Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 491 Our hearts are pure.
The rumbling carriage traveled along the muddy road, which had become even more difficult to navigate after a heavy snowfall.

Inside the spacious carriage, Hou Jingzheng looked sullen.

Sitting beside him, Wang Wei looked at Hou Jing's state and couldn't help but advise him:

"My lord, things have come to this point. You still have to see Sima Ziru and the others soon, so please don't be too sad."

Wang Wei's words opened up a floodgate of conversation for Hou Jing.

"Tell me, Sima Ziru and his gang, they were already slacking off back in Huai Shuo, and hid in Xiu Rong long ago. They've lived their whole lives in a cowardly way, and now they want to prove themselves. Is Goguryeo a place for them? It's freezing cold here, I don't know what they're fighting for!"

After hearing these complaints, Wang Wei could only offer the following advice:

"Duke Wei has no choice but to accept that the relationship between him and the powerful families in Hebei is no longer what it used to be."

Wang Wei naturally knew some of the inside story, but Hou Jing became even angrier after hearing it.

"He Liuhun is also like this. He is already the Duke of Wei, yet he is still so arrogant. If Yuwen Tai wants to compete for military merit, let him go. Why is he joining in the fun and insisting on going to Yingzhou?"

Hou Jing cursed and swore, releasing his pent-up anger.

"My lord, they're fighting, why don't you just watch the show?"

Hou Jing glanced at Wang Wei and said:
"You make it sound so easy. You traveled all this way just to watch the show? Tell me, in the dead of winter, I could have been comfortably at home with my sweetheart, listening to music, but I had to brave the wind and snow to come here. What does this have to do with me? I don't want to earn this military merit."

Unlike Gao Huan and Yuwen Tai, Hou Jing did not have as many retainers to support, nor did he have over ten thousand soldiers from the Six Garrisons waiting to be fed. Moreover, Hou Jing and most of his men held official ranks and honors.

"But the King of Qin..."

"Your Majesty is also—"

Hou Jing had just opened his mouth when he paused, then continued in an instant:
"...You still have such keen eyes, you picked me at a glance and knew that I was the only choice."

Wang Wei felt a little embarrassed and asked:
"My lord, what are your plans?"

"Humph!"

Hou Jing snorted coldly, his expression unfriendly.

Just then, the carriage stopped, and a sound came from outside.

"My lord, we have arrived."

The carriage door opened, and sunlight streamed into the carriage. Wang Wei saw that Hou Jing, who had initially had an unfriendly expression, instantly changed into a smiling face.

Outside, Sima Ziru, Sun Teng, and other old friends from Huai Shuo Town were waiting.

"Oh dear, it's freezing cold outside, how could I allow my brothers to come here to greet me!"

"Wan Jing has come, how could we not come?"

"As time goes by since I parted from my brothers, my longing for them grows stronger with each passing day."

"Me too!"

……

Looking at the lively scene, Wang Wei was genuinely moved, had he not overheard Hou Jing's complaints in the carriage and seen his expression earlier.

Wang Wei dismounted from the carriage and followed the others into the camp.

After reaching the main tent, no one dared to go any further, except for Hou Jing, who went inside alone.

Gao Huan was waiting for him inside.

Looking at this scene, Wang Wei felt a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing both emotion and reflection).

Wang Wei had previously served under Hou Jing and had met Gao Huan, who commanded troops. However, at that time, Gao Huan, like other generals, served under Li Shuang.

Wang Wei did not notice anything amiss.

This time, however, Gao Huan led his troops out alone, and Wang Wei saw through Gao Huan's extraordinary abilities.

This method of strictly enforcing orders is truly unmatched by ordinary generals.

……

Inside the large tent, Hou Jing walked in and saw Gao Huan sitting behind a table reading a book. He walked over to him and threw the copper spoon in his hand onto the table, making a loud noise.

Gao Huan was not annoyed, but simply said:

"Who provoked you?" "Do you, He Liuhun, not know who provoked me? Why didn't you stay in Yecheng, a perfectly good place, and instead came to Liaoxi to suffer like this?"

Gao Huan put down the book in his hand and looked up at Hou Jing, who was slightly angry.

"I came to western Liaoning to suffer, what are you doing here? I didn't ask you to come!"

Hou Jing was speechless upon hearing this.

At this moment, he picked up the copper spoon that he had just thrown on the table and threw it again, which puzzled Gao Huan.

"What are you doing?"

I'm angry!

Gao Huan smiled, stood up, and, facing Hou Jing's self-righteous indignation, persuaded him to sit down.

"Since you're already here, what's the point of getting angry? Why don't you think about what to do?"

"What's it to me!" Hou Jing cursed. "It's not like I want credit. The Goguryeo people want to build a city wherever they go. You and Yuwen Tai can just take them one by one!"

Seeing that Hou Jing remained unchanged, Gao Huan calmed him down with just one sentence.

"Does the King of Qin really think that even if I don't come, the King of Qin will just watch me stay in Ye City?"

Hou Jing, who was full of complaints, changed his expression and looked at Gao Huan. After a long while, a cheerful smile appeared on his face.

"You, He Liuhun, are really cunning."

As he spoke, Hou Jing sat up straight, leaned slightly towards Gao Huan, and asked:
"Then what do you think?"

"In this campaign, Yuwen Tai is the main force, controlling the troops of You and Ying prefectures, plus the soldiers of Khitan and Xi, totaling 30,000. When he attacks Wuliluo and draws the Goguryeo troops there, we will take the opportunity to send troops to occupy Xiandu City in the south."

Hou Jing nodded at first, but after hearing the rest, he couldn't help but ask:

"Why am I in here?"

Gao Huan countered with a question:
"If you stay in Yingzhou, would Yuwentai dare to go to the front lines with peace of mind and entrust the rear to you?"

"Then I'll oversee the transport of grain for you!"

Gao Huan remained silent, only smiling.

This person has absolutely no self-awareness.

If you entrust me with the transport of grain and fodder, would I dare to go to the front lines with peace of mind and leave my rear to you?
Hou Jing, upon seeing this, became enraged and questioned:

"He Liuhun, what do you mean? We've been brothers for years. Do you not trust my character or my methods?"

Gao Huan smiled and said:
"Wan Jing, don't be angry. Otherwise, you can lead the troops in front, and I'll supervise the transport from behind."

Hou Jing laughed twice, grasped Gao Huan's hand, and said:

"He Liuhun, it's not that I don't trust you, but I think you're right. Let's go together!"

Gao Huan nodded and said:

“Wan Jing, Yuwen Tai has made many military achievements. If he really conquers Liaodong, his Northeast Circuit will probably expand by another two thousand miles. We can’t let the Wuchuan people gain an advantage for nothing.”

Hou Jing listened, but didn't feel much.

"So what? It's freezing cold here, and there's a ton of trouble. Let him deal with it!"

“Yuwen Tai is very young. If he were to take control of the entire Liaodong region, what if he developed inappropriate thoughts? Don’t forget, the Khitan and other ethnic groups originated from the Yuwen tribe.”

Hou Jing, feeling even less, asked:
What exactly do you mean?

Gao Huan revealed the truth, saying:

"The King of Qin wants to recover Liaodong, not destroy Goguryeo. After the war, business still needs to be done. I have communicated with the southern governor of Goguryeo. From now on, I will give you 20% of the trade with Goguryeo."

Hou Jing's expression changed upon hearing this.

"Money is not important; what matters is that we cannot watch a pillar of society like Yuwen Tai go astray!"

……

(End of this chapter)