Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 452 Give me face

Jiankang.

Xiao Yan sat on the dragon throne, his aged face solemn, as if he hadn't slept for several nights.

Zhu Yi entered the palace and, seeing Xiao Yan's current appearance, became even more cautious.

As one of Xiao Yan's favorite ministers, Zhu Yi knew very well that Xiao Yan was on the verge of anger.

Without realizing it, Zhu Yi's voice even softened a bit.

"His Majesty!"

"how?"

"The messenger returned and said that in Shouyang City, Da Ye Shuang has released the slaves and is still conscripting refugees to make siege weapons."

A touch.

Xiao Yan slammed his fist on the imperial desk, finally unleashing the anger that had been building up inside him.

"You brat, you're not satisfied with just taking my Shouyang; do you intend to seize the entire Jianghuai region?"

"Your Majesty, please do not let the Northern barbarians harm your health."

As Xiao Yan grew older, he lost interest in warfare. But now, a tremendous crisis forced him to be vigilant.

Even though he disliked war and bloodshed, Xiao Yan was well aware that the Jianghuai and Bashu regions absolutely could not suffer any losses.

With the loss of Bashu, Jingxiang faces a huge threat.

If Jianghuai is lost, Jiankang will have to face the enemy directly.

Just like the Eastern Wu of the past, after Liu Shan surrendered, the countdown to the demise of Eastern Wu began.

"Summon Wei Can and Chen Zhao!"

……

Shouyang City.

"Your Majesty, there is unusual activity in Hefei. The Liang army is reinforcing Hefei."

Li Shuang, who was testing the bow, suddenly released his grip, and the bowstring rang out in vain.

"It seems that Jiankang has mobilized its last available troops."

Hou Jing nodded and said:

"I heard that Wei Fang's son, Wei Can, and Chen Qing's son, Chen Zhao, have both been ordered to garrison Hefei. It seems that the Liang army is afraid that we will attack Hefei."

Li Shuang put down the bow in his hand and handed it to Hou Mochen Chong, who was standing to the side, and instructed him:
“Achong, you shall carry my royal decree and guard Shouyang.”

"promise!"

These words puzzled Hou Jing, who asked:
"Your Majesty, where are we going?"

"Jiankang!"

After Li Shuang finished speaking, he strode away, leaving Hou Jing watching from behind, even more confused.

"Jiankang?"
-
Nanqiao Prefecture.

"Come on!"

On the dirt road, Liang's soldiers escorted a group of slaves, urging them on.

The hundreds of slaves, men and women, young and old, were exhausted during the transport.

However, Liang Jun's soldiers showed no mercy whatsoever; all they felt was an eagerness to complete their mission as quickly as possible.

"What are you all standing there for? Let's go!"

The soldiers held whips in their hands, whipping them like cattle and horses, only concerned with making them hurry on their way.

The elderly man in the group couldn't take it anymore and collapsed to the ground, already panting heavily.

Liang Jun's soldiers went up, checked the old man's breath, and said a word.

"unlucky!"

Right then and there, Liang Jun's soldiers were about to abandon the old man by the roadside, just like they would abandon a dead dog.

Such actions undoubtedly angered the members of the group. However, under the threat of the Liang soldiers' whips, few dared to speak up.

From the crowd, only one woman stepped forward and angrily questioned:
"Elder Huan was a great sage, and was always respected by the villagers. How could his body be left exposed in the wilderness? Please bury him."

The woman had long, disheveled hair, a gaunt face, and blisters on her feet.

Looking at the woman, Liang Jun's captain laughed:
"A bunch of sinners, their corpses are best left to rot in the wilderness."

As he spoke, the captain stepped forward and lashed the woman with his whip, but it did not subdue her in the slightest.

"It's a wild horse!"

The captain reached out, grasped the woman's chin, examined her closely, and said:
"I must say, she's quite pretty. If she's raised properly, she could be a beauty. What's her name?"

At this moment, a man who looked like a clerk walked over and said:

"This woman was also from a prestigious family and married a local official. Later, her husband became a bandit, and she was also a criminal, named Yuan Ji." "Yuan Ji?"

The captain's heart skipped a beat when he heard the surname, but when he looked at the clerk beside him, he saw the clerk shake his head slightly, and he was relieved.

"I knew it! If she really was the daughter of the Yuan family of Chenjun, how could she be here? Fine, if you come with me, you won't have to suffer anymore. You can ride in an oxcart."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Ji showed no gratitude whatsoever; instead, her eyes were filled with anger.

"We are not slaves!"

Yuan Ji's words were resounding and echoed through the mountains and forests, silencing all the Liang soldiers present.

"The traitor Hou Jing attacked the prefectures and counties, and the prefects fled without a fight, yet now they enjoy wealth and luxury in Jiankang. We tried our best to defend the city, but were no match for the rebel army and were taken hostage, only to end up in Lijiang. When Marquis Chen learned of this, he petitioned the court and pardoned us. You know this all along, yet you forcibly imprisoned us as slaves. Who is the real traitor here?!"

Upon hearing this, the captain was not angry at all; on the contrary, he became even more excited.

“Well said, but Chen Qingzhi is currently recuperating in Jiankang, so he can’t hear what you’re saying.”

"You traitors!"

The captain laughed loudly and said:

"The prefect you mentioned who ran away, his surname is Xiao. The one who now wants you as slaves, his surname is Wang. Even if Chen Qingzhi is here, what can he do? This place is just across the river from Jiankang, but the officials and nobles in Jiankang have no jurisdiction over this place."

Clearly, this wasn't the first time the captain and the Liang soldiers present had done this.

The captain flicked a strand of the woman's hair and said:

"Don't hold a grudge. If you must hold a grudge, hold this Yuan against the other Yuan. Otherwise, why would you be in this situation?"

Just as the captain finished speaking, a sudden earthquake sound came from afar.

"Captain, has the ground collapsed?"

Clearly, this was the first time they had heard this commotion.

Until hundreds of tall horses came into view, the Liang soldiers were horrified.

"Captain, are they riding tigers?"

"It must be a warhorse."

"I've seen warhorses, but none of them are this big."

While the Liang soldiers were at a loss, Li Shuang rode forward and asked:
Is this mountain Sanggen Mountain?

The captain said:
"Yes, General..."

Before the captain could finish speaking, he was struck by a whip by Hou Jing, who was standing next to Li Shuang.

"Can't you speak properly? Does our king look like a general?"

After being whipped, the Liang army captain lost his earlier smugness and arrogance, and dared not retaliate at all.

"I admit my guilt."

Li Shuang ignored him and instead asked:

"So, the area down the mountain is the seat of Nanqiao Prefecture?"

"Yes, we are about to escort these criminals back to the city. May I ask Your Majesty's title so that I may inform the prefect to come out of the city to greet you?"

"It doesn't have to be this way!"

Li Shuang gave Yuwen Tai a look, and the man took the reins, spurred his horse away, and was followed by hundreds of cavalrymen.

The thunderous sound of horses' hooves echoed through the mountains and fields. From beginning to end, these Liang soldiers dared not move.

Yuwen Tai led his cavalry down the mountain path, and Yuan Ji, disregarding the Liang soldiers' attempts to stop her, rushed out and roared:
"Hou Jing, you traitor!"

Upon hearing this, Liang Jun's soldiers were startled and instinctively drew their long swords.

However, Li Shuang glanced at him, and the Liang army captain dropped his knife and knelt on the ground.

Seeing this, the rest of the Liang soldiers dared not resist and followed the example of the captain.

Li Shuang glanced at Hou Jing and asked:

"you know?"

Hou Jing was somewhat confused. He shook his head, leaned against Li Shuang, and whispered:

"Your Majesty, I must not have slept with him, otherwise I would remember."

Li Shuang smiled, looked at the captain, and asked:

"Could you do me the honor and release them?"

The Liang soldiers, who had been so menacing and demonic just moments before, dared not disobey these words.

Yuan Ji looked at the scene and couldn't help but fall silent.

I only feel endless absurdity and sorrow!

……

(End of this chapter)