Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 196 People You Can't Afford to Offend
Li Xian traveled from Yuanzhou down Longshan to Qizhou, where he found Li Shuang recruiting soldiers.

On the drill ground of Qizhou City, there was a very long queue.

Several generals speaking with a Xianbei accent were selecting suitable candidates.

The selection criteria consist of three aspects: load-bearing capacity, endurance, and strength.

Among the long queue were both non-Han and Han people, but those who passed the selection were undoubtedly young and strong.

Those who passed the selection were registered and sent to the military headquarters next door.

A short while later, a burly Han general entered the training ground. Before him, the Xianbei generals all switched to speaking in Han dialect.

"This is Gao Ao Cao!"

Upon meeting Li Xian today, he truly lived up to his reputation, possessing extraordinary strength, just like Xiang Yu reborn.

Li Xian looked at it for a long time before leaving. He then went to the governor's mansion and presented his visiting card.

To his surprise, not long after he submitted his visiting card, someone from the manor came to let him in, saying that the Duke of Tang wanted to see him.

The servant led him directly to where Li Shuang was. When Li Xian saw Li Shuang, he was staring at a bowl of soup, hesitating.

Li Xian felt something was amiss, but simply bowed as usual.

"I have met the Duke of Tang!"

Li Shuang was younger and more valiant than Li Xian had imagined. He was even a little surprised that such a person could defeat more than 100,000 troops of the Six Garrisons outside Hulao Pass and make those proud soldiers of the Six Garrisons willing to serve him!

Li Shuang, however, didn't show much courtesy and continued to stare at the bowl of soup.

"Li Xian, Li Xian and what?"

"It's down!"

"Back then, you brothers fought against the rebels in Yuanzhou, and you were defeated, weren't you?"

Li Shuang's seemingly casual question made Li Xian feel uneasy. At the same time, he also sensed Li Shuang's disdain.

"The rebels were powerful, and we brothers held our ground and waited for reinforcements, but in the end, no reinforcements came, and we suffered a crushing defeat."

"A defeat is a defeat; there are no excuses."

Li Shuang's words startled Li Xian, and for a fleeting moment, he had the urge to storm off. But in the end, he restrained himself.

"Have you heard that I intend to establish a military prefecture in Guanzhong?"

"heard!"

"I intend to establish twelve military prefectures in Guanzhong, with the upper prefecture having 2,000 soldiers and the lower prefecture having 1,500 soldiers, to protect Guanzhong. What do you think?"

Li Xian silently calculated in his mind that the total number of soldiers in Guanzhong was only about 20,000, and even with the troops that Li Shuang brought into Guanzhong, it would not exceed 30,000.

This number is not considered large in Guanzhong.

"In my opinion, if we want to appease the local areas and keep the prefectures and counties stable, the troops of these twelve military prefectures are sufficient. However, if a major enemy attacks and the Duke gathers troops, the prefectures and counties may be neglected when the war is at a stalemate."

Li Shuang was ultimately an outsider, and he did so many things that were disliked. Putting aside everything else, just consider where Li Shuang got the land to settle the soldiers?

If those fleeing Hu people collude with local forces, they could easily cause great chaos.

Li Shuang raised her head and looked at Li Xian.

"If it were up to you, what should be done?"

"We should befriend the heroes of the prefectures and counties, and bring them into the various military commands, so that they may gather under the banner of the Duke. In this way, we can expand our territory externally and protect our people internally."

"That's well said, but what can I do if I don't have that much land now?"

Li Xian thought for a moment, then cupped his hands and said:
"Then we should divide them up and prevent them from becoming of one mind."

"If I appoint you as the governor of Yuanzhou, can you do what you say?"

Upon hearing this, Li Xian's breathing became slightly labored. Not wanting to appear too excited, he slowly spoke after a few breaths:
"I can do it!"

"Then you should go and take up your post!"

So fast!
Li Xian hadn't expected that Li Shuang would trust him so much the moment they met.

Li Xian couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.

"Does the Duke of Tang trust me so much?"

Li Shuang smiled.

“Yuanzhou is a place where Han and non-Han peoples mingle, and Suqin Mingda has already occupied Lingzhou, so he can march south at any time. If you can’t be a good prefect, what do I have to regret?” Li Xian’s expression changed upon hearing this, and he cupped his hands and said:
"I can certainly do it!"

After listening, Li Shuang said again:
“Send your younger brother Li Mu here, and I will bring him into the Ministry of Personnel as a clerk. If Yuanzhou falls this time, you may not have the same luck as last time.”

Li Xian felt a sense of gratitude. Although the official position wasn't high-ranking, it was in Chang'an. He then cupped his hands and said:

"Thank you, Duke!"

……

After Li Xian left, Liu Sixia came in.

Looking at the untouched soup on the table, she blinked her big, watery eyes and asked:

"Duke, why aren't you drinking this medicine?"

"I was meeting with guests and forgot to drink for a moment."

"This medicine won't be effective once it gets cold. I'll go and brew another bowl."

Li Shuang quickly pulled Liu Sixia aside and said:

"There's no need for that. You've had a long and tiring day."

“Aru wrote to me, asking me to stay by your side and take good care of you. It is only right that I work hard.”

Li Shuang pulled Liu Sixia back again.

Previously, he didn't know this sister-in-law.

But ever since Xiao Zan kidnapped her, Li Shuang has learned that those who offend this sister-in-law will not have a good ending.

Don't let her gentle and unassuming appearance fool you; she's actually quite petty.

Xiao Zan lay in bed in agony for three whole days before finally recovering from the poison. Li Shuang later inquired and learned that his sister-in-law could have recovered much faster.

Li Shuang later inquired further and learned that this sister-in-law was not yet twenty years old and was most averse to being called an older single woman, especially hating others asking about her marriage.

After all, in this era, girls were married off at the age of fourteen or fifteen.

"Does the Duke not trust my medical skills or my character?"

"how come!"

Li Shuang laughed and took out an ancient book from the bookshelf next to him.

"I recently acquired a medical book and wanted to give it to you."

This older sister-in-law dressed simply and disliked gold, silver, and cosmetics, but she had a special fondness for ancient books.

Liu Sixia took it and saw that her usually aloof face couldn't hide her smile.

"Duke, how did you obtain this ancient book?"

"I feel guilty about what happened last time, so I went to great lengths to find this as a token of my apology."

Upon hearing this, Liu Sixia, whose mind was completely focused on the medical book, smiled from the bottom of her heart.

"I don't care!"

Without saying anything more about brewing the herbal medicine, she picked up her book, took her leave, and departed.

Hulü Guang, who had been guarding Li Shuang's side the whole time, was somewhat puzzled.

"My lord, wasn't this book confiscated from someone's home? Why did you lie to Sister Asi?"

"Ah Guang, do you know which two types of people you shouldn't offend in this world?"

Hulü Guang shook his head.

"The one who cooks for you and the one who takes care of your medical needs."

Hulü Guang thought for a moment and said:

"So it seems that Sister Asi has both qualities."

Li Shuang nodded, looking at Hulü Guang who had been suffering from diarrhea for the past few days, and said:

"As long as you understand!"

……

(End of this chapter)