Ch.78Merger (4)

I received a message that we had captured the enemy general Wei Xiaoyun from Bekhter.

With the enemy general captured, there was only one thing left to do.

“There are no more obstacles to stop us inside Xingqing. So we head straight for where the Western Xia Emperor is!”

The cavalry cheered at my words.

The fact that only the Western Xia Emperor remained meant just one thing.

We had conquered Western Xia.

Since it was essentially a victory, the Ulus soldiers couldn’t help but be excited.

So I led the khans and soldiers toward where the Western Xia Emperor was located.

When we arrived, we saw Western Xia soldiers fighting against the Ulus troops.

Judging by the quality of their weapons and armor, they were definitely imperial guards protecting the emperor.

“Give me a spear.”

At my command, a khan standing right beside me handed me a spear.

I threw it with all my might. Two enemy soldiers fighting our troops were impaled by the flying spear and collapsed immediately.

“A…amazing strength…!”

“This is Ulanbaatar…!”

Hearing this commotion that seemed straight out of a comic book made me want to curl up in embarrassment.

But that wasn’t important right now, so I maintained my composure and walked toward where the imperial guards were gathered.

As I approached, the soldiers who had been fighting until just moments ago stepped back as if by agreement.

Then they looked at me with reverent gazes and knelt down.

“The incarnation of Daichi Tengri has arrived on this land.”

“Fear, people of Western Xia. His anger cannot be paid for with your lives.”

“The hands of our leader are thick and strong as a bear’s. Your armor will be torn apart like cotton.”

The Western Xia soldiers looked confused, as if they didn’t understand what was being said.

But when I appeared before them with my massive frame, they seemed to belatedly understand what the Ulus soldiers meant and began trembling.

“Step aside. I will meet the ruler of Western Xia.”

“That cannot happen!”

At that moment, I felt a murderous intent from somewhere.

Then an attack followed, precisely targeting my neck.

But I had no intention of falling to such an attack.

Clang!

“Ha! As expected of the monster leader!”

Looking at the man in what appeared to be high official attire, I addressed him.

“Are you Zhao Yunling?”

Zhao Yunling seemed to understand my words and glared at me with murderous intent.

Then he gripped his sword again and charged at me.

“You killed my brother! I’ll avenge him right here!”

The man who appeared to be Zhao Yunling charged at me, consumed by rage, saying things I couldn’t fully understand.

From his anger, it seemed he wanted revenge for my killing of Zhao Yunchang.

I took a serious stance to face him.

“Hup.”

Again, he aimed for my neck.

I dodged the attack and immediately drew the sword at my waist.

Then I slashed at Zhao Yunling’s exposed abdomen.

“Ugh…”

Zhao Yunling stepped back, covering his abdomen with his hand.

I had precisely cut Zhao Yunling’s abdomen. I could feel the heavy sensation through my hand as proof.

However, I couldn’t kill the enemy general in one strike. The Western Xia armor, made with advanced ironworking techniques, was difficult to cut through at once.

“But that doesn’t mean I’ll fight fair and square.”

I rushed forward and kicked Zhao Yunling in the abdomen.

The surprised Zhao Yunling had no choice but to roll on the ground.

“Kuh…keouk…”

Perhaps because of the cut to his abdomen, Zhao Yunling could barely breathe.

I stood over him and pointed my sword at his neck.

“Your brother died honorably as a commander.”

“…I don’t know what you’re saying.”

Judging by his expression, Zhao Yunling didn’t understand what I was saying.

But what mattered now wasn’t whether he understood my words. After all, these words weren’t for the dying Zhao Yunling but for the already deceased Zhao Yunchang.

“He faced death with dignity and valued his soldiers’ lives as his own. He was a true general who knew regret and compassion for those who suffered from his wrong choices.”

“…”

“But you are nothing. A person who should lead soldiers and protect the country was consumed by personal revenge. And in the end, you were captured by me.”

I took a breath and spoke my final words.

“Die. You will disappear not as a commander but as a nameless entity.”

With those words, I struck down Zhao Yunling’s neck.

And the blood that burst from his neck soaked my body.

“…The…general is…dead.”

“What…what do we do now…”

“There’s…nothing left now.”

The Western Xia imperial guards looked bewildered after losing their commander.

I showed them Zhao Yunling’s head and spoke.

“Do not resist. Surrender.”

The guards, roughly understanding my words, began to lay down their weapons.

I ordered my soldiers to completely disarm them and bind them.

Leaving the captured enemy soldiers behind, I advanced toward the imperial palace.

One step.

Another step.

Upon reaching the entrance of the Western Xia imperial palace on a high hill, a wide space appeared.

In front of it stood many Western Xia officials and a young man dressed in splendid clothes.

I slowly walked toward the young man.

The young man bowed his head and held out something to me.

A seal made of fine jade.

It was clearly the imperial seal.

“Lord of the Four Seas, Western Xia has been defeated.”

At these words from the apparent emperor, I called an interpreter to translate his words.

“Are you the Emperor of Western Xia?”

“Yes, Lord of the Four Seas.”

“I see. Are you now surrendering to the Ulus?”

At my words, the emperor lowered himself to the cold ground and nodded.

“I wish to become part of the Ulus. Please accept Western Xia’s surrender.”

“I will accept Western Xia’s surrender. However, the imperial family will cease to exist, and my son will rule Western Xia. Will you comply with this?”

The emperor looked surprised at my words.

Judging by his expression, he had wanted to maintain the imperial family.

But I had no intention of maintaining the royal family of the region as in the original history.

Especially leaving an imperial family in Western Xia, which was close to Mongolia, was dangerous as history had proven.

In the original history, Western Xia did surrender to Mongolia.

But due to the mistake of leaving the imperial family intact, Western Xia eventually rebelled against Mongolia.

Angered by this betrayal, Genghis Khan set out to subjugate Western Xia,

and during this campaign, Genghis Khan fell from his horse and died.

Knowing these events, I had no reason to spare the Western Xia imperial family, which had constantly changed diplomatic policies and moved between the Jin Dynasty and Mongolia.

“Lord of the Four Seas… this is too harsh…”

“I will take your daughter as my son’s wife. This way, the Western Xia imperial line will continue with the Ulus. This is the final offer I can make.”

“I am grateful… for your generous decision.”

The Western Xia Emperor bowed and presented me with the jade seal.

I received the seal and shouted loudly to everyone:

“We have won!”

“Woooaaah!”

“Long live Ulanbaatar!”

“Long live Daichi Tengri!”

The soldiers cheered.

I spread my arms in response to the cheering soldiers.

* * *

The long expedition had finally ended.

Through this campaign, we gained control of Western Xia, which was closest to Central China and a key transportation hub.

“Additionally, with the disappearance of Jin Dynasty’s main ally, this is good news for both the Ulus and the Song Dynasty.”

I nodded at Elunka’s words.

The Western Xia expedition had originally started with aid from the Song Dynasty.

Thanks to the Muslim technicians, trebuchets, and various military supplies sent by the Song Dynasty, we were able to conquer Western Xia with relative ease.

In the original history, the Western Xia campaign was a grand journey that took nearly 5 years.

But thanks to the trebuchet siege weapons, we were able to accomplish all this in just a year and a half.

“Give meat and alcohol to the soldiers who worked hard, and let them have sufficient rest.”

“I will obey your command.”

Comforting the soldiers who suffered most in the war was most important.

Not only was I grateful to them, but if they weren’t provided with rest and food, they might plunder civilian homes.

To prevent this as much as possible, I issued this order first.

“And bring in the enemy’s chancellor, Wei Xiaoyun.”

At this, Elunka immediately left the office.

After some time, he returned with Munglig and Bekhter. Between them was Wei Xiaoyun, reduced to rags.

“Bekhter.”

“I await your command, my lord.”

“How would you like to deal with the enemy general Wei Xiaoyun?”

“I will follow the will of my lord.”

At Bekhter’s words, I shook my head.

And I addressed my son again.

“The Khan of Western Xia should reconsider my question and answer carefully.”

Khan of Western Xia.

I had not yet officially granted my son the position of King of Xia.

But since it was already a foregone conclusion, I asked my son to answer as a king and khan.

Understanding my words, my son adjusted his posture and spoke.

“I wish to execute him in front of the city gates for all to see.”

“If you use him, you could govern Western Xia more easily. Why give up such an easy path?”

“It’s true that if I employ Wei Xiaoyun, I could quickly bring Western Xia under my influence. However, my support base consists of the Western Xia people who were driven outside the city walls. If I employ Wei Xiaoyun, who drove them out, I will no longer have their support.”

I was inwardly surprised by my son’s statement.

I had never taught Bekhter politics, yet he already knew how to gain respect as a leader.

“And for internal affairs, I plan to reduce the nobles’ resentment by using officials appointed with the advice of the Western Xia Emperor’s daughter, whom I will marry.”

Bekhter knew how to appease not only the common people but also the nobles.

Of course, this method involved using the Western Xia Emperor’s daughter, but it could somewhat reduce the dissatisfaction of nobles who resented Mongol rule.

“The Khan of Western Xia speaks wisely. I will respect your opinion.”

At these words, Bekhter immediately expressed his gratitude and bowed to me.

As this warm atmosphere prevailed, suddenly Elunka urgently opened the door and approached me.

“My…my lord. There’s…big trouble.”

“What is it?”

“The…Jin Dynasty…Jin Dynasty army is coming this way!”

Everyone in the office was shocked by the appearance of the Jin Dynasty army.