Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 185 Mastiff
Jingzhou is stable.

After Hu Chen's death, Wanqi Chounu and Suqin Mingda inherited Hu Chen's base of operations, occupying most of Jingzhou, Gaoping Town, and Bogulu Town.

They were all generals under Hu Chen, and reached an agreement after Hu Chen's death.

Wanqi Chounu expanded towards Jingzhou and Qizhou, while Suqin Mingda expanded towards Xiazhou and Shuozhou.

In this way, the two will not clash. At least not until their territory reaches its limit.

Both of them had a very smooth start to their expansion.

The Northern Wei troops in Binzhou, Jingzhou and other places were all taken away by Li Shengui, leaving only Xiao Baoyin in Guanzhong.

Suqin Mingda quickly occupied the western part of Xiazhou and the land of Xi'anzhou, and Wanqi Chounu also took the opportunity to enter the Binzhou and Jingzhou regions where he had fought most fiercely with the government army.

Their expansion encountered strong resistance after Li Shuang led his troops into Guanzhong.

First, Cao Ni, the governor of Xia Prefecture, held Tongwan City. Later, Changsun Zhifa, a famous general of the Northern Wei Dynasty, led troops from the two towns of Tujing and Lishi to support him. Suqin Mingda suffered a rare defeat on the front line and had no choice but to abandon his plan to attack Tongwan City.

Wei Xiaokuan led his troops into Dongqin Prefecture and quickly quelled the local unrest. In addition, news of the battle results in Xia Prefecture and Beian Prefecture also affected Bin Prefecture.

Now, Huli Jin of Shuozhou is leading 10,000 men south along the Yellow River to attack Lingzhou.

Lingzhou is where Bogulu Town is located, and it is also a base that Wanqi Chounu and Suqin Mingda cannot ignore.

Xiao Baoyin walked into the room. He looked at Wanqiu Chounu, who was deep in thought. He already knew why Wanqiu Chounu wanted to see him before he came!

"Your Majesty!"

After Hu Chen's death, Wanqi Chounu succeeded him as king. This notorious rebel, who roamed the Longdong region and defeated the Northern Wei army of 120,000 in a single battle, causing the famous general Cui Yanbo to be defeated and killed, and who was on the radar of the Luoyang court, did not look as wise and brave as he did. Instead, he looked like an old farmer with a face full of wrinkles.

Xiao Baoyin was much more handsome than her.

When Wanqi Chounu saw Xiao Baoyin arrive, he didn't waste any words and said:

"Are you aware that Li Shuang has sent an envoy?"

"Know!"

Xiao Baoyin experienced a life of constant wandering from a young age. After the fall of the Southern Qi dynasty, as the only surviving member of the Southern Qi royal family, he traveled north to the Northern Wei dynasty, where he witnessed firsthand the harsh realities of human relationships.

Although he was not good at fighting, his childhood experiences made him adept at understanding people's hearts and skilled at managing interpersonal relationships. Otherwise, Xiao Baoyin would not have been able to marry the Princess of Nanyang, become a prince consort, and be granted the high position of Prince of Qi by the Northern Wei Dynasty.

If Xiao Baoyin hadn't plotted rebellion, he would have been a true winner in life.

Even though he rebelled, Xiao Baoyin still managed to get along very well with Wanqi Chounu.

"how do you feel?"

Xiao Baoyin knew that dealing with someone like Wanqi Chounu was pointless; feigning politeness was useless. People like him, who had been severely bullied by the Northern Wei court and had risen from the bottom, preferred to hear the truth.

"If handing me over to Your Majesty can resolve your current predicament, I will naturally have no objection. But if Your Majesty hands me over, will Li Shuang let you go?"

Xiao Baoyin's words completely solidified Wanqi Chounu's previously hesitant mind.

Unlike Xiao Baoyin, who arrived in Chang'an with only a few hundred followers, Li Shuang had seven thousand followers and a large number of Han and non-Han people under his command.

The fact that the Hu tribes who moved out of Guanzhong today, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, says it all.

Even if Wanqi Chounu bows his head and acts subserviently, he will still take action against Li Shuang once Li Shuang has digested all the prefectures and counties he has occupied in Guanzhong.

"Grand Tutor, what do you think will happen to Suqin Mingda?"

Compared to the dangers in front of him, Wanqi Chounu was more worried about the safety of those behind him. This was an instinct that all Hu people living in border regions should have.

The most ruthless thing is when your own people stab you in the back.

"After Changsun Zhi's reinforcements arrived, Suqin Mingda was unable to capture Xiazhou, let alone advance into Dongxiazhou and Shuozhou. Now that Huli Jin has led his troops south, Suqin Mingda may very well use this as an excuse to retreat back to Lingzhou."

"Should I fall out with him?"

"Your Majesty's forces are insufficient to bear the consequences of turning against him. You cannot possibly hold onto Jingzhou, Yuanzhou, and Lingzhou simultaneously." "I understand. You may leave now!"

Just as Xiao Baoyin was about to leave, Wanqi Chounu asked another question.

"Since you understand so clearly, why did you still burn down Chang'an?"

By doing this, Xiao Baoyin effectively cut off his own escape route in Northern Wei. Why would someone as intelligent as him act so decisively?

After Chang'an was destroyed, Li Shuang's advance was slowed down, and he instead devoted most of his resources to the reconstruction of Chang'an.

Although Wanqi Chounu was the one who benefited the most from it, he still couldn't understand it.

"I don't want to see Li Shuang win!"

"Why?"

"I do not wish to answer!"

Wanqi Chounu was somewhat surprised. In his memory, this seemed to be the first time Xiao Baoyin had rejected him so bluntly.

He didn't make things difficult for Xiao Baoyin and let her leave. He just pondered for a long time in the room, a playful smile appearing on his lips.

"Li Shuang?"
-
Changan.

"Wanqi Chounu left his subordinate general Yuchi Pusa to guard Anding, and he himself led his troops back to Lingzhou! What do you think, sir?"

Li Shuang handed over the latest intelligence to Han Ling, who pondered for a moment and replied:

"In my opinion, Wanqi Chounu will not turn against Suqin Mingda on this trip, but he will not allow Suqin Mingda to completely occupy Lingzhou."

Lingzhou is located in the western loop of the Yellow River, at the foot of the Helan Mountains, where the Yellow River flows north, nurturing fertile land.

This land is suitable for both farming and grazing, and it is the main food supply area for Wanqi Chounu's army.

Giving up Lingzhou and giving it to Suqin Mingda, while preserving Yuanzhou and Jingzhou, seems like the best solution, but Wanqi Chounu is not that generous.

Therefore, he could only choose this compromise.

Han Ling knew these Hu chieftains quite well. After all, he had once been their nominal leader.

Han Ling cupped his hands and said:
“These people are cunning, but they will join forces when in danger. Sooner or later they will realize that our lord is their greatest enemy. If Wanqi Chounu and Suqin Mingda reach an agreement again, things will become rather troublesome.”

Li Shuang listened, but didn't seem to care much.

"It doesn't matter. Whether Wanqi Chounu leaves or not, Jingzhou will be recovered sooner or later."

To defend the Guanzhong region, it is necessary to maintain the four strategic passes.

If Jingzhou is not recovered, Wanqi Chounu can lead his army south at any time to attack Chang'an. In this way, Li Shuang's army will be pinned down in Yongzhou and will be unable to be mobilized.

After Li Shuang finished speaking, Hou Mochenchong, who had been standing behind him, spoke up:

"My lord, may I accompany you on this campaign?"

Li Shuang glanced at him. Hou Mochen Chong was not old, but he was exceptionally tall and strong.

"What do you want?"

"Your subject can capture Yuchi Bodhisattva alive for your lord!"

Li Shuang looked at Hou Mochenchong and smiled.

This fierce mastiff has grown up and is ready to go to the battlefield.

……

(End of this chapter)