Chapter 45: He Gave Too Much

Pingcheng.

Inspector’s Mansion.

The Northern Wei imperial family had been meticulously trained in ritual propriety since childhood, their conduct always expected to be proper.

But this morning, Yuan Shen woke up and forgot everything else—disheveled and unattended, he rushed into the main hall—a old man was waiting for him!

“General Who Subdues the North, you’ve come, yet you didn’t notify me ahead of time so I could go out to greet you!”

This Li Chong was utterly different from the Li Chong who stood on the ramparts of Ma Yi that day.

Back then, Li Chong had been like a hunter who had finally caught his prey; now, he resembled an elder.

Li Chong’s ancestors had originally been officials of the Southern Court.

Emperor Wenjia’s hasty campaign ended in frantic retreat to the north.

When Tao the Conqueror launched his southern campaign, he seized vast territories from the Southern Court. Li Chong’s aunt, Lady Li, because of her beauty, was first captured by Prince Tuoba Ren. Later, when Tuoba Ren rebelled and was executed, his family was sent to the imperial palace, where Lady Li was favored by Emperor Wencheng, Tuoba Jun, and bore Prince Xianwen, Tuoba Hong.

Li Chong was a true imperial relative, with close ties to the Yuan clan.

In his gaze toward the younger Yuan Shen, Li Chong brimmed with appreciation.

“I have been ordered by the Emperor to come to the northern frontier to oversee the suppression of rebels. A few days ago, I led troops into Ma Yi and captured its defender, Li Shuang.”

Yuan Shen heard this and was overjoyed.

“And then?”

“I let him go!”

Yuan Shen froze, blurted out:

“If you’ve already captured him, why not kill him outright?”

This was something Yuan Shen had long wanted to do but failed to accomplish—and his blunt words stirred Li Chong’s displeasure.

“Are you teaching me how to do my job?”

Yuan Shen realized his blunder and quickly apologized: “I dare not!”

Yet Li Chong let out a cold snort and pulled a stack of ledgers from his sleeve.

“Zhiyuan, you’re foolish!”

Yuan Shen had not expected Li Chong to shift so swiftly—just moments ago, it had been gentle spring rain; now, it was a violent storm.

“You’re not yet forty, yet you’ve earned the court’s deep trust, stationed in the northern frontier, governing an entire province. But you should never, never have been blinded by beauty, embezzling military pay and secretly selling military supplies.”

Yuan Shen stared at each entry in the ledger like a knife stabbing him. Suddenly, all strength left him; he collapsed to the ground.

“You still want to kill Li Shuang? He’s already laid your evidence on my desk. Do you expect me to pervert justice for you?”

Yuan Shen crawled to Li Chong’s feet, clutching his thigh, weeping:

“General, for the sake of my father, please save me!”

Li Chong patted Yuan Shen’s shoulder and spoke slowly:

“The matter is not without room for maneuver.”

Hearing this, Yuan Shen stopped crying and lifted his head.

“I humbly beg the General’s guidance!”

Li Chong helped Yuan Shen to his feet and continued:

“Prince Linhuai suffered a crushing defeat at Wuyuan; the rebels’ strength has surged. Bandits have risen in Bin and Liang, and the Guanzhong region is in turmoil. The Emperor has ordered me to crush the enemy within a month, repel the rebels, and relieve the crisis at Pingcheng.”

Pingcheng was the former capital of Northern Wei; its political significance surpassed all other places.

If Han Baling breached Pingcheng, the collapse of Northern Wei’s state would no longer be an empty threat.

“What is the General’s meaning?”

“The troops of Hengzhou are either in Pingcheng or Ma Yi; beyond that, the various Xianbei and Chilei hereditary soldiers drift unpredictably. The northern frontier is a tangled mess. At this moment, if you can stabilize the external hereditary forces, I may speak on your behalf. Should you later defeat the Northern Bandits and quell the Hengzhou rebellion, your one great merit will overshadow a hundred faults!”

Yuan Shen nodded. Normally, with Yu Jin beside him as advisor, he would habitually seek counsel—but now, the question slipped out unbidden.

“Then how do I stabilize the external hereditary forces?”

Li Chong was not Yu Jin.

If it were Yu Jin, he would already have several plans ready to advise Yuan Shen.

But Li Chong merely snorted and snapped:

“Do I have to teach you how to stabilize those Hu Ren?”

“I dare not! I dare not!”

Yuan Shen apologized and quickly withdrew from the room.

Outside, he summoned his attendants and made up his mind.

“Send envoys to every tribe.”

“My Lord, what for?”

“Distribute money!”

The arrival of the crouching tiger Li Chong injected a powerful stimulant into the entire Hengzhou.

Instantly, all tribes in Hengzhou, regardless of their prior intentions, temporarily calmed down.

Li Chong temporarily resided in the Inspector’s Mansion, seated atop a high tower, studying a chess manual.

Li Chong’s son, Li Shen, hurried up excitedly.

“The chieftains of all Hu tribes, upon hearing your summons, have arrived in Pingcheng and now gather outside the mansion.”

“How many times have I told you? This is not home—don’t keep calling me ‘father’ in public!”

Li Shen, hearing his father’s rebuke, lowered his head, saying nothing.

“General!”

Hearing his unreliable son awkwardly utter those two words, Li Chong lost all interest in the chess manual.

He stood, looking down from above, taking in the entire scene outside the Inspector’s Mansion.

Gazing at the multitude of Hu tribe chieftains, Li Chong suddenly asked:

“Do you know why the Emperor sent you with me and granted you the title of General Who Pacifies the North?”

“Because the Emperor trusts our Li family!”

Hearing his son’s answer, Li Chong’s heart thudded violently; he couldn’t help but curse:

“Fool!”

Li Shen was deeply hurt.

“Father, what did I do now?”

Only when all the Hu tribe chieftains had arrived did Yuan Shen finally step out.

Looking at the elaborate scene he had spent ten thousand taels to arrange, Yuan Shen felt both pained and pleased.

“Chieftains, at this critical moment, you have braved hardship to come to Pingcheng. I am deeply moved by your loyalty and righteousness.”

Yuan Shen, like a leader presiding over a meeting, sat down first, then gestured to the chieftains:

“No need for formality—please be seated!”

Yet, after his invitation, not a single person sat down.

Yuan Shen frowned, when She Digan stepped forward, bowing:

“At this time of national crisis, even if you had not summoned us, we would have come. I ask you: the rebels draw near to the northern capital—do you have a plan to repel them?”

“Isn’t that precisely what we’re here to discuss?”

She Digan snorted.

“Then you have none!”

Yuan Shen sensed something was wrong, but She Digan clapped his hands—his guards brought forward a small chest.

“We have long received the Tuoba clan’s grace, guarding the northern frontier. At this crisis, we ought to uphold the sovereign and aid the state. You need not use this silver to sully our loyal names. Today, please reclaim it!”

At once, the Hu chieftains behind She Digan chorused:

“Please reclaim it!”

At that moment, laughter rang out.

Li Shuang arrived with Yu Jin, followed by fully armed Yang Kan and Gao Ang, slipping into the gathering unnoticed.

“My Lord has summoned us to discuss the enemy—why are you all standing? Sit down!”

At these words, the Hu chieftains, led by She Digan, all sat down at once.

Yuan Shen’s face flushed crimson, as if he’d been slapped a hundred times—he could not utter a word.

He stared at Li Shuang, seething with hatred.

On the high tower, Li Chong watched this scene, his eyes gleaming.

“Dominance radiates!”

……