Chapter 75: No One Understands the Rouran Better Than I Do

The sky brightened, and the battle had ended.

In the Rouran royal court, all the captives huddled with their heads down, crouched within several marked circles, guarded by iron-clad horses and curved blades.

Nomadic tribes maintained a division of labor system.

The larger the tribe, the finer the division.

The Rouran royal court was the largest tribe on the steppe.

Among these captives were even craftsmen from the Western Regions, specialized in crafting gold ornaments for Rouran nobles.

Hou Jing hurried over, his soldiers dragging a group of terrified beauties behind him.

“My lord, these Rouran people really know how to have fun—look, they even have golden-haired women!”

At this moment, Yujiulu Fa was brought forward by soldiers.

“The royal court has fallen—is today my death day?”

Yujiulu Fa was fat, yet his face now bore an expression of fearless resolve.

Undoubtedly, the surrounding Rouran people, seeing his demeanor, truly believed him to be a loyal minister.

Before the throne of the Rouran Khan Anagui, Li Shuang stood with his hands behind his back, watching Yujiulu Fa, who slowly recited the verses Li Shuang had spoken that day.

“Since ancient times, all men must die; let my loyal heart illuminate the annals!”

But Hou Jing, who knew the truth, stepped forward and slapped him hard across the head.

“What are you pretending? You led the way, you provided the Rouran defense maps, you pointed out the Khan’s golden tent—now you talk about illuminating the annals?”

Li Shuang softly rebuked:

“Hou Jing, how dare you treat the young khan like this? Untie him at once!”

After being untied, Yujiulu Fa still maintained his defiant, unyielding posture.

“Li Shuang, you’ve already seized the royal court, and I’ve lost all value to you—why aren’t you killing me? What are you waiting for?”

“You misunderstand, young khan.”

“What do you mean?”

“This victory succeeded entirely due to the Grand Commander’s masterful strategy and calm command. Our achievements owe everything to the Grand Commander’s heavenly virtue. The Grand Commander has long heard of your brilliance among the Rouran on the steppe, and wishes to adopt you as his son—do you accept?”

Upon hearing this, Yujiulu Fa’s earlier death-defying expression vanished; he dropped to his knees in an instant and cried out:

“Uncle!”

At this moment, Hou Jing leaned close to Li Shuang’s ear and whispered:

“Does the Grand Commander even know about adopting an adopted son?”

“The Grand Commander is occupied with matters of state—why trouble him with such trivialities?”

Li Shuang shot Hou Jing a look, then stepped down and helped Yujiulu Fa to his feet.

“Nephew, come, sit!”

As Li Shuang moved to guide him toward the Rouran throne, Yujiulu Fa hurriedly refused.

“That seat is only for the Rouran Khan.”

“Nonsense, nephew—if Anagui can sit there, why can’t you?”

“It’s inappropriate! It’s inappropriate!”

Yet despite his words, Yujiulu Fa plopped down onto the throne.

Once seated, he felt utterly at ease, his spirit transformed.

“No wonder Anagui’s brothers killed each other for this chair—it truly feels different!”

After savoring the moment, Yujiulu Fa turned to Li Shuang and said:

“Uncle, the beast slaves, labor slaves, and fire slaves near the court aren’t the most important—Anagui still has a detachment of Eagle Archers in the rear.”

“Eagle Archers?”

“Yes. Though few in number, each is a master archer capable of shooting eagles, guarding Anagui’s three thousand warhorses, many of which are famed steeds from the Western Regions.”

“What’s your plan?”

“After escaping, Anagui will surely seek out this unit. If he returns to the northern steppe with them, the consequences will be endless. While the situation is still unsettled, Uncle should send a light cavalry unit, all dressed as Rouran, carrying Anagui’s abandoned wolf banner, strike before the Eagle Archers are prepared, and seize the horses.”

Li Shuang nodded, glancing at Hou Jing beside him.

“You go.”

“Yes!”

After Hou Jing departed, Yujiulu Fa continued:

“Uncle, these Rouran are cunning—this place is still far from Huaixiu; trouble may arise.”

“Is that likely?”

“Uncle, no one understands these Rouran better than I do—don’t be careless!”

Wuchuan.

In the courtyard, blood dripped.

Wei Kegu, pierced by multiple wounds, still held his long sword upright, refusing to fall.

His eyes were bloodshot, like a beast cornered to its death.

“When I took Wuchuan, I spared you all, even swore brotherhood with you to overthrow the Great Wei. Why did you betray me?”

Wei Kegu never imagined his betrayers would be the brothers he once trusted most.

He Ba Dube and Yuwen Gong, with their family youths, lured Wei Kegu here and launched a coordinated ambush—yet still could not bring down this monster.

“General, don’t blame us—blame your own stubbornness!”

“What do you mean?”

Wei Kegu did not understand.

Of course, had he understood, he would never have come today!

The sun set westward, the clouds blazing crimson.

The afterglow illuminated Wuchuan as it slipped into darkness, yet this moment was its most brilliant.

“The Liuzhen are weak, the northern frontier poor—what can we truly achieve by rebelling here?”

Yuwen Gong’s words enraged Wei Kegu.

“We rose in rebellion for justice!”

“Will the court grant us justice?”

“Are you saying we should abandon loyalty and righteousness, kneel to the court? What of the fallen brothers of Liuzhen—have you thought of them?”

“General, half of the Great Wei will soon collapse. What value is our lives here? Better to preserve ourselves for a better time.”

Wei Kegu laughed loudly; even wounded, his aura remained formidable.

“What a grand, righteous pile of nonsense!”

Hearing this, He Ba Sheng, son of He Ba Dube, shouted angrily:

“Uncle Yuwen, why waste words? Let’s kill him together and leave Wuchuan!”

He Ba Dube and Yuwen Gong no longer held back, joining forces with their sons to slay Wei Kegu.

Though surrounded by seven or eight men, Wei Kegu still held his ground.

In the clash, men of the He Ba and Yuwen clans lay wounded and fallen across the courtyard—both sides suffered heavy losses.

Wei Kegu still stood, his blood flowing faster, his vision blurred.

Faintly, a boy stood not far ahead.

Wei Kegu remembered—the boy was Yuwen Gong’s youngest son, called Heita!

He had not moved at all during the fight.

“Boy, why not strike? Are you afraid?”

Tai the Unyielding stepped forward slowly, gazing at Wei Kegu—the dying beast.

“Why should I fear a dying man?”

Wei Kegu grew interested in this boy.

“Then tell me—do you think your father, brothers, and uncles acted rightly?”

“No!”

At Yuwen Tai’s words, everyone was stunned.

Wei Kegu laughed, his whole body trembling.

“I never expected that among the famed He Ba and Yuwen clans, only this boy—who’s never seen battle—is a true hero!”

“But the world is harsh—sometimes, even wrong things must be done.”

Wei Kegu fell silent, then suddenly hurled his long sword to the ground before Yuwen Tai.

“This sword is called Long Que—I give it to you!”

Yuwen Tai drew the sword, its blade dark red, stained with the blood of the He Ba and Yuwen clans, bowed to Wei Kegu, then swung it down.

On this day, the people of Wuchuan once again reached a turning point in history.