Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 3 Oh no, I met a smart guy!

Erzhu Yujian, the ancestor of the Erzhu clan, followed Tuoba Gui to defeat Yan and was granted the 300-li Xiurongchuan for his merits.

Erzhu Rong's grandfather Erzhu Daiqin was the uncle of Empress Jingai of Tuoba Tao. Relying on this relationship, the Erzhu family participated in many foreign wars of the Northern Wei Dynasty and was exempted from taxes for a hundred years because of their merits.

By now, the Erzhu family had become a wealthy and famous family in the states of Si, Shuo, Heng, etc., known to both the Han and the Hu people!

Cows, sheep, camels and horses are everywhere in the mountains.

Erzhu Rong looked at the letter sent from Taiping Village in his hand. His daughter's handwriting was very clear, but her handsome and fair face looked a little strange.

"And who brought this letter?"

Erzhu Rong's move made his nephew Erzhu Zhao eager to try his own.

"After delivering the letter, he fell asleep!"

Erzhu Rong was a little surprised, and then listened to Erzhu Zhao's explanation.

"He said he traveled two hundred miles in one day and three horses died of exhaustion."

Erzhu Rong smiled.

"He's quite a person, I'll treat him well."

"This……"

Erzhu Zhao was brave and aggressive. After hearing the news, he immediately secretly assembled his troops and waited for his uncle's orders.

Unexpectedly, Erzhu Rong was not angry, but treated the messenger who delivered the letter well.

Erzhu Rong's prestige in the Erzhu family was not ordinary. He glanced at Erzhu Zhao, and the other party shut his mouth. There were too many things he didn't dare to say at this moment.

"Please ask Tianmu to come over!"

Compared with his nephew Erzhu Zhao, Erzhu Rong trusted his sworn brother Yuan Tianmu, a member of the Northern Wei royal family, more.

After Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty moved the capital from Pingcheng to Luoyang, the Northern Wei Dynasty's Sinicization reforms became unstoppable.

In Luoyang, the Northern Wei court not only banned northern languages ​​and Hu clothing, but was even so fanatical as to change the royal family's surname from Tuoba to Yuan.

Yuan Tianmu was a typical member of the Northern Wei royal family who had been sinicized. He wore a bun, Hanfu, and was gentle and elegant, which formed a sharp contrast with Erzhu Zhao, who wore Hufu and had dreadlocks.

Erzhu Rong handed the letter to Yuan Tianmu and asked:

"Brother, what do you think?"

"What a gift! To be able to write a blackmail letter so elegantly is truly remarkable!"

Yuan Tianmu took a look and praised.

Erzhu Zhao on the side became a little impatient.

"It's already this late, and you're still concerned about the other person's literary talent?"

Erzhu Rong looked at Yuan Tianmu, who was stroking his beard and watching carefully, and stopped the impatient Erzhu Zhao.

"Brother, are you saying that Li Shuang is not an ordinary bandit?"

The reason why Erzhu Rong sent his daughter to Luoyang was not only to prove his loyalty to the young emperor Yuan Xu, but also to establish spies in the palace.

Now that the matter has developed to this point, Erzhu Rong is somewhat suspicious. Is there someone behind the scenes?

"Since the Six Garrisons Rebellion, many of the soldiers originally stationed in the northern border have deserted, including many descendants of Han nobles. Anyway, I don't believe a bandit could be so literary. And judging by the tone of his letter, it's clear he doesn't want to escalate the situation, perhaps trying to ease the situation!"

After saying this, Yuan Tianmu looked at Erzhu Rong meaningfully. The other party understood and let Erzhu Zhao go down first.

The two were in the same room, and Erzhu Rong said:

"Brother, just say whatever you want to say!"

"The Erzhu family has been operating for a hundred years, and their accumulated wealth is immeasurable. In these troubled times, this is not necessarily a good thing."

Erzhu Rong nodded.

"I understand. That's why I want to gather strong men and use them for my own purposes! But it hasn't been going well."

Yuan Tianmu laughed.

"The imperial court has always been wary of the Erzhu clan, and with Qi Fu Mo Yu by their side, it's like a thorn in their side. Xiurong, though rich, is not the right place for a king's career. If Tianbao wants to achieve something, he should march south to Taiyuan and seize Jinyang City, only then can he further the Erzhu clan's legacy. Taiping Village is located on a key route south, and Li Shuang is a man of his generation; he should make a decision soon."

After listening to Yuan Tianmu's words, Erzhu Rong had made up his mind.

"Taiping Village's reputation has become quite famous in Jin over the past two years, especially after Li Chong's failed encirclement and suppression. If such a hero could be employed by me, it would be a blessing. Otherwise, I should eliminate him as soon as possible."

"In this case, I will go for Tianbao."
-
Taiping Village.

When Li Shuang learned that Yuan Tianmu had come in person, he knew that the situation was not going in the worst direction. "Uncle Tianmu!"

In this wild village in the mountains, Erzhu Ying'e saw an acquaintance, and all the grievances she had suffered in the past few days suddenly came to her mind.

Yuan Tianmu comforted her and had Erzhu Ying'e taken back.

Then, he looked at the main person of this trip - Li Shuang.

This famous and fierce bandit in northwestern Shanxi is just a teenager with a strong body, dark skin, but a very handsome face.

Yuan Tianmu immediately felt a liking for him.

"Is this Chief Li Shuang?"

"That's right!"

Li Shuang invited Yuan Tianmu into the hall, but Yuan Tianmu did not leave immediately. Instead, he spoke in a tactful way.

"May I visit the chief's study?"

Yuan Tianmu has a hobby, he particularly likes to visit other people's study rooms.

From the collection of books in the other party's study, Yuan Tianmu could roughly determine the other party's preferences.

Of course, Yuan Tianmu seemed to subconsciously ignore the question of why a bandit leader would have a study.

"That's not impossible."

Li Shuang had no choice but to invite him into the study.

As soon as he entered the study, Li Shuang noticed something was wrong.

Why haven't we dealt with these guys?

On the desk, there is a poem copied by Li Shuang.

Yuan Tianmu did not have the awareness that an outsider should have. He picked up the paper on the table and started reading.

"The Han army has three hundred thousand soldiers, and the general also commands the Huo, Piao, and Yao... The enemy can be crushed, their flags destroyed, their intestines trodden and their blood drenched... The Hu are destitute, and the Han will prosper..."

When Li Shuang heard Yuan Tianmu reading, his face turned pale.

Isn't this equivalent to slapping Yuan Tianmu, a Xianbei, in front of him?
"it is good!"

Li Shuang thought Yuan Tianmu would turn around and leave, but he suddenly raised his voice.

“It’s magnificent, it’s magnificent!”

Then he turned around and looked at Li Shuang with even more admiration.

"I was right. The leader is not only an outstanding warrior, but also a brilliant writer. He must be from a wealthy family. I wonder if he is from the Zhaojun Li family or the Longxi Li family?"

Li Shuang was stumped by this question.

In this era, he really doesn't know where he is from.

"I am from Guanzhong, right?"

"So you're a descendant of the Longxi Li family. My apologies. I bet the leader has a close connection with Wuchuan Town!"

After hearing Yuan Tianmu's words, even more questions arose in my mind.

"How can we talk about family inheritance when we are trapped here? It makes people laugh!"

Yuan Tianmu and Li Shuang became closer, which confirmed his judgment.

"Has the leader read the Spring and Autumn Annals?"

"..."

After a conversation, it was already late at night. Yuan Tianmu stated his purpose, which was to persuade Li Shuang to surrender for Erzhu Rong, and he offered very favorable conditions.

Give money, land and official positions!
Li Shuang thought about it for a long time and finally agreed.

Although the cause of combating the feudal and decadent forces is noble, the feudal and decadent forces have given too much.

After the discussion, Li Shuang expressed his doubts.

"Why wasn't the Grand Marshal angry after seeing this poem?"

But Yuan Tianmu laughed loudly:
"My friend, you are mistaken. Our Tuoba clan is descended from the Yellow Emperor. Changyi is the youngest son. How can we compare ourselves with those barbaric barbarians who eat raw meat and drink blood? Later, Emperor Xiaowen changed the name of Tuoba to Yuan, which showed his intention of acknowledging his ancestors. Walking on the intestines and wading through the blood of the barbarians, what a magnificent statement!"

"..."

(End of this chapter)