[{"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-26":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},2311744,4516,"Chapter 26","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-26",26,"\u003Cp>“Is this General Daye Shuang’s force ahead?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After bidding farewell to Hulü Jin, Li Shuang was preparing to return to Ma Yi with his men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way, they were stopped by a band of Xiongnu cavalry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our lord wishes to invite the General to rest briefly at our tribe, as a token of gratitude for your hospitality.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man spoke fluent Xianbei, yet his attire clearly marked him as Xiongnu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Shuang recalled Gao Ang’s account of the three thousand elite Xiongnu cavalry—today, he saw it was no lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Xiongnu cavalry before him, whether in soldier quality or equipment, far surpassed the decayed northern warlord clans of the steppe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, they were even stronger than the imperial guards of Luoyangcheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kedidi Gan, your tribe is a major one, and you’re someone who could serve as palace guard in Luoyang—do you know who they are?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kedidi Gan whispered beside him:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I only know they’re a minor tribe subordinate to the Po Liuhan clan; their chieftain is a famed shaman of the steppe, incredibly efficacious—named Du Gu Ru.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A shaman?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang’s interest sparked instantly. He bowed to the Xiongnu riders:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then we’ll trouble you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pingcheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a smoky, dim chamber, Yuanshen knelt on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Opposite him sat the Great Shaman Liu Ling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ling now wore a solemn expression, muttering incantations in a ritual of prayer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The once-mighty Prince of Guangyang raised his head, face filled with anxiety and fear—like a child awaiting punishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ling held a willow branch damp with dew, waving it through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuanshen had attended too many such rituals to miss a single detail; the moment Liu Ling lowered the willow branch, he blurted out anxiously:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What did the Heavenly God say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ling exhaled slowly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Heavenly God says: if the Prince sincerely repents, writes down his sins honestly, places them in this box, and burns them to the heavens, the gods will forgive you—provided no sin is concealed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ling closed his eyes. Yuanshen took a silk scroll and wrote many lines, glancing frequently at Liu Ling to ensure he wasn’t peeking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When finished, Yuanshen swiftly placed the scroll into the box before him. Only then did Liu Ling slowly open his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I shall begin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuanshen watched as the box was cast into the brazier, until it turned to ash before his eyes, then murmured:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now the gods will forgive me, won’t they?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ning nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If the Prince concealed nothing from the gods, he will be forgiven.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuanshen produced a gold ingot and placed it in Liu Ling’s hand, then hurried from the chamber, his body noticeably lighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Yuanshen’s retreating back, Liu Ling smirked, reaching beneath the table where the box had been, and twisted a mechanism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mechanism turned—the silk scroll, meant to be burned with the box, now lay in Liu Ling’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ling glanced at the scroll and smiled faintly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So Yuanshen has been having an affair with the Princess of Chengyang Yuan Hui!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Heavenly God says: if the General sincerely repents, writes down his sins honestly, places them in this box, and burns them to the heavens, the gods will forgive you—provided no sin is concealed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the tent, Du Gu Ru, no longer dressed in red robes but in shamanic attire, radiated an aura of sacredness!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She held the willow branch, gazing at Li Shuang before her, and spoke slowly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I’ll write?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Write. These words are the bridge between you and the gods—I won’t read them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Shuang still hesitating, Du Gu Ru asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“General, what concerns you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The paper you gave isn’t enough!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After completing the ritual, Li Shuang exhaled in relief and looked at Du Gu Ru.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your method truly works—I feel much lighter now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To assist the General is my honor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I’ll continue to trouble you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang rose and stepped out. Du Gu Ru’s hand slid beneath the table and turned the mechanism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But too many sheets had been inserted—the mechanism jammed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Gu Ru grew irritated, cursing under her breath:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I want to see just how many wicked deeds you’ve committed—ten sheets still aren’t enough!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shengnü…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A call rang out—Li Shuang turned back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Gu Ru panicked, hurriedly sat upright, tidied her disheveled hair, and tried to appear composed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shengnü, what’s wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just communed with the Heavenly God—drained too much spiritual power. General, why have you returned?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just wanted to confirm: the tribal elders said after the ritual, you’d provide me and my men free meals—is that true?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Gu Ru forced a polite, awkward smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I’m relieved!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nightfall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Gu Ru clutched her head, looking utterly miserable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside her, the tribal elder stared at the dozen pages of Li Shuang’s confessions. Old and weary, he read aloud unconsciously:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From childhood, I was poor, yet vowed to save the world and benefit the people.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At three, I helped my neighbor’s aunt wash jujubes…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At five, I took orphans from my village to catch frogs in the fields…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At ten, my virtuous conduct earned me unanimous acclaim as the First Good Man of Jin Province—from Taipingzhuang and dozens of surrounding villages…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At twelve, I began my enterprise; over four years, I turned Taipingzhuang into the wealthiest village in all of Shanxi…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looking back on my turbulent decades, though I’ve achieved minor success, I still fall short. My personal small steps have brought negligible progress—nowhere near leading all living beings forward by a single great stride. I deeply regret this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I haven’t done enough for the people of the world!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I pray the gods forgive me, and grant me the chance to continue striving for their prosperity and happiness in the years ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elder finished reading, a tear slipping unnoticed down his cheek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In this age, there still exists a General as noble as Li Shuang!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Gu Ru lifted her head, watching the emotionally moved elder, and couldn’t help retorting:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you out of your mind?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aru, what do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That Daye Shuang? He’s a complete scoundrel!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Gu Ru sighed, wondering why she wasted such precious time in her life playing along with this brat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse still, she grieved over the grain and rations Li Shuang and his men had consumed for free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s time to crank up the pressure on him.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1067,"2026-06-20T12:30:56.711Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","ec2a36c97ac221ade6dfbdd2f9e58f764c90dadd2c296c45338e6404a511915b","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-27","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-25",211,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmemoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-cover.jpg"]