Chapter 1: I Am a Man of Principle

Many years later, Li Shuang, as the Heavenly Khan, would recall that wind-blown afternoon as he stood before the ancient mulberry tree, over fifteen feet tall.

In the fourth year of Zhengguang, the Liuzhen Uprising erupted, and the entire northern frontier rose in rebellion.

Since Emperor Taiwu Tao the Conqueror subdued the Rouran, a hundred years had passed, and the Wei’s martial virtue had faded; his descendants had long since worn away their former spirit and grandeur in Luoyang’s decadent luxury.

Since ancient times, when the world falls into chaos, it is the time for heroes to rise.

Bingzhou!

Within that vast, boundless mountain range lay countless resources and wealth; the simple mountain folk followed the tradition of living off the land and sea, leading lives both perilous and abundant.

Li Shuang lay beneath a mulberry tree, a mulberry leaf between his lips, humming a little tune.

Not far from him, children in the village, still shorter than a cart wheel, held bamboo spears and wooden crossbows, practicing spearplay and archery.

“Kill! Kill! Kill!”

The childish yet murderous cry echoed through the Jinxibei village, evoking a sense of absurdity.

Yet this was the most ordinary tone of the age.

Since the end of the Han, the world had been in chaos for over three hundred years.

Even counting from the Yongjia Disaster of the Western Jin, it had been more than two hundred years.

In these centuries of chaos, northern Han who could flee had gone south; those who could not only hid in the mountains.

Even among the Five Barbarians, a few great lords had briefly stabilized the northern regime, yet none endured—after fleeting unification came even greater chaos.

Helpless, whether to protect themselves or to grow stronger, Han without clan backing could only take refuge in forests and lakes, clinging to life.

Taipingzhai in the deep mountains of northwestern Bingzhou was a microcosm of the Han in this chaotic age.

Yet the peace within Taipingzhai began to shatter four years ago.

The Rouran Khan Anagui lost an internal struggle and fled south to Luoyang.

Upon entering Luoyang, the empire was at its zenith—

“Hear of the Xiongnu lord, cavalry stirring dust; lined up on Changping Slope, horses galloping toward Weiqiao.”

He was granted residence in Luoyang, enfeoffed as Duke of Shuofang, and titled King of Rouran.

This King of Rouran was restless; he bribed Yuan Yi, the general commanding court affairs, and soon returned north to take control of the old Rouran clans.

The Wei court in Luoyang had gifted him weapons, clothing, horses, camels, cattle, sheep, and two hundred thousand shi of grain; the next year, another ten thousand shi of seed grain.

Soon after, this favored King of Rouran led his forces south, attacking all the way to Pingcheng, looting vast supplies before retreating north.

A seed of doubt took root in every northern borderer’s heart—could the Wei court still be trusted?

After the Liuzhen Uprising began, mountain folk who had once been content with quietude and fearful of imperial troops now took up swords and spears, preying along the imperial roads.

The entire Jinxibei descended into utter chaos.

Li Shuang, helpless, led over ten thousand people from Taipingzhai into the tide of the age, becoming a glorious member of the rebel army.

The official Wei court title: the Legendary Bandit Chief Li Mazi!

Of course, if possible, Li Shuang would not have wanted such fame, such attention.

Yet in the business of highway robbery, he was simply too skilled, too gifted.

Raid north against the Rouran, seize south from the Xianbei, drive west against the Xiongnu, take east from Taiyuan!

In all of Jinxibei, there was no one he dared not rob, nothing he could not take.

In his sixteen years of life, during his brief two-year rebellion, Taipingzhai had grown from a small village of only a thousand able-bodied men, poorly armed and armored, into a major force of three thousand armored warriors.

By striking down feudal corrupt forces and their henchmen, Li Shuang led the people of Taipingzhai to a self-sufficient, prosperous life.

Should the next step be to attack Taiyuan?

Li Shuang pondered this as a heavy horn blast reached his ears.

Two long, one short!

Li Shuang sat up—it was the signal that his brothers had returned laden with plunder.

The great gates of Taipingzhai slowly opened, and a cavalry column of hundreds pulled dozens of carts back into the village.

The leader of the cavalry dismounted, saw Li Shuang, and immediately bowed in salute.

He had uneven legs, walked unsteadily, was older than Li Shuang, yet far thinner and weaker.

“Chief, Hou Jing has fulfilled his mission and returned victorious.”

At this time, the Grand General Hou Jing had not yet developed the later cunning and ruthlessness; young as he was, he was fiercely brave.

When Li Shuang’s power grew, the Tiger Li Chong came to suppress the bandits.

Hou Jing was one of Li Chong’s junior officers.

But later, as he hunted bandits, he became one himself—and enjoyed it immensely!

After all, as a garrison soldier of Huaihuo Town, how could Hou Jing be as happy as the Legendary Bandit Chief Li Mazi’s top general?

“Did you raid Taiyuan? Why so much loot?”

Hou Jing beamed as he spoke.

“According to your orders, Chief, I led our men down the mountain, lowered our banners, lay in ambush beside the imperial road, waiting for passing merchants and rich traders. But we didn’t expect—soon a big goose flew right into our net!”

Li Shuang inspected the spoils, watching the jewels and fine garments piled high on each cart.

“Have we identified their origins?”

“How could we ask? I saw all this treasure and immediately attacked, afraid they’d escape.”

Li Shuang set down the fabric he held and waved his hand.

“Where are the captives?”

Hou Jing waved, and as Taipingzhai’s warriors brought forward the captives, he boasted:

“There were hundreds of guards, but I drove them all off!”

Li Shuang looked at the bound captives, frowning.

“Qihu?”

The Qihu were fierce fighters—how could they be so easily broken?

Li Shuang asked for details; Hou Jing explained:

“I charged into the crowd with my blade, slashing wildly, then seized a Qihu girl—and they all surrendered.”

“Where is the Qihu girl?”

At Li Shuang’s urging, he finally saw the legendary Qihu girl.

The Qihu girl was young, dressed in splendid attire, with fair skin and delicate beauty.

Li Shuang’s gaze swept over her—he could tell she had been well-nourished since childhood.

Though surrounded by bandits, she remained calm and composed.

“Did you harm her?”

“How could we have time for that!”

Hou Jing realized his mistake immediately and corrected himself.

“I was wholly devoted to the Chief’s great cause—I cast aside all female allure, fought my way here, and brought back these captives.”

“Tell the truth!”

Under Li Shuang’s gaze, Hou Jing broke.

“Those hundreds of Qihu warriors chased us like mad dogs—until we neared the village, they turned back.”

Hearing this, Li Shuang grew even more puzzled.

“What is your name?”

“I am Er Zhu Ying’e, daughter of Er Zhu Rong, Duke of Xiurong and First Tribal Chief—”

Here, Er Zhu Ying’e paused, then drew out the words, as if deliberately.

“Recently, I received an imperial edict from Luoyang appointing me as a consort, to serve the Son of Heaven in the capital!”

Damn it—this is aimed at me!

Li Shuang glanced at the bewildered Hou Jing—and in that moment, he felt the urge to kick him to death.