Chapter 48: A Tiger Doesn

Pingcheng was the former capital of the Northern Wei, its outer walls stretching thirty-two li, vast in scale.

After the capital was moved, this city remained the Northern Wei’s northern capital, but it had lost its former grandeur.

Buildings within the city were torn down or modified; once stripped of its role as the Northern Wei’s political center, the city inevitably declined.

The only function still preserved was its military role.

Backed by Shanxi and Hebei, with economic support, Pingcheng garrisoned a standing army to guard the northern capital.

Meanwhile, northern and southern Great Walls were built around Pingcheng to protect the imperial lands and pastures across the region.

The Grand Commandery Office in the city.

Generals gathered to discuss strategies against the enemy.

“Grand Commandant, I’ve heard Beili Buru recently made contact with the Rouran and the Liuzhen rebels, gaining their support—this traitor grows ever bolder.”

Po Liuhan Baling and Yujiulu Anagui were willing to support Beili Buru not because they believed in him, but because Beili Buru’s Woyang City sat at a critical point along the northern Great Wall.

With this breach, whether Rouran or Liuzhen forces, they could enter Hengzhou unimpeded.

Both Po Liuhan Baling and Yujiulu Anagui possessed considerable military talent, yet similarly, both were poor.

Po Liuhan Baling’s base, Woye Town, was surrounded by fertile fields, but its size was too small to serve as a lasting base for long-term development. After seizing Wuchuan and Huixu, the Liuzhen forces saw some relief, yet still could not solve the problem of sustaining themselves long-term.

Yujiulu Anagui was even worse—he was installed by the Rouran tribes, had no personal following, and only secured his position by relying on Northern Wei’s support and then betraying them to raid southward.

The imperial lands around Pingcheng were gradually falling into ruin, yet to the Liuzhen and Rouran, they were treasures.

Only by seizing Pingcheng could they hope for long-term gains.

If Beili Buru’s disruption plunged Hengzhou into chaos, they could profit from the confusion.

Li Chong sat upon the Grand Commandant’s nine-headed official cap chair, calm and composed.

“How bold?”

“That traitor has raised a slogan: ‘First take Pingcheng, then seize Ma Yi. Only I, the Chele, shall rule the northern frontier!’”

Li Chong smiled and looked at Li Shuang.

“Commandant of Ma Yi, what do you think?”

“Your subordinate believes Beili Buru’s momentum is strong, and within Pingcheng, military supplies are scarce—we must not engage him head-on.”

Li Shuang’s words drew laughter from the assembled generals.

“Han men are all cowards—how much real ability could that Beili Buru possibly have?”

One by one, the Xianbei generals from Luoyangcheng requested to lead the charge.

Seeing this, Li Chong could not easily override their wishes.

He immediately deployed troops and arranged for battle.

After the generals departed, Li Chong kept only Li Shuang behind, beckoned him close, and asked:

“What scheme are you hatching?”

“Father, what are you saying? How could I have any ill intent? Isn’t my heart loyal to the court and to you?”

Li Chong’s beard bristled at this.

“Don’t play dumb with me—what use are these Luoyang wine-bags and food-sacks?”

“Then why send them out?”

“Luoyang’s Hu troops are useless, but they cling to their status as imperial guards and act arrogantly. Won’t they listen until they’ve suffered a few defeats?”

Li Chong had fought campaigns north and south, clashed with Southern Liang troops, Rouran forces, and even the barbarians of Bashu—he knew better than anyone what kind of troops could fight.

Of the troops in Hengzhou who were still loyal and battle-hardened, aside from the hereditary soldiers under Hu leaders like Kedidi Qian, only the Han troops of Ma Yi remained.

Coincidentally, they all obeyed Li Shuang.

“Speak—what do you want before you act?”

“To quell rebellion for the court is every subject’s duty—how could I make demands? But the rebels are strong; we must be patient, not hasty. Let their arrogance grow for months, then strike.”

Patience, your ass!

Li Chong grew irritated.

“Do you know the Emperor ordered me to pacify the Hengzhou rebellion within a month?”

Li Shuang recited without emotion:

“So there’s been such an order? I was rash! But it’s your fault, Father—why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

Li Chong stared at the boy before him, his eyebrows twitching, his temper rising.

“You’re holding a grudge, aren’t you? Didn’t I just once outmaneuver you in Ma Yi?”

Li Shuang spoke slowly:

“Father, don’t rush. There’s a way to be patient, and a way to be hasty—but they’re not the same.”

“How are they different?”

“The price is different!”

“...”

Hongmanlang.

“Young Master, I heard the Luoyang imperial guards suffered a crushing defeat beneath Woyang City.”

Li Shenguai, lounging with two dancers—one a golden-haired Hu woman from the Western Regions, the other a delicate new slave girl from Silla—listened to Liu Gui with disdain.

“Those Luoyang food-bags? What battle could they possibly win? I knew they’d lose.”

Liu Gui froze.

It wasn’t because the Luoyang imperial guards were incompetent—it was that they were so incompetent even Li Shenguai could see it.

Liu Gui smiled and poured Li Shenguai another cup of wine.

“Young Master has studied military texts since childhood and understands strategy. At this time of national crisis, why not lead the charge to Woyang?”

Li Shenguai, half-drunk, sighed bitterly.

“I’d like to—but my father won’t let me.”

“It’s said a tiger has no dog son. Grand Commandant must underestimate you! I dare say, if you led the charge, capturing Beili Buru’s rebels would be effortless.”

Flattered by Liu Gui’s praise, Li Shenguai, drunk and swollen with pride, declared:

“I thought the same—but I have no troops.”

Liu Gui smiled.

“You’re the General of Pingbei. With your general’s seal, can’t you summon the troops inside and outside Ma Yi?”

At that moment, the two top courtesans of Hongmanlang joined in the clamor.

“General, mighty and glorious!”

Li Shenguai laughed heartily.

“Fine! I’ll summon the troops at once!”

Liu Gui whispered in Li Shenguai’s ear:

“General, no need to rush—word is, once they heard you planned to attack Woyang, they already gathered themselves?”

Li Shenguai, thoroughly drunk, shouted:

“Then we march!”

He slumped back, fell asleep, and snored.

When he awoke, Li Shenguai was lying in a carriage.

The carriage was lined with thick padding, soft and comfortable.

Dazed and half-asleep, Li Shenguai called out:

“Water—I need water!”

But no servant brought water. After waiting long, he rubbed his bleary eyes, sat up irritably, looked around—and gasped, flinging open the carriage door.

“Where are we going?!”

Beside him, on horseback, guarding the carriage, Kedidi Qian replied:

“We’re almost at Woyang.”

Li Shenguai froze.

“Why are we going to Woyang?”

“Didn’t you, General of Pingbei, use your general’s seal to summon us, saying you’d attack Woyang and capture Beili Buru?”

Li Shenguai’s heart lurched; he blurted out:

“What? I’m attacking Beili Buru?”