1223 TWO Chapter 1223-Xihai Province (1/2)
Chapter 1223 – Xihai Province
Mongol Empire, Karakorum.
Genghis Khan had been playing close attention to the Battle of West Xia. The moment the Great Xia Army was invited and officially interfered, he knew that the Empire had no chances of winning the battle.
If they wanted to win, they would have to send more troops toward West Xia.
That could change a small side battle into an uncontrollable large scale war. The Empire could increase their troops in the region but so could Great Xia. Moreover, Great Xia's speed would be faster, and their scale would be larger.
”Send orders to Tolei; tell him to immediately retreat from West Xia. He must not stay and fight or else he will have to face military law.”
”Yes!”
Genghis Khan was even more decisive than Tolei and knew when to give up. Although this battle was not a total success, they had obtained a huge amount of resources and solved the empire's burning problems.
As for how to solve the remaining grain shortage issue, that was a problem for another day.
If they fought on, they might even suffer losses. Genghis Khan never did businesses that he would make losses in.
...
Tolei did not dare to disobey his orders.
12th month, 19th day, Tolei gathered up Muqali remaining troops, a total of 250 thousand troops, to bring back the huge quantity of resources from West Xia.
For this batch of resources, the Mongol Empire had lost 150 thousand elite cavalry. As such, it was not hard to imagine why Tolei would feel annoyed and unwilling when he was asked to retreat.
Tolei hated the kill stealing Great Xia to the bone.
Seeing the Mongol army retreat, Yeli Wangrong was even more unwilling. He did not bother about Li Yuanhao's orders and personally led 50 thousand troops to chase them and try to delay their retreating speed.
Tolei, who had a lot of pent up frustration, worked together with Muqali. They turned around to face the enemy, once again crushing Yeli Wangrong's forces. Even Yeli Wangrong himself was shot to death by Tolei.
This battle also signaled the end of the Battle of West Xia.
Three days later, Li Mu led his troops into Xingqing House and accepted the defense of the city from the West Xia army, signaling that the West Xia country was now a part of history.
From this day on, Great Xia's Eagle legion corps' base would shift from Shu Lands to West Xia, becoming the elite troops to defend against the Mongol Empire.
Along with the Shu Han Dynasty submitting, there were no more hidden problems in the Shu Lands and having the Bear legion corps there was enough.
After receiving orders from the warzone headquarters and the Privy Court, the West Xia army, apart from some that were taken by the Eagle legion corps to replenish their loses and some to build garrison forces, the remaining 200 thousand were disarmed.
With the size of the Great Xia Army, they could not expand easily. Hence, even though the 200 thousand West Xia troops that survived were elites, Ouyang Shuo had no choice but to do just that.
Moreover, after this battle, West Xia had suffered a population loss, especially in terms of able-bodied men. These men would help to replenish their production.
Ouyang Shuo had already ordered the Civil Affairs Department to move a batch of Han people over from the Shu Lands to West Xia to replenish their population.
As for his plans for Li Yuanhao and West Xia, that would have to wait till the imperial decree arrived.
...
The moment news of West Xia submitting to Great Xia spread out, there were many jealous parties.
On the surface, Great Xia had done nothing to occupy the huge West Xia country. In truth, not just anyone could have taken advantage of that situation.
For example, the neighboring Qin country.
Even if Li Yuanhao was willing to lead West Xia to surrender to Qin, they would not have enough strength to protect Li Yuanhao from the Mongol Empire.
The Mongol Empire also would not retreat without engaging like now.
Great Xia had used its huge strength and invincible authority in China to successfully reclaim West Xia. If it were any other country, they would not be able to do that.
Moreover, accepting West Xia was not a good thing from a short term standpoint because it meant that there were over 10 million hungry civilians asking the Imperial Court to dish out relief grain.
...
12th month, 25th day, Shanhai City.
After days of discussion, the plans of the Imperial Court had finally been settled.
First, the decree for Li Yuanhao. Due to the fact that they had chosen to submit under special circumstances and did not have a strong foundation, the Cabinet only gave him 1st class Marquis.