Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 183 The waters of Luoyang are truly deep.
In the fourth year of Xiaochang, Empress Hu, who had held power in the Northern Wei Dynasty for many years, stepped down, and the young emperor stepped forward to personally preside over the government.

War raged across the land, and the country was far from peaceful.

Freed from his constraints, Yuan Xu was full of energy and determined to accomplish great things.

From the beginning, he set his sights on the west.

Li Shuang!

The loyal minister whom Yuan Xu once thought was loyal ended up hurting him the most at a crucial moment, making Yuan Xu deeply resentful.

How is Li Shuang?

The nobles and officials in Luoyang also harbored deep hatred for Li Shuang, especially Prince Chang Le, Yuan Ziyou.

Ever since Li Shuang entered Guanzhong, his gaze had never left Guanzhong. Therefore, he was able to answer Yuan Xu's question immediately.

"Li Shuang is currently undertaking large-scale construction in Chang'an, and has even built a temporary government office on the southern slope of Longshouyuan."

Yuan Xu listened without expression and said:
"Didn't Xiao Zan and Wan Qichoun cause him any trouble?"

Hearing Yuan Xu's words, the assembled officials knew that Yuan Xu had completely misunderstood the situation. Yuan Ziyou, not wanting to embarrass Yuan Xu directly, said:

"Xiao Zan retreated to Qizhou, and Wanqi Chounu occupied Jingzhou, but has not yet launched an attack on Li Shuang."

Yuan Xu nodded and said:

"I have decided to strip him of all his official titles and ranks and declare him a traitor. What do you all think?"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the assembled officials changed drastically. Even Yuan Ziyou spoke up:

"Your Majesty, no!"

Yuan Xu frowned, not pleased with Yuan Ziyou's obstruction.

"Why?"

Unlike Xiao Baoyin, Li Shuang's title and official position were not granted by the imperial court.

The court granted him the corresponding official position and title based on the amount of land he occupied.

Yuan Xu couldn't understand such a simple principle.

For the first time, the ministers understood the emperor's weight in this court assembly without Empress Hu present.

At this moment, each of the ministers had their own calculations.

Yuan Ziyou didn't want to explain, but Yuan Xu asked, so he had no choice but to answer. He just gave a more respectable reason.

"Li Shuang has many followers, and his crimes are not yet proven. If we rashly declare him a traitor, it could lead to a major upheaval and make the world think that the court is mistreating meritorious officials! If we push Li Shuang too far, what if he defectes to the island barbarians to the south?"

Yuan Xu grew anxious upon hearing this. He wanted to deal with Li Shuang and show him his power. Seeing that this plan wasn't working, he said again:

“Send all the refugees who are entrenched outside Luoyang back to him. Tell him that he will refuse to accept any more people he sends to Luoyang.”

Yuan Ziyou cupped his hands and said again:
"Your Majesty, this is unacceptable!"

"And why?"

Because this had become an industry, when the imperial court allocated supplies to these Hu people, officials in Luoyang embezzled a great deal of money.

Even if we want to withdraw, we can't just say it offhand; we have to proceed gradually.

How can you dismiss them immediately? That would cause a huge mess.

Yuan Ziyou sensed the emperor's impatience, but he could only bite the bullet and make up a reason.

"His Majesty has just assumed power, and the first thing he did was to drive away these nobles whose ancestors made great contributions to the court. What will the people of the world think of this?"

Yuan Xu grew impatient and rebuked Yuan Ziyou:
"You used to always tell me to be wary of Li Shuang, but now you're protecting him at every turn. Did you take bribes from him?"

Yuan Ziyou never expected Yuan Xu to say such a thing. His face turned pale and his whole body stiffened.

Prime Minister Yuan Yong stepped forward to help Yuan Ziyou out of his predicament, saying:
“Your Majesty, what Prince Chang Le said makes sense. Moreover, Li Shuang’s crimes are not yet proven, so let Li Daoyuan investigate first.”

After listening, Yuan Xu asked again:

"Where is Li Daoyuan now?"

"After he entered Wuguan, he is now in Bashang."

"Send him to Chang'an. I need to find out Li Shuang's crimes as soon as possible!"

……

The emperor's first court assembly in his personal rule revealed to everyone that he was a frivolous, reckless, and easily angered new ruler. Many were somewhat disappointed.

Yuan Ziyou's complexion had not yet recovered, and his body was still stiff when he left the palace.

Prime Minister Yuan Yong helped him up from behind and led him for a while.

Upon reaching a secluded spot, Yuan Yong felt disappointed and sighed.

"The world is already in chaos, yet the ruler of this Great Wei is still so childish. I wonder where we, the nobles, will end up in the future?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Ziyou was stirred by the words and looked at Yuan Yong, who was offering his advice:

“Prince Chang Le, you have a reputation for virtue, so you must be even more careful and not follow in the footsteps of your father, Prince Pengcheng!”

Upon hearing this, Yuan Ziyou's suppressed ambition swelled infinitely.
-
When Li Daoyuan followed the imperial decree in Luoyang and led over a hundred of his brothers, nephews, and nieces through Wuguan Pass and entered Guanzhong, he was already mentally prepared.

The imperial edict to Li Daoyuan was vague, but what the edict did not say, the imperial envoy had already explained.

Find evidence of Li Shuang's crimes and expose them to the world.

But when Li Daoyuan saw the Hu people migrating like a long dragon inside and outside Wuguan Pass, he knew that he could not complete his mission.

What he thought was a mission with a slim chance of survival became clear to Li Daoyuan at that moment that it was impossible to complete.

But he couldn't finish it. Li Daoyuan still had to move forward, after all, he had received an imperial decree.

When Li Daoyuan entered Wuguan and arrived at Bashang, he was stopped.

Li Shuang assigned him a job: to help build the Longshou Canal.

Li Daoyuan initially didn't want to do any work, but the plight of the local people softened his heart. Furthermore, Li Daoyuan was somewhat disheartened and unsure how to face Li Shuang and complete the task assigned by the court. Having found an excuse, he stayed.

However, Li Daoyuan discovered that he was quite adept at repairing irrigation canals.

"Shouldn't the imperial envoy be here soon?"

Li Daoyuan's younger brothers Li Daojun and Li Daobo, and his sons Li Boyou and Li Zhongyou also came with him. In recent days, they have been following him to survey the terrain, organize the people, and prepare for the start of construction.

Upon hearing Li Daoyuan's words, everyone busy in the tent shook their heads.

"I haven't heard that the imperial court has sent anyone over!"

Li Daoyuan was surprised and said:
Not a single one?

"Not a single one!"

Li Daoyuan didn't actually know how he should respond if the imperial envoy really came.

That's fine!
Li Daoyuan nodded and became engrossed in the work of repairing the irrigation canal.

……

"Your Majesty, what did you tell me?"

The envoy from Luoyang looked at Li Shuang with some fear.

"His Majesty has instructed me to urge Li Daoyuan to take up his post at the Xingtai Prefecture as soon as possible!"

Li Shuang nodded, and Hou Jing came over carrying a box.

Li Shuang took out a piece of gold and handed it to the messenger.

"Do you know how to explain it when you get back?"

"I understand!"

"Then go back!"

Watching the envoy depart, Li Shuang stood up, and Hou Jing leaned closer and said:
"My lord, I also heard that he said to your face in Xianyang Palace that you took 70% of his money. This little emperor is too ungrateful."

Li Shuang sighed:
"Your Majesty is still too young."

"what for?"

"He didn't get 30% at all; it was clearly less than 10%!"

Upon hearing this, Hou Jing sighed inwardly.

The waters of Luoyang are truly deep!
……

(End of this chapter)