Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 422 Do You Know You Were Wrong?

As dawn broke, Li Shuang stepped out of the tent, the gentle sunlight dispelling the chill.

Hou Mochen Chong ran over furtively, approached Li Shuang, and whispered:

"Your Majesty, Lady Liu has styled her hair in a woman's bun."

Li Shuang squinted at Hou Mochen Chong in front of him and asked:

What do you mean?

"Your Majesty, if Princess Dugu finds out about this, you'll probably have to go into hiding again."

"Screw you!"

Li Shuang kicked him, and Hou Mochen Chong ran away, rubbing his buttocks.

Li Shuang smiled as she recalled what had happened the previous night.

Whether the secret passed down through generations in Liu Sixia's tribe is true, or whether the legendary hidden tomb exists, Li Shuang has no way of knowing for the time being.

More than three hundred years have passed since the transition from the Han to the Wei dynasties.

The exact location of the imperial mausoleum is uncertain, but it is likely to be either Chang'an or Luoyang; other locations are improbable.

Li Shuang has no immediate plans to attack Goguryeo, so he cannot find the dragon and phoenix gold-inlaid jade pendant, nor can he determine the location of the hidden tomb.

Even if that hidden tomb really exists, so many years have passed, and no one can say for sure what its condition is like inside.

Perhaps the hidden tomb had long been in ruins, and the items inside were damaged, or perhaps they were stolen by tomb raiders.

Moreover, the state seal itself is not actually important.

In this day and age, everyone values ​​the Imperial Seal of the State, believing it to be a symbol of the Mandate of Heaven, and possessing it grants legitimacy.

However, even if Li Shuang is found and made public, it will be of no use.

Would Emperor Xiao Yan admit that this was true?

If Xiao Yan doesn't admit it, then at least half the people in the world won't believe it's true. In fact, most people will think it's fake.

Xiao Yan's influence in this regard extended far beyond national borders, gaining recognition from scholars in both the Northern and Southern Dynasties.

Regardless of how many Imperial Seals of the State are still in existence today, the few that are generally recognized as genuine are from the Southern Liang Dynasty.

No doubt about it!

Knowing this, Li Shuang lost interest in the matter.

What truly pleased him was that Liu Sixia, who had been on edge for so many years, had finally let go of the burden she carried and become like a normal woman.

Mmm, it's very moisturizing!

Li Shuang was savoring the moment when Hou Mochen Chong ran back, interrupting his reminiscence.

"Are you here to get beaten up again, kid?"

Hou Mochen Chong kept his distance from Li Shuang and said:

"Your Majesty, please don't fight yet, listen to me."

"What's the matter?"

"Yuwentai is back."

Li Shuang smiled and asked:

"Him?"

"People from all the aristocratic families in Hebei have also come."

……

The rebellion of Liu Lingzhu was quelled, and Youzhou returned to peace.

The autumn harvest season is a busy time.

All the aristocratic families in Hebei who were on the list of those summoned by the imperial court went to Youzhou.

The Lu family of Fanyang were the first to express their stance: they wanted to share the burdens of the imperial court!
Located south of Hebei, prominent clans, led by the Cui family of Qinghe, immediately followed suit, and even Gao Qian came.

In Fanyang City, Li Shuang gathered a group of aristocratic families together for a banquet.

Cui Ling, whom Yuwen Tai had previously refused to even see, now appeared very respectful in front of Li Shuang, showing no trace of arrogance.

"The Erzhu clan wreaked havoc, but the King of Qin cleansed the filth and revitalized the state. This is a great achievement. Now that the country is in trouble, my Cui clan of Qinghe, together with other aristocratic families, has decided to donate 600,000 shi of grain and 100,000 bolts of cloth to the court to provide for its needs and alleviate the nation's worries."

After speaking, Cui Ling glanced at Lu Wenwei, who stood calmly to the side. Seeing that Lu Wenwei didn't react, she turned her gaze to Gao Qian and gave him a provocative look. Gao Qian felt the gaze, clenched his fists, and felt anger rising in his heart.

Today, Hebei, apart from the two external forces of Gao Huan and Yuwen Tai, is not much different from what it has been in the past few decades.

The difference is that the clans that were not once among the top-tier clans now want to move up in rank, challenge the four major clans, and become the new top-ranking clan.

Among them, the Gao family of Bohai and the Cui family of Boling were at the forefront.

At this moment, Cui Ling was undoubtedly telling Gao Qian, "You still have a long way to go!"
Before Gao Qian could react, Li Shuang, sitting in the main seat, burst into laughter.

"I am aware of Lord Cui's sincere intentions and those of you all. You are all ministers of the state, and I will certainly report to the Emperor to commend you greatly."

"I have done my utmost and dare not accept such praise from the King of Qin."

Cui Ling bowed respectfully and returned to his seat.

Gao Qian was naturally indignant, but he didn't want to compete with Cui Ling in the rankings and see how his family's strength could be tested.

Previously, under pressure from Li Shuang, Gao Qian gave 200,000 shi (a unit of dry measure).

Compared to Lu Wenwei and Cui Ling, Gao Qian knew he was inferior.

Fortunately, they did give it to me.

Compared to Gao Qian, Gao Huan and Yuwen Tai sat in a corner, drinking alone, feeling even more depressed.

They were at odds, but at this banquet, in front of a group of noble families, they were forced to become one group.

Their actions in Hebei, seemingly stirring up a storm, proved utterly ineffective against powerful clans like the Lu family of Fanyang and the Cui family of Qinghe.

As for the surname Jia in the world, Gao Huan and Yuwen Tai gained a deeper understanding of it.

Under pressure from Gao Huan and Yuwen Tai, the powerful clans behind Lu Wenwei and Cui Ling all made the same choice.

That is, they bypassed these middlemen and went directly to Li Shuang, giving him money and food.

That's outrageously extravagant!
……

After the banquet ended, Gao Huan and Yuwen Tai were kept behind by Li Shuang.

"You've all worked hard this time."

Gao Huan and Yuwen Tai bowed respectfully and said:

"It is my duty to share the king's burdens."

Li Shuang smiled and asked:

"What about these aristocratic families?"

Gao Huan laughed:

"He is undoubtedly a worthy minister of the state!"

Li Shuang patted Gao Huan on the shoulder and said:

“He Liuhun, there’s no need for that. Just tell the truth.”

Gao Huan listened, glanced at Yuwen Tai, and vented his frustration, saying:
"I finally understand today why, since the end of the Jin Dynasty, the Hu people in Hebei have changed generation after generation, but these aristocratic families have always stayed here."

Gao Huan's words were harsh, but they could be interpreted in any way.

Li Shuang didn't care, and looked at Yuwentai again, asking:
"Black Otter, what do you think?"

“Your Majesty, these noble families have presented you with grain and cloth under the pretext of conquering Liaodong. If Your Majesty stops here and does not continue the conquest of Liaodong, rumors will surely spread, which may be detrimental to Your Majesty.”

Li Shuang listened and nodded.

Gao Huan and Yuwen Tai knew the character of these aristocratic families. They would give you money and food, but secretly sabotage you, leaving you with no choice but to suffer in silence.

"Wherever this matter goes, the money and provisions will naturally follow."

The two were puzzled, but then they saw Li Shuang take a box from the table behind him and take out a document from it.

"Your Majesty, what is this?"

"A letter of apology from King Go Bo-yeon of Goguryeo."

Gao Huan and Yuwen Tai looked at Li Shuang in front of them, shocked. So you are the one who has the deepest collusion with Goguryeo!

Li Shuang smiled and said:
"Once the money and provisions arrive, the envoy from Goguryeo to apologize should also arrive."

……

(End of this chapter)