Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 419 It is the time to be loyal

The autumn air was bleak, and the entire Youzhou resembled a courtyard after an autumn wind had blown through, with withered branches and fallen leaves scattered everywhere.

At the Lu family's manor, Liu Lingzhu found Lu Wenwei again. Compared to when he met him before, Lu Wenwei was now wearing a slightly heavy silk robe, and his face was full of smiles when he saw Liu Lingzhu.

Liu Lingzhu was not happy when he saw this.

When he and Lu Wenwei started their business together, he never saw the "polite" smile on Lu Wenwei's face that he does now.

"It is truly an honor that the governor has come to visit an old man as idle as me."

Upon hearing this, Liu Lingzhu's cheeks twitched slightly.

Lu Wenwei led him from the manor gate to the main hall of his own residence with meticulous and solemn etiquette, but without a trace of human warmth.

It was completely business as usual!

Lu Wenwei's attitude made Liu Lingzhu feel increasingly anxious.

These days, Liu Lingzhu and Gao Huan are fighting so fiercely they're practically at each other's throats.

The Wuchuan faction had long since distanced itself from the other forces in Youzhou, and even those minor clans that had intervened were insignificant.

What Liu Lingzhu wanted was Lu Wenwei's help; only if Lu Wenwei rallied the troops in Youzhou could the situation be turned around.

But Lu Wenwei's attitude now clearly tells Liu Lingzhu that he will not participate.

"Xiu clan, we joined hands to start a rebellion and together wiped out the Erzhu clan. Now, must we really become so estranged?"

Liu Lingzhu looked at Lu Wenwei, a trace of sorrow on his face. He knew that his only remaining bargaining chip was the little bit of friendship he had with the Lu family from the past.

Lu Wenwei smiled slightly upon hearing this.

"When Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang died suddenly and Erzhu ravaged the world, we rose up in rebellion for the greater good. What personal feelings could we have? As the sage said, 'When you have achieved success and fame, you should retire.' I am now retiring to the countryside and have long since stopped caring about worldly affairs."

After hearing this, Liu Lingzhu knew that this bit of affection had completely vanished from Lu Wenwei's heart.

At that moment, he cupped his hands in farewell and said:
"Then I won't bother you!"

Liu Lingzhu walked out of the Lu family's manor, looking at the idyllic pastoral scene behind him, and felt a sense of powerlessness.

In his youth, Liu Lingzhu swindled and cheated people in Fanyang City. Looking at the young men of the Lu family in Fanyang, he thought they were incredibly pedantic.

In this chaotic world, with various warlords rising up, Liu Lingzhu felt that the Lu family of Fanyang was a force that could be relied upon, so he rescued several high-ranking officials from the Lu family of Fanyang in Heyin.

Now, after the glory days, looking back, Liu Lingzhu has reached the brink of life and death, but the Lu family of Fanyang is still the Lu family of Fanyang.

This manor, which had been ravaged by war, seemed no different from the one Liu Lingzhu had seen in his youth.

He can't shake that!
……

"How did it go? What did your uncle say?"

As soon as he returned to his base camp, several members of the Lu family of Fanyang gathered around him.

There were a dozen or so people in the room, some Han Chinese and some non-Han Chinese, all waiting for his answer.

Liu Lingzhu remained silent, only saying:
"Your clan uncle was the same last time, just like he was this time."

When Liu Lingzhu last met Lu Wenwei, Gao Huan had only caught one witness; this time, when Liu Lingzhu met Lu Wenwei, Gao Huan had already gathered sufficient evidence.

Even if Gao Huan led his troops into the city to arrest them right now, they would have nothing to say.

The intriguing thing was that Gao Huan held his sword aloft, pointing it at them, but he didn't fire it.

Such actions filled those present with fear and despair.

"Then what should we do?"

Several members of the Lu family collapsed to the ground, while the other members of the aristocratic families present were also filled with worry.

"If we wait for Gao Huan to come and kill us, we should strike first."

Liu Lingzhu's words drew everyone's attention back to him.

"The Yanzhou soldiers under my command, plus your troops, are enough to shake the entire Youyan region."

"Yes, kill Gao Huan. Once he's dead, we'll be fine."

Liu Lingzhu smiled and said:
"Making such a big fuss just to kill Gao Huan is making a mountain out of a molehill."

Liu Lingzhu's words tightened the hearts of everyone in the room once more. They had finally realized who Liu Lingzhu truly wanted to kill!
Liu Lingzhu, however, was in no hurry and explained patiently, step by step:
"His assassination attempt on Gao Huan failed last time, so he's already on guard. If we don't use troops, how can we kill him? But if we do use troops, it won't be enough to stop us by killing just one Gao Huan. This is no longer the time for the Erzhu clan to rule. If we raise troops, it's tantamount to rebellion. How can we stop if we don't kill Daye Shuang!"

"But how can we kill Ono Sō?"

Liu Lingzhu, however, seemed confident and said:
"Da Ye Shuang pretended to be a wise and benevolent ruler in Weizhou and Cangzhou, sharing joy with the people in an attempt to win their hearts. He will likely do the same once he enters Youzhou. His fleet is quite large and difficult to manage. Once he enters Yuyang, we will immediately dispatch cavalry to launch a surprise attack on his base. If we can capture and kill him, our great cause will be accomplished."

"But the guards around Ohno Sō are all elite soldiers capable of taking on a hundred men each. What if we can't take him down?"

"If we fail to achieve our goal in one strike, we should raise an army to occupy Fanyang, form an alliance with the Khitan and Xi in the north, and invite Goguryeo to join us in the east. Only in this way can we contend with Da Yeshuang."

After listening, everyone nodded slightly, and Liu Lingzhu's last words put their minds at ease.

"If we fail, we can retreat to the grasslands and still live up to Lu Wan's reputation."

"promise!"

Upon seeing this, Liu Lingzhu said:
"If we start an uprising, we should consult the oracle to see what fate has in store for us."

……

"Does rebellion require divination? Does the ominous result mean one will not rebel?"

Upon receiving the news, Gao Huan summoned everyone in his camp to discuss countermeasures. Wei Jing, upon hearing the news, complained.

Sima Ziru smiled and said:
"Is he planning a rebellion? Did he consult the oracle himself? How could he possibly foretell such an ominous sign?"

After Sima Ziru finished speaking, everyone present burst into laughter.

The Huai Shuo people present had risen from humble beginnings and had seen all sorts of people; they simply did not believe Liu Lingzhu's nonsense.

"Then what should I do?"

Everyone was curious as to how Gao Huan had obtained this information. Logically speaking, Liu Lingzhu's rebellion should have been a highly confidential matter, and he wouldn't have entrusted it to anyone but a trusted confidant.

While Gao Huan was thinking, everyone waited.

After half an incense stick had burned, Gao Huan seemed to have made up his mind, stood up, and announced:
"Gentlemen, it is time to let the world know the loyalty and righteousness of us Huai Shuo people!"
-
night.

The entire city of Fanyang became noisy. Yuwen Hu got up from his bed and took his sword from the side of the orchid.

Drawing his sword, Yuwen Hu felt a sense of relief and walked out the door.

In the night breeze, Yuwen Hu stood tall and straight, like a guardian deity. A short while later, Cui Xian hurried over.

“Sabao, the Xianbei people outside the city have rioted.”

After the Yongji Canal was completed, these Xianbei prisoners of war were temporarily settled in Youzhou, awaiting their fate.

"The camp was bombed?"

Yuwen Hu felt that things were not so simple. The opening of the Yongji Canal was mainly due to the nearly 100,000 Xianbei prisoners of war. Now, only 20,000 to 30,000 Xianbei prisoners of war remained in Youzhou.

What are they trying to do by breaking up the camp?
Yuwen Hu sensed that something was amiss and looked at Cui Xian, who shared the same thought.

Cui Xian's thoughts went even deeper than Yuwen Hu's. "Could it be that someone is colluding with outsiders to plot a rebellion?"

You mean Liu Lingzhu!

After heeding Yuwen Tai's advice and handing over those closely associated with Liu Lingzhu to Gao Huan, Yuwen Hu planned to stand aside and watch.

However, to Yuwen Hu's surprise, Gao Huan did not take advantage of their misfortune. He treated these people's affairs lightly, without being as petty as he had been with Liu Lingzhu.

The people of Wuchuan and Huaishuo were at odds, but Gao Huan had given them face, so Yuwen Hu couldn't refuse. Afterwards, Yuwen Hu not only didn't stop Gao Huan and his group, but also secretly sabotaged them, and even helped them, completely severing ties with Liu Lingzhu.

Cui Xian nodded and said:

"If that's the case, Liu Lingzhu probably won't just deal with Gao Huan alone."

Just as Cui Xian finished speaking, a soldier came to report that a group of people were gathering outside the Northeast Circuit Grand Secretariat of Yuwen Tai, intending to commit treason.

Cui Xian and Yuwen Hu exchanged a glance.

They moved so fast!
……

Amidst the chaos in Fanyang, Liu Lingzhu, the mastermind, was not in Fanyang at the moment, but in Yuyang, personally commanding the cavalry with the intention of capturing and killing Li Shuang.

For Liu Lingzhu, whether or not he could capture Fanyang was of no importance.

From beginning to end, he was simply waiting for Li Shuang to enter Youzhou so he could deliver this blow tonight.

If it succeeds, the world will be in chaos, and no one will investigate what Liu Lingzhu did. He might be able to take advantage of the situation to rise again and sweep across Hebei.

As for the claim that if the attack failed, they would occupy Fanyang and ally with the Khitan, Xi, and Goguryeo, it was merely to appease those whose families and businesses were all in Youzhou.

Liu Lingzhu knew very well that if he couldn't kill Li Shuang with one blow, then Li Shuang's counterattack would be something he couldn't withstand.

At that time, Li Shuang will not give them any chance to run away with their families and wealth.

In Liu Lingzhu's plan, if this attack failed, he would immediately flee to the Khitan. Those who were causing trouble in Fanyang were just expendable pawns to distract him.

A thousand cavalrymen, their armor rolled up and mouths gagged, quietly approached the Qin King's temporary residence in Yuyang County, amidst the night fires.

Liu Lingzhu, mounted on his horse, knew perfectly well that his target was the camp ahead. Yet, his heart still began to pound uncontrollably.

From Mayi onwards, the scene of Liu Lingzhu's first meeting with Li Shuang kept replaying in his mind.

From that moment on, all of Liu Lingzhu's plans were disrupted by Li Shuang. And he was completely helpless against this bandit leader of Taiping Village.

Over the years, watching Li Shuang advance step by step and gradually seize half of the Northern Dynasty's territory, Liu Lingzhu fell into self-doubt.

Even now, Liu Lingzhu is still somewhat timid.

He took a deep breath, the chill of the night seeping into his heart, and whispered to himself.

"The prophecy of the golden knife speaks of me; I am the one destined by Heaven!"

He recited the words softly several times, almost as if hypnotizing himself, before his mind calmed down.

Then, he picked up the whistle from his sleeve and put it to his lips to blow it.

A crisp sound rang out through the night sky as a thousand cavalrymen swept down from the heights, charging toward the camp beside the river amidst the night fires.

The cavalry charged across the pontoon bridge, and for a fleeting moment, Liu Lingzhu thought that a great victory was about to be achieved.

However, just after most of his thousand riders had crossed the pontoon bridge, a sudden change occurred.

Inside the camp, crossbow bolts rained down like a storm, and many of the cavalrymen charging ahead fell.

Upon seeing this, Liu Lingzhu closed his eyes. Although he had considered this possibility beforehand, his heart sank completely when he actually experienced it and witnessed this scene.

Li Shuang was prepared!

"Ohno Sou, no matter what, you never reveal a single flaw to us juniors!"

Liu Lingzhu chuckled self-deprecatingly, opened his eyes, his gaze turning fierce, and gritted his teeth, saying:

"hateful!"

After Liu Lingzhu finished speaking, he completely ignored the large army raiding the camp ahead, spurred his horse and fled without the slightest hesitation.

……

Before dawn, the fighting had already ended.

"He Liuhun, we're too late. Liu Lingzhu's men have all been dealt with."

Wei Jing complained, but Gao Huan laughed:
"It's not too late. When it comes to rescuing someone, it's better to come too early."

Gao Huan, leading a large group of men, rode up and, facing the vigilant guards, shouted:

“We know that Liu Ling is aiding in a rebellion, so we have come here specifically to protect the King of Qin.”

After Gao Huan finished speaking, the guards on the pontoon bridge went to the camp to report. Soon after, Hou Mochen Chong came over and said:

"General, the King has ordered that you may enter the camp alone. The rest of the troops may rest on the side. Hot food will be brought to you over a charcoal fire."

Gao Huan gave Wei Jing a wink, then dismounted, walked onto the pontoon bridge, and entered the camp.

Gao Huan walked quickly along the way. Now, his hair was disheveled, his clothes were rumpled, and his face was covered in mud.

As Gao Huan approached Li Shuang's tent, he not only quickened his pace but also shouted loudly:
"How is the King? How is the King? He Liuhun is late..."

Gao Huan lifted the tent flap and ran inside, but before he could utter a word, he stopped.

"Your Majesty, I am deeply worried upon learning that Liu Lingzhu has committed treason—"

Inside the tent, there was another person standing next to Li Shuang, someone Gao Huan never expected!

Lu Wenwei!
Seeing Gao Huan's reaction, Li Shuang laughed and said:

"Lord Lu, I'll tell you that the people of Huai Shuo are all loyal and righteous men, what do you think?"

Lu Wenwei stood beside Li Shuang, his face beaming with a smile, and said:
"Your Majesty is wise!"

Gao Huan was a little stunned and didn't react for a moment.

When did they start hooking up?

Gao Huan looked at the incredibly harmonious yet somewhat eerie scene in the large tent, and stood aside without saying a word.

Lu Wenwei ignored Gao Huan, seemingly having already talked with Li Shuang for quite some time, and continued:
"Looking back, my son followed Li Chong, the Duke of Chenliu, on his northern expedition, serving as his military advisor. Later, he served under the Prince of Chenliu. If it weren't for the wickedness of the Erzhu clan, my son would not have been separated from the Prince of Chenliu. Now, thinking about it, I feel very regretful."

Upon hearing this, Li Shuang exclaimed:

"Back when I was under my adoptive father's command, I often met with Brother Lu. Brother Lu was gentle and kind, and his talent was outstanding. I benefited greatly from his company."

"Your Majesty, please forgive my son's insignificant tricks."

Lu Wenwei chuckled, his expression turning serious.

"Erzhu clan has been executed, but the country is also beset by internal and external troubles. Goguryeo is eyeing us covetously from the outside, and Liu Lingzhu, a traitor, is causing havoc from within. The court is in a difficult situation. The noble families of Youyan are willing to offer 500,000 shi of grain and 80,000 bolts of cloth and silk for our needs. We hope Your Majesty will not refuse."

After listening to the conversation, Gao Huan looked at Lu Wenwei, who appeared to be old in the flickering lamplight, and his heart skipped a beat.

You old man, you've got guts!
……

(End of this chapter)