Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 317 Are the Rouran people very strong?
Luoyang!

Tianzhu General's Mansion.

With Erzhu Rong's arrival, his soldiers drove out the people around the neighborhood and erected tall towers around the area for surveillance.

A large army guarded Erzhu Rong's residence in Luoyang, turning it into a military fortress.

The courtyard was beautiful, with a babbling brook, lush flowers and plants, and the occasional chirping of cicadas and birdsong, but it was quiet because of the noise inside the house.

Erzhu Rong leaned against the low table, cushioned, with his eyes closed, looking somewhat tired.

Inside the room, the others were arguing, and the focus of their argument was naturally Li Shuang.

"General Tianzhu has summoned Hebasheng back as well. The route from Shancheng to Luoyang has now fallen into the hands of Daye Shuang!"

"Although the land route is in the hands of Da Yeshuang, the water route is still in our hands. As long as we guard the North Central City and the South Bank, Da Yeshuang's army will not be able to reach Luoyang quickly. The trouble is that Jin Yong City is in Da Yeshuang's hands. With this city in our hands, it will be difficult to drive Da Yeshuang out of Luoyang."

……

The group debated how to deal with the large army in Guanzhong and began to make contingency plans.

Erzhu Rong did not open his eyes until someone arrived.

Yuan Tianmu!
Today, this former leader can be considered the top choice to navigate between the two camps.

Erzhu Rong didn't say a word, but one gesture was enough to silence everyone.

"how?"

"The King of Qin has already agreed and will submit a memorial to the Emperor to bestow upon the General of the Heavenly Pillar the Nine Bestowments."

What Erzhu Rong is most concerned about now is not how to deal with Li Shuang in the future.

Half of Luoyang has already been given to Li Shuang. It's already been given away, and Erzhu Rong has no hope of getting it back.

Even if it were taken back, after passing through Li Shuang's hands, what would be left?
What Erzhu Rong cared about most was the matter of receiving the Nine Bestowments.

With the agreement reached with Li Shuang and his endorsement, Erzhu Rong could gain a more legitimate claim.

After receiving the Nine Bestowments, the next step is to be promoted to King of Jin, and then to establish a kingdom!

Following procedures is what Erzhu Rong cares about most now, even more than dealing with the Rouran people's southward incursion from the north.

Yuan Tianmu sat down next to Erzhu Rong and whispered:
"There is one more thing. His Majesty has fallen seriously ill and suspects that there are evil spirits causing trouble in the palace. He has invited a nun to the palace to exorcise the evil spirits!"

Erzhu Rong listened and smiled contemptuously.

"He needs to get rid of his evil spirits and go see a doctor!"

……

Nine Dragon Hall.

"My lady, save me!"

In front of Hu Xuanhui, Yuan Ziyou whispered for help.

Now, Hu Xuanhui can be considered his last bargaining chip. All along, Hu Xuanhui has been training assassins for Yuan Ziyou.

This is now the last reliable armed force that Yuan Ziyou can control.

Looking at the emperor before him, Hu Xuanhui felt a sense of loss amidst the familiar palace.

Why is Your Majesty acting this way?

“My Lady, Da Ye Shuang has already submitted a memorial supporting Er Zhu Rong’s promotion to the Nine Bestowments. I fear that not only will his life be in danger, but the state of our Great Wei will also be divided up by these two traitors.”

Hu Xuanhui's expression was gentle, always with a smile. No matter how dangerous Yuan Ziyou described it, she seemed completely unaffected.

"Things have not come to this, Your Majesty need not worry."

Seeing Hu Xuanhui's calm and composed demeanor, Yuan Ziyou felt much better. In all these days, Hu Xuanhui was the most reassuring person he had met.

"The situation is urgent, how can I not be worried?"

Hu Xuanhui countered with a question:

"What did Your Majesty originally intend to do?"

"Plotting to assassinate Erzhu Rong!"

Has Narzhu Rong arrived yet?

"They're here, but..."

Hu Xuanhui interrupted Yuan Ziyou before he could finish speaking.

"Originally, Your Majesty only intended to kill Erzhu Rong, but with Erzhu Rong dead, Da Ye Shuang might seize the opportunity to rebel. Now that both Erzhu Rong and Li Shuang have arrived, doesn't Your Majesty think the situation is much better than you anticipated?"

Upon hearing Hu Xuanhui's words, Yuan Ziyou abandoned his own thoughts and nodded.

"Your Majesty, if the assassination attempt succeeds and the two traitors Erzhu Rong and Daye Shuang are executed, then the state of Wei can be restored, and Your Majesty will still be the ruler of this world!"

"Yes!"

Yuan Ziyou was truly ill. Under the combined pressure of Erzhu Rong and Li Shuang, he was restless and filled with fear day and night. Now, he simply accepted Hu Xuanhui's words.

Because Yuan Ziyou had already run out of options, he was grasping at any straw as a lifeline.

"But what can we do? They are surrounded by a large number of armored guards. Even if we use all our elite soldiers, we still can't break through their defenses."

Hu Xuanhui reassured him:

"Does Your Majesty really think that the suspicion between them can be resolved by Yujiulü Anagui alone? If it could really be resolved, why would Jinyong City need to mobilize so many armored soldiers, and why would the General Tianzhu's mansion need to be so heavily guarded?"

"Your Majesty, please reconsider. Is their conflict merely a matter of pride, a desire to determine who is superior? No, they both aspire to establish their own kingdoms, become kings, and even overthrow Your Majesty. Can the Great Wei empire accommodate two emperors?"

Yuan Ziyou was simply following Hu Xuanhui's line of thought, but he still harbored some resentment.

"These two traitors!"

"Your Majesty need not worry so much. The tasks they have to accomplish are far more arduous than Your Majesty's. Your Majesty, once you have recovered, simply need to deliver the decisive blow at the crucial moment. Even though they command thousands of troops, they are still only mortals!"

Hu Xuanhui looked at Yuan Ziyou and bowed.

"Your Majesty is blessed with the Mandate of Heaven; you are the true Son of Heaven!"

Hu Xuanhui's words gave Yuan Ziyou confidence and courage.

Whether it was self-hypnosis or genuine belief, Yuan Ziyou's complexion regained some color, and he no longer showed the submissive attitude he had just displayed, but instead regained the majesty of an emperor.

"I am the chosen one by Heaven, and these two vicious tigers blocking my way will never be able to defeat the true dragon!"

Hu Xuanhui looked at Yuan Ziyou like this, lowered his head, and a smile appeared on his lips.

She knew that the emperor of Wei had lost everything and had become her most powerful assassin.
-
North of the Yin Mountains, in the southern part of the Gobi Desert.

The Rouran royal court was located on the grasslands south of the Six Garrisons. Yujiulü Anagui led his tribe to a place that many of their ancestors had never been able to reach.

However, now only the remnants of the Six Towns system remain in the North, making it easily vulnerable.

Anagui arrived here, but felt no sense of accomplishment whatsoever.

Just seven or eight years ago, he remembered that a large number of soldiers from the Six Garrisons were still gathered here, possessing a powerful armed force capable of confronting the Rouran.

However, the forces south of the Gobi Desert are currently very weak. Even the Northern Wei's official troops are stationed south of the Yin Mountains. The Gobi Desert region north of the Yin Mountains has become a pasture for some tribes that are dependent on the Northern Wei. Inside the golden tent, Yujiulü Anagui sat on the throne of Khan.

Below, a large number of tribal leaders with different appearances had gathered.

Among them were leaders of the Tiele tribes in the northern desert, Turks and Sogdians from the Western Regions, and Khitans and Shiweis from the former Xianbei homeland.

After his defeat in the southern desert years ago, Yujiulü Anagui returned to the northern desert to recuperate.

He was waiting for the children in the tribe, who were not even as tall as a cartwheel, to grow up and be able to ride wild horses and shoot eagles with bows. He was also waiting for the cattle and sheep to multiply and for the tribe's resources to gradually become abundant. He was also waiting for the Rouran to grow strong again and become the undisputed leader of the grasslands.

The extreme cold of the northern desert can forge the bravest warriors, the abundant fish in the North Sea can provide the tribe with a large amount of food, and the trade routes on the grasslands connect to distant lands, bringing the tribe a great deal of wealth.

Yujiulü Anagui should have waited a few more years until the Rouran became stronger, but the rage for revenge, coupled with the enemy's unprecedented weakness, made Anagui unable to resist taking action.

He had waited for so many years in the freezing cold, accumulating so much anger and resentment, and was finally determined to avenge himself.

After heading south, Anagui realized that his choice was right.

The Six Garrisons no longer exist, nor can there ever be another Six Garrisons standing north of the Yin Mountains. As long as we occupy the southern desert region, it will only be a matter of time before the various tribes submit to us.

What followed was the beginning of revenge!
"Where is Yu Jiulufa? Have you found him yet?"

When Yujiulü Anagui marched south, his primary objective was to capture this man who had betrayed him in the past. His scouts had already discovered his whereabouts in the southern desert.

After the Rouran launched their large-scale southward invasion, Yujiulüfa disappeared without a trace.

The Eagle Slayers under Anagui's command have brought the latest news.

"Khan, we captured several potato-wielding warriors from his tribe. We heard that these traitors fled as soon as they learned that the Khan was heading south."

"Where have you gone?"

"He took the royal family members who had been stranded here years ago and went south."

"Shuozhou?"

"No, I've heard it's a much more distant place, the territory now under the jurisdiction of the King of Qin of the Great Wei."

As Yujiulü Anagui frowned, his prime minister stepped forward and bowed.

"Khan, the situation is somewhat different from what we imagined."

"how?"

"Our people originally knew that Erzhu Rong, the most powerful warlord in the Great Wei territory, and another warlord, Li Shuang, were fighting each other. If that were the case, the two sides' armies in Hengshuo could be defeated one by one. But now, the situation in Hengshuo is different from what we imagined, and there may be some changes."

Having weathered the harsh winds and snows of the northern deserts, the Rouran Khan's temples were now streaked with gray; he was no longer the spirited "Lord of the Xiongnu" who had arrived in Luoyang. However, the years had not changed Anagui's ambition and aspirations.

"Within the Great Wei territory, only Li Shengui can be my opponent. Li Shuang and Erzhu Rong are not worth mentioning!"

The Rouran Khan revealed his ambition and gave instructions to the tribal leaders who had now pledged allegiance to him.

"This is our homeland, which has been occupied by the Xianbei for many years. Taking advantage of the internal strife among the Han people, the Xianbei seized the Central Plains, but they were still not satisfied and wanted to extend their reach to the grasslands to steal our food. Now that the Xianbei are in decline, it is the will of the gods. You each lead your tribes, stay in the southern desert, and await my decree from the Golden Horde."

"We are willing to serve the Great Khan!"
-
Hengzhou, Pingcheng!
After receiving the imperial edict, Erzhu Tianguang immediately summoned Yu Jin to Pingcheng.

The other side did not refuse and arrived with more than a hundred riders!

The Erzhu clan and the Shuozhou army had always had a grudge. When Erzhu Zhongyuan was in Hengzhou, he constantly made things difficult for Yu Jin.

However, Erzhu Rong and Li Shuang did not fall out at that time, and Erzhu Zhongyuan did not cause a big fuss.

After the Battle of Baibi, the two sides completely turned against each other, and Hengshuo even fought each other. However, with the arrival of Erzhu Tianguang, the two sides restored a superficial peace.

Over the years, there haven't been many major conflicts between the two states, but there have been constant minor disputes, and a lot of resentment has accumulated in private.

Erzhu Tianguang personally went out of the city to welcome Yu Jin, thus calming the undercurrents in Pingcheng.

Everyone knew that their greatest enemy at this moment was the Rouran!

In the seven or eight years since the Rouran people retreated to the northern desert, the Six Garrisons also marched south. Without internal or external enemies, the internal forces of Hengshuo and Shuozhou entered a period of rampant growth and accumulated considerable wealth.

Now, the local powers of Hengshuo and Shuozhou are unwilling to hand everything over to the Rouran.

Only by joining forces can we defend against the enemy; this is a consensus between the two sides.

Coincidentally, Li Shuang and Erzhu Rong also shook hands and made peace in Luoyang, which provided the perfect opportunity.

Yu Jin was welcomed into the city by Erzhu Tianguang and met with his subordinates. Among them, the one who concerned Yu Jin the most was Yuwen Tai, the current governor of Hengzhou.

It wasn't just because Li Shuang had warned him to be overly cautious, but also because Yuwen Tai's actions after arriving in Hengzhou had broadened his horizons.

After some pleasantries, a crucial question was presented to everyone.

How to defend against the enemy?

Erzhu Tianguang made no attempt to probe or guard against him, and said directly:
"Hengzhou can currently muster 23,000 troops. How many troops does your Shuozhou have?"

Seeing that Erzhu Tianguang was so frank, Yu Jin did not hesitate and directly reported the number.

"Shuozhou has 18,000 soldiers."

The troops in Hengzhou and Shuozhou were not elite troops like those in Guanzhong Prefecture or the Six Garrisons; most of them were tribal soldiers.

Only around a few cities in the two prefectures, such as Pingcheng and Yunzhong, land was cultivated and well-equipped state and county troops were raised.

Shuozhou was mainly inhabited by Han Chinese military households, while Hengzhou was mainly inhabited by northerners who had stayed behind.

This core fighting force is the true trump card for both sides.

Erzhu Tianguang thought for a moment and said:
"According to the scouts, the Rouran people brought many tribes from the Western Regions and the Eastern Hu with them this time, numbering no less than 100,000 cavalry."

The biggest problem in fighting the Rouran was not the disparity in troop strength, but finding the right time and place for a decisive battle.

Yu Jin nodded and said:

"We can rely on the Great Wall as a barrier. Although our forces are small, we can still fight them."

Everyone voiced their opinions, mostly focusing on tactical issues!
At that moment, Yuwen Tai stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said:

"The situation is not as good as before. Anagui has already gained control of the southern desert. Instead of resisting step by step, we should take advantage of their long journey and their underestimation of us, gather our troops, lure them deep into our territory, and then settle the matter in one battle."

Yuwentai pointed out their biggest problem.

Were the Rouran people very strong?

of course not!

But why did the Rouran people advance south with such overwhelming momentum, acquiring vast tracts of land in southern Mongolia with seemingly effortless ease?

Because no one was willing to serve as a garrison soldier in the six towns north of Yinshan anymore.

Naturally, the tribes that grazed their livestock in the southern desert were not enough to stop the Rouran.

What is the real problem now?
The military power in Hengshuo and its two prefectures is not unified, making it difficult to form a united force!
Yuwentai looked at Yu Jin and cupped his hands in greeting:

"The best course of action now is to unite the troops of Heng and Shuo prefectures and launch a decisive battle. Only after victory can we devise a plan for the future!"

……

(End of this chapter)