Chapter 1071: Toasting and Penalty Drink (Part I)

Before departing, Hu Xiaotian had Liang Yinghao and Xiong Tianba stay behind, relying on their martial strength to temporarily intimidate the guards so that the soldiers would not forcibly send the refugees back to the ships. Seeing the dilapidated vessels at Xia Sha Port, he feared many would capsize in the raging waves before reaching mid‑journey. In fact, several shipwrecks had already occurred during this period, causing over a thousand refugee deaths, and this dire situation continued unabated.

Li Chengming accompanied Hu Xiaotian to the government office; the prefect's residence was also a remnant of the former Da Yong administration, sizable but deserted, with few people coming and going. Along the way, Li Chengming explained to Hu Xiaotian that in Dongliang Jun he held only a nominal post, lacking real authority—aside from a few civil subordinates, he could not command anyone else.

The actual power in Dongliang Jun now lay with a few local wealthy merchants, led by Hu Zhongyang, a renowned shipping magnate who once owned over two hundred large and small merchant vessels. After Dongliang Jun's return to Dakang, he sharply reduced his fleet, yet still retained fifty ships. He organized the city's merchants to raise funds and form a militia, which was his idea. In fact, before Dongliang Jun's return to Dakang, most merchants had already fled to Da Yong; those who remained were largely reluctant to leave their homeland, and many believed Da Yong would soon retake Dongliang Jun.

Hu Xiaotian had no time to settle in; he ordered Li Chengming to invite the city's leading figures to the government office. Logically, as a newcomer, he should have been welcomed with open arms, yet these men all chose to avoid him, clearly giving the new city lord no face.

Li Chengming also felt embarrassed; he knew the local situation well and understood that even if he personally invited them, they might not grant him face. Yet he could not disobey Hu Xiaotian's order, so he steeled himself and went—sure enough, after a short while, the prefect returned with his head hung low, having received no courtesy; each either claimed to be busy or simply shut their doors.

Li Chengming wore a bitter expression: "Sir, your humble servant truly has no way."

Hu Xiaotian nodded. Having just arrived here, these merchants actually banded together to give him a snub— as the newly appointed city lord of Dongliang Jun, I invite you and you refuse. This is nothing but "toasting refusal, penalty drinking."

Li Chengming thought to himself: Although Hu Xiaotian is the future imperial son‑in‑law of Dakang, the situation in Dongliang Jun is special; with just a few of you, I fear you'll be powerless, and in the end you'll end up just like me.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I originally wanted to discuss the refugee issue with them. Since that's the case, there's no need for negotiation. Li Chengming, go and relay my order: allow the refugees already arrived at Xia Sha Port to enter freely. No one may obstruct them; otherwise, they will be punished for treason."

"What?" Li Chengming exclaimed, his eyes widening in shock.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Did you not hear my words? Moreover, those so‑called militia are not sanctioned by Dakang; how can civilians privately arm themselves? As a local official, you turn a blind eye—if investigated, you'll surely face trouble. Relay my order: disband the militia immediately, and anyone who dares to continue using the militia's name shall be deemed a rebel."

Li Chengming sucked in a cold breath; he had only reached this compromise with the merchants because the court sent no troops, and he and his few aides could not manage such a vast Dongliang Jun alone. When Hu Xiaotian first arrived, he had seemed reasonable, yet his first decision was so overbearing that Li Chengming could only sigh inwardly—if Hu Xiaotian continues like this, Dongliang Jun will surely fall into chaos within three days.

Li Chengming could only go to Xia Sha Port to deliver the order; Hu Xiaotian's two commands struck like thunder from a clear sky: first disband the militia, then let the refugees flood into Dongliang Jun. In the eyes of the locals, this new city lord seemed intent on pouring oil on the fire and adding frost to snow, as if he wanted to wreck this peaceful city.

In the afternoon, Xiong Tianba and the others returned. Hu Xiaotian asked for the latest update, and Xiong Tianba chuckled: "Li Chengming came to deliver the order, saying the militia must be disbanded immediately and the refugees allowed into the city. The whole Xia Sha Port erupted in cheers; the refugees hailed you as a great benevolent official, and some guards who tried to block them I kicked into the river."

Liang Yinghao stood aside, silent, his face unusually grave.

Hu Xiaotian knew he was steady and mature, and smiled: "Yinghao, speak freely if you have anything to say."

Liang Yinghao said: "Lord, Dongliang Jun has no stationed troops; that thousand‑strong militia, though a civilian organization, is the guarantor of public order. By disbanding them you have invited chaos. Moreover, though the refugees are pitiful, if they keep arriving without end, the local populace will also suffer, and Dongliang Jun is not far from collapse."

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: "How could I not have foreseen these obvious points?"

Xiong Tianba said: "Hey, Liang Dagē, don't worry—my third uncle surely has a plan."

Liang Yinghao glared at him; this brat insists on calling me Liang Dagē, though in seniority I should be one generation above him.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I have no other recourse. I originally wanted to consult a few local merchants, but this lot refuses to give me face. Since they won't toast, I can only serve them a penalty drink first."

Before Hu Xiaotian finished speaking, Li Chengming rushed in, panting: "Sir, sir… dozens of merchants have come outside, wishing to see you."

Hu Xiaotian calmly replied: "I invited them and they refused; now they come of their own accord—are these people just asking for trouble?"

Li Chengming asked: "Should we see them or not?"

Hu Xiaotian answered: "See them. I won't stoop to the level of these profit‑seeking merchants, but I will admit only the leader; the others hold no interest for me, and I have no time."

Li Chengming now grasped the intent behind Hu Xiaotian's two orders: it was precisely the merchants' indifferent attitude that provoked Hu Xiaotian, who then used a small tactic to make them come obediently. Though the goal was achieved, Li Chengming felt uneasy—after all, these merchants control Dongliang Jun's economic lifeline; angering them could trigger anything. Seeing Hu Xiaotian's calm composure, as if he had a plan, he wondered whether this young man already possessed a countermeasure.

Hu Zhongyang entered the main hall, saw the new city lord Hu Xiaotian sitting alone sipping tea, and Li Chengming introduced him: "Brother Zhongyang, this is the newly appointed city lord, Sir Hu!"

Hu Zhongyang, thirty‑nine, sturdy‑built, with a purplish complexion, thick brows and large eyes, strode forward with tiger‑like vigor, clasped his hands and said: "Commoner Hu Zhongyang pays his respects to Sir Hu!"

Hu Xiaotian smiled faintly, glanced at Hu Zhongyang, pointed to the chair already prepared for him, and said: "Please take a seat."

After thanking him and sitting down, Hu Zhongyang covertly sized up Hu Xiaotian. Though he had heard of Hu Xiaotian's fame, he had not imagined he would be so young, and a hint of contempt arose: You, Hu Xiaotian, are merely a pampered noble from the capital who doesn't even grasp the principle that a strong dragon does not crush a local snake—do you really think the court's grant of Dongliang Jun to you means you can take over everything here?

Hu Xiaotian had tea served, smiled, and looked at Hu Zhongyang: "Master Hu, what brings you to see me?"

Hu Zhongyang said: "Sir, I have just heard that after your arrival in Dongliang Jun you issued two orders: one, disband the militia; two, allow the refugees who crossed the river illegally to enter Dongliang Jun freely, with no obstruction."

Hu Xiaotian took a sip of tea, nodded, and said: "Indeed."

Hu Zhongyang asked: "Sir, are you unaware of Dongliang Jun's situation?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Having just arrived here, I truly do not know the local circumstances."

Hu Zhongyang sighed inwardly: You know nothing, yet you rashly issue orders—of course such words cannot be spoken outright. He exhaled and said: "Sir, since Dongliang Jun's return to Dakang, the court has dispatched only officials, no soldiers; the entire Dongliang Jun lacks even a commander, let alone a garrison. Dongliang Jun's customs have always been simple and honest, the people could leave things on the road untouched and keep their doors open at night; conditions were fairly stable. But over the past six months, Dakang has continuously sent refugees across the Yongjiang River into Dongliang Jun, worsening the situation here. We have repeatedly petitioned the court to send troops to assist in administration, yet the court has remained inert. Left with no choice, we have funded and organized a militia ourselves to maintain urban security and protect the legitimate interests of the locals."

Hu Xiaotian asked: "Did the court approve your doing this?"

Hu Zhongyang replied: "Li Sir said he already memorialized the court."

Li Chengming embarrassed: "Indeed we memorialized the court, but the court gave no approval."

Hu Xiaotian said calmly: "Then it means the court did not consent to your private militia."

Hu Zhongyang said: "Sir, it is not a militia but a force tasked with preserving urban order and safeguarding property."

Hu Xiaotian said: "What difference does it make? Without court approval, your private armed force—even if you harbor no rebellious intent—still merits punishment for contempt of the court."

Hu Zhongyang countered: "Sir, without this militia, relentless refugee influx would have long since collapsed Dongliang Jun. We could not bear to see our homeland fall into such ruin, hence our actions."

Hu Xiaotian said: "You must understand a few points: first, Dongliang Jun is Dakang's territory, not anyone's private domain; you have no right to bar Dakang's people from appearing here, nor to expel them. Second, the emperor has granted this place to the Yongyang Princess as her fief, and I have been appointed city lord of Dongliang Jun—thus only I possess the authority to decide whether the militia may exist."(to be continued~^~)