Chapter 1079

Yu Tianxing clasped his hands in a deep bow and said: "Thanks to your favor, Sir, I will devote myself utterly until death to repay your kindness."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Tomorrow I will announce this to everyone."

Yu Tianxing however said: "Sir, there's no need to rush the announcement. Although I have offered strategies, I have achieved nothing yet, so it would be hard to convince everyone. If we can successfully repel the Yong army this time, you may issue the appointment later without problem. The urgent task is to gather fishing boats, fishermen, and blacksmiths. According to my calculations, we likely have only nine days left; within those nine days we want to build three pontoon bridges, time is tight, so we must mobilize all artisans to work day and night. As for those who will conceal themselves upstream to carry out the ambush, they must be selected from trusted confidants; we must not leak the news beforehand, for once the Yong army prepares, our plan will surely fail completely."

The night was deep; Hu Xiaotian returned to his residence, saw the light on in the room, peered through the crack in the door, and saw Misa slumped over the desk already asleep. Hu Xiaotian quietly entered, took off his cloak and draped it over Misa's shoulders.

Misa was startled by his slight movement, opened her beautiful eyes, hurriedly stood up, and bowed her head apologetically: "Misa did not know the master had returned; I fell asleep."

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "You've also been working hard these past two days."

Misa shook her head: "I can't compare to your hardship, Master; I'll go get you some hot water."

Hu Xiaotian stopped her: "No need, go rest; I'll do it myself."

Misa bit her cherry lips, then went to make Hu Xiaotian a cup of tea and brought it to him. Hu Xiaotian took a sip, seeing Misa still there, looking at him with concern, he couldn't help but smile: "Do you have something else?"

Misa said: "Master, you've lost weight lately; it seems you have many worries. Why not tell me? Perhaps I can share your burden." Her concern was evident.

Hu Xiaotian shook his head: "Nothing, don't worry."

Misa nodded, then left the room.

Hu Xiaotian closed the door, recalled the Book of Divine Formations that Qiqi had given him, took it out and read it by lamplight. Although he knew the book was quite profound, he was not versed in military affairs and could not see what help it could offer him now. In any era, talent is most precious; Zhuguanqi's deep wisdom and Tianxing's arrogant talent left a deep impression on him. However, Zhuguanqi is indifferent to fame and profit and has clearly stated he does not wish to serve Dakang, while Tianxing's plan tonight astonished him, yet putting it into practice is not easy either. Hu Xiaotian felt an unprecedented pressure; if it were in the past, he would naturally have fewer scruples—no matter how strong the opponent, giving it his all might not win, but he believed he still had the ability to protect himself. But now, as the lord of Dongliang Jun, he must also protect the lives of over a hundred thousand people in the city.

What made Hu Xiaotian uneasy was that the people of Dongliang Jun were not of one mind with him. When the Da Yong army attacked, many even wished for it; the main force of this battle could only rely on those refugees. One could say Hu Xiaotian's inner pressure was unprecedented.

Lying in bed tossing and turning, in the middle of the night he put on his clothes again and came to the courtyard. Raising his head to gaze at the night sky, the half‑crescent moon hung silently like a thin sheet of ice against the velvety black sky. In nine more days it will be the full moon; if Yu Tianxing's guess is correct, that night will be when the Da Yong navy launches a full‑scale assault on the city. Three thousand versus thirty thousand or more—though theoretically feasible, actually fighting would not be easy. In a daze, the silhouette of Long Xi Yue appeared in the moonlight; recalling her tear‑streaked face, Hu Xiaotian's heart suddenly throbbed, an indescribable sourness and guilt filling his chest. He even dared not think about Long Xi Yue's current whereabouts; he had always thought she had abandoned him, never expecting the truth to be that she was harmed by his sworn brother Zhou Mo.

I wonder if she is safe now? Hu Xiaotian tightly closed his eyes, forcing himself not to think; the cool night breeze brushed his face, slightly chilling, and he realized tears were streaming down his cheeks. He hastily lifted the back of his hand to wipe them away. He heard a soft breathing in the distance and immediately judged that Misa was secretly watching him from afar; he whispered: "Why aren't you asleep yet?"

Misa knew Hu Xiaotian had spotted her presence; she timidly stepped out from behind the corridor pillar and whispered: "Master!"

Hu Xiaotian slowly turned, looked at Misa in the moonlight, and whispered: "Go to sleep!"

Misa said: "Misa is willing to do anything for the master."

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "I understand your feelings; rest assured, when I need you I will certainly tell you."

Dawn finally arrived; a winter rain came unexpectedly at daybreak. Because the weather was cold, the rain hitting the ground quickly froze, and the temperature dropped sharply. Xiong Tianba came early in the morning to report: a fishing boat had crossed from the opposite bank, carrying a group of beggars. Since Hu Xiaotian had previously ordered that Dongliang Jun temporarily stop taking in refugees, yet they insisted on seeing him, claiming to be his old friend, Xiong Tianba therefore came to report.

Hu Xiaotian heard that beggars were looking for him; thinking it over, the only beggars he knew were his maternal grandfather Xu Lingkong—could it be that the old man had come? He immediately went with Xiong Tianba.

Arriving at Xia Sha Port, they saw a dilapidated fishing boat docked at the wharf, with about fifty beggars standing on it; the garrison on the wharf stood ready and did not allow them to land.

Hu Xiaotian rode forward, looked ahead, and saw that the beggar standing on the bow was Zhu Ba. Back when they were in Kangdu, Zhu Ba had once led beggars to besiege him and Qiqi, which is how they met; later, when Hu Xiaotian escorted Long Xi Yue to Da Yong, Zhu Ba had specially sent him a map of the greenwood forces' distribution.

Hu Xiaotian laughed on horseback: "Who did I think it was? It turns out to be Brother Zhu!" He secretly thought: Zhu Ba would certainly not come for no reason; last time he gave me the greenwood forces map, it must have been at my grandfather's request, and this time is likely the same. Thinking of his grandfather Xu Lingkong, Hu Xiaotian couldn't help a wry smile, not knowing what to call him.

Zhu Ba laughed: "Sir Hu, you have quite the entourage; we came dust‑and‑wind weary to find you, yet here we cannot even dock our boat—this is no way to treat guests."

Hu Xiaotian quickly ordered the soldiers to disperse; Zhu Ba then brought his dozens of ragged beggars ashore. Zhu Ba grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellowed teeth: "Sir Hu, my brothers haven't eaten yet."

Hu Xiaotian immediately had Xiong Tianba arrange for the military camp to light fires and cook food to welcome those dozens of beggars.

When the beggars followed to eat, Hu Xiaotian asked Zhu Ba: "Brother Zhu, what brings you to Dongliang Jun this time?"

Zhu Ba said: "I heard you're in trouble; the Da Yong navy will soon attack the city, so I brought some brothers to help."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Your information is indeed well‑informed." He lowered his voice: "Who sent you here?"

Zhu Ba hehe‑laughed: "In short, I promised someone I wouldn't say. Besides, you can guess."

Hu Xiaotian concluded it must be Xu Lingkong without doubt, and he felt greater respect for that old man; in Xu Lingkong's heart he still cared for him, and Xu Lingkong surely holds a high position in the Beggars' Sect, otherwise he wouldn't have persuaded Zhu Ba to come help. However, just Zhu Ba's few dozen people would hardly be of use, Hu Xiaotian said: "I appreciate your good intentions, Brother Zhu, but the Da Yong navy vastly outnumbers us—its forces are tens of times ours—so you'd better not get involved in this muddy water."

Zhu Ba replied: "Are you looking down on us because we're few?" He leaned closer to Hu Xiaotian and whispered in his ear: "Not at all—two thousand will arrive in succession. Our brothers are all capable of taking on ten each, brave and bold."

Hu Xiaotian heard that he could actually mobilize two thousand, and his heart leapt with joy.

Zhu Ba hehe‑laughed: "Let me have been right; anyway, don't think you can get us to leave. I'm here to repay a favor, and I have no connection to you."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Brother Zhu, go eat first; when we return to the city we'll have a good chat."

Zhu Ba bowed his fists to him and walked away swaggeringly.

Not long after Zhu Ba left, Liang Yinghao, who had gone to Wuxing Commandery to seek aid, returned to Xia Sha Port. Hearing that Hu Xiaotian was there, he immediately came over to see him.

Hu Xiaotian saw Liang Yinghao's dejected face and guessed his mission had not gone well; he didn't immediately ask about the outcome, but showed concern: "Haven't you eaten yet? Let's eat first, then talk."

Liang Yinghao shook his head, clasped his hands and bowed deeply to Hu Xiaotian: "Sir, your subordinate has failed in his important mission; please punish me."

Hu Xiaotian gripped his arm and said: "Yinghao, you needn't say that; how Wuxing Commandery responds has nothing to do with you."

Liang Yinghao said: "Sir, this time I went to Wuxing Commandery and saw the Navy Commander Zhao Dengyun."

What did he say?

Liang Yinghao shouted indignantly: "That Zhao Dengyun is utterly scoundrel; I told him how the Tang Bohui of Nanyang Water Fortress forced us to surrender Dongliang Jun, yet after hearing it Zhao Dengyun not only refused to send reinforcements, he even said Dongliang Jun is a worthless piece of land—originally it belonged to Da Yong, so now they want it back, which is only natural."

Hu Xiaotian angrily said: "Did he really say that?"

Liang Yinghao nodded: "Absolutely true; he also said His Majesty had long ago mentioned Dongliang Jun, and the reason there has been no garrison there is fear that Da Yong would renege; now the state is in a crisis, there's no need to wage war over a city that originally wasn't ours against Da Yong."

Zhao Dengyun had this reaction, Hu Xiaotian was not surprised; he lifted his gaze to look toward the opposite bank. Because fine rain was drifting in the air, visibility on the river surface was poor, and a patch of white mist constantly gathered on the river, so even with Hu Xiaotian's eyesight he could not see the situation across. He said in a low voice: "Have you seen Zhao Wusheng?"

Liang Yinghao said: "I saw him, and I told him about the situation we're facing here, but he also had no reaction."

Hu Xiaotian nodded; it seemed Zhao Wusheng also didn't want to get involved in this muddy affair. He patted Liang Yinghao on the shoulder and said: "You've worked hard; go get something to eat and rest properly."

Since Zhao Dengyun explicitly refused our request for aid, we can only rely on ourselves. At least the situation has improved considerably compared to the beginning; in the coming days, the Beggars' Sect's two thousand troops will arrive one after another, adding to the three thousand we already have, bringing the total to five thousand. Although the forces are mixed in quality, at least our numerical disadvantage has eased somewhat.

In the distance, a rider approached—it was Yu Tianxing arriving. He had come early this morning intending to inspect the riverbank conditions firsthand, but he didn't expect Hu Xiaotian to arrive even earlier than him.

Hu Xiaotian heard that Yu Tianxing wanted to take a look along the river, and immediately decided to accompany him. The two rode side by side along the Ordinary River bank heading upstream. Yu Tianxing stopped at the narrowest point of the nearby river surface, pointed ahead, and said: "Sir. This place is called Small Waist, the narrowest spot of the surrounding waters. Although it's narrow only relatively, the north and south banks are about fifty zhang apart. We can erect a floating bridge here, linking the boats with iron chains. Beneath the chains we will drop iron anchors, forming the posture of an iron chain spanning the river."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Are you planning to lay down three floating bridges here?"

Yu Tianxing said: "The floating bridges must be spaced at a certain distance; we will set up one every fifty zhang. When the enemy warships sail into the designated area, we will send people to outflank from the rear, using light boats to push the rafts. The front of the rafts will be sharpened, their surfaces coated with tung oil. After igniting them, they will drift downstream, the fire propelled by the wind to strike the enemy fleet."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "The Martial Prosperity Commandery has clearly refused my request for aid; we have no choice but to rely on ourselves."

Yu Tianxing said: "Although our numbers are insufficient, we can mobilize refugees to lash together the rafts."

Hu Xiaotian said: "It's not all bad news; in the next two days we will have two thousand reinforcements arriving, which means our forces can barely reach five thousand."

Yu Tianxing said: "Five thousand is enough! Three thousand will stay here to defend the city, and two thousand will be tasked with outflanking the enemy from the rear. Once a fire breaks out upstream, the enemy will surely hasten to shore. They will rush to crash into the floating bridges, trying to reopen a gap; the faster they go, the greater their losses. Those who happen to pass through the first floating bridge blockade may not succeed in getting through the second and third. In that situation, they will have no choice but to force a landing. We will set an ambush at their intended landing site, delivering a second ambush. After these two ambushes, their numbers should be reduced by more than half, and the remaining forces should be sufficient for us to engage them in battle."

Hu Xiaotian said: "It's unlikely we can finish three floating bridges in a short time." The fishing boats needed to build the floating bridges are easy to find, but the iron chains linking the boats may not be forged within nine days. Hu Xiaotian has already ordered all the city's blacksmiths to gather and undertake this task.

Yu Tianxing said: "Sir, you need not worry; every fishing boat has iron chains and iron anchors. We can directly cut off the iron anchors and chains for use; all the blacksmith needs to do is melt these chains and join them. As for those iron anchors, they can be directly connected to the chains—this way, naturally, we get twice the result with half the effort. But even so, relying solely on the city's blacksmiths is also very urgent; we need to mobilize the soldiers from the barracks to help."

Hu Xiaotian said: "What's difficult about this? I'll turn around and give the order, letting them all follow your command." When employing people, do not suspect them; when suspecting people, do not employ them. Since he had decided to adopt Yu Tianxing's suggestion, Hu Xiaotian would give him full trust.

Yu Tianxing heard this and could not help but show an excited expression. "A scholar dies for one who knows him." Although he was full of knowledge and talent, he had never been appreciated all along; he harbored a desire for revenge but had no way to serve the country. He never expected to meet Hu Xiaotian in Dongliang Jun and gain his appreciation. After offering strategies to Hu Xiaotian, he had not held great hopes, yet he never expected Hu Xiaotian to accept them all and give him such trust. Yu Tianxing, filled with emotion, said: "Yu Tianxing will surely exert all his ability to win this battle for you, Sir."

Hu Xiaotian patted his shoulder and said: "It's not for me to win this battle, but for the people of Dongliang Jun. Holding Dongliang Jun is like holding our homeland; if we lose it, even if we can save our lives, we'll likely have nowhere to stand." A surge of heroic fervor rose in his heart. Dakang refuses to give him any support, and Tang Boxi wants to seize this opportunity to take Dongliang Jun and present it to the new emperor as a congratulatory gift. The more so, the less I will let you have your way—fight if you must. To rally the people's hearts and to dominate a region, we must rely on war to establish prestige. If this time we can win against the odds, defeat the invading Da Yong navy, perhaps the pattern of the world will change from now on.

Inside the Nanyang Water Fortress main camp, Tang Boxi silently examined the map on the table. To Da Yong, Dongliang Jun's city held no secrets. Tang Boxi had thought that after sending envoys, it would be enough to make Hu Xiaotian submit, capturing Dongliang Jun instantly without losing a single soldier, but he never expected Hu Xiaotian to be so oblivious to the situation.

At this moment, Liu Yincai requested an audience. After entering the tent, Liu Yincai, face full of joy, said: "Congratulations, General! Congratulations, General!"

Tang Boxi furrowed his brows and asked: "What joy is there?"

"Just now we received news from Wuxing Jun: Zhao Dengyun has already refused Hu Xiaotian's request for reinforcements."

Tang Boxi felt no surprise, and calmly said: "That Zhao Dengyun is extremely selfish; his military provisions are severely lacking—truly a mud Buddha crossing the river, unable to save itself, let alone have the energy to attend to Dongliang Jun's affairs."

Liu Yincai said: "That Hu Xiaotian simply doesn't know what's good for him; I kindly urged him to surrender, yet he flatly refused me. A mere rabble of three thousand refugees—do they really dare to oppose my great army? It's sheer ignorance of death, utter stupidity."

Tang Boxi said: "Hu Xiaotian is not a foolish person; it seems he intends to use these three thousand to hold Dongliang Jun." In his view, Hu Xiaotian can only defend the city gates and not sally forth if he is to resist for a while.

Liu Yincai said: "Dongliang Jun has no defensible advantages at all; its walls are neither high nor wide. General, if you trust me, give me ten thousand troops and ten warships, and I will capture Dongliang Jun within a day and present it to you with both hands."

Tang Boxi gave a hehe cold laugh and said: "You're that capable? How would I not know?"

Liu Yincai's face flushed red at those words, yet he believed that if Tang Boxi truly agreed to his request, capturing Dongliang Jun would be no problem.

Tang Boxi said: "In warfare, the greatest taboo is to underestimate the enemy. Although he has only three thousand men, a battle with one's back to the water will surely unleash all his potential and courage. He must think that once you return, I've heard he refuses to open the gates and surrender, which will surely provoke thunderous fury, and he will immediately march eastward." He slowly shook his head and said: "I never fight a battle without assurance. Since Zhao Dengyun is unwilling to send reinforcements, he has already lost his retreat. In a few days it will be the fifteenth; at this time of year the west wind is strongest, and our warships, riding the west wind downstream, can reach Dongliang Jun in a single night. By the time they notice, we will already be at their city gates."

Liu Yincai said: "General, you truly plan strategies with great foresight."

Tang Boxi said: "Go prepare; make sure our troops maintain peak combat readiness. At that time, leave twenty thousand soldiers to guard the camp, and the remaining thirty thousand will follow me to conquer Dongliang Jun!"

Inside the White Tiger Hall of Wuxing Jun, the atmosphere was also extremely oppressive. Dakang Navy Commander Zhao Dengyun's face was grim as he coldly looked at his nephew Zhao Wusheng and said: "What are you saying?"

Zhao Wusheng said: "Uncle Sir, if we just stand by and do nothing, we fear we won't be able to explain ourselves to the court."

Zhao Dengyun gave a hehe cold laugh and said: "Are you suggesting I send out troops? Before troops move, provisions must go first—how much grain do we still have? Go look at the military harbor; our soldiers are all sallow-skinned and emaciated, frail as a breeze—how could they fight? Dongliang Jun originally belonged to Da Yong's territory; since returning to Dakang, we have never stationed troops there, and that was also the Emperor's intention. Bordering Da Yong on three sides, with the Yong River behind us, anyone with a bit of common sense understands that if we garrison troops in Dongliang Jun, once war breaks out, it will be death toll as many as there are. The Emperor long ago saw through the subtlety; when I previously went to the capital to pay homage, the Emperor himself told me outright: if Da Yong sends troops to Dongliang Jun, we might as well just let it happen."

Zhao Wusheng said: "Uncle, Dongliang Jun after all is Dakang's land, with over a hundred thousand residents living there—how can we just abandon them?"

Zhao Dengyun said: "You treat them as Dakang's people, but in their hearts they don't see it that way; they would rather return to Da Yong."

Zhao Wusheng said: "Are we really just going to watch helplessly as the Da Yong troops march straight in, seize Dongliang Jun, and remain unmoved?"

Zhao Dengyun sighed and said: "We can barely preserve ourselves now—where would we find the time to attend to their affairs? Moreover, if we were to go rescue them, it would likely trigger a full-scale war between the two countries; then who would bear that responsibility?"

Zhao Wusheng felt despondent, seeing that not only Zhao Dengyun had abandoned Dongliang Jun, but the Dakang court had also abandoned it. Once the hegemon of the Central Plains, the Dakang Empire has now fallen to this state—watching helplessly as others occupy its land and slaughter its people, yet daring not to resist in the slightest. What a sorrow for a Dakang soldier!

Zhao Dengyun said: "Send people to closely monitor any movements in Dongliang Jun; if there is any abnormality, report to me immediately."

"Yes!"

Although it's the First Update, the amount is not small—six thousand characters delivered! (To be continued~^~)