Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 496 You Don't Understand That Mountain

Changan.

A breeze blew in from outside, carrying a refreshing scent that invigorated the spirit.

Inside the attic, Li Shuang looked at the intelligence coming from the north, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.

Hebasheng lives up to his name; he's as fierce as ever.

In the Southern Dynasties, on battlefields crisscrossed by waterways, Hebasheng's prowess was not particularly noticeable.

But once you get to the grasslands and onto horseback, it's a different story.

Hebasheng's bravery in battle was unmatched in his time. He continued to perform consistently well, and after arriving at the Rouran royal court, he began to cultivate his own "people" whom he could use, forming a small clique within the Rouran royal court.

To be fair, Hebasheng did indeed successfully complete the task Li Shuang gave him, stabilizing the situation on the grassland.

The Rouran cavalry under Yujiulütahan's command and under Hebasheng's command were completely different.

The Tiele tribes looked down on Yujiulütahan, but after being taught a lesson by Hebasheng several times, they no longer dared to act recklessly.

After reading it, Li Shuang put all the documents in her hand into the box next to her and stood up.

Outside the attic, Liu Sixia, dressed in a light silk dress, slowly walked in, her belly slightly protruding.

In this day and age, Liu Sixia's pregnancy definitely qualifies her as an older mother.

Seeing her like this, Li Shuang touched her stomach and looked worried.

Liu Sixia, however, offered words of comfort:
"Is the King leaving Chang'an?"

Li Shuang nodded and said:

"The soldiers are ready, the provisions are gathered, the weapons are in place, and the warships are sufficient. I intend to go to Liaodong."

"Your Majesty, please rest assured. With Aru here, I will be fine."

That's what they say, but Liu Sixia is, after all, pregnant for the first time, so the risks are still quite high.

With Li Shuang gone, he will certainly be unable to be by Liu Sixia's side when she gives birth.

"take care of yourself!"

Seeing Li Shuang's concerned expression, Liu Sixia smiled sweetly, like a girl who had just fallen in love.

……

In the fifth year of the Datong era, Emperor Yuan Baoju of Luoyang, citing Goguryeo's disrespect, appointed Prince Li Shuang of Qin as the supreme commander of all military and political affairs in Hebei and Liaodong, and issued an edict to launch a campaign against them.

When Li Shuang arrived in Luoyang, he met another person.

Zu Ting!

After a long absence, the young scholar had lost his arrogance and become humble instead.

When Zu Ting came to see Li Shuang, he was dressed in white and had nothing else on him.

"Now that you've returned alive, your past sins are wiped clean."

"I thank Your Majesty!"

Upon returning from his mission to Pyongyang, Jo Ting not only successfully shed the label of a criminal but also obtained firsthand intelligence about Goguryeo.

"Your Majesty, I have been in Pyongyang for more than ten days and have learned about the situation there. I would like to inform you of it."

"how?"

"The first wife of King Anwon, Gao Baoyan, has no children, while the second and third wives are fiercely fighting. In addition, the Southern Daiga of the former Anzang King's lineage is unpredictable and seems to have ulterior motives."

Li Shuang listened and asked:
"Anymore?"

"Given the internal situation of Goguryeo, Your Majesty's use of the pretext of recovering Liaodong to launch a campaign is a very effective strategy. If Goguryeo is in danger of being destroyed, it is inevitable that the people of Goguryeo will unite as one and take only a small part of the country to slow down its forces."

Li Shuang nodded and said:

"You've only been in Pyongyang for a dozen days, yet you've already figured out the situation in the Goguryeo capital. That's quite an achievement."

Zu Ting felt something was amiss. Li Shuang wasn't waiting for his intelligence; he was testing him.

"Your Majesty already knew?"

Li Shuang smiled, took out two letters from a box beside him, and handed them to Zu Ting.

The other party hesitated, but Li Shuang said:
"Look!"

Upon hearing this, Zu Ting did not hesitate any longer and read both letters one by one, and was astonished.

"These are letters written by Gao Baoyan's middle wife, Lady Qun, and his concubine, Lady Xiqun, to Your Majesty?"

Looking up again, Zu Ting's expression grew even more astonished. This wasn't just any random person's work; it was written by Gao Baoyan's two wives themselves.

If this letter is genuine, it means that Li Shuang holds a huge incriminating weapon, enough to shake the entire city of Pyongyang.

Li Shuang ignored Zu Ting's expression, leaned slightly forward, and said:

"The two of them, or rather the people behind them, hoped to gain my support. However, the situation has changed, and some things are no longer valid."

Zu Ting looked at Li Shuang and asked:

"Your Majesty, there is something I am unsure whether I should ask?"

"Just ask!"

"How did Your Majesty obtain the words of a woman within the palace walls?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shuang laughed and said:
"It is not a time for such matters to take place within the palace!"

Zu Ting listened thoughtfully. Then he looked at the two letters and realized they were indeed quite old.

It wasn't written recently.

It seems that Li Shuang put in more effort and earlier than Zu Ting had.

"Xiaozheng, do you know why the art of theft has come to an end?"

Upon hearing this, Zu Ting cupped his hands and said:

"Please enlighten me, Your Majesty."

The carriage traveled smoothly along the sturdy official road. Sitting comfortably in the Qin King's carriage, Zu Ting felt a surge of excitement; his heart pounded in his chest.

At that moment, Zu Ting had a feeling that Li Shuang's next words would change the rest of his life.

"As long as sages exist, so will great thieves!"

Li Shuang spoke slowly and calmly.

Although Zu Ting had read these words in books long ago, hearing them now made his eyes widen, goosebumps rise all over his body, and his mouth go dry.

He looked at Li Shuang, who was dressed in royal robes and exuded a heroic air. Li Shuang also looked at him, extended his hand, and asked:
"Xiaozheng, would you be willing to help me?"

……

The carriage stopped.

Zu Ting stepped out of the carriage, and the accompanying entourage stopped and set up camp. Cui Ling quickly approached.

"Xiaozheng, what did the King of Qin say? Are we safe now?"

Cui Ling was eager to know Li Shuang's attitude, but Zu Ting ignored Cui Ling at this moment, his face blank as he walked slowly.

Seeing Zu Ting's appearance, Cui Ling became anxious, but he didn't dare to do anything to Zu Ting in front of everyone, so he could only follow him.

When they arrived at the riverbank, Cui Ling became truly anxious.

"Xiaozheng, don't do anything rash. Tell me what's wrong, and I'll take it!"

Zu Ting looked at Cui Ling, who still had that blank expression, but then he spoke.

“Lord Cui, I have been robbed by the King of Qin.”

Looking at Zu Ting, dressed in plain clothes, Cui Ling wondered what he had that could attract attention.
What did the King of Qin steal?

"My heart!"

"..."

Cui Ling was furious, feeling that Zu Ting was toying with him.

"You little brat, you're messing with me, aren't you!"

Seeing the furious Cui Ling, Zu Ting approached and slowly said:
"Lord Cui, you don't understand. Only after meeting the King of Qin today did I realize the vastness of the world and the immensity of the mountains!"

Zu Ting bowed to Cui Ling and slowly left.

Looking at the other person's appearance, Cui Ling was puzzled.

"What does this kid mean?"

Immediately, Cui Ling subconsciously touched his waist and said:
Where is my purse?

……

(End of this chapter)