Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 246 Under One Person

The night was deep and still.

Despite the bitter cold of winter, the brazier burning day and night inside the tent kept the chill at bay.

Erzhu Rong was holding a wine cup and drinking.

A man entered the tent, and Wang Xiang, Erzhu Rong's close attendant, reported:

"My lord, Lord Tongdi has arrived!"

Upon hearing this, Erzhu Rong waved his hand, signaling him to invite Gao Huan in.

After Gao Huan entered, he saw that Erzhu Rong was drinking wine from the Western Regions, and immediately cupped his hands in greeting:

"Does General Tianzhu also enjoy this fine wine from the Western Regions?"

Erzhu Rong put down his wine cup and said:

"No, this was sent by the Rouran Khan."

Gao Huan was startled upon hearing this.

In addition to the land and sea Silk Roads, there was also a steppe Silk Road.

When the Northern Wei Dynasty established its capital in Pingcheng, it relied on this grassland trade route to conduct trade with the Western Regions and even more distant areas.

After the uprising in the Six Garrisons, the trade routes along the grasslands were not as prosperous as before.

The fact that the Rouran people could send such expensive wine shows that they have now been able to influence trade in the Western Regions.

Erzhu Rong, holding his wine cup, laughed:
"In recent years, Anagui has recovered somewhat, absorbed the brave warriors of the Tiele tribes, pacified the Turks in Jinshan, and is also engaged in a fierce battle with Goguryeo in the northeast. It seems he can no longer endure the bitter cold of the northern desert!"

The Northern Wei of today is not the same as it was back then; a large number of elite troops from the Six Garrisons have moved south.

The defenses in the North are not as strong as they used to be.

In fact, a major reason for the uprising of the Six Garrisons was that the imperial court in Luoyang could not afford to maintain the massive military defense system on the border, but still wanted to maintain the defense system to block the threat from the grasslands.

The Rebellion of the Six Garrisons was both the cause and the result of the collapse of the northern defense system.

If the Rouran people were to move south again, the situation in the north would change once more.

At the very least, the order in the North will be reshuffled.

The balance between the Erzhu clan, who control Hengzhou, and the Hu and Han military households, who control Shuozhou, will be broken.

This is not a good thing for Erzhu Rong, who is now besieged on all sides.

Gao Huan thought for a moment and said:

"General Tianzhu, judging from what the King of Qin said, he seems to be worried that General Tianzhu will plot against him!"

Erzhu Rong frowned upon hearing this, looked at Gao Huan, and asked:
"what for?"

"General Tianzhu and the King of Qin's elite troops are now gathered in Hedong. Countless people across the land are hoping for a fight between the two of you. I suspect there might be some misunderstanding involved?"

Erzhu Rong stared at Gao Huan and asked:
"Even if there's a misunderstanding, he won't even see me. What kind of person is he? Do I have to apologize to him?"

Gao Huan lowered his head upon hearing this.

"General Tianzhu is certainly not wrong!"

Erzhu Rong laughed and asked again:
"So you want him to admit his mistake?"

Gao Huan shook his head again and said:
"Of course not!"

When Gao Huan said this, Erzhu Rong showed no anger, but rather some curiosity.

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

Gao Huan smiled slightly, his hands hidden in his sleeves, appearing very humble, but his words were incredibly audacious.

"Aren't there people above General Tianzhu and the King of Qin?"

Erzhu Rong was initially taken aback, but after a while, he burst into laughter.

"You bastard He Liuhun!"
-
Yuan Ziyou looked at Hu Sichun standing in front of him with a gloomy face, his expression almost murderous.

"What do you mean?" Hu Sichun could certainly sense Yuan Ziyou's murderous aura.

He immediately explained:

"This is not my intention. It is General Tianzhu who asked me to convey a message to Your Majesty. The country is currently facing difficulties, and I fear that the Prince of Qin may have heard rumors and harbor resentment. General Tianzhu hopes that Your Majesty will issue an edict to explain the situation to the Prince of Qin."

Yuan Ziyou gripped the table with both hands, wringing the yellow cloth on it until it was tattered. He said in a low voice:

"How does Erzhu Rong want me to explain this?"

Hu Sichun didn't dare to look up, and unconsciously lowered her head even further.

"General Tianzhu wants His Majesty to apologize to the Prince of Qin on his behalf and resolve his grievances."

"Let me apologize to Ohno Sō!"

Yuan Ziyou stood up and turned his gaze to the knife in the hand of the guard beside him.

Husi Chun also sensed the threat, and immediately, no longer afraid, he cupped his hands and said:
"A common man's anger can cause blood to splatter five steps away; this is not the act of an emperor!"

This shout calmed Yuan Ziyou down, but his anger remained.

"Do I need you to teach me how to be the emperor?"

Upon hearing this, Husichun understood that Yuan Ziyou dared not make a move, and continued:
"Your Majesty, I dare not. I only hope that Your Majesty will not listen to the words of petty men and, for the sake of the Great Wei, will order the troops in Hedong to cease hostilities! Otherwise, if we perish together, how will Your Majesty face the ancestral tablets?"

Hu Sichun used to be a very shrewd and resourceful character, but now, facing a life-or-death crisis, she has also shown her courageous side.

Yuan Ziyou was surprised, and sneered:
"If we hadn't disobeyed you, would the Great Wei have perished?"

Husichun raised his head and said:
"It's not just about wanting, it's about definitely wanting it!"

Husichun was also a military hero from the north. If he really became tough, Yuan Ziyou couldn't do anything about him.

"Only the King of Qin can control the situation in Guanzhong, and only General Tianzhu can keep the troops in Jinyang in check. Once war breaks out in Hedong, Your Majesty's empire will surely collapse!"

"you!"

Yuan Ziyou shouted angrily, but seeing Husichun's fearless gaze, he finally sat down.

Upon seeing this, Hu Sichun cupped his hands and said:
"Honest advice is hard to swallow, and this is not what I intended. I hope Your Majesty will understand!"

"go away!"

……

Yuan Ziyou eventually handed the imperial decree to Husichun, asking him to take it to Hedong.

But the humiliation in his heart could not be washed away.

At night, Yuan Ziyou neither dealt with state affairs nor visited his concubines. Instead, he took a dagger and repeatedly stabbed at a wooden dummy.

After countless stabs, roughly half an hour later, the wooden dummy was riddled with holes. Yuan Ziyou's hatred remained unabated, and he vented his anger:
"Erzhu Rong, Daye Shuang, I want you dead!"
-
Qizhou, Changshe Town.

"General Yang, Governor Yang Fachen of Liangzhou is leading his Qiang and Di tribesmen toward Guanzhong. They have also incited the nearby Hu people and Shu people to rebel. We heard that Mo Zhe Niansheng's brother, Mo Zhe Tiansheng, also joined Yang Fachen after Mo Zhe Niansheng's death, and he has brought his troops here to serve as the vanguard!"

Yang Kan listened and said:

"That's quite a commotion!"

"Besides, there are rumors that Tuyuhun is marching towards Qinzhou. I wonder if it's true?"

Yang Kan waved his hand and said:

"No problem, there are thieves here, nothing to worry about! Send the order to gather the horses and soldiers, and follow me to quell the rebellion!"

After Yang Kan finished speaking, his subordinate advised:
"General, the enemy outnumbers us. If we take the initiative to fight, and suffer a defeat, it may be detrimental to the overall situation."

"Although the bandits are numerous, they are merely a source of chaos for the people. We must capture their leaders and eliminate their elite forces to quickly quell their rebellion! Otherwise, the war will drag on, which will be detrimental to the overall situation."

After Yang Kan finished speaking, the group of armored soldiers behind him gripped their long swords, their expressions revealing eager anticipation.

That was the desire for military merit!
……

(End of this chapter)