Linhuang

Author: Sharkshou Zhazhao

"Something is wrong."

Li Hexi and Yelv Dejin looked at each other, and Yelv Dejin immediately understood. He put his thumb and index finger on the corner of his lips and blew a short whistle.

Not far away, another black hawk that had been guiding them flew down from the sky and landed obediently on his broad shoulders.

Yelu Dejin tied a very thin red rope to the black eagle's leg, then raised his arm, and the black eagle immediately understood and flew towards the east of Linhuang.

"There is something going on in the city, please be careful."

This Liaodan Khan had an eagle-like observation ability. Even though the distance was far away and the city was pitch dark, he could still see the occasional moving figures.

If you listen carefully, you can also hear faint calls for help and the faint footsteps of officers and soldiers.

"It's suspicious that everyone is staying closed at this time of day. What's more, even the city defense won't go out on the streets to arrest people at this time."

Thinking that the victims were most likely innocent people, Yelu Dejin's heart tightened.

"Unless...not Liaodan officers and soldiers."

On the top of the mountain, Li Qianyin turned back and looked far away in the direction of the border between Pingzhou and Yechao in the south. He could only see the junction of heaven and earth, with black clouds pressing down on the border and no sun.

"Sir Qi, can you tell me how many people Queen Mother Shulu brought with her?"

"I didn't say the exact number, but I just know that the Empress Dowager Shulu was quite confident about this trip and was ready to conquer the two states in one fell swoop, so she took most of her troops and gave the rest to a general named Zhao in Linhuang City.

"

Li Qianyin replied.

"Zhao Siwen? Sure enough."

Yelu Dejin looked at Li Hecheng in surprise, with an unclear expression.

"This General Zhao was favored by my father in his early years and was indeed a loyal minister. However, after my father passed away, he was the first person in the court to oppose my mother."

"Oh? Then isn't he from your faction?"

Li Qianyin raised her eyebrows.

"No, to be precise, it's my father's faction, or Brother Wang's."

Yelu Dejin explained, "The prince appointed by my father when he was on the throne was originally my brother. However, my brother was soft-hearted and could only read and write, so my mother forced him to have no way out and fled to the Central Plains. And she was originally the prince.

She wanted to make her younger brother the new king, but because she couldn't convince the crowd, she had to settle for the next best thing and make me, her second son who has always been obedient to her and made great achievements in war, the king."

"My mother cut off her wrists and was buried for her father. After this incident, the old ministers in the court, led by General Zhao who took the lead in opposing it, gradually stopped mentioning it."

"It's just that although the queen mother is ruthless in her actions, she is only decisive in killing and is not someone who studies the affairs of the government carefully. Is it possible that she really thinks that General Zhao is willing to stand by her wholeheartedly?"

Today's situation is chaotic and complicated, and everyone has their own agenda.

When King Yi made a bet with him in private, he confidently assured him that if Empress Dowager Shulu led an army to attack, it would be Zhao Siwen who would stay in Linhuang to defend the city.

When asked where he derived his guess, he remained silent.

Even though the two Central Plains people standing beside him now seem to be allies, they are actually very cunning and cannot be fully trusted.

Thinking of this, Yelu Dejin's doubts deepened.

"I think maybe Khan is worrying too much."

Li Hexiang spoke up, interrupting his thinking.

"If General Zhao who is guarding the city is really Zhao Siwen, as far as I know, he was also from the Central Plains before, right?"

"Yes, do you know His Highness King Yi?"

"I have heard that this person was the former governor of Pingzhou. He was later rescued by your father. He led the entire Pingzhou to surrender to Liaodan and paid homage to Xianlu Longjun as military governor. What do you think would happen if such a person accompanied the army to conquer his hometown?

,How likely is it that he will defect?"

Yelu Dejin was stunned, but he said so.

"Since King Dan of Liao is kind to him, if he goes to the capital and is attacked, he will definitely resist with all his strength, so it is better to leave him in Linhuang. The reason why I assured you that day was because of the expediency of Empress Dowager Shulu's plan.

It’s the safest.”

"But how did you know that Zhao Siwen would convince me with just one letter?"

"Khan is really simple-minded. No wonder he can't defeat your mother despite being such a big man."

Li Qianyin curled her lips, rolled a few strands of hair around her ears, and made two "tsk" sounds.

"Does the Khan not know? In the Five Dynasties and Ten States, vassal towns were separated, and princes were everywhere. In addition to those who wanted to dominate in troubled times, there were also those who cared about the people. The Empress Dowager Shulu refused to delegate power, ignored the life and death of the people, and conscripted troops and paid taxes -

- General Zhao is not serving you, he is willing to serve the people."

The young Khan of Liao Dan lowered his eyes and thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "His Royal Highness King Yi has a wonderful plan. If His Highness really wins this bet, then I, Liao Dan, will definitely give it to you with both hands as promised."

"It's just that with this half-opened city gate, I don't know whether it's to invite you to enter the urn, or to stage an empty city plan?"

In the middle of the night, the subtle cries for help from the city came closer, but they were gone.

"Do you have any dog ​​holes or anything like that in your city walls?"

"How do I know? How can I, the mighty Khan, be willing to dig into a dog's hole?"

Outside the city, Yelu Dejin stood up straight and raised his voice a little higher.

"I am still the first prince of the Ye Dynasty," Li Hecheng immediately covered his mouth, "Can you please keep your voice down?"

"Shut up."

Li Qianyin glanced sideways at the two men behind her, "If you can't sneak in, then go through the front door."

"We've been discovered anyway."

The three men suddenly raised their heads and saw countless soldiers standing beside the city wall in an instant, all holding their bows and arrows aimed at them.

"Han Chinese?"

Yelu Dejin looked at the middle-aged general who appeared on the city wall, his expression wary.

"Lord Khan - Lord Khan returned to his own home, why are you still hesitant and ready to sneak in?"

The man laughed loudly and said, "This general is guarding the city for the Khan. If the Khan wants to enter the city, just tell them to do so."

Without waiting for their answer, the man on the wall waved his hand, turned around and gave the order without looking back:

"Open the city gate and welcome the Khan into the city."

The half-covered city gate opened in response. Facing the moonlight, Li Qianyin's eyes passed through the two people protecting him, and then Li Qianyin saw clearly the face of the middle-aged general standing in the middle of the city gate.

he is

As her heart sank suddenly, she felt a surge of anger rushing towards Baihui. It seemed like there were thousands of knives twisting in her internal organs, and her liver and intestines were torn apart for a moment.

She clenched her fists, her body began to tremble violently, and her eyes were spinning and turning black with rage.

At this time, Li Hecheng seemed to realize that something was wrong with her, and stretched out his right hand backwards, holding her clenched fist in his palm.

Feeling the coolness on her fingertips, Li Qianyin steadied her body, but the sword on the handle suddenly showed a cold light.

"Hey, this is our Highness King Yi. When the late emperor passed away, His Highness was not around to serve him. It turned out that he had an affair with a foreign enemy."

The man tilted his head and turned his eyes to the girl behind the two young men.

"This girl looks familiar. Are you——"

He frowned in thought, and his slightly drooped triangular eyes revealed a sense of cunning and success.

Caught off guard, a ray of purple light rushed over.

Li Qianyin held the sword behind her back and held it horizontally in front of her. She quickly dodged and put the sharp blade against his throat.
Chapter completed!