Chapter 27: Righteousness Shrouded in Clouds

In May of 884 AD, on the official road fifty li southwest of Bianzhou (modern-day Kaifeng)It seemed as if the begging pleas of Abo's heart reached Sha Tuo Wang Li Ke Use, and suddenly, the man removed his arrow and gently tossed his bow onto the grass.

On the green grass, that once powerful bow, which had struck down two targets with a single arrow and terrified countless soldiers, now lay quietly there, as if asleep or waiting for its master's summons.

Abaoji couldn't help but rub his eyes: Was this an illusion

Then, he heard a pained voice: “Ah Baoji, use people as targets, with the princess as the target, I would rather not shoot!”

Ah Bao couldn't control himself any longer, he suddenly rushed towards Li Ke. His heart, which had just been suffering in a hot oil pan, was now swimming in the joyful ocean!

This is happiness!

This is fatherly love!

For the sake of her daughter, she disgraced herself, but as a father, he doesn't care!

But Khan's astute nature quickly brought him to his senses. Li Kuang recognized this was a golden opportunity to capitalize for himself and the Khitan people, seizing the greatest possible benefit!

He ran up and grabbed Li Kequ's shoulders, his voice trembling slightly as he asked, "You really aren't going to fight, not going to shoot arrows anymore"

Li Ke nodded with difficulty.

A Baoqi still couldn't believe it: "Eighty thousand taels of silver"

Li Ke sighed heavily: "I've managed to gather enough."

Abaoji asked again, "Are there no jokes in the army"

Li Ke responded with a faint, "Absolutely no regrets."

Ah Bao's machine saw his daughter, as tranquil and serene as the full moon. She stood on the grassy field bathed in sunlight, her radiant face displaying the vibrancy of her youth and her affection for her father.

This is not an illusion, my daughter is truly alive!

Seeing that his daughter was unharmed, Captain Bao let out a sigh of relief while almost shedding tears. His daughter, just now... If it hadn't been for King Shatuo calling off the attack at the precipice... But he, had actually used the other side's benevolence to seize the opportunity and plunder the Shatuo people! Captain Bao, a hard-boned man on the prairie, when did he become so despicable Li Kuang was unwilling to harm his own daughter, while he...

Unable to control his emotions any longer, Abao suddenly hugged Lee Keu tightly:

"You, you are not the Shatuo King, but my good brother!"

Li Ke was stunned, not knowing what Abaiji was up to this time. Zhou Dewei on the other side reacted: Hmph, I knew they were working together from the start! Now their scheme is exposed, isn't it If the king had missed his shot just now, ten thousand taels of silver wouldn't have saved his daughter! By then, Abaiji would be crying his heart out!

Li Ke probed cautiously: "What about the 80,000 taels of silver"

Abao waved his hand: "Strike it out!"

Everyone present was stunned. Why did the Khitan come to Yunzhou Wasn't it to loot wealth Now, the Khan didn't want silver! Although the Khitan generals were reluctant, the Khan had spoken, and they could only accept this reality helplessly.

Ah Bao felt incredibly content: money and possessions were nothing compared to his daughter, who was priceless! He declared loudly:

“You refuse to shoot my daughter, and I will not take your silver! But,” he grinned again, mischievously.

This smile sent a chill down the hearts of the Shādu warriors: Didn't he say he didn't want silver What else did he want to do

"You want to drink with me" Abo laughed.

Abaoji gave up demanding compensation, and Zhige felt a sharp pain in his heart, as if being cut by a knife. At this moment, upon hearing the word "compare," he immediately interjected: "Yes, compare drinking! A thousand taels of silver as the wager!"

This guy won't stop until he gets his hands on some money.

Li Ke laughed heartily: "What I said, it turned out to be a drinking competition! Li's favorite thing in his life is drinking! Khan, you better prepare your silver! Haha, making money by drinking, Dehuang, this business is good, how come we haven't done it before"

Li Cunzhang hurriedly smiled and said, "Father will surely win."

But Ah Bao shook his head: "I've already said, you're my good brother, how can you still call me Khan!"

Li Ke used an expression of bewilderment: "That should be called..."

A Bao grinned and said, “Call me Big Brother! Later when we go drinking, we'll be sworn brothers!”

Li Kuang was taken aback, and immediately thought to himself: With the Khitan as reinforcement, I would have the confidence to fight Zhu San in the future. Even if the Khitan were too far away to arrive, if they didn't stab me in the back, my strategic position in Hedong would be much more secure!

Thinking about this, I immediately grabbed Baoji's hand tightly: "Brother, you thought of this a long time ago! Big brother doesn't mind, let's go and become sworn brothers now!"

Abo laughed heartily, waving his hand. "Yelü Bei, immediately order a feast! All the Sha Tuo brothers who came today will drink until they are not sober!"

Yelü Bei watched the entire negotiation process silently, her heartstrings taut: the Chinese negotiators' maneuvering and scheming, their veiled threats and sharp retorts, were nowhere to be seen here! Both leaders and their generals spoke only in terms of swords and shields!

In the end, Li Ke conceded defeat with a bow.

No, Li Ke used won! In order not to harm innocents, and for his little sister's safety, he was willing to pay a king's ransom! Yesterday's swords, horses, and iron couldn't buy this silver! Thinking of this, he couldn't help but look at the Shatuo King, full of admiration: "Such a person is truly righteous and noble!"

Father sweat, also won.

Because Li Ke used did not shoot the younger sister, Father Han actually waived the compensation from Shatuo and even became sworn brothers with the Shatuo king!

Loyalty is more valuable than wealth. The wisdom and stature of a true leader are beyond the reach of petty individuals.

A tense and dramatic "negotiation" that seemed like it would end in bloodshed ultimately resulted in a surprising alliance! What an unexpected turn of events!

Now Yelu Bei's mood was exceptionally relaxed. He only liked to be on the vast grassland, listening to the melodious pastoral songs and enjoying the quiet sunshine. When he felt inspired, he would also go to his study to wield his brush and ink, composing poems and verses. To be honest, about the cruel battlefield where blood flowed, he truly did it out of necessity. Now that his father Khan had turned swords into ploughshares, his mood was particularly relaxed and happy. Hearing his father Khan's order, he responded with a loud voice, mounted his horse, and galloped towards the main camp.

Zhou Dewei and Li Cunxin and Li Cunzhang looked at each other, several people's thoughts were almost the same: Sha Tuo and Qi Dan could become brother nations, and the border counties would no longer suffer from Qi Dan's oppression. This was naturally a great thing. The king is righteous and awe-inspiring, even making the fierce Qi Dan people bow down!

Who says loyalty can't be eaten as a meal

The commoners of Hedong wouldn't have had a meal if it weren't for Your Majesty's great righteousness!

Li Ke greeted, and several generals hurried to follow the king's footsteps. At this time, Li Cunzhang saw Zhen Ruyue beside him, and couldn't help saying, "Your archery is excellent."

True as the moon, something felt off about this. Look at this unfamiliar General of He Dong. Wu Yun Ga followed the princess's gaze and looked at Li Cunzhang, then suddenly laughed: "Master, he's talking about yesterday."

"Zhenru looked at Li Cunzhang again and finally remembered. She smiled playfully and teased: 'The Khitan archers are famous all over the world, General. Does it hurt when you get shot' "

Li Kuyong was a little confused and stopped to look at Li Cunzhang. Li Cunzhang quickly explained: "Father, yesterday the army had already defeated the Khitan right wing, and was about to pursue them when the princess led thousands of mounted archers to arrive and shoot arrows, saving the Khitan right wing."

Li Ke used looked at Zhen Ru Yue again and smiled: "No wonder your father Han saw me alone and didn't shoot, he was overjoyed."

Hearing the commotion they were making, A-Bao also turned back and said: "Little brother, get on your horse, we still have to compete in drinking!"

Just then, Zhenru turned her head to look at her father's sweat, only to see that the two kings had already mounted their horses and galloped toward the main camp. She quickly climbed onto her own red mare and said to Yunchun: "Hurry up!"

That day, the banquet in the Khitan grand camp lasted until late at night. King Shatuo and the Khitan Khan, these two great leaders, actually drank to a stalemate. Just as the two were having a good time, Abaoji clapped his hands, Li Kuang gazed with his eyes open, but saw Zhenru arriving with a group of maidens, dancing to liven up the atmosphere.

Li Ke watched the girls dancing while chewing on beef, and said in a somewhat vague voice: "Old buddy, your daughter, she can fight, she can dance, and she's so beautiful. I don't know how you raised her!"

Abao heard Li Ke praising his daughter, his mouth almost reaching his ears: "Haha, so thank you for sparing me today! By the way, do you have a daughter"

Li Ke swallowed the beef in his mouth, sullenly raised his wine cup and drained it in one gulp, before saying, “This past May, I was tricked by Zhu San in Bianzhou! I even lost my son!”

Abao immediately paid attention. Zhu San Who was he To have beaten King Shatuo to the point of losing even his son, meaning he almost lost his life! Well, this Zhu San seemed like a hero too. Of course, he should be scolded first to vent the anger for his younger brother, after all, scolding someone wouldn't harm soldiers or deplete resources:

"This Zhu San, he's really not a man. What does he do to make children suffer in battle! Oh, younger brother, how old is your son"

Li Ke sighed: "Six years old."

Ah Bao laughed: "You're too young. Otherwise, I would marry Zhen Ruyue to you."

Li Ke's heart skipped a beat. Although he had already formed a deep bond with Abo, becoming in-laws would be even better! It would be like forging an unbreakable alliance between the Shatuo and the Khitan people. He said, emboldened by his drink:

"Xue'er is still young. But my eldest son Luoluo is already fourteen."

Abao excitedly exclaimed: "That's great! Your eldest son is the right age! Look, look, I told you good things happen to good people! It turns out you were just reluctant to shoot your daughter-in-law with an arrow today!"ar ” 。Zhu Wen feigned surprise, quickly saying: “You are absolutely right! I have long heard that your subordinates have thirteen valiant heroes known throughout the land.” 。"Well," he glanced at Zho...