Chapter 48: Li Guang lays his cards before Emperor Wu of Han

In Shuofang City, the temporary headquarters of Li Guang's army.

Han Wudi Liuche, kept under house arrest by Li Guang in the main hall, constantly roared, furious beyond measure.

Old fool, you dare attack the feudal princes' troops and defy the edict to confine the Son of Heaven—do you intend to destroy the Han?

Liu Ju pointed at Li Guang and shouted angrily; his secret liaison with the Prince of Dai had long been plotted, yet Li Guang still ruined it.

Moreover, Li Guang on the spot executed Liu Xing, whom he had entrusted with an important task, thus touching his reverse scale; he now could not help himself—if it were his former self, killing this old fool ten times would not suffice to appease his hatred.

Li Guang blocked most of Han Wudi's words, curled his lip, and said: "Liu Xing overstepped, interfered with military authority, the Prince of Dai attacked court troops, plotted rebellion—unforgivable; I, the General, am merely acting according to law."

Han Wudi snapped: "Old fool, you are truly senile, obstinate and oblivious—do you not know what benefits the Crown Prince gave you?"

"Lord Liu, watch your language; please address the Son of Heaven with respect!"

Li Guang rose, gripped the sword at his waist, and coldly stared at Liuche.

"What?" Liuche stared, stunned at being told to call someone else "Son of Heaven"—such a petty demand, something he had never heard in his life.

Dongfang Shuo hastily pulled Li Guang aside: "Old General, don't rush—how His Majesty is addressed is a family matter, we're all one family; we dare not speak further!"

Li Guang shook off Dongfang Shuo and shouted: "The Han has only one Son of Heaven, now seated on the dragon throne in Xuanshi Hall."

Then he turned to Liuche and said: "As for others, that's just old history; I hope some won't spurn a toast and forced drink—if they defy again, my sword will not tolerate it!"

Liuche was utterly shocked, pointing at Li Guang, unable to utter a word for a long while, his face shifting, his body trembling.

After a long while, he finally said in a low voice: "Even if I were the former emperor, I could not tolerate your insolence!"

Li Guang snorted: "The former emperor is dead, Liuzhi—I have endured you long enough; do not provoke me further."

"Old General, no!" Dongfang Shuo cried out urgently.

Bang!

Liuche slammed his palm on the table, rose, picked up his teacup, and hurled it at Li Guang.

Li Guang slightly shifted his stance, extended a large hand, and seized Liuche's arm.

"Old fool, I will fight you to the death!"

How many years has it been since Liuche last heard those two words "Liuzhi"? Who would have thought that in his lifetime someone would dare call him by his childhood name—especially Li Guang, whom he had always looked down upon for his honest, simple nature?

Li Guang snatched Liuche's cup, pressed him onto the stone bench, stared coldly, and said disdainfully:

"Liuzhi, if you wish to spend your twilight years in peace, from now on all your food, clothing, and daily needs under my jurisdiction require my consent and must be logged; we will settle accounts later together."

Li Guang turned and walked out.

"Li Guang, show me some respect, or as the Son of Heaven you will never obtain the Heirloom Jade Seal."

Liuche's eyes flickered as he fixed Li Guang with a sinister gaze and spoke.

Li Guang immediately turned, stared at Liuche, and said: "Liuzhi, where is the Heirloom Jade Seal?"

Liuche rose leisurely, approached Li Guang, and said: "Is this how you address the former emperor?"

Li Guang knelt suddenly, his voice deep: "Your Majesty, forgive me; I was rash earlier, please pardon me—but the Heirloom Jade Seal concerns the Son of Heaven's reputation and the Han foundation; I hope Your Majesty will reconsider."

Liuche gave a cold snort: "Old fool, do you still know the Son of Heaven's prestige and the Han foundation?"

Li Guang knelt on the ground, silent; he knew Liuche's temperament—he would not give up until his goal was met, and now was not the time to confront him.

Seeing Li Guang subdued, Liuche's mood suddenly lifted, dispelling the earlier gloom as he walked around him with hands behind his back.

He returned to Li Guang's presence, bent down, and said: "I can let bygones be bygones, but you must hand over military authority."

"Impossible; even if I died, you would never get military authority—moreover, only the Son of Heaven in the Han can demand I relinquish it."

Li Guang flatly refused; his troops had just received the latest supplies and equipment, everyone knew their combat strength—if Liuche took command, the Han would fall into utter chaos.

Even without the Heirloom Jade Seal, military authority must absolutely not be surrendered.

Yet Liuche suddenly said: "That could work, but you must agree to one condition of mine."

Li Guang hastily replied: "Aside from military authority, I will accept any condition—but you must promise to tell me where the Heirloom Jade Seal truly lies."

Liuche smiled: "Fine; as for what condition, I'll tell you once I've decided. Besides, I'm hungry—I want that instant noodles, and give me a sleeping bag; I'll freeze and won't sleep at night otherwise."

Li Guang would naturally not refuse these demands; even if Liuche said nothing, he could not shortchange the former emperor.

After Li Guang departed on his orders, Liuche's stern face regained a frosty sheen.

"The old fool is dead-set on listening to the Crown Prince—who knows what bewitching soup he's been fed!"

Liuche rubbed the wrist Li Guang had just painfully gripped, then said: "This old fool is elderly yet still possesses monstrous strength—what on earth does he usually eat?"

Dongfang Shuo shook his head, smiling: "The old General has always had the courage to withstand ten thousand men; though aged, he can still take the field and slay foes—Your Majesty, have you forgotten the battlefield scene of a few days ago?"

Liuche could not help recalling Li Guang's invincible bearing on the battlefield; he could not but acknowledge the General's valor, and at that time he had even clapped and cheered.

"Just the bravery of a common man!"

He still stubbornly said: "Today Li Guang did indeed make him angry, but upon reflection it's really nothing—Liuche himself is not narrow-minded; his breadth is naturally not ordinary."

Earlier, he had merely been angered by Li Guang to the point of headache.

Recalling the recent outburst, Liuche couldn't help laughing and shaking his head.

Dongfang Shuo asked softly: "Your Majesty, where should we go from here? Could we just keep lingering? The scenery here is actually not bad!"

Liuche huffed: "For now we can only stay here, waiting for an opportunity to act; the Crown Prince now controls public opinion and military authority, not easily shaken."

Immediately he turned his gaze toward the outskirts of Shuofang City and said: "Though we cannot return to Chang'an now, the Western Regions are bustling—why not take a tour? I too want to see how formidable that newly equipped army really is."

"Your Majesty, since you put it that way, I, your subject, am also somewhat curious."

Dongfang Shuo suddenly felt full of anticipation for the upcoming journey.

"The old fool relies only on brute force; this time heading to the frontier, if he wants to achieve anything, he'll still have to rely on me."

Liuche narrowed his eyes at the window; at this moment in Shuofang City, the cold wind pierced through, snowflakes flew—quite a different charm.