[{"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-66":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},2311784,4516,"Chapter 66: The Huaiuo Scandal","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-66",66,"\u003Cp>Wuchuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the returning He Ba Yun, Wei Kegu’s face showed no concealment, filled with distrust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When the Shuozhou army attacked Baidao City, you led your troops in pursuit and vanished for over ten days—where did you go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Ba Yun bowed his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I won’t hide it from General—I was captured and taken to Yunzhong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At its peak, Wuchuan Town had tens of thousands of residents, including Xianbei nobles and Han and Tiele chieftains who had submitted. Wuchuan Town and the western Huaiuo Town formed a pincer, constructing a defense line against the Rouran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Northern Wei moved its capital, the Six Garrisons weakened, and their populations steadily dwindled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the once fearsome military fortress that had terrified the Rouran had lost its former glory, leaving only the helplessness of things remaining while people were gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet those who remained were all seasoned veterans and valiant generals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the Xianbei and Han in Luoyang clustered together, so too did the Xianbei and Han in the Six Garrisons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bound by blood and marriage ties, they formed alliances. Compared to Luoyang, the cohesion of the Six Garrisons was far greater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was trust forged in the frost and snow of the northern frontier, through bloody battles against foreign tribes like the Rouran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Kegu stared at He Ba Yun, still unconvinced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With your abilities, who could possibly capture you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I admit with shame—the man who captured me was from Huaiuo Town, but he had been transferred out long ago, so his name was unknown among the Six Garrisons.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing he was from Huaiuo Town, Wei Kegu seemed to understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then how did you escape?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I dare not deceive the General—the Grand Commander Li Shen himself released me and ordered me to deliver a message.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What message?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Rouran are marching south!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, everyone’s faces turned pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The current situation was different—the Six Garrisons no longer had the Northern Wei court behind them. If the Wei army allied with the Rouran, the Six Garrisons would be caught in a pincer from north and south, isolated and without aid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why did he send you with this message?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Ba Yun answered honestly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grand Commander Li Shen is benevolent—he let me return to give us a glimmer of hope. If we are willing to surrender…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Kegu angrily cut him off; the atmosphere in the room turned extremely tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our families have been loyal for generations, having rendered great service to the court—but how has the court treated us? Now, to crush us, the court is willing to collude with the Rouran—does such a court still deserve our loyalty?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Kegu’s expression shifted, his words brimming with contempt and scorn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those are the Ruoru! I’d rather die than surrender!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But if we don’t surrender, where is our path to survival?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Kegu controlled Baidao, which had just been plundered, suffering heavy losses in supplies; the environment facing Wuchuan was now extremely dire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We are men of the Six Garrisons—we’d rather die like heroes than live like dogs!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Kegu stepped forward two paces, his aura completely overwhelming He Ba Yun before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Wei Kegu was about to make his next move, He Ba Du stepped out, standing between Wei Kegu and He Ba Yun, shielding He Ba Yun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My young relative has been disrespectful—please forgive him, General.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing He Ba Du, Wei Kegu finally sighed and refrained from acting against He Ba Yun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only the True King is a true hero—he alone can lead us out of this predicament! Our only course now is to swiftly inform the True King of this situation and let him decide.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuwen Gong stood to the side, watching this scene, his heart stirred with murderous intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Kegu, you are too stubborn!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huaiuo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord, is it true that Po Liu Han Kong Que intends to surrender to us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s desperate—let’s make him jump even faster.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the city gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still the same familiar scent!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Jing returned to his hometown, drew a deep breath, filled with nostalgia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Li Shuang urged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go, don’t dawdle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huaiuo Town should have been heavily guarded, but the gate guards exchanged a glance with Hou Jing and let him and Li Shuang in with little inspection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who’s this kid? Do you know him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wei Jing—He Liuhun’s brother-in-law.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the name, Li Shuang still felt a small thrill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huaiuo Town had endured over half a year of siege; its facilities were damaged and still unrepaired. Many townsfolk had set up tents on the ruins of their homes, giving the place a desolate air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You said He Liuhun wasn’t in Huaiuo when it was besieged—so why did he return after the town surrendered?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“His sister and brother-in-law were both in Huaiuo—he had no choice but to return. He still values loyalty and affection!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Hou Jing hadn’t returned in years, he still knew well the conditions of Huaiuo’s townsfolk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahead is He Liuhun’s home! Lord, if we’re to act, we find him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike others who lived in tents, Gao Huan’s house was still a proper dwelling. The walls had clearly been recently repaired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In today’s Huaiuo Town, supplies were scarce, especially construction materials, all requisitioned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Huan managed to obtain them—clearly, he had considerable influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Jing was about to call out when a woman’s scolding voice came from inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He Liuhun, you heartless bastard—I knew you still had dealings with that little witch from the Han clan!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhaojun, listen to me—I truly have nothing to do with Han Zhihui; that’s all in the past!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From within, the woman’s sobs could be faintly heard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You heartless wretch! I defied my parents’ warnings to marry you—did I ever complain about your family’s poverty? After marriage, you squandered my dowry with your drunken friends—that I tolerated—but that Han witch is already married, yet you still pine for her, flirting and scheming—how can you face me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhaojun, it’s not at all as you think!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get out! I never want to see you again!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, the sound of things being smashed echoed; after a chaotic flurry of clattering and squawking, Gao Wang fled the house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There he was—Gao Wang, chased out by his wife, barely dressed, utterly disheveled, two claw marks visible on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He Liuhun, beauty’s favor isn’t so easy to enjoy, is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Jing’s grin drew Gao Huan’s gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aren’t you enjoying yourself in Ma Yi? Why are you back in Huaiuo?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I missed you, He Liuhun—and everyone else!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Jing smiled and introduced Li Shuang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is Brother Daye, whom I mentioned in my letter—my friend. I’ve come with urgent matters to discuss with you, He Liuhun.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Daye?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Huan looked at Li Shuang; Li Shuang looked back at Gao Huan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wang was truly Gao Wang—even now, chased from his home, disheveled, his looks could not be hidden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang, at first glance, was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There existed in this world someone who reached eight-tenths of his own handsomeness!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Terrifying!\u003C\u002Fp>",1165,"2026-06-20T12:30:56.711Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","91438f1c0b07d4d3c88aac5d69264523d19aff9879b006f5aa36844595eac89e","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-67","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-65",211,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmemoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-cover.jpg"]