Ming Yu naturally wouldn’t point this out to Huyan You, but instead told him, “His Majesty has just ascended the throne—this is the critical moment to establish prestige. If he doesn’t go now to consolidate the great army, there will never be another opportunity.”

He continued, “Once the Grand Marshal finishes the war with Jin, regardless of how much territory this battle gains, he broke through Yuncheng and captured the Jin Emperor alive. Combined with his previous merit of breaking through Luoyang, I fear his prestige among the Xiongnu will only grow higher. By then, His Majesty will truly have to live under another’s thumb.”

“But if they can join forces now, His Majesty can not only use both grace and authority to win over those two hundred thousand elite troops, but can also naturally take possession of the Jin Emperor and Jin officials. Thus the merit of capturing the Jin Emperor should also belong partly to His Majesty,” Ming Yu said. “His Majesty is the legitimate ruler. The Grand Marshal has acknowledged His Majesty as emperor. If he doesn’t submit, that would be rebellion, and the entire nation can attack him.”

Huyan You deeply agreed, looking at Ming Yu with bright eyes. “Sir is truly talented! May I ask how you are addressed?”

He also wanted to ask why Ming Yu was helping him.

Ming Yu’s reason was naturally simple and believable—he wanted to seek advancement in the Xiongnu Han state.

Ming Yu said, “Ming considers himself a scholar with grand ambitions, but due to my shallow family background, I had no opportunity for official service in the Jin state. I truly couldn’t accept this.”

Huyan You asked, “Zhao Hanzhang employs people without regard to family background. Why didn’t you take the talent recruitment examination?”

Ming Yu replied with anger and resentment, “When I was in Runan Commandery, I offended a Zhao clan member. The Zhao clan is tyrannical and wouldn’t allow me to participate in the recruitment examination. Hmph! What ‘without regard to family background’—in my view, they’re just fishing for fame and reputation.”

Huyan You immediately said, “Exactly! Han people are mostly hypocritical. They all say that Zhao Hanzhang loves her people like her own children, but in my view, she’s just a woman’s benevolence, doing such things only to win popular support.”

Ming Yu nodded repeatedly, looking at Huyan You with an expression of admiration.

Huyan You’s ego was greatly satisfied. After this conversation, he considered Ming Yu a kindred spirit and greatly admired his talents.

Thus Ming Yu leaped from being a merchant caravan’s accountant to becoming a strategist for the Xiongnu’s national uncle, Huyan You.

Under Ming Yu’s persuasion, Huyan You changed his mind and agreed to join forces with Liu Cong. However, to ensure safety and intimidate Liu Cong, he decided to convince the emperor to recall generals fighting elsewhere and have them all escort them together to Boping County in Anping Commandery to meet Liu Cong.

Liu He was quickly persuaded by his uncle and agreed to go to Anping Commandery, summoning Ma Jing, Liu Sheng, and other generals campaigning abroad to Zhongyang County.

The generals didn’t hesitate much, because they had also successively received news that the capital had fallen and a new emperor had ascended. So as soon as they were summoned, they immediately rushed to Zhongyang County.

Liu He promptly ordered them to escort him to Boping County.

None of the great generals objected. Although some suggested first recovering lost territory and recapturing the capital, Liu He was unwilling and they didn’t insist.

Because they themselves had no confidence they could defeat Zhao’s army and recapture Pingyang.

But what surprised them was that Liu He actually demanded they recall all their great armies, and that upon reaching Boping County, they should immediately seize Liu Cong, then force him to resign from his position as regent minister.

Liu He said, “If he willingly resigns as regent minister, I will believe he has no disloyal intentions. Otherwise, I must eliminate this disaster early.”

Liu Sheng couldn’t help but advise, “Your Majesty, the late emperor’s coffin is still in Pingyang City. Zhao Hanzhang is our greatest enemy. Prince Chu hasn’t betrayed us either. Once we fight among ourselves, what will the world say of Your Majesty?”

He continued, “Moreover, the great enterprise is not yet complete—even the capital has been lost. The urgent matter is to recapture the capital and retrieve the late emperor’s coffin to properly bury the late emperor. You mustn’t listen to the slander of petty people sowing discord and become suspicious of your brothers!”

Liu He was furious at these words and demanded, “Do you think I suspect Prince Chu without reason? If he had no intention of rebellion, why hasn’t he returned after Pingyang fell so long ago, instead lingering in Boping County?”

Liu Sheng pleaded desperately, “Your Majesty, if you can’t even trust your own brother, who in the world can you trust?”

Huyan You at his side flew into a rage. “The general was called here today to receive orders, not to discuss! You dare question His Majesty’s decision—could you be Liu Cong’s spy?”

Then, turning to Liu He, he said, “Your Majesty, this man should be executed.”

Liu He listened and immediately ordered people to drag Liu Sheng out and behead him.

Right outside the door—the execution happened right there. Ma Jing and the others nearby felt their blood run cold. Words of objection that had been about to emerge were instantly swallowed back. Everyone acquiesced to Liu He’s order.

Liu He was delighted, believing this was his imperial aura making them submit. So the great army marched mightily toward Boping County.

Zhao Hanzhang naturally wouldn’t let him proceed so peacefully to Boping County, so before leaving she made arrangements. Not only did she send Chen Wu in pursuit—attacking the Xiongnu army intermittently, killing a group then retreating—she also had Beigong Chun intercept Liu He from the front.

Her requirement for them was to wear down the Xiongnu army’s morale—hit and run, no prolonged engagements. She didn’t want battlefield merits or territorial gains, just to keep the Xiongnu army in constant anxiety and panic all the way to Boping County.

Indeed, Liu He’s mental state collapsed under Zhao’s army’s harassment. He wasn’t particularly intelligent to begin with, nor was his temperament very stable—otherwise he wouldn’t have decided so early to turn against Liu Cong.

So when he entered Boping County, he was not only full of resentment but thoroughly bedraggled.

Naturally, his resentment wasn’t toward Zhao Hanzhang, who had chased him like a stray dog, but toward Liu Cong, who hadn’t come to his aid.

He had nearly reached Boping County when Beigong Chun led troops to assault his forces, yet Liu Cong, being so close, dared not come to rescue him!

Seeing Liu He arrive safe and sound, Liu Cong felt, truthfully, some disappointment deep in his heart.

But he quickly concealed his emotions, approaching with a happy and respectful expression.

Liu He immediately wanted to condemn him, but seeing the long line of court generals and ministers behind him, and farther back the elite great army, he swallowed his resentful words.

He had originally planned to seize Liu Cong immediately upon meeting, but circumstances had changed. Because of Beigong Chun, he hadn’t been able to wait leisurely at the ten-li pavilion for Liu Cong to come pay respects, then take the opportunity to have his attendants capture Liu Cong.

Instead, he himself had fled into Boping County in disarray.

With the other side’s strength slightly superior to his own, Liu He truly didn’t dare make a move.

That’s right—he was just this much of a bully who feared the strong.

Therefore, Liu He didn’t give the order to act but instead followed Liu Cong gloomily to the main camp in the city.

He decided to first use his imperial identity to seize power, then kill Liu Cong.

Ming Yu, who had been secretly following Huyan You, frowned slightly at this but could only lower his eyes and follow.

In the following days, Ming Yu advised Huyan You—actually advising Liu He—helping them wrest several factions away from Liu Cong’s camp.

Then Ming Yu began urging Huyan You to act again.