Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 267 It's time to increase the intensity.
Qin Wangfu.

Princess Yifu, Yuan Mingyue's sister-in-law, entered the room. Yuan Mingyue, who had just given birth, was still somewhat weak on the bed.

"This must be Yu'er!"

Princess Yifu was slender and beautiful, with long, black hair that reached her waist. She looked at the baby lying in the cradle beside her with a gentle smile on her face.

Yuan Mingyue was about to get up, but was stopped by Princess Yifu.

"You have just given birth and are very weak. Do not move around easily."

"My sister-in-law is here, how can I be so rude!"

Yuan Mingyue's brother, Yuan Baoju, was frivolous and indulged in wine and women, but his sister-in-law, Yifu, was quite frugal and rarely changed her clothes.

Princess Yifu helped Yuan Mingyue sit up and placed a soft cushion behind her back.

"How is my brother?"

Upon hearing Yuan Mingyue's question, Princess Yifu couldn't help but sigh.

"He's still the same as always, writing to me saying he wants to buy a house in Chang'an."

Yuan Mingyue asked:
"Why?"

"After Yuan Ziyou fled, he also fled to Changzi. Originally, they were all waiting for Erzhu Rong to go south so that they could retake Luoyang. But they heard that the war was not going well and the Northern Army was blocked in Beizhong City and could not take it. Seeing the situation, your brother thought that if things did not go well, he would come to Chang'an."

Yuan Mingyue wasn't actually that close to her elder brother. On the contrary, she was very close to Yifu.

Fearing that Yi Fu would be wronged, Yuan Mingyue said:

“I think my brother is only good-looking on the surface. He can’t come up with much money, so how can he afford a house in Chang’an? I’ve saved some money over the years. Sister-in-law, you can use it to buy a house. Keep the rest in your own hands and don’t give the money to my brother.”

Princess Yifu shook her head and said:

"That won't do. Even though you're a princess and a concubine in this royal palace, there are many places where you need to spend money. Don't waste it on me."

"But if that's the case, what about my brother?"

"Let him stay with Yuan Ziyou. Do you think His Majesty would let him eat dirt?"

As Queen Yifu spoke, the two women in the room laughed.

……

"If we can't take Beizhong City soon, we'll all be eating dirt!"

Inside the main tent, Yuan Baoju complained in front of Yuan Ziyou.

After Yuan Ziyou ascended the throne, he made every effort to win over all members of the Yuan clan, whether they were close relatives or distant relatives.

Yuan Baoju's father rebelled, but he was also the grandson of Emperor Xiaowen, Yuan Hong, which gave him a certain status. After Yuan Ziyou succeeded to the throne, he was granted the title of Prince of Nanyang.

However, after losing Luoyang as their base of operations, all their benefits were reduced after heading north to Changzi.

After all, Erzhu Rong would never provide food and salaries to the officials around Yuan Ziyou; it would be considered good enough if they could even get a bite to eat.

Yuan Ziyou also had a sullen face.

Yuan Hao had been occupying Luoyang and had even declared himself emperor, which dealt a heavy blow to his prestige.

He had hoped that Erzhu Rong would march south and sweep through Beizhong City, reaching Luoyang in an instant, but he did not expect that the stalemate would last for so long without any success.

The others heard Yuan Baoju's complaints, but although they were anxious, they were all more composed than Yuan Baoju.

Yuan Ziyou looked at Yang Kan, who came from the Hongnong Yang clan and was one of the few people under Yuan Ziyou who knew about military affairs.

"Shiye, what do you think?"

Yang Kan also felt a bit of absurdity.

This North Central City was originally established by Emperor Xiaowen, Yuan Hong, as a military facility to deal with potential powerful enemies from the north.

Unexpectedly, it has actually proven effective in stopping the northerners.

But Yang Kan didn't know either of the two emperors on either side of the Yellow River.
"Your Majesty, in my opinion, it will be difficult to take Beizhong City by force."

"What about that?"

"By bypassing Beizhong City, we should send our light cavalry first to cross the Yellow River. The Liang army will be difficult to defeat, but Yuan Hao's army is different. If we can catch them off guard, we might be able to achieve great success."

Yuan Ziyou nodded and said:
"Therefore, write this plan down in a memorial and submit it to General Tianzhu!" ...

"Tianbao, what are you looking at?"

"It was this plan that His Majesty gave me!"

Yuan Tianmu found Erzhu Rong's words rather strange. When did this General Tianzhu start to take the emperor he had installed seriously?
Erzhu Rong lay on a thick, soft plush mat with his hair loose and unbound, wearing only a thin garment.

"You know what, there really are some military strategists among His Majesty's ministers!"

Erzhu Rong engaged in a fierce battle with Chen Qingzhi, who was defending Beizhong City, in a short period of time. He failed to capture the city and knew that Beizhong City could not be taken for the time being.

After learning of this conclusion, Erzhu Rong thought about changing his tactics.

If Chen Qingzhi's White Robe Army is difficult to defeat, wouldn't Yuan Hao's army on the south bank of the Yellow River be even easier to defeat?
Erzhu Rong has not sent troops to attack the city these days in order to lull the enemy into a false sense of security and find an opening in their defenses.

His thoughts were similar to Yang Kan's.

Bypass North Central City, find a ferry crossing, and send a small elite force as the vanguard to try and open a breach.

"Among the powerful families, there are many talented generals. Tianbao should not underestimate them."

Erzhu Rong nodded, glanced at Yuan Tianmu, and asked:
"Is something the matter, brother?"

"There is one thing!"

Seeing Yuan Tianmu's hesitant expression, Erzhu Rong smiled.

What is the matter that you are so hesitant about?

"My third brother delivered Xiao Gang to Luoyang!"

Erzhu Rong stood up abruptly, his expression turning somewhat grim.

"What is he doing, causing trouble!"

……

North Midtown.

Chen Qingzhi stood on the city wall, his expression solemn.

Beside him, his military advisor, Ma Fonian, said:

"General, there's something I'm not sure if I should say."

"Say!"

"With the general's prestige, he is more than capable of standing on his own!"

These words were like a thunderbolt, leaving Chen Qingzhi somewhat astonished.

But he knew who Ma Fonian was, so he asked:

Why do you say that?

"We are holding Beizhong City, and the Northern Army cannot take it. Yuan Hao's army stationed on the south bank of the Yellow River is becoming increasingly arrogant and complacent. If this continues, we fear we will suffer losses!"

“I understand your concerns, and I have been pondering this matter for the past few days. The Emperor has shown me great kindness, so how can I disobey my duty as a subject? Besides, even if I were to establish myself as emperor, it would not change the current situation.”

Chen Qingzhi could only control his nearly 10,000 Liang soldiers; he could not control Yuan Hao's army.

Ma Funian sighed:
"I'm just afraid that if we hold out here and are not defeated, our rear will collapse first. At that time, we may be in danger and face total annihilation."

Chen Qingzhi reassured him:

"Rest assured, Prince Xiao Gang has arrived in Luoyang, along with reinforcements to welcome His Highness back to Liang."

Ma Fonian's appearance changed.

Who is the commander-in-chief?

"Li Shengui, the Prince of Chenliu!"

……

(End of this chapter)