Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 364 Is this how you see your brother?

Blue sky and white clouds, barren land south of the river, under the banner of the Three Stars, ten thousand cavalrymen stand in formation.

The Rouran ruler Anagui led ten thousand cavalry south and besieged Baidao City. He deployed his army north of the Huanggan River and rested for one night. The next day, looking across the river, he saw this scene.

Beneath the Qin King's banner, one could still see a man dressed in black, accompanied by a large number of generals dressed in Han Chinese clothing and leaders of various Hu people in different attire.

Anagui was somewhat alarmed.

The reason he dared to march south with only ten thousand cavalry was because the area was empty after the military households of Shuozhou left. Later, the five thousand Xiazhou soldiers led by Yuwen Dao, the Shanhu soldiers led by Liu Lisheng, and the cavalry from various tribes in Hexi were unable to form a united force.

Even if he went south, the enemy had no unified command, could not react quickly, and could not deal with the Rouran soldiers. In fact, if he operated properly, he could defeat them one by one.

But the current scene shattered Anagui's hopes.

Li Shuang could not only quickly mobilize troops and unite various forces in Shuozhou, but also bring them together and make them obey his commands.

Clearly, Anagui no longer has the micro-management space to defeat his opponents one by one.

After the last raid by the Rouran, the Baidao area is no longer as beautiful as it used to be.

What was once vast tracts of farmland is now mostly abandoned.

Due to the long-term harassment by the Rouran people, the people of Baidao could not farm in peace. In addition, a large number of garrison forces withdrew, resulting in severe population loss. Basically, only soldiers in a few garrisoned cities remained to hold the line.

This is also the source of Anagui's confidence in wanting this land. Even if he didn't give it to them, given how things were developing, the Rouran people would eventually be able to seize it.

However, the reality is somewhat different from what Anagui had imagined.

The Rouran people expanded too quickly. Although they suffered a loss at the Battle of Shuozhou at the hands of Yuwen Tai, their battles in other directions went very smoothly. Their influence extended eastward to the Liao River, bordering Goguryeo, and westward to Jinshan, where they even took in the Turks as blacksmiths!

The submission of numerous tribes naturally came at a price. After all, in the frigid north, it's not through benevolence or morality that tribes living there could be made to obey.

This also led to the Rouran's military equipment being depleted too much, and before they could replenish it, even the Rouran royal court's official reserves were reduced to only 300,000 arrows.

Such a quantity of military equipment could not even sustain a high-intensity war.

Anagui's journey south was partly due to his understanding of Li Shuang's intentions, influenced by Tutujia's words, and partly out of spite. He also wanted to declare that he could come and go as he pleased in Yunshuo.

Anagui had intended to give Li Shuang a hard time, but he never expected the other party to react so quickly.

Just as Anagui was pondering, Tutujia pointed to a rider galloping towards them from the opposite side of the Huanggan River.

"Khan, the messenger of Ōnosō has arrived!"

The other person rode across the pontoon bridge and came to a place not far from Anagui, and roared.

"But the Rouran ruler is right here!"

Anagui had also studied in Luoyang, so he naturally understood the language of the south.

"It is indeed I, the Khan!"

"My king wishes to meet the Khan on the pontoon bridge. I wonder if the Khan would accept the invitation?"

Anagui laughed, about to display his heroic spirit, and said:

"Why not!"

……

After the agreement was reached, both sides withdrew their troops, each taking five cavalrymen to the pontoon bridge.

Anagui was also seeing the true face of the King of Qin for the first time, and he was even more shocked.

The other party's demeanor and bearing were unlike those of an ordinary person.

Looking at himself, Anagui saw that his temples were already gray, and he felt somewhat ashamed.

To some extent, it's not just women who like good-looking men; the Hu people are the same.

The most typical example is Huli Jin, who is now by Li Shuang's side.

When it comes to fighting, there are people in the north and south of Yinshan who are more skilled than Huli Jin, but there are very few who are not only good at fighting but also tall and strong.

Therefore, although Huli Jin had been defeated by the Six Garrisons and his troops had scattered, he had still gained the service of many Hu people over the years.

The Huli tribe was one of the six tribes of the Tiele!

With Huli Jin stationed in the north, his prestige has grown, and he is now not only the head of the Huli tribe, but also the de facto leader of the various tribes of the Eastern and Western Tiele.

From Tu Shenze to Huang Ganshui, along both banks of the Yellow River, Huli Jin issued a single order, and ten thousand cavalry obeyed!
Even such a prestigious leader is now just one of the five riders under the command of the King of Qin, bowing behind him!
Anagui felt a complex mix of emotions.

"Brother, what brings you here to see your elder brother?"

Li Shuang approached and uttered a slightly teasing remark, which startled Anagui.

But he quickly realized what was happening, however, Anagui did not say anything.

For some reason, even though it was the first time Anagui had met the man in front of her, she felt a sense of familiarity with him.

After saying this, Li Shuang did not press the matter further and waited.

When the Khan of Rouran met the King of Qin, he couldn't utter a single word, and this would not sound good if word got out.

"With the King of Qin in person, I, the Khan, pay my respects!"

Ultimately, Anagui decided to follow her own pace, no matter what Li Shuang said.

Be neither arrogant nor humble, and be polite and respectful!
"Since you know etiquette, why do you invade my land?"

Anagui raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing this. However, none of the five riders behind him showed any change in expression.

Anagui had studied in Luoyang, so he naturally understood the meaning behind Li Shuang's words.

In the traditional context of the Central Plains, what is someone who doesn't know etiquette? A beast!

So Li Shuang never considered them as human beings before!
Anagui was furious. He scoffed disdainfully and said:
"What is this land of Ru? Since ancient times, the world has been ruled by the capable. This land of Shuozhou was originally the territory of the Xiongnu, which was seized by the Qin people. After the fall of Qin, the Xiongnu reoccupied it. When the Xiongnu's power declined, the Han people obtained it. After the Yongjia Rebellion, heroes rose up, and this land was occupied by the Xianbei people. Now, the Tuoba clan's mandate is about to end. Among the Rouran, there are also heroes. Why not raise an army and march south?"

Anagui's study abroad experience in Luoyang was not in vain; he gained a thorough understanding of the history of Shuozhou.

"The King of Qin was originally a villager from the mountains. When the Tuoba clan was declining, he seized the opportunity and annexed Guanzhong, Longxi, Jin, Liang, Lingnan, and Xia. The lands of these provinces originally belonged to the Tuoba clan. Didn't the King of Qin also seize them privately?"

Anagui spoke sharply, looking at Li Shuang and waiting for his response.

Who knew that Li Shuang, riding on his horse, would suddenly burst into laughter!
After laughing, Li Shuang raised his riding whip, pointed at Anagui, and said:
"I originally thought that as the Rouran Khan, you would have some profound insights when you came to the front lines and faced the soldiers of both armies, but I never expected you to utter such vulgar words!"

Anagui's expression changed slightly upon hearing this.

"I have something to say, please listen carefully: In the past, during the reigns of Emperor Ming and Emperor Zhuang, the Wei dynasty declined, eunuchs caused chaos, the country was in turmoil, and the land was in turmoil. After the Six Garrisons, the likes of Hu Chen, Chou Nu, and Ming Da rose up one after another, while the likes of Er Zhu kidnapped the Wei emperor and cruelly slaughtered the people. As a result, in the court, corrupt officials held office; in the palace, beasts ate their salaries. Thus, those with wolfish hearts and dog-like deeds held power, and those with servile faces and obsequious manners seized power. As a result, the country was reduced to ruins, and the people suffered greatly! At this time, what has Anagui done?"

Li Shuang smiled and said:
"I know your life story well. Your clan has lived in the land of the Donghu for generations, and you are of the same lineage as the Xianbei Tuoba clan. During the Zheng Guang era, there was internal strife within the royal family, with brothers killing each other. You sought refuge in Luoyang and were able to return to your country and inherit the Khanate thanks to the kindness of the Yuan family. However, instead of repaying their kindness, you started a war, plundered the border people, and harmed them. You are nothing but an ungrateful and treacherous person. How can you say you are capable?"

Anagui's expression changed drastically upon hearing this.

Li Shuang hit a nerve!
How did Anagui obtain the Khanate? Anagui escaped during the internal strife within the Rouran royal family and went south to Luoyang. He was able to settle down thanks to the protection of the Yuan clan. Later, he received support from the Northern Wei and was able to go north to compete for the Khanate.

The Northern Wei Dynasty gifted Anagui various weapons, clothing, horses, camels, cattle, sheep, and 200,000 shi of grain, and later also gifted him 10,000 shi of farmland. It can be said that without the help of the Northern Wei Dynasty, Anagui's position as Khan would not have been secure.

After Anagui secured his position as Khan, he took advantage of the decline of the Northern Wei Dynasty to raid southwards, indirectly leading to the subsequent chaos in the Six Garrisons.

"you……"

Li Shuang's lips curled slightly as he looked at Anagui, whose expression had changed drastically, and continued:

"Since ancient times, when the world is in chaos, it is the time for heroes to use their martial prowess to save the day. You live in the northern frontier, and you are happy to steal an inch of land and satisfied with a foot of cloth. You raised an army to march south, but were defeated at Yunshuo; you plundered the land and people, and were trapped in Huaihuang. How can you call yourself a hero for such actions!"

Anagui felt a surge of depression after being mocked by Li Shuang.

At this moment, he felt a little regretful; being too cultured wasn't necessarily a good thing.

The five Rouran warriors he brought with him remained calm and unchanged.

Upon hearing this, Anagui did not know how to defend himself, and simply said:
"I came here to establish an alliance with the King of Qin, to mend the friendship between our two families, and to end the suffering of war. Since the King of Qin so disregards me, let's not talk about it anymore! We'll prepare our troops and horses another day and settle things once and for all!"

Anagui played his trump card to see Li Shuang's reaction.

To everyone's surprise, the other party smiled and said something that gave Anagui a headache.

Do you think you can leave so easily now that you've come?

At that moment, Anagui was on high alert, and he heard Li Shuang's shout in his ear.

"Capture this traitor for me!"

As he spoke, the five cavalrymen behind Li Shuang charged forward.

Before coming here, Anagui had naturally made preparations, bringing with him only highly skilled elites.

They fought against the five cavalry generals brought by Li Shuang and were not at a disadvantage for a time.

Seeing this situation, Anagui was about to draw his bow and arrow to aid his cavalry general in battle.

Unexpectedly, an arrow was shot from the opposite side, hitting one of his cavalry generals. Upon seeing this, Houmo Chenchong charged forward with his spear and ended the general's life.

The score was now 5 to 4, and the tide of battle turned.

Anagui drew his bow and shot at Houmo Chenchong, the most dangerous of Li Shuang's five cavalry generals. However, the enemy was not afraid at all and easily dodged the shot.

Just then, another arrow came from the opposite side, and the Rouran lost a cavalry general.

With a score of five to three, the Rouran were already no match for them.

At that moment, Li Shuang rode forward, drew his bow and shot, hitting another Rouran cavalry general.

As Li Shuang advanced, he shouted:

"Hulüjin, go to the back and lead the horses, lest the Rouran run away!"

"promise!"

Hulü Jin, full of fighting spirit, broke away from the battle and went to the pontoon bridge to fetch his spare warhorse.

Although both sides agreed that each would only bring five riders, there was no stipulation on how many horses each person would bring.

In fact, both Li Shuang and Anagui brought spare horses in case of emergency.

The battle was going against him, but Anagui still wanted to fight back. At this moment, he only had one path left: victory.

Capture and kill Li Shuang!

On the pontoon bridge, the wind whistled. Anagui drew his bow again, aiming at Li Shuang, who was riding towards him on horseback. The same was true on the other side.

The two arrows were fired simultaneously, met in mid-air, and slightly collided, altering their trajectories and causing them to deviate from their respective prey.

The arrow missed its mark, and Anagui was about to fire another arrow.

On the other side, Li Shuang had already fired his next arrow.

Li Shuang shot this arrow without even aiming; he drew the bow and nocked the arrow entirely by feel.

Anagui was caught off guard and the arrow struck his crown.

"Khan, let's go!"

The Rouran general who had been hit by Li Shuang's third arrow but had not yet died fought desperately out of the battle and rushed towards Li Shuang, who was heading towards Anagui.

The remaining two Rouran generals, seeing that they could not defeat him, changed their strategy from fighting to blocking him. They risked their lives to stop Hou Mochen Chong and the other three generals from supporting Li Shuang.

The heavily wounded Rouran general had been hit by many arrows, but disregarding his own life, he mustered his last breath and rode his horse toward Li Shuang.

At this moment, even if Li Shuang drew his bow and killed him, it would be too late.

Even if this Rouran general dies, his steeds will still charge over.

At the critical moment, Li Shuang had no choice but to rein in his horse and slow down.

Even so, the Rouran general's desperate attack had an effect.

Li Shuang's mount was startled and lost control, nearly throwing him off.

Left with no other choice, Li Shuang had to jump off the horse.

Fortunately, the horse slowed down, so Li Shuang wasn't too badly impacted. When she stood up, she looked a little disheveled.

Li Shuang drew his sword from his waist, walked over, and killed the barely breathing Rouran general who had fallen off his horse with a single stroke.

Blood stained his armor, and Li Shuang patted the dust off his clothes.

However, at this moment, the person closest to Anagui was still Li Shuang, who was holding a horizontal sword.

Anagui did not flee immediately, nor did he take this opportunity to attack Li Shuang.

The two Rouran generals had used their lives as bait, and the time they had given him to buy time was almost up. Houmo Chenchong and other generals had already finished off the last two Rouran generals and were heading towards Li Shuang's aid.

Hulijin, who had originally left the pontoon bridge, also approached with his horse. On those spare warhorses were new weapons and armor.

He wasn't confident of victory if he attacked Li Shuang; yet he was also reluctant to flee immediately.

Anagui pulled the arrow out of the crown and looked at it. He was struck as if by lightning, and the feeling of humiliation from that snowy night resurfaced.

Looking at the man standing on the bridge with a horizontal sword in his hand, Anagui's pupils widened, blood vessels suddenly appeared, veins bulged on his forehead, and his whole body was filled with murderous intent and ferocity!

"You! It was you! It was actually you!"

A furious roar echoed across the desolate waters!
Li Shuang stood with his knife in hand, unhurriedly walking slowly towards Anagui, and said with a smile:
"How are you, little brother?"

……

(End of this chapter)