[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan":3,"chapter-memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-1":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Memoirs of the Heavenly Khagan",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":18,"prevChapterSlug":19,"totalChapters":20,"novelImage":21},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":12,"translator":16,"content_hash":17},2311719,4516,"Chapter 1: I Am a Man of Principle","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-1",1,"\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the fourth year of Zhengguang, the Liuzhen Uprising erupted, and the entire northern frontier rose in rebellion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since ancient times, when the world falls into chaos, it is the time for heroes to rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bingzhou!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang lay beneath a mulberry tree, a mulberry leaf between his lips, humming a little tune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not far from him, children in the village, still shorter than a cart wheel, held bamboo spears and wooden crossbows, practicing spearplay and archery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kill! Kill! Kill!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The childish yet murderous cry echoed through the Jinxibei village, evoking a sense of absurdity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet this was the most ordinary tone of the age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the end of the Han, the world had been in chaos for over three hundred years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even counting from the Yongjia Disaster of the Western Jin, it had been more than two hundred years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In these centuries of chaos, northern Han who could flee had gone south; those who could not only hid in the mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Helpless, whether to protect themselves or to grow stronger, Han without clan backing could only take refuge in forests and lakes, clinging to life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taipingzhai in the deep mountains of northwestern Bingzhou was a microcosm of the Han in this chaotic age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the peace within Taipingzhai began to shatter four years ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Rouran Khan Anagui lost an internal struggle and fled south to Luoyang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon entering Luoyang, the empire was at its zenith—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hear of the Xiongnu lord, cavalry stirring dust; lined up on Changping Slope, horses galloping toward Weiqiao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was granted residence in Luoyang, enfeoffed as Duke of Shuofang, and titled King of Rouran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, this favored King of Rouran led his forces south, attacking all the way to Pingcheng, looting vast supplies before retreating north.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A seed of doubt took root in every northern borderer’s heart—could the Wei court still be trusted?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire Jinxibei descended into utter chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang, helpless, led over ten thousand people from Taipingzhai into the tide of the age, becoming a glorious member of the rebel army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The official Wei court title: the Legendary Bandit Chief Li Mazi!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, if possible, Li Shuang would not have wanted such fame, such attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet in the business of highway robbery, he was simply too skilled, too gifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raid north against the Rouran, seize south from the Xianbei, drive west against the Xiongnu, take east from Taiyuan!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In all of Jinxibei, there was no one he dared not rob, nothing he could not take.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By striking down feudal corrupt forces and their henchmen, Li Shuang led the people of Taipingzhai to a self-sufficient, prosperous life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should the next step be to attack Taiyuan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang pondered this as a heavy horn blast reached his ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two long, one short!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang sat up—it was the signal that his brothers had returned laden with plunder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The great gates of Taipingzhai slowly opened, and a cavalry column of hundreds pulled dozens of carts back into the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leader of the cavalry dismounted, saw Li Shuang, and immediately bowed in salute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had uneven legs, walked unsteadily, was older than Li Shuang, yet far thinner and weaker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chief, Hou Jing has fulfilled his mission and returned victorious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Li Shuang’s power grew, the Tiger Li Chong came to suppress the bandits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Jing was one of Li Chong’s junior officers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But later, as he hunted bandits, he became one himself—and enjoyed it immensely!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you raid Taiyuan? Why so much loot?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Jing beamed as he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang inspected the spoils, watching the jewels and fine garments piled high on each cart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have we identified their origins?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could we ask? I saw all this treasure and immediately attacked, afraid they’d escape.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang set down the fabric he held and waved his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where are the captives?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Jing waved, and as Taipingzhai’s warriors brought forward the captives, he boasted:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There were hundreds of guards, but I drove them all off!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang looked at the bound captives, frowning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qihu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qihu were fierce fighters—how could they be so easily broken?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang asked for details; Hou Jing explained:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I charged into the crowd with my blade, slashing wildly, then seized a Qihu girl—and they all surrendered.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where is the Qihu girl?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Li Shuang’s urging, he finally saw the legendary Qihu girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qihu girl was young, dressed in splendid attire, with fair skin and delicate beauty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang’s gaze swept over her—he could tell she had been well-nourished since childhood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though surrounded by bandits, she remained calm and composed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you harm her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could we have time for that!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Jing realized his mistake immediately and corrected himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell the truth!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Li Shuang’s gaze, Hou Jing broke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those hundreds of Qihu warriors chased us like mad dogs—until we neared the village, they turned back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Shuang grew even more puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is your name?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am Er Zhu Ying’e, daughter of Er Zhu Rong, Duke of Xiurong and First Tribal Chief—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, Er Zhu Ying’e paused, then drew out the words, as if deliberately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Recently, I received an imperial edict from Luoyang appointing me as a consort, to serve the Son of Heaven in the capital!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it—this is aimed at me!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang glanced at the bewildered Hou Jing—and in that moment, he felt the urge to kick him to death.\u003C\u002Fp>",1257,"2026-06-20T12:30:56.711Z","Qwen3-Next 80B","3c99c1794ff1f5852d63f1c15ce401512729de1864567805e1ab00e63d2b2387","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-2",null,211,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmemoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-cover.jpg"]