[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan":3,"chapter-memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-54":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Memoirs of the Heavenly Khagan",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2311772,4516,"Chapter 54: It","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-54",54,"\u003Cp>Shuozhou was once the birthplace of the Tuoba clan’s rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the fires of the Six Garrisons blazing, this land inevitably suffered war; now, only the lone city of Yunzhong still holds out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The troops and civilians of the Six Garrisons, joined by the Eastern and Western Chile tribes, fought like nomadic rebels, leaving nothing but scorched earth in their wake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet because the Six Garrisons and the Chile tribes were half-pastoral, half-agricultural, and had long waged war against the Rouran, their resilience and martial strength far surpassed that of ordinary rebel bands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Chong led his troops out of Woyang, crossed the Great Wall, and entered Shuozhou—where the once-thriving herds of cattle and sheep and bustling trade routes had vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The prosperity brought by the Tuoba clan’s rise had, in the end, faded with their decline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Chong’s reputation as the “Crouching Tiger” still carried weight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When news of his march spread, the rebel forces scattered across Shuozhou gathered together and even withdrew voluntarily to the walls of Yunzhong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The garrison troops inside Yunzhong dared not sally forth, and the Six Garrisons army made no serious effort to attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They left the Northern Wei imperial army nothing but barren ruins, utterly devoid of supplies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the great tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“General Li Shuang has long been known for his courage and strategy; his men are fierce fighters. At this moment, he should serve as Vanguard Commander to lift the siege of Yunzhong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that also your view?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We all agree!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Chong looked at the officers before him, their words firm, and felt unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze turned to Li Shuang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Li Shuang could speak, Li Shenggui interrupted:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, my sworn brother is young—how can he face the tiger-like wolves of the Six Garrisons? What if he’s harmed? If it must be done, let me go instead!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Chong’s face turned pale; if he had merely been worried before, now he felt only despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Li Shuang said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My sworn brother is a Grand General—he must command the main force; how can he serve as Vanguard? Let me take the Vanguard role, while the other generals provide support—that is the safer course.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Shenggui about to speak again, Li Chong quickly agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s settled!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, Li Chong summoned Li Shuang, handed him the military token, and whispered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Be extremely careful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rest assured, Grand Commander!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Chong had already formed his plan. He immediately assigned tasks to the other officers under his command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Li Shenggui was given the duty of overseeing logistical supplies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only General Fei Mu was kept behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the tent, eyes met eyes—until Fei Mu could no longer bear the pressure and spoke:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grand Commander, just ask what you want to know!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Chong asked nothing. He merely looked at Fei Mu and spoke casually:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I hear you’re on good terms with Er Zhu Rong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Mu broke into a cold sweat, unsure what to say. His secret alliance with Er Zhu Rong was top confidential—and yet Li Chong had found out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Merely the courtesy of fellow officers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so?” Li Chong smiled scornfully. “Don’t go too far. I fear some may lack the sense to know their limits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you truly understand?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grand Commander, rest easy—Third Master will be fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third Master?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the title, Li Chong thought: He’s sold himself out completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You still don’t understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Pingcheng, the old followers of Yuan Shen gathered on a high ground, watching the distant dust, still tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everything is arranged. Once Li Shuang’s troops engage the rebels, we’ll immediately seal all mountain passes and trap him and those Han bastards inside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is there any problem with Fei Mu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s signed a blood pact—if we’re caught, he’s done for too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If he refuses to cooperate, we’ll shove him forward and claim he ordered it all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the distant dust vanished from sight, Li Shuang led his troops into the encirclement they had set—and when retreat became impossible, they finally breathed easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Shuang, don’t blame us—blame this treacherous world!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet some still harbored doubts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Will there be no mistake?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahead are the rebels; behind, us. All the surrounding passes are guarded by either us or the rebels. For Li Shuang to escape, he’d have to dare ally with the rebels!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“General Hulü… no, you’re a king now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t mock me—that’s slapping my face. Just call me A Liudun.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the river valley, tents stretched endlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the two armies met, instead of the bloody clash Yuan Shen’s followers expected, they greeted each other warmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang and Hulü Jin embraced warmly upon meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside them, Hulü Guang stepped forward and called out:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long unseen, Hulü Guang’s demeanor had changed completely—no longer the crude barbarian of the Hulü tribe, his bearing and attire had grown refined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his son thus, Hulü Jin was satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately ordered his tribesmen to slaughter cattle and sheep to entertain the guests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the great tent, all took their seats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A Liudun, what are your plans now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hulü Jin shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To be honest, before the Western Chile rebelled, I fared reasonably well there. But after the rebellion, though our power grew, life grew harder. Not just me—even the men of Huaihu and Wuchuan feel the same.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huaihu and Wuchuan had been overrun, not among the first to rise with Po Liuhan Baling, and after defeat and surrender, they ranked lowest in the Six Garrisons army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hulü Jin carried endless sorrows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, he poured them all out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though I bear the title of king, I’m not trusted there. Every achievement brings no reward—only my own wealth to give to my men. The Six Garrisons’ grain grows ever scarcer—if we fail to take Pingcheng…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, Hulü Jin realized Li Shuang’s identity and fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang didn’t mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If so, have you considered returning to the imperial side?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Returning?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hulü Jin hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang understood his concerns and urged:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yuan Shen has left Pingcheng. Now, Grand Commander Li Chong oversees Heng and Shuo. A Liudun, no need to fear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not that I don’t wish to—I know the Six Garrisons’ cause is doomed. But if I return, how can I stand? My people still dwell in Wuyuan, held hostage by Po Liuhan Kong Que. If I betray them, they’ll have no hope.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s simple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yuan Shen’s old followers are plotting rebellion, aiming to seize Grand Commander Li Chong, control Hengzhou, and proclaim Yuan Shen emperor. If we eliminate this threat for the court and Grand Commander, how can you doubt your future standing in Hengzhou—or how you’ll answer to Po Liuhan Kong Que?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hulü Jin’s interest sparked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that true?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To be honest, I’ve taken General Zhengbei as my sworn father—he’s granted me full authority over this matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, Li Shuang produced the token Li Chong had given him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hulü Jin looked at the jade pendant—Li Chong’s personal item—and was fully convinced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then tell me what to do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Open your path. Let my troops circle behind and strike in concert with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wildfires spread across the land. Yuan Shen’s followers never imagined the rebels ahead would turn and attack them, while Li Shuang’s troops—supposedly trapped—had vanished unseen to the rear and sealed the escape routes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Shuang, you bastard! You left us to die!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the pass, the cries of Pingcheng’s troops echoed—but the gates remained shut, silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above the pass, watching Pingcheng’s troops clash with Hulü’s forces, Li Shuang said calmly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I, your commander, engaged the Six Garrisons rebels, was overwhelmed, and my officers fought desperately to save me—unfortunately, I was trapped in the battle!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, Li Shuang glanced at Hou Jing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you record all that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Got it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang turned away, no longer watching the battlefield whose outcome had long been sealed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No matter how treacherous this world may be, the loyalty and righteousness of these generals are enough to illuminate the path ahead of us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1338,"2026-06-20T12:30:56.711Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a820824c7186beeb0f3ca57f1ed2a0e6689872b60e44b8d905703960640d9265","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-55","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-53",211,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmemoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-cover.jpg"]