Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 398 Only sincerity can last.

Chapter 398 Only sincerity can last.
Jinyong City.

Hou Jing held the document sent from Guanzhong, looked at the words on it, and was somewhat incredulous.

"why me?"

Hou Jing was puzzled and somewhat aggrieved. Beside him, his strategist Wang Wei, observing his lord's expression, tentatively asked:

"General, may I have a look?"

Hou Jing handed the document to Wang Wei, who glanced at it, nodded slightly, and said:
"I see!"

Hou Jing inwardly scoffed at Wang Wei's appearance, flipped the document in his hand, and asked:
"Looking all capable, huh? What have you figured out?"

Wang Wei smiled and said respectfully:
"General, the Liang ruler is now recruiting heroes from all directions to fill his army, with his sights set on Ba and Shu. The Qin King's intention is to send troops south to tie down the Liang army and prevent it from advancing westward with full force."

Hou Jing rolled his eyes and said:
"Do you even need to tell me? I'm doing this for the King right now, but why is the King ordering me to lead the troops?"

Seeing Hou Jing's reaction, Wang Wei remained calm and slowly said:
"No, there's a lot to learn here!"

"what for?"

"Where to attack, how to attack, where to bring in troops, and how to deploy them—these are matters of great importance to the situation in the Central Plains, and we must be extremely cautious!"

After hearing Wang Wei's words, Hou Jing's expression also became serious.

"Tell me!"

Wang Wei bowed and said:
"Sichuan and Chongqing are located upstream of Jingchu. In the past, Wang Jun, a minister of the Jin Dynasty, built warships and dispatched a large army by land and sea to sail down the Yangtze River from Chengdu, taking advantage of the situation to destroy Wu. At the end of the Jin Dynasty, Li Shou, in order to increase the population, led the Liao people from Zangke into Sichuan, spreading more than 100,000 villages in the valleys, causing the rule of the emperor in Sichuan and Chongqing to be lost, and the barbarians to run rampant. As it is today, the Liao people's influence extends as far north as Hanzhong, as far east as Jiangzhou, and as far south as Lingnan. The counties and prefectures of Sichuan and Chongqing are empty, and many people in Sichuan have fled. It will take at least ten years to govern Sichuan and Chongqing. The Liang people want to take back Sichuan and Chongqing, and there will inevitably be a major battle with our army. If we are to fight this battle, it would be better to fight it in Henan and the Jianghuai region than in Sichuan and Chongqing!"

Fighting in Bashu would mean the Guanzhong army would have to cross the Qinling Mountains, making supply transport difficult. In contrast, while the Liang army would have to go upstream, they could rely on waterways and had the prosperous Jingxiang region as logistical support.

However, if the battle were fought in Henan or the Jianghuai region, the logistical gap between the two sides would not be so significant.

Hou Jing smiled upon hearing this.

"Your Majesty is ordering me to light the fire!"

Seeing the excitement on Hou Jing's face, Wang Wei felt a slight stirring in his heart, but he didn't continue speaking, instead waiting for Hou Jing to speak.

Hou Jing thought about it, then realized what he meant and said:

"go on!"

"The troops in the Central Plains and the troops under Gao Huan and Yuwen Tai in Hebei are temporarily unavailable. Gao Ang's troops need to be stationed in Weizhou. The Qingzhou army recruited by Murong Shaozong is too busy to take care of itself. Yuan Xin's Pengcheng troops have just been defeated. The troops in other prefectures and counties are newly established and have no fighting power for the time being. The only troops available are the northern troops in Si and Yu prefectures. Since the General is stationed in Luoyang and has a close relationship with a group of northern generals, he is the best choice."

Hou Jing nodded with satisfaction, the grievance on his face vanishing instantly.

"It seems that the King still trusts me."

Hou Jing's mood improved, and he looked at Wang Wei without feeling any admiration.

"Old Wang, you're right."

Seeing Hou Jing's reaction, Wang Wei reminded him:
"General, it is not easy to control the northerners, and it is even more difficult to tie down enough of the Liang army's forces to prevent them from launching a full-scale attack on Bashu."

Hou Jing waved his hand and said:

"Bring Hu Sichun here!"

"Should we secretly bring him here?"

Hou Jing laughed and said:

"No, it's best if the entire city of Luoyang knows!"

……

Hu Sichun had always kept her meetings with Hou Jing quite secret in the past, but this time, she came openly and honestly.

He was puzzled, but when he saw Hou Jing, he found the other man sitting upright and proper.

There was a box in front of them.

Hu Sichun was very familiar with this box. The reason was simple: the treasure inside was what Hu Sichun used to bribe Hou Jing.

"General, what is the meaning of this?"

"If I accept someone's commission, I should be loyal to them. I took your money but failed to do your job, so I should return it."

Hu Sichun's heart skipped a beat, and her face turned pale.

"Could it be?"

Hou Jing sighed and said:

"I have received a letter from Chang'an. The King intends to appoint you as commander-in-chief to conquer the Liang army."

Hu Sichun's hands and feet were ice-cold, and she was horrified. She said:
"how so?"

Hou Jing said leisurely:
"When the Prince of Chenliu entered Shu, Heba Yun was his most outstanding general, whose merits were remarkable. Other generals, such as Dongfang Lao and Huyan Zu, were far inferior. Even if Heba Sheng had some ulterior motives, would he really pursue the matter for the sake of the Prince of Chenliu?"

Hu Sichun was somewhat angry upon hearing this.

"The Heba clan is unreliable, Your Majesty, you must know this clearly!"

Hou Jing stood up, walked to Hu Sichun's side, patted him on the shoulder, and said:

"Fa Shou, don't worry about the Heba clan for now. You should focus on how to attack the Liang army!"

"Liang Jun?"

Hu Sichun considered the current situation: Chen Qingzhi was stationed in Woyang, and if he wanted to go south, he would definitely not be able to avoid him.

Hu Sichun was aware of Chen Qingzhi's combat prowess.

Although the White Robe Army of yesteryear is gone, Chen Qingzhi's troops are still skilled in battle.

Over the years, Chen Qingzhi has guarded the border of Nanliang, and the border has remained stable. Not long ago, the troops in Pengcheng suffered a loss.

Hu Sichun thought to himself that if he were to lead the troops, he would likely suffer more defeats than victories!
Looking at Hou Jing again, Hu Sichun said with a touch of tragic solemnity:

"Wan Jing, my journey south is fraught with peril. If I perish in battle, you will be alone in Luoyang. Be careful of Hebasheng!"

Hou Jing looked surprised and said:
What does Fa Shou mean?

"I have lost more often than I have won against Chen Qingzhi. If I am defeated and even if I am lucky enough to return, I will probably not be able to escape punishment. Hebasheng is all-powerful and it is inevitable that he will become too powerful. At that time, Wan Jing will have to be more vigilant."

Hou Jing looked troubled upon hearing this.

“I am not unaware of what Fa Shou said. It would be unjust to sit idly by and watch my brothers suffer like this, but I have no choice but to obey the king’s command.”

As he spoke, Hou Jing sighed and said:

"Very well, I'll give it a try. I'll ask the King for permission to take command of the troops. If you and I, brothers, join forces, we might just be able to fight Chen Qingzhi!"

Upon hearing this, Hu Sichun grasped Hou Jing's hand, a tear welling in her eye, and said:
"Wan Jing, thank you, brother. I'll go prepare the troops now."

After saying this, Hu Sichun left. Hou Jing chased after her, saying:
"Your Majesty, the box hasn't been taken away yet!"

Hu Sichun waved her hand and left with tears in her eyes.

Wang Wei, who had been standing beside Hou Jing without saying a word, observed the scene and said:

"General, is Hu Sichun really as he says?"

Hou Jing curled his lips and said:
"What a load of rubbish! This guy's trying to fool me!"

Wang Wei was taken aback, but then he heard Hou Jing say:
“This fellow may not be able to beat Hebasheng, but he’s much more cunning. Didn’t you hear what he just said? Every word he uttered was about Hebasheng.”

"So what exactly does he mean?"

"Of course, it's the same as me, all for the purpose of fishing for Herbasheng."

……

The Grand Commandant's Residence.

When Hebasheng heard that Husichun had gone to Jinyong City, he became somewhat anxious and sent Nianxian to find out more.

Nianxian returned, bringing news that Husichun was preparing troops.

"Why is he doing this? Did Ohno Sō promise him some benefit?"

He Basheng didn't understand. Just a few days ago, he had invited him for drinks and said that they should unite to deal with Li Shuang's Hu Sichun. After going to Jinyong City, the change was so great.

Nianxian listened and nodded slightly, saying:
"It's not impossible!"

Hebasheng grew increasingly anxious, wondering what benefits could have caused such a dramatic change in Husichun.

As he walked, Hebasheng suddenly thought of something and blurted it out:

"Does Ohno Sawa want Hakushi Tsubaki to replace me?" Nianxian asked, puzzled.
Why would Po Hu think that way?

"When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked; when the birds are all gone, the good bow is put away. I am better at fighting than Hu Sichun. Da Yeshuang wants to be stationed in Chang'an. How can he let me stay in Luoyang for long? If Hou Jing and Hu Sichun join forces, it will be very disadvantageous for me!"

Nianxian listened, waved his hand, and said:
"Po Hu is overthinking it. A Dou Ni has been demoted and his troops have scattered for a reason. However, Po Hu and A Ju Ni are being given important positions. Moreover, the Central Plains are not yet settled. How could the King of Qin kill his dog after the rabbit is caught?"

Heba Yue was demoted from King Xia to Baron of Longcheng County, most of his former followers were executed, and he himself was imprisoned. Basically, wherever Li Shuang went, Heba Yue would follow!
The precautions are undeniably thorough!

However, Heba Yun and Heba Sheng are different.

Hebasheng was also unsure of what to do.

"No matter what, I must go see Hou Jing."

"Why?"

Hebasheng's eyes gleamed, filled with unwavering conviction, as he said:

"I want to get the truth out of Hou Jing!"

……

"Po Hu, what brings you to see me today?"

Hebasheng did not go directly to Jinyong City, but went to Huantaifang, Hou Jing's residence.

Unlike Hou Jing, who was beaming with joy, Hebasheng looked serious.

He stared at Hou Jing and asked:
"Does Hu Sichun intend to plot against me?"

Upon hearing this, Hou Jing's smile vanished, and he feigned surprise, saying:
"Why do you say that you're going to defeat the Hu?"

Hebasheng said:

“My Heba clan is related to the King of Qin by marriage, and Heba Zhen is currently pregnant. What is Husi Chun? He is neither a former subordinate of the King of Qin nor a relative by marriage. Why would Wan Jing help an outsider?”

A stream murmurs in the courtyard.

The city of Luoyang in summer is very peaceful, with unique flowers and plants in the houses, and the occasional sound of cicadas.

Hou Jing took the earthenware pot from the hot stove and poured the boiling water into the white porcelain cup.

"Po Hu, try this tea. It's best enjoyed plain!"

Hou Jing wasn't in a hurry, so Hebasheng could only suppress his temper. After drinking the tea, he still stared at Hou Jing, wanting to get an explanation.

After a long pause, Hou Jing slowly spoke:

"Did Husichun approach you and say that he was unwilling to go south to conquer the Liang Kingdom?"

Hebasheng listened and did not hide anything, saying:
"It's true!"

Hou Jing shook his head and sighed:
"Breaking the Hu is a mistake! Husichun is extremely cunning; how can his words be trusted? He says he doesn't want to lead troops, but in fact, he has been secretly plotting to obtain the right to lead troops from the King."

"But he..."

Hebasheng wanted to say something, but looking at Hou Jing, he ultimately didn't say anything.

Hou Jing ignored him and instead said:

"To march south and attack Liang, we must gather 30,000 northern troops from Yu and Si prefectures, along with more than 10,000 supply troops, and conscript laborers along the way. It would not be an exaggeration to call it an army of 100,000. If Your Majesty adds more troops, and if Husichun can obtain this position, it will far surpass the defeat of the Hu."

Seeing Hebasheng's expression change, Hou Jing continued:
"Everyone knows about the feud between Po Hu and Hu Sichun. Hu Sichun naturally wants to gain the upper hand at all times. Once he returns victorious, how can Po Hu possibly contend with him?"

Hebasheng sneered and said:
"How could he possibly be a match for Chen Qingzhi? If he leads his troops south, he will likely suffer more defeats than victories."

With that, Hebasheng cupped his hands and said:
"I volunteer to go south and fight the enemy!"

Hou Jing listened to this without saying a word, but slowly blew a breath and stirred a few tea leaves in the white porcelain cup.

"Po Hu, you're too late! The position of commander-in-chief will probably belong to Hu Sichun!"

He Basheng panicked upon hearing this.

"This is unacceptable! Hu Sichun is absolutely not the right choice to command troops!"

Hou Jing said with some helplessness:

"I also dislike Hu Sichun, but now that things are mostly settled in Chang'an, what else can we do?"

Hebasheng looked at Hou Jing and said:

"Wan Jing, you are a general and you are stationed in Jinyong City. If you were to compete with Hu Sichun, you might very well win!"

Hou Jing, however, declined, saying:
"Although I come from Huai Shuo, I am quite unfamiliar with those brothers. If I were to take this position of command, I fear that they would not be satisfied!"

Hebasheng cupped his hands and said:

“I am willing to lend Wan Jing a helping hand.”

Hou Jing hurriedly said:
"No, you are the Grand Commandant, one of the Three Dukes, how can you submit to me?"

Hebasheng, however, said:

"For the sake of the nation and the King of Qin, what good are mere titles and positions? Hu Sichun is by no means a good choice. I hope Wan Jing will prioritize the greater good and fight for this position of commander!"

Hou Jing said leisurely:
"I'll give it a try! But whether it will work or not, I don't know."
-
Chengdu.

"Sir, where has the King been these days?"

Heba Yun found Han Ling and was very confused.

Han Ling smiled leisurely and said:
"The King of Chenliu has gone to the mountains to visit the King of Liao."

"To visit the King of Fang?"

Heba Yun was somewhat worried and said:
"How many men did Your Majesty bring?"

"Since it's a visit, how many people can you bring?"

Heba Yun was clearly dissatisfied with Han Ling's answer, and said:

"Sir, this Liao man is cunning and has many grudges against the Liang people. If Your Majesty goes there, I fear there will be trouble."

Han Ling smiled and said:
"These Liao people include both raw and cooked Liao. The cooked Liao are similar to the Han people in their customs, registered as households and paying taxes. When Your Majesty went to Ba this time, you met the cooked Liao."

Heba Yun was still somewhat worried after hearing this.

"How about I lead a detachment of troops to provide support?"

Just as Heba Yun finished speaking, Li Shengui's laughter came from outside the courtyard.

"Ajuni, where are you going?"

Li Shenggui went to Badi, and when he came back, he hadn't lost weight at all; in fact, he had gained weight.

Heba Yun saw Li Shenggui approaching and jogged over to him.

"Your Majesty, are you alright?"

"What can happen to me!"

Li Shengui waved his hand and said:
"come in!"

Two identical-looking girls walked in from outside and stood respectfully behind Li Shenggui.

"Your Majesty, who are they?"

"The granddaughter of the Liao King insisted on coming with me, and I couldn't refuse."