Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 33 Establishing Prestige
Night, Erzhu Mansion.

Erzhu Zhao, Erzhu Dulü and other Erzhu clan members gathered in the courtyard wearing armor and helmets, holding long swords and torches.

"Uncle, just give me a word, and I'll lead my men into Jiuyuan City, kill that old thief Wei Qingbin, and rescue Ying'e!"

At this time, under the eaves of the corridor, Erzhu Rong stood in the center, with Yuan Tianmu and Li Shuang on the left and right.

Erzhu Rong had a gloomy face, did not speak, and had not made up his mind.

Yuan Tianmu scolded loudly.

"shut up!"

Erzhu Zhao was very dissatisfied with Yuan Tianmu's rebuke. He was about to say something but was interrupted by Yuan Tianmu.

"Wei Qingbin is extremely prestigious. He is a descendant of the Prince of Yuyang and is now the Governor of Sizhou, stationed in Jiuyuan. If we attack him, it would be tantamount to treason. Tianbao must not resort to such an unwise strategy just to face a temporary humiliation."

Erzhu Rong's face was gloomy and he clenched his fists.

"I know why Wei Qingbin is here, and he won't do anything stupid! Tianmu, Tianba, you two go back to your respective territories and be on guard. Wei Qingbin won't just attack me."

Although they were already drunk, they did not dare to delay and said goodbye and left.

After Erzhu Rong went south, he captured Sizhou and took the majority of the territory he gained. Apart from him, the two biggest beneficiaries were Yuan Tianmu and Li Shuang.

After the two left, Erzhu Rong looked at the group of Erzhu family members who looked so majestic and powerful, and he was furious and cursed:

"What a bunch of idiots! Take off your armor! You're embarrassing yourself!"
-
Sizhou, Jiuyuan.

In the seventh year of Taiping Zhenjun in the Northern Wei Dynasty, Sizhou was established, and its seat was in Jiuyuan City.

Several years ago, Sizhou City had undergone a round of expansion, but due to the Wanzi Qizhen Rebellion, Sizhou City was also affected and the scene in the city was much worse than before.

After Erzhu Rong went south, he focused on managing Xiurong County, so he didn't care much about this city.

Wei Qingbin took advantage of Erzhu Rong's unpreparedness and rushed into the city with his officials, quickly taking control of the city.

In the governor's mansion.

Wei Qingbin sat upright, and his deputy Yao He walked up to him with a booklet in his hand.

Erzhu Rong's actions after going south made the court very wary, so they sent Wei Qingbin to check and balance him!

Wei Qingbin was not a pushover either. While Erzhu Rong and Yuan Tianmu were heading south to attack Suhe and Poyang, he sent spies to investigate the situation in Sizhou.

After everything was ready, I showed up and caught Erzhu Rong off guard.

The booklet in Yao He's hand recorded the crimes of the Erzhu family.

"How is it?"

"The Erzhu clan's crimes of annexing land and oppressing the people are fully documented, with witnesses and evidence."

Wei Qingbin took the booklet, took a look at it, and was very contemptuous of the Erzhu family members when he saw the various crimes they had committed.

"Where's Yuan Tianmu?"

"Yuan Tianmu wasn't as reckless as the Erzhu clan's descendants, but there were still more than a dozen cases of his followers encroaching on land and bullying men and women. I've also brought witnesses here."

Yao Heleng spoke like a machine.

After hearing this, Wei Qingbin sneered.

"This kid has been a bad student since he was young. His reputation and character are both mediocre. I thought he would change after joining the army in the north, but who knew he would become a brother to Erzhu Rong? It's really a disgrace to the royal family."

Wei Qingbin continued to flip through the booklet, glanced at it quickly, and when he reached the end, he felt a little strange.

"Where's that little thief Li Shuang?"

Yao He's expression finally showed a slight fluctuation, and he bowed and said:
"General, please forgive me. I have been searching for many days but still cannot find any evidence of the crime committed by that little thief!"

A hint of surprise appeared on Wei Qingbin's face.

"He's just a bandit who's seizing land and robbing people. Doesn't anyone have any complaints?"

"General, the hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland surrounding Taiping Village have all been plowed. Furthermore, they've built several water wheels and valves to divert water from the Hutuo River into the reservoir, which is then used to irrigate the fields. Everywhere I look, there's fertile land, and the people are content and happy."

“Such a strange thing actually happened!”

When Wei Qingbin was surprised, the guards outside the house came to report.

"General, Erzhu Rong is here!"

"Is he here alone?"

"He also brought Erzhu's children with him."

"Tell them to wait and bring Erzhu Ying'e up first!"

Erzhu Ying'e hadn't suffered much, but it certainly wasn't a good situation. Murong Shaozong was by her side, and as soon as he entered the house, Erzhu Ying'e's suppressed emotions erupted.

"What did I do wrong? Why are you arresting me?"

Wei Qingbin sneered:
"Isn't it wrong for you to enter the royal ranch without permission and go hunting on horseback?"

"It's just a wasteland. No one has lived there for a long time."

"Laws are laws. Just because you moved to a new house and your old house became empty and no one has lived there for a long time, does that mean someone else is right to move in and claim it as their own?"

"You are using strong words to make sense!"

Murong Shaozong grabbed Erzhu Ying'e, who was about to explode, and lowered his posture very low.

"The general is right. We know we were wrong!"

However, Murong Shaozong's humble attitude not only failed to calm Wei Qingbin down, but instead provoked him to scold him.

"Your Murong clan is also a great clan. Murong Ke and Murong Chui were such heroes back then, yet their descendants have fallen to the point of having to rely on the Erzhu clan."

Even though Murong Shaozong was usually taciturn and kind to others, he couldn't help but feel angry after hearing what Wei Qingbin said.

As he spoke, Wei Qingbin looked at Erzhu Ying'e again.

"Your mother, Yuan, fell into poverty and was forced to marry Erzhu Rong. But you also have royal blood. Don't just be good-looking and adopt Erzhu Rong's barbaric temperament."

"Why do you say that about my father?"

Erzhu Ying'e grew up in Erzhuchuan. All she heard were people around her praising her father, and she regarded Erzhu Rong as a role model.

But Erzhu Rong, who is famous on the grassland, has a completely different image in the mouth of this rear general.

"He's just a horse-breeding bastard!"

Emperor Xiaowen's sinicization reforms classified the eight Xianbei surnames and the four Han surnames as first-class families.

Wei Qingbin was the most staunch supporter of this Sinicization reform.

There is no other reason. His surname Wei is one of the eight Xianbei surnames, and its original name was Yuchi.

Wei Qingbin's grandfather Wei Juan followed Emperor Mingyuan Tuoba Si in his early years. Later, during the reign of Emperor Taiwu Tuoba Tao, he was ranked among the eight seats and was in charge of confidential matters.

Their family can be said to be of genuine old Xianbei origin, genuine Northern Wei Tianlong people, which is very different from the peripheral tribes like the Erzhu clan.

At this time, Erzhu Rong walked in and saw the atmosphere in the room, and knew what had happened?
"Meet the rear general!"

"What brings you here?"

"I have recently learned that the Erzhu clan's sons, relying on their military exploits, have committed many illegal acts. I have therefore abducted them and brought them here to the discretion of the rear general."

Wei Qingbin looked at the humble Erzhu Rong and said coldly:

"I know, go down!"

At this time, Erzhu Ying'e saw that her father was treated like a servant by Wei Qingbin, so she stood up and was very dissatisfied.

"Dad, why are you being so humble? Do you know what this old man said about you just now?"

"Shut up! Don't be rude to the rear general!"

Erzhu Rong shouted loudly.

Erzhu Ying'e, who had never seen Erzhu Rong so fierce to her, suddenly had tears in her eyes.

"My daughter was naughty and trespassed into the royal ranch. She committed a serious offense. I beg the General to punish her!"

"I am right!"

Wei Qingbin's expression changed, and he ordered:
"She is so stubborn! Imprison her in the prison and keep her under strict watch!"

After hearing this, Erzhu Rong gritted his teeth and anger erupted in his chest, but in the end he said nothing, with a gloomy face, and swallowed his anger.

"Thank you, General Hou!"

Erzhu Rong said no more and left with Murong Shaozong.

Yao He came up and whispered:
"Yuan Tianmu has presented a visiting card and wants to meet you!"

"No, it's such a disgrace!"

After Erzhu Rong established his authority, Wei Qingbin threw the book in his hand aside and said:

"I want to see what kind of person this Li Shuang is."

(End of this chapter)