Chapter 81: The Northern Frontier Will Not Allow Such an Awesome Man to Exist

Luoyang Imperial Palace.

The rear court, the Western Tour Garden, the Nine Dragon Hall.

When Emperor Xiaowen moved the capital, he first stationed the troops and horses he had brought from Pingcheng inside Jin Yong Castle in the northwest of the imperial palace, and then, slowly, using the old site of the Luoyang Imperial Palace from the Wei-Jin period as a foundation, built the present-day Luoyang Imperial City.

The Nine Dragon Hall lay in the sleeping-courts area behind the main hall, the Hall of Supreme Ultimate; three pools ringed the outer walls of the hall, nine dragons spouted water before it, and the surrounding palaces were linked by elevated walkways — the height of splendor.

But no matter how beautiful the scene, it could not dispel the fury burning inside the young Emperor Yuan Xu at this moment.

"What is this Li Shen Gui trying to do?"

The young Emperor Yuan Xu was only fifteen years old, yet he had already been emperor for nine years.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"

The palace attendants all around knelt down, terrified.

"What is the matter with Your Majesty?"

Yuan Xu, seeing the newcomer, offered a bow.

"Mother!"

The current emperor's birth mother, Empress Hu, even though she had a child already in his teens, was still lovely; in her looks and dress, amid a girlish air she carried a coquettish charm, like a fully ripe honey peach.

"How could Your Majesty fly into such a rage?"

Since a few years earlier, when Prince Yuan Yi and Liu Teng had joined hands to launch a coup, Empress Hu had lost her great power and had been confined the whole time in the rear palace.

After Liu Teng died, no one in the inner court could check Empress Hu any longer.

Therefore, her movements were no longer restricted.

"It's all because of that Li Shen Gui!"

Empress Hu smiled.

"Hasn't he done well?"

"It's not that!" Yuan Xu gave a cold snort. "After taking up the post of Grand Commander, he defeated in succession the bandits Wei Kegu, Poluohan Kong Que and others, lifted the siege of Yunzhong, recovered the two garrisons of Wu Chuan and Huaishuo, and even beat the rebel Han Baling so badly that he did not dare look east; I hear the rebel army is planning to cross the Yellow River to avoid his sharp edge."

Empress Hu listened, thought for a moment, and gave a faint smile.

"This concubine did not expect that there was such a hero still in the city of Luoyang?"

Yuan Xu's angry voice cut off Empress Hu's thoughts; she heard him say:

"But this Li Shen Gui holds all power to himself; every man I sent he refuses to use, shelves them all; he has even taken the chiefs of over a dozen steppe tribes as his sworn sons, and, ignoring the policy set by the court, he took it upon himself to send troops to attack the Rouran!"

When Yuan Xu finished, Empress Hu merely shook her head.

"Your Majesty, you are wrong."

Yuan Xu's face was full of puzzlement, and in his heart he was very unconvinced.

"Where am I wrong?"

"Your Majesty, just think: even if Li Shen Gui is overbearing, so what? He is a descendant of the Longxi Li clan — his roots are still here in the city of Luoyang. A single edict from Your Majesty can recall him from Shuozhou."

Yuan Xu listened, and the fury in his heart gradually died down.

"Even if he throws his weight around in a wild place like Shuozhou, he is not an enemy of Your Majesty and this concubine; on the contrary, he can become an ally!"

"An ally?"

"Your Majesty's enemy is Prince Yuan Yi. He controls affairs both within and without, holds great power, and at any moment can carry out the deposing of one emperor and the setting up of another."

"How dare he!"

Yuan Xu blazed in anger, but only blazed — in his heart he was still somewhat guilty.

"The best plan at present is to recall Li Shen Gui from the northern frontier, draw him to our side, load him with high rank and generous emoluments; relying on the fame of Li Chong and Li Shen Gui's whole clan, it will be enough to counter Prince Yuan Yi."

Yuan Xu thought it over; there was some sense in these words.

"But if he leaves, what about Shuozhou?"

"This concubine has heard that Li Chong, on this northern expedition, also took a sworn son, who now serves under Li Shen Gui as well."

"Him?"

Yuan Xu had some impression of this man, but the impression was not a good one.

"A few days ago Yuan Shen also submitted a memorial, saying this man in Shuozhou acts as a tyrant, and on his own authority withheld the spoils from the attack on the Rouran — ten or twenty thousand head of cattle and sheep!"

Empress Dowager Hu did not care in the slightest about such matters; she knew well in her heart that Yuan Shen and Li Shen Gui were rivals, and covert attacks between them were a commonplace thing.

Li Shen Gui acted as a tyrant in Shuozhou — did Yuan Shen do any less in Xiazhou?

"Your Majesty need not pay attention to such trifles. Why not break precedent and enfeoff this sworn son as a Count, and have him garrison Shuozhou?"

Yuan Xu was very puzzled, and cried out in astonishment:

"He, a man of bandit stock, enfeoffed as a Count?"

Yunzhong.

"What does His Majesty mean by this — what is this about every man he sent I refuse to use? Has he even sent anyone?"

Inside the Commander's Residence, Li Shen Gui was very angry.

"……"

Li Shuang stood beside him, at a loss for what to say, and finally summed up:

"It must be some treacherous minister whispering slander in His Majesty's ear!"

Li Shen Gui heard this and agreed heartily.

"Which treacherous minister could it be?"

"Eight or nine times out of ten it's that Prince Guangyang. He is jealous of sworn-brother's achievements and has always wanted to stretch his hand back into Heng and Shuo, to take charge of all military affairs!"

"It must be that bastard — just wait till I get back to Luoyang and settle with him!"

Li Shen Gui, gnashing his teeth in fury, said angrily:

"Sworn brother is going back to Luoyang?"

"It says I must depart immediately upon receiving the edict, with another important appointment. By the way, the edict also mentions you!"

"Me?"

"Your Majesty has ennobled you as the Earl of Yunzhong County and promoted you to General of the Vanguard, ordering you to temporarily oversee military affairs in Shuozhou."

Having finished speaking, Li Shen Gui remembered something and said:

"The person from Luoyang still wishes to see you!"

"Why didn't you say so sooner?"

Li Shuang dashed off in a flash.

Li Shen Gui watched Li Shuang, shook his head, and seized the opportunity to enter the room.

After parting today, I do not know when I shall see the old friend in this room again; I must cherish the time doubly.

In the side room of the Grand Marshal's residence, a eunuch beside Empress Hu sat there with a gloomy face, waiting for a long time without anyone appearing; he wanted to drink some tea, but the tea had already gone cold.

"Our hospitality is inadequate!"

When the eunuch saw this person approach, he was about to put on a sour face, but upon immediately seeing a piece of gold that Li Shuang pulled from his sleeve, his expression changed instantly.

"Earl of Yunzhong, a young hero; indeed, your talents are outstanding at first sight!"

"You flatter me, you flatter me. What does Her Majesty the Empress Dowager wish to instruct this humble subject to do?"

The eunuch was delighted; he did not need to waste much breath.

"The Earl of Yunzhong is indeed exceptionally intelligent!"

The eunuch looked around and spoke in a low voice:

"I have heard that the Earl of Yunzhong and Liang Jungong are brothers?"

"Merely casual acquaintances!"

The eunuch's face revealed an ambiguous smile as he leaned closer.

"What words are these, Earl of Yunzhong? Liang Jungong is your sworn brother; how could he be merely a casual acquaintance?"

Having finished speaking, the eunuch chuckled.

"Her Majesty has a word for me to convey to the Earl: some people are not worth relying upon. If the Earl can have a good talk with Liang Jungong, future wealth and honor will not be lacking!"

"This humble subject understands; please rest assured, Her Majesty."

Watching the eunuch depart, Hou Jing darted out from the side and came to Li Shuang's side.

"My Lord has gained a title and been promoted in office; why do you look so worried?"

"The Grand Marshal is leaving; from now on, in the Northern Border, no one will shield us from wind and rain!"

Hearing this, Hou Jing also felt some regret.

"My Lord can also shield us from wind and rain!"

"Foolish!"

Li Shuang rebuked him.

"Only one person in Great Wei can command wind and rain; only one person in the Northern Border can shield us from wind and rain."

"Then what should be done?"

"Find my dozen or so worthy nephews; it is time to find them another father!"