[{"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-57":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},2311775,4516,"Chapter 57: General Who Pacifies the North, Lead Us in One More Charge!","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-57",57,"\u003Cp>By the banks of the Yellow River, the two armies met.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One side was led by Po Liuhan Kongque, Grand Commander and Minister of the Court under the True King Po Liuhan Han Baling, commander of the Liuzhen rebels, a man with few defeats in his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other side was Li Shen gui, son of the famed general Wo Hu, the General Who Pacifies the North; since taking command of Yunzhong, he had suffered repeated defeats, yet kept fighting again and again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the two armies, formations stood clear and distinct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Po Liuhan Kongque stood atop a high platform, gazing at the distant banner bearing the character “Li,” his emotions churning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he could capture Li Shen gui, all of this would be over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the platform, Po Liuhan Kongque gave the order to attack, then personally beat the war drum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strike with full momentum!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The troops under Po Liuhan Kongque’s command included the Po Liuhan clan, troops from Huai Shuo Garrison, and various western Tiele tribes—diverse in composition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, he brought only the Po Liuhan clan and a small contingent of Huai Shuo troops into battle, aiming for a swift, decisive strike to shatter the enemy line. Additionally, a cavalry unit lay hidden on the flank, waiting to capture Li Shen gui once his army broke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These troops were the elite among elites, among the top-tier fighting forces in the entire Liuzhen rebellion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The outcome matched Po Liuhan Kongque’s expectations: his elite charge had a clear effect; the enemy’s hastily conscripted militia, though numerous, were weak in combat and quickly scattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dark, dense line was violently split open, until it met resistance just before Li Shen gui’s main banner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eight hundred of the Li family’s private troops, clad in iron armor, wearing bronze masks, wielding long sabers, stood like a massive wall, blocking Po Liuhan Kongque’s elite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After unifying the north, the Northern Wei established a powerful military force, sustained by numerous state-run arms and armor workshops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Liuzhen garrisons long defended against the Rouran; to prevent rebellion, the Northern Wei court controlled their grain supplies—but imposed no restrictions on weapons or armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the Liuzhen rebels were few in number, their armor rate was not low, though most armor was old.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The private troops under Li Chong’s command, however, wore fresh, gleaming armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two elite forces clashed, unable to determine victory or defeat for the moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shen gui watched the battle ahead, his face tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never seen such elite troops; though he had lost before, the battles had never erupted this fiercely from the start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was always a buildup!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this time, the enemy’s ferocious advance felt as if the battle would end the moment it began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Mu stood beside him and urged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qingzhun, we should retreat!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But haven’t we already held them off?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Mu looked at Li Shen gui’s innocent expression and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qingzhun, these private troops are yours alone—what’s the point of wasting them here? Let the militia hold them while we withdraw!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was not a sensible trade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His private troops were years in the making, consuming vast amounts of money and grain, and were highly loyal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fighting the Liuzhen rebels here brought no gain if they won, and utter ruin if they lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No buts—if the rebels encircle us, we won’t have time to retreat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Mu overstepped his authority and issued the order in Li Shen gui’s stead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the moment the order was given, the Hu Ren chieftains who were supposed to carry it out broke formation and gathered around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“General Who Pacifies the North, are you planning to run again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the crowd’s hostile demeanor, Fei Mu quickly summoned his personal armored guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the guards surrounding him, Fei Mu finally felt a sliver of safety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you planning to rebel?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Hu Ren chieftains dismounted and knelt before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“General Who Pacifies the North, we understand your strategy—you’ve been feigning defeat each time to lure us over, hoping to collapse the Liuzhen army from within!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shen gui froze, murmuring:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have I?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t pretend—you couldn’t have lost so many times otherwise!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Mu, listening nearby, couldn’t help rolling his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your strategy is brilliant, but it won’t fool us. To be honest, we don’t want to defect. Life here is hard, but we can survive; if we go over there, we might not even get wild greens to eat!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, the Hu Ren chieftains drew their swords and laid them against their necks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you still want to feign defeat, we’d rather die here than bear the name of traitors.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’d rather die charging into battle than starve to death in shame.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“General Who Pacifies the North, lead us in one more charge!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes! Lead us in one more charge!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shen gui looked at the Hu Ren chieftains, tears welling in his eyes; he drew his sword and cried aloud:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You are all loyal ministers and valiant generals. If so, I swear here: if you do not betray me, I will never betray you! After this battle, whether we live or die, we are brothers. If I have a bite to eat, none of you will starve!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These words stirred the Hu Ren chieftains to feverish passion; they felt again the primal beast instinct etched into their blood, as their ancestors had done centuries ago when they surged southward across the steppe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They roared in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battlefield’s tide had turned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Follow the General Who Pacifies the North—you’ll get meat! Brothers, charge with me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under their chieftains’ leadership, the Hu Ren militia became fearless, turning to encircle the Liuzhen forces from the rear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Po Liuhan Kongque, watching the shift, felt sudden panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tried to alter the tide—but faced with overwhelming numbers, he could do nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shengle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Chong studied the battle report from afar, pondering for three days and nights, unable to fathom how Li Shen gui had won.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Po Liuhan Kongque had sent his elite against Li Shen gui’s hastily raised militia—logically, how could he possibly lose?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And lose so badly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had Li Chong not known Fei Mu was reliable, and certain he would not falsify battle reports, he would have suspected Li Shen gui was lying about the victory!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang entered. Compared to Li Chong’s confusion, he seemed utterly unconcerned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shuang, what did Fei Mu say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fei Mu says this victory was granted by Heaven—not the result of human effort.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Chong frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What does that mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It means even he doesn’t understand it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Regardless, Po Liuhan Kongque has been defeated; our army has won a great victory. From now on, your elder brother’s name as a great general will spread across the northern frontier—and all under heaven.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Chong eyed Li Shuang suspiciously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you so pleased? With him here, your Three Strategies for Suppressing Rebels can no longer be carried out—you won’t be able to squeeze any more money out of them!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elder Father, how can you say such a thing? Do you truly think I am a man who sees only coins?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Chong nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trust between men!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang sighed and stepped out of the tent. Hou Jing approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord, Yu Jin says the Tiele tribe of Nie Liehe has finally agreed to surrender. They await only your command to join forces and attack Po Liuhan Kongque’s territory.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Po Liuhan Kongque’s defeat and the loss of most of his elite, many hearts had grown restless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait a while longer—see how the Liuzhen rebels respond.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What if they don’t respond?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The General Who Pacifies the North’s achievements will rise another level!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>",1280,"2026-06-20T12:30:56.711Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","110b1fedaac6422a62c325b06df4a3414b41ff9f25d978f82c578e2f8f41e58c","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-58","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-56",211,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmemoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-cover.jpg"]