power, but going to the Khitans was not a good idea.

Although there were some Han people serving as officials in the royal court, they were basically civil servants in charge of civil affairs, and all the troops were firmly in the hands of the Khitan nobles.

The Khitans were also quite xenophobic and looked down on the Han people in their hearts!

Li Xiao's Han identity has already determined that his ceiling will not be too high in the royal court dominated by Khitans.

The only way out is to take advantage of the large number of Han people in the northern border, gather more Han people as quickly as possible, and recruit an elite army.

In this way, he can have his own place in this upcoming chaotic world.

When the two Khitan warriors beside Xiao Yanyan heard that Li Xiao had rejected her repeatedly, they became unhappy.

One of the Khitans who could speak Chinese said with an unpleasant expression, "Han, Kunji only made you his bodyguard because he thinks highly of you. Don't be ungrateful!"

He himself is a guard~
This Han man is so reluctant to be a guard. Does he look down on guards?

Although being a guard may not sound like a high status, as long as one has a good relationship with the master, he or she will have a bright future.

Most people would be unable to qualify to be Kunji’s bodyguard even if they tried their best!

This Han Chinese is so ungrateful, he deserves to die!
The other guard didn't understand what they were saying, but he knew the atmosphere was a bit tense, so he slowly placed his hand on the hilt of the knife.

Looks like he's ready to draw his sword at any moment.

Li Xiao saw this and sneered, then said to the guard who could speak Chinese, "Do you believe that I can make sure you don't see the sun tomorrow?"

Cold, firm, and containing a hint of murderous intent.

So many Khitans have died by the Longgu River, Li Xiao doesn't mind two more.

Or three Khitans!
"Shut up, Doga!"

Xiao Yanyan scolded the Khitan warrior and stopped the actions of another Khitan warrior.

I wish I could give these two idiots a few slaps in the face.

What's the situation now?
I need help from others, and even my life and property are in their hands, and these two idiots dare to threaten me?
"Don't mind it. The death of their companions has made them a little nervous. I will teach them a lesson when I get back!" Xiao Yanyan said.

"It's okay, I don't have a good temper either~" Li Xiao shook his head gently. Xiao Yanyan smiled helplessly, knowing that Li Xiao's feelings could not be changed in a short time.

"Since you don't want to leave your hometown, I won't force you~"

"But I promised to repay you before, so I won't break my promise."

"When we return to Dongdu, I will ask someone to send you one hundred strings of copper coins and one hundred pieces of cloth!" Xiao Yanyan said.

Upon hearing this, Li Xiao glanced at her and said, "So, you want me to send someone to escort you to Dongdu?"

Xiao Yanyan also smiled slightly: "If you have enough manpower, this would be the best."

Now he only has two guards by his side, and it is at least eight hundred miles to Dongdu.

With such a long distance, in addition to the Karluks, they might also encounter other nomadic tribes that are unfriendly to the Khitans.

It is too unsafe for three people to travel, so it is better to have Hexi Fort send some people to escort them.

But Li Xiao still shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, we don't have enough manpower."

"The Karluks are coming soon. If we send out our men, Hexi Fort will be in danger!"

Although the reward offered by this woman is very generous
But the Jinzhou Army had just suffered a great defeat, and it was unknown how many of the 100 young and strong men from Hexi Fort could come back!
There are only about three hundred men left in the village who can wield a knife or shoot an arrow.

At this time, how could we send someone to protect this woman to Dongdu?

Isn't this just deserting the battlefield?

"Okay then~" Xiao Yanyan shook her head. She had originally been thinking of giving it a try.

It would be best if Hexi Fort could send someone to escort her back to Dongdu, but she was not too disappointed now that she was rejected.

"Then can we rest in the village for a few days?" Xiao Yanyan said as a compromise.

She is very self-aware!

It was very clear that after leaving the royal court, without the protection of the army, her identity as a princess was not very useful.

Because Western Liao has always implemented a policy of control over major domestic forces.

The same is true in the northern border. Apart from setting up Xianwen Prefecture in each state, the villages and nomadic tribes in the northern border maintain a high degree of independence.

Apart from paying taxes and conscription, other matters did not necessarily give face to the royal court, let alone a princess who was only in name only.

Of course, if the request is not excessive, this face can be given.

"It's fine if you want to stay and rest, but we could be in trouble again with the Karluks at any time. If we stay here for too long, we might not have the chance to leave!"

Li Xiao said in a faint voice.

Hearing these threatening words, Xiao Yanyan smiled lightly.

"It's okay, I'm not afraid~"

"I believe you will protect me like you did just now, warrior!"

Li Xiao shook his head indifferently, wondering where this woman got her confidence from.

This is the first time I met her. Are you very familiar with her?

If she encounters life-threatening danger, the first person Li Xiao would abandon is her!
Not interested in chatting with this woman anymore, Li Xiao continued to pack up his things on the battlefield. He picked up the longbow that originally belonged to the dead Khitan warrior, and calmly put it on his back under the gaze of the three Khitans.

The two Khitan warriors glared at this, but Xiao Yanyan didn't care. They couldn't take these weapons away anyway.

Continue to follow Li Xiao and watch the young man busy himself.

Thinking that he might need the protection of these Han people in the next few days, he decided to do Li Xiao a favor again.

"I won't stay in your village for free. In addition to the money and property I promised you, I can also tell you a piece of news for free."

Li Xiao did not respond. He lowered his head to pack up his scimitar and bow and arrows, and at the same time searched the corpses for any valuables.

Xiao Yanyan could only continue, "The Eastern Capital Governor's Office intends to register the people of the four northern border prefectures and establish officials such as the Thousand Household and Hundred Household positions to manage the villages and tribes!"

"With your martial arts and archery skills, if you can make contributions in the next battle, you should have a chance to become a centurion~"

After hearing Xiao Yanyan's words, Li Xiao's expression remained unchanged, but he was secretly surprised in his heart.

Register all citizens?

I haven’t heard of it at all!

There is no historical record of the Western Liao Dynasty registering all its subordinate villages and tribes.

In fact, the Khitan royal court’s ruling power over the grassroots has always been weak. Even the Western Liao royal court had no idea how many tribes, villages and populations there were in the subordinate vassal states and vassal states other than the directly affiliated territories.

This was mainly due to the insufficient number of the Khitan people, the main ethnic group in Western Liao.

It is impossible to reach the grassroots level and directly rule every tribe and village.

Therefore, they could only implement a policy of control and not interfere in the internal affairs of the vassal states, tribes, and villages.

Only the power of conscription, taxation and diplomacy was retained to achieve nominal unification.

However, if the people can be fully registered, the meaning will be different, and the Western Liao's ruling power at the grassroots level will be greatly enhanced.

However, there are limited records about Western Liao in later generations, and many historical materials have been lost.

It is also possible that Western Liao implemented a policy of household registration within a small territory.

"Hundred households? Thousand households?"

You can tell what the official position is just by listening to the name!
Li Xiao glanced at Xiao Yanyan. This woman is really good at making big promises!
(End of this chapter)