Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 46 It’s all for the country

Fenzhou, Zuoguocheng.

Looking at the military newspaper in front of him, Erzhu Rong looked grim.

"These Jihu are just rats in the ravine!"

Erzhu Rong had always been known for his bold and unrestrained military tactics, but for the first time, this group of Jihu people hiding in the valleys of Hexi made him feel somewhat powerless.

These descendants of the Huns have lost the bravery of their ancestors who galloped across the grasslands. After hiding in this valley for more than a hundred years, they have become more cunning.

Even though Erzhu Rong captured Zuoguo City, the capital once established by Liu Yuan, the rebellious Jiehu people not only did not surrender, but instead hid in the mountains and forests, jumping out from time to time to attack Erzhu Rong's logistical supplies, which made him extremely annoyed.

Unfortunately, Erzhu Rong had no good solution.

There are hundreds of thousands of Jihu people living in the Hexi Valley. They are weak in combat but numerous in number. Such tactics just hit Erzhu Rong's weak spot.

The men under his command are all elite, but they are few in number. To slowly waste time with those Jihu in this mountain forest is undoubtedly chronic suicide.

Yuan Tianmu walked in, and it seemed that Bill Zhurong was even more worried.

"Tianmu, you've arrived just in time. We can't stay here any longer. It's time to withdraw our troops."

Yuan Tianmu did not respond, but handed the information in his hand to Erzhu Rong.

The other party took it and looked at it, and was shocked.

"How did Li Chong get to Pingcheng?"

"He didn't march from Bingzhou. Instead, he led his troops around Hebei, passing through Shanggu and arriving at Hengzhou, completely evading our detection. I heard that my third brother was caught off guard by him and nearly lost his life."

"This old fellow is so cunning even at his age." Erzhu Rong's pent-up anger erupted at this moment. "In this case, we can't stay here any longer."

Erzhu Rong wanted to leave the Hexi Valley as soon as possible, and Yuan Tianmu also wanted to do the same.

"Now that Zuoguo City has been recaptured, we have enough to report to the court. The court has been in turmoil lately!"

"Chaozhong?"

Yuan Tianmu nodded and said:
"After Liu Teng's death, Empress Hu gradually regained control of the harem. As His Majesty grew older, he expressed dissatisfaction with Yuan Yi's monopoly on government affairs. I'm afraid the situation in Luoyang City is about to change."

Erzhu Rong frowned. Yuan Yi was his backer in the court. If he fell, many things would be difficult to handle.

"What does Yuan Yi think?"

"He seems to want to retreat!"

"What did you say?"

At that time, Yuan Yi joined forces with the eunuch Liu Teng to launch a palace coup, killed Qinghe King Yuan Yi, imprisoned Queen Hu, and only then took control of the Luoyang government.

Erzhu Rong couldn't believe that someone could be so naive.

"Does he think he has a way out?"

Yuan Tianmu also sighed, feeling helpless about this.

"Yuan Yi may have felt that since he was Empress Hu's brother-in-law, there was still room for maneuver."

"So, we must speed up our efforts and capture Jinyang as soon as possible. No matter what happens in Luoyang, we will be able to sit back and relax."

"I just don't know if my third brother can make it through!"
-
"The young hero of Mayi Shou has extraordinary bearing. I admire him deeply!"

"General Zhengbei is nearly seventy years old, yet he still leads his troops into battle with unparalleled bravery. His bravery is no less than that of Lian Po!"

Li Shengui stood aside and didn't understand why the two people who were fighting for life and death not long ago were now so close.

"please!"

"please!"

Li Chong just sat down and started to get close to her.

"I heard from Wei Qingbin, the governor of Sizhou, that the governor of Mayi is from the Longxi Li family?"

"To be honest, General, I lost my father when I was young and wandered in the mountains. I don't know where I came from!"

Li Chong stroked his beard, pondered for a long time, and suddenly said:

"There's no mistake, you are the Longxi Li family!"

Li Shuang was caught off guard by Li Chong's sudden turn of events, but he heard him continue:
"I am also from the Longxi Li family. I am a family member. I will not make a mistake."

Li Shuang showed an expression of sudden enlightenment.

"No wonder I felt so kind to you that day on the city wall of Mayi. I couldn't help but kowtow to you. It turns out that this is the call in my blood!" Li Shuang stood up and clapped his hands.

Liu Gui suddenly appeared at the banquet, holding a box in his hands, looking a little uneasy. It seemed that this was his first time attending such a high-end drinking party, and Liu Gui was very nervous.

Li Shuang took the heavy box from Liu Gui and placed it in front of Li Chong.

"I heard that you are a believer, so I specially ordered people to prepare this. It is a filial tribute from the younger generation to you."

Li Chong lightly hooked the box with his finger, and saw a golden statue inside.

"Why are you being so polite? I am a few years older than you, so I am considered your elder. How can I accept a gift from a junior like you?"

As he spoke, Li Chong handed the box to Li Shengui who was serving beside him.

"Besides, if outsiders knew about this, they would say I accepted bribes!"

Li Shuang's expression changed and he shook his head.

"I'm going to argue with you about what you said."

"Oh?"

"When Wang Jian was ordered to attack Chu, the First Emperor questioned him and found that he had asked for land, houses, and beautiful concubines. Even with the Qin Emperor's talent, Wang Jian should have disgraced himself to avoid suspicion. Moreover, the current emperor is young and surrounded by treacherous ministers. You, the elder, are leading a large army away, so you should do the same."

After Li Shuang finished speaking, the meeting room fell silent for a long time. After a while, Li Chong burst into laughter.

"Your words really hit the nail on the head, kid. It's ridiculous that those upright people always talk about people who are 'greedy for money and goods, peddling and hoarding, and pursuing endless pursuits'!"

Li Shuang echoed.

"What you're saying is, what do those people who sit around and talk know? If a general doesn't defile himself when he's away, how can he reassure the emperor? Sometimes we take a little more, not for ourselves, but for the country!"

Li Chong's eyes lit up and he looked at Li Shuang with admiration.

"The more I look at you, the more I like you."

Li Shengui was standing by and could see that if there was some acting going on just now, Li Chong's emotions now came completely from within.

"I have a bold idea!"

Having said that, Li Shuang knelt down.

"If you don't abandon me, I will be your foster father!"

Li Chong helped Li Shuang up and laughed:
"I never thought that at my age, I could still have such a child!"
-
After helping the half-drunk Li Chong back to his room, Li Shengui complained:

"Father, you are really getting old and confused. Why did you adopt a person of unknown origin as your adopted son?"

Li Chong was lying on the bed, his face still red, but his eyes were extremely clear.

"I said you were an idiot, and you really are. If you could be even half as good as that kid Li Shuang, my Li family wouldn't have to worry about anything."

"Father, what do you mean?"

"Remember the question I asked you?"

"Remember!"

After hearing what Li Shengui said, Li Chong still felt hatred.

"That Xianbei kid made you the General of Pingbei because he trusts the Li family?"

"if not?"

"He clearly meant that since the Hengzhou Rebellion cannot be quelled, we father and son don't need to go back and should just be buried here!"

Li Shengui's face changed drastically and he couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

"What does that have to do with Li Shuang?"

Li Chong snorted coldly.

"I'm nearly seventy years old. Should I personally deal with those ferocious rebels in the Six Garrisons, or should I let you, the useless General Pingbei, do it?"

Li Shengui understood.

"But what about Yuan Shen?"

Li Chong said with a bit of ruthlessness:
"I've already given him a chance. Since Yuan Shen is incompetent and can't control the situation in Hengzhou, you can't blame me for being cruel!"

……

(End of this chapter)