[{"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-30":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},2311748,4516,"Chapter 30: 996 Is a Wizard","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-30",30,"\u003Cp>Deep into the night, a squad of armored soldiers surrounded the left guest courtyard of the Ma Yi garrison commander’s residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gate opened, and Liu Ling was seated cross-legged in the center of the room, eyes closed, meditating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sir, you have remarkable composure!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If the commander doesn’t want me to leave, how can I possibly go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If that’s the case, then you know what I’m about to do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am not afraid of death, only regretful that I carry a great secret unknown to others. Might the commander dismiss his men so I may entrust this secret to him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang waved his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You may all leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers withdrew from the room, leaving only Yang Kan and Gao Ang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Li Shuang’s two towering generals, clad in bright armor, remained motionless, Liu Ling no longer waited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does the commander know of the Golden Knife Prophecy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, both Gao Ang and Yang Kan changed expression, staring sharply at Li Shuang standing in the center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seizing the moment, Liu Ling reached into his sleeve and flung something outward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room filled with powder, blurring all vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boy, once you’ve inhaled my Western Illusion Incense, no matter how supreme your martial skill or strength, you’ll be my prisoner.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the powder cleared, Liu Ling saw the three figures before him, and his smile slowly froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Kan and Gao Ang were dusted with white powder, but far from becoming prisoners, they glared at him with fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Li Shuang, he had prepared in advance and slowly closed his umbrella.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Western Illusion Incense is indeed formidable—but didn’t you notice your incense was already swapped for flour?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ling instinctively stepped back, thinking:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When was it swapped?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this desperate situation, Liu Ling knew if he didn’t act now, he would die here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Liu Ling was no ordinary man; in the flash of an instant, he had already devised a plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Commander, spare my life! I’ll give you all my wealth in exchange for my life!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ling knelt on both knees, buttocks raised, his posture clearly honed from childhood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room fell silent for a long time. Liu Ling pressed his forehead to the ground, eyes shut. If this final gambit failed, he would surely die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seconds ticked by; beads of sweat formed along Liu Ling’s spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Li Shuang spoke. In that instant, Liu Ling’s mind went blank—he didn’t hear a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What did the commander say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I said you should’ve said so earlier!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang chuckled, unbothered to repeat himself, and helped Liu Ling to his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Quick, bring cushions! The floor’s cold—don’t let the sir catch a chill!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sweat streamed down Liu Ling’s face; his legs trembled as he was helped up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, no, I prefer it cool.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Kan and Gao Ang, stunned by the sudden turn, could not adjust. They watched as Li Shuang led Liu Ling onto the couch and sat cheerfully across from him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How much wealth do you have, sir?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ling hesitated, then clenched his teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Three hundred taels of gold!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lately I’ve heard many charlatans in the north use sorcery to deceive people and swindle money. I intend to petition the court to execute such scoundrels publicly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ling wiped sweat from his brow, lips trembling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old man that I am, I’ve forgotten some things. Commander, I recall now—I have five hundred taels of gold.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These charlatans don’t just steal money—they lure female followers, corrupting morality. They’re the worst kind of evil. If I catch them, I’ll flay them and stuff them with straw!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Ang chimed in at the right moment:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord, what is ‘flaying and stuffing with straw’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It means stripping the skin off these sorcerers who bewitch minds, stuffing their bodies with straw, making them into scarecrows, and displaying them at city gates to warn the people!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud—Liu Ling lost his balance and fell off the couch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sir, what happened? Why so clumsy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing, nothing! Commander, I remember now—I have over two thousand taels of gold hidden in my old home in Yan Commandery, plus countless jewels, antiques, and copper coins buried in cellars of fields and estates—I don’t even know the exact amount.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve heard the commander is deeply troubled by state affairs. I offer all my wealth to aid you in achieving your grand policy of ‘supporting agriculture while relieving famine, solving both problems at once.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sir, you are truly loyal and devoted to the state—I deeply admire you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Commander, you flatter me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A talent like yours, wasted in the wilderness, is truly a pity!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ling’s expression changed; he felt a flicker of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Li Shuang truly wanted to recruit him, even losing his wealth would make this trip worthwhile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least, his plan to use Li Shuang to draw closer to Er Zhu Rong could still succeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you heard of the Covenant Alliance?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ling nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard it’s an organization founded by the commander?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the moment he spoke, Li Shuang hurriedly denied it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t say such nonsense!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone in Hengzhou knows this—why pretend ignorance?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ling cursed inwardly but couldn’t fathom Li Shuang’s intent, so he forced a nervous smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I must have misunderstood!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sir, you don’t know—I only recently learned of a secret organization in the northern frontier, its members all tribal chieftains of the north, pretending to champion ‘Restore the Xianbei to Greatness’ while secretly plotting treason. Lately, they’ve grown brazen, hoarding grain and stockpiling weapons, planning to attack Pingcheng.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Li Shuang sounded outrageously indignant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I, Li Dashua, am a loyal minister of Great Wei—I know only to serve the state with utmost devotion. Hearing of such treason, I long to draw my sword and slaughter every traitor. But I am merely the garrison commander of Ma Yi—my power is limited. How can I stand against such dark forces?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ling’s eyelid twitched as he looked at Li Shuang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what does the commander intend?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sir, you are brilliant and wise beyond compare—could you infiltrate the Covenant Alliance and root out these traitors for the court?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ling turned pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This isn’t asking me to serve—it’s asking me to die!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if these dim-witted Hu chieftains cause trouble and the court investigates? What then?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m just a humble shaman—can’t lift a sack, can’t swing a sword, can barely kill a chicken. Even if I infiltrated the Covenant Alliance, what could I possibly do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang thought for a moment, then said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“True, forcing you to fight is inappropriate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Commander, you see clearly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then you shall be the alliance’s leader.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that deep night, Liu Ling huddled in the corner, staring at Li Shuang holding the alliance charter, as if he’d seen a ghost, helpless as a child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang’s face beamed with a warm smile, coaxing gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sign this charter, and you become leader of the Covenant Alliance!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Commander, I can’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I really can’t!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You really can!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>",1168,"2026-06-20T12:30:56.711Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","36cc6c8449f3b5794d834170538d8f223c3b0b9bb87b12a3f5af012f54abf00c","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-31","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-29",211,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmemoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-cover.jpg"]