Chapter Seventy-Six: Shot Again

As three thousand Liao soldiers were storming the Mongol camp, a great event was brewing a thousand miles away in Muzu of Jiangnan. Muzu was the stronghold of Fang La, and normally many troops were stationed nearby, but they had been redeployed by Tong Guan in a very short time.

Tong Guan could not afford to wait. Emperor Huizong had promised that, as soon as the land of Yan and Yun was recovered, Tong Guan would be made a prince. To be granted a princely title as a eunuch—an outsider—was already extraordinary, let alone the honor of being the only eunuch prince. Who wouldn’t be tempted?

Just as Zhao Yu had anticipated, with the troops withdrawn, Fang La’s ambitions stirred again. Although he had failed to eliminate Zhao Yu, the young man was now banished from the Central Plains, and it seemed there was nothing left to stop Fang La from rebellion.

Though Fang La would not admit it aloud, he knew in his subconscious that he still greatly feared Zhao Yu.

The Song Jiang faction had caused Fang La trouble in the Hangzhou area, but they never truly harmed the roots of the Ming Cult. Moreover, after Zhao Yu’s demotion, Song Jiang and his comrades vanished without a trace; no one knew where they had gone.

Fang La cared little for such matters. Song Jiang was of no concern—in the face of a gathering army, not even Song Jiang’s multiple heads would suffice to escape execution.

A mobilization meeting before the uprising was essential, and provisions and troops had to be arranged without delay.

After a whole day of deliberation, the date was set. Fang La, full of ambition, had just returned to the rear courtyard when Wang Yin followed him in.

“Master, I have just thought of something and came to discuss it with you.”

Seeing Wang Yin’s serious expression, Fang La’s heart sank. With the rebellion about to commence, he dreaded any mishaps.

At this time, Fang La was still modest, warmly taking Wang Yin’s hand and seating him. “You are the future Minister of War; matters of the state and military will be entrusted to you. Speak freely if there’s anything.”

“I wonder if we might change the reason for our uprising?”

Fang La was taken aback. “Change to what? And why?”

The people of Jiangnan had suffered greatly from the birth tribute, and many could hardly survive. Fang La and his followers seized this grievance, rising in rebellion under the banner of opposing tyranny. Now Wang Yin suggested changing the slogan—how could Fang La not be puzzled?

Wang Yin gave a sinister smile. “When Zhao Yu was in Jiangnan, his cancellation of the birth tribute won him tremendous popularity. If we declare rebellion outright, I fear we won’t quickly gain the support of local officials and civilians. But if we claim to cleanse the court of evil, rid it of traitors, and welcome Zhao Yu back, wouldn’t that win us greater public favor?”

The words revealed the truth, and Fang La, a master of intrigue himself, clapped his hands in immediate approval.

“Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Just as Brother Wang said, our uprising is not to overthrow the Song dynasty, but to cleanse the court and support the wise and virtuous Prince Yi. Ha ha…”

Seeing his leader understand, Wang Yin joined in the sly laughter.

It must be said, this was a classic case of being implicated without cause.

“Ah-choo!”

Walking into Tuo Tuo’s tent, Zhao Yu suddenly sneezed without warning. Rubbing his nose, he smiled wryly to himself—his constitution really couldn’t take much, and it seemed he still needed more training.

Not even in his dreams did Zhao Yu imagine that Fang La’s rebellion would drag his name into it.

The battle had been unexpectedly smooth; dozens of Jurchens were slain before they could even react, and their leaders were secretly detained.

Messengers were then sent to Tuo Tuo, urging him to decide quickly between resistance and surrender.

At this moment, Tuo Tuo was thoroughly terrified. With the Jurchens killed, he would not only face the revenge of the Khitans, but the wrath of the Jurchens as well.

Realizing this, Tuo Tuo hurried to beg forgiveness, knowing that the weakened Liao would not dare punish him severely.

Once he learned Tuo Tuo had submitted, Yelü Min sent for Zhao Yu and Xiao Yiyi to enter the camp.

No sooner had Zhao Yu and Xiao Yiyi entered the tent than Tuo Tuo, accompanied by his tribal chiefs, knelt and kowtowed, crying, “This ignorant subject failed to recognize imperial might and nearly fell for the traitors’ plot. I beg the princess and Prince Song for mercy.”

Tuo Tuo was thin, unkempt, his face dark and rough, eyes rimmed with sleep. Zhao Yu wished to let Xiao Yiyi sit in the main seat, since it was still Liao territory, but before he could speak, Xiao Yiyi smiled and gently pushed him to the head seat.

Together, they hardly needed words; a gesture or a glance sufficed.

Zhao Yu nodded, saying, “Tuo Tuo Khan, you seem well-informed—not only do you know my origins, but you also know the whereabouts of myself and the princess.”

“Your humble subject was blinded by greed and begs Your Highness for mercy. Eternal Heaven will surely bless Your Highness and the princess.”

To become a tribal khan required not only wit but thick skin. From the seating arrangement, Tuo Tuo deduced that this Prince Song commanded significant respect among the Liao people.

“Tuo Tuo, what was the point of all this trouble? To tell you the truth, the princess has already pleaded with His Majesty to reduce taxes for the Mongol tribes. The emperor had agreed, but then you suddenly caused this incident. How will the princess advocate for you in the future?”

Watching Zhao Yu deliver these serious words, Xiao Yiyi could not help but secretly chuckle—he could lie without batting an eye. She wondered how he had honed such shamelessness.

Yet Tuo Tuo was stunned by Zhao Yu’s words. Indeed, the reason they wanted to resist Khitan rule was the harsh exploitation. When the Jurchens approached, they promised countless benefits, which for suffering Mongol herders was like manna from heaven.

But to think the Khitan emperor had already intended to lighten the Mongol tax burden—was this true? Why had they heard nothing of it before?

With this in mind, Tuo Tuo instinctively looked to Xiao Yiyi. Zhao Yu was Han, but nothing he said carried more weight than the princess’s words.

Xiao Yiyi nodded solemnly. “It was Prince Song’s suggestion, which I then presented to my aunt, and I have already notified my brother. Though it has not yet been formally discussed at court, it should not be long. However, with fierce battles raging against the Jurchen barbarians at the front, you—oh…”

They were not yet a family, but Xiao Yiyi felt that Zhao Yu had already corrupted her. In any case, there was no alternative—the immediate task was to stabilize the Mongol tribes.

As Xiao Yiyi finished, Tuo Tuo suddenly drew a dagger from his belt and, looking at Zhao Yu and Xiao Yiyi, declared loudly, “Eternal Heaven above, if the princess speaks truly, Tuo Tuo will answer with his life. If the princess deceives me, the Mongol tribes will fight the Khitan to the death.”

Tuo Tuo’s sudden gesture stunned everyone. Had he aimed the dagger at anyone else, Yan Qing would have sprung into action.

Seeing Tuo Tuo’s reaction, Zhao Yu was also surprised. This old man was quite fiery—couldn’t he just talk calmly instead of brandishing weapons?