Chapter 49: Does the Lack of a Spear Tip Mean One Cannot Kill?

"What has become of my son? What has become of my son?"

Upon hearing that Li Shen Gui had led troops to attack Bei Lie Buruo, Li Chong rushed to find Li Shuang, forgetting even to put on his shoes.

In the Governor's Mansion, Li Shuang was leisurely drinking tea by the lotus pond.

Li Chong found Li Shuang and, seeing the young man in such a state, felt his anger rise instantly.

"You rascal, you've taken the money, seized the grain and supplies, and picked out plenty of weapons, armor, and warhorses. Now that it is time for you to contribute, you pushed my son to the front!"

"My sworn brother has studied military strategy since childhood, mastering both civil and military arts in every way. He also carries the seal of the Pingbei General. If he leads troops to attack Bei Lie Buruo, who would dare disobey?"

Li Chong was old and ill, yet at this moment he was full of energy, pacing constantly around Li Shuang.

"Who are you fooling? The garrison soldiers of Ma Yi City and She Di Gan's hereditary troops—without your orders, could he possibly command them?"

At this moment, Li Chong possessed none of the bearing of the Grand Commander of the Northern Expedition; he looked exactly like an old man who had been cheated out of his money, filled with regret.

"Poor my Qingzhun! He is still a child in his thirties! He has never left Luoyang since childhood; how could he know the dangers of this northern border?"

"Father, do not speak thus. Qingzhun and I are brothers in all but blood and adoption. How could I harm him?"

With matters already at this point, Li Chong's anxiousness was useless. He sat down heavily, staring fixedly at Li Shuang.

"Father, why are you looking at me like that? It's as if I owe you a great deal of money!"

"I do not care. You are the one who lured him away; you must find a way to bring him back!"

"Now the entire Take Pingcheng knows that the Pingbei General has taken command to campaign against Bei Lie Buruo. If we recall him now, what will happen to the morale of the army?"

Hearing these words, Li Chong's expression turned serious.

Though he loved his son deeply, he knew that military orders were as solid as a mountain. Moreover, a precious sword stood upright above his head: the court in Luoyang had ordered him to resolve the Bei Lie Buruo issue and quell the chaos in Hengzhou within one month.

If he failed to accomplish this, that precious sword could fall at any moment!

"What scheme are you truly plotting, you rascal?"

"Father has long been experienced on the battlefield; surely you do not understand this? My sworn brother is merely a figurehead commander. The one truly doing the work is She Di Gan. After all, I am only an Army Master and the Governor of Ma Yi. Is it appropriate for me to be the one to pacify Bei Lie Buruo?"

Li Chong thought for a moment; these words were indeed reasonable.

Take Pingcheng may not be Luoyang, but it is still the Northern Capital; a member of the Yuanshi Sect must be stationed there to guard it daily.

Yuan Shen has left, but the generals under his command have not.

Li Chong could not trust these men, yet he dared not neglect them, for those holding even a minor official post here must have some connection to Luoyang.

Li Shuang not wanting to draw attention by standing out was indeed reasonable.

Thinking of this, Li Chong looked at Li Shuang with suspicion.

"Is that all?"

Li Shuang laughed heartily!

"Father may not know, but I have always preferred to keep a low profile!"

The Northern Wei was established by the Xianbei Tuoba clan.

The Xianbei originated from the Donghu; after the Xiongnu declined, they occupied the grasslands and took over the ecological niche originally held by the Xiongnu.

They then rose with the tide during the great chaos of the Five Barbarians disrupting China, occupying the northern half of Jiangshan.

The Xianbei maintained very close relations with the brother tribes on the grasslands and were very familiar with the operations of those grassland tribes.

Therefore, one of their most important tasks after moving south was to build the Great Wall.

Influenced by later Confucianism, some might think building the Great Wall was an act that provoked heaven's wrath and human resentment.

But in fact, after the Qin Dynasty, most successive Central Plains dynasties built the Great Wall, including the Xianbei people.

Of course, there were some who did not need to build it, such as the Great Song.

Building the Great Wall was the most economical and practical means of defending against northern nomadic tribes.

The Xianbei people outside the Great Wall, gazing at that long earthen wall, would gnash their teeth in hatred.

But the Xianbei people inside the Great Wall, gazing at that same long earthen wall, would feel filled with a sense of security.

Because the Xianbei people had once been caught in the rain, when they looked at the Rouran people still getting soaked on the grasslands, they would break the other party's umbrella as well.

Woyang City was located at a critical entrance to the northern Great Wall of Take Pingcheng; the entire city's walls were rammed earth, and the defenses were tight and secure.

Gazing at the Northern Wei official troops coming to campaign, Bei Lie Buruo on the city wall could not help but burst into loud laughter.

Those around him, finding it strange, asked:

"Leader, what are you laughing at?"

Bei Lie Buruo said cheerfully:

"I laugh that the Lying Tiger lacks strategy, and Brother Daye lacks wisdom!"

"What does this mean?"

"A few days ago, the Imperial Guards of Luoyang sent by the Lying Tiger were all useless; they scattered after a few strikes. I did not expect that only a few days later, another batch of people came to die!"

Speaking thus, Bei Lie Buruo pointed to the commander standing beneath the great banner of the Pingbei General.

"Look at his appearance; he cannot even ride a horse, yet he dares to be a commander! Look at these soldiers; they do not even bring siege equipment, yet they dare to attack the city! I now deeply regret it!"

"Leader, what do you regret?"

"I regret that I rebelled too late!"

A round of loud laughter erupted around them.

Bei Lie Buruo sighed:

"If I had known the court's troops were so useless, I would not have submitted to Yuan Shen; it would have been far better to simply seize Take Pingcheng directly!"

"Leader, it is not too late now!"

At this moment, a young man with a sallow appearance and legs of unequal length stepped forward.

"Let us first attack Take Pingcheng, then occupy Ma Yi. At that time, you will be a great figure standing alongside the True King and the Rouran Khan!"

Hearing these words, Bei Lie Buruo's heart blossomed with joy.

"You little punk always manage to come up with some new tricks for me."

"'First strike Take Pingcheng, then seize Ma Yi; only our Tiele, king of the northern frontier'—you've come up with something that suits my heart perfectly!"

Having said that, Beilie Buruo rallied everyone:

"Now that both the True King's and the Khan's reinforcements have arrived, once we drive back these government troops, I can use them to get money and grain, levy the hereditary soldiers of Heng Prefecture, and have them all at my disposal. When the time comes to take Take Pingcheng and Ma Yi, I will share wealth and honor with all my brothers!"

Just as the atmosphere on the walls of Woyang City reached its climax, the great army outside the city finally moved.

Beilie Buruo was somewhat baffled.

"Have these government troops gone mad? Cavalry charging at the city wall?"

A sudden urgent report shattered the sweet dreams of everyone present.

"Chief, the city gates have been opened, the government troops have charged in!"

"What's going on?"

With a thud, Beilie Buruo felt his head go blank. He touched his head, and his hands were covered in fresh blood.

Turning around, he saw that fellow with the uneven legs holding an iron mace, looking at him with a sly look on his face.

"Chief, how come you go into battle without a helmet?"

The people around snapped to their senses and drew their blades one after another. Hou Jing was utterly unafraid and gave a great shout.

"The government troops have already entered the city—live or die, gentlemen, decide now!"

At these words, everyone came to their senses, put down their blades, and started pulling strings with Hou Jing.

"Hou Gu, you know me—my family are hereditary good citizens. We were all forced by that rebel Beilie Buruo."

"Hou Gu, you're from Huaishuo Garrison, and our families are even related. You must put in a good word for me. I really didn't do it willingly."

……

The man still lived, but the tea had already gone cold.

Having lost too much blood and with no one paying him any heed, Beilie Buruo's consciousness gradually grew fuzzy. A pang of desolation in his heart, on the verge of death, he let out a mournful sigh.

If only I had never rebelled!

……