Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 177 Don't stoop to Oono Sō's level

Changan.

Xiao Baoyin is very angry!

Xiao Baoyin was furious!
After Xiao Baoyin got angry, he summoned back several of his generals.

"I have summoned you all back today to discuss the matter of punishing the traitor Ōno Sō!"

Hou Zhongde, Guo Zihui, and Lu Zuqian stood to Xiao Baoyin's left and right, respectively, along with Wei Langen, making a total of five people in the room.

"Who to hit?"

The three generals were unfamiliar with the name Ohno Sou, so Wei Langen explained:

"It is Li Shuang, the Duke of Tang, who was appointed by the Hu Yi Tuoba clan!"

Upon hearing this, Guo Zihui and Lu Zuqian fell silent, but Hou Zhongde reacted and blurted out:
"Is that Li Shuang, the one who defeated 200,000 troops of the Six Garrisons at Hulao Pass?"

Hou Zhongde's reaction made Xiao Baoyin's expression turn very unpleasant.

"Indeed, what does the general think?"

Hou Zhongde thought for a moment, then cupped his hands and said:

"Your Majesty, I believe that the State of Wei is a false rebel, and the Duke of Tang whom they have conferred is even more unpopular. Your Majesty has restored the Great Qi and revitalized our Han Dynasty. Such achievements make you the greatest emperor since the Yongjia era. Why worry about such petty people and harm your health?"

Xiao Baoyin asked with a cold face:

"Then what do you think should be done?"

“We can build deep trenches and high walls to repel them. When His Majesty’s might reaches the land, even the barbarians bow down. If we educate them with benevolence and virtue, the four barbarians will naturally submit. Why bother with them? Besides, after General Zhang carelessly lost the city, the people’s hearts were unsettled. If we raise troops again now, I fear the people will be uneasy.”

Wei Langen stood to the side, somewhat speechless.

Since entering Guanzhong, Li Shuang has acted perversely, pushing all the Hu tribes that had previously ignored Xiao Baoyin to their side.

A golden opportunity has presented itself. If Xiao Baoyin can defeat Li Shuang in this battle, he will be able to establish a firm foothold in Guanzhong.

Thus, the cause of the State of Qi was established!

Unexpectedly, Hou Zhongde was so afraid of war that he even resorted to lying.

Guanzhong is known for its four strategic passes, but the Guanzhong Plain within those passes is flat and has no natural defenses.

Fighting in Guanzhong relies solely on hard power; it's a contest of military strength!
How to build deep trenches and high walls?

Xiao Baoyin was furious and said:

"Don't bother with him. If we don't bother with him, Da Yeshuang will probably dig the irrigation canal all the way to Chang'an!"

Xiao Baoyin ignored Hou Zhongde and waved her sleeve.

"There's no need to persuade me any further. My mind is made up. I will gather 10,000 Hu soldiers and 20,000 Han soldiers. You will lead the army into battle, advance on Weinan, and punish Da Yeshuang!"

"This humble general obeys Your Majesty's decree!"

The three generals present, including Hou Zhongde, all accepted the order.

Wei Langen was somewhat uneasy, knowing that Xiao Baoyin had already staked everything.

He wanted to offer advice, but seeing that there were many people present, he didn't say anything for a moment.

After Hou Zhongde and the others left, Wei Langen spoke:

"Your Majesty, Hou Zhongde harbors treacherous intentions, and the Hu tribes have only recently submitted to us, making their thoughts unpredictable. If the war goes smoothly, all will be well, but if we suffer a defeat, I fear it will lead to great chaos."

Xiao Baoyin was completely deaf to Wei Langen's words at this moment and seemed somewhat crazy.

"I am of noble birth, inheriting the mandate of heaven from the Jin and Song dynasties, and restoring the foundation of the Great Qi. What is that Da Yeshuang? I am no match for him!"

"Can……"

"No need to say more, so what if we lose! All he wants is Chang'an, but this Chang'an belongs to me, and he can't have it!"

Xiao Baoyin's face looked terrifying at this moment. Wei Langen looked at Xiao Baoyin like this and felt very unfamiliar with her. He couldn't help but feel a sense of fear.

……

That night, Hou Zhongde invited Guo Zihui and Lu Zuqian for drinks.

As the wine flowed freely, Hou Zhongde asked, seemingly casually:
"What are your thoughts on this battle?"

"Since His Majesty has given the order, we will obey!" "Da Yeshuang is brave, but his perverse actions have alienated the people. His deeds have caused even those Hu people who were originally loyal to the Tuoba clan to defect. If we win this battle, our Great Qi will be restored in Guanzhong, and we can share the world with Liang and Wei!"

"You two are right!"

Hou Zhongde raised his glass in response.

After the banquet ended and Hou Zhongde saw the two off, his smiling face fell.

"A bunch of idiots, believing everything Xiao Baoyin says. I followed him for wealth and power, and even for the restoration of the Han Dynasty. He doesn't deserve that!"
-
Huazhou, the capital city.

The former governor's residence has been temporarily requisitioned by Li Shuang.

The room was filled with party leaders from various counties and prefectures in Washington state.

Most of them were uneasy.

Although Li Shuang had ordered them to gather within twenty days, it actually took much longer than expected.

Some people couldn't be found at all, but when they heard that their land would be confiscated, they were still dragged there by the neighborhood chiefs and village heads.

"I've heard that many of you responded when Xiao Baoyin plotted his rebellion!"

As soon as Li Shuang said this, most of the people present knelt down.

"Duke, spare my life!"

Li Shuang raised her hand, indicating that they didn't need to do that.

"I am not here today to interrogate you, but simply to know why you responded to Xiao Baoyin?"

Li Shuang casually pointed to a kneeling party leader, who then said:
"Your Majesty... no, this traitor Xiao Baoyin told us that he wants to restore the Han people's foundation. As long as he establishes a country, we will no longer be bullied by the barbarians!"

Li Shuang then looked at the other kneeling party leaders and saw that they all nodded.

"Well said!"

After Li Shuang finished speaking, everyone present, whether kneeling or not, was stunned.

"Did the Duke just say that it was agreed upon?"

"I mean, if we can restore the Han people's heritage, then the barbarians will not bully you."

Li Shuang made the kneeling party leaders stand up and asked:
"But do you think you can stop being bullied just by relying on Xiao Baoyin and establishing the Qi state?"

The party leaders were shocked upon hearing this, and one of the bolder ones asked:
"What about that?"

"You must pick up the knife yourselves and protect yourselves, instead of expecting others to protect you!"

Li Shuang's words struck the hearts of all the party leaders like a heavy hammer blow.

The Hu people served as soldiers, while the Han people farmed the land.

This has been a rule for over a hundred years.

But now, there is someone standing right here, telling these farmers to pick up knives.

The first feeling these party leaders experienced was not excitement, but fear!

In an instant, they all knelt down!
"Lord, we are all law-abiding citizens, we dare not kill!"

Li Shuang looked at the group of party leaders and said loudly:
"Do you think that living in the fields will guarantee the safety of your family? Do you think that by being law-abiding citizens and not fighting or robbing, this chaotic world will have nothing to do with you? Do you think that if you don't bully others, others won't bully you?"

Li Shuang's words were like a sharp knife, piercing the soft spot in everyone's hearts that they didn't want to be exposed.

"Everyone, stand up!"

Li Shuang opened his eyes wide, looked at the group of party leaders who had all stood up, and questioned:
"Since the establishment of the Six Garrisons, Guanzhong has been in turmoil, with bandits rampant and the imperial court levying exorbitant taxes. After a year of farming, how much have you left? You've paid the land tax, but it's not enough; you've done corvée labor, but it's not enough; you've offered your wives and daughters, but it's still not enough. Now look at the countryside, how many households are left?"

Among the party leaders, one broke down, questioning the others almost hysterically:

"It's been like this for hundreds of years, what can we do?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shuang smiled.

"I intend to establish a military prefecture in Huazhou, appoint local soldiers, and implement land redistribution and exemption from corvée labor. Go back and tell your villages that if they no longer wish to be bullied, they should come to me!"

……

(End of this chapter)