Chapter 45: He Gave Too Much

Take Pingcheng.

The Inspector's Residence.

The Northern Wei imperial household had studied propriety from childhood, and their bearing had to be proper at all times.

But today, Yuan Shen, the moment he woke at dawn, could not be bothered with anything else. Untidy in his dress and cap, he hurried into the great hall—an old man was waiting for him!

"General Who Conquers the North, you've arrived, and you didn't send word ahead so I could go out of the city to welcome you!"

The Li Chong of today was utterly unlike the Li Chong on the city wall of Ma Yi that day.

The Li Chong of that moment had been like a hunter who had finally caught his prey, while the Li Chong of now was more like an elder.

Li Chong's ancestors had originally been officials of the Southern Dynasties.

Yuan Jia was hasty and careless, winning only a panicked northward glance.

When Tuoba Tao launched his southern campaign, he seized a vast stretch of Southern Dynasties territory. Li Chong's aunt, a lady of the Li clan, was taken captive by Yongchang Wang Tuoba Ren on account of her beauty. Later, Tuoba Ren was killed for plotting rebellion, and his household was sent to the imperial palace. The lady Li was then favored by Emperor Wencheng, Tuoba Jun, and bore Emperor Xianwen, Tuoba Hong.

Li Chong was a genuine relative by marriage, and his ties with the Yuanshi Sect were no small matter.

Looking at Yuan Shen, this junior, Li Chong's gaze was full of appreciation.

"This old man, bearing imperial orders, has come to the northern frontier to take charge of the campaign against the rebels. Some days ago I led troops into Ma Yi and captured its commander, Li Shuang."

Yuan Shen, hearing this, was overjoyed.

"And after that?"

"This old man let him go again!"

Yuan Shen was stunned, and the words slipped out.

"Since he had already been captured, why not simply kill him?"

This was something Yuan Shen had always wanted to do but had never managed. Yet his bluntness drew Li Chong's displeasure.

"Are you trying to teach this old man how to do his job?"

Yuan Shen knew he had overstepped, and hurriedly said he wouldn't dare.

Li Chong, however, gave a cold snort and pulled a thick stack of account books from his sleeve.

"Zhiyuan, you fool!"

Yuan Shen had not expected Li Chong to change so fast. A moment ago it had been a gentle spring breeze; now it was a sudden, driving storm.

"Before you had even reached the age of forty, you already enjoyed the court's deep trust, were sent to hold the northern frontier, and put in charge of an entire province's affairs. But of all the things you should never have done, you let beauty cloud your eyes, embezzled military pay, and sold off military supplies."

Yuan Shen looked at the entries recorded in the account books, each one like a blade. In an instant, all his strength left him, and he collapsed to the floor.

"And you still want to kill Li Shuang? The man has already laid the evidence of your crimes on my official desk. Do you want this old man to pervert the law for you?"

Yuan Shen crawled to Li Chong's feet, clung to his thigh, and wept:

"General Who Conquers the North, for my father's sake, you have to save me!"

Li Chong patted Yuan Shen's shoulder and said slowly:

"It's not as if there's no room to maneuver."

Yuan Shen, hearing these words, stopped weeping and raised his head.

"Please, General, enlighten me!"

Li Chong helped Yuan Shen to his feet and said slowly:

"The Prince of Linhuai suffered a great defeat at Wuyuan. The rebels' strength has swelled; bandits have risen in swarms across Bin and Liang, and Guanzhong is far from peaceful. Your Majesty has ordered me to defeat the enemy within a month and drive back the marauders, to lift the peril of Take Pingcheng."

Take Pingcheng was the former capital of Northern Wei; its political significance could not be matched by any other place.

If Han Baling were to march into Take Pingcheng, then the upheaval of Northern Wei's very foundations would no longer be an empty phrase.

"What does the General mean?"

"The troops of Hengzhou are either at Take Pingcheng or at Ma Yi. Beyond that, the various Xianbei and Tiele hereditary soldiers are wandering and unreliable. The situation on the northern frontier is a tangled mess. At a time like this, if you can steady the various hereditary soldiers out there, then this old man can speak on your behalf. In days to come, when we defeat Bei Lie Buruo and settle the chaos in Hengzhou, then one fine feat will cover a hundred faults!"

Yuan Shen nodded. In ordinary days, with Yu Jin at his side as his adviser, he would habitually ask for counsel. Now, the question slipped out on its own.

"Then how should we steady the various hereditary soldiers out there?"

Li Chong was not Yu Jin.

If it had been Yu Jin, he would surely have had several plans in mind already and laid out a strategy for Yuan Shen.

But Li Chong merely gave a cold snort and rebuked him:

"Does this old man still need to teach you how to keep those Hu Ren in line?"

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare!"

Yuan Shen apologized and quickly withdrew from the room.

Once outside, he summoned his attendant and steeled his heart.

"Someone, send envoys to every tribe."

"Great King, what for?"

"Pay out money!"

The arrival of the Crouching Tiger Li Chong gave the whole of Hengzhou a shot in the arm.

For a time, every tribe in Hengzhou, whatever their previous intentions, was now temporarily settled.

Li Chong was staying for the time being in the Inspector's Residence, sitting in a high tower, studying a chess manual.

Li Chong's son Li Shen Gui was very excited and came trotting up.

"The chieftains of the various Hu tribes, hearing of Father's summons, have all come to Take Pingcheng and are now gathered outside the residence."

"How many times have I told you—this is not home. Outside, you must stop always saying 'Father, Father.'"

Li Shen Gui listened to his father's scolding, head lowered, not daring to protest.

"General!"

Li Chong, hearing his troublesome son awkwardly force out those two words, for the moment lost the heart to study his chess manual.

He stood up, looking down from a height, able to take in the full situation outside the Inspector's residence.

Gazing at those tribal chieftains of the Hu Ren, great and small, Li Chong suddenly asked:

"Do you know why Your Majesty has you campaign alongside me, and even granted you the title of General Who Pacifies the North?"

"It is because Your Majesty trusts and values our Li clan!"

Hearing his son's answer, Li Chong's heart thumped wildly; he could not help but curse:

"Idiot!"

Li Shen Gui felt very wronged.

"General, what have I done now?"

Only after a crowd of Hu Ren tribal chieftains had all arrived did Yuan Shen finally, just barely, step out.

Looking at this gathering he had assembled at the cost of ten thousand silver taels, Yuan Shen felt a pang of heartache, yet at the same time was also very pleased.

"Honored chieftains, at this hour, setting aside your toil to come to Take Pingcheng, this prince is deeply moved by your loyalty and righteousness."

Yuan Shen, like a leader at a meeting, was the first to sit down, then looked at the various chieftains and beckoned.

"No need for ceremony, all of you, be seated!"

However, after this one invitation, not a single person sat down.

Yuan Shen's brow furrowed, but then he saw She Di Gan step forward, cupping his fist in salute:

"At this hour when our homeland faces peril, even had Your Highness not summoned us, we would still have wished to come. I would ask one question: the rebel army is closing on the Northern Capital — does Your Highness have any strategy to repel the enemy?"

"Isn't that precisely what I am about to discuss with all of you?"

She Di Gan gave a cold snort.

"So there is none!"

Yuan Shen had already sensed something was wrong, but She Di Gan clapped his hands, and his personal guards carried over a small chest.

"We have long received the grace of the Tuoba clan, guarding the Northern Frontier. In this time of peril, we ought to aid our lord and assist the realm. Your Highness need not use this silver to sully our name for loyalty. Today, I beg Your Highness to take it back!"

At this, the Hu Ren chieftains behind She Di Gan spoke in unison:

"We beg Your Highness to take it back!"

Just at this moment, a burst of laughter rang out.

There, Li Shuang arrived at the gathering quietly, bringing Yu Jin, with Yang Kan and Gao Ang, both in full armor, following behind him.

"Your Highness has summoned us today to discuss the enemy — why is everyone standing? Be seated!"

The Hu Ren chieftains led by She Di Gan, upon hearing these words, sat down in unison.

Yuan Shen's face flushed crimson, feeling as though he had been slapped a hundred times over, unable to utter a single word.

He looked at Li Shuang, hatred seething deep within.

From atop the tower, Li Chong watched this scene, a sharp glint in his eyes.

"A domineering aura that spills outward!"

……