Chapter 3: Oh no — I've run into a Sinicized Hu!

The Erzu clan's ancestor General Er Zhu Yujian followed Tuoba Gui to destroy Yan, and was enfeoffed with three hundred li of Xiurong Chuan for his merit.

General Er Zhu Rong's grandfather General Er Zhu Daiqin was the maternal uncle of Tuoba Tao's Empress Jing'ai, and through this connection the Erzu clan took part in many of Beiwei's foreign campaigns, and because of their merit were exempted from a century of taxes.

Today, the Erzu clan is already a great household famed among both Hu and Han throughout the provinces of Si, Shuo, Heng, and others!

Cattle, sheep, camels, and horses blanketed the hills.

General Er Zhu Rong looked at the letter in his hand, sent from Taiping Stockade — his daughter's handwriting was very clear, but his handsome, fair-complexioned face showed something unusual.

"Where is the person who delivered this letter?"

General Er Zhu Rong's subordinate, his nephew General Er Zhu Zhao, was eager to speak.

"After delivering the letter, he dropped his head and went straight to sleep!"

General Er Zhu Rong was somewhat surprised, then heard General Er Zhu Zhao explain.

"According to him, he covered two hundred li in a single day, killed three horses, and was utterly exhausted."

General Er Zhu Rong laughed.

"Quite a character. Treat him well."

"But…"

General Er Zhu Zhao was bold and combative by nature; upon hearing this news, he had secretly assembled troops and horses on the spot, just waiting for his uncle to give the order.

But he had not expected that General Er Zhu Rong, far from being angry, would instead want to treat this messenger generously.

General Er Zhu Rong's authority within the General Er Zhu family was no trivial matter; he gave General Er Zhu Zhao a single look, and the other man closed his mouth, with too many words he did not dare to continue speaking at this moment.

"Invite Tianmu over!"

Compared to his nephew General Er Zhu Zhao, the person General Er Zhu Rong trusted more was his sworn brother, the Beiwei imperial clansman Yuan Tianmu.

After Wei Xiaowendi moved the Beiwei capital from Pingcheng to Luoyang, the Sinicization reforms of Beiwei became unstoppable.

In Luoyang, the Beiwei court not only banned the northern tongue and Hu clothing, but even went so far in their zeal as to change the imperial family's surname from Tuoba to Yuan.

Yuan Tianmu was a typical post-Sinicization member of the Beiwei imperial house — hair tied in a topknot, dressed in Han clothing, refined and gentle — forming a stark contrast with the Hu-clad, dreadlocked General Er Zhu Zhao beside him.

General Er Zhu Rong handed the letter in his hand to Yuan Tianmu and asked:

"Brother, what do you make of it?"

"What fine writing — to be able to compose an extortion letter with such literary flair, truly extraordinary!"

Yuan Tianmu glanced at it and praised.

General Er Zhu Zhao at the side, however, was growing impatient.

"What time is it now, and you're still concerned about the other party's prose?"

General Er Zhu Rong, watching Yuan Tianmu stroke his beard and read with care, silenced the impatient General Er Zhu Zhao.

"What my brother means is, Li Shuang is no ordinary bandit?"

The reason General Er Zhu Rong had sent his daughter to Luoyang, besides offering a pledge of allegiance to the young Emperor Yuan Xu, was also to establish eyes and ears within the palace.

Now that things had developed to this point, General Er Zhu Rong somewhat suspected that someone might be scheming behind the scenes.

"Since the rebellion of the Six Garrisons, many of the garrison troops originally stationed at the Northern Frontier have fled, among them no few descendants of Han great clans. In any case, I do not believe a bandit could possess such literary talent. And judging by the meaning in his letter, he clearly does not wish to escalate matters — perhaps there is room to mediate!"

Having spoken, Yuan Tianmu gave General Er Zhu Rong a meaningful look; the other understood, and had General Er Zhu Zhao dismissed first.

The two of them alone in a room, General Er Zhu Rong spoke:

"Brother, if you have something to say, just say it straight."

"The Erzu clan's century of accumulation, the wealth piled up beyond counting — in these chaotic times, that is not necessarily a good thing."

General Er Zhu Rong nodded.

"I understand, which is why I want to gather bold warriors for my own use! It's just that it has never gone smoothly."

Yuan Tianmu laughed.

"The court has always been wary of the Erzu clan, and Qifu Moyu is at its side like a fishbone stuck in the throat. Though Xiurong is rich, it is not the place for a king's enterprise. If Tianbao wishes to accomplish anything, he should march south to Taiyuan, seize Jinyang city, and only then can the Erzu clan's foundation be glorified. Taiping Stockade lies on the key route southward, and Li Shuang is a man of outstanding talent — a decision must be made soon."

Hearing Yuan Tianmu's words, General Er Zhu Rong had already made up his mind.

"The name of Taiping Stockade, over these past two years — especially after Li Chong's failed campaign to suppress it — has become quite renowned throughout Jin. A man of such caliber, if he could be used by me, would not be an unhappy thing. Otherwise, he should be eliminated early."

"In that case, I shall make a trip for Tianbao."

Taiping Stockade.

When Li Shuang learned that Yuan Tianmu had come in person, he knew in his heart that this matter had not developed in the worst direction.

"Uncle Tianmu!"

In this mountain wilderness stockade, General Er Zhu Yinge saw a familiar face, and all the grievances of recent days came welling up at once.

Yuan Tianmu offered some comfort, then had someone take General Er Zhu Yinge away.

Next, he began to size up the true subject of this trip — Li Shuang.

This famously renowned absolute bandit of northwestern Jin was nothing more than a teenager, with a sturdy build, dark skin, and yet a remarkably proper face.

Yuan Tianmu immediately took a liking to him.

"So this is Chief Li Shuang?"

"I am indeed!"

Li Shuang invited Yuan Tianmu into the great hall, but Yuan Tianmu did not move at once, and instead spoke somewhat tactfully.

"Might I have a look around the chief's study?"

Yuan Tianmu had a peculiar habit — he especially liked visiting other people's studies.

From the books collected in the other's study, Yuan Tianmu could roughly determine the other's tastes.

Of course, the question of why a bandit chief would have a study at all, Yuan Tianmu seemed to subconsciously overlook.

"I… guess it's not out of the question."

Li Shuang had no choice but to invite him into the study.

The moment he stepped into the study, Li Shuang sensed something was off.

Why hadn't these fellows cleaned up?

On the desk, a poem Li Shuang had copied for practice was still lying there.

Yuan Tianmu, without the slightest self-awareness expected of an outsider, picked up the paper from the desk and began reading.

"Han warriors, three hundred thousand, the general also commands Huo Piao Yao… the foe can be crushed, the comet's head wiped out, trampling the Hu Ren's guts, wading through Hu Ren blood… the Hu Ren are no more, the Han way shall flourish…"

Hearing Yuan Tianmu reciting it, Li Shuang's face went pale.

Wasn't this the same as slapping Yuan Tianmu, this Xianbei man, across the face right in front of him?

"Good!"

Li Shuang had expected Yuan Tianmu to turn and walk away, but instead Yuan Tianmu suddenly raised his voice.

"Magnificent! Truly magnificent!"

Then he turned around, looked at Li Shuang, and his admiration only grew.

"I knew I hadn't misjudged. The chieftain is not only outstanding in martial strategy, but his literary talent is also remarkable. He must be of a great noble lineage. Might I ask, is he of the Zhao Commandery Li clan or the Longxi Li clan?"

This question stumped Li Shuang.

In this era, where he was actually from — he truly didn't know.

"I suppose I'd count as a Guanzhong man!"

"So you are of the Longxi Li clan. My respects, my respects. I imagine the chieftain has quite a deep connection with Wu Chuan town!"

Hearing Yuan Tianmu's words, even larger question marks popped up in his heart.

"Having fallen into banditry here, how can one speak of family lineage? It only invites ridicule!"

Having confirmed his own judgment, Yuan Tianmu grew even more cordial with Li Shuang.

"Does the chieftain read the Spring and Autumn Annals?"

"…"

After a long conversation, deep into the night, Yuan Tianmu stated his purpose for coming: he wished to recruit Li Shuang on behalf of General Er Zhu Rong, and offered extremely generous terms.

Money, land, and official rank — all on the table!

Li Shuang thought for a long while, and in the end agreed.

Although the great cause of striking down the feudal, decadent forces was lofty, alas, the feudal, decadent forces were offering far too much.

Once the terms were settled, Li Shuang voiced the doubt in his heart.

"Having seen that poem, why was the Colonel's Aide not angered?"

But Yuan Tianmu burst out laughing:

"My young friend is mistaken. The ancestors of our Tuoba clan were in fact descendants of the Yellow Emperor, of Changyi's youngest son. How could we be mentioned in the same breath as those savage barbarians who eat raw meat and drink blood? Later, Emperor Xiaowen changed the clan name from Tuoba to Yuan, which itself carried the meaning of returning to our ancestral roots. 'Trampling the barbarians' guts, wading through barbarian blood' — what a magnificent line indeed!"

"…"