Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 420 They're all from the Li family.

As dawn broke, order was restored both inside and outside the camp.

Last night, the thousand cavalrymen who attacked the Qin King's temporary residence in Yuyang were mostly killed in battle. The remaining men were taken into custody by General Houmo Chenchong, who was in charge of the safety of the temporary residence.

The Huai Shuo soldiers brought by Gao Huan had already set up tents on the opposite bank of the camp and were cooking mutton and making soup.

They arrived in haste, or rather, to appear to arrive in haste, bringing only warhorses and weaponry, but no supplies. The supplies were provided by the Qin King's temporary residence in Yuyang.

Wei Jing and the others ate and took without a care, and while they were slicing mutton, Gao Huan returned.

"He Liuhun, come and try this, the mutton soup is so delicious."

"You guys eat, I'm tired."

Wei Jing called out, but Gao Huan remained silent and walked directly into the tent that had been set up.

Gao Huan looked very different from the night before; he seemed somewhat dejected.

Noticing this situation, Sima Ziru and Wei Jing exchanged a glance, and Sima Ziru, who was free at the moment, went into the main tent.

Gao Huan was lying on the unmade bed with his eyes closed.

"He Liuhun, what's wrong? Did Da Ye Shuang upset you?"

Upon hearing this, Gao Huan sat up and shook his head.

“Lu Wenwei is here too.”

Sima Ziru and Wei Jing were both shocked by Gao Huan's words. They had always thought that Lu Wenwei and Liu Lingzhu were in cahoots, or at least had some connection with each other.

Liu Ling helped plot a rebellion, yet Lu Wenwei was at the Qin King's temporary residence. What does this signify?
Sima Ziru quickly realized what was happening and said:
"Has this old guy gotten involved with Ohno Sō?"

Gao Huan nodded, and upon seeing this, Sima Ziru's expression was quite interesting.

When did they start dating?

"It'll only take a day or two!"

After hearing this, Sima Ziru felt somewhat relieved, having already understood what had happened.

Lu Wenwei bypassed these middlemen and went directly to the original owner, Li Shuang, to seek refuge.

"How much did that old guy give?"

Gao Huan sighed helplessly:

"It has dimmed the luster of our loyalty and righteousness as people of Huai Shuo!"

Sima Ziru's lips twitched.

so much?
……

The rebellion in Fanyang was quickly quelled under the command of Yuwen Hu and Cui Xian.

The rebels who were causing trouble in Fanyang City did not receive the reinforcements they had expected. After a night of fierce fighting, they were defeated by Yuwen Hu. As for the Xianbei prisoners of war, although they had the will to fight, they lacked the strength to fight, and therefore, they were once again suppressed by the Six Garrisons.

Back then, the soldiers of the Six Garrisons were exposed to the wind and sun in the north, while these Xianbei prisoners of war were living a carefree life in the Central Plains. Now, the situation has been reversed.

The former elites have become prisoners, while the former northerners have transformed themselves, looking down on these former "elites".

Yuwen Hu knew how the soldiers of the Six Garrisons felt, but he himself was not happy and was waiting for news.

Cui Xian walked in, cupped his hands and said:

"These rebel troops have all been tricked by Liu Lingzhu. Liu Lingzhu lied to them, saying that he would send reinforcements, but the reinforcements never came."

Yuwen Hu was somewhat surprised upon hearing this and asked:
Why did Liu Lingzhu do this?

"Liu Lingzhu attempted to assassinate Da Yeshuang. It seems he fled immediately after his defeat, without even returning to Fanyang."

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Hu thought of an important question.

"Where did the reinforcements go?"

Liu Lingzhu was the governor of Yanzhou, with three thousand Yanzhou soldiers under his command. In addition, he had been operating in the Youyan region for many years and was familiar with the troops in Anzhou, Pingzhou, Yingzhou and other places. Yuwen Hu did not doubt that Liu Lingzhu could raise a rebel army of ten thousand men.

However, the main force that caused the disturbance in Fanyang last night, apart from the Xianbei prisoners of war who lacked weapons, numbered only a little over a thousand, and was easily dealt with by the troops of the Six Garrisons under Yuwen Hu.

Cui Xian was also very curious, but he figured it out faster than Yuwen Hu, and said:

“Sabao, do you think Liu Lingzhu might just want to assassinate Ohno Sō, and not really want to rebel?”

Yuwen Hu was initially confused, but gradually he came to understand.

Liu Lingzhu could raise a rebel army of tens of thousands, but only if he truly wanted to rebel.

The land of Youyan was a mix of Han and non-Han peoples, and the Yanzhou soldiers under Liu Lingzhu's command were mostly non-Han peoples, but undoubtedly, their homes were all in the local area.

If it weren't a rebellion, but just an assassination attempt, they wouldn't have followed.

After all, for these nomadic peoples, rebellion is profitable. They've rebelled countless times over the years. Assassination, on the other hand, is purely risky.

As for why Liu Lingzhu didn't deceive these Hu people in the same way he deceived the sons of the aristocratic families, it was because there was no need! Too many people would talk too much and would only expose his deception.

Yuwen Hu thought of this, a smile appearing on his lips, and said:

"That Liu Lingzhu is really a thief, but I wonder where he is now?"

Just as Yuwen Hu was making a joke, an urgent report came from outside.

“A troop of soldiers has crossed Juyong Pass and is heading towards Fanyang.”

Yuwen Hu's expression changed, and he asked:

Which army?

"The cavalry of the Kudi tribe."

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Hu and Cui Xian exchanged a glance, and they both understood.

The situation in the Youyan region is likely to change with this rebellion.

……

One night, Liu Lingzhu fled from Yuyang into the Yanshan Mountains, intending to head north and seek refuge with the Khitan.

Liu Lingzhu continued forward along the Wuzhong Road until he reached a crossroads, where he temporarily stopped.

The moment the assassination attempt failed, Liu Lingzhu led his men into the Yanshan Mountains without stopping for even a moment.

But now, the reason he stopped was not because the horse couldn't take it anymore, but because he couldn't take it anymore.

With the help of two servants, Liu Lingzhu dismounted from his horse. After galloping for a day and a night, his legs were numb.

After removing his water pouch from his horse and taking a sip of mare's milk wine, Liu Lingzhu felt temporarily more alert and asked:

"I'm getting old. When I was young, I was never this useless."

"Master, don't be discouraged. Things will get better once we reach the Khitan."

Looking at his young and beautiful female disciple, Liu Lingzhu nodded and said:

“Amu, if it weren’t for this incident, I would have already betrothed you to the Lu family of Fanyang. But you don’t need to worry, the Khitan leader we are going to join is also a young and brave man, you won’t be mistreated if you marry him.”

“Master, you are too kind. If it weren’t for you, how would I exist? I will do whatever you say.”

The woman's fair face looked tired and somewhat thin from the long journey, but her eyes were bright, making her a rare beauty.

Liu Lingzhu had cultivated many beauties and married them off to aristocratic families in the north, where they served as spies.

However, Liu Lingzhu considered beauties like Yu Jiulu, Ami, and Amu to be rare commodities and kept them by his side without making a move.

Yujiulü Ami was taken by Li Shuang and married into the Turkic Khaganate. Now, this Amu is the gift he gave to the Khitans.

"In that case, let's hurry on our way!"

Liu Lingzhu remounted his horse, but the direction he took puzzled Amu and the others. "Master, this road leads to Goguryeo."

"I'm worried that Ohno Sō might set up an ambush, so it's safer to take a longer route."

……

Liu Lingzhu and his group walked for another two days on the Wuzhong Road and arrived at the agreed place.

"Master, look! They are Khitans."

Compared to Han Chinese or Sinicized northerners, the Khitans were easy to identify. In their tribes, both men and women shaved their heads, wore short clothes, narrow sleeves, and long leather boots. Even among the soldiers, there were female soldiers who appeared to be shrewd and strong.

Liu Lingzhu was overjoyed to see the totem of the Xiwandan tribe, one of the eight tribes of the Khitan. He quickened his pace and led a group of more than a hundred people to approach the enemy's camp.

"I am Liu Lingzhu, and I have come to meet your leader as agreed."

Liu Lingzhu spoke in broken Khitan, and none of the people behind him could understand him.

Liu Lingzhu spoke a few words with the gatekeeper and then gave an order.

"You wait in the camp, I'm going to see the Khitan leader."

"promise!"

Liu Lingzhu had just entered the tent when he saw the Khitan leader inside and felt somewhat disappointed.

The leader of the Khitan Xiwandan tribe was said to be a god and a warrior, but Liu Lingzhu saw him today and he seemed somewhat timid. The Khitan woman standing beside him, however, whether she was a relative or a tribal priestess, had sharp eyes that made Liu Lingzhu wary.

The Khitan leader began by saying:

“We already know about your situation, sir. You were originally the governor of Yanzhou, a Xianbei, and now you want us to take you in with our entire Wan Dan tribe, risking offending that Prince Qin. What benefit would we gain from this?”

Liu Lingzhu cupped his hands and said:

"As I said in the letter beforehand, among the hundred or so people I brought are many skilled craftsmen who can forge ironware for the Xiwandan tribe and make the Xiwandan tribe the strongest tribe in the Khitan."

At this point, the Khitan leader asked the woman sitting behind him a few questions, and after receiving her answer, the Khitan leader said:

"Anymore?"

"I am well-versed in pharmacology and can serve your department."

Craftsmen and pharmacists are both rare talents in the Khitan tribes, and Liu Lingzhu is confident that with these expertise, the Khitan will eventually take him in.

Just as the Khitan leader was about to turn back and ask again, the woman became impatient, stood up, walked up to Liu Lingzhu, and her first words surprised him.

The woman was not speaking Khitan or Xianbei, but Han Chinese, and it had the accent of the Bingzhou area.

“When Yuwen Tai went north last year, all the Khitan tribes suffered losses. That man is fierce and powerful. Under normal circumstances, it would not be unreasonable to take you in, but now that we have taken you in, we have angered the Prince of Qin. He has once again sent troops north. We have suffered a great loss.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Lingzhu knew that he was facing a formidable opponent, and said:

“Since you are so familiar with the situation in Youzhou, you must know that I have been operating in the Youyan region for many years and have many old friends. Da Yeshuang’s stronghold is in Chang’an. How long can he stay in Hebei? Once he leaves, I can contact my old friends in Youyan and provide the Xiwandan tribe with what they want.”

Ayao was silent for a moment, then clapped her hands, and a Khitan maid outside brought in a silver wine bottle and two silver wine cups.

Liu Lingzhu was used to seeing stunning beauties. This woman named A Yao was not exactly a beauty that could topple kingdoms, but compared to the Khitan leader, she was truly dashing and heroic.

The Khitan leader came over, picked up a wine cup filled with wine, and Liu Lingzhu also raised his cup to drink with him.

After finishing his drink, Liu Lingzhu was in a great mood and asked the Khitan leader a question.

"May I ask how this young lady is addressed?"

Before the Khitan leader could answer, the woman spoke first:

"Just call me Ayao."

It's still a Chinese name!

Liu Lingzhu was somewhat stunned, but then he heard the woman continue:
"As you know, we Khitans don't have surnames. But when I went to Pingcheng with my elders that year, I met a man who gave me a surname."

Liu Lingzhu didn't take it seriously, but the woman slowly said:

“That man was extremely despicable. He robbed our tribe of its valuables, kidnapped me to the mountain stronghold, and even forced me to share his surname.”

The more Liu Lingzhu listened, the more uneasy he felt. How could he be so familiar with that person's deeds?
"My full name is Li Ayao."

"Li...Ayao, you are not from the Xiwandan tribe!"

Liu Lingzhu panicked and took two steps back. Looking at the Khitan woman in front of him, who was wearing a mink hat and a leather coat, he forced himself to calm down.

The Khitan leader had already collapsed to the ground. Clearly, there was something wrong with the wine.

Knowing that his time was running out, Liu Lingzhu quickly said:
"Li... no, Miss Ayao also has a grudge against Ohno Sō, so let's join forces and deal with him together!"

Li Ayao nodded and said:
"I thought so too."

Just as Liu Lingzhu felt relieved, a sly smile appeared on the woman's face.

"But that bastard said I'm from the Li family. How can someone from the Li family deal with someone from the Li family?"

"..."

……

When Liu Lingzhu woke up again, he was in a large tent, and he heard a series of mocking voices.

“Ah Zhu, tell me how many people you’ve cheated in your life, and now you’ve been tricked into leaving you with nothing but a pair of trousers.”

Upon hearing this voice, Liu Lingzhu disregarded everything else and immediately jumped off the bed and knelt on the ground.

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty, I deserve to die!"

Liu Lingzhu sensed someone approaching him, but dared not look up, and could only plead:

"I only wish to be spared my life."

Li Shuang looked down at Liu Lingzhu and smiled:

"How can I save this life?"

"Your Majesty, I know a secret matter and am willing to tell you. I hope Your Majesty will grant me this favor."

"secret?"

"This secret matter concerns a treasure left behind by the Han Dynasty!"

Upon uttering the words "Han Dynasty relics," Liu Lingzhu raised his head, looked at Li Shuang's youthful face, and said softly:
"If you receive orders from Heaven, you will live forever!"

After saying those eight words, Liu Lingzhu glanced at it.

A woman was sitting at a table not far from Li Shuang.

The woman reacted even more strongly to Liu Lingzhu's words than Li Shuang.

Do you know where the treasures of the Duchy of Anle are?

Liu Lingzhu looked at the woman, and upon hearing her words, his face paled in shock. "You...how did you know?"

Liu Sixia didn't say much. She walked over, stepped on the naked Liu Lingzhu, and questioned him:

"Say it!"

Liu Lingzhu was filled with shame and indignation at being treated this way. She was about to fight back, but when she looked into Li Shuang's eyes, she lost her nerve.

"Your Majesty, now that things have come to this, all I want is to save my life."

Li Shuang smiled and said:
"Say it!"

Liu Lingzhu, having lost all guard, spoke:

"It's in Goguryeo!"

(End of this chapter)