Ch.96Western Liao (5)

“…what is your business?”

The man replied in a cold voice, as if displeased with the situation.

Seeing this, Kuchlug smiled and addressed him.

“I believe I’ve already conveyed everything through my letter.”

“You were testing me with that mere letter?”

“Haha! How could that be? How could I, a foreigner, dare to disrespect Military Governor Xiao Apgang, who holds the military power of Western Liao?”

“For someone claiming that, your letter contained words that crossed the line.”

“If I’ve offended you in any way, I offer my apologies.”

“…”

Xiao Apgang silently stared at Kuchlug.

Then he turned his head, preparing to leave.

“Are you leaving?”

“Yes.”

“If you leave now, you won’t be able to honor the spirit of the one who was falsely branded a traitor and executed.”

“Are all Mongols this arrogant?”

“Not at all. I merely stated the facts.”

“That’s exactly what people who distort reality to suit their needs say. That they’re just stating facts.”

Xiao Apgang glared at Kuchlug with a menacing aura.

Then he slowly approached and addressed him.

“Has the Emperor’s favor made you blind to respect? Foreigner.”

“I am the Emperor’s sister’s—”

“Ah! You want to marry the Princess and become regent? So you think it’s best not to offend me, the next in line for power?”

Xiao Apgang spat these words at Kuchlug, as if he had seen through his intentions.

Kuchlug was inevitably flustered by having his intentions exposed by Xiao Apgang. However, he didn’t show it outwardly and responded to Xiao Apgang as if nothing had happened.

A long silence fell between them.

It was none other than Xiao Apgang who broke it.

“So you really do have it.”

“Did you think I was lying?”

“Yes. That item should rightfully be by His Majesty’s side.”

Xiao Apgang replied, grinding his teeth as if recalling the past.

Though he had survived, his father and entire family couldn’t escape total annihilation.

The person who orchestrated this was the current Emperor, so merely thinking about it caused him great pain.

“Anyway, I’ll believe that it’s in your possession.”

“Then will you join hands with me?”

At Kuchlug’s words, Xiao Apgang suddenly burst into laughter.

Then he glared at Kuchlug with an expression of disbelief.

“Hahaha! Do I look that naive to you? Do you think I’m foolish enough to fall for one little weakness and make a foreigner the Emperor of Western Liao?”

With those words, Xiao Apgang drew his sword.

He glared at Kuchlug as if ready to cut him down immediately.

“If you think I’ve endured moments of disgrace and humiliation just because of one weakness, you’re mistaken. Naive Mongol.”

“…”

“I’ve already seized most of the military power. My turn will come if I just wait, so why should I follow your orders?”

“I expected as much.”

“…?”

Kuchlug smiled as he looked at Xiao Apgang.

Then he took out a small box from his breast pocket.

Seeing that box, a strange light began to flicker in Kuchlug’s eyes.

“But when time passes and the object of your revenge disappears… do you think that revenge will truly be worthwhile?”

“What sophistry is this?”

“It’s simple. To repay the time of disgrace and humiliation you experienced, you must kill Emperor Zhilugu. While the Emperor is still alive.”

At Kuchlug’s words, Xiao Apgang lowered his sword.

Then he adjusted his posture and looked at Kuchlug again.

“You are already enjoying wealth and glory as a guest of His Majesty. And as you said, with time, you will marry the Princess and become regent, wielding influence in this country. Why would someone who lacks nothing dream of treason?”

“Revenge. For the same reason as you, Military Governor.”

“Revenge…?”

“Just as your father and family were branded traitors and killed, I too lost my father, family, and land because of Yesugei, the traitor of Mongolia.”

In truth, it was Tai Yang Khan who started the war first.

But Kuchlug, consumed by anger, was distorting the facts and portraying himself as the victim.

Anyone familiar with Mongolian affairs would immediately know how false Kuchlug’s claims were.

But Xiao Apgang, despite knowing that his father was indeed corrupt and his family had committed all sorts of wrongdoings, believed that all this had been distorted by the Emperor to make their crimes seem worse.

Because the two men were strangely similar in this way, Xiao Apgang began to sympathize with Kuchlug’s forced claims.

“If we leave Mongolia alone, they will become an even greater power. By then, I may not be able to achieve my revenge.”

“So you’ll use the blood of Great Khitan soldiers? Ha! How amusing.”

“It may sound selfish. But the Mongols are ruthless. They invaded Western Xia and subjugated them. The people of Western Xia who suffered their invasion must be slaves now, suffering day and night.”

In reality, the Western Xia people were eating rice and watching Bokh matches.

Unaware of this fact, Kuchlug was simply claiming according to his own thoughts that the Western Xia people who suffered the Mongol invasion were in pain.

“You must remember how the Mongol envoy recently caused trouble. His Majesty executed the envoy to uphold the dignity of Great Khitan, but you’ll recall that he took no further action afterward.”

Executing an envoy was essentially equivalent to declaring war.

Despite such an action, the Emperor had not said a word about war with Mongolia.

Given this, from Xiao Apgang’s position as the military leader, the Emperor’s actions could only seem contradictory.

“Mongolia will definitely attack Western Liao. That will probably be in three years.”

Kuchlug was speculating that the Mongol invasion would begin in three years, considering their absorption of Western Xia.

Since his claim wasn’t groundless, Xiao Apgang couldn’t help but nod.

However, they were completely unaware that Mongolia was preparing for war right away.

“In three years, Western Liao will be in chaos, and I will miss my chance for revenge. And you too will miss your opportunity for revenge and head to the battlefield.”

“…So you mean now is the last chance.”

“That’s right, sir.”

Completely persuaded by Kuchlug’s words, Xiao Apgang, unlike before, wore a serious expression and remained silent to understand the current situation.

Kuchlug did not break his silence and waited calmly for him to respond.

“…Your words have merit. But I still cannot trust you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Even after my revenge is complete, won’t you continue to pressure me using that weakness as leverage?”

“I am different from His Majesty.”

Saying this, Kuchlug handed the small box to Xiao Apgang.

Receiving it, Xiao Apgang looked at Kuchlug with an expression that seemed to ask if he was sincere.

“The choice is yours.”

* * *

“Waaaaaah!”

“Wh-what’s happening…?”

“What’s going on?”

The people of Western Liao were greatly startled by the sudden loud noise.

This was because armed Liao soldiers had suddenly appeared in the capital, Qara-Ordo.

People couldn’t help but fall into fear.

“Head straight for the imperial palace!”

The one leading the soldiers was none other than Military Governor Xiao Apgang.

As the actual power holder of the military appeared leading soldiers privately, the imperial guards began to block the front of the palace.

“Halt!”

When the captain of the imperial guards, Xiao Pairuk, appeared, Xiao Apgang looked at him while mounted on his horse.

“Captain Xiao Pairuk! I have long admired your valor. Killing someone like you here would be like causing great damage to the entire country. So please, I beg you, step aside!”

“Stop your nonsense! Traitor! His Majesty covered up your father’s crimes as a traitor and let you live to continue your family line, yet how could you plot such treason!”

“Ha! The Emperor is a liar! If my father was truly a traitor, why would Empress Dowager Ganqian have employed him! He sacrificed himself for the country and worked tirelessly day and night for the people! The fact that the Emperor framed my father as a traitor to seize power is known to heaven and earth, so how can you not know this!”

“You’re insane! His Majesty graciously buried the crimes of a traitor, yet you repay kindness with enmity! I’ll kill you right now!”

Captain Xiao Pairuk led the imperial guards forward.

In response, Xiao Apgang immediately countered, determined not to back down.

Clang! Clang!

A fierce confrontation unfolded in front of the imperial palace.

In fact, Xiao Apgang’s forces were numerically superior, but due to the nature of the city gate, they couldn’t fully utilize this advantage.

Thanks to this, Xiao Pairuk was able to respond despite being outnumbered.

“If we waste more time here, the Emperor will escape!”

Xiao Apgang glared at Xiao Pairuk, grinding his teeth.

He wanted to eliminate Xiao Pairuk immediately and behead the Emperor, but Xiao Pairuk was not an easy opponent to deal with.

As the stalemate continued, suddenly the sound of horses neighing was heard from behind.

“Make way!”

With those words, hundreds of Naiman cavalry suddenly attacked the imperial guards.

“M-Mongol cavalry? Could it be…”

“Step aside immediately! Captain!”

“You despicable foreigner…!”

“This is not the time for such words!”

Saying this, Kuchlug began to break through the imperial guards’ formation.

As the formation collapsed, Xiao Apgang didn’t miss the opportunity and ordered his soldiers.

“Attack all at once!”

“Waaaaaah!”

“Attaaaack! Attack!”

With the formation broken, the imperial guards collapsed.

And soon, their commander, Xiao Pairuk, was killed.

The death of the imperial guard captain.

That meant that the entire imperial palace had fallen into the hands of Kuchlug and Xiao Apgang.