Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 448 That's just how he is

night.

Gao Huan and Hou Jing were whispering and talking animatedly when the door was suddenly pushed open.

The two were startled, and when they saw who it was, Hou Jing's anger finally erupted.

"You little brat, you've embezzled so much of my gold, and I haven't even come looking for you yet!"

Nianxian chuckled upon hearing this.

"This is what you're giving me, I didn't ask you for it."

"You think you're so high and mighty? Go ahead and return my gold if you dare!"

"You want the gold you gave away back?"

Gao Huan quickly pulled Hou Jing aside and asked:
"What are you doing here?"

Nian Xian said righteously:

"I have been ordered by General Pei Zhigao to come and keep an eye on you two Huai Shuo people!"

Hou Jing became even angrier upon hearing this, and looked around for any handy tools before heading forward.

"We'll talk about the gold later."

Gao Huan pulled Hou Jing aside, beckoned Nian Xian over, and asked:
Where are Liang Jun's elite troops hidden?

Nianxian smiled and said:
"Didn't you all see them during the day?"

Hearing this, Hou Jing quieted down, sat down, and asked:
"That's not right. Is this all the weak soldiers Liang Jun has? What about Chen Qingzhi's White Robe Army?"

The Liang army that Hou Jing saw back in Lijiang was not what it is now.

"Liang Jun's elite imperial guards have all gone to attack Bashu. As for the White Robe Soldiers, after Chen Qingzhi returned to Jiankang, Pei Zhigao sent them to guard Hefei."

Gao Huan stroked his beard, a sly smile on his face, and asked:

"Does Pei Zhigao have a grudge against Chen Qingzhi, that he would send white-robed soldiers to Hefei?"

“No, that’s not it!” Nianxian also found a place to sit down. “Pei Zhigao is a bit petty. He was afraid that the white-robed soldiers would be difficult to control, so he sent them away.”

Upon hearing this, Gao Huan's mind began to work, and he asked again:
"What about Xiao Yuanming? Why did Pei Zhigao let us rest for a day?"

“He is a heavy drinker and still has a hangover. Pei Zhigao was afraid that you would laugh at him, so he gave him a day off.”

A smile appeared on Gao Huan's face as he said:

"In that case, it's not impossible to take Shouyang City."

Nianxian looked worried and said:

“But Pei Zhigao does not trust us, so my troops cannot enter Jincheng.”

"It's alright. The peace talks will take at least ten days. In that time, your troops will be able to enter the city."

"how do you want to do it?"

Gao Huan smiled and said:
"He naturally gained Xiao Yuanming's trust."

For some reason, looking at Gao Huan's flamboyant manner, Hou Jing and Nian Xian both felt an urge to beat him up.

……

golden city.

At the banquet, Xiao Yuanming, seated in the main seat, looked at Gao Huan, raised his cup, and said:

"Lord Anyang, now that the peace agreement is concluded, our two armies will no longer engage in warfare. The money and provisions for the peace agreement have been transported to Xiangguo City and will be sent to Shangcai once the documents are handed over."

As for Hou Jing, who was by Gao Huan's side, Xiao Yuanming ignored him.

Gao Huan raised his glass in thanks and said:

"In that case, thank you very much, Marquis Zhenyang."

Pei Zhigao was also at the banquet, but he dismissed it with disdain.

Just then, Hou Jing, who had been silent all along, suddenly slammed his wine cup heavily onto the table.

"Now that we've settled things, what's the point of just drinking? Why don't we call in some dancers?"

Xiao Yuanming was very dissatisfied with Hou Jing, but out of respect for Gao Huan, he couldn't reprimand him.

After all, Hou Jing was also the deputy envoy in the negotiations.

Xiao Yuanming glanced at Pei Zhigao with a troubled expression, but seeing that Pei Zhigao ignored him, Xiao Yuanming finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"It was my negligence. Guards, summon the dancer!"

No sooner had this order been given than Hou Jing said:
What's the point of an ordinary dancer?

Xiao Yuanming frowned as he watched Hou Jing stand up, walk to the center of the room, and smile:

"I've heard that the wife of the Marquis of Zhenyang comes from the Langya Wang clan, a woman of high birth. Why don't we summon her and have her dance?" Xiao Yuanming's expression changed drastically, suppressing his anger as if he were about to explode at any moment. The other officials of Southern Liang present also changed their expressions.

Pei Zhigao stood up, waved his hand, summoned two armored soldiers, and gave them his orders:

“The deputy envoy is drunk; help him down.”

Just as the two armored soldiers were about to step forward, Hou Jing slid a dagger out of his sleeve.

Although he had been drinking, his steps were remarkably steady. Taking advantage of a moment when one of the armored soldiers was off guard, he slashed the soldier's throat with a dagger. Before the other soldier could react, he struck back with his own hand.

After taking the lives of two armored soldiers, Hou Jing strode towards Pei Zhigao and seized control of the nearly sixty-year-old minister.

"Hou Jing, what are you doing!"

Gao Huan stood up, his face full of anger.

None of the officials present expected things to develop this way; Xiao Yuanming, who had been hiding under the table, suddenly emerged.

"What am I doing?" Hou Jing, who had been drinking, said angrily. "He Liuhun, I've disliked you for a long time. You're a general from Yecheng, yet you come to Shouyang and try to undermine me in everything you do."

"You don't like me, so why are you holding Lord Pei hostage?"

"What?"

Hou Jing held the dagger to Pei Zhigao's neck and said:
"I'm telling you all today that the peace talks will proceed as I say! Get out of here, I need to speak with Pei Zhigao!"

Seeing Hou Jing's dagger piercing deeper and deeper, Gao Huan hurriedly said:

"Alright, alright, we'll leave. Just don't hurt Master Pei. Otherwise, your life won't be enough to pay for it."

"I don't need you to tell me, get out of here!"

Everyone left the room, and Xiao Yuanming and the others surrounded Gao Huan, looking very anxious. They said:
"He Liuhun, what does Hou Jing want?"

Gao Huan sighed:

"That's just how he is. He likes to act recklessly when he's drunk, and even the king can't do anything about him."

"What should we do then? If he really hurts Lord Pei, how can we explain this to His Majesty?"

Gao Huan listened and said:

"In that case, we can only wait until he sobers up."

Xiao Yuanming was extremely anxious and said:

"So we'll just wait here for him to sober up?"

"What does Marquis Zhenyang mean?"

"I have to do something, otherwise what am I supposed to say when His Majesty asks me?"

Gao Huan listened and fell into deep thought, which made Xiao Yuanming anxious, so he slowly said:

"There are a few northerners who are on good terms with Hou Jing, and they might be able to persuade him. Hou Jing has also told me several times that he wants to find an opportunity to bring them back."

"Who is it?" Xiao Yuanming didn't bother to ask. "Then just bring them here and try to persuade them!"

Gao Huan hesitated for a moment and said:

Should I search your army's camp?

Xiao Yuanming patted his head and said:

"Let Hebasheng's subordinate, Nianxian, go find him. Once he finds him, have him bring his men over directly."

……

in the house.

Pei Zhigao, who was tied up, looked at Hou Jing in front of him and felt that something was wrong the more he looked.

He didn't look drunk at all. His actions and demeanor were more agile than those of an ordinary person.

"wrong!"

Pei Zhigao suddenly thought of something and shouted.

"Marquis Zhenyang, be careful of Gao Huan."

Hou Jing, however, didn't seem to care and, with remarkable professionalism, said:

"It's too far away, they can't hear us at all."

"What are you going to do?"

Hou Jing chuckled, sat down next to Pei Zhigao, drank his wine, and said:
"Didn't I say I wanted to see that Wang Xie daughter dance for me!"

……

(End of this chapter)