Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 328 How Can He Be So Shameless
Erzhu Shilong stayed in Luoyang for two days, during which time he was greeted by Sima Ziru, who was guarding the North Central City, and his troops.

In the past two days, apart from collecting Erzhu Rong's body, he didn't know what else to do.
Erzhu Shilong dared not enter the palace, but he did not leave Luoyang immediately either. Instead, he moved the Erzhu clan's stronghold from the inner city to the north of the outer city, the former northern part of Luoyang.

However, after Erzhu Rong was gone, Yuan Ziyou regained power, and Erzhu Shilong, who was nominally the garrison commander of Luoyang, no longer had anyone to listen to him.

In their moment of fear and unease, Yuan Ziyou's messenger arrived.

The envoy from the palace immediately congratulated Erzhu Shilong.

Yuan Ziyou's messenger offered Erzhu Shilong a very tempting offer.

Marry Yuan Juli to him!
Just as Erzhu Shilong was about to succumb to temptation and agree, Sima Ziru stepped forward and stood between Yuan Ziyou's envoy and Erzhu Shilong.

Erzhu Shilong was displeased, but he did not show any dissatisfaction towards Huai Shuo, the bigwig who came to his rescue in his time of crisis.

Sima Ziru smiled, not mentioning Yuan Juli's matter, nor asking Yuan Ziyou how he would arrange things for Erzhu Rong's former subordinates, but simply asking:

"I wonder if the imperial court has apprehended the assassin who killed General Tianzhu?"

Sima Ziru's question dispelled Erzhu Shilong's dissatisfaction. He stared at Yuan Ziyou's envoy and displayed the same arrogance he had displayed in Luoyang over the years.

"What does His Majesty say about the matter of General Tianzhu?"

Seeing Erzhu Shilong like this, Yuan Ziyou's envoy dared not tell the truth and could only offer some excuses.

The matter arose suddenly, and the imperial court was also in a state of panic.

He's just a nobody, and he doesn't even know the specifics of the process.

……

After a few words, Erzhu Shilong was finally appeased for the time being.

After the messenger left, Sima Ziru immediately said:

"Rongzong, you cannot become the imperial son-in-law!"

"Why?"

"The assassination of General Tianzhu was such a shocking event that it shook the world. Is it reasonable for the court to remain completely silent about it?"

After Sima Ziru finished speaking, Erzhu Shilong also fell into deep thought. He was one of the few intelligent people in the Erzhu clan. Although he was cowardly and treacherous, he could distinguish between what was dangerous and what was dangerous; otherwise, he would not have been sent to Luoyang, the stronghold of the Heavenly Dragons.

"Zunye, are you saying that the imperial court doesn't know what to do either?"

It was difficult to define Erzhu Rong's character, something Erzhu Shilong could have thought of, but for the time being he only thought that the court had not yet reached a conclusion.

Sima Ziru shook her head, her face showing a wary expression.

"I'm afraid the court has already made a decision, but is still keeping it from us!"

Erzhu Shilong's expression changed, but Sima Ziru's analysis was very clear.

"The court's reluctance to bestow a posthumous title upon General Tianzhu is secondary. What Rongzong pondered was that the court needed to provide an explanation for General Tianzhu's death, but how could it do so now?"

As Sima Ziru spoke, Erzhu Shilong's expression grew increasingly grim, yet he still harbored a sliver of hope.

"His Majesty knows that the Erzhu clan still controls hundreds of thousands of troops. Will he completely break ties with the Erzhu clan?"

"Your Majesty has been living in Luoyang for a long time and has never personally led troops into battle. He only fears General Tianzhu and probably does not know much about the other members of the Erzhu clan."

Sima Ziru's words were tactful, but the meaning was clear: Yuan Ziyou was completely unaware of the power of the Erzhu clan.

Yuan Ziyou only saw Erzhu Rong's power, and had no idea about the capabilities of the large army and generals he had trained.

This is a common problem among the Tianlong people of Luoyang. Otherwise, they wouldn't have suffered such a great loss in the Six Garrisons incident. They thought that they could control those stinking soldiers in the north by removing their armor, and for this, they almost lost the entire Hebei province.

Over the years, the only Erzhu clan members Yuan Ziyou directly faced, besides Erzhu Rong, were Erzhu Shilong.

Coincidentally, Erzhu Shilong was the most cowardly member of the Erzhu clan.

If Yuan Ziyou thought of all the other members of the Erzhu clan as being like Erzhu Shilong, then things would get really interesting.

Erzhu Shilong understood, but his first instinct was still to back down.

Sima Ziru shook her head. Even if you admit defeat, do you think they'll let you off the hook?

“Besides Yuan Ziyou, only Da Yeshuang can take responsibility for this matter. However, he was not in Luoyang at the time of the incident. Even if the court says so, the others in the Erzhu clan will not believe it! Yuan Ziyou must be the one to set things right. Otherwise, how can Yuan Ziyou explain himself to the officials who support him? Even if Yuan Ziyou really acknowledges you, so what?”

The impact of Erzhu Rong's death has far exceeded the assassination itself.

With the destruction of Shuangnv Temple, the origins of those black-clad assassins were exposed, and the three or four thousand Jinyang cavalry behind Erzhu Shilong knew about it.

The news had already been leaked, and Yuan Ziyou was inextricably linked to this matter.

"If you really become the prince consort, will those Qihu warriors who follow General Tianzhu still recognize you? If the rest of the Erzhu clan finds out, they will definitely think you are in cahoots with Yuan Ziyou. Especially Erzhu Zhao, without General Tianzhu, who in this world can control him? If he really leads the Jinyang troops south, then you will be the mastermind behind the plot to kill General Tianzhu!"

After Sima Ziru's reminder, Erzhu Shilong finally came to his senses.

Erzhu clan is his true foundation!
Just then, the scouts on the outpost sent word.

"General, the Imperial Guards from the direction of the palace and Hebasheng's army outside the city are both heading towards us at the same time. I'm afraid they're going to be at a disadvantage!"

Erzhu Shilong may be cowardly, but he's not stupid. The army moved as soon as Yuan Ziyou's envoy left, which is probably just as Sima Ziru said.

At that moment, a ruthless look appeared on Erzhu Shilong's face.

"Gather the brothers, let's fight our way out!"

……

"Broken! Erzhu Shilong has broken through the encirclement!"

Nianxian brought the latest intelligence, and Hebasheng showed a disdainful expression after hearing it.

"The Imperial Guards of Luoyang are truly useless; tens of thousands of them couldn't even stop Erzhu Shilong's few thousand remnants."

"So what should we do? Should we go up and help?"

Hebasheng waved his hand, looking like he was watching a show.

"Since Erzhu Shilong didn't come this way, then it has nothing to do with us."

There was one more thing Hebasheng didn't say: even if Erzhu Shilong really came to him, he wouldn't kill him or break ties with the Erzhu clan.

Ultimately, the logic of the northerners is different from that of the people of Luoyang, and the interests of Yuan Ziyou and the Luoyang officials are not aligned with those of Hebasheng. There is no need for him to stand at the forefront and resist the advance of the Erzhu clan for the sake of Yuan Ziyou.

At this moment, Hebasheng was most concerned about the situation in the west.

"How is Ohno Sō?"

"I heard that he only stayed in Yiyang for half a day, and then went straight back to Guanzhong. If that's true, he should have arrived in Hongnong by now."

Hebasheng felt a mix of emotions and sighed:

"Ohno Sou really doesn't touch any fishy or smelly things!"
-
Tongguan.

"I'm not eating! I'm not eating! Get out of here!"

Li Shuang's cursing came from inside the house. Yang Yin, who was outside, saw the commotion, grabbed a servant, and asked:

"How is your Majesty?"

"He's cursing Erzhu Rong!"

Yang Yin was a little puzzled and asked:

"Why?" "Of the four thousand elite cavalry that His Majesty took to Luoyang, only three thousand returned. His Majesty has been cursing Erzhu Rong for the past day or two because of this."

Did they curse Erzhu Rong for a day or two?

That means he kept cursing Erzhu Rong after arriving at Tongguan!

In Yang Yin's memory, very few things could make Li Shuang so angry!

That makes sense, as these four thousand elite cavalrymen were Li Shuang's most trusted and elite forces.

Even if the enemy is an army of hundreds of thousands, as long as Li Shuang gives the order, they will charge without hesitation, and will not stop even if they are reduced to a single soldier.

This means we've lost several hundred cavalrymen, no wonder Li Shuang is so furious!
Thinking of this, Yang Yin quietly went into the house and heard Li Shuang cursing.

"That old bastard, his sons are born without an anus, and his wives and concubines are always cheating on him..."

Goodness, that was some really nasty insult.

Yang Yin thought to himself: Even if his wife had run off with someone else, Li Shuang wouldn't have gone to such lengths!
Inside the house, Li Shuang was sulking. When Yang Yin arrived, he angrily said:

"Fatty Yang, what are you laughing at!"

Hearing Li Shuang say this, Yang Yin was not annoyed and still had a smiling face.

"Your Majesty, it's too late for you to scold Erzhu Rong now!"

"what for?"

What's the point of cursing a dead person?

As soon as Yang Yin finished speaking, the anger on Li Shuang's face vanished instantly, and then his expression gradually changed.

First came doubt, then clarity, tinged with a hint of pride, followed by some worry, and finally, a composed demeanor after all expressions had been suppressed.

This brief change happened in an instant.

"My second brother has done good for the people of this world!"

Li Shuang's summary left Yang Yin speechless for a moment.

"what?"

Li Shuang looked up at the sky at a 45-degree angle and sighed.
"When I was young, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to serve the court thanks to my second brother's help. Later, because of his cruel actions, a rift developed between us brothers, and I left him. Now I realize that the misunderstanding between us was also caused by treacherous people. Originally, if one wanted to achieve great things and bring peace to the world, cruel actions were inevitable. In chaotic times, harsh measures are necessary!"

While Yang Yin was still in a daze, he noticed Li Shuang's gaze and instinctively nodded, saying:
"what!"

Li Shuang put his hands behind his back, continued to look up at the sky at a 45-degree angle, and began to speak in stages:
“We have severed our brotherhood, but I married into the Erzhu clan, the son-in-law of the Prince of Taiyuan, so I am practically a member of the Erzhu family. Now my father-in-law has died mysteriously in Luoyang, and the court must give an explanation, not only for my sake as his son-in-law, but also to appease the people and not let the meritorious officials be disheartened!”

Li Shuang finally lowered his head, looked at Yang Yin, and asked:

"Do you know why we sent an envoy to Luoyang?"

Yang Yin nodded and cupped his hands in greeting:

"Let the court know Your Majesty's intentions, and let the people of the world know that Erzhu Rong's death has nothing to do with Your Majesty. Your Majesty must seek justice for him!"

Li Shuang shook his head and said:

"That's secondary. The most important thing is to make sure the envoy goes to pay respects to my father-in-law and, incidentally, confirm whether he is really dead."

"..."

……

Luoyang, Xianyang Palace.

Instead of surrounding and killing the Jinyang cavalry left behind by Erzhu Shilong and Erzhu Rong, Yuan Ziyou allowed them to escape.

The fighting strength of these Qihu people far exceeded Yuan Ziyou's expectations.

He suddenly realized that the Imperial Guards of Luoyang were now under his control, but they were no match for him.

Yuan Ziyou was present when Erzhu Rong mobilized the Luoyang Imperial Guards to besiege Li Shuang in the Taiji Hall that day. Back then, those Imperial Guards weren't so incompetent!

Fortunately, after Sima Ziru left, Yuan Ziyou sent men to seize Beizhong City.

Erzhu Shilong's Qihu troops had just experienced a major battle and were weakened. Moreover, the number of Luoyang Imperial Guards far exceeded theirs. Erzhu Shilong, having won, did not dare to stay long and returned to the north bank of the Yellow River.

For a time, the crisis in Luoyang was resolved.

But then, something even more troubling happened to Yuan Ziyou.

Li Shuang's messenger has arrived!
Li Shuang acted so quickly; it's impossible to say he didn't have an inside man in the court. Most likely, the scions of powerful families currently loyal to Yuan Ziyou aren't entirely devoted to him.

Yuan Ziyou also roughly knew who was having an affair with Li Shuang!
But he had no choice; even if he knew, he could only pretend he didn't.

"Oh Ye is cool... Oh Ye is cool..."

In the end, Yuan Ziyou didn't even know who he was angry with, so he could only curse:
"How could he be so shameless!"

At that moment, Yuan Yu cupped his hands and said:

"Your Majesty, please calm down. We must not offend the King of Qin at this time!"

Yuan Yu's words made Yuan Ziyou even angrier.

"Prince of Linhuai, what do you mean? Da Yeshuang is practically defecating on my head. Look at the meaning in his memorial. Anyone who doesn't know better would think he's Erzhu Rong's good son-in-law. I wonder who it was that fought so fiercely with Erzhu Rong in the Taiji Hall that day and almost killed him."

"I know!"

Yuan Yu's gaze was firm, which made Yuan Ziyou feel somewhat guilty. Yuan Ziyou calmed down at this moment. He understood that the young nobles outside were not of one mind with him, but the princes of the Yuan clan were still on his side.

"The news of Erzhu Rong's assassination has now reached Jinyang, Yecheng, Huatai and other places. The court does not yet know what the generals who were originally loyal to Erzhu Rong are doing. With the support of the Liang people, Prince Yuan Yue of Runan is strengthening his troops on the border. At this time, we must not offend Prince Qin. Otherwise, chaos will break out and the dynasty will be overthrown in an instant!"

Yuan Yu made it very clear that they couldn't afford to offend Li Shuang now.

"Can the King of Qin really escape responsibility for Erzhu Rong's assassination? Even with the King of Qin's current statement, I'm afraid the Erzhu clan members won't believe it. Besides, most of the Erzhu clan members are hostile to the King of Qin. Only by using the King of Qin's power to suppress the Erzhu clan and exploiting their suspicion of the King of Qin can the court remain stable."

Yuan Ziyou sighed.

"That's probably going to be difficult!"

"Your Majesty understands, but the more the Prince of Qin tries to extricate himself from the matter, the less Your Majesty should allow him to do so. The people of the Erzhu clan must know that the Prince of Qin was also involved in the assassination of Erzhu Rong."

Just then, a report came from outside the hall.

"Your Majesty, the King of Qin's envoy is going to the north bank of the Great River to pay homage to the King of Taiyuan!"

Yuan Ziyou grew anxious and said:

"Stop him, don't let him cross the river."

"But he's already crossed the river!"

Yuan Ziyou was taken aback and asked:

"The pontoon bridge was burned down, how did he get across?"

"The river was shallow, so he swam across!"

"..."

……

(End of this chapter)