xymnovel Chapter 73 Borrowing troops from Xia State
Chapter 73 Borrowing troops from Xia State
Chapter 73 Borrowing troops from Xia State
The northwestern foothills of the Qilian Mountains were the territory of the Western Xia Zhuoluo and Nanjunsi.
Compared to the frigid and desolate grasslands, this place, though also located in a high-altitude and cold region, has a more humane and desolate atmosphere due to its proximity to the heart of the Western Xia territory.
This is the location of the Right Wing Chaoshun Army Commandery of the Western Xia Dynasty, and the headquarters of Renduo Baozhong.
A small squad of about twenty riders, covered in dust from their journey, approached Zhuoluo City in the twilight.
The leader was wrapped in a thick fur robe and his face was covered by a hood, but his fierce yet exhausted aura, as well as the weary appearance of his mount, showed that they had traveled a long way.
This group of people was none other than Cishlos and his personal guards.
At the city gate, a group of Xia Kingdom scouts blocked the way, their swords half-drawn.
The leader of the guards of Xisheluosa stepped forward, negotiated in a low voice in broken Tangut, and presented a domino with a special pattern engraved on it.
After inspecting the evidence, the scout captain's expression changed slightly. He muttered a few words and then sent a rider to gallop into the city to report the news.
Before long, a military officer from the Xia Kingdom rode out, gave Xi Sheluo Sa a slight bow, and spoke in a calm tone.
"The commander-in-chief invites you to come with me."
Their attitude was neither particularly respectful nor obstructive; they acted as if it were a business transaction.
Xi Sheluo snorted inwardly, suppressing his displeasure at being snubbed, and followed the military academy into the city.
There weren't many pedestrians on the street, but every now and then, fully armed Xia soldiers marched by in formation, their military bearing impeccable.
The houses on both sides are mostly made of earth and stone, which is very different from the Tibetan style in Qinghai, and has a strong blend of Western Xia and Han characteristics.
The Marshal's Mansion is located in the west of the city, covering a large area, and is heavily guarded.
After passing through several doors, we arrived at a brightly lit hall.
The military academy officer gestured for Xisheluosa to enter alone, while his personal guards were led to rest elsewhere.
The hall was warm with charcoal firelight, and the furnishings were simple yet sturdy, with bows, swords, and maps hanging on the walls.
A man in his forties, with a square face, a short beard, and dressed in the everyday clothes of a Western Xia military officer, was facing away from the door, looking at a huge map of the Northwest on the wall.
Hearing footsteps, he turned around, his gaze calm and scrutinizing. It was Renduo Baozhong, a famous general of Western Xia and the commander of the Right Wing Chaoshun Army.
"Chief of Xisheluosa, you have come from afar with great difficulty."
Rendo Hochū spoke first, then gestured for him to sit down, taking the lead in the seat of honor.
Xisheluosa removed his hood, revealing a face that appeared even more stern due to his thinness and the ravages of time.
He sat down as instructed and looked directly at Rendo Bochu.
"Master, there's no need for formalities. I'm sure you know why I've come here at the risk of my life."
Ren Duo Baozhong remained noncommittal, picked up the milk tea in front of him, took a sip, and gestured to his personal guards to also pour a bowl for Xi Sheluo.
"I have heard about the chief’s situation in the Hehuang region. The Song people have indeed been very aggressive in recent years."
"It's more than just being aggressive!" Xi Sheluo took the milk tea, but didn't drink it. He slammed it down on the table, his eyes burning with anger and resentment.
"That scoundrel Zhao Mingcheng used treacherous schemes to win over people's hearts, using markets, land reclamation, and oaths as bait to divide and disintegrate all the tribes of my Tubo!"
Now most of the Hehuang region is under their control, and they've even trained those damned Unity Battalions, patrolling day and night, cutting off our escape routes!
If the Xia Kingdom continues to stand idly by, and the Song people completely establish themselves in the Hehuang region, the Xia Kingdom's borders will be in danger!
Xisherossa leaned forward, his tone urgent and inflammatory.
"General, consider this: if the Hehuang region were to remain Song territory forever, the southeastern gateway to the Xia state would be wide open! The Song army could march north from the Hehuang region at any time, threatening our Zhuoluo and the military commands of Nan, Xishou, Baotai, and even the Hexi Corridor!"
At that time, the Xia Kingdom will be attacked from both sides! Moreover, the Hehuang region is a vital passage connecting the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Uyghur Khaganate. If the Song people blockade this area, the communication between our Great Xia and the western tribes will be severely hampered! This is not merely a matter of survival for our people, but a matter of the safety of the southwestern border of Great Xia!
Rendo Yasutada listened, his face still expressionless, only tapping his fingers lightly on his knee.
He was well aware of the advantages and disadvantages that Rosa of Cishci spoke of.
There has always been debate within the Xia Dynasty's court regarding whether to become deeply involved in the Hehuang region.
Those advocating war saw this as a golden opportunity to contain the Song Dynasty and expand westward; those advocating peace, on the other hand, worried about making enemies on two fronts, and also noted the ambiguous attitude of the Liao Dynasty.
Seeing that Rendou Baozhong remained silent, Xishelus knew that empty words of benefit and harm were not enough; he had to produce something tangible.
He took a deep breath and said in a low voice.
"General, as long as the Xia Kingdom is willing to send troops to help me defeat the Song army in the Hehuang region and reclaim Qingtang, I, Xisheluosa, hereby swear to the heavens: after the matter is accomplished, the Hehuang region, which originally belonged to my Quesiluo and was rich in water and grass, including the Huangshui Valley and the three strategic passes west of Zongge City, will all be ceded to the Great Xia!"
Our tribe is willing to be a vassal state of Great Xia forever, paying tribute annually, and will never break our alliance! All merchants and envoys of Great Xia may pass through our territory without hindrance! General, this decision was made at a time of life and death for our entire tribe, and our sincerity is as clear as day!
Ceding territory, pledging allegiance, paying tribute, opening trade routes —
Xishelusa practically laid bare his future "national dignity," betting everything on it.
He knew that without sufficient benefits, it would be impossible to sway the greedy jackal that was the Xia Kingdom.
Rendo Baozhong's eyes flickered slightly.
The strategic location of the Hehuang region, permanent submission, and open passageways—these conditions were indeed tempting.
If they could control some of the key passes in the Hehuang region, the strategic situation of the Western Xia in the southwest would be greatly improved, and the influence of the Renduo family in the Hehuang region would also expand accordingly.
but----
"I have seen the sincerity of Chief Xisheluosa," Rendo Baozhong finally spoke slowly, his tone still steady.
"However, the matter of sending troops is of great importance and cannot be decided by this commander alone. Now, the ruler of our Great Xia Kingdom—"
He paused for a moment, then answered.
"Our Great Xia Emperor has only recently taken charge of state affairs, and there is still no consensus on whether to wage war or peace with the Song court. It would be unwise to launch a large-scale military campaign at this time."
Xi Sheluo's heart sank, and he said anxiously.
"General! If we don't send troops now, once the Song people have completely consolidated their power, there will be no more opportunities! Zhao Mingcheng is exceptionally cunning and adept at winning people's hearts. If we let him turn the Hehuang region into an impenetrable wall, the cost of launching an attack then will be a hundred times greater!"
"Chief, please calm down." Rendo Yasutada raised his hand and gestured for him to calm down.
"It's not that I won't help you. It's just that this matter needs careful consideration. Chief, you've had a long journey; please settle down at the inn in the city and rest for a few days. Allow me to discuss this with my men before making a final decision, what do you say?"
This is clearly an excuse, but it doesn't completely shut down any avenues.
Xishelusa knew that pressing further would be useless and might only anger the other party.
He suppressed his anxiety and clasped his hands in greeting.
"In that case—we'll have to trouble you, Commander. We hope you'll consider our past relationship and the grand plan for the southwestern border defense of Xia Kingdom, and make a decision as soon as possible!"
"Of course." Renduo Baozhong nodded and summoned his personal guards. "Take Chief Xisheluosa to the inn to rest. Treat him well and do not neglect him."
After seeing off the resentful and helpless Xi Sheluo Sa, Ren Duo Baozhong's calm expression quickly faded, replaced by a thoughtful look.
He did not immediately summon his subordinates, but instead paced alone in the hall for a long time.
The terms offered by Cisalpine were indeed tempting.
In particular, the cession of the strategic Hehuang region presented the Renduo family with an excellent opportunity to expand their sphere of influence and amass wealth.
The Ren family has been a military family of the Xia state for generations. They have been operating in the Right Wing Chaoshun Military Command for many years. If they can take this opportunity to extend their reach into the Hehuang region, the political capital and actual benefits will be immeasurable.
But the risks are equally enormous.
Although King Li Ganshun was young, his thoughts were unpredictable since he assumed power, and his relationship with the Liao Kingdom was delicate.
In recent years, the war between Song and Xia had just ended, and the ruler seemed to have the intention to ease tensions with Song, at least on the surface, in order to concentrate on dealing with the pressure from the power of the Empress Dowager's clan and the Liao state.
If Ren Duobaozhong were to arbitrarily provoke conflict on the border at this time, it could invite retaliation from the Song army and even damage the fragile peace agreement between Song and Xia.
What will the king think? And how will the Liao Kingdom react?
More importantly, what are the chances of victory if troops are sent to aid Xisheluosa?
Zhao Mingcheng's ability to stabilize the Hehuang region in such a short time is no ordinary feat.
The establishment of the Unity Camp further demonstrates its ambitious goals.
If the Xia Kingdom were to send troops, on a small scale, it would be like throwing good money after bad, with no chance of return; on a large scale, it would inevitably lead to a direct conflict with the Song Kingdom, which is by no means what the king desires at the moment.
"This is tough—" Rendo Baozhong rubbed his temples. He walked to the huge map, his gaze sweeping over "Hehuang," "Zhuoluo and Nan," and "Xingqing Prefecture."
Family interests, the overall situation of border defense, and the emperor's thoughts—several forces were pulling at him.
The following day, Rendo Yasutada secretly summoned several trusted generals and advisors to discuss the matter in a private room.
He did not mention the specific conditions promised by Cisherossa, but only mentioned his request for military assistance, asking everyone to analyze the pros and cons.
An elderly Han Chinese scholar among the staff stroked his beard and said.
"General, this matter benefits the Northwest. If we send troops to help Xisheluosa succeed, firstly, we can severely damage the Song people in the Hehuang region, making them unable to look westward for several years or even more than ten years, and our southwestern border can be secure."
Secondly, it allows us to take the opportunity to support pro-Western forces in the Hehuang region, and even acquire some strategic passes, thus expanding our strategic space. Thirdly, it can intimidate the Qinghai-Tibetan and Uyghur tribes, enhancing our national prestige.
A Tangut general said in a deep voice.
"The problem lies in the southeast. The ruler has only recently ascended the throne, and the remnants of the Liang clan have not yet been pacified. Internal stability is urgently needed. Moreover, the Liao Kingdom's attitude is unclear, and a major conflict with the Song at this time would likely please neither side. Furthermore, that Xisheluosa is already a defeated fugitive; whether he can succeed is still uncertain. How can the warriors of our Great Xia be used as stepping stones for others, risking their lives?"
Another aide added.
"General, there's another point. Even if we send troops, under what pretext? If we openly send Xia troops into the Hehuang region, it would be a complete break with the Song Dynasty, potentially provoking a full-scale retaliation from the Song court and even giving the Liao Dynasty a pretext for intervention. We need to find a proper reason."
As everyone chimed in with their opinions, the benefits became clearer. Overall, those supporting limited intervention held a slight advantage, for very practical reasons:
The Xia state could not stand idly by and watch the Song dynasty completely digest the Hehuang region, threatening the flank of Western Xia; having the opportunity to expand its power and weaken the Song dynasty was in the long-term interests of Western Xia.
However, the premise is that the scale must be controlled so as not to trigger a full-scale war; and the name must be appropriate so as not to make the Western Xia court directly take the blame.
Rendo Baozhong listened quietly, already having made up his mind.
He raised his hand to stop the discussion and spoke slowly.
"What you all say makes sense. The matter of the Hehuang region concerns our southwestern gateway, and we certainly cannot sit idly by and watch the Song people grow stronger."
However, national affairs are of utmost importance, and we must not lightly initiate a war between major powers. In my opinion, we can grant Xisheluosa's request, but with one restriction: the scale of the troops should not be large, and they must be elite troops that can advance and retreat quickly, primarily to assist their momentum rather than fight on their behalf.
In name only, a pretext could be found, for example—Tibetan rebels harassed our border, our border troops defended themselves and counterattacked, pursuing and suppressing them into the territory, and accidentally encountered Song troops, resulting in a conflict—thus, there would be a justification for advancing or retreating.”
Renta Yasutada made his final decision.
"The specifics still need to be reported to the King for his decree. I will immediately write a letter and send it to Xingqing Prefecture by express courier!"
Xingqing Prefecture, the Imperial Palace of the Xia Kingdom.
Although King Li Ganshun was only sixteen years old, his face was calm and his eyes were sharp, already showing signs of the majesty of a ruler.
Having recently broken free from the control of his maternal clan, the Liang family, and assumed personal rule, he is currently focused on consolidating his power and balancing the various factions.
Externally, Li Qianshun continued the basic national policy of allying with Liao against Song, while also trying to ease tensions with Song and buy time for domestic production to recover.
At this moment, he was alone in the Imperial Study, reading the urgent secret memorial sent by Rendo Yasutada from Zhuoluo City.
The report detailed the situation in the Hehuang region, Xisheluosa's plea for help and promises, and Renduo Baozhong's analysis of the matter and his suggestion of "limited intervention, controlling the scale, and finding a pretext."
Li Qianshun tapped his fingers lightly on the table.
-
He certainly knew the importance of the Hehuang region and was also aware of the potential threat that a stable Hehuang region would pose to the Western Xia.
Renta Yasutada's analysis coincided with the opinions of some generals in the court.
Li Qianshun glanced at the huge map hanging on the wall, which marked the territories and troop deployments of the Song, Liao, and Xia dynasties.
The Song Dynasty was a large state, and although its western army was elite, the defenses along the Shaanxi routes were strong, and the Song court was not a monolithic entity.
The Liao Dynasty dominated the north, maintaining an ambiguous stance: it supported the Western Xia in containing the Song Dynasty, yet did not want the Western Xia to become too powerful.
If we were to engage in a major battle with the Song dynasty in the Hehuang region at this time, it would certainly be good to win.
If the Song Dynasty were to suffer a defeat or fall into a stalemate, it would not only deplete the country's resources but could also give the Liao Dynasty an opportunity to take advantage of the situation. It might even cause the Song Dynasty to invest more resources in the west, thus destroying the hard-won peace and stability it had created.
However, ignoring it completely will indeed have consequences.
Rendo Baozhong's threat that allowed the Song state to easily take over the Hehuang region was not an exaggeration.
Moreover, the Ren family is a family with a long history of military achievements and has considerable influence in the right wing. Their suggestions should be taken into consideration in order to balance the court.
After pondering for a long time, Li Qianshun picked up his pen and wrote a short secret edict.
He did not use a formal imperial edict, nor did he go through the Secretariat; instead, he used the most secretive method.
"I hereby order Ren Duobaozhong, Commander-in-Chief of the Right Wing of the Chaoshun Army: I have read your report on the Hehuang region and am fully aware of it. Xi Sheluo Sa came to surrender in dire straits, and his plight is pitiful, and his territory is worth pursuing. However, now that the affairs of the state have been settled, the strategy is to look north to the Liao court and east to make peace with the Song dynasty. The Hehuang region is a corner of the overall situation and cannot be allowed to shake the overall situation."
"As you request, we may, at our discretion, dispatch elite troops under the pretext of pursuing and suppressing the Tibetan bandits who are raiding the border, to enter the Hehuang region and act accordingly, to assist Xi Sheluo Sa for a while."
However, three rules must be strictly observed: First, the troops should be small but elite, with no more than eight hundred Iron Falcons and no more than one thousand Foot Battalions, all under the command of my officers and lieutenants, and no barbarian should be allowed to command them. Second, this is a border army defending itself, not a military expedition launched by the court. Victories should not be celebrated, and defeats should not be blamed, so as not to give the Song people any leverage.
Finally, if things do not go well, or if the Song army arrives in force, one should resolutely retreat, not linger in battle, and not openly break with the Song court.
Remember, using the pretext of border harassment to actually contain the Song, and using the barbarians to weaken the Song, is acceptable; but if it means making our Great Xia openly hostile to the Song, then it is unacceptable. You have long been stationed on the western frontier, and are insightful and decisive; you should understand my intentions.”
After writing it down, Li Qianshun carefully sealed it with his personal seal, then summoned his most trusted palace guard commander and whispered something to him.
"This secret edict is to be delivered to Zhuoluo City by express courier, covering six hundred li, and personally handed over to Renduo Baozhong. If it is lost along the way, you will be held accountable with your head."
"Your subject obeys the decree!" The palace guard commander accepted the order with a stern expression and bowed as he withdrew.
The secret edict was delivered to Renduo Baozhong of Zhuoluo City as quickly as possible.
Upon unfolding the document, Ren Duobaozhong felt reassured, while secretly marveling at Li Qianshun's meticulous planning and shrewd methods.
Li Qianshun was only sixteen years old, yet he already had such thoughts, which made him wary.
Ren Duo Baozhong's family initially relied on the Liang family.
Although the Liang regime was ended by Ren Duo Baozhong, their family never gained Li Qianshun's complete trust.
Furthermore, after Empress Dowager Liang was poisoned by the Liao people, Li Qianshun, relying on the Liao state to assume personal rule, naturally harbored suspicion towards non-direct descendant military nobles like Renduo Baozhong.
Despite the seemingly amicable relationship between Li Qianshun and Ren Duobaozhong, there was no shortage of suspicion between them.
-
Putting aside suspicions for now, at least we've reached a consensus.
Not sending troops is not an option, but the manner, scale, name, and bottom line of sending troops are all clearly stipulated.
In particular, the principles of "small but elite," "self-defense of border troops," "not giving the Song people any leverage," and "not making a direct break with the Song court" effectively controlled the risks.
If they win, the Xia state benefits; if they lose or the game is deadlocked, the losses are limited, and the blame can be shifted to "the border general's unauthorized actions" or "the Tibetan rebels," without harming the state's reputation.
This is a risky tactic, but it involves only extending one finger, ready to retract it at any moment.
With Li Qianshun's secret edict, Renduo Baozhong had no more worries. He summoned Xishe Luosa, who had been waiting anxiously at the inn, once again.
"Chief of Xisheluosa," Renduo Baozhong said with a more certain tone.
"I have informed the King. The King is sympathetic to your people's plight and knows that the Song people's occupation of the Hehuang region poses a significant threat to the borders of our Great Xia. Therefore, he has granted me permission to send troops to assist you."
Upon hearing this, Xisheluosa's eyes suddenly blazed with wild joy, and he almost stood up.
"Is the General's word truly true? How many troops can the Xia Kingdom send? And when can they dispatch them?"
Rendo Baozhong raised his hand and gestured for him to calm down.
"The quality of an army is more important than its quantity. I can send eight hundred elite Iron Falcons and one thousand Infantrymen, all of whom are veterans of my right flank, under the command of my brave generals, to serve you."
However, it must be stated beforehand that my Xia army will only assist you in defeating the current Song army in the Hehuang region and retaking Qingtang. After the mission is accomplished, you must fulfill your previous promise. Furthermore, my army will be commanded by my generals, and your troops must fully cooperate and not hinder me.
The official purpose of this matter is to suppress the Tibetan bandits who have repeatedly harassed our borders. Our border troops, enraged, pursued them and entered the Hehuang region. Do you understand?
At this moment, Xi Sheluo Sa didn't care about these details. As long as Xia Kingdom was willing to send troops, he would agree to any conditions!
Eight hundred Iron Falcons and one thousand Foot Battalions—this is nearly two thousand elite fresh troops!
With the two thousand men he could muster, plus the troops he was contacting from other tribes, he had enough to gain an advantage over the Song army!
"Understood! Understood!" Xisheluosa nodded repeatedly, his eyes flashing with the flames of revenge and ambition.
"Rest assured, General! Everything will be done as you command! The arrival of the Xia Kingdom warriors is a timely help, and our entire force will follow the Xia Kingdom general's lead without question! After the mission is accomplished, we will provide annual tribute to this strategically important region of Hehuang, without fail!"
"Good!" Renduo Baozhong nodded in satisfaction. "In that case, the leader can return to Yingchoujian first, gather the old troops, and contact allies. Once I have made the necessary arrangements, I will send troops to join you."
I will send someone to inform you of the specific date and location. Remember, this must be kept secret and must not be leaked.
"Yes! Yes! Thank you, General! Thank you, Your Majesty!" Xi Sheluo Sa's voice trembled with excitement as he bowed deeply to the ground.
With the help of Xia's elite troops, Xi Sheluo Sa seemed to have already seen the royal banner on the Qing Tang city wall, Zhao Mingcheng being beheaded and displayed to the public, and himself sitting on the throne of the Quesiluo family again, commanding the Hehuang region!
Watching Xi Sheluo Sa leave hastily, full of thanks, the smile on Ren Duo Baozhong's face gradually faded, and his eyes became deep and calm.
He walked back to the map and pointed between "Hehuang" and "Zhuoluo".
"Issue the order to muster 800 Iron Falcons and 1,000 Footmen, the most elite of them, under the command of Yeli Jieao."
Tell him that his mission in the Hehuang region is to help Xi Sheluo Sa defeat the Song army, but he must also preserve his strength and act according to circumstances.
If things become unmanageable, or if Song reinforcements arrive in force, retreat immediately without fail. Also, prepare plenty of Tibetan clothing and flags for concealment.
"Yes!" The guard accepted the order and left.
Outside Zhuoluo City, the cold wind still blows.
But an undercurrent of iron-fisted ruthlessness and conspiracy has been quietly brewing, and the shadow of a great war is gathering as the Xia Kingdom's elite troops secretly assemble.