The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 415 Inquiring into the Jin Kingdom: Roars in the Imperial Palace and the Iron Hooves of the Northern Desert

Xiao Jilie's body still lay in a pool of blood at the Daqingshan border market, while the rapid sound of horses' hooves could be heard from afar.

In less than half an hour, a full thousand-household Ming cavalry unit arrived at full speed.

"Boom boom boom~"

"Surround the border town."

The white banners with red borders fluttered in the wind as soldiers, dressed in identical armor and wielding spears and scimitars, quickly surrounded the market.

The cold gaze was fixed on the Jin soldiers in the market, and the atmosphere instantly plummeted to freezing point.

Although the deputy commander in charge of managing the Daqingshan border market was not on duty today, he was staying in a camp not far away.

When his subordinates rushed in to report the news of Xiao Jilie's death in battle, his expression instantly turned serious.

He was well aware of Xiao Jilie's identity; he was the Empress's nephew. Although the higher-ups hadn't specifically instructed him to be given special protection, his status was extraordinary, being the son of Prince Xiao.

Now that he has died in the market, he, as the manager, is largely to blame.

"Quickly, quickly convey my order to mobilize the main force for alert."

While hastily donning his armor, the deputy commander roared, "Also, immediately report to the commander and request reinforcements."

The news spread like wildfire, quickly reaching the Jin Dynasty's border military camps.

Upon learning that "Ming soldiers had been killed at the border market and the Ming army had surrounded it," the Jin generals dared not delay and immediately led a cavalry force to Daqingshan, where they confronted the Ming army on the outskirts of the border market.

The soldiers on both sides were tense, with bows drawn and arrows strung, and swords unsheathed, and the air was thick with the stench of blood.

A major war could break out at any moment.

The merchants from both countries inside the market were completely dumbfounded.

They were just haggling over the price of the goods when they were suddenly caught up in a crisis of confrontation between the two armies.

"The war is about to begin."

"Get out quickly."

"Damn it, what the hell are you talking about? I've always disliked these Jin Dynasty merchants; they're always whining."

"Fuck him."

Rumors spread like wildfire among the merchants, who flocked to the protection zones of their respective armies. In some cases, the two caravans even started fighting each other.

Before the Jin army, Wanyan Chun, the heir apparent of King Yue Wanyan Yonggong, stood reined in his horse. He wore a luxurious silver fox fur coat, and his face was so gloomy it seemed to drip water.

He came here to take over the Fan family's businesses in the north, but he never expected to run into this trouble as soon as he arrived at the border.

He glanced coldly at the Jin commander beside him, his tone filled with suppressed anger: "Speak, what exactly happened? Why did this escalate into such a huge mess?"

The commander was so frightened that he trembled all over. He quickly dismounted, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed repeatedly: "Your Highness, spare my life! This humble general has been wronged!"

His voice was tinged with helplessness: "It was just a matter of seizing a batch of goods when a conflict broke out with Ming soldiers."

"This humble general did not expect that just killing a few people would cause such a strong reaction from the Ming barbarians, who directly mobilized a thousand-household force to surround the market."

"Killed someone?"

Wanyan Chun frowned deeply. "Who were they killing? Was it worth the Ming Dynasty mobilizing such a large force?"

The commander suddenly remembered the angry roar of the Ming army's deputy commander and quickly said, "The Ming general who was leading the charge said..."

“Tell me about one of them, he is ‘the son of King Xiao’.”

"The son of Prince Xiao?" Wanyan Chun was stunned, then fell into deep thought.

He clearly remembered that the Ming Dynasty had just been established and Li Xiao had not yet conferred titles of kings, so where did this "King Xiao" come from?
But the surname "Xiao" made his heart tighten; it belonged to the imperial family of the Liao Dynasty.

Today, the Empress of the Ming Dynasty is a remnant of the Liao Dynasty's royal family, and also surnamed Xiao.

"Could it be... that the deceased was related to the Empress of the Ming Dynasty?" Wanyan Chun's expression turned serious as he quickly considered the matter.

His father, Wanyan Yonggong, was ambitious and the most promising prince of the Jin Dynasty to ascend the throne. Over the years, he had learned political strategies from his father and was no longer a spoiled brat.

He knew very well that if the deceased was indeed related to Xiao Yanyan, then the matter was not as simple as a "conflict".

This could very well become the pretext for the Ming Dynasty to wage war against the Jin Dynasty.

"Trouble..."

Wanyan Chun muttered to himself, his tone full of worry: "The Ming Dynasty has always been ambitious, wanting to march south into the Central Plains and replace my Great Jin."

“But our Great Jin has been plagued by natural disasters and man-made calamities in recent years. The rebellion in Shandong has not yet been quelled, and most of the military grain in Datong Prefecture has been burned. My father and the others are simply not prepared to go to war with the Ming Dynasty.”

"This happening at this time is like adding insult to injury."

Although he was aware of the risks involved, he was powerless to do anything about it.

He was merely a prince, and his mission here was to take over the Fan family's assets; he had no authority to mobilize the army.

The real decision-makers were the high-ranking generals of the Jin Dynasty.

On the other side, the commander of the Jin Kingdom's border defense line also gasped in shock after learning the whole story.

The Jin Dynasty was not prepared to go to war with the Ming Dynasty.

Especially here at the border trench defense line, we just lost 300,000 shi of military rations from Datong. If we go to war with the Ming Dynasty, the situation will be dire.

After careful consideration, he decided to ease the situation first and immediately sent an envoy to the Ming army camp to explain that "the conflict at the border was just a misunderstanding and was not intended to offend the Ming Dynasty. We are willing to compensate the Ming Dynasty for its losses and hope that both sides can resolve the issue peacefully."

The news of Xiao Jilie's death reached Wei Xuan, the deputy commander of the Sixth Garrison and general of Zhonghai, at the fastest speed.

At this point, Wei Xuan was no longer the frail boy Li Xiao had rescued from the cellar.

He was dressed in white armor with red trim, with a tall and imposing figure, a light stubble on his face, sharp and steady eyes, and an aura of authority from years of battlefield experience.

After listening to his subordinate's report, Wei Xuan remained silent for a moment.

Xiao Jilie was the Empress's nephew, and his death was indeed troublesome, but not particularly so.

Because he also understood Xiao Yanyan's personality.

The empress did not have deep feelings for Xiao Simo's illegitimate nephews, and she might not insist on starting a war because of Xiao Jilie's death.

"The Ming Dynasty has just been established. Although its army is strong, it is not yet ready to launch an immediate eastern expedition."

Wei Xuan spoke slowly, his tone calm: "However, this is indeed a good excuse to start a war. The Jin Kingdom is currently beset by internal and external troubles, which is the perfect time for our Great Ming to send troops."

He paused, looked at the guards beside him, and said in a deep voice, "Prepare horses immediately and send a special messenger to Longcheng with this matter via express courier to report to His Majesty."

"The decision is up to Your Majesty."

"Before that, issue the order to the entire army to be on high alert, closely monitor the movements of the Jin army, and report any unusual activity immediately."

"Yes," the guards replied in unison, then turned and quickly left.

Wei Xuan walked to the entrance of the camp, gazing at the distant border town with a deep look in his eyes.

Xiao Jilie's death, like a stone thrown into a lake, completely shattered the fragile peace between the Ming and Jin dynasties.

An even bigger storm may be on its way.

……

Inside the study of the Dragon City Palace, the candlelight flickered, casting Li Xiao's figure on the wall, making him appear exceptionally serene.

Zhang Shitou, commander of the Imperial Guard, stood bowing before the desk, his voice extremely low as he reported the details of the Daqingshan border market, word by word.

"Your Majesty, the news of Xiao Jilie's 'death in battle' has been confirmed. During the conflict that day, it was the Embroidered Uniform Guard's undercover agents who took action..."

Li Xiao tapped his fingertips lightly on the table as he listened to Zhang Shitou recount the details of that day, his face expressionless.

In the matter of Xiao Jilie, it was the Embroidered Uniform Guard who took action.

He was Xiao Simo's son, and he had practiced riding and archery since childhood. His martial arts skills were not top-notch, but they were not comparable to ordinary people. How could he be killed by the Jin soldiers in one move?
It was because Li Xiao needed him to die, and also to eliminate internal threats.

Xiao Cigu and Xiao Jilie have never stopped being ambitious. Their involvement was also behind the previous attack on Xiao Xuance by the Shaowa clan, which has crossed Li Xiao's bottom line.

Li Xiao's eyes turned slightly cold as he thought of Xiao Xuance and his mother, Shu Lu Wujin. He then slowly closed his eyes, revealing a perfectly timed sigh on his face.

"It's alright, I've let my brother down, I failed to protect his bloodline."

"But the country is stable and cannot tolerate any hidden dangers. If these two don't die, they will cause even bigger trouble sooner or later."

He opened his eyes, his tone becoming resolute: "Xiao Jilie has already 'died in battle,' and Shaowashi is also a threat if she stays in Yinshan. If we keep her around, someone will inevitably use her name to cause trouble."

"Let her go with us; it will save face for the Xiao family."

"Your subject obeys the decree." Zhang Shitou bowed and accepted the order, then turned and quietly left the study as if he had never been there.

Li Xiao was left alone in the study. He looked out at the dark night sky, his eyes showing no trace of sorrow, only control and decisiveness over the situation.

Xiao Jilie's death not only eliminated internal troubles, but also provided the Ming Dynasty with a "justifiable" excuse for its eastern expedition.

He must make this move by the Jin Kingdom steadily and ruthlessly.

The next morning, the military report from the northern desert arrived at the Longcheng Protectorate on time.

Li Xiao, dressed in a dragon robe, sat upright in the imperial court. After Wei Xuan's report was read aloud, he slammed his hand on the dragon throne, his face instantly turning red with grief and indignation.

"This is outrageous! How dare the Jurchen barbarians openly murder my nephew at the border market!"

"Although Xiao Jilie is not a legitimate son, he is still of the Xiao family bloodline and is a child I have watched grow up."

"They did not kill an ordinary soldier, but my family members, and the face of the Ming Dynasty."

He stood up and paced around the hall, his voice filled with suppressed anger: "I have wronged my brother."

"Back then, he entrusted the Xiao family to me, but I failed to protect his son."

"If I don't avenge this, how can I face my deceased brother and my sister-in-law in Yinshan?"

"How can I face the people of the Ming Dynasty? Issue my decree to immediately mobilize troops. I will personally lead an expedition against the Jin Kingdom, raze Zhongdu to the ground, and avenge Xiao Jilie."

The court officials all bowed their heads, not daring to breathe loudly.

Only Li Dongshan, who knew Li Xiao's intentions beforehand, bowed and advised, "Your Majesty, please calm down."

"Your Majesty understands your grief, but now is not the best time to attack the Jin Kingdom!" "Our Great Ming has just been established, and the affairs of the Eight Ministries and Five Offices have not yet been sorted out. Although the Eighth Garrison has been established, it has not yet been tempered in actual combat and has not yet formed absolute combat power."

"This is not the best time to start a war."

"Please wait six months, Your Majesty," Li Dongshan said earnestly, pausing for a moment.

"Only after our Great Ming has rectified its internal affairs, completed the reorganization of its army, and prepared sufficient provisions can we launch a war against the Jin Kingdom and achieve a complete victory, avenging Vice Commander Xiao."

Seeing this, the other court officials also understood Li Xiao's true intentions from the few words he had just spoken.

That means he wasn't planning an eastern expedition now; it was just that his nephew had died in battle, and as his uncle and the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, he had to show this angry and forceful attitude.

The court officials were all shrewd and quick to understand these reasons. They immediately echoed each other, saying, "Governor Li is absolutely right."

"Your Majesty, please think again."

"Your Majesty, the time is not yet ripe. We can wait until after the New Year to launch the campaign."

……

Li Xiao stood in the hall, his chest heaving violently, listening to the ministers' advice, as if he was trying his best to suppress his anger.

After a long while, he flicked his sleeve heavily and said with some reluctance, "That's it."

"Although I want to take up arms immediately to avenge my country, I cannot disregard the Ming Dynasty, its people, and its people. So, as you have suggested, I will postpone the campaign."

He then changed the subject, his eyes sharpening: "But the Jin Kingdom can't just let this go."

"According to military reports, the Jin army was ordered by Prince Wanyan Chun of Yue to seize the property of the Fan family's business, which led to the conflict."

"Wanyan Chun is the mastermind behind this."

"Tell the Jin people that they must hand over Wanyan Chun to the Ming Dynasty for punishment. A life for a life, that's the bottom line, and we cannot back down."

The ministers all nodded in agreement.

Li Dongjiang said in a more assertive tone, "Your Majesty is wise."

"Wanyan Chun is just a prince of the Jin Kingdom. In the past, when our Ming Dynasty fought against the Jin Kingdom, we killed quite a few Jurchen nobles. The life of a prince is not worth mentioning at all."

"If the Jin Kingdom is sensible and hands over Wanyan Chun, it will not only appease His Majesty's anger but also buy them half a year of breathing room, which would be a huge advantage for them."

Gu Zizhong nodded slightly and said, "Governor Li is right. Wanyan Chun must be handed over."

“Deputy Commander Xiao is the son of Prince Xiao and the Empress’s nephew, making him of noble status.”

"The Jin state must hand over someone of equal status to pay with their life."

“That’s right. Only by handing over Wanyan Chun can we achieve ‘a life for a life.’ Our Great Ming has not taken advantage of them in the slightest, and no one in the world can say a word against it.”

Listening to the ministers' words, Li Xiao nodded in satisfaction and said to the clerk of the Military Affairs Office beside him, "Immediately draft a letter of state, stating the reasons and deadline for demanding that the Jin state hand over Wanyan Chun."

"The urgent message was sent to Zhonghai and handed over by Wei Xuan to the commander of the Jin Kingdom's border defense line."

"If the Jin Kingdom refuses to hand over the people, I will definitely lead a million iron cavalry of the Ming Dynasty into the Central Plains and make them pay for their blood debts."

Of course, even if the Jin Kingdom handed over the people, Li Xiao would still lead a large army to launch an eastern expedition six months later.

We can just find another excuse later.

Ten days later, Shaowa, who was far away in Yinshan, learned of the news that her son Xiao Jilie had "died in battle." She was so grief-stricken that she fainted on the spot.

After waking up, she spent her days in tears. Although she had a strong will to live, her health deteriorated.

He fell seriously ill within a few days and eventually passed away in endless grief.

When the news reached Longcheng, Li Xiao simply gave the order to bury her according to the rites for ordinary nobles.

However, because she was a concubine and of low status, she was not buried in King Xiao's mausoleum. Instead, she was buried in a distant place and continued to serve King Xiao.

Meanwhile, the Xuande Division was already busy.

Flyers detailing Xiao Jilie's deeds circulated throughout the streets and alleys.

The storyteller vividly recounted the story of "Xiao Baihu's Bloody Battle at the Border" in the teahouse.

The text omits the humiliating scene of his death at the hands of the Jin soldiers, instead emphasizing his bravery in "wielding a long sword, fighting valiantly, and killing dozens of Jin soldiers before dying from exhaustion."

The document from the Xuande Division states: "Xiao Zijilie is the son of the late Northern Frontier King Xiao Simo and the nephew of the current Empress. He does not consider himself a nobleman but has abandoned his studies to join the army and guard the border."

"In the battle of Daqingshan, the Jin soldiers betrayed their promise and launched a surprise attack on our Ming Dynasty merchant caravan. Prince Jilie led his troops in a desperate battle and ultimately sacrificed his life for his country. His will is commendable and his integrity is worthy of praise."

This publicity campaign was intended to protect Xiao Simo's reputation and, more importantly, to evoke empathy among the people of the Ming Dynasty.

In the streets and alleys, people were talking about it: "So it turns out that King Xiao's son also went to the battlefield and died in battle."

"That's right! Our ordinary people's sons are risking their lives on the front lines, and the sons of nobles are also sacrificing for the country. This is the true Ming Dynasty."

"The Jin people are so hateful. They killed our heroes. We must take revenge."

In an instant, cries of "avenging Prince Xiao" and "punishing the Jin Kingdom" rose and fell throughout Longcheng and even the entire Ming Dynasty, and the atmosphere of shared hatred against the enemy grew stronger.

In a corner of the Xianyang camp, Xiao Cigu was staring blankly at the river outside the camp.

When he learned of Xiao Jilie's "death in battle," he was first stunned, and then a complex emotion welled up in his heart.

Although he and Xiao Jilie were brothers and both born out of wedlock, his mother died early and was disliked by their father. Therefore, Xiao Jilie did not stick together with him for warmth, but instead bullied him from a young age, taking advantage of his mother Shaowa's favor.

Now that Xiao Jilie is dead, he should be happy.

But at this moment, he felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, and the fear of losing his comrade gripped him.

"No...something's not right..."

Xiao Cigu muttered to himself, his fingers gripping the hem of his clothes tightly: "Although that idiot Xiao Jilie's brain isn't very sharp, his martial arts skills are better than mine."

"So many people survived, but he was the one who died? It can't be a coincidence. Could it be... that it was really someone surnamed Li who did it?"

He suddenly remembered his and Xiao Jilie's private ambitions, and the schemes that Shaowa had plotted against Xiao Xuance. Cold sweat instantly soaked through his clothes.

"He killed Xiao Jilie, could I be next?"

He stared at his reflection in the river, his eyes filled with despair.

He originally thought that joining the army would allow him to climb the ranks step by step and reclaim everything from the Xiao family, but now he realizes that he has only walked into another, more secure cage.

Li Xiao's control was far more terrifying than he had imagined.

Meanwhile, Li Xiao's official letter had already traversed thousands of miles of territory and arrived at Zhonghai.

Wei Xuan accepted the letter of state, and after reading it, his expression turned solemn. He immediately sent someone to deliver the letter to the camp of the commander of the Jin Kingdom's border defense line.

On the border, the Ming and Jin armies remained on high alert, with the Ming's sun and moon battle flag facing the Jin's black sun flag. The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder, as if a great battle could break out at any moment.

The official letter was eventually delivered to Zhongdu, and a fierce argument ensued in the Jin court.

Wanyan Yongji sat on the dragon throne, looking much more energetic than before, his eyes even sparkling with excitement.

He slammed his hand on the dragon throne, his gaze fixed on Wanyan Yonggong, the Prince of Yue, below him, his voice filled with barely suppressed rage: "Wanyan Yonggong."

"Look at the good son you've raised."

“That fool Wanyan Chun dared to provoke the Ming people at the border market, and openly drew his sword and killed a Ming person, and the person he killed was no ordinary person.”

"Do you know who Xiao Jilie, who died, was? He was Xiao Simo's son."

Wanyan Yongji roared angrily, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials in the hall. Among them were those who supported him, those who supported Wanyan Yonggong, and others from the imperial family.

In short, he was never able to maintain basic control over the court.

But today, he wants to use this matter to undermine Wanyan Yonggong's prestige.

"Who is Xiao Simo? You all know without me saying it," Wanyan Yongji said, enunciating each word clearly.

"Without Xiao Simo, there would be no Li Xiao today, and no Ming Dynasty today."

"His status in the Ming Dynasty is more prestigious than that of any prince of the royal family in our Great Jin Dynasty."

"Moreover, he was the Empress's own brother, and the deceased Xiao Jilie was the Empress's own nephew."

He stood up, walked into the hall, and said in an increasingly stern tone: "Now look what's happened. Xiao Jilie is dead, and the Ming Dynasty is using this as an excuse to demand that I hand over Wanyan Chun."

"What do you think I should do?"

"The Ming army in the northern desert has already pressed on our borders, and the Ming people in Guanzhong are also restless. War is imminent. Do you want the Great Jin to perish in your son's hands?"

Wanyan Yongji cursed angrily, but in his heart he wanted to burst into laughter.

He was able to ascend the throne because the late emperor felt that he was "mediocre and easy to control," and was a transitional choice.

Over the years, members of the imperial clan, especially Wanyan Yonggong, have been dissatisfied with him, constantly vying for military power and forming cliques for personal gain, which has been a thorn in his side.

Now that Wanyan Yonggong's son has made a grave mistake, it is a perfect opportunity for him to suppress the power of the King of Yue.

Wanyan Yonggong stood below, his face ashen.

When he learned Xiao Jilie's identity, he was stunned. How could he have killed this person by sheer coincidence?
Moreover, he did not expect the Ming Dynasty's reaction to be so intense, nor did he expect that a seemingly ordinary border conflict would lead to such a big trouble.

Upon hearing that Wanyan Yongji was going to hand over his son, his eyes instantly turned red. He took a step forward and said with a resolute and ruthless tone, "My son must not be handed over."

"If anyone dares to hand Wanyan Chun over to the Ming people to be slaughtered, I, Wanyan Yonggong, will tear them to pieces."

As he said this, his gaze was fixed on Wanyan Yongji on the dragon throne, and the threat in his eyes was undisguised.

If you dare to sacrifice my son to quell the anger of the Ming Dynasty, I will immediately raise an army in rebellion.

When Wanyan Yongji was intimidated by his gaze, he suddenly felt weak and his arrogance vanished instantly.

He knew that Wanyan Yonggong held military power, and if he were to be forced to rebel, the Jin state would only fall into greater internal strife.

But this matter is far from over; the Ming Dynasty is still waiting for an explanation, unless we directly declare war on the Ming Dynasty...

But the Jin Kingdom wasn't prepared either.

The debate in the court continued, with some ministers advocating "handing over Wanyan Chun to postpone the war," while others supported Wanyan Yonggong's "fight to the death with the Ming Dynasty." The argument was fierce.

The Jin Dynasty's court was already rife with factions and internal strife, and now, under pressure from the Ming Dynasty, it was in complete chaos.

(End of this chapter)