Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 425 Business still needs to be done.
Yingzhou.

Li Shuang's fingers tapped on the table, which was covered with a large number of documents.

After meeting with a group of aristocratic families from Hebei, Li Shuang did not stay in Fanyang. Instead, he led a light cavalry unit north to Yingzhou.

From Youzhou into Yanshan, whether you take the Lulong Road or the Wuzhong Road, you can eventually reach Helong City in Changli County, Yingzhou.

During the Han Dynasty, this place was called Liu County, and it was a necessary passage from Youzhou to Liaodong.

Shedigan walked out from outside the tent. It was snowing outside, and it was extremely cold.

"Your Majesty, I have brought the person."

As the wind and snow rushed in, several Xi people entered. Upon seeing Li Shuang, they all knelt down on the ground.

The Xi and the Khitan share the same origin but are different tribes.

The Xi people standing in front of Li Shuang were from tribes near Yingzhou and Anzhou.

Upon seeing this, Li Shuang smiled and said:

"According to Liu Lingzhu, your tribes have had dealings with him on a regular basis. If he succeeds in his rebellion this time, you will also launch a large-scale southward invasion and occupy An and Ying prefectures."

An and Ying prefectures, north of Youzhou, are located in the Yanshan Mountains, a region inhabited by both Han and non-Han peoples, with the Xi and Khitan tribes being particularly powerful.

Both tribes were fishing and hunting tribes, as well as nomadic tribes, and their tribes were full of warriors.

However, the relationship between the two tribes is sometimes good and sometimes bad, and each tribe is divided into multiple tribes, making it difficult to form a united force.

Upon hearing Li Shuang's words, the leader of the Xi people, who was kneeling on the ground, spoke up:

"Your Majesty, the traitor Liu Lingzhu did contact us, but we did not agree."

This Xi man, Sijin, spoke a northern dialect, and his pronunciation was pure.

"Is it?"

Li Shuang smiled and glanced at She Digan.

The other party stepped out of the tent and shouted, and two soldiers from the Shedi tribe brought Liu Lingzhu in.

Inside the large tent, a suckling pig was roasting over a charcoal fire, its fat emitting a fragrant aroma.

Compared to the Shedi soldiers who were wearing thick fur coats, Liu Lingzhu was dressed very lightly, only in a single garment. After staying outside the tent for a long time, his whole body turned red from the cold. Once inside the tent, he instinctively wanted to run towards the pile of burning coals, but was stopped by the Shedi soldiers.

Several Xi people, seeing the once-powerful governor of Yanzhou in such a state, couldn't help but turn pale.

Liu Lingzhu has been in Youyan for many years and has made many achievements. He not only controls the Yanzhou troops, but also has deep ties with the northern people of Anzhou and Yingzhou. His relationship extends to the Xi and Khitan tribes, and his business even reaches Goguryeo, Mohe, and Shiwei.

She can be described as having a wide range of talents and abilities.

He was highly respected among the various tribes of the Xi people.

But now, he looks like this.

As the Xi people were shocked, they looked at the young king sitting in the main seat and felt a sense of fear rising in their hearts, so they lowered their heads even further.

"Liu Lingzhu, are you in cahoots with them?"

Upon hearing Li Shuang's words, Liu Lingzhu couldn't help but tremble.

Liu Lingzhu's rebellion had almost no impact on his own power, except for the aristocratic sons who followed him and the Xianbei prisoners of war who were instigated.

Liu Lingzhu missed his attack and immediately fled.

He knew exactly what he was planning. Li Shuang couldn't stay in Hebei forever, but the people he had cultivated over the years would live there. If things changed one day, Liu Lingzhu could contact his old friends and start another uprising.

However, Li Shuang did not give him that opportunity. Instead, he transferred She Digan from Hengzhou and cleaned up Liu Lingzhu's forces in the north.

Liu Lingzhu's loyal followers were all killed, and those who remained swore to serve Li Shuang.

After the internal affairs were dealt with, it was time to deal with the Xi people. "Your Majesty, I have been in contact with them, but you Xi people are vassals of the Great Wei and are loyal to the Emperor. You are unwilling to follow me."

Liu Lingzhu knew very well that whatever he said at this moment was actually unimportant.

Li Shuang only wants the answer she wants.

"In that case, I have misunderstood you."

After listening to this, the Xi people slowly raised their heads, but still dared not get up.

"Everyone get up!"

Upon hearing this, the Xi people stood up, but their steps were unsteady and they could hardly stand.

These Xi men were all strong and brave; their unsteadiness stemmed more from the pressure they felt. They had no doubt that the King of Qin before them would raise his sword and kill them.

"This man betrayed me twice, yet I still chose to forgive him. This is not because I am soft-hearted, but because I felt grateful for his merits during the time of Erzhu's tyranny, when he guarded Yanzhou, traveled with the Hu and Yi tribes, and prevented the An and Yingsheng tribes from being in chaos. Therefore, I chose to forgive him."

"Your Majesty is benevolent!"

"Since you are vassals of the Great Wei, you have been loyal for many years. I hope you can maintain this loyalty and not be misled by the Rouran and Goguryeo into doing wrong things."

"I can't wait!"

"Therefore, the salt, iron, cloth and silk that Liu Lingzhu used to sell to your tribe every year will also be given to you by me from now on."

"We thank Your Majesty and are willing to serve you!"

"In that case, you may all leave now!"

"promise!"

Several Xi people came out of the tent and began to chat in their respective tribal languages.

“I told you there was no danger in coming to see Ohno Sō this time, yet you’re still cowering.”

"Liu Lingzhu has given us the Da Ye Shuang that he used to give us. It seems that neither the Han people nor the Xianbei people can do anything to us."

"After we return, tell Mohefu about this. The military strength of An and Ying prefectures is much weaker than before. After Daye Shuang leaves, we will join forces with the Khitan to march south and we will surely gain a great deal."

Amidst the wind and snow, several Xi people were chatting animatedly when they suddenly stopped.

Suddenly, a group of cavalrymen dressed in black armor appeared before them, with bloody human heads hanging from their waists, their features still fresh, as if they had just been cut off.

In front of the Xi people, Houmo Chenchong threw a human head to the ground.

Everyone's expression changed, and they said:

"Mohefu!"

Houmo Chenchong stared at the several Xi people and said:

“This rebellious man is colluding with foreign enemies and plotting rebellion. I am here on the orders of the King of Qin to exterminate his entire rebellious force.”

Upon hearing this, the Xi people looked at the severed head before them and seemed to lose all their strength, collapsing to their knees in the snow.

If they had felt fear under immense pressure not long ago while they were in the tent, they were now completely broken down, their minds blank.

Inside the large tent, Shedi Gan warmed himself by the charcoal fire and asked:
"Your Majesty, what were those people whispering about outside the tent just now?"

Li Shuang used a knife to cut a piece of meat from the roasted suckling pig, tasted it, and said:

"They are saying that after I leave, they will join forces with the Khitans and march south to plunder."

Upon hearing Li Shuang's words, Liu Lingzhu, who was warming himself by the charcoal fire, changed his expression, realizing that Li Shuang understood the Xi language.

For so many days, I've kept him, my translator, by my side!
He's so cunning!
……

(End of this chapter)