[{"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-24":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},2311742,4516,"Chapter 24: A Few Things About Shifting from Herding to Farming","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-24",24,"\u003Cp>Bingzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Zhu Rong marched south to suppress Suhe Bawenxian, the campaign has proceeded smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bingzhou is a major province, and Jinyang is one of the few large cities north of Luoyangcheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Rong’s southern campaign held no uncertainty; compared to the immediate warfare, he was more concerned about Hengzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the great tent, Zhu Rong handed a letter sent from afar to Yuan Tianmu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, what does it say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third brother truly has talent—but to break with Yuan Yuanshen so soon, isn’t that disadvantageous to us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Rong dismissed Yuan Tianmu’s concerns with contempt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are fewer lice in Luoyangcheng than he is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regarding Li Shuang’s actions in Ma Yi, Zhu Rong felt no worry—on the contrary, he secretly took satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei’s reforms, the Luoyang court had been controlled by the eight Xianbei clans and the four Han clans; though the Zhu clan claimed kinship with the imperial family, to them, it was merely that of a lackey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For this, Zhu Rong had endured countless sneers in Luoyangcheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang’s actions were precisely what Zhu Rong had long wished to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The world is about to change, yet the nobles of Luoyangcheng still revel in past glory—how backward. At such a time, whoever can subdue a region will seize the advantage first. Suhe Bawenxian and we share the same intent; what matters now is who wields the sharper tools.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps the tent grew too stifling; Zhu Rong rose and pulled back the flap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside, before his eyes lay the vast city of Jinyang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the division of Jin by the three families, Jinyang had stood here for nearly a thousand years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over these thousand years, the city had not declined—it had grown ever more majestic with time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Rong gazed at the city, thinking that one day he would take it for himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But not yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, wait a little longer—this city will surely be ours!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, Yuan Tianmu heard these words with no discomfort, only a flicker of excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gap between Xianbei royal clans was greater than that between man and dog—this was why Yuan Tianmu stood firmly by Zhu Rong’s side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is Tianbao waiting for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For Yuan Yuanshen to lose control of Hengzhou, forcing the court to play its last card!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Zhu Rong’s words, Yuan Tianmu smiled softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Chong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That sleeping tiger was the Northern Wei court’s final trump card capable of intimidating everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet how much real power remained in that trump card depended on one’s perspective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Rong gazed at distant Jinyang and sighed deeply, as if posing a question—though he himself had no answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is Lian Po old? Can he still eat?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pingcheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Chong is but an old man—does Luoyang truly expect him to quell the chaos in the north?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing news from Luoyangcheng, Yuan Yuanshen felt the threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Luoyang court truly decided to send Li Chong north to take control of Pingcheng, he would be forced to step down to second place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having tasted the flavor of absolute power, how could Yuan Yuanshen willingly surrender his authority to another?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Highness speaks truly—but the Emperor is young, easily swayed, and ignorant of the northern situation; he listens only to those around him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Yuan Yuanshen stood a man with white hair and beard yet a youthful face—the famed shaman of the northern frontier, Liu Ling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Liu Ling, what should I do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Highness is of royal blood, noble in status, yet lacks capable generals, allowing a child to deceive you. The urgent task is to recruit brave warriors from all corners to stabilize the situation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ling’s words struck deep with Yuan Yuanshen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The current situation in Hengzhou no longer carried the weight it once did when spoken of from Pingcheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surrounding tribes now preferred to heed the boy Li Shuang in Ma Yi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Yuanshen had never understood why—Liu Ling’s words opened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right—in the north, benevolence and righteousness are useless; only strength matters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Yuanshen paced the room for a long while, then asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have my eye on one man—a famed chieftain of the Tiele tribe, named Hulü Jin. What do you think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Liu Ling could answer, an urgent report came from outside:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Highness, Hulü Jin has rebelled!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What did you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Yuanshen’s face turned pale, yet his subordinate continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A day ago, Hulü Jin killed the court-appointed officials and led his tribe westward—surely to join Han Baling!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You treacherous Hu chieftain—you have disappointed me deeply!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Yuanshen’s face darkened; he turned to the messenger and demanded:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where is Yu Jin? He failed to secure the grain and money—why hasn’t he returned?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Scouts say the assistant commander remains in Ma Yi, lost in debauchery; all say he has forgotten his homeland.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ling watched the furious Yuan Yuanshen and thought inwardly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man’s character is too narrow to accomplish great things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Liu Ling had already decided to seek out another worthy master to serve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where is the commander going?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For days, Li Shuang had kept Yu Jin confined in Hong Lang Man, and he could no longer bear it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the crude, uncultured, unhygienic Hu chieftains, Yu Jin—the sinicized Xianbei noble—was simply too handsome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girls flocked to him—and didn’t even need to pay!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s not that I chase women—it’s that women chase me!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seizing an opportunity, Yu Jin finally left Hong Lang Man and fell in beside Li Shuang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hulü Jin has rebelled!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang’s words stunned Yu Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt as if a day in the mountains had become a thousand years in the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hulü Jin was always loyal and righteous—why rebel now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Jin’s words made Li Shuang smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Loyalty and righteousness don’t feed you. In the north today, everyone wants to rebel—what can he do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two rode side by side on horseback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Jin pondered these words, then asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Commander, you’ve gathered a large population under your command. Eventually, you’ll run out of grain—what then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang laughed heartily:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Assistant Commander, you’re a genius—surely you understand this simple truth?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is well known that farming on a given area of land supports far more people than herding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If there aren’t enough cattle and sheep for all the people? Plant crops!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Jin paused a beat, gazing at Li Shuang’s back, feeling a quiet stir within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone, of course, understood this simple truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet no one had ever managed to put it into practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Prince of Guangyang in Pingcheng had failed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why? Because the tribes of Hengzhou were all Xianbei warriors who had once marched with the Tuoba clan, valuing martial merit above all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Getting them to farm? That was beyond the reach of ordinary men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Jin’s mind turned inward:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you can do it, then I truly wish to serve you.\u003C\u002Fp>",1145,"2026-06-20T12:30:56.711Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f79c5fb29333adf417b1c8375de9dc0961aa0bfa6265813973c71c5963f618dd","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-25","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-23",211,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmemoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-cover.jpg"]