Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 424 We need to look at the problem from a different angle
Inside the room, Liu Sixia looked at the woman who had suddenly appeared beside Li Shuang, filled with hostility and jealousy.

"Who is this woman?"

Li Shuang didn't speak, but Li Ayao walked up to Liu Sixia first, sniffed her, and said:
"It smells so good!"

Liu Sixia frowned slightly and kept her distance from Li Ayao, but Li Ayao moved closer again.

Looking at this, Li Shuang was amazed: Liu Sixia's body fragrance seemed to have a strong attraction for women.

The only pity is that she wasn't a man.

This advantage is a bit of a pity.

"Stop playing!"

Seeing that Li Ayao was still clinging to Liu Sixia, Li Shuang's voice came, and Li Ayao reluctantly let go.

Liu Sixia quickly walked to Li Shuang's side, seemingly overwhelmed by this persistent foreign woman, and asked:

"What are you doing here with a woman like this?"

"She's the helper I found."

"she?"

Under Liu Sixia's questioning gaze, Li Ayao gave a slight bow and said:
“I am nothing special, but my elder sister is now the wife of the King of Goguryeo and is deeply favored.”

As she spoke, Li Ayao smacked her lips, looking somewhat regretful.

"Unfortunately, my elder sister has never had a child. Gao Baoyan is weak and cowardly. No matter how much he dotes on her, he probably won't be able to maintain it for long."

Upon hearing this, Liu Sixia naturally understood the predicament a woman without children would face in a noble family. However, Liu Sixia was not so compassionate as to pity a complete stranger; instead, she was quite wary.

How can she help you?

Li Ayao smiled slightly and walked to the other side of Li Shuang, deliberately getting very close to Li Shuang under Liu Sixia's disapproving gaze.

"The Lady of Liaodong City has a gold-inlaid jade pendant with dragon and phoenix patterns, but it's unlikely you'll be able to get it by ordinary means. That woman cherishes this antique so much that she would rather take it to her grave than give it to anyone else."

Liu Sixia suppressed her doubts and remained silent.

Li Shuang listened without taking it seriously and said:
"Then let's get down to business!"

"Alright, your sister and I have gotten everything you wanted. Now, how are you going to repay us?"

Li Shuang smiled and asked in return:
"Aren't the hundred or so skilled craftsmen under Liu Ling's command enough?"

After hearing this, Li Ayao scolded:

“This is what I earned myself, how can it be considered your reward?”

Li Shuang remained silent. Seeing this, Li Ayao shook his arm and said coquettishly:

"Now that you are the King of Qin and control Northern Wei, are you unwilling to give my tribe any support? The more firmly my elder sister stands in Goguryeo, the better it will be for you, won't it?"

The situation in Goguryeo was very complicated.

From the Western Han Dynasty to the Sixteen Kingdoms period, Goguryeo was like an unkillable cockroach in Northeast China; it could be hit a few times by anyone, but it could never be killed. The Goguryeo capital was burned down several times, but each time after the fire, the army withdrew, and after some time, the Goguryeo people would rebuild it.

Goguryeo truly rose to prominence during the reign of King Gwanggaeto.

The Later Yan suffered a major defeat in its war with the Northern Wei, which gave Goguryeo the opportunity to annex Liaodong.

During the reign of King Gwanggaeto Godamdeok, he conquered Liaodong to the west, occupied 64 cities of Buyeo to the north, subjugated the Buyeo Kingdom and the Mohe tribes, defeated Baekje to the south, disintegrated Gaya, and made Silla a vassal state.

From then on, Goguryeo was no longer an invincible force, but slowly ascended to the throne of hegemony.

During the reign of King Jangsu, son of King Gwanggaeto, Goguryeo reached its zenith, with its territory stretching two thousand li from east to west and over one thousand li from north to south.

King Jangsu lived a long life, reigning for over seventy years. During his reign, he also moved the capital of Goguryeo to Pyongyang.

When Goguryeo rose to power, it annexed numerous tribes including Buyeo, Mohe, and Khitan. Coupled with the mountain range separating Liaodong and Pyongyang, which divided the two major agricultural centers, internal strife within Goguryeo was extremely intense. King Anjang, the younger brother of Go Bo-yeon and the former king of Goguryeo, was assassinated.

After Gao Baoyan ascended the throne, in order to alleviate internal conflicts, he brought the daughter of Naejuga from Goguryeo into his harem.

“Your tribe is in Buyeo City, far from Pyongyang. Even if you gain many benefits, what good will it do? Your elder sister has no children, so your tribe doesn’t even have the right to compete.”

After listening, Li Ayao looked worried and asked:
"What about that?"

"Your department will send another woman to Gao Baoyan."

Li Ayao stared at Li Shuang with a look of dissatisfaction on her face.

"The woman you're talking about, could it be me?"

"Otherwise, does your father have any other daughters of marriageable age?"

Li Ayao refused without even thinking.

“I don’t want to go to Pyongyang. My older sister said it’s a dangerous place. Gao Baoyan’s wives are fighting fiercely.”

A smile appeared on Li Shuang's face.

Li Ayao recognized that smile; it was the same smile Li Shuang had when he used her to exchange for a large sum of money from her father.

Seeing that smile, Li Ayao couldn't help but want to hit him. However, she managed to hold back.

"What do you want?"

"Goguryeo's elite army is currently stationed near Pyongyang, engaged in dealing with Baekje and Silla. Your forces are far away in Buyeo City. Taking advantage of the Khitan's recent defeat, you can use this opportunity to win them over, and wait until the time is right—"

Before Li Shuang could finish speaking, Li Ayao couldn't help but interrupt:
"Are you asking us to betray the Guilou tribe?"

Li Shuang advised:

"How can this be called betrayal? You weren't originally part of their family. You surrendered to them out of necessity. Now that you want to separate, isn't it just the right thing to do?"

Li Ayao was stunned when she heard this.

Li Shuang then said:

“Think about it again. Your elder sister has no children, which is a great disadvantage. However, if your tribe no longer wants to be part of Goguryeo, this disadvantage can become a great advantage. The forces behind those women who have children will no longer see you as enemies. Instead, they will win you over and treat you as allies. If your father plans well, your tribe will prosper.”

Finally, Li Shuang concluded:
"At that time, your tribe will have allies within and the Khitans outside, and I can also trade with your tribe to strengthen your tribe's power."

Li Ayao frowned and said:

"Why is it that what you're saying, which is clearly treasonous, sounds so reasonable to me?"

Li Shuang nodded and said:

“I have already said, this is not treason, but the way for your tribe to prosper.”

Li Ayao pondered for a moment, then sensed something was amiss and asked:
"You've made my troops betray us. What if the Gao family finds out and launches a military campaign against us?"

"If you can win, then fight. If you can't, you can retreat to Yingzhou. I will send someone to meet you."

……

After Li Ayao left, Liu Sixia wanted to complain, but then she saw Li Shuang with his hands behind his back, sighing:

"I have one regret in my life."

"You have regrets too?"

"At Taiping Village, the Rouran, Khitan, Xiongnu, Tiele, and Xianbei tribes all gained something, but Goguryeo did not gain anything, which is truly regrettable!"

……

(End of this chapter)