Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 441 A broken branch can destroy it.

Jiankang.

At midday, Emperor Xiao Yan was leading his officials in cultivating the imperial field.

The Jitian ceremony was an auspicious ritual. In the first month of spring, before the spring plowing, the emperor led the feudal lords in a ceremony to personally plow the fields, signifying the emperor's emphasis on agriculture.

Xiao Yan, dressed in simple clothes, was over seventy years old but still agile. Even without the help of others, he moved swiftly through the fields with a hoe.

In the past, the Jitian ceremony was mostly a ritual, but now the fields are actually planted with grain.

The officials only saw Xiao Yan walking in the fields, checking the growth of the seedlings from time to time, looking like an old farmer from a distance.

It was late spring, and Xiao Yan's arrival with his ministers was not merely for show.

This natural disaster had a significant impact on Southern Liang. At this time, even more profound consequences were already beginning to emerge.

The main crop in the Southern Dynasties was rice, which was less cold-resistant than millet.

Insufficient sunshine and the resulting drop in temperature will definitely affect rice yield.

Looking at the seedlings in the rice field, which were not growing very well, Xiao Yan couldn't help but frown.

If the imperial fields are in such a state, what will become of the common people's fields?

Hebasheng watched this scene from a distance, feeling a pang of sadness.

In the north, he had witnessed too much killing and betrayal. When he came to the Southern Dynasty and met Xiao Yan, he realized that there was such a monarch in the world.

He was knowledgeable in everything from astronomy to geography, and even military strategy and agriculture.

Just as Hebasheng was pondering, Zhu Yi came running over, shouting.

In the past, Zhu Yi would not have been so rude, but now he didn't care about such things and even deliberately raised his voice.

"Your Majesty, great victory!"

Xiao Yan, carrying a hoe, leaned slightly against the ground as he watched Zhu Yi, dressed in crimson, run over from the ridge. Zhu Yi, unconcerned about the mud on his clothes, knelt down before him.

"Your Majesty, a great victory! Grand Commander Chen Qingzhi has utterly defeated the enemy at Lijiang, capturing and killing tens of thousands. The northern barbarians are terrified, and from now on, there will be no more worries along the Huai River!"

After Zhu Yi finished speaking, all the officials and nobles bowed down.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! From now on, there will be no more worries along the Huai River!"

Amidst the cheers and shouts, Xiao Yan accepted the memorial handed to him by Zhu Yi, glanced at it, and smiled:

"The northern barbarians are nothing but troublemakers; they can be easily wiped out!"

……

Shouyang.

Chen Qingzhi walked on the battlefield, looking at the still unrepaired battlefield and smelling the stench of blood, and coughed violently.

"Was this elite northern force wiped out by Hebasheng's troops?"

Chen Baxian nodded.

He personally led his troops from Wuchuan to defeat this northern army.

From his time as an oil depot official to his current position as a commander of the Imperial Guards, Chen Baxian had seen the elite cavalry of the Southern Liang Dynasty before.

The elite cavalry of Southern Liang were much better equipped than these Wuchuan troops, but Chen Baxian always felt that something was missing.

Chen Qingzhi had already spoken, saying:
"What a sharp blade!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Baxian suddenly understood what the Southern Liang Imperial Guards lacked.
That innate sharpness cannot be cultivated through training; it cannot be forged without the biting cold winds and snow of the North.

In comparison, Chen Qingzhi's White Robe Army was superior in overall quality, excelling in infantry combat, cavalry combat, naval combat, and offensive and defensive warfare.

However, if we only consider mounted combat, the White-Robed Army is somewhat inferior.

Chen Qingzhi gave the instructions:

"After the great battle, handle the corpses carefully and beware of disease."

"promise!"

"Furthermore, Hou Jing must not be allowed to leave."

"Rest assured, Grand Commander, we have laid a tight net and sealed off the ferry crossings and strategic passes. We will never allow Hou Jing to escape back to Huaibei."

"That's good!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Qingzhi relaxed. Commanding this battle had exhausted him, and now he could no longer hold on. His mountain-like body collapsed.

"Grand Governor!"

……

Under the cover of night, Hou Jing led Wang Wei and a dozen Huai Shuo youths through the darkness. "General, the Liang army is moving so fast. It seems they won't rest until they capture you."

Hou Jing scoffed:
"Who in this world can capture me except the King! I have arranged manpower and small boats in the fishing village ahead. After we cross the Huai River and return to Yuzhou, the Liang army will be unable to do anything to us."

When Hou Jing and his men arrived at the fishing village, they found that a Liang army was already stationed there.

"who!"

The appearance of Hou Jing and his men alerted the Liang army's sentries, and soon, more than thirty cavalrymen poured out of the village.

The Huai Shuo disciples behind Hou Jing were about to draw their swords to fight back, but he stopped them with a single look.

“We fishermen from neighboring villages have suffered from the scourge of the northern barbarians. We’ve come here to visit relatives and seek refuge from the bandits.”

After Hou Jing finished speaking, someone among the cavalrymen burst into laughter.

"How did the dignified General Hougu become a fisherman?"

Hou Jing's expression changed as he saw Nian Xian riding a horse, holding a torch, slowly approaching him.

"So it's you!" Hou Jing wasn't flustered. "Hey buddy, I heard that Hebasheng is enjoying all the riches and glory in Jiankang, but he's left you guys in this godforsaken place?"

Hou Jing looked at Nian Xian and, seeing that he didn't react, advised:

"Why don't you all come back to Yuzhou with me? Wouldn't that be much better than staying here?"

Nianxian smiled, took off the saddlebag from his warhorse, and threw it on the ground.

A head rolled out of the bag, and Hou Jing looked closely and saw that it was Jia Xiandu.

"With this, Wan Jing, why should we worry about our wealth and status in Liang Kingdom?"

Hou Jing's expression changed drastically, and a murderous intent emanated from him.

“Gail, I’m afraid you won’t have the chance to enjoy this wealth.”

Upon hearing this, Nianxian showed no fear and laughed:

"Even if you can kill me and defeat our thirty-odd riders, you will inevitably provoke the Liang Kingdom's navy upstream and downstream. At that time, will you still be able to cross the Huai River?"

Hou Jing was momentarily speechless, so Nian Xian continued:

"Letting you go is not out of the question, but you have to say something I want to hear."

Upon hearing this, Hou Jing's murderous intent vanished, and he asked:

“Brother, you’re too kind. I’ve always respected you. I would say ten or a hundred words to you, let alone just one.”

Nianxian smiled and said:

"Then just say, 'We Huai Shuo people are inferior to you Wu Chuan people!'"

When Wang Wei heard this, he thought it was something serious, but after waiting for a while, he found that Hou Jing didn't make a move at all.

Wang Wei looked at him. Hou Jing seemed to be in an ice cave, muttering incoherently, unable to open his mouth, as if he had to use all his strength to say a single word.

“I…we…”

"We Huai Shuo people are no match for you Wu Chuan people!"

Wang Wei spoke first. Nian Xian was about to say something when he noticed boats floating on the riverbank in the distance.

At that moment, he lost all interest in playing.

"Liang Jun's scouts have arrived. You all should retreat into the village and take cover. I will handle this."
-
Changan.

In Furong Garden, the spring breeze caressed the willows, and Li Shuang was enjoying the scenery with his family.

On the grass, Li Shuang's eldest son, Li Heng, was having a great time flying kites with his younger siblings.

"Father, my kite is broken."

Erzhu Ying'e's eldest daughter, Li Miaozhen, walked over with small steps, her face showing some grievance. She leaned against Li Shuang's chest and pleaded in a soft, sweet voice.

Li Shuang looked at her daughter with affection and patted her head.

"Alright, Father will fix it for you."

A report, however, shattered this harmonious atmosphere.

Dugu Ru, Yuan Mingyue and the others saw that Li Shuang's demeanor changed drastically after reading the report. He no longer had any fatherly warmth, but only a coldness.

Li Miaozhen hid in Erzhu Ying'e's arms, somewhat frightened, as if she didn't recognize her father.

Li Shuang held the memorial tightly, never letting go, and murmured:
"furious!"

……

(End of this chapter)