[{"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-41":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},2311759,4516,"Chapter 41: Front Lines Under Pressure, Rear Lines Feasting","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-41",41,"\u003Cp>Outside Pingcheng, a small, unremarkable tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The governor of Ma Yi has met the disguised Rouran merchants and agreed to sell military supplies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ling assisted hurriedly entered the tent, where Li Shuang was playing with a piece of jade brought from the Western Regions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Du Gu Ru and She Di Gan had none of his leisurely composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She Di Gan was restless, while Du Gu Ru was far more composed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I still don’t understand your plan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang smiled, set down the jade, and replied to Du Gu Ru.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, you accept Yuan Shen’s proposal. Once he announces it throughout the northern frontier, will any aristocratic youths dare trouble you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Gu Ru clenched his teeth, seemingly weighing the gains and losses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Li Shuang turned to Liu Ling assisted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In the gift list we gave Yuan Shen, we listed a massive amount of wuzhu coins. He cannot gather them quickly, so he must borrow from the city’s wealthy families. Seize this chance to tell those merchants outright: transfer their loans to Yuan Shen’s name. That way, they at least preserve their capital.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, Li Shuang turned to She Di Gan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The bandit who raided your tribe, Bei Lie Buruo, has now defected to Yuan Shen. Yuan Shen knows your connection to me, so he turns a blind eye and has incorporated Bei Lie Buruo and his troops into his ranks. When Bei Lie Buruo takes Yuan Shen’s gathered bride-price to the Du Gu tribe, you ambush him en route and reclaim the bride-price. Thus, your vengeance is satisfied.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She Di Gan looked confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Governor of Ma Yi, I’m not picking on you, but individually, each part of your plan makes sense—why can’t I see how they fit together?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She Di Gan’s words broke the tent’s silence; everyone suddenly began speaking at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Gu Ru spoke first:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Using disguised Rouran merchants is fine, but what will you trade? Transporting so much matériel with wuzhu coins is cumbersome and suspicious; using gold—won’t Pingcheng’s old goldsmiths instantly recognize it as not from the Rouran gold mines? Too many flaws.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ling assisted added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Which wealthy merchant wouldn’t cling to every copper? Why would they settle for merely preserving their capital?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She Di Gan also asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How do you know Yuan Shen will send Bei Lie Buruo to deliver the bride-price?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing their three questions, Li Shuang chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“See? You’re impatient again!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang clapped his hands and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let the fifth person in our plan answer these questions!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had Li Shuang spoken than She Di Gan leapt up and hid behind him, eyes darting nervously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are only four of us in this tent—where’s the fifth person?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tent flap opened, and Yu Jin entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the sight of Yu Jin, the other three in the tent reacted differently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She Di Gan stared with confusion and a hint of suspicion; Du Gu Ru suddenly understood; Liu Ling assisted snapped his gaze to Li Shuang, expression unreadable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Jin bowed respectfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though a Xianbei, his attire and mannerisms were those of a Han scholar-official.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can answer all your questions!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ling assisted burst into laughter, breaking the tent’s awkward silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then the matter is settled. But one question remains: what do we do with the money from the military supplies?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All eyes turned to Li Shuang. This time, he offered no evasion—he answered plainly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll pay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ling assisted grinned and probed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eight hundred gold pieces?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. One thousand eight hundred gold pieces.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the others stared in astonishment, Li Shuang said calmly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The more you put in, the more you gain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the pavilion, Yuan Shen, anxiously awaiting news, saw Liu Ling assisted and asked urgently:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, how did it go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The goods have been delivered. Three thousand gold pieces have been brought back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Yuan Shen’s voice brimmed with excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excellent! I’ll immediately send men to purchase the bride-price. I shall announce to Heng and Shuo provinces—I am taking a wife!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Congratulations, Great Prince!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ling assisted bowed in congratulations; Yuan Shen laughed heartily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Be sure to come early—I’ll reserve you a fine seat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Great Prince!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Ling assisted withdrew. Yuan Shen’s smile never faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With this done, I gain not only a beautiful bride but also bring the entire Du Gu tribe under my command. If the front turns sour, Yuan Yu will bear the blame—and Heng and Shuo provinces will be mine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shuo Province.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it, they sent me a wedding invitation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Yu, the Eastern Theater Commander organizing troops against the Liuzhen rebels, received a letter from Heng Province and flew into a rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Yuan Yu was renowned for his virtue and calm temperament, this news made him curse aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m out here fighting the Liuzhen rebels while he lounges safely in Pingcheng, with time to take a concubine? Do you think I won’t open a gap here and let Wei Ke Gu ravage Heng Province?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Yu’s general Li Shuren heard this and winced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Great Prince, don’t speak rashly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he knew Yuan Yu was merely venting, Li Shuren was still startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Yu was no man to speak carelessly—he was a senior imperial clansman who had fought countless campaigns and weathered great storms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His current state had only one cause:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pressure from Po Liu Han Baling was overwhelming!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Po Liu Han Baling’s rebellion began, his main force had never appeared; the armies opposing Northern Wei troops were always led by his two generals, Wei Ke Gu and Po Liu Han Kong Que.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, Yuan Yu was barely holding on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pingcheng was the old capital of Northern Wei, the ancestral burial ground—it could not be allowed to fall near rebel hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Northern Wei forces guarded it fiercely, yet tribes from Pingcheng kept defecting to the rebels every few days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how many people fled from Pingcheng, Yuan Shen bore no blame; Yuan Yu, however, would be held responsible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How many defected from Pingcheng—especially that Hu Lu Jin, now a king? If I let even one troop slip through here, the court will punish me severely—where do I go to plead my case?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuren could only sigh and comfort:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rumors from the steppe say Po Liu Han Baling’s negotiations with Yujiulu An Gui have collapsed. Now he must station his main force at Wo Ye Town to guard against the Rouran. We seize this chance and strike out to reclaim Wu Chuan and Huai Xu towns.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Yu had no objection to Li Shuren’s suggestion—in fact, he had already planned the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Luoyang is pressing harder than ever. Let us split our forces and strike now—cut off Po Liu Han Baling’s left and right arms.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuren withdrew. Yuan Yu sat down, saw the wedding invitation again, and could not suppress his fury:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What a joke—getting married? He’ll run off with her soon enough!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>",1156,"2026-06-20T12:30:56.711Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","062440dcd9141d1435026f4b30ad3fbaa0747ab4f8a616076b2d9744b94112a4","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-42","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-40",211,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmemoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-cover.jpg"]