Huyan You also felt this was the best opportunity, because Liu Cong’s forces had been divided somewhat, making him slightly weaker. If they didn’t act now and waited until the five tribes’ people came and demanded conditions, creating conflicts among everyone, the five Xiongnu tribes likely wouldn’t obey Liu He’s commands.
Oh, this was also Ming Yu’s teaching to Huyan You.
In any case, Liu He found an occasion to invite Liu Cong to dine and drink together.
Liu Cong came, not only bringing three hundred personal guards but also wearing armor under his clothes.
Who comes to dine with their brother wearing armor, let alone bringing three hundred guards?
So Liu He stopped concealing his intentions. As soon as he saw Liu Cong, he accused him of rebellion and ordered people to seize him.
Liu Cong had anticipated this and had been prepared. As soon as Liu He made his move, Liu Cong smashed his cup as a signal. His three hundred guards split into two groups to send word outside, while the rest all rushed in to fight.
Liu Cong was brave and powerful. With personal soldiers at his side, when he rose up in furious courage, Liu He was intimidated by the murderous and fierce aura emanating from him, his face turning pale with fright as he retreated again and again.
The generals and guards in the room saw this, their hearts turning cold, and their movements became sluggish.
Since assuming the throne, Liu He had been harsh and ungenerous, rarely showing favor even to his attendant guards, much less to these generals who submitted to him only out of fear.
They had originally thought Liu He couldn’t compare to the other princes. Seeing him frightened like this, they felt even more disappointed.
Everyone’s hearts filled with disappointment, morale suffering a great blow. Though this was only a battle of a thousand men, the impact of morale was still significant.
Liu Cong’s morale soared, and before long he broke through the encirclement and escaped.
Liu He’s face was deathly pale. This was inside Boping County, and Liu Cong’s influence was considerable, so he hadn’t dared mobilize many troops. He had only summoned various generals and hidden three hundred swordsmen and spearmen in rooms on either side, with another five hundred guards on the outer perimeter. He had felt his forces were sufficient, never expecting Liu Cong to still escape.
Liu Cong didn’t run far. He only ran two streets before encountering his own reinforcements. Then he led the great army to kill his way back, and Boping County instantly fell into chaos.
In a certain civilian residence in Boping County, Ming Yu heard the earth-shaking shouts and battle cries. Without hesitation, he immediately rose and led his people to leave.
Wu Erlang had been prepared as well. Three days ago, Ming Yu had told him to pack, saying they might leave at any moment.
Scouts sent out to gather information soon returned, reporting, “Sir, the south gate is already closed. No one can leave at present.”
Before he finished speaking, two others ran back from another street, saying, “Sir, the east gate hasn’t been closed yet. However, many people heard the battle cries, and on the way back I saw many heading toward the east gate to escape.”
Another returning group reported, “We’re uncertain of the west gate’s situation, but to reach the west gate we must cross the main street district. Currently, Xiongnu forces are mainly fighting on those three streets. Crossing would be too dangerous.”
“The north gate hasn’t reacted yet. When we returned, the gate was open and everyone was unaware.”
Ming Yu exhaled deeply and immediately said, “We’ll leave through the north gate.”
This was already the northern part of the city, closer to the north gate anyway.
In Boping County, Liu He resided in the west, with many court ministers living nearby. Liu Cong’s temporary residence was also in the west, though to avoid Liu He’s edge, he had mostly been staying in the military camp outside the city during this period.
As one of Huyan You’s most valued strategists, Ming Yu also had a courtyard in his residence. However, using the excuse of owing a debt to his former master, he had bought a property in the north and lived there with Wu Erlang.
His excuse to Huyan You was repaying kindness, coming to support Wu Erlang while helping him calculate the merchant caravan’s accounts.
Huyan You occasionally received gifts from Wu Erlang and was quite fond of this merchant, so he agreed.
Regarding such confidential matters as when Liu He would act to kill Liu Cong, Huyan You naturally wouldn’t tell Ming Yu, even though he was a trusted aide. However, Ming Yu still guessed it, so he had Wu Erlang prepare.
Ming Yu took advantage of the chaos in the city to escape through the north gate, then had to make a large detour to rejoin Beigong Chun south of Anping Commandery.
In this battle, Liu He completely lost control of Boping County.
Liu Cong already had prestige in the military. After he was appointed Grand Marshal by Liu Yuan and mobilized troops on a large scale, Minister Tian Mi and Military Guard General Liu Rui, sent out by Liu He, surrendered to Liu Cong without even a struggle.
Liu Cong was delighted to receive them and then publicized this widely.
On the other side, unable to find Ming Yu, Huyan You could only discuss countermeasures with Minister Liu Cheng. Liu Cheng suspected someone had leaked information; otherwise Liu Cong couldn’t have known their plan.
So the two submitted a memorial to Liu He, suggesting they first investigate the traitor.
But outside the fighting was fierce and people weren’t all assembled—how could they investigate a traitor?
Huyan You and Liu Cheng sorted through people in their camp and arbitrarily decided that Liu Anguo, Liu Yu, and Liu Long were the ones with divided loyalties, because they usually had closer relationships with Liu Cong.
All three were members of the imperial clan, with Liu Yu and Liu Long being the fifth and sixth princes.
With Huyan You’s judgment, all three were instantly killed.
This operation completely lost them popular support. Within two days, Liu Cong led his great army to Liu He’s residence. Before Liu He could even speak, Liu Cong killed him directly.
Huyan You and Liu Cheng fled one step ahead. At this moment, Huyan You finally felt regret, deeply believing he shouldn’t have moved against Liu Cong so early.
Shedding tears, he said, “If only Mr. Ming were at my side, there might still be a chance for reversal.”
His attendants felt anxious and quickly explained, “We’ve already sent people to search, but the city is in chaos. Mr. Ming’s residence is already empty—we truly can’t find him.”
Huyan You’s eyes filled with murderous intent as he glared at them. “You must be jealous of his favor and therefore didn’t search earnestly.”
Before his attendants could defend themselves, Liu Cong’s pursuers caught up. They resisted briefly, but thinking of Huyan You’s recent words, their hearts turned cold and they immediately fled on their own.
Huyan You was quickly captured, but Liu Cong didn’t even hold a trial—he directly had him killed, displaying his head by the roadside to intimidate soldiers who had rebelled with them, whether actively or passively.
Liu Cong’s methods were ruthless. Besides killing all the court ministers who had followed Liu He actively or passively, he also killed his second brother Liu Gong, who had been hiding and not daring to make a sound.
Thus, of Liu Yuan’s seven sons, only Liu Cong himself and Liu Yi, who was lost somewhere outside, remained.
Liu Cong sat smugly in Liu He’s seat. However, apart from his trusted followers who loudly called for him to claim the throne, the other court ministers remained silent.
Although they were Xiongnu, they had also been influenced somewhat by Han culture. Even if Liu He had made mistakes, Liu Cong still shouldn’t have committed regicide.
Moreover, he had also killed Liu Gong.
Liu Gong was his second brother. This prince had always been very quiet, always keeping silent and hiding away. If Liu Cong didn’t harbor disloyal intentions, why would he kill Liu Gong?
So Liu He’s accusation that Liu Cong harbored disloyal intentions wasn’t wrong at all.
People are strange this way.
They’re willing to support someone as emperor, but when that person actually wants to become emperor, they’re no longer willing to let him.
Liu Huanle, Liu Yang, and other great ministers also remained silent.