Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 543 Jianghu is about human nature.

The turmoil in the Luoyang court spread to the Central Plains, and rebellions raged for months. However, the Nanyang region remained remarkably peaceful.

Dugu Xin relocated 20,000 households of Southern Liang people south of Fancheng to the area around Wancheng, where they settled down to cultivate the land and support the people, thus revitalizing the land that had become empty due to the war.

Wancheng, this military fortress, has been revitalized.

"how?"

Inside the house, as footsteps approached, even the usually composed Dugu Xin couldn't help but lose his composure.

Wancheng was an important passage for people traveling south from Luoyang, and consequently, news from Luoyang could quickly reach Wancheng.

The incident at Ganquan Palace is an example of this.

After losing Shangyong and other counties in the upper reaches of the Han River and Xinye and other places north of Fancheng, Xiao Lun, who was guarding Xiangyang in the south, was much weaker than before.

Relying on the important town of Xiangyang, Xiao Lun was able to barely maintain a foothold in the Jingxiang region.

However, Xiao Lun, whose strength was far less than before, no longer had the leverage to take the initiative to go south and fight against Xiao Yi.

The main fighting forces in the Jingxiang region today are Xiao Yi, who occupies Jiangling, and the two brothers Xiao Yu and Xiao Cha, who occupy Jiangxia.

Xiao Lun has become a runner-up!
The Southern Liang court officials who were originally following Xiao Lun were already dissatisfied and had the idea of ​​finding another master.

The news of Emperor Liang's assassination at Ganquan Palace further eroded Xiao Lun's legitimacy in controlling Xiangyang.

Xiao Lun seemed to sense this as well, but no matter what he did, he couldn't change people's hearts. During this period, Xiao Lun indulged in pleasure, completely disregarding everything else.

Upon seeing this, Dugu Xin submitted a report on the situation in Xiangyang to Jinyong City, wondering if he could take this opportunity to make a move.

The reply from Luoyang was also very simple.

"Xiao Cha?"

Duan Shao nodded.

He had just returned from serving as a prefect in Hebei when Li Shuang transferred him to Nanyang, where he became Dugu Xin's deputy.

Although Dugu Xin and Duan Shao had different stances, they both admired this young, strong, and talented man.

In addition, Duan Shao was also a military meritorious official of the Tian Ce Mansion and a general personally sent by Li Shuang. Dugu Xin had no intention of distancing himself from him and consulted him on matters big and small.

"They say there have been frequent rebellions in the Central Plains, and it's difficult to mobilize troops from various regions. Xiangyang is hard to attack, and Xiao Lun has lost popular support. It would be better to let Xiao Cha take over, so that it doesn't fall into Xiao Yi's hands."

Dugu Xin listened and asked:

"Is this the king's will?"

Duan Shao shook his head and said:

"His Majesty is currently on tour in Jinyang, not in Luoyang. This is what those scholars who have entered the Ministry of Personnel are thinking."

Dugu Xin understood after hearing this.

The scholars in the Ministry of Personnel who originally belonged to the Prince of Qin's residence did not want to invest more resources in Nanyang, because most of the resources were now being invested in the construction of Chang'an and the abdication ceremony.

Dugu Xin looked at Duan Shao and asked:
"Xiaoxian, what do you think?"

As the top official in Nanyang, Dugu Xin had the power to act expediently. In other words, he could disregard the guidance from the Ministry of Personnel in Luoyang.

Duan Shao also felt a little regretful and said:
"While it would be safer to let Xiao Cha take over Xiangyang, how could it be safer to personally conquer Xiangyang?"

Lonely Xin thought the same thing, and was delighted to hear Duan Shao's words.

"Our forces are not enough to capture Xiangyang!"

Dugu Xin spoke of the real predicament.

That meant crossing the long Han River, and they didn't have enough naval warships. Although Xiao Lun had lost the hearts of the people, the hundreds of warships outside Xiangyang were real, not just for show.

This is also why Luoyang chose Xiao Cha – because of his low cost.

Duan Shao looked at Dugu Xin and said:

"To take Xiangfan, one must have the help of a certain person."

As he spoke, Duan Shao looked at Dugu Xin and asked, "I've heard that the general has a long-standing relationship with Liu Zhongli?"

Dugu Xin looked at Duan Shao, inwardly surprised.

Compared to Luoyang, Duan Shao found a path with lower costs and higher profits.

Similarly, this was what Dugu Xin had thought of long ago, and he had already sent a document recording his thoughts to Li Shuang.

This kid is truly amazing!
After the discussion, watching Duan Shao's departing figure, Gu Duxin said regretfully:

"Such a talented leader, how could he be from Huai Shuo!"

……

Jinyang.

After the northern forces retreated from Bingzhou, Jinyang became the second most important town under Li Shuang's control outside of Chang'an.

For many years, Yu Jin guarded this place, building the city, cultivating land, smelting iron, raising horses, facilitating trade, ensuring the safety of the people, and training soldiers, transforming this important town into the most important logistical base for supporting the northern regions.

Jinyang is heavily fortified with troops, most of whom are Han soldiers transferred by Li Shuang from Shuozhou and Hengzhou after the defeat of the Erzhu clan.

In addition, there were the remnants of the Erzhu clan, soldiers from the Six Garrisons, and the Northern Army, which were incorporated into the garrison after their surrender.

Nowadays, the barbarian influence has gradually faded, and the people in the city no longer resemble the scene when Erzhu Rong was in power, where everyone was dressed in barbarian clothes; most of them are now dressed in Han Chinese attire.

The former mansion built by Erzhu Rong has now been converted into a palace.

Although Jinyang is located in the north, it is a water city.

Within the palace gardens, the waterside pavilions and terraces offer a unique and picturesque scene.

Li Shuang looked at the documents sent from Nanyang and instructed Zu Ting, who was standing beside him:
"Tell Dugu Xin and Duan Shao that they should take what they can."

"promise!"

Zu Ting accepted the order. Before leaving, he glanced at the rough, uncouth man who seemed out of place in the palace setting. Though puzzled, he didn't linger and quickly departed.

"Ohno Sawa, you really are different now."

Liu Lisheng sat next to Li Shuang, drinking his wine by himself.

Li Shuang listened and laughed:
"how?"

"You liar!" Liu Lisheng spat. "It's only after all these years that I've realized that you lied to me about not wanting to be emperor, because you actually wanted to be emperor yourself."

Seeing that Liu Lisheng's wine cup was empty, Li Shuang poured him another one.

"If you want to be one, you can be one!"

Liu Lisheng drank the wine that Li Shuang had personally poured for him and said:
"You're not trying to trick me into becoming that damn Khan and watching over the pastures, are you?"

Li Shuang chuckled and poured Liu Lisheng another full glass of wine.

"You don't have many horses under your command, so what's the point of going to the grasslands! However, you can go to Liaodong, the Western Regions, and Yinan. You can be king and hegemon there, and no one will care."

Upon hearing this, Liu Lisheng became emotional and finished his drink.

"I knew you were up to no good. Liaodong, the Western Regions, and Yinan are places where people freeze to death or scorch to death, and there are also miasma and poisonous diseases. Do you want me to become the emperor, or do you want me to go and reclaim the wasteland for you?"

Li Shuang poured Liu Lisheng another drink and said:
"If you don't want to go, then I'll have the imperial court grant you the title of king, and also register your people and settle them down. How about that?"

Liu Lisheng looked at Li Shuang and drank his third cup of wine.

“I’m old now, I can’t rebel anymore, and I can’t clear the wasteland anymore. I’ll drink these three cups of wine, and I’ll accept your kindness. The men under my command have all suffered a lot, and even if they went to the Western Regions, Liaodong, or Yinan, they wouldn’t suffer any more than they do now.”

As he spoke, Liu Lisheng sighed:
"Ono Sou, if you want to be emperor, then treat them better."

Li Shuang didn't speak, she just looked at Liu Lisheng.

The two looked at each other and smiled without saying a word.

……

(End of this chapter)