[{"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-15":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},2311733,4516,"Chapter 15: I Will Not Enjoy This Glory Alone","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-15",15,"\u003Cp>“Mu Zi, with our army defeated, what should we do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eight or nine hundred Hu cavalry scattered across the land, unsure where to go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The city had fallen, the soldiers were routed, and only eight or nine hundred light cavalry remained by his side—yet Wan Ziqizhen felt no despair of being cornered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long before he rose in rebellion, he had already planned his escape route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Liuzhen Uprising had spread to Jinxibei, and every hill and peak now ignored the court’s orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jinxibei is in chaos; we can head south to join Suhe Poluanxian, or go north to join the Hulü tribe—either will do!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having voiced the plan he had long prepared, Wan Ziqizhen remained calm on the surface, yet shame still surged within him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never imagined he would lose so quickly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, Wan Ziqizhen believed his talent stood on equal footing with Er Zhu Rong’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this battle, he realized Er Zhu Rong’s strategic brilliance far surpassed his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Ziqizhen felt a pang of regret, but the panting of his horse brought him back to reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Men were exhausted, horses were worn out!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, whether heading south or north, there was one prerequisite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They needed enough supplies!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve been riding all night—why haven’t they returned? Go and check!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Ziqizhen gave the order and dispatched a dozen cavalry to meet them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As men and horses were worn out, Wan Ziqizhen ordered his Hu cavalry to rest temporarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they retreated, they fled in such haste they brought almost no supplies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mu Zi, will Er Zhu Rong and Yuan Tianmu pursue us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll see how things unfold.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Ziqizhen couldn’t be certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though time was precious, he had to let his cavalry rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>High-intensity flight was unbearable even for horses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Ziqizhen was just about to close his eyes and think through what to do next—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the nearby dense forest, countless birds suddenly took flight, fleeing toward the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Something’s wrong!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Ziqizhen didn’t dare underestimate it; he led his men forward to investigate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the forest lay scattered corpses of Hu men—his own dispatched scouts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One spear through the heart; the enemy’s martial skill is formidable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Ziqizhen examined the battlefield traces: only one man had fought, yet he had slain his scouts on foot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His skill was more than formidable!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Ziqizhen had never seen its like in his life!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Follow and investigate!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hundreds of cavalry followed, tracing the battle marks out of the forest, where below the valley lay a small jingguan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The jingguan was built entirely from the scouts he had sent out last night and just moments ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Ziqizhen was furious!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who did this?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only a band of Han refugees are nearby—could it be them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Ziqizhen forced down his rage, ordering his men to collect the corpses and bury them temporarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though time was precious, Wan Ziqizhen still spent half an hour performing burial rites according to his tribe’s customs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tore half his battle flag and placed it before the grave, solemnly saying:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brothers, you followed me into battle, yet you died at the hands of these treacherous Han. Rest assured—I will avenge you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, Wan Ziqizhen drew his blade and roared:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Raid the nearby Han camps! Take everything—leave not a blade of grass!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far away, Li Shuang watched the scene and smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hou Jing, it’s done!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the temporary camp, Yang Kan stared at the refugees wielding bamboo spears as weapons, utterly exasperated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he had feared, these refugees were useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had been terrified by the Hu for so long that even hearing they were to fight a defeated enemy—far fewer in number—still left them with not a shred of courage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In such a short time, Yang Kan could not organize them at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minutes ticked by, and Yang Kan had no idea what to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew clearly: if Wan Ziqizhen’s cavalry arrived, they would scatter in panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With no other option, Yang Kan could only wait for news from Li Shuang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, a horn sounded—Li Shuang returned with Gao Ang and Hou Jing to the camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They brought a tattered, bloodstained battle flag and a Hu man clad in armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hu man, his mouth covered, was shoved to the ground by Hou Jing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang’s face glowed with triumph as he shouted to the crowd:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fellow villagers, do you know who this is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Hou Jing chimed in appropriately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is Wan Ziqizhen’s battle flag—he is Wan Ziqizhen himself!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murmurs spread through the crowd; soon, someone recognized it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right—I recognize this flag. When I was a boy, my brother was killed just for looking up at this flag!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With those words, the crowd’s noise surged louder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fellow villagers, the government offers a reward: a thousand mu of good land for Wan Ziqizhen’s head.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Shuang finished speaking, the crowd fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I tell you this: I will not claim this glory alone!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang drew his crossblade and, amid the crowd, cut down the captured Hu man in one stroke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The head rolled, blood splattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd’s emotions ignited like gunpowder; Li Shuang roared:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wan Ziqizhen’s remnants still hide in these woods—go! Kill those traitors, reclaim your homes and fields!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Kan saw the refugees’ demeanor transform completely; an unexpected courage surged from them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Hou Jing’s lead, they charged out like wolves!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Kan stared at the Hu corpse on the ground, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is he truly Wan Ziqizhen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Li Shuang could speak, Gao Ang burst into laughter, thoroughly delighted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, whether he is or not—he must be!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the forest, Wan Ziqizhen saw his panicked men racing back from afar, his heart tightening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did Er Zhu Rong and Yuan Tianmu come?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, not them—it’s the Han!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His own men trembled, drenched in sweat, as if they’d encountered a beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Wan Ziqizhen exhaled in relief, looking down with contempt at his fleeing men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s there to fear from Han?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These Han are different!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How different could they—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Wan Ziqizhen finished speaking, a group of Han surged from the valley, wielding bamboo spears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though few in number, these Han dared charge straight at Wan Ziqizhen’s Hu cavalry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mu Zi, we must flee! These Han are madmen—they attack us on sight!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just a bunch of Han—do you want me to run?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Ziqizhen immediately regretted his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they drew near, he saw the Han’s faces: they looked at him and his Hu cavalry not with fear, but as if viewing prey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their eyes even glowed green!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, as they charged toward him, Wan Ziqizhen swallowed hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>",1110,"2026-06-20T12:30:56.711Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","5225b7a4389b6631a45fc14498b2e5edb99dc9a7949be6431e171ac168776221","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-16","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-14",211,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmemoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-cover.jpg"]