Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 469 Time flies like an arrow

Chapter 469 Time flies like an arrow
Luoyang.

Two months passed quietly, and time moved from the third year of the Datong era to the fourth year of the Datong era (538).

After the construction of Ganquan Palace was completed, Xiao Yan led the palace staff from Taicheng to move into the palace.

A large number of poor scholars from Jiankang and a few from high-ranking families were granted official positions by Li Shuang and served in the imperial court in Luoyang.

Beneath the seemingly calm surface of Luoyang, turbulent undercurrents were brewing.

Since the second year of the Datong era, Lu Wenwei, Cui Ling, and other members of aristocratic families in Hebei have successively entered the imperial court in Luoyang to serve in government positions.

Since the Northern army was completely annihilated at Lijiang, the power of the Northern nobles in Luoyang has waned, and the chancellor Husichun is in a rather awkward position, while the aristocratic families of Hebei and Henan have been enjoying smooth sailing in the court.

However, the four families of Guandong could not restore the glory they had before the Six Garrisons Rebellion.

Because they discovered that no matter how much they fought for power and profit, there was an invisible barrier blocking them.

Those are the Imperial Guards of Luoyang!

The imperial guards in Luoyang were not influenced by the nobles and were only under the command of the Tiance Mansion.

Of course, that would have been fine. After all, they had no intention of rebelling.

However, the changing situation made the group of officials very uneasy.

The officials in Luoyang discovered that after the decline of the northerners, Han Chinese officials occupied the majority of the court in Luoyang. In fact, after Li Shuang brought back another group of people from Jiankang, the number of Han Chinese officials had become the vast majority.

But the problem is, what good is having a large number of high-ranking officials?
In Luoyang today, the true centers of power are the Qin Prince's Mansion, the Tian Ce Mansion, and the institutions that extend from these two mansions.

The imperial court is neglecting its duties!

What made these nobles even more uneasy was that the number of Hu people in the military camp outside Jinyong City was increasing.

These Hu people were elites selected by Li Shuang from the Guanzhong Plain. They were not under the jurisdiction of the imperial court or even the Tiance Mansion. They obeyed only the seal of the Heavenly Khan and were under the command of Li Shuang alone.

Although nominally imperial guards, they were in reality just servants, essentially household slaves.

In other words, if Li Shuang ordered them to kill all the officials in Luoyang, they would obey without hesitation.

Even more so, these imperial guards stationed at the gates of the palace could break into the palace at any time and seize power.

This wasn't just speculation by the nobles; the Qihu camp was right there in plain sight. Many of the Qihu soldiers in the camp had participated in the Heyin Incident alongside Erzhu Rong.

While Lu Wenwei, Cui Ling, and others were filled with apprehension, the residence of Li Yuanzhong, a close confidant of Li Shuang, was also not peaceful.

"Grandpa, I don't understand, what does the King of Qin want?"

In the large pond, a group of fish were swimming. Li Yuanzhong's son, Li Sao, suddenly shouted, startling all the fish away.

Li Yuanzhong, who was feeding the fish with bait, was not annoyed. He seemed not to have heard Li Sao's words behind him and kept his eyes on the swimming fish.

After a long while, he finally said:
"If I could make you understand, would the King of Qin still be the King of Qin?"

"Father, things have come to this, what is the King of Qin waiting for?"

Li Yuanzhong rolled his eyes at his son and said:

"Why do you think the King of Qin brought the ruler of Liang to Luoyang?"

"It's all to boast of my achievements!"

Li Yuanzhong laughed and said:
"It's not that simple."

Li Yuanzhong threw the bait into the pond. Seeing the fish return, he clapped his hands in satisfaction, sat down in the center of the pavilion, leaned against the table, and waited for the water in the kettle to boil.

Li Sao stood to the side, not daring to sit down. He watched the long neck of the kettle gurgling out steam before picking it up and making tea for Li Yuanzhong.

Holding the teacup, Li Sao handed it to Li Yuanzhong and couldn't help but ask:

"The Liang ruler has already arrived in Luoyang. Who in this world can stop the King of Qin?"

In Li Sao's view, things had already come to this point, so what was there to wait for?

The weight of the tripod is something that can be inquired about!
Li Yuanzhong held his teacup and said softly:

"Everyone is waiting for the credit for being installed, but is the credit for being installed so easy to obtain?"

"Please enlighten me, sir!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanzhong asked:

"You've also read history books, have you read Sima Qian's 'Annals of Emperor Gaozu'?"

"Father, you jest! How could I not have seen it?" "Then let me ask you, who was our great-grandfather?"

Li Sao honestly replied:
"A lucky scoundrel."

Li Yuanzhong laughed in anger upon hearing this.

"You idiot, you can't even understand reading."

Li Sao, feeling somewhat aggrieved, asked:

"Grandpa, what do you mean?"

Li Yuanzhong patiently instructed his son, saying:
"Emperor Gaozu of Han was a man of extraordinary talent. In terms of military prowess, only Xiang Yu and Han Xin could surpass him at that time. However, in terms of the ability to employ and recognize talent, Xiang Yu and Han Xin were far inferior, which is why these two were defeated."

Li Yuanzhong took a sip of tea and said slowly:

"When you read history books, you should see what Sima Qian tells you to see, and you should also see what Sima Qian doesn't tell you to see."

"You didn't let me see it?"

Li Yuanzhong put down his teacup and uttered a single, short word that shocked Li Sao.

"Destiny!"

"Destiny?"

Seeing his son's surprised expression, Li Yuanzhong chuckled.

"Since the Cao family usurped the Han throne, the world has been plagued by endless disputes. Why? Because of their lack of virtue!"

Winter is over, and spring buds are sprouting anew.

The drunkard sitting in the pavilion began to drink tea, but his words carried a hint of pride and arrogance, as well as disdain for the events of the past few hundred years.

"In this turbulent world, there will inevitably be endless debates about virtue and talent, as seen in the Yongjia Rebellion and the Five Barbarian Invasions. But only the Mandate of Heaven is something that cannot be disputed."

Li Sao seemed to understand and said:

"What you mean is that by keeping the Prince of Liang in the Ganquan Palace, everyone will realize that the Prince of Qin is the chosen one."

Li Yuanzhong nodded, his words carrying a hint of reverence.

"The King of Qin is a hero!"

"But when will that be?"

Li Yuanzhong sternly rebuked him, saying:
"Why are you in such a hurry? The King of Qin has appointed several chief craftsmen to develop siege weapons. You should learn from them and earn some military merits as soon as possible. Don't always try to take shortcuts."

……

In the workshops of Luoyang, the newly appointed chief craftsman Yan Qing is testing the latest catapult with the craftsmen.

Yan Qing was also a northerner, his ancestors having all served the Northern Wei dynasty. However, at this time, northerners had all submitted to the Prince of Qin's court.

Li Shuang's arrival caused all the artisans in the workshop to stop what they were doing.

"No need for formalities, you all go about your business."

The other craftsmen were busy with their work, but Yan Qing stayed by Li Shuang's side, reporting on the progress.

"Your Majesty, the newly developed catapult has been successfully completed."

Li Shuang said:
"If we want to open up the Liaoze River and attack Goguryeo, the current catapults are still too cumbersome and difficult to carry."

This was the first time Yan Qing had heard about the attack on Goguryeo from Li Shuang, and he was immediately excited.

"I understand, and I will make improvements accordingly."

Li Shuang nodded, and just then, someone came to report.

"Your Majesty, a report has arrived from Chang'an!"

"What's the matter?"

“The Hephthalites sent an envoy, saying they wanted to pay tribute.”

Li Shuang smiled and said:
"It seems that Anagui and Kualü have hurt the Hephthalites so badly that they have come all the way to Chang'an."