[{"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-14":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Memoirs of the Heavenly Khagan",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2311732,4516,"Chapter 14","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-14",14,"\u003Cp>The night was deep, the dew heavy, and the fire in the room nearly out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The house, long neglected due to years of war, could no longer withstand the cold as the fire faded; everyone inside felt the chill and pressed closer toward the pile of firewood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These dozen Hu Ren had retreated from the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang learned from them that Er Zhu Rong had won.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He won easily!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qihu soldiers under Er Zhu Rong, trained for years by him, were disciplined and fiercely formidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Wan Ziqizhen led his troops in pursuit, Er Zhu Rong ambushed him; his cavalry was slaughtered by more than half.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After drinking a few sips of mutton soup, they gradually recovered, freed from the battlefield’s carnage, and now seemed lively and alert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Fukan looked at this group of Hu Ren who had just failed in rebellion yet laughed and chatted freely, and asked curiously:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You followed Wan Ziqizhen in rebellion—now you’ve failed. Aren’t you worried about your future?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hu Ren burst into laughter; some even mocked Yu Fukan for being too timid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re not worthless Han people—would the court dare kill us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, Lou Ang, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, subtly twitched his eyebrows, his face darkening with anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Fukan frowned, listened to the Hu Ren’s words, and sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With discipline so utterly collapsed, how can the realm not descend into chaos?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do you speak like a Han?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone complained, utterly unconcerned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We followed Wan Ziqizhen in rebellion—what crime is it, killing a few one-coin Han? When I served as a Feathered Forest soldier in Luoyang, I burned Zhang Yi’s mansion, beat him to the brink of death, and killed his son—yet the court still dared not touch me! Are the lives of these one-coin Hans worth more than Zhang Yi’s?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Fukan remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Yu Fukan’s silence, the man grew displeased and accused:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You southerners have read too many Han books—you’ve become just like them. I’ll show you just how worthless these Han are.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he and a few others stepped outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The quiet night suddenly erupted in noise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These Hu Ren had seized several Han refugees outside—men and women, all half-naked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Fukan feigned confusion, but the Hu Ren inside laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hu Ren inside caged the captured Han refugees like dogs, forcing them to crawl on the ground, whimpering; if they crawled too slowly, they were whipped. Some even stripped the women’s clothes, intending to force them to perform publicly with the men…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cries and pleas only made the Hu Ren laugh louder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Fukan shouted, filling the room with a chilling aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dozen Hu Ren sensed the shift, felt something was wrong, and rose at once, clustering together, hands gripping their swords.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Han refugees, who had been crouching on the floor, seized the moment and fled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you trying to do!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hu Ren glared at Yu Fukan, warning him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Lou Ang, who had said nothing until now, rose with his spear in hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his attention was not on Yu Fukan or the dozen Hu Ren—he looked toward Li Shuang in the corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you make of tonight’s affair?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A bit troublesome.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang’s reply made Lou Ang laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he finished laughing, he raised his hand and thrust his spear forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flash of cold light came first, then the spear shot forth like a dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hu Ren at the front had no time to react—his neck opened into a bloody hole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the midst of laughter, he took a life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am Gao Ang of the Bohai Gao clan—when you meet the King of Hell, don’t forget my name!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Ang withdrew his spear, stared at the fallen Hu Ren, and spoke coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had he spoken than the Hu Ren’s body crashed to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other Hu Ren, seeing this, surged with bloodlust and roared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kill!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dozen Hu Ren charged at Gao Ang—he held his spear across his body, let out a deep roar like the toll of an ancient temple bell, and with arms thick as old tree trunks, blocked them all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the stalemate, arrows flew from the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Ang looked at the archer and praised:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excellent aim—who are you, brother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yang Kan of the Tai’an Yang clan!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Kan’s ever-present box had already been opened—inside lay a golden-threaded hard bow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The string sang, the arrow flew, and the Hu Ren fell with each shot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Jing, who had been sharpening his blade outside, heard the commotion inside and immediately burst in with his sword drawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swinging two long blades, he charged like a madman, shouting:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dog Hu Ren—die, old man!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But by the time Hou Jing entered, the battle was nearly over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of Hu Ren lay on the ground, most already silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Hou Jing quickly dropped his blades and rushed to Li Shuang’s side, concerned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, are you unharmed? Your servant arrived too late!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang pushed Hou Jing aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What could possibly happen to me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang walked to a Hu Ren still barely alive, wiped his crossblade on the man’s body, then sheathed his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Judging by your gear, you’re no ordinary soldier—speak: what’s your connection to Wan Ziqizhen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dying Hu Ren glared hatefully at the four men in the room and cursed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We are the personal attendants of Mu Zi. We were sent to scout. Don’t rejoice—thousand iron cavalry are coming behind us, and they’ll cut off your heads!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang looked up at Yang Kan and Gao Ang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I told you it’d be troublesome.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Kan smiled faintly; Gao Ang shrugged indifferently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Jing, however, looked worried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Er Zhu’s useless fools let Wan Ziqizhen escape. Even defeated, he still has hundreds of cavalry. We’re outnumbered—shouldn’t we retreat for now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We can leave, but these refugees can’t run far.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang chuckled, looking at Yang Kan and Gao Ang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brothers, what do you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they left, Wan Ziqizhen’s routed troops would arrive, see the dead attendants, and in fury slaughter the nearby refugees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang’s meaning was clear: they had acted together, so the trouble must be solved together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Ang wiped his spearhead and said proudly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t work with nameless men—state your name first!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Shuang, originally from Guanzhong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Ang paused thoughtfully, then asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The bandit Li Shuang who defeated Wo Hu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not to hide it, brother—I now serve the court.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Ang knew full well what Li Shuang had done these past days—he burst out laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Interesting. So—what’s your plan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To kill Wan Ziqizhen, we need more than just us—we need the Han refugees outside!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Kan shook his head, unconvinced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those outside are already terrified of the Hu Ren—they won’t be of any use.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not necessarily.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Kan raised an eyebrow and asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How do you intend to do it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Capture the leader to capture the bandits!”\u003C\u002Fp>",1173,"2026-06-20T12:30:56.711Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","6777b50c1128a663cb237c22ca609f327b3949694ff7d71ddf433086176d82c3","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-15","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-13",211,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmemoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-cover.jpg"]