Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 238 Allow Me to Think It Over

Luoyang.

After Chen Qingzhi defeated Yuan Tianmu and Erzhu Zhao at Xingyang, Erzhu Shilong, who was stationed at Hulao Pass, fled.

Upon learning the news, Yuan Ziyou led his loyal officials across the pontoon bridge and fled to Shangdang.

Yuan Hao successfully entered Luoyang.

Led by Prince Yuan Yu of Linhuai and Prince Yuan Yanming of Anfeng, members of the Northern Wei imperial family led civil and military officials in the Taiji Hall to enthrone Yuan Hao as emperor.

Yuan Hao ascended the throne and changed the era name, issuing two orders.

One measure was to appoint Chen Qingzhi as Attendant-in-Ordinary, General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Grand Master of the Left, and to increase his fief by 10,000 households.

One of them was that Li Shuang, who was in Guanzhong, was made King of Qin, and his fief was increased to 100,000 households.

Yuan Hao's next move was clearly intended to elevate Li Shuang to the same status as Erzhu Rong, so that he would help him.

With the Southern Liang dynasty under Emperor Xiao Yan behind him, and the support of Li Shengui in Henan, and with the addition of Li Shuang in Guanzhong, Yuan Hao would be very confident of defeating Erzhu Rong.

Yuan Hao knew that the Erzhu clan was unpopular, and that if he secretly instigated the aristocratic families in Hebei, he might be able to isolate the Erzhu clan.

"How is it?"

After Yuan Hao ascended the throne, he sent dozens of letters to the surrounding forces that had not yet surrendered, but he received very few responses, and most of them came to nothing.

Yuan Yu shook his head. As the Prince of Linhuai of Northern Wei and the great-grandson of Emperor Taiwu Tuoba Tao, Yuan Yu had long since risen to prominence on the most dazzling stage in Luoyang, becoming a prominent member of the imperial family. However, after the rise of the Six Garrisons, Yuan Yu suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Po Liu Han Baling, and was subsequently transferred to the eastern front, where he faded into obscurity.

"The aristocratic families in Hebei did not defect. The ministers and officials, led by the Yang family of Hongnong, still stood by Yuan Ziyou's side."

Yuan Hao frowned.

He originally thought Yuan Ziyou was just Erzhu Rong's puppet, but he didn't expect that Yuan Ziyou was actually quite capable.

Yuan Hao knew that Erzhu Rong would never allow the Yang family of Hongnong to stand beside Erzhu Rong.

"I didn't expect Yuan Ziyou to be quite capable."

Yuan Yu looked up at Yuan Hao, who sat on the dragon throne, and hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped. Yuan Hao noticed his gaze and spoke:

"Prince of Linhuai, please speak your mind!"

Yuan Yu took a deep breath and finally spoke up to remind him:

"In the eyes of the world, Yuan Ziyou is Erzhu Rong's puppet, but in the eyes of the world, isn't His Majesty also Xiao Yan's puppet?"

Yuan Yu's deep voice echoed throughout the Taiji Hall. Yuan Hao's expression changed instantly.

Yuan Yu was reminding Yuan Hao that he and Yuan Ziyou were equally incompetent. Yuan Hao entered Luoyang and sat on the dragon throne, becoming quite carried away and forgetting that he was only able to sit on the throne because of Chen Qingzhi's seven thousand white-robed soldiers.

Yuan Yu's reminder did not anger Yuan Hao; instead, he remained calm.

"I know, but what can I do?"

By this point in the history of the Great Wei Dynasty, the emperor's position was entirely determined by the warlords outside of Luoyang. Whoever had the strongest army could become emperor.

Yuan Hao was at a loss, but then he heard Yuan Yu say:

"Your Majesty should be careful, lest Chen Qingzhi become the next Erzhu Rong."

Yuan Hao shook his head and sighed.

"If he were willing to become Erzhu Rong, things wouldn't be so complicated."

……

After learning from Yuan Yu that the surrounding aristocratic families were unwilling to express their opinions, Yuan Hao went to see Chen Qingzhi.

Why is the general so deep in thought?

Yuan Hao noticed that Chen Qingzhi's attitude had subtly changed after entering Luoyang.

This change was not due to growing ambition. Chen Qingzhi, who had followed Xiao Yan since childhood, was extremely loyal to him and had no intention of establishing his own faction.

To be precise, Chen Qingzhi's worldview changed.

When Chen Qingzhi saw Yuan Hao arrive, he bowed. “I grew up in Jiankang and thought that the clothing and customs of the Han dynasty were all in Liang. But after entering Luoyang, I found that this was not the case. The clothing and customs of Luoyang are even better than those of Jiankang.”

The Northern Wei dynasty did a very good job of Sinicization.

Even though Erzhu Rong wiped out two thousand nobles and brought the northern barbarian customs to Luoyang, he still couldn't change the customs that had formed in Luoyang after decades of Sinicization in a short period of time.

After all, beauty is beauty, and ugliness is ugliness.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Hao laughed loudly:

“My Yuan clan are descendants of the Yellow Emperor and share the same ancestry as the Liang people. How can we belittle them simply because we once lived in the north? Our common enemy is the northerners led by Erzhu Rong.”

The Yuan clan would never admit to being barbarians.

These words sounded somewhat strange to Chen Qingzhi.

In Jiankang, people from Luoyang are considered northerners, wear northern clothing, and speak northern Mandarin. However, in Luoyang, there is clearly another set of standards for northerners, northern clothing, and northern Mandarin.

After establishing a friendly relationship, Yuan Hao got down to business and asked the question that had been bothering him the most.

"If Erzhu Rong reorganizes the rear and leads his army south, can we stop him?"

"can!"

Chen Qingzhi's words pleased Yuan Hao greatly, but then he heard him say:
"When Emperor Xiaowen of Wei built Beizhong City north of the Yellow River, it was to deal with the current situation. As long as we send strong troops to garrison Beizhong City and send troops to guard the crossing on the south bank of the Yellow River, Erzhu Rong will not be able to take Luoyang."

However, Chen Qingzhi's next words made Yuan Hao's heart skip a beat.

"But if Li Shuang of Guanzhong takes this opportunity to advance his troops, we have absolutely no chance of winning."

Yuan Hao felt uneasy, but he still tried his best to comfort Chen Qingzhi.

"He has already accepted my offer to become the King of Qin, so he shouldn't be marching on Luoyang."

Chen Qingzhi shook his head.

"Before I came, I gathered a lot of intelligence on this King of Qin and I have a good understanding of his methods. Even if he doesn't launch an attack now, he won't stay away forever. Does Your Majesty really want to gamble everything on the King of Qin's character?"

"What about that?"

"The ruler may petition His Majesty to mobilize troops and reinforce Luoyang."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Hao instinctively began to resist.

"Let me think about it for a moment."
-
Changan.

"This humble general pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

In the Duke of Tang's mansion, the veteran general Wang Bi bowed respectfully.

"General, you have made outstanding contributions and are a valiant general of the Great Wei. You must not do this. Get up quickly."

Li Shuang quickly helped Wang Bi up, but then heard him laugh:

"I'm getting old, and not long ago I even lost face at Hulao Pass. I really haven't lived up to Your Majesty's praise!"

Li Shuang waved his hand and said:

"Others may not know, but I know perfectly well that it must be that scoundrel Erzhu Shilong who has dragged down the general, causing the general's reputation to be tarnished!"

Looking at the young man before him, Wang Bi thought to himself, "This King of Qin is not only handsome, but also speaks so eloquently; every word he utters touches my heart."

"The old general came to seek refuge when he was in dire straits, and Your Majesty was willing to take him in. The old general was deeply grateful and was willing to serve Your Majesty."

"Very well, I will prepare a banquet to welcome the general and wash away the dust of his journey."

Li Shuang smiled and led Wang Bi to the banquet hall.

Following behind Li Shuang, Wang Bi was inwardly amazed:
The King of Qin is truly a man of heavenly appearance and dragon-like bearing!

……

(End of this chapter)