Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 252: Get to Long and Watch Shu
Changan.

Li Shuang led his elite cavalry back to Chang'an and learned that the Liang army had retreated.

Yang Kan led 4,000 soldiers to defeat Mo Zhe Tiansheng and kill the general Chi Gan Qilin in battle. Later, before reaching San Pass, he routed Yang Fachen's 3,000 elite Di troops. After this battle, Yang Fachen led his army in retreat and fled Guanzhong.

Gao Ang led a group of Hu cavalry and fought a great battle with Liang general Wang Sengbian at the Ziwu Pass. With Gao Ang blocking the way, Wang Sengbian saw that there was no hope of attacking Chang'an, so he retreated back to Hanzhong.

Upon returning to the Qin Prince's residence, Li Shuang carefully examined the fragments of armor and weapons left behind by the Liang army.

"Such fine armor and sharp weapons could only be obtained by elite troops. Do you know the origins of this Liang army?"

Gao Feng replied:

“Wang Sengbian once said that his troops were all elites from Jingchu, and the captured soldiers indeed confirmed his statement.”

"The elite troops of Jingchu?"

The dividing line between the Southern Liang and Northern Wei dynasties was still the Qinling Mountains-Huai River line.

The Southern Liang dynasty occupied three of the ancient Nine Provinces: Jing, Yi, and Yang. Although it established its capital in Jiankang, the upstream Jing and Yi provinces were particularly suitable for separatist rule.

The Jingzhou region, in particular, was heavily fortified because it was located on the Jingxiang defense line, another important defense line against the Northern Dynasty, in addition to the Jianghuai defense line of the Southern Dynasty.

Historically, many internal conflicts in the Southern Dynasties stemmed from the rivalry between military officials in Jiangling and nobles in Jiankang.

Jingzhou is located upstream. If an ambitious person were to establish a separatist regime there and control the troops in the Jingxiang region, they could move downstream and pose a huge threat to Jiankang.

Emperor Xiao Yan himself followed this path to complete the change of dynasty.

Once inside Jiankang City, his mindset was clearly different from before; he had to be constantly wary of his descendants imitating him.

To be able to quietly transfer an elite force from the Jingchu region to Hanzhong must have been a huge investment.

"Xiao Zan was right after all; this old monk is no pushover!"

Li Shuang handed the riding whip to his attendant Hulü Guang and began to remove his armor.

Hou Jing, standing nearby, removed Li Shuang's armor and said:

"So, this has been brewing for quite some time now."

Hou Jing put down his shawl and asked:

"Your Majesty, should we take advantage of this situation and attack Hanzhong?"

Li Shuang sighed:

"Hanzhong is not a good place to fight!"

The Qinling Mountains separate Hanzhong from Guanzhong, making logistical transport of supplies far more difficult compared to Xiangfan and Jianghuai.

Unless the defenders fall into disarray, the attackers will inevitably be at a disadvantage.

"Since they dared to attack you, they must have been prepared. Don't act rashly!"

The generals present were all somewhat unwilling to swallow this insult, but then they heard Li Shuang say:
“We have to take it slow!”

Everyone present was somewhat puzzled, but Hou Jing understood.

They've got their eyes on you!

Hou Jing asked:

"Where does Your Majesty wish to come from?"

"Since ancient times, people have always coveted what they had gained. Let's send spies to Liangzhou to see how the Di people are faring after Yang Fachen's defeat."

"promise!"
-
Lingzhou, Pule County!

Bogulü Town was once an important town set up by the Northern Wei Dynasty in the western part of the Yellow River. With the rebellion of the Six Garrisons, it also became a key place for the rebels to establish their own power base.

After Wanqi Chounu's defeat and death, Suqin Mingda occupied the area, gathered together the forces of the refugees and Hu people in the Lingzhou region, and temporarily quelled the conflicts in the Lingzhou region.

Until Heba Yue led his army to arrive.

Heba Yue, leading his troops and soldiers from the Six Garrisons, totaling three thousand cavalry, encountered Suqin Mingda's army in Huile County, once again demonstrating the combat prowess of the most elite soldiers of this era.

Compared to the troops of the Six Garrisons, the Hu soldiers under Suqin Mingda's command were far inferior in combat strength.

The tens of thousands of troops under Suqin Mingda were no match for the three thousand cavalry under Heba Yue. It was an overwhelming defeat, and they were defeated in one-sided battles not long after the start of the war.

Heba Yue then publicly captured Suqin Mingda, stormed into the county town, and captured Suqin Mingda's family and his officials. Among them was a very special person.

Xiao Baoyin!
At this moment, Xiao Baoyin looked to be in a very bad state, and seemed somewhat desperate.

Standing before him was Heba Yue, who had just experienced a major battle, yet he was in excellent condition.

"King Qi!"

Xiao Baoyin was ultimately different from traitors like Suqin Mingda. His wife, Princess Nanyang, was, after all, the daughter of Emperor Xiaowen, Yuan Hong. Heba Yue still bowed to her.

"I thought you were going to call me a traitor!"

Xiao Baoyin gave a wry smile. Although he was deliberately dressed like a Hu person, he looked somewhat out of place.

Seeing that Heba Yue had no intention of making a move, Xiao Baoyin dusted himself off, found a place to sit down, and, as if pouring out his grievances, said:
“I helped Suqin Mingda quell the strife, comfort the refugees, and gather wise men. I believe I have done everything I could, but in the end I still failed. Can you tell me where I went wrong?”

Xiao Baoyin was not in good condition, but she did not seem worried about her situation.

Heba Yue said:

"War is a matter of vital importance to the state; it is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected!"

Xiao Baoyin smiled.

"I could recite that line when I was a child!"

But King Qi did not understand!

Heba Yue's answer did not anger Xiao Baoyin. In fact, he had no right to be angry at this moment, and simply asked:
"What do you want to do with me?"

"King Qi is of noble status, and I cannot handle him myself. He should be handed over to His Majesty for disposal!"

"Your Majesty? Which Your Majesty? In this world, the one thing we have in abundance is Your Majesty!"

Xiao Baoyin mocked, somewhat unrestrainedly.

"Now that you've acquired Lingzhou, what are your next plans?"

Xiao Baoyin's words were somewhat presumptuous. Heba Yue had no intention of replying, but Xiao Baoyin had already spoken:

“Erzhu Rong wields immense power, and you people from Wuchuan were finally sent out by him to obtain a prefecture. However, Lingzhou is still a wild and untamed place, and it is not easy to hold onto. Daye Shuang will not watch you people around him, and he will make his move against you sooner or later.”

Heba Yue frowned slightly, but Xiao Baoyin ignored him and continued:
"Cao Ni of Xi'an Prefecture is currently locked in a fierce struggle with He Douling Bu Fan of Yuan Prefecture and Huli Jin of Shuo Prefecture, and they may have already launched an attack. If you occupy Bogulu Town, Cao Ni can also occupy Licheng County to the north. If that happens, if you don't want to submit to Daye Shuang, you will have no choice but to ally with Yuwen Luosheng of Xia Prefecture. But in Xia Prefecture, will Daye Shuang not plant some spies? Who knows..."

Before Xiao Baoyin could finish speaking, Heba Yue interrupted him.

"King Qi, you have said too much. I have no intention of being an enemy of the King of Qin."

Xiao Baoyin scoffed at this.

“I’ve seen plenty of people like you. You won’t submit to me willingly.”

"King Qi, let's set off!"

Xiao Baoyin said:

"I won't go. I'm afraid the people in Chang'an will skin me alive before I even reach Luoyang!"

Xiao Baoyin took out a dagger.

Heba Yue was very wary and said:
"What do you want?"

"Don't worry, I won't make things difficult for you."

Xiao Baoyin held the dagger to her neck and took one last look at Heba Yue.

"Remember, even if you don't deal with Ohno Sō, Ohno Sō will deal with you."

After saying this, Xiao Baoyin committed suicide.

Heba Yue watched this scene unfold, and soon after, Zhao Gui approached and said:
"A scout reports that Cao Ni has occupied Licheng."

Xiao Baoyin's last words still echoed in his ears, and Heba Yue felt a sense of urgency.

……

(End of this chapter)