Chapter 1077

Yu Tianxing heard the laughter, turned around, saw Hu Xiaotian and the two of them, and he also laughed: "Sir Hu, seeing me get beaten and you don't even come to my aid—how unkind of you!"

Hu Xiaotian burst out laughing: "It's only natural for a father to discipline his son, and besides, an honest official finds it hard to settle family affairs—how could I meddle in the Yu family's business?"

Yu Tianxing said: "Getting a beating from my dad actually feels great; I feel the lethargy swept away, and I feel much more spirited."

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "What do you mean by what you just said, Young Master Yu?"

Yu Tianxing said: "It's nothing—just living under someone's roof, I was merely venting a few complaints. Sir Hu is our lifesaver, a benefactor akin to a second birth; I, Tianxing, am deeply grateful."

Zhu Guanqi said: "It sounds insincere, full of sarcasm."

Yu Tianxing rolled his eyes, gazed arrogantly at Zhu Guanqi, and said: "Who are you? A strategist or an adviser?"

Zhu Guanqi smiled: "I am Zhu Guanqi, a native of this place. I just heard Young Master Yu say there will be a battle—where exactly will it be fought?"

Yu Tianxing laughed: "With your wisdom and stratagems, why ask me?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Young Master Yu, please go ahead and speak."

Yu Tianxing said: "You two sirs didn't come just to hear me speak; you suspect that the Da Yong convoy attack was carried out by us refugees, right?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "One cannot speak baselessly without evidence."

Yu Tianxing laughed: "Sir Hu is a smart man; if it were anyone else, they'd probably have already led troops to sweep this refugee camp clean."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Young Master Yu, do you have any good suggestions on this matter?"

Yu Tianxing said: "Sir Hu, you'd better prepare; no matter who did this, Da Yong will ultimately blame Dongliang Jun. Even if you promptly find the culprit and hand him over, they may not agree to let the matter drop."

Zhu Guanqi smiled: "In your view, Young Master Yu, is this battle unavoidable?"

Yu Tianxing said: "Whether you believe it or not, this Da Yong convoy attack has nothing to do with the refugees. If we were driven to desperation, doing terrible things wouldn't be surprising, but Sir Hu has given us food and clothing, letting us scrape by and survive the winter; we've barely managed to find a place to stay. Out of fear and gratitude, who would be foolish enough to rob a convoy? Have you considered that Da Yong won't let refugees cross the border, and returning to Dakang would be a dead end? Right now we can only stay in Dongliang Jun; even if we looted gold and silver, where could we exchange it for grain?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "I never said I suspected you from start to finish."

Yu Tianxing said: "You say you don't suspect, but deep down you still do."

Hu Xiaotian burst out laughing: "You're not me—how would you know what I think?"

Yu Tianxing said: "Twelve people died in the Da Yong convoy—this is no small matter, enough for them to use as a pretext to march on the city; you still need to prepare early."

Zhu Guanqi said: "Young Master Yu, do you have any way to defuse the crisis?"—exactly what Hu Xiaotian wanted to ask.

Yu Tianxing said: "If others come to attack you, retreat is impossible; only fight. But in this situation, Heaven's timing, Earth's advantage, and human harmony—Sir Hu seems to have none of them. The chances of victory look slim."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I'd like to hear the details!"

Yu Tianxing said: "The Dakang Court is utterly corrupt, the Emperor indulges in extravagance and lust. He is dim-witted and tyrannical, imposing harsh taxes and levies, leaving the four seas barren and the people unable to survive. Heaven's favor has long since turned away from Dakang. Dongliang Jun borders Da Yong on three sides, with the Yong River to the south; geographically there are no natural defenses to rely on—this is a loss of Earth's advantage. As for human harmony, when Sir Hu first arrived in Dongliang Jun, his acceptance of refugees offended the local gentry; the native populace also struggles to understand his actions, and the refugees, though they remain in Dongliang Jun, have not received the same treatment as the natives, living as dependents without a sense of belonging. The three thousand troops under Sir Hu's command were drawn precisely from the refugee ranks—who would willingly fight to the death for someone else's home? That is why I say Sir Hu lacks Heaven's timing, Earth's advantage, and human harmony; this battle will be hard to win."

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "If that's what you say, am I not doomed to lose?"

Yu Tianxing said: "Basically, you are doomed to lose."

Zhu Guanqi laughed: "Young Master Yu hasn't concluded it; it seems there are no absolutes in this world."

Yu Tianxing said: "Nothing in the world is absolute; history never lacks examples of winning against the odds, of the few triumphing over the many. Although Sir Hu lacks Heaven's timing and Earth's advantage, if Da Yong comes to attack, they likewise lack Heaven's timing, Earth's advantage, and human harmony. The Da Yong Emperor has recently died, the court is in turmoil, still unsettled, so they naturally haven't prepared to send troops south. Now Dongliang Jun is in Sir Hu's hands—a strong dragon does not crush a local snake; if they dare come, Sir Hu will surely make them pay dearly. Moreover, although popular sentiment is divided now, once an external enemy invades, it will surely arouse Dongliang Jun's united hatred of the foe, and then human harmony will shift to Sir Hu's side."

Zhu Guanqi said: "According to you, will Da Yong send troops to Dongliang Jun? If they do, which side will dispatch the forces?"

Yu Tianxing said: "Da Yong should first send an envoy to persuade Sir Hu to surrender Dongliang Jun to Da Yong, for this city originally belonged to Da Yong; if Sir Hu agrees, he might avoid war, but if he refuses, Da Yong will surely march on the city. The Nan Yang Water Fortress holds fifty thousand Da Yong naval elite troops, stationed upstream on the Yong River; as soon as Tang Bohsi gives the order, the warships will sail downstream and reach Dongliang Jun overnight."

Hu Xiaotian slowly nodded, he did not continue asking, because at this moment Xiong Tianba came over, having just received the news that Da Yong had already sent an envoy.

Everything indeed confirmed Yu Tianxing's prediction: first courtesy, then troops—Da Yong had already sent an envoy. Hu Xiaotian was not surprised by their swift response; after today's investigation, the outline of the whole incident has gradually become clear. As Yu Tianxing said, the refugees would hardly undertake such a risky raid; this is likely a plot orchestrated by Da Yong. The former Da Yong Emperor Xue Shengkang had given Dongliang Jun to Dakang, and according to the latest news, Da Yong's Crown Prince Xue Daohong has just ascended the throne; perhaps he resents his father's earlier decision to give away Dongliang Jun, and his first act upon taking power is to reclaim Dongliang Jun, thereby proving his ability to the nation.

Hu Xiaotian met the Da Yong envoy Liu Yunzai in the council hall; Liu Yunzai did not come under the order of the new Da Yong ruler Xue Daohong, but represented Tang Bohsi, commander of the Nan Yang Water Fleet, to negotiate. Although his status and rank are far inferior to Hu Xiaotian's, nowadays Dakang and Da Yong are no longer peers—Dakang is declining while Da Yong is rising, already the de facto hegemon of the Central Plains; even a low-ranking naval officer like Liu Yunzai feels confident when facing Dakang officials.

Hu Xiaotian and Liu Yunzai were not meeting for the first time; previously, while escorting Long Xi Yue to Yongdu, after encountering a shipwreck on the Yong River, they had been rescued by the Da Yong navy and stayed a few days at the Nan Yang Water Fortress, where Liu Yunzai had been in charge of reception and coordination.

Liu Yunzai, upon seeing Hu Xiaotian, was not courteous, adopting a posture of demanding justice: "Sir Hu, my Da Yong convoy of thirty-seven people passing through Dongliang Jun was ambushed and slaughtered; not only were the goods looted, but twelve were killed, one went missing, and of the twenty-four who fortunately escaped, more than half were wounded; after reaching the Nan Yang Water Fortress, another five later died of their wounds. I come today on behalf of General Tang to demand that Sir Hu give us an answer!" His face was stern, his aura fierce as he stared at Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian calmly said: "General Liu, you've come a long way, weary from travel; let's first sit down and have some tea before we speak. Since the incident has already occurred, we must seek a solution—do you agree?"

Liu Yunzai, hearing Hu Xiaotian's tone soften, thought Hu Xiaotian was feeling guilty; after all, they held all the justification in this matter, Liu Yunzai said: "I have no time for tea; seventeen lives—how does Sir Hu intend to handle this affair, and how will he give Da Yong an explanation?"

Behind Hu Xiaotian, Xiong Tianba drew his sword with a clang, shouting angrily: "Bold madman, how dare you speak to my third uncle like that? Believe it or not, I'll chop you up!"

Liu Yunzai glared at Xiong Tianba and said: "You dare!"

Xiong Tianba roared: "What's there not to dare? I'll chop off your head right now!" He brandished his sword forward.

Hu Xiaotian said in a low voice: "Xiong brat, calm down!"

Xiong Tianba indeed stopped his steps; in fact, this was all prearranged by Hu Xiaotian—when needed, he would have Xiong Tianba rush out to dampen the opponent's morale.

Liu Yunzai, although his words were tough, seeing Xiong Tianba so fierce, couldn't help but feel a bit timid; he wanted to overwhelm them with aura, but the other side seemed unimpressed; although his side was far stronger than Hu Xiaotian's, he himself was merely an envoy, and if he truly provoked them he'd surely gain nothing, so he cupped his fists toward Hu Xiaotian and said: "They say Dakang is a land of rites and propriety—is this your way of receiving guests?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "General Liu is an old friend of ours; we must not be rude. Even when two nations are at war, they do not kill envoys, and besides, we and Da Yong are both lands of rites and propriety—if we really harmed General Liu, wouldn't we become a laughingstock under heaven?"

Liu Yunzai heard the hidden meaning in his words, finally suppressed his anger, and sat down in the chair.

Hu Xiaotian said unhurriedly: "I don't know how you want me to answer for this."

Liu Yunzai then presented the letter he had prepared earlier; this letter was written by Tang Bohsi to Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian unfolded it and saw, the corner of his mouth involuntarily curled into a cold smile; Tang Bohsi truly had no regard for anyone, the wording in the letter was overbearing and threatening, demanding that Hu Xiaotian obediently open the city gates and surrender Dongliang Jun with both hands, thereafter becoming a vassal of Da Yong. After reading the letter, Hu Xiaotian, in front of Liu Yunzai, tore it to shreds and tossed it aside.

Liu Yunzai, seeing his action, already knew the answer, and sneered: "He who knows the times is a true talent; wait until the great army presses the border, and Sir Hu will regret it too late." (To be continued~^~)