Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 287 What's so special about riding a cart?

Jinyang.

After the troops of the Six Garrisons were subdued by Erzhu Rong, they were settled in Taiyuan County and kept under his supervision.

The Qihu people treated these surrendered soldiers from the Six Garrisons with extreme cruelty and oppression. In order to keep these soldiers in check, Erzhu Rong kept Erzhu Zhao to guard them.

In the military camp, Erzhu Shilong's younger brother, Erzhu Shicheng, entered Erzhu Zhao's tent.

Upon seeing Erzhu Zhao, Erzhu Shicheng felt as if he had found a pillar of support.

Erzhu Shilong was treacherous and weak, and his younger brother wasn't much better!

At this moment, a look of worry appeared on Erzhu Shicheng's face.

"General Tianzhu hasn't returned yet!"

"Still in Pingcheng!"

Erzhu Zhao replied casually, but glancing at Erzhu Shicheng, he couldn't help but feel a little strange.

"What's wrong? Why do you look like this?"

"Something's happened in Pingyang!"

Upon hearing this, Erzhu Zhao's expression finally changed. He pushed aside the two beautiful concubines beside him and let them leave the tent.

Once only he and Erzhu Shicheng remained in the tent, Erzhu Zhao asked:

"So, did Ohno Sō find out that we took that batch of grain from him?"

Erzhu Shicheng shook his head.

"The grain is stored properly, but Yuan Xiu has been arrested, and it was your good brother He Liuhun who arrested him personally."

Erzhu Zhao was stunned and didn't react. He had no clue what to do for a moment.

Why did he want to capture Yuan Xiu?

"He Liuhun's crime in arresting Yuan Xiu was that he was a bastard!"

"**, Yuan Xiu and who?"

Erzhu Zhao's face showed a hint of mockery, but Erzhu Shicheng was not in such a good mood and was under a lot of pressure.

“His cousin, Yuan Jili!”

Later generations have called the Northern Qi dynasty a beastly dynasty. If judged by the moral standards of the Han people, it was indeed quite beastly. However, if judged by the moral standards of the nomadic tribes, then some of the actions of the Northern Qi royal family can be explained.

What's so special about riding a big cart?
Since Da Che was a concubine, according to the rules of the grassland tribes, stepmothers could inherit the family business.

Riding a cart is just like getting on the ship earlier!

The northerners carried a strong grassland flavor, but Yuan Xiu's actions still shocked Erzhu Zhao greatly.

There's no other reason than that Yuan Xiu and Yuan Jili are siblings with the same surname and blood relation.

"People from Luoyang really know how to have fun!"

"What time is it? You still have the mind to joke around like this."

Erzhu Shicheng was very dissatisfied with Erzhu Zhao's frivolous behavior, and his words carried a hint of unease.

Erzhu Zhao looked at Erzhu Shicheng and asked in return:

"He Liuhun arrested Yuan Xiu using this charge, what does that have to do with us?"

"My Lord of Yingchuan, use your brain! Why did Gao Huan choose this crucial moment to arrest him? Is it really because of something that happened in Yuan Xiu's family?"

Erzhu Zhao felt a little doubtful upon hearing this.

"Could He Liuhun have sided with Da Yeshuang? Impossible. Besides, he wasn't involved when this matter was being handled. What could he possibly know?"

"Whether he knows it or not, if we don't settle this matter before General Tianzhu returns, we'll be in trouble if Yuanxiu lets the news get out!"

Erzhu Zhao waved his hand and said:
“He Liuhun is my good brother, he wouldn’t be so reckless. Even if Yuan Xiuzhen said something, he wouldn’t report it to General Tianzhu.”

I fear that the tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease!

What do you mean?

"That old rascal Liu Lisheng has been causing trouble lately. If he stirs things up, Da Yeshuang might do something!"

Erzhu Zhao scoffed:

“How can you be so cowardly? You were the ones who wanted to steal Da Ye Shuang’s grain, and you were the ones who tried to sow discord between him and the court. If he acts recklessly, wouldn’t that be exactly what you want?”

Erzhu Shicheng listened with some helplessness and said:
“That scoundrel, Ohno Sou, it would be better if he acted recklessly. My only fear is that he was acting on his orders to arrest Yuan Xiu. If he then publicizes this throughout the land, we'll all lose face. And if General Tianzhu finds out, we'll be even more likely to be punished.” “What do you intend to do?”

"Didn't you always say Gao Huan was your good brother? Let him kill Yuan Xiu. Once Yuan Xiu is dead, won't that settle things?"

……

Pingcheng.

Pingcheng, the former capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty, was a vast city and the core of the entire Dai people group.

Today, with the relocation of the capital by the Northern Wei Dynasty and the rebellion of the Six Garrisons, this once glorious capital has fallen into decline.

Even so, Erzhu Rong still had to spend a month or two each year leading his army to inspect the area and appease the local meritorious officials.

Even without the glory of being the capital, Pingcheng remains the most important hub in the entire northern region and the base camp for Erzhu Rong's northern people.

Erzhu Rong stood on the city wall, looking at the scenery around the city.

As northerners migrated south, the outer city of Pingcheng was abandoned long ago, and the dense buildings in the former outer city have now degenerated into fields and animal pens.

Even so, Erzhu Rong still had a deep affection for this city.

Once upon a time, Pingcheng was the most important city of the Northern Wei Dynasty, second only to Luoyang.

Compared to Luoyang, which inspires awe, this city evoked a sense of familiarity in Erzhu Rong, a place he had longed for in his youth.

As Erzhu Rong was reminiscing, Murong Shaozong slowly walked over.

Seeing Erzhu Rong's expression, Murong Shaozong didn't speak for a moment, but Erzhu Rong asked the question first.

"What's the matter?"

"The governor of Shuozhou has delivered a letter from the Prince of Qin to General Tianzhu!"

"What about the letter?"

"it's here!"

Murong Shaozong handed the letter to Erzhu Rong, who opened it and couldn't help but smile.

"It's rare that my third brother would think of me as his elder brother and actually send me food."

Erzhu Rong looked at Murong Shaozong and asked again:

"Where is this batch of grain supposed to be sent from? Did the people from Shuozhou say?"

"Coming from Hedong, a total of 125,131 shi and 4 dou!"

Upon hearing this, Erzhu Rong frowned and asked:

"Why are there both whole and odd amounts?"

Murong Shaozong looked around and whispered a few words in Erzhu Rong's ear.

Upon hearing this, Erzhu Rong's face was filled with anger, showing no trace of reminiscence, but rather a stronger desire to kill.

"Return to Jinyang!"

"promise!"

……

Jinzhou.

Gao Huan looked at Erzhu Shicheng, who had come personally from Jinyang, and said:
"This is not a good situation!"

Erzhu Shicheng looked at Gao Huan with a cold smile on his face.

“He Liuhun, this was entrusted to you by the Duke of Yingchuan. The Duke of Yingchuan has done a lot to help you become the Governor of Jinzhou. Sometimes, you can’t afford to be half-hearted!”

Gao Huan comforted him, saying:
"What are you talking about? Do you think I'm that kind of person? This whole thing is Yuanxiu's fault for asking for trouble. Hou Jing got hold of something against him. What can I do?"

"Why not just kill Yuan Xiu?"

"He's not here with me!"

Erzhu Shicheng was taken aback and asked in return:
"What about others?"

"They ran away, they ran to Dongxia Prefecture, to the territory of the Wuchuan people!"

……

(End of this chapter)