Chapter 61: The World Has Changed

Heavy rain fell, and in the mountains and forests, all things grew even more desolate.

The river swelled, flooding the encampments, leaving the Wei army’s battered camp—once steeped in the chill of war—now devoid of any martial aura.

Within the Shengle Wei army camp, Li Chong, though ill, gathered all his officers and subordinates to discuss how to repel the rebels.

All of them stared at the memorial signed by Li Shen, titled “Petition to the Court for Pacifying the People,” and fell silent.

After a long silence, someone ventured cautiously:

“Giving land to those Han people is one thing, but now you’d also arm them, equip them with armor and horses, and let them build fortresses—isn’t that…?”

Before he could finish, Li Chong turned his gaze upon him, dark and unreadable.

“I am too ill to recover, stranded here in this northern wilderness where medicine is scarce—I am unfit to lead the campaign against the rebels. If none of you are willing to sign this memorial jointly, then naturally, there are other ways.”

“Your Excellency, please instruct us!”

“Since I was commissioned to suppress the rebels, though I’ve won some victories, I’ve also lost many soldiers. Should someone in court later speak ill of me, and the court blames me, I shall return to Luoyang and submit myself for punishment. Then, the court will surely appoint another general to lead you onward.”

They all understood: Li Chong was throwing up his hands.

He left them two choices: either follow me, or I leave alone.

Most present were officers of the Luoyang imperial guard—who wanted to stay in this northern wasteland instead of returning to the glittering splendor of Luoyang?

With Li Chong’s subtle hint, all of them understood at once.

Right! What does it matter to us how this northern frontier burns?

If those Han people want to stay and fight the Six Garrisons rebels, so much the better!

Instantly, every face in the tent changed—now bright, eager, and defiant.

“Your Excellency is the empire’s pillar—who dares whisper slander before His Majesty? I shall be the first to oppose him!”

“This ‘Petition to the Court for Pacifying the People’ is truly the finest strategy for governing, securing the people, and repelling enemies—I shall sign it at once with Your Excellency and General Li Shenguang, and send it to court!”

…

In the end, everyone signed the memorial alongside Li Chong.

With swift horses galloping, the memorial was rushed to Luoyang, and every man’s heart turned homeward.

Only the bandits and outlaws who had descended from the mountains were different—brimming with fervor.

Li Chong stepped out of the tent and gazed at the refugees outside, a pang of sorrow rising in his chest.

As the saying goes: mercy does not command armies. Li Chong, nearing seventy, had fought for decades and long ago hardened his heart to stone.

Yet today, looking upon these Han refugees, he sensed his own softness—a sentiment he would never have felt in the past.

“I am truly old.”

This barren land of Shuozhou was shunned by the Luoyang elite, yet these Han people treasured it as if it were gold.

The world has changed.

The mountain rain ceased.

A swift rider galloped through the terrain and reached the temporary camp established by Wei Kegu.

“General, the Wei army seems ready to retreat!”

The report made Wei Kegu leap to his feet in excitement.

“Has the True King’s strategy truly worked?!”

Overjoyed, he turned to Yuwen Gong beside him and said:

“Rally the troops—we’ll pursue and slaughter the Wei army!”

Yuwen Gong cautioned:

“General, if Li Chong is retreating, we’ve already won. Why pursue? If the Wei army falls back behind the Great Wall fortresses, we may gain nothing.”

“Forcing Li Chong to retreat is a minor feat; capturing him is how we take Pingcheng!”

At the mention of Pingcheng, Yuwen Gong’s expression shifted.

The Yuwen clan had never wished to rebel—but after holding Wuchuan for half a year, the court sent not a single soldier or supply, leaving them heartbroken.

After defecting to Po Liu Han Baling, their only path forward was clear.

Take Pingcheng!

Yuwen Gong clenched his resolve.

“Very well—I’ll rally the troops at once!”

“Where is He Ba Duoba?”

“Brother He Ba has gone to the rear to gather grain. Word has come from Bai Dao of fresh military intelligence.”

“Then we move now!”

Wei Kegu issued his orders; the entire camp stirred into motion—yet none noticed the danger drawing near.

A rain of arrows struck.

Few in the camp were armored; casualties mounted swiftly.

When Wei Kegu saw the enemy forces surging from the nearby woods, he roared:

“It’s those damned outlaws again!”

Wei Kegu’s and the Yuwen clan’s elite troops quickly formed defensive lines.

Yet the attackers, after their initial volley, showed no intent to press the assault.

“General, do you remember me?”

A voice came from the woods—familiar to Wei Kegu: the boy from the ramparts that day.

“Are you here to join me?”

Wei Kegu replied vaguely, while ordering his men to don armor and shield the wounded.

“I only came to warn you: the imperial troops are retreating. This land is ours now. Let’s keep to our own paths—no trouble between us, agreed?”

Wei Kegu laughed.

“You’re lying to ghosts—why would the imperial troops give Shengle to you?”

“Because we’re loyal and righteous—and because we’re cheaper! We ask for less, and do more than you.”

To Wei Kegu, the words sounded absurd. But Yuwen Gong fell into deep thought.

“If you’re loyal and righteous, how can you make peace with rebels like us?”

“Can loyalty ignore money?”

Li Shuang’s voice rang out, leaving every man in Wei Kegu’s camp stunned.

“Whether you’re Xianbei or we’re Han, what do we gain by killing each other here? Even a dog in Luoyang eats better than we do. Let’s join hands, each mind our own business—wouldn’t that be better?”

These words struck straight to Yuwen Gong’s heart.

He turned to look at Wei Kegu—but saw only contempt on his face. He opened his mouth to speak, then fell silent.

Wei Kegu secretly dispatched troops to encircle the outlaws in the woods.

“I’ve heard the Han are well-mannered—how could you speak such vulgar words?”

“The kind of men you speak of died long ago beneath Hu Ren blades!”

As the words ended, birds burst from the trees.

Crossbow bolts flew; screams echoed. The troops sent to flank the outlaws walked into an ambush and suffered heavy losses.

At that moment, a cavalry unit galloped in—bearing the banner of He Ba!

Seeing them, Wei Kegu, though wounded, rejoiced.

“Boy, my reinforcements have arrived—wait your turn!”

He Ba Duoba arrived with troops—but not to aid. He came to deliver news.

“General, disaster! A cavalry unit from the imperial army has raided Bai Dao and pressed toward Wuchuan. Our forces are away; He Ba Yun and Yuwen Hao have too few men to sortie. If we don’t return, we may lose everything.”

Wei Kegu panicked.

“Whose troops?”

“They fly the banner of General Li Shenguang of Pingbei!”

“Li Shenguang!”

Wei Kegu gritted his teeth as if he would tear the man apart.

Wei Kegu abandoned his camp, left all supplies behind, and fled with only his men.

Yuwen Gong turned back, watching the outlaws surge from the woods, looting the abandoned camp.

The Xianbei nobles in Luoyang had actually allied with these Han people to fight their own fellow Xianbei of the Six Garrisons.

The world has changed.

Where now should the Yuwen clan turn?