Chapter 116: The Fear of Take Xingqing Fu

The scene after the army collapsed was undoubtedly terrifying, for it meant the soldiers had completely lost their original courage and fighting spirit, scattering in all directions in chaotic disorder. At this moment, their officers also seemed powerless, unable to effectively restrain and command these out-of-control soldiers. In such a situation, this army had completely lost its original organization and combat effectiveness, becoming like scattered sand, utterly incapable of resistance.

The army at this moment could no longer be called an army, but rather a mob of people ready to be slaughtered.

When a mob faces an army with strict discipline and precise organization, its strength appears negligible. Lacking unified command and effective coordination, this lawless crowd had almost no chance to fight back against a well-trained, well-equipped army. With its immense combat power and tight organization, the army turned this battle into a one-sided slaughter.

Nie Huaishang, who was commanding from the high platform, felt an inexpressible sense of triumph and pride deep within. He knew well that he was facing a hero famous throughout history—Temujin. This great leader, once praised as a son of heaven, had left a bold and colorful mark in the historical records with his military talent and strategic vision.

Yet, this legendary figure now appeared so wretched under Nie Huaishang's clever deployment and precise command. Nie Huaishang's great army descended like Mount Menghuxia, unstoppable, while Temujin's forces retreated step by step under his assault, discarding their armor and weapons, utterly unable to fight back.

In the future, he would have plenty to brag about when he went out, after all, his battle record was verifiable: he had once made the Yuan Dynasty's founding emperor, the Heaven-Opening and Earth-Initiating Sage Martial Emperor, the son of heaven Genghis Khan, flee in disgrace, discarding his armor and weapons.

The son of heaven had no room to fight back before him.

Wasn't this battle record worthy of his pride?

Take Xingqing Fu, the Ducheng of the Western Xia Kingdom, served as the ruling center of Western Xia; every emperor of past generations made it their capital. Its geographical situation was superior, with abundant water and grass, fertile land yielding five grains, and relatively developed agriculture and animal husbandry. The relatively stable Yellow River irrigation agriculture in the Yellow River basin could guarantee the city's military supplies and civilian food. Furthermore, Take Xingqing Fu was a major commercial hub on the ancient Silk Road, serving as the military, political, economic, cultural, scientific, transportation, and financial center of Ningxia.

However, now this prosperous city had fallen into extreme panic.

Just two days ago, a shocking message arrived from the front lines: Kiyimen had fallen.

This place, where Wuhu Mountain met the narrowest part of the Yellow River, was only about fifteen Chinese miles wide, a natural Shanhe pass. Within the mountain range, two mountains faced each other as sheer cliffs; the sandy soil at the bottom of the ravine was relatively flat, capable of accommodating large numbers of personnel, horses, and supplies. Passing through this ravine allowed east-west connection between the eastern bank of the Yellow River and the western Ordos Grassland.

Winding and tortuous, with treacherous terrain easy to defend but hard to attack, it stretched ten kilometers in length. Tens of thousands of troops could hide on the mountains on both sides, while the ravine bottom in the middle was completely exposed; this place was very suitable for ambush battles and pocket battles.

How could the Mongol army have captured such a treacherous place, which still housed seventy thousand troops, in such a short time?

And what made their hearts and spirits tremble most was that Temujin's words were not false. The nobles of Take Xingqing Fu, through their hidden spies, learned a horrifying fact—the Mongols were indeed slaughtering nobles and landlords. Those nobles and scholar-officials who had once been infinitely glorious now, under the trampling of the Mongol iron cavalry, were like lambs awaiting slaughter.

Wherever the Mongols went, they would drag these former nobles onto high platforms and conduct public trials. Those nobles and scholar-officials who had once stood high above, arrogant and domineering, now, like homeless dogs, were killed arbitrarily by the Mongols as if they were wild dogs.

Those nobles who had once been stingy with donations now regretted their actions deeply. They bitterly regretted that if they had known things would develop to this point, even if it meant going bankrupt, they would have unhesitatingly supported Temujin to eliminate those threats. After all, Temujin only wanted their money, while these people wanted their lives.

According to their spies, those people were executed simply because nobles had beaten a few slaves to death; this was simply incomprehensible. The lives of slaves were not even counted as lives; according to the revolutionary army's handling method, ninety-nine percent of Western Xia's nobles and scholar-officials would die.

The last person in history books who did this was Huang Chao; don't you know what his fate was?

Not only did he die himself, but he also left a notorious name for ten thousand years; which civil official compiling history books would not curse him as a butcher upon seeing this name?

But complaints aside, now they must unite to prevent a second Huang Chao from breaking in.

The words in history books, "Not half of the red gates and armored houses remain; the bones of dukes and ministers are trampled in the street," even when read aloud, made them shiver all over. The powerful aristocratic families that had continuously developed and grown since the Wei and Jin periods were slaughtered by this demon until their family trees were cut off.

The most terrifying thing was that his actions also ignited others' murderous intent toward the aristocratic families. For example, Li Zhen, who failed the imperial examinations for twenty years, said to Zhu Wen: "These bureaucrats consider themselves superior, calling themselves pure streams; now, after executing them, throw them into the Yellow River so they will forever become the turbid stream."

Zhu Wen smiled and agreed immediately.

These matters, merely when read aloud, were enough to make people feel cold in their hearts, as if a cold wind pierced through their spines, making them shudder with fear. To prevent such events from happening again, the historians mercilessly condemned those culprits, their words sharp, their anger overflowing.

However, now such a nightmare had descended upon their very surroundings, even about to affect them personally. This fear, like a violent storm in the dark night, ruthlessly invaded their souls, leaving them nowhere to escape. Whenever they thought of these things, an indescribable fear surged in their hearts, as if bound by invisible shackles, unable to break free.

These matters constantly reminded them that they, these nobles and masters who had been elegant, wealthy, and powerful for generations, could also be killed like stray dogs by the roadside.

When a large blade strikes the neck, the head falls just the same, and blood flows just the same.

At the same time, the common people in the Western Xia royal city felt fear just like the nobles.

Even those nobles whose status was too high to be described in words perished under the ruthless executioner's blade.

Then, for them, these humble common people as insignificant as straw, how much security could there be?

The Western Xia people, located in a land surrounded by wars on all sides, had long figured out the pattern: when soldiers arrived here, they first threatened with knives to demand money; if they didn't get it, they would kill a few to intimidate. Those who could give them money might be let off, but those who couldn't give money would certainly be killed.

But if rich people and nobles are also killed, it is no surprise that the enemy is here to reduce the population. What is "reducing the population"? It is slaughtering without sparing any effort; the more they kill, the fewer the people, and the less threat to the enemy.

The meat-eaters on this land had never thought of treating these bottom-layer people well.