Chapter Eight: A Debt of Blood Must Be Paid in Blood!!

Throughout the entire night, the rain over Hexibao grew heavier and heavier, as if trying to wash away all the sorrow and suffering in the world.

Yet reality was unbearably cruel.

Sin could not be cleansed, nor hatred resolved!

Before dawn, more and more people in Hexibao learned the devastating news.

The Battle of Beishan ended in a disastrous defeat. Of the one hundred able-bodied men from Hexibao sent to fight, only six returned; the rest were missing.

The entire village was shrouded in a heavy atmosphere of grief. Worry and even despair were etched on every face.

In some courtyards, women dressed in plain clothes clung together, weeping. They had heard from Old Zhu, Wang Wu, and others the grim truth—their husbands, fathers, and sons had fallen in battle.

More still were those whose whereabouts were unknown, whose families, caught between anxiety and hope, offered prayers and yearned for their safe return.

Many stood at the village entrance, gazing into the distance, desperate to catch sight of their loved ones coming home.

Even the children, infected by the oppressive mood, ceased their laughter and play, timidly clinging to the adults.

In the Li household, sorrow had completely enveloped the once harmonious family.

Upon hearing that her eldest son had died and her second son was missing, the matriarch fainted. When she awoke, she wept inconsolably, fainting several times.

“O Heaven, why are you so cruel to me?”

“I have lived a life of virtue and kindness, never committing wrong—why must you take my son away?”

“Dahai, my son!”

“Erjiang, please come back!”

Her cries filled the air, despair clinging to her like a shroud.

Qin Dani was no better off.

She had never imagined that within just half a month, she would be separated from her husband by death, with no corpse to bury.

Her grief was beyond words; she could do nothing but embrace her mother-in-law and daughter, weeping together.

The three Li brothers now wore mourning clothes.

White cloth was wrapped around their heads, waists, and ankles in a solemn tribute to filial piety. As nephews, Da Hu and Er Bao did not tie white cloth around their waists.

All five brothers knelt before Li Dahai’s memorial tablet, quietly weeping.

They mourned both the fallen Li Dahai and the grievously wounded yet missing Li Erjiang.

Nearby, the patriarch and others sat together. Though heavy-hearted, they had more pressing matters to attend to.

“Dongzi just returned,” the third grandfather said, squatting down and looking at the old patriarch, who was sharpening a long knife with a whetstone.

“He went to Hedongbao, where the news had arrived earlier. Last night, they sent scouts out.”

“And thirty li east, at Eagle’s Beak Rock, they found signs of the Geluolu rebel forces.”

Hedongbao, like Hexibao, was a village located on the southern bank of the Longgu River, but one to the east and the other to the west.

The two were not far apart, and since the Geluolu had appeared near Hedongbao, Hexibao’s danger was imminent.

The old patriarch’s expression remained calm, but he exuded an icy, ruthless aura.

“Send all the children to Longxin Island—it's safer there.”

“Understood,” the third grandfather nodded quietly.

Within Jinzhou, two main rivers flowed, both originating from the Altai Mountains to the east.

The northern river was called the Yiedie River, flowing into the far north to an unknown end—later known as the Irtysh River.

The southern river was the Longgu River, later called the Ulungur River, an inland river.

The Longgu River ended in a lake named Longgu Lake, located about ten li northwest of Hexibao.

Within Longgu Lake was a small island, named Longxin Island by Hexibao’s ancestors.

Most nomads were poor swimmers and dared not cross the water, so Longxin Island became a refuge for Hexibao.

When enemies struck, women and children were sent there in advance for safety.

The remaining men of Hexibao stayed behind to avenge their families.

The Geluolu rebellion in Jinzhou had been brewing for a long time. After defeating the Jinzhou army, they would not stop but surely turn their attention to other parts of Jinzhou.

The Han villages like Hexibao would be the first targets.

“According to the news brought back by Xiao Wuzi and others, this rebellion is large-scale.”

“All the Geluolu tribes in Jinzhou have united, with at least three thousand troops,” the third grandfather said gravely.

Hearing this number pressed heavily on everyone.

The Geluolu tribes were typically scattered, each numbering only a few hundred or a thousand.

But when united, they could muster three thousand soldiers easily—a formidable force.

Historically, before the Tang dynasty, the northern border was ruled by the Geluolu.

There were three main tribes: the Mouluo, Chisi, and Tashili.

Together, they commanded tens of thousands of troops and ruled the northern frontier.

Later, after the fall of the Western Turkic Khaganate, these tribes submitted to the Tang dynasty.

The Mouluo chieftain was appointed governor of the Yinshan Commandery, located southwest of Jinzhou, roughly today's Tacheng region in Xinjiang.

The Tashili leader was made governor of the Xuanchi Commandery, north of Yinshan, corresponding to the southeast area of modern Kazakhstan.

The Chisi tribe was granted governorships over two commanderies: Damo and Jinfu.

The Damo Commandery was centered around today's Changji Prefecture, governing the eastern parts of the Gurbantunggut Desert, and was the weakest.

The Jinfu Commandery, named after the Altai Mountains—also called the Golden Mountains—was located in the area of modern Altay.

These four commanderies were under the jurisdiction of the Tang’s Protectorate General to Pacify the North, making them vassals of the Tang dynasty.

However, during the Battle of Talas, the Geluolu betrayed the Tang army, leading to a crushing Tang defeat.

Emperor Xuanzong was furious and ordered General Feng Changqing to retaliate against the three Geluolu tribes.

Unable to withstand the Tang forces, most were hunted out of the northern frontier, with only a few remaining.

During the Western Liao period, Yelü Dashi imitated the Tang’s regional divisions and reorganized the northern frontier into four prefectures.

Jinfu Commandery was renamed Jinzhou, with its administrative area largely unchanged.

Xuanchi Commandery became Beihai, Yinshan Commandery remained as it was.

Damo Commandery merged with surrounding Shatuo and Huoba commanderies into a new Damo Prefecture, also called Hanzhou.

Khitans were appointed to govern these prefectures to strengthen control over the northern frontier.

Thus, the pattern of the northern frontier’s four prefectures was established.

The Geluolu people, who had been forced westward, gradually returned—sometimes voluntarily, sometimes not—to the northern frontier.

The unwilling returns were mostly due to their restlessness and frequent rebellions in the Hexi region and the Seven Rivers basin.

Consequently, the Western Liao court had to disperse the Geluolu, forbidding them from carrying swords and forcibly relocating some back to the four northern prefectures.

Yet, the Geluolu, inherently violent and rebellious, remained unruly.

This time, although the rebellion was confined to Jinzhou, the threat to Western Liao was significant.

If not swiftly crushed, it could spark uprisings among Geluolu elsewhere in the northern frontier and beyond.

“The Geluolu are fierce warriors. Now, with three thousand men gathered and fresh from defeating Jinzhou’s main army, their morale is high. They are unstoppable!”

After the third grandfather spoke, the old patriarch’s other brother, Old Fourth, with a grave face, added his voice.

Hexibao had over two hundred households, about 1,300 people, but aside from the hundred able-bodied men already lost, only about three hundred could bear arms.

Three hundred against three thousand?

It was suicide.

“Even if we cannot match them, we must fight! The sons of Hexibao shall not die in vain. The Geluolu must pay!” the third grandfather said fiercely.

Though uncertain how many would return from the previous battle, the death of Li Dahai alone was enough to ignite the fury of Hexibao’s men.

“This hatred cannot go unavenged.”

“And even if we do not fight, the Geluolu will not spare us.”

“If we don’t want to be dragged into their rebellion, we must strike!”

“The news of Jinzhou’s defeat has spread. If we hold on a while longer, troops from the Eastern Capital will arrive to suppress the rebels.”

“Hmph, just pray the Khitans from the Eastern Capital aren’t as worthless as Da He Chuluo,” someone muttered bitterly.

During Yelü Dashi’s western campaign, he proclaimed himself Emperor at Yemi Li, taking the title of Juer Khan—equivalent to emperor.

Yemi Li was located within today’s northern frontier’s four prefectures, southwest of Jinzhou by about eight hundred li.

Later, Yelü Dashi conquered the Eastern and Western Karakhanids, renaming the Eastern Karakhanid capital Balashagun to Husi Wo’erduo, making it the Western Liao imperial court.

The original Yemi Li became known as the Eastern Capital or Old Capital.

The Eastern Capital garrison was set up to administer the northern frontier’s four prefectures.

Thus, once news of the Geluolu rebellion in Jinzhou spread, the Eastern Capital garrison would undoubtedly mobilize forces to quell it.

Even if the Han people of Jinzhou could not defeat the Geluolu, they needed only to hold out until the Eastern Capital troops arrived.

Listening to the discussions around him, the old patriarch finished sharpening his battle knife, stood upright, and cast a sweeping gaze over everyone.

“You are all right. The sons of Hexibao will not die in vain!”

“Our men do not fear death or battle, but our blood must not be shed for nothing.”

“Contact the other villages!”

“Together, we will annihilate the Geluolu!”

“Blood debts must be repaid in blood!”

The old patriarch’s authority in Hexibao was unrivaled. When he finished speaking, fierce determination lit every face.

“Exactly. Blood debts must be repaid in blood!”

“Blood debts must be repaid in blood!”

The crowd echoed softly, and the Li brothers were filled with battle fervor.

Especially Er Hu, his neck veins bulging with rage, eager to charge into a bloody battle with the Geluolu this very moment.

Shortly after, the third grandfather led several able-bodied men away from Hexibao to contact neighboring Han villages.

Together, they would ambush the Geluolu rebels.