Chapter 52: Declining Worldly Morals, Hearts No Longer Ancient

In the third summer season, normally the busiest time of the year, yet outside Pingcheng, vast fields showed hardly a single figure.

Inside the Governor's Office, a crowd, heartbroken and distressed, urged Li Chong:

"Yu Puti rebelled in Liangzhou, Mo Zhe Niansheng rose in Longyou, Hu Chen revolted in Gaoping, and the Eastern and Western Chiles all rebelled, responding to the Liuzhen. At such a time, we can no longer let Li Shuang continue this."

"Hearts yearn for change; many tribes have already crossed the Great Wall and fled. Pingcheng was already short of grain, and now even the pastures are nearly abandoned."

The crowd's words continued to echo in his ears, yet Li Chong remained unmoved, speaking calmly:

"What did Your Majesty say?"

Everyone fell silent at once.

Those who could serve as officials in Pingcheng all had connections behind them in Luoyangcheng.

Those with keen ears and eyes had long known the reaction from Luoyangcheng.

The little Emperor, far away in Luoyangcheng, upon hearing that the Three Strategies for Suppressing Bandits were being smoothly executed, and that instead of quickly pacifying the Liuzhen, the number of rebels had actually increased, said this:

"I knew long ago that these Hu Ren were unreliable. Fortunately, the Three Strategies for Suppressing Bandits were implemented; otherwise, when Li Chong went to suppress the rebellion, they would surely have stabbed him in the back!"

Just as with the Liuzhen and the old matter of Aragu, the little Emperor would not admit his own mistake; instead, he believed his decision was correct, and that the fault lay with those who failed to comprehend the Sage's heart.

Li Chong sneered coldly in his heart; by now, he held no hope for that little Emperor in Luoyangcheng.

Seeing the crowd silent, Li Chong spoke slowly:

"Since Your Majesty has not ordered a stop, the Three Strategies for Suppressing Bandits must continue to be executed."

"Even if we execute them, Li Shuang cannot continue. This young man lacks a sense of weight and measure; we must select a mature and steady person within Pingcheng to take charge."

"Let me think about this matter further; you may all withdraw for now!"

Once Li Chong had spoken, everyone withdrew.

Inside the Governor's Office, only Li Shen remained.

During this period, Li Shen could be described as riding high on a spring breeze.

"Qingzhun, what is your view on this matter?"

Li Shen had gotten along very well with Li Shuang these past days. After all, Honglangman was not visited for nothing.

"My sworn brother is good in every way, but he is simply too loyal to the court. Young people, sometimes, act without a sense of weight and measure."

Li Chong, seeing Li Shen's serious expression, could not help but laugh.

"Father, what are you laughing at?"

"Did you not notice that those with the most intense attitude just now were all old subordinates of Yuan Shen?"

"Is that so!"

Li Shen wore an expression of sudden realization, then asked:

"So what?"

Li Chong let out a long sigh, placed his hand on Li Shen's shoulder, and tried his best to control his emotions.

"Do you truly believe they oppose Li Shuang presiding over the Three Strategies for Suppressing Bandits for the sake of the court?"

"Is it not so?"

"Qingzhun, in your entire life, aside from me, the most important thing is to listen to your sworn brother. Whatever he tells you to do, you must never have your own ideas."

Li Chong helplessly shook his head and walked out of the room, leaving Li Shen shouting behind him:

"Why?"

The Northern Great Wall was built largely following the mountain terrain, stretching from north to south, protecting the fertile lands from Pingcheng to Ma Yi.

This was also the core region of the Northern Wei Dai Commandery Group's rule.

When Former Qin collapsed in years past, Tuoba Gui established the Northern Wei, moved the capital to Pingcheng, and successive Northern Wei Emperors made real, substantial investments of gold and silver in the military facilities of the Dai region.

Since the Northern Wei moved its capital, border defenses had grown increasingly lax over these decades.

The Great Wall, after all, was built of rammed earth; due to warfare or other reasons, many sections had already collapsed.

Regarding this, local tribes were too lazy to report it, because even if they did report it, Pingcheng would not necessarily care, and would instead assign the task to the reporting tribe.

Spending money, manpower, and effort, yet receiving no good in return—naturally, no one would do it.

Over time, these collapsed sections became shortcuts for tribal smuggling.

Now, they had also become shortcuts for Hu Ren tribes of Hengzhou fleeing.

In the mountainous areas, the roads were difficult to traverse and unsuitable for large-scale troop movements, yet however difficult the journey, these Hu Ren tribes had to take it.

Over so many years, the Hu Ren tribes of the northern border were all somewhat related by blood or marriage; when encountering acquaintances, they would exchange a few pleasantries.

"Is Brother Daye causing trouble in your area too?"

"Yes, and quite severely; we are going to join the True King."

"I heard the True King's side is not wealthy either; I plan to head north to join the Rouran."

"The Rouran? They are the Northern Wei's deadly enemies; they caused trouble a few years ago, snatching quite a lot of goods. How could they accept you?"

"Don't you know? My family has connections with the Yuyu Lu."

"Then you have indeed struck luck!"

Saying this with their mouths, they would mostly curse "Rouran lowborns" in their hearts.

Of course, not all Hu Ren were willing to take such a arduous path.

Even if the situation in the Dai region was terrible, it was still better than Mobei or Monan!

"Why are there so many people?"

Li Shuang had not expected that the number of Hu Ren willing to accept the conversion from pasture to farmland would be greater than he anticipated.

Hou Jing, standing nearby, was also somewhat surprised.

"I looked at the roster and was startled too."

Li Shuang gritted his teeth, feeling deeply regretful for them.

"These Hu Ren, with such a promising path of rebellion wide open, actually prefer to return to farming?"

Hou Jing chimed in:

"Exactly. I thought their cries to join Han Baling were genuine, but it turns out they were just talk. They hadn't even crossed the Great Wall before turning back."

Li Shuang sighed mournfully:

"The times grow worse, and human hearts are no longer as they once were. No wonder the Great Wei declines with each generation."

"My Lord, the number of people who went is far fewer than we imagined. What of our plan to drain the grain supplies of the Liuzhen and the Rouran?"

Li Shuang glanced at Hou Jing and asked:

"What do you think we are doing?"

"Suppressing bandits, of course!"

"No. What we must do is make the court believe we are suppressing bandits!"

Upon hearing this, Hou Jing suddenly understood.

Seeing Hou Jing's realization, Li Shuang set down the register in his hand and asked:

"How is Liu Gui progressing with contacting the Liuzhen rebels and secretly exchanging goods?"

Hou Jing replied:

"He has already met Kong Que. The other party is quite interested. After all, Huai Shuo is currently suffering from severe shortages as well."

"And what of Wei Kegu?"

Thinking of Wei Kegu, Hou Jing shook his head, his face twisted into an expression of extreme constipation.

"That fellow is a die-hard loyalist of Han Baling. His combat prowess is extraordinary, with few in the world able to match him, but he is extremely stubborn. Our men barely managed to return."

"Very well. For now, we shall leave Wu Chuan alone."

Having spoken, Li Shuang instructed:

"Tell our people to be careful. Many in Take Pingcheng are eyeing this piece of fat! Especially Yuan Shen's former subordinates, who have always sought to catch me in a mistake."

"My Lord, I heard that Yuan Shen's former subordinates intend to strike at us secretly under the guise of relieving the crisis in Shuozhou!"

Li Shuang smiled.

Seeing Li Shuang's smile, Hou Jing already understood in his heart. He lowered his head and slowly withdrew.