Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 547 The End of the Process

Luoyang.

In the tenth month of the seventh year of the Datong era, as Li Shuang's carriage returned to Luoyang from Jinyang, the capital of the empire was completely transformed, and everyone was ready to welcome the new era.

Yuan Baoju and his consorts had already packed their belongings and moved to the mansion that had been prepared for Yuan Baoju in the inner city, leaving the palace empty.

Dugu Ru, Yuan Mingyue, Liu Sixia and others set off from Chang'an with their children and arrived in Luoyang, where they temporarily stayed in Jinyong City.

The civil and military officials in Luoyang had prepared their new court robes and were counting down the days, waiting for the day they would abdicate.

The entire city of Luoyang was preparing for the abdication ceremony, as if a string had been taut. Even the foreign officials and envoys residing in the four halls and four li were familiar with their positions in the Taiji Palace and the proper etiquette.

Only Tutujia, who came from the Western Regions, was not yet used to the occasion and did not know his place in this grand ceremony.

Should we be happy or resentful?
The Rouran were quite tragic; from the moment of their birth, they were suppressed by the Xianbei.

After the Xiongnu were destroyed, the Xianbei rose to power. However, after the Xianbei declined, the Rouran did not rise to prominence.

Even though the Rouran had always wanted to follow the path of the Xianbei, they were forced to perish midway under the iron cavalry of the Xianbei.

Deep down, Tutujia somewhat envied the Xianbei people. Back then, Luoyang was a place many non-Han people on the border longed to visit.

Today, Luoyang is not as prosperous as it once was, but it is still one of the most outstanding cities in the world.

With its majestic city walls, abundant goods, convenient water and land transportation, the Central Plains region was the most prestigious in the world at that time.

Even Tutujia, who had followed Anagui on his expedition to the Western Regions and witnessed many exotic landscapes, had to admit that it was hard to find a city that could compare to Luoyang.

He returned this time with a mission given to him by Anagui.

The Rouran's eastward return was made much easier with the help of the tribes along the way.

However, these tribes were severely offended when Anagui conquered the west, and now the only hope for improving relations lies in the chaos on the grasslands.

On the grasslands, tribes frequently fought over pastures, livestock, and women, harboring deep-seated hatred towards each other. In the harsh environment, for the grassland tribes, hatred was only temporary; only self-interest was eternal.

Anagui knew these tribes' character well, so he believed that as long as he offered enough benefits, they would forget their past hatred.

Tutujia was the one who did this for Anagui.

The Yanran Pavilion was filled with tribal leaders from the north, among whom was Yujiulütahan.

The brothers were reunited, and Tu Tujia's feelings were very complicated.

The Rouran were divided into east and west, and Tutujia and a group of Rouran disciples had no choice but to follow Anagui on his westward expedition, enduring great hardship along the way.

Tahan before him was an accomplice, yet Tutujia couldn't bring himself to hate him. If Tutujia had been in Tahan's position, controlling the ten thousand tribes in the east, and after Anagui's defeat and westward flight, unable to command the remaining forces, what would have happened?
Not everyone is a monarch like Anagui!

Ta Han looked at Tu Tu Jia, her feelings were complicated, a mixture of shame and a bit of irritation.

In the end, Tahan shook hands with Tutujia and made peace, renewing their brotherly bond.

The atmosphere remained lively until Tutujia revealed his purpose and urged them to go to the Western Regions.

"I'm not going!"

Tahan's straightforward words left Tutujia somewhat dazed, but he still tried his best to persuade him.

"The chieftain will not blame you. As long as you return, you can still be your khan, and you will have fertile grasslands and subjects who will serve you."

Tutujia originally thought that Tahan was worried about his betrayal, but Tahan's reaction exceeded his expectations.

“I believe the Khan will forgive me, because he doesn’t consider me the one who brought him shame. I also know my brother well; he will surely avenge himself on the one who brought him shame!”

Tahan took a deep breath and poured a cup of mare's milk wine for Tutujia in the cold night.

"You have come all this way to investigate the various tribes on the grasslands for your brother, so that we can prepare for his return to the east one day."

Tutujia, who was about to take a sip of mare's milk wine, was startled and looked at Tahan, seemingly quite surprised.

"Who tipped you off?" Ta Han laughed.

"I haven't been Khan all these years for nothing. Have you ever thought about it? You can't even fool me, so how can you fool the Heavenly Khan?"

Tutujia was greatly alarmed. He stood up and looked around, but there were no ambushes as he had imagined.

"There's no need for that. If the Heavenly Khan wanted to capture you, why would he wait until today?"

Tutujia breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Tahan again, no longer regarding him as the weak Rouran prince of yesteryear.

What do you mean?

"You have been secretly colluding with the Tiele tribes. How many of them have agreed to your demands? The tribes on the grasslands are not much better off now than when Toubing Khan was in power, yet they are much more submissive. Do you know why?"

Tutujia shook his head, but saw Tahan smile.

"You crossed the Jinshan Mountains and arrived in Jinyang from the grasslands, but you did not see the towns surrounding the border garrisons. These towns are where the most skilled warriors on the grasslands gather."

Tu Tujia's expression changed, and he subconsciously asked:

"how many people?"

Tahan did not answer, but only advised:

"The most capable and valiant members of my Yujiulü clan are all in Chang'an. Go back and tell your brother that he has faced death several times before finally establishing himself in the Western Regions. Why should he return for the sake of hatred?"

Tahan looked at Tutujia and said something that left Tutujia feeling melancholy for a long time.

"You have no chance of winning!"

……

Tai Chi Hall.

The largest palace in the Luoyang Imperial Palace, where the emperor and his ministers held grand court assemblies and ceremonies, has now been renovated, with even the throne replaced with a larger and more comfortable one.

Li Shuang stood before the steps of the throne, but did not go up to sit on the emperor's throne.

The palace was empty and so quiet that you could hear your own breathing.

There were two people standing behind him.

Xiao Yan and Yuan Baoju!

Unlike Xiao Yan's composure, Yuan Baoju appeared quite flustered at this moment.

The change in identity left Yuan Baoju somewhat bewildered!
Until Li Shuang turned around.

Yuan Baoju subconsciously lowered his head, avoiding looking at Li Shuang's face.

Li Shuang didn't deliberately say anything to Yuan Baoju, but simply murmured:
"It's time to begin!"

Under the watchful eyes of the two men, Li Shuang slowly walked from the platform toward the palace gate.

The two of them followed behind.

Outside the palace, the brilliant starry sky had disappeared without anyone noticing.

A dazzling ray of sunlight rose from the horizon, illuminating everything.

Outside the Taiji Hall, the square was already filled with court officials and soldiers.

Upon seeing Li Shuang emerge from the hall, everyone knelt down in unison and shouted:
"saint!"

At this moment, an era has come to an end!

……

(End of this chapter)