[{"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-32":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},2311750,4516,"Chapter 32: How Was I Robbed Again?","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-32",32,"\u003Cp>The fall of Wuchuanzhen meant the stalemate in the northern frontier, which had lasted over half a year, had finally reached a turning point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Zhu Rong, who had just returned from suppressing Suhe Polangxian in Bingzhou, could no longer sit idle; he summoned Li Shuang back from Ma Yi to discuss urgent matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiurong’s county seat had now become the Zhu family’s stronghold; compared to last year, the city beside the Juotuo River had been repaired and transformed into something entirely new.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several days of travel, Li Shuang arrived at the city gate just as Zhu Ying’e, daughter of the Zhu family, was leading her retinue out hunting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little niece!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Ying’e showed not the slightest warmth toward Li Shuang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re not much older than me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She snorted, cracked her whip, and rode off with her attendants, kicking up dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet one of the young men beside her slowed his pace and bowed to Li Shuang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qihu soldiers guarding the gate, seeing Li Shuang arrive, respectfully knelt halfway in salute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Greetings, Military Lord!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang tossed them a small piece of silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve worked hard guarding the city—go drink on me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Military Lord!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qihu soldiers beamed with joy; seeing this, Li Shuang asked casually:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who was that man just now with Elder Zhu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Report, Military Lord—he is Shaozong the Swift Blade, who has just come to join the clan chief.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shaozong the Swift Blade?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, he is of the Murong clan, a descendant of Murong Ke, and related to the clan chief.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang chatted briefly with the Qihu soldiers, then entered the city without delay, heading for Zhu Rong’s mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The houses within the city, after repairs, bore no trace of war damage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the narrow cobblestone streets, Qihu soldiers were everywhere—noisy and boisterous, yet without disrupting the merchants’ orderly trade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon entering Zhu Rong’s mansion, Li Shuang did not immediately meet Zhu Rong; he was received by Zhu Rong’s principal wife, Princess Beixiang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third brother has come!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Princess Beixiang of the Yuan clan was the daughter of Prince Nanan Hui, Tuoba Zhen, of illustrious lineage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet when Tuoba Zhen had known of Mu Tai’s rebellion in Hengzhou and failed to report it, he was stripped of his title and his princedom dissolved; Princess Yuan’s childhood had been far from easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan was gentle and perceptive; knowing Li Shuang had traveled for days, she ordered servants to bring out the prepared wine and dishes, and invited him to sit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second sister, where’s second brother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t mention it—he’s scolding Zhu Zhao and the others!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What did they do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t your second brother give all his nephews and cousins land and fields? Yet these worthless brats don’t know how to manage—they spend their days indulging and oppressing the people. At this time of year, vast tracts of their lands lie fallow. Your second brother toured their territories and nearly exploded with rage!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Si Province had always been one of Northern Wei’s key agricultural bases, second only to Bingzhou; now most of its land belonged to the Zhu family, yet while many Zhu clan members could fight, almost none knew how to manage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Princess Yuan also disapproved of the Zhu clan’s younger generation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If only these troublesome brats had half the talent of Shaozong the Swift Blade.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clear Princess Yuan held great favor for her cousin, Shaozong the Swift Blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Zhu Rong and Yuan Tianmu arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you women gossiping about now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Princess Yuan immediately rose, smiling brightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was just chatting with third brother. You two talk—I’ll go check on the kitchen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Rong and Yuan Tianmu entered together and took their seats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big brother, Second brother!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Zhu Rong sat down, he burst into loud laughter, sounding thoroughly pleased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third brother, you’ve made quite a name for yourself in Ma Yi—I hear Yuan Yuanshen is grinding his teeth behind your back, even dreaming of killing you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I owe it all to the support of my two elder brothers—if not for you, Yuan Yuanshen wouldn’t have given me a second glance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Tianmu warned:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third brother, be cautious—Yuan Yuanshen is deeply calculating and not to be underestimated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, elder brother, for your concern!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Rong waved his hand; as the maidservants brought in wine, he said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Today, let us brothers drink together—no more talk of such matters. Let us drink our fill!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three drank heartily, and as they warmed to their wine, they turned to discussing the campaign in Bingzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This southern campaign to suppress the rebellion had gone smoothly. Yet the court’s rewards were meager—even refusing to reimburse Zhu Rong and Yuan Tianmu for the grain and supplies used by their troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were expected to pay for the suppression themselves!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, after victory was secured, they weren’t even allowed to enter Jinyang’s city gates—they were ordered straight back home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Zhu Rong’s face darkened with anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These brats are pushing too far.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Tianmu remained calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our actions in Si Province have been too bold—the court is watching us. I hear they’ve already appointed a new Si Province Inspector; this one won’t be friendly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After last year’s war, Si Province’s counties were empty, its cities ruined; local magnates and Hu chieftains had either fled or been defeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Zhu Rong’s southern campaign, he defeated Wanzi Qizhen, absorbed the defeated troops and refugees, and then distributed lands himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the Luoyang court, this was a grave offense!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Luoyang had no other choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wanzi Qizhen and Suhe Polangxian had both been defeated, yet Bingzhou and other regions grew even more chaotic, with countless rebel bands rising, defying imperial orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The court both used and feared the Zhu family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elder brother need not worry so—Wuchuanzhen has fallen, and Huaixuzhen won’t hold out much longer. I predict that once Huaixuzhen falls, Yuan Yu will lead troops north to confront Po Liu Han Baling in decisive battle!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Rong listened, his gaze grave, and asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third brother, do you think Yuan Yu will win or lose?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He will lose, without doubt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wuchuan and Huaixu have been besieged for a long time, yet Yuan Yu has held his forces back—his intent is obvious: he wants the Six Garrisons to destroy each other, so he can reap the benefits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Tianmu, upon hearing this, felt deep disgust, tinged with sorrowful sympathy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If the court acts this way, won’t it chill the hearts of the entire realm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elder brother is right—but can the court truly deceive the whole realm, especially the Six Garrisons, so close at hand? When Huaixuzhen falls and Yuan Yu marches north, he won’t be facing just one Woye Garrison!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Relations among the Six Garrisons were intricate: though separated by thousands of li, today’s enemies might become tomorrow’s drinking companions, bound by kinship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Rong listened, then burst into loud laughter, his accumulated resentment vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third brother speaks wisely—let us drink this cup to the dregs!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All three drank deeply, when suddenly the door burst open and Princess Yuan rushed in, pale and frantic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The attendants who accompanied Ying’e have returned—they say Ying’e has been captured!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Princess Yuan spoke, Zhu Rong and Yuan Tianmu instinctively turned to look at Li Shuang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What’s this got to do with me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who captured my little niece?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Rong and Yuan Tianmu snapped back to reality—this was Xiurong County, not some remote mountain valley—who had the audacity?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They say it’s the new Si Province Inspector, Wei Qingbin!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>",1260,"2026-06-20T12:30:56.711Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","ec73cb8655000e54f9f3f5c68c5310b2d33c654b12a60ddf3d3d01788ed1811a","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-33","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-31",211,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmemoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-cover.jpg"]