Chapter 133
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The news of Chu Hechao killing Li Li spread throughout Luoyang City the next day.
Upon learning that Li Li’s body had been hung on the city walls, the enraged citizens of Luoyang rushed to the scene with their families, spitting on the corpse and throwing stones in their expression of resentment.
Chu Hechao and Yuan Li, who had killed the traitors Yan Hui and Li Li, gained a reputation that was admired by others.
The Emperor began preparing rewards for their efforts in rescuing him. However, the embarrassing situation was that all the money and precious metals had already been stolen by Li Li, and the dignity of the Northern Zhou royal family had been thoroughly trampled upon. The Emperor had nothing substantial to offer, only official positions and titles.
However, the bestowing of official positions was not that easy, as each state in the country had its own military power and giving out official positions could only be done for officials at the imperial court. The highest position in the imperial court was that of the Three Excellencies.
There used to be a Cabinet that was even higher than the Three Excellencies, but Emperor Jianyuan finally realized before his death that the Cabinet he had established was redundant and more harmful than beneficial, so he personally dissolved it.
The Emperor, Qin Wen, was torn and indecisive.
Although the reputation of the Three Excellencies was renowned, they were only honorary titles. He knew that Yuan Li and Chu Hechao would not want them.
As for titles, Chu Hechao was already the new Chu Wang after Chu Wang’s death, so how could he be given an even higher title? As for Yuan Li, did they want to give him a dukedom…?
But Yuan Li was so young, if he were given a dukedom, what would he do in the future? Should he be given a Wang title?
Between Emperor Taizu and Emperor Jianyuan, each generation of emperors had been trying to eliminate the power of the Wang clans and weaken their influence. How could the Emperor easily give someone a Wang title?
The Emperor was truly troubled, so he sought out Yuan Li and asked what rewards they desired.
In truth, Yuan Li and Chu Hechao had no intention of seeking any rewards. They knew the Emperor had nothing to offer, and the prestige and intangible rewards they had gained from killing Li Li were already enough to satisfy them.
Yuan Li smiled and said, “Saving Your Majesty is our duty; naturally, we dare not ask for anything. If possible, after Your Majesty returns to the south, you can leave Luoyang to me to take care of. Once I rebuild Luoyang’s former prosperity, I will welcome Your Majesty back from Yangzhou.”
Touched and tearful, the Emperor said, “General Yuan, the way you treat me… I have no way to repay you…”
Yuan Li smiled faintly, “I am a subject of Northern Zhou, Your Majesty’s subject. To serve you wholeheartedly until death is not excessive. If Your Majesty feels indebted, then please promote and grant titles to my subordinates and General Chu Hechao.”
How could the Emperor refuse? He felt that Yuan Li was truly considerate and had found a way to reward them without compromising the dignity of the Northern Zhou royal family. The Emperor hardly hesitated and immediately wrote an edict, granting official positions and titles to Yuan Li and Chu Hechao’s subordinates.
Yuan Li suggested, and the Emperor complied. After finishing writing the edict, the Emperor’s hand was sore. He sighed and said, “Governor Yuan, this has been the day I’ve written the most.”
Yuan Li collected the edicts and smiled, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor, relieved from the worries that had troubled him for days, was pleased. He invited Yuan Li to stay in the palace for dinner that evening. After the meal, they took a stroll together in the imperial palace, chatting and laughing all the way, thoroughly enjoying themselves.
This news quickly reached the ears of Chen Wang, intensifying his sense of crisis.
He decided that he could no longer delay things any further. The next day, Chen Wang sent people to Chu Wang’s mansion again, discreetly inquiring about what Yuan Li and Chu Hechao would want in order for Chen Wang to persuade the Emperor to go with him.
Yuan Li was looking at Chu Hechao writing.
Upon hearing the news, Chu Hechao seized the opportunity to toss away the pen and secretly sighed in relief, “Finally, it’s here.”
“Yeah, it’s finally here,” Yuan Li’s lips curled up.
Chu Hechao asked, “What do you want?”
“Why should we decide on this matter?” Yuan Li raised an eyebrow, looking back at Chu Hechao with a meaningful smile. “You should ask Chen Wang what he is willing to give us. After all, the value of the Emperor cannot be measured with mere gold and silver treasures.”
Yuan Li told the same to the people sent by Chen Wang. After hearing this, Chen Wang felt a headache. He massaged his forehead, feeling for the first time that Yuan Li was a handful, “This Yuan Le Jun…”
Chen Xi also frowned, “Does Yuan Le Jun mean that we have to figure it out ourselves?”
“Figure it out ourselves?” Chen Wang frowned deeply, snorting coldly, “He wants me to dig out my family fortune for him. He doesn’t ask for anything from us, but makes us take the initiative to send things over. If we send too little, doesn’t that mean the Emperor is only worth this much in terms of money and supplies? I originally thought he wouldn’t make an unreasonable request, but who would have thought he would throw this problem back at me.”
How much should they offer the Youzhou soldiers to take the Emperor away?
If they offered too little, it would be embarrassing. How would the Emperor and others think of and view Chen Wang?
With a bitter smile, Chen Wang had to directly present his bottom line to Yuan Li at this point.
Soon, Chen Wang made up his mind and said with closed eyes, “Prepare our luggage tomorrow. In addition to leaving enough rations for the return journey of the army, we will give all the war spoils and military funds we obtained along the way to Yuan Le Jun and Chu Hechao.”
“Father!” Chen Xi exclaimed in shock, “How can we give so much!”
When they came, they brought many valuable items to offer to the Emperor, hoping to make the Emperor feel grateful and yearn for them. Throughout their journey, they had also acquired plenty of war spoils, especially when they encountered Li Li in Luoyang. They not only rescued the Emperor from Li Li but also seized a significant amount of gold, silver, treasures, and food supplies. When everything was added together… it was a number that even Chen Xi marveled at.
However, what Chen Wang had decided was unquestionable. He emphasized, “Follow my instructions! It’s just wealth; if we lose it, we can gain it back one day. It’s worth spending it at this time.”
Chen Xi didn’t have his father’s dominance, and his heart ached as though he was bleeding. After taking a deep breath, he said reluctantly, “I understand.”
Chen Wang spent half a month packing up his belongings, and after that, he directly delivered them to the camp of the Youzhou soldiers stationed outside Luoyang City.
Upon receiving the news, Yuan Li and Chu Hechao rushed to the camp. When they saw the numerous carriages, they were instantly shocked.
“This is incredible,” Yuan Li’s eyes brightened, “Incredible.”
Chu Hechao finished looking and also showed a gleam of excitement, “Chen Wang is truly wealthy.”
Yang Zhongfa, Wu Kai, and other military officers in the camp swallowed hard. Over the past two years, they had seen many valuable items with Yuan Li, but even at this moment, they were astonished by the things Chen Wang sent. It could be imagined how much money he had spent.
Yang Zhongfa cleared his throat and his eyes stared, “If all these things can be exchanged for food, it would be enough for us to eat well for several years.”
“You’re right,” Yuan Li suddenly smiled, “Chen Wang can truly be described as resolute.”
From this display of boldness, Yuan Li knew that Chen Wang would be a formidable opponent, more challenging to deal with than Wu Shanshi and Li Li.
He squinted, pondering something in his mind.
Seeing his expression, Chu Hechao raised an eyebrow, “Tell me, what wicked idea are you thinking again?”
Leisurely, Yuan Li said, “I plan to make another alliance with Chen Wang.”
He smirked, leisurely saying, “A five-year alliance.”
In early November, the Youzhou soldiers and Yangzhou soldiers stood on the east and west sides, beside the Luo River. Chen Wang and Yan Jun Marquis Yuan Li established a five-year alliance.
Both sides made an oath not to attack each other for five years, maintaining peace between the north and the south. In the identity of the Youzhou Governor and Yan Jun Marquis, Yuan Li and Chen Wang swore a blood oath. If anyone violated the agreement, they would bear eternal infamy, both in life and after death.
This event was later known as the “Luo River Alliance.”
At the moment of taking the oath, Chen Wang found it difficult to smile.
He looked deeply at Yuan Li, as if trying to see through him. Finally, Chen Wang took some fresh animal blood and dropped it into a wine cup, sighing, “Yuan Le Jun, if I had a son like you, even if I were to abdicate now and pass on the throne, I would die without regret.”
Yuan Li’s smile remained unchanged, neither humble nor arrogant, “Chen Wang, you overpraise.”
“You don’t need to be modest,” Chen Wang shook his head, laughing wryly, “How did you come up with the idea of a five-year peace alliance… Your actions always exceed my expectations.”
Who could have imagined that Yuan Li would propose a five-year alliance?
With this alliance, even if Chen Wang succeeded in bringing the Emperor back to Yangzhou, even if he could use the Emperor’s name to annex the South, he would be unable to act against Yuan Li and Chu Hechao for five years. He could only watch Yuan Li and Chu Hechao grow stronger, perhaps even unifying the North.
Similarly, the five-year peace alliance also had benefits for Chen Wang. Yuan Li and Chu Hechao would be restricted by the alliance and not act against him, giving him time to strengthen himself and build his power.
Both sides gained advantages and had their disadvantages. This was why Chen Wang agreed to make a five-year alliance with Yuan Li.
However, being led entirely by a young man, Chen Wang couldn’t help but say that he had underestimated Yuan Le Jun.
“You are an extraordinary hero,” Chen Wang said, “What’s even more remarkable is that you are so young. Yuan Le Jun, I truly wonder what kind of person you will become in five years.”
Yuan Li smiled but remained silent.
Chen Wang couldn’t help but sigh again, “If you were my son…”
But “if” was just an “if,” and it couldn’t become a reality no matter how much Chen Wang continued.
Pretending not to hear, Yuan Li had someone bring fresh animal blood and dropped it into the wine cup. He lifted the cup and said to Chen Wang, “Chen Wang, please.”
Chen Wang raised his cup and drank it with Yuan Li.
On the third day after the Luo River Alliance, the eighty-thousand-strong army of Yangzhou soldiers packed up their belongings and finally left Luoyang.
Once Chen Wang and the Emperor left, Yuan Li handed over the restoration of Luoyang to Zheng Rong. He also left Zheng Rong with ten thousand soldiers from Youzhou and a whole million shi of grain to help him restore the livelihoods of the people in Luoyang.
Zheng Rong never expected to be entrusted with such a heavy responsibility. He was so excited that his voice trembled, and his legs even felt weak. He forced himself to stay calm and said, “Your Excellency, rest assured, I will surely restore Luoyang to its former glory.”
“You are good at handling civil matters, and with Luoyang under your care, I am at ease too,” Yuan Li smiled and said, “If there is not enough food, just send a letter to Youzhou. Don’t disappoint me.”
Zheng Rong immediately responded loudly, “Yes!”
In case Zheng Rong alone was not enough, Chu Hechao promoted a miscellaneous general named Ji Zhuo from the army and ordered him to stay in Luoyang with troops.
After completing these arrangements, Yuan Li and Chu Hechao left with the Youzhou soldiers.
However, Yuan Li did not immediately return to Youzhou. Instead, he detoured to the two counties of Jiyin and Henei, providing them with grain for the winter. He then brought tens of thousands of civilians who were willing to follow them to Youzhou.
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