Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 157 Proof of Strength - Ohno Sou
Go to the party.

Before Erzhu Rong, there was an extra letter and a person.

"What did Li Shenggui tell you to tell me?"

The messenger was Fei Mu, but he didn't look well at the time, looking disheveled, clearly having suffered a lot to get here.

“Li Shengui said a lot of bad things about the General of Chariots and Cavalry, but I won’t say anything more. It’s all written in this letter!”

Erzhu Rong took the letter but didn't open it. In front of Gao Huan, Heba Yue, Husi Chun, and the others, he laughed disdainfully:
"These people are nothing to fear because they live in their father's name. Speak your mind!"

Northerners value heroism, and Erzhu Rong, who looked down on Li Shengui, didn't take him seriously and wanted to show off his magnanimity in front of everyone.

"But some of the things he said were unpleasant to hear."

"It doesn't matter!"

Even a mere Li Shengui can break through my defenses, just like the mighty Erzhu Rong!
Fei Mu said helplessly:

"He said the general was a small barbarian from Mayi, a mixed-breed horse breeder from the Qihu tribe!"

Erzhu Rong listened without taking it seriously at all.

"This is truly the view of a pedantic scholar. How can heroes be judged by poverty, wealth, or status? Back then, the Tuoba clan was also trapped in the snowy mountains of the north, enslaved by the Xiongnu. What has become of them now?"

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement.

"Lord Liang is right!"

These words resonated with everyone.

Of those present, whose family was of higher social standing?

Especially Gao Huan, whose family was so poor by his generation that they couldn't even afford to get him a wife. If he weren't good-looking, he probably wouldn't have been able to spend his wife's dowry and make friends everywhere.

Even though Heba Yue, Dou Tai, Sima Ziru, Jia Xiandu, and others were nobles in their respective military garrisons, in the eyes of the Jia family members in Luoyang, they were not much different from Gao Huan.

Fei Mu felt somewhat relieved and wanted to stop there, but Erzhu Rong was very satisfied with the effect of his words.

“Go on, or I’ll hold you accountable!”

Having heard this, Fei Mu had no choice but to continue:

He also said that your family is not strict, and that your daughter is pregnant with some random man's child before she is even married.

Although there were rumors in Jinyang City that many people said Erzhu Ying'e's child was Li Shuang's.

However, despite the rumors, none of the parties involved have personally confirmed it.

Erzhu Rong burst into laughter upon hearing this.

"It's utterly ridiculous that these people would use a woman as a pretext!"

The others echoed this sentiment.

After all, this was a shameful affair for the Erzhu family, and even if Erzhu Rong didn't try to hide it, they wouldn't dare say much!
"Li Shengui also said that the General of Chariots and Cavalry had no merit whatsoever, but seeing the world in chaos, he seized the land of the court and drove away the officials of the court."

"This is nonsense and not worth refuting. I have earned my current achievements by defending the territory and driving out the rebels for the sake of the court."

Erzhu Rong didn't care much about his background, his daughter, or his military achievements, which put Fei Mu at ease. He then mentioned something that Fei Mu didn't consider a big deal.

“The general is right. Li Shengui has always been a fool. He even said that he is the elder brother of Duke Tang, and you are not worthy at all.”

Upon hearing this, Erzhu Rong's expression immediately changed.

"What did you say!"

Erzhu Rong's face was terrifying; he was clearly furious.

Fei Mu was startled.

"I'm not worthy, so why is he?"

“Li Shenggui said that Tang Jungong could be the second brother to him, but to you he is only the third brother. He has suffered a great injustice.”

"..."

Upon hearing this, Gao Huan was truly amazed: This reason is brilliant!
"Li Shengui also said that the general was just a Qihu, of lowly birth, and that his own daughter was pregnant and he even sent her to his sworn brother's house, claiming she was his sworn brother's child. He has no shame!"

"When did I say it belonged to the third brother!"

Erzhu Rong looked at the crowd, and Erzhu Zhao wanted to say something, but was immediately slapped by Erzhu Rong.

"You've been spreading rumors all this time, making it sound so convincing, but now you're a laughingstock!"

Erzhu Zhao was slapped, and though he felt wronged, he dared not utter a sound.

"I...everyone...never mind!"

“Li Shengui also said that the General of Chariots and Cavalry has no talent at all, and that he only got to his current position because of the Duke of Tang’s literary and military talents…” “Shut up!”

Erzhu Rong was furious. He opened the letter and read Li Shengui's words, which were even more outrageous than what Fei Mu had said. He immediately flew into a rage.

"You brat, you dare to call yourself Liu Bei? I'm just Sima Yi at most. He's the real Sima Yi, his whole family are Sima Yi!"

"General of Chariots and Cavalry, please calm your anger!"

"Calm down!"

Upon hearing this, Erzhu Rong not only did not calm down, but also glared fiercely at Fei Mu.

Fei Mu felt a pang of unease, realizing he had been wronged.

You're the one who made me say all of this!

"I need to reply to Li Shenggui. Take this back to me!"

"..."
-

Shaanxi City.

"That bastard dared to reply to me, calling me Liu Shan (Liu Adou)! How outrageous! He replied to me, and I'm going to curse him back!"

Fei Mu was exhausted from all the back and forth. At this moment, he held Li Shengui's hand, a helpless smile on his face.

"General, can we not hold a grudge against Erzhu Rong, this Qihu barbarian?"

"No way! Calling me Liu Adou is one thing, but calling my sworn brother Zhuge Kongming is another! That's a generational difference! He's insulting me!"

Seeing that Li Shenggui was determined to go his own way, Fei Mu stopped trying to persuade him and instead pleaded:

"General, you can write it, but can you stop me from delivering it?"

"no!"

"Why?"

"Aren't you familiar with Erzhu Rong? If you don't deliver it, who will?"

Fei Mu was exhausted. Why did you have to get me involved in your family's affairs?

I never want to be Lu Bu again!
-

Luoyang, Zhongyifang!

"Han Ling told me that the two of them have been arguing for three months. More than ten of the messenger horses have died from exhaustion, and Fei Mu is almost dying. What are they arguing about?"

Looking at the azure sky and feeling the slightly hot air, Li Shuang asked in confusion.

Hou Jing, standing to the side, cupped his hands and said:

"Those two seem to be arguing about who is your sworn brother, my lord!"

Does it matter?

At that moment, Hou Jing uttered a famous saying he had just heard in the teahouse.

"Women are like clothes, brothers are like limbs. Today someone wants to take away a limb, how can this not be important?"

"..."

For the first time, Li Shuang felt that Hou Jing's words made perfect sense.

Just then, hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor, as if someone was running.

The two turned around and saw Yuan Mingyue walking quickly towards them. She arrived in the courtyard without even bringing a maid, panting heavily.

"My lord, the army has been mobilized!"

"Who has mobilized troops?"

"Li Shengui and Erzhu Rong have both mobilized their troops and are gathering them, heading towards Luoyang."

"What pretext did they use to launch their attack?"

"There's no excuse; they're all saying they want to kill each other. The court is in complete chaos. His Majesty and the Empress Dowager have both sent envoys to mediate. Do you know why, my husband?"

Li Shuang laughed and waved his hand, signaling Hou Jing to leave first.

"What else could these surging troops outside Luoyang be after? Could it be for me?"

……

(End of this chapter)