Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 102 The Beginning of Hegemony
Luoyang, Prime Minister's Mansion.

Yuan Yi's party was purged, and Empress Hu regained control of the government and changed the reign to Xiaochang.

Prime Minister Yuan Yong also moved from the banks of the Luo River to the inner city of Luoyang, to the mansion that once belonged to the eunuch Liu Teng.

At that time, Yuan Yi and Liu Teng joined forces to launch a coup. Liu Teng was the dictator in the palace and was unrivaled in power. His house was also luxurious and magnificent, and its specifications far exceeded those of the houses of the kings of the Northern Wei Dynasty.

Empress Hu dug Liu Teng out of his grave, crushed his bones and scattered his ashes to relieve her hatred, and the house was then awarded to Yuan Yong.

Yuan Yong made great efforts in the process of Empress Hu overthrowing Yuan Yi. Now he has restored the power that the prime minister should have, and also has the concerns that the prime minister should have.

All the maps and books of Guanzhong and Shanxi provinces were destroyed, and this area was in darkness.

If it were peacetime, it would only require more manpower and financial resources to re-count.

But it’s different now. This area is in chaos.

This will undoubtedly accelerate the local forces' control over these areas!
"It's this kid again!"

Yuan Yong quickly found out.

Hou Gang died near the Secretariat, and Li Shuang was also nearby at the time of the incident.

He didn't even need to think about it, he knew it must have been done by this guy, just like when he burned down his own house.

But he couldn't hold anyone accountable because it was a mess and was all blamed on a dead person.

Yuan Yong's son Yuan Tai saw his father so upset and asked:

"Didn't anyone at the court see that? Why didn't they punish him, but instead made him Duke of Tang?"

Looking at his legitimate son in this state, Yuan Yong taught him.

"This is where the imperial court's brilliance lies!"

Yuan Tai was puzzled and asked:
"How clever is it?"

"Now that things have come to this, it's too late to hold him accountable. He's a meritorious official, and the Duke of a county whom the Queen Mother explicitly promised to reward. How can he be punished?

Now that the Jiehu people are causing chaos in various parts of Fenzhou, and the imperial court has lost control of these areas, it would be better to pass this trouble on to Li Shuang."

Yuan Yong sneered when he said this:
"The imperial court abolished the Xihe counties and established Tang County, effectively conferring upon him the title of Duke of Tang County. This was already a great favor. Appointing him as the Governor of Fenzhou, if he fails to pacify the local area and causes the Jiehu to rebel, the imperial court will have grounds for prosecution."

Even the imperial court had no idea how many Jihu people there were in the deep mountains of Hexi.

These Jihu people had long since stopped obeying the imperial court's orders and even killed local garrisons at will, which gave the Luoyang court a headache.

After hearing this, Yuan Tai nodded and asked again:
"What if Li Shuang can appease the locals?"

Instead of feeling uneasy, Yuan Yong became even happier.

"That's even better! Erzhu Rong has been keeping an eye on Jinyang, and now the Duke of Tang is right next to Taiyuan. When two tigers fight, one of them is bound to get hurt!"

When standing on the opposite side of Yuan Yi, Yuan Yong was very fond of people like Erzhu Rong, and he tried to win them over whenever possible, even offering them the position of Governor of Bingzhou.

But now Yuan Yong is standing in the position where Yuan Yi once stood, and people like Erzhu Rong are very annoying to him.

Especially in Luoyang City, there are 500 troops under Li Shuang's command, which makes Yuan Yong very wary.

"They are brothers after all!"

Yuan Yong said disdainfully:
"If brothers can kill each other, how much more so these sworn brothers!"
-
Chenliu County Mansion.

"Are you about to take up your post?"

Li Chong stared at his adopted son with a hint of reluctance in his eyes.

"The imperial court ordered me to leave the capital tomorrow with 500 troops. They are treating us like pawns."

After hearing this, Li Chong smiled.

"Your words are really harsh, but they are also appropriate."

Li Shuang looked at Li Chong and smiled, then he started coughing and picked up the tiger for him.

Li Chong spat a mouthful of phlegm into Hu Zi, and his expression relaxed a little. He then asked Li Shuang to take it away with disgust.

"I know my time is running out, and I don't know if we'll ever meet again after you leave." Li Shuang knew that Li Chong had something to tell him. But the first thing Li Chong said made Li Shuang's face change drastically.

"The world is about to be in chaos!"

Li Chong sat up with the help of Li Shuang, straightened his back, and said:

"The imperial court has already decided on a strategy for the resettlement of the surrendered troops from the six garrisons. They will be settled in Ji, Ding, and Ying provinces for food!"

The Northern Wei court actually had few options, or rather, none at all, as to how to accommodate the surrendered troops from the Six Garrisons.

Guanzhong is already in chaos, and it is impossible to let these people go south.

Henan cannot accommodate so many people.

Letting these people go to the northern border and let them fend for themselves would undoubtedly add fuel to the fire for the Rouran, Gaoche, and Tiele tribes, allowing them to collude with each other and go south to plunder together.

If, as Guangyang King Yuanshen said, it is settled north of Hengzhou, it seems feasible, but it is actually not feasible.

Pingcheng has too great political significance. If these rebels collude with the royal family stationed in Pingcheng and march south, it will undoubtedly be a disaster for the Luoyang court.

Moreover, the farmland north of Hengzhou was limited, and the court would have to pay a large amount of money and grain every year to settle them. If the Luoyang court was willing to provide more money and grain to the northern border, would the Six Garrisons still rebel?

After much deliberation, the court in Luoyang chose the cheapest and least worrying option.

Hopefully, the vast land of Hebei can absorb these six-town rebels!
Li Chong had already seen the signs of chaos, and there were people in the court who had insightful views, but no one dared to point it out.

Because there is no other way!

"Actually, in my opinion, there's another way, which is quick and easy!"

Li Chong glanced at Li Shuang and knew what his method was without him having to listen to what he said.

"Your method is against the harmony of nature. Besides, who should I send to do it? Will you go?"

Li Shuang shook his head, knowing that this was a huge pit.

"Isn't there Prince Guangyang? If he is really a loyal minister as he claims, why would he leave this trouble to the court?"

Li Chong laughed and scolded:
"You really don't feel tired just watching others carrying a load!"

If we take away the surrendered rebel Neizut, there will be no trouble.

But the problem is that no one dares to say this, and no one dares to do this.

Not to mention the kinship between the Six Garrisons Army and the nobles of Luoyang, even the Heba father and son, who ultimately played a major role in defeating the rebel army, were also from the Six Garrisons.

It is obviously impossible to let the Six Garrison Army betray the Six Garrison Army. If it is not handled properly, it will lead to another chaos.

"Let's not talk about this anymore. Who do you think Erzhu Rong is?"

Looking at Li Chong, whose expression had turned serious, Li Shuang said:
"overlord!"

Li Chong nodded and asked again:

"But how many overlords in history have had a good ending?"

Li Shuang was silent, but heard Li Chong continue:
"You made some good moves in Hengzhou and Shuozhou. Now those fools in the court think they are smart and have given you the big problem of Fenzhou. This situation in Fenzhou seems unsolvable, but it is not."

Li Shuang laughed inwardly after hearing this.

The trap set up by Yuan Yong and others had a premise, that is, Erzhu Rong and Li Shuang could only fight for the same piece of cake in the end.

But if the world is in chaos, the cake can be made bigger.

"However, in order to connect these idle pieces into a large dragon and avoid the disaster brought by the overlord Erzhu Rong, we must find a place."

"Please give me some advice, foster father!"

Li Chong had talked too much, his expression was sluggish, and he started coughing violently again. Li Shuang was about to help him, but he was gently pushed away.

Li Chong used up all his strength and uttered four words firmly.

"Guanzhong—Chang'an!"

(End of this chapter)