Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 169 No one can stop me from pledging allegiance to the Great Wei

The eighth day of the ninth month of the third year of Xiaochang!

Taiji Hall!
Emperor Yuan Xu and Empress Dowager ascended the throne, with officials and ministers in attendance.

After Yuan Shen was captured, the imperial court quickly made a decision to pardon the officials who had surrendered to the Six Garrisons.

The defeated Prince of Beihai, Yuan Hao, was sent to Ye City to serve as the governor of Xiangzhou.

Meanwhile, within the imperial court, the emperor and empress dowager also made a compromise, each taking a step back.

The imperial court confiscated the military power of Yuan Ziyong, Pei Yan, Fei Mu, and others, and summoned them back to the court.

At the same time, he ordered Erzhu Rong to retreat to Jinyang and Li Shengui to be stationed in Henan.

The world seemed to be at peace for a time!
In Luoyang, various forces maintained a balance of power, ultimately leading to an answer.

The biggest problem is still Li Shuang's troops.

His troops were mostly Han soldiers, and they had rendered great service, so he had to reward them. In addition, he also recruited the elite troops from the Six Garrisons and advanced on Luoyang.

Only by suppressing him can the local forces outside Luoyang and even throughout Northern Wei be at peace.

Today, they want to commend Li Shuang's troops for their great contributions in the Battle of Hulao Pass.

If the other party shows even the slightest sign of dissatisfaction, they should be captured immediately and their troops scattered.

Of course, Li Shuang, who had made great contributions, would not be killed.

They were simply granted high-ranking official positions and titles, but then placed under house arrest.

Just like the story of Han Xin back then!
Yuan Xu sat high on the throne, glanced at Yuan Ziyou, and was somewhat excited.

The young emperor was enjoying the moment that was about to arrive.

Sitting on this throne, Yuan Xu only wanted to prove that he was better than others.

His logic is simple: if those really powerful people kneel down and kowtow to him, wouldn't that prove he's better than them?

What could better prove one's authority than defeating the Duke of Tang, who had just crushed over 100,000 troops at Hulao Pass and whose reputation was now legendary in Luoyang?
Yuan Ziyou noticed the emperor's gaze, nodded in acknowledgment, and quietly walked outside the hall. Just as he was about to call the imperial guards generals and inquire about the soldiers' condition, he saw a man riding a horse galloping in from outside the Changhe Gate.

When he got closer, he used both his hands and feet to climb up.

Yuan Ziyou recognized the man; he was a captain guarding the north gate of Luoyang.

Yuan Ziyou supported the breathless Xiao Xiaowei and asked urgently:
"What's wrong with you acting so rudely?"

"Prince Chang Le, Li Shuang has led his army into the city!"

Yuan Ziyou was taken aback and asked:

How many men did he bring?

"Five thousand armored cavalry, fully armed!"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Ziyou was momentarily stunned and didn't react.

"Why didn't the sentries outside Luoyang give any warnings? Why didn't you close the city gates?"

"I don't know about other places, but in the place I'm guarding, as soon as the soldiers heard that the Duke of Tang was attacking, they either ran away or thought of using me as a surrender gift. If I hadn't run fast, I probably would have lost my head."

Yuan Ziyou panicked for a moment and gave orders to the imperial guards on his left and right:

"Quickly close the palace gates and have the Imperial Guards guard the city walls."

“Prince Chang Le, without His Majesty’s and Empress Dowager’s orders, the Changhe Gate cannot be closed.”

Yuan Ziyou forced himself to calm down and gave instructions to his men.

"You take men and guard the palace gates!"

Then, Yuan Ziyou hurriedly ran into the main hall and called out.

"Li Shuang has committed treason! He has led five thousand cavalry into Luoyang. Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, it would be best to mobilize the Imperial Guards and proceed to Jinyong City for temporary refuge!"

Yuan Xu and Empress Hu panicked, unsure whether Yuan Ziyou's words were true or false, but they reacted quickly.

"Go quickly!"

Just as the order was given, a light cavalry force rushed into the Changhe Gate and headed towards the Taiji Hall.

The imperial guards, upon seeing the large banner bearing the character "Li" and the imposing cavalry, dared not obstruct them. They fell to the ground and rolled away until they reached a deserted area.

Empress Hu, the Emperor, and their officials walked out of the Taiji Hall and, under the protection of the Imperial Guards, collided head-on with the light cavalry.

As they were about to leave through the side hall, they discovered that the cavalry had already surrounded the entire Taiji Hall. Hou Jing, the leader of the cavalry, led his armored soldiers up to the high platform, where they met Empress Hu, Yuan Xu, and a large number of high-ranking officials.

"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, and all officials, please proceed to the Taiji Hall to await the arrival of the Duke of Tang!"

The young emperor trembled with fear, and Empress Hu rebuked him angrily.

"What are you going to do? What is Li Shuang going to do?!"

Hou Jing ignored him and drew his sword from his waist. The soldiers behind him also drew their swords.

"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, and all officials, please proceed to the Taiji Hall to await the arrival of the Duke of Tang!"

Despite Hou Jing's cold demeanor and the glaring threat of thousands of knives, Hou Jing eventually persuaded everyone to return to the Taiji Hall.

Inside the palace, everything was as usual, except that the guards had been replaced by Hou Jing and his soldiers. The imperial guards had been disarmed and imprisoned to one side.

This day was perhaps the most unbearable time for all the officials and nobles in the Taiji Hall.

No one dared to utter a sound; the palace was so quiet it seemed as if no one was there.

The group in the hall waited for a long time before Li Shuang finally arrived!

He was wearing armor and carrying a long sword, and without even taking off his shoes, he rushed straight into the Taiji Hall.

However, to everyone's surprise, Li Shuang is currently the most flexible person in the entire Taiji Hall.

"Your Majesty and Empress Dowager, I am late and have caused you alarm. I have heard that the remnants of Yuan Shen's faction are plotting a rebellion in Luoyang in collusion with Xiao Baoyin's remaining followers. I am deeply worried and led my troops into the city without your permission. I beg Your Majesty and Empress Dowager for your forgiveness!"

Empress Hu considered many possibilities and even prepared for the worst. But after hearing Li Shuang's words, her anxiety subsided.

Empress Hu laughed, and all the officials laughed along with her. Even the trembling young emperor managed to force a smile.

After laughing, Empress Hu spoke:

"It's not too late, I forgive you!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty and Empress Dowager!"

Then, Li Shuang stood there stiffly, without saying a word.

Empress Hu gestured to a eunuch beside her, who then carried the imperial edict of reward down from the platform and handed it to Li Shuang.

Li Shuang didn't even look at it, only saying:
"Guanzhong is impoverished, and I have been leading troops for a long time. I fear that my strength is insufficient. Relying solely on the title of General Who Conquers the West is not enough to subdue the villains. I urge Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager to reconsider."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Xu realized that Li Shuang was complaining that the amount given was insufficient, so he asked:

"What official position does my esteemed minister desire?"

"This is His Majesty's own wise plan, and I dare not offer any comment!"

"The official who can draft the edict is not here, we still need..."

At this moment, Hou Jing shouted loudly.

"If you've finished writing, then write another one. How old are you? Can't you write by yourself?"

"Shut up! How dare you be so disrespectful to His Majesty!"

Li Shuang reprimanded Yuan Xu and apologized.

"Your Majesty, I am a rough man and do not know etiquette. Please forgive me."

"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter!"

The eunuch brought pen and ink, but Yuan Xu, facing the blank imperial edict, didn't know how to begin writing.

Empress Hu, seeing this, was anxious and spoke up:

"Li Shuang has rendered meritorious service in suppressing the rebels. He is hereby appointed as Imperial Envoy, Governor of Yongzhou, Grand General of Guanzhong, and Military Governor of the seven prefectures of Yongzhou, Qizhou, Huazhou, Dongqinzhou, Binzhou, Jingzhou, and Xiazhou. He is also granted the title of Duke of Tang and a fief of ten thousand households!"

This was the first time Yuan Xu had written on an imperial edict himself. After finishing, he affixed the seal with trembling hands. The hot edict was then presented to Li Shuang, but the latter refused to accept it.

Empress Hu gritted her teeth and spoke again:

"Li Shuang has rendered meritorious service in suppressing the rebels. He is hereby appointed as Imperial Envoy, Attendant-in-Ordinary, Grand General of the Three Departments, General of the Cavalry, Grand Chancellor of Guanzhong, Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, and Grand Commander of Guanzhong. He is also granted the title of Duke of Tang, with a fief of 15,000 households!"

The second imperial edict was delivered to Li Shuang, who bowed and said:
"I am deeply grateful for the Emperor's grace. I am filled with trepidation and will do my utmost to serve the Great Wei!"

On this day, all the ambitious men outside Luoyang City learned that the imperial court in Luoyang was nothing but a paper tiger.

……

(End of this chapter)