Chapter 49: Does a Spear Without a Blade Not Kill?

“How is my son? How is my son?”

Upon hearing that Li Shen gui had led troops to attack Bei Lie Bu Ruo, Li Chong hurriedly found Li Shuang, forgetting to put on his shoes.

In the Inspector’s mansion, Li Shuang was leisurely sipping tea beside the lotus pond.

Li Chong found Li Shuang and, seeing the boy in such a state, flew into a rage.

“You brat—you’ve taken money, seized grain, picked out weapons, armor, and horses galore, and now it’s time for you to act, yet you’ve shoved my son to the front!”

“Your righteous brother has studied military strategy since childhood, excels in both civil and martial arts, and holds the seal of Vanguard Commander— who would dare disobey him?”

Though elderly and ill, Li Chong now moved like a spirited beast, pacing furiously around Li Shuang.

“Who are you fooling? The garrison troops of Ma Yi and the hereditary soldiers of Keddi Qian—without your orders, could he even command them?”

At this moment, Li Chong bore none of the dignity of a Northern Expeditionary Grand Commander—he looked like an old man cheated of his money, filled with regret.

“My poor Qingzhun—he’s still just a boy in his thirties! He’s never left Luoyangcheng; how could he know the perils of the northern frontier?”

“Father, you speak foolishly—I and Qingzhun are sworn brothers, though not of the same blood; how could I harm him?”

With the matter now settled, Li Chong could only fume helplessly; he sat down heavily and stared fixedly at Li Shuang.

“Father, why are you staring at me like I owe you a fortune?”

“I don’t care—I’m not listening. You lured him away; you find a way to bring him back!”

“Now all of Pingcheng knows the Vanguard Commander leads the campaign against Bei Lie Bu Ruo—how can we recall him now without shattering morale?”

Hearing this, Li Chong’s expression turned grave.

Though he loved his son dearly, he knew military orders were as firm as mountains. Moreover, a sword hung above his head—Luoyang had ordered him to resolve Bei Lie Bu Ruo and quell the rebellion in Hengzhou within a month.

If he failed, that sword would fall at any moment!

“What are you really planning, you brat?”

“Father, you’ve fought in countless battles—surely you understand this? Yi-xiong is merely the nominal commander; the real work falls to Keddi Qian. I’m just a regimental commander and governor of Ma Yi—do you really think I’m fit to crush Bei Lie Bu Ruo?”

Li Chong pondered this, and it did make sense.

Pingcheng may not be Luoyangcheng, but it is still the northern capital, requiring an imperial Yuan clan member to garrison it.

Wang Yuanshen had left, but his officers remained.

Li Chong could not trust them, yet dared not neglect them—anyone holding even a minor post here had some connection to Luoyang.

Li Shuang’s desire to avoid drawing attention was entirely reasonable.

Li Chong, thinking of this, cast a suspicious glance at Li Shuang.

“Is that all?”

Li Shuang burst into laughter.

“Father may not know—I’ve always preferred to keep a low profile!”

The Northern Wei was founded by the Xianbei Tuoba clan.

The Xianbei originated from the Donghu, and after the Xiongnu declined, they seized the steppe, replacing the Xiongnu’s ecological role.

Amid the chaos of the Five Barbarians’ rebellion, they rose with the tide, seizing half of northern China.

The Xianbei maintained close ties and deep familiarity with the steppe tribes.

Thus, one of their first acts after moving south was to repair the Great Wall.

Influenced by later Confucian thought, some might deem wall-building an act of divine wrath.

But in truth, since the Qin dynasty, nearly every central Chinese regime built walls—including the Xianbei.

Of course, there were exceptions, like the Great Song.

Building the wall was the most economical and practical defense against northern nomadic tribes.

Outside the wall, the Xianbei would glare at the long earthen rampart, teeth grinding with hatred.

Yet within the wall, the Xianbei would gaze upon that same rampart, feeling profound security.

Because the Xianbei had once been rained upon, they now broke the umbrellas of the Rouran still caught in the storm.

Wo Yang City lay at a critical northern entrance of Pingcheng’s Great Wall; its entire wall was rammed earth, heavily fortified.

Watching the Northern Wei imperial troops approaching, Bei Lie Bu Ruo could not help bursting into laughter.

Those around him looked puzzled and asked:

“Chief, what are you laughing at?”

Bei Lie Bu Ruo laughed heartily:

“I laugh at Wo Hu’s lack of strategy and Da Ye’s lack of wit!”

“What do you mean?”

“A few days ago, Wo Hu sent troops from Luoyang’s imperial guard—they were useless, scattered after barely a fight. And now, just days later, another batch of fools comes to die!”

He pointed to the commander beneath the Vanguard Commander’s banner.

“Look at him—he can’t even ride a horse, yet dares to command? And these soldiers—they bring no siege equipment, yet dare to attack our walls? I now deeply regret it!”

“What do you regret?”

“I regret rebelling too late!”

Around him, laughter erupted.

Bei Lie Bu Ruo sighed:

“Had I known the imperial troops were this useless, I wouldn’t have joined Wang Yuanshen—I should’ve seized Pingcheng outright!”

“Chief, it’s not too late now!”

At that moment, a short, lanky, bow-legged fellow stepped forward.

“Let’s first attack Pingcheng, then take Ma Yi—then you’ll stand equal to the True King and the Rouran Khan!”

Bei Lie Bu Ruo’s heart swelled with delight at these words.

“You always come up with something new.”

“‘First strike Pingcheng, then seize Ma Yi; Only our Tiele shall reign supreme in the north’—that slogan suits me perfectly!”

With that, Bei Lie Bu Ruo rallied his men:

“The True King and the Khan’s reinforcements have arrived. After we repel these imperial troops, I’ll use their grain and money to conscript Hengzhou’s hereditary soldiers under my command. Then, when we take Pingcheng and Ma Yi, my brothers and I shall share the wealth!”

Just as the atmosphere atop Wo Yang City reached its peak, the imperial army outside finally moved.

Bei Lie Bu Ruo was baffled.

“Are these imperial troops mad? Are the cavalry charging straight at the walls?”

A frantic cry shattered the dream:

“Chief, the gate’s open—the imperial troops are pouring in!”

“What?”

CRASH! Bei Lie Bu Ruo felt his head go numb; he touched it, his hand covered in blood.

Turning around, he saw the bow-legged fellow holding a spiked club, staring at him with a sly grin.

“Chief, why aren’t you wearing a helmet?”

Those around him snapped to attention, drawing their swords—but Hou Jing remained unmoved, roaring:

“The imperial troops are already inside! Whether you live or die, your fate is decided now!”

At these words, the men came to their senses, lowered their swords, and began pleading with Hou Jing.

“Hou Gu, you know me—I come from a long line of decent families; we were forced into this by the traitor Bei Lie Bu Ruo!”

“Hou Gu, you’re from Huai Xi Town—you’re even related to my family! Please speak for me—I had no choice!”

…

The man still lived, but his tea had gone cold.

Losing too much blood, abandoned by all, Bei Lie Bu Ruo’s mind grew dim; as death approached, he let out a final, bitter sigh:

I should never have rebelled!

…