Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 52: The world is declining, and people’s hearts are not as old as they used to be.

The summer season is the busiest time of the year, but there are few people in the vast farmland outside Pingcheng.

Inside the Governor's Mansion, a group of people were deeply distressed and advised Li Chong:

"Yu Puti rebelled in Liangzhou, Mo Zhe Nian rose up in Longyou, Hu Chen rebelled in Gaoping, and the Eastern and Western Chile rebelled, responding to the Six Garrisons. At this moment, we cannot allow Li Shuang to continue like this."

"People's minds have changed. Many tribes have crossed the Great Wall and fled. Pingcheng was already short of food, and now even the pastures are almost deserted."

……

The voices of the crowd kept ringing in his ears, but Li Chong was not moved at all. He said calmly:
"What did your Majesty say?"

Everyone fell silent at once.

Those who can become officials in Pingcheng all have connections in Luoyang City.

Those who were well-informed had already known the reaction from Luoyang City.

The young emperor in Luoyang heard that after the three strategies for suppressing the bandits were successfully implemented, instead of quickly pacifying the six prefectures, more people rebelled. He said:
"I've long known that these barbarians are unreliable. Fortunately, I implemented the three strategies to suppress the bandits. Otherwise, when Li Chong went to quell the rebellion, they would definitely stab me in the back!"

Just like the old story of the Six Garrisons and Anagui, the young emperor would not admit that he was wrong. Instead, he believed that his decision was correct and that those who were wrong were those who failed to understand the emperor's heart.

Li Chong sneered in his heart and no longer had any hope for the little emperor in Luoyang City.

Seeing that everyone was silent, Li Chong said slowly:
"Your Majesty hasn't said to stop, so these three strategies for suppressing bandits must continue to be implemented."

"Even if it's to be carried out, Li Shuang can't continue. This young man is too reckless. We need to select a mature and prudent person in Pingcheng to take charge."

"Let me think about this matter again, you guys go down first!"

Li Chong spoke and everyone retreated.

In the Governor's Mansion, only Li Shengui remained.

During this period, Li Shengui was in high spirits.

"Qingchen, what do you think about this?"

Li Shengui and Li Shuang had been getting along quite well lately. After all, he hadn't gone to Red Romance for nothing.

"My sworn brother is good in every way, but he's too loyal to the court. Young people sometimes act without thinking."

Li Chong looked at Li Shengui's serious expression and couldn't help laughing.

"Father, what are you laughing at?"

"Didn't you notice that the people with the most aggressive attitudes just now were all Yuan Shen's former subordinates?"

"Is that so?"

Li Shengui showed an expression of sudden enlightenment, and then asked:
"so what?"

Li Chong sighed deeply, put his hand on Li Shengui's shoulder, and tried his best to control his emotions.

"Do you really think they're opposing Li Shuang's three strategies for suppressing bandits for the sake of the imperial court?"

"Isn't it?"

"Qingchen, in your life, besides me, the most important thing is to listen to your sworn brother. No matter what he tells you to do, you must never have your own ideas."

Li Chong shook his head helplessly and walked out of the room, leaving Li Shengui shouting behind him:

"why?"
-
The northern Great Wall was mostly built along the mountainside, from north to south, protecting the fertile land from Pingcheng to Mayi.

This was also the core area ruled by the Daijun Group of the Northern Wei Dynasty.

When the Former Qin Dynasty fell, Tuoba Gui established the Northern Wei Dynasty and moved the capital to Pingcheng. The emperors of the Northern Wei Dynasty invested real money in the military facilities in Dai.

Since the Northern Wei Dynasty moved its capital, border defense has become increasingly relaxed in the past few decades.

After all, the Great Wall is built with rammed earth, and many sections have collapsed due to war or other reasons.

The local tribes were too lazy to report this, because even if they did, Pingcheng might not care. Instead, the task would fall into the hands of the reporting tribe.

No one would spend money, manpower and effort but get nothing in return, so naturally no one would do it.

Over time, these collapsed areas became shortcuts for tribes to smuggle.

Now, it has also become a shortcut for the Hu tribes in Hengzhou to escape.

The roads in the mountains were difficult to travel, and unsuitable for large-scale military passage. However, no matter how difficult it was, these Hu tribes had to move. Over the years, the Hu tribes in the northern border had become more or less related, and when they met someone they knew, they would exchange a few words.

"Do you guys enjoy making a big noise there?"

"They are making a fuss, and it's quite fierce. Now they are going to seek refuge with the True King."

"I heard that the True King's side is not wealthy either. I plan to go north to join the Rouran."

"The Rouran are the sworn enemy of the Wei Dynasty. They even caused trouble a few years ago and robbed us of many things. How could they accept you?"

"Don't you know that my family is related to Yu Jiulu?"

"Then you're lucky!"

While saying this, he's probably cursing you as a bastard in his heart.

Of course, not all Hu people are willing to take such a difficult path.

No matter how bad the situation in Daidi is, it is still better than Mobei and Monan!

"Why are there so many people?"

Li Shuang did not expect that there were more Hu people willing to convert from pastoralism to agriculture than he expected.

Hou Jing, who was standing by, was also a little surprised.

"I looked at the roster and was shocked too."

Li Shuang gritted his teeth and felt very sorry for them.

"These barbarians, instead of pursuing such a promising path as rebellion, are actually willing to return to farming?"

Hou Jing echoed:

"Exactly. I thought they were really shouting about joining Po Liu and Han Baling, but I didn't expect it was just talk. They turned back before they even crossed the Great Wall."

Li Shuang sighed sadly:
"The world is becoming more corrupted, and people's hearts are no longer as they used to be. No wonder the Wei Dynasty is becoming weaker with each generation."

"My Lord, the number of people going is smaller than we thought. What should we do about our plan to consume the food supplies of the Six Garrisons and the Rouran?"

Li Shuang glanced at Hou Jing and asked:

"What do you think we're doing?"

"Suppress the bandits!"

"No, what we have to do is make the court think we are suppressing bandits!"

When Hou Jing heard this, he suddenly understood.

Seeing Hou Jing react, Li Shuang put down the list in his hand and asked:
"How's the situation with Liu Gui contacting the rebels in the Six Garrisons and secretly communicating with them?"

Hou Jing replied:

"He has already met Po Liu Han Kongque, and he is quite interested in it. After all, Huaishuo is also short of supplies right now."

"What about Wei Kegu?"

When Hou Jing thought of Wei Ke Gu, he shook his head with a constipated expression.

"This guy is a die-hard loyalist of Po Liu Han Baling. He's incredibly powerful, and few in the world can match him. But he's quite stubborn, and our people almost didn't make it back."

"Well, let's not worry about Wuchuan for now."

After saying that, Li Shuang instructed:

"Have our people be careful. Many people in Pingcheng are eyeing this piece of fat meat! Especially those old subordinates of Yuan Shen, who have been trying to find something to hold against me."

"My Lord, I heard that Yuan Shen's former subordinates want to secretly attack us under the pretext of rescuing Shuozhou!"

Li Shuang smiled.

When Hou Jing saw Li Shuang's smile, he understood what was going on. He lowered his head and slowly retreated.

……

(End of this chapter)