[{"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-7":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},2311725,4516,"Chapter 7: Back Then, I Was Still Young","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-7",7,"\u003Cp>The grain, forage, and supply wagons, escorted by the Qihu warriors of the Erzhu clan, slowly moved toward the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang watched from the banks of the Sanggan River as the fruits of his labor slowly drifted away, feeling a pang of melancholy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Such fine goods—wasted on the drunken, lazy fools of Pingcheng!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Jing stood nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why not ambush them halfway and take it back?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang scolded him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nonsense!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Jing, like a child caught misbehaving, lowered his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re official troops now—such deeds can’t become routine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your servant understands, Commander!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also, you’re my retainer now—stop using that old way of speaking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Jing, ever quick-witted, instantly grasped the meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your servant understands, Master!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang nodded, glanced at the Hu Ren bustling in the distance, then leaned close and lowered his voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about the things we held back?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All arranged. The cattle, sheep, camels, and horses have been distributed; the grain and tools are stored in the newly built warehouses. If anyone asks, we follow your orders—record it all under Erzhu Zhao’s name.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not that this uncle of mine is ungracious—it’s just that this brat has been utterly reckless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since Erzhu Zhao saw Li Shuang’s manipulation of Qifu Moyu, he had seemed to awaken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was showing signs of surpassing his master!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Jing was deeply annoyed by Erzhu Zhao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That brat’s been waving his ceremonial staff around lately, showing off his power. Stealing cattle and sheep was bad enough—but now he’s seizing wives and daughters too. How many families has he ruined?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, as a top lieutenant of the legendary bandit Daye Shuang, Hou Jing looked down on such behavior—with a tinge of envy and resentment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forget about that brat. How’s our village’s land doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The land Erzhu Rong gave us isn’t prime, but it’s passable for farming. Should we try planting a season of millet first?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang looked at Hou Jing in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know how to farm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Jing, ever tactful, shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No one in our village knows how to farm either!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a middle-aged man in plain cloth laughed from the teahouse beside the riverbank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you don’t farm, where will your grain come from?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The naive Hou Jing spoke the blunt truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Steal it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps it was Hou Jing’s bluntness—or perhaps his fearsome appearance—the middle-aged man was startled, his innocent smile freezing in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang gestured Hou Jing behind him and bowed respectfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My retainer speaks without restraint—forgive him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Shuang’s manners and air of dignity, the middle-aged man felt half his tension ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I dare not presume—I came here and heard…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged man glanced at the intimidating Hou Jing, still shaken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“—your retainer’s words struck me as amusing. I spoke rashly; please don’t take offense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your bearing suggests you’re a scholar. Why come to such a war-torn land?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Northern Dynasties, the most chaotic region was not the border between Southern Liang and Northern Wei—but the northern frontier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Southern Liang and Northern Wei clashed mainly around Shouyang, with large-scale troop engagements. But the northern frontier was ablaze with smoke and fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man before him was refined, clearly possessing less than five points of martial prowess—why was he here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To be honest, after being dismissed as Colonel, I resolved to write a book, so I’ve traveled far and wide, studying the conditions of each province.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Hou Jing laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You? You can’t even hold a sword—who made you a Colonel?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged man still feared Hou Jing and explained:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This Colonel doesn’t fight on the battlefield—it’s the Agricultural Colonel established in Cao Wei’s time, specifically in charge of military farming colonies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Shuang became interested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He invited the Qihu elder at the teahouse to serve beef and wine, and began conversing with the middle-aged man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If so, how were you dismissed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bad luck—I happened to be in office when Southern Liang invaded—not invaded, I mean, launched a raid. All the farmers under my command fled south. My superiors blamed me, and I lost my post.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang now understood the man’s background—and was astonished. This middle-aged man was young, yet held the post of Agricultural Colonel—he must have real ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t be so downcast. The court is in dire need of talent—you’ll surely have another chance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged man waved his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My family has farmed and studied for generations. I never wanted to serve in office. The court is full of deceit and scheming—I refuse to flatter superiors or bully inferiors. Being dismissed is better—I can now enjoy the mountains and rivers. My lifelong ambition is to write an agricultural treatise that benefits all the people.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A family of farmers and scholars, unable to endure court intrigue—clearly no powerful connections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Look at the great clans—how many of them even know how to farm?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He doesn’t know how to flatter, yet became Agricultural Colonel young—clearly he knows his crops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang’s heart leapt with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, drink!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the middle-aged man grew tipsy and distracted, Li Shuang signaled. Hou Jing, who had been standing by, stepped close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This fellow is a treasure!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Li Shuang spoke, Hou Jing understood and replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get him drunk, then bundle him up and take him back to the village.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang gave him an approving look and sat upright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“May I ask your honorable name, brother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I dare not—my surname is Jia, named Sixie.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Sixie!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang’s expression changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He signaled again. Hou Jing stepped close once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This isn’t just a treasure…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Jing understood, and activated his initiative once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then let’s slip away quietly—he can pay for the meat and wine himself!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s a golden-egg-laying rooster!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Jing scratched his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, roosters don’t lay eggs!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang spat at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get lost!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang sat upright again and bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s growing late—do you have a place to stay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flushed and drowsy Jia Sixie mumbled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I planned to lodge at the relay station.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s unfortunate—I just heard that station was burned down by bandits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I didn’t even say which station!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shuang stood, smiling:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All the relay stations nearby have been burned by bandits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who dares do such a thing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A bandit named Erzhu Zhao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Sixie grew anxious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what should I do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you don’t mind, you may stay at my home for the night.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Won’t that be too much trouble?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No trouble at all. The people of Taipingzhuang are simple, courteous, and warmly hospitable farmers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I shall impose upon you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many years later, Jia Sixie—now a top minister—would still recall that quiet afternoon by the Sanggan River, and in his midnight dreams, still slap himself awake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shouldn't have drunk that damn sip of wine!\u003C\u002Fp>",1136,"2026-06-20T12:30:56.711Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","6bcae8464e0223f777e215b287786026b5bc81519187292fd107743f26c347e2","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-8","memoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-chapter-6",211,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmemoirs-of-the-heavenly-khagan-cover.jpg"]