Chapter 1100

Hu Xiaotian said: "Rest assured, even if you reach Wuxing Commandery you will have a place." Hu Zhongyang is a meritorious person, so Hu Xiaotian naturally wanted to send him a reassuring pill.

Hu Zhongyang said: "Thank you, city lord!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "How exactly did you make your fortune?"

Hu Zhongyang couldn't help laughing, then lowered his voice and said to Hu Xiaotian: "To be frank, these two hands are my capital; extending them is the principal, retracting them is the profit."

Hu Xiaotian somewhat understood; this Hu Zhongyang is almost certainly a bandit who robs homes and plunders, no wonder he accumulated so much wealth. He was about to speak when his gaze froze in the distance; two travel-worn knights came toward them from ahead. The two also saw Hu Xiaotian at the same time, their faces showing unusual agitation; they simultaneously dismounted and knelt on the ground, speaking in unison: "Young master, we have finally found you!" These two turned out to be Zhan Peng and Gao Yuan.

Hu Xiaotian could hardly contain his inner excitement; he immediately dismounted, went to the two, opened his arms and embraced them. Zhan Peng and Hu Xiaotian's eyes were somewhat red, and Gao Yuan was even more moved to tears streaming down his face.

Zhan Peng said: "Young master, sorry……"

Hu Xiaotian patted their shoulders and said: "Just come back! Just come back!"

Several people returned to the manor; Zhan Peng and Gao Yuan then recounted what had happened after they left. After following Hu Buwei aboard ship, they went to Luosong to open a maritime grain transport route; after resupplying on South Ford Island, the fleet changed course. Zhan Peng, Gao Yuan, Murong Feiyan and the others originally thought it was to avoid storms, but later their food was drugged. They were imprisoned in the hold, only then learning that something had happened en route; when they saw daylight again, they discovered the fleet had arrived in Tianxiang State, and the fleet was under the command of Xiao Tianmu.

At first they still worried about Hu Buwei's whereabouts, but later they realized that Xiao Tianmu and Hu Buwei had colluded to design this trap; several people were imprisoned in the dungeons of Tianxiang State, thinking they would surely die, but two months ago they were suddenly released.

Hu Xiaotian secretly reckoned, according to the timeline, perhaps Zhou Mo had also reached Tianxiang State; could it be that the release of Zhan Peng and Gao Yuan was his doing?

As Hu Xiaotian expected, Zhan Peng said: "We have seen Zhou Mo; just now we learned. He and Xiao Tianmu have always been serving Lord Hu." Although they knew Hu Buwei had betrayed Hu Xiaotian, Zhan Peng did not feel comfortable expressing too much anger, still addressing him as Lord Hu.

Hu Xiaotian said: "What did Zhou Mo say?"

Zhan Peng said: "He said nothing, merely bringing us to see Lord Hu."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and asked: "Is he still alright?" Remembering everything Hu Buwei had done to him and his mother, Hu Xiaotian's anger burned in his chest; how could such heartlessness qualify him as a father!

Zhan Peng said: "He let us go. Moreover, he told us your news, young master, urging us to come join you. He also asked us to deliver a message to you."

"What message?"

Zhan Peng said: "He said……"

"What did he say?"

Zhan Peng bit his lip and said: "He said sorry to you and your mother!"

Hu Xiaotian's lips curled with a cold smile; Hu Buwei had with one hand pushed him and his mother into desperation, yet now he lightly says sorry and that's it? Perhaps he still harbors some guilt, but that does not mean he feels affection for him and his mother. Hu Xiaotian slowly walked to the window, opened the lattice window, took a deep breath and said: "Feiyan?"

Zhan Peng said: "When we left…… He and Zhou Mo were close friends in the past, almost habitually calling him Elder Brother Zhou. He quickly realized it was improper and corrected himself: 'Zhou Mo said she and Princess Anping are not dead; the Grand Empress Dowager Long Xuanjiao of Tianxiang State is Princess Anping's aunt, who dotes on her greatly; they should both be under house arrest, but there is absolutely no danger.'"

Gao Yuan said: "Young master, I never expected Zhou…… Zhou Mo and Xiao Tianmu to do such a thing!"

Hu Xiaotian gave a faint smile; during this period he even didn't want to think about these two sworn brothers; his biggest concern was Long Xi Yue and Murong Feiyan; now knowing they are safe, his mind has eased considerably; although they are separated like swallows parting, at least he knows they are still alive in this world. Hu Buwei releasing Zhan Peng and Gao Yuan should be due to Zhou Mo playing a certain role; Zhan Peng and Gao Yuan are not that important in Hu Buwei's plan, whereas Murong Feiyan and Long Xi Yue are different; both Xiao Tianmu and Hu Buwei clearly understand how important they are to him. Keeping Long Xi Yue perhaps relates to the Grand Empress Dowager Long Xuanjiao of Tianxiang State, but Murong Feiyan being detained in Tianxiang State is because of Hu Buwei, either wanting to use her against him, or to use her to threaten Mu Rongzhan.

Hu Xiaotian gazed out the window at the sky; a lone goose from a lost flock was gliding across the high sky, striving to fly toward Jiangnan; its flight speed was slow, unknown if it could reach its destination smoothly. Hu Xiaotian softly said: "Just come back!" as if speaking to Zhan Peng and Gao Yuan, and also as if talking to himself.

Zhan Peng said: "Young master, rest assured, I will surely rescue Miss Murong and bring her back." He bore a heavy trust, yet having failed to fulfill the mission Hu Xiaotian entrusted to him, he naturally felt guilty toward Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian shook his head and said: "The reason they dare to move against my people is because they think I cannot deal with them; I want them to recognize our strength, to make them fearful, to make them wary, so they dare not harm my kin and friends again."

On the day of leaving Dongliang Jun, Hu Xiaotian especially went to Zhuge Guanqi's home; Zhuge Guanqi was digging up the soil under the osmanthus tree, taking out that jar of fine wine stored for many years.

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said: "Brother Guanqi, you want to drink wine without calling me!"

Zhuge Guanqi smiled and said: "Taking out this jar of wine is precisely to give you strength for the journey, Sir!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "How did you know I would definitely come?"

Zhuge Guanqi said: "I didn't know, so I prepared in advance."

Hu Xiaotian said with deep meaning: "Is there anything in this world that can still hide from Brother Guanqi?"

Zhuge Guanqi laughed and said: "Guanqi is also a mere mortal; if he could see through everything, how could he be so impoverished?"

"Some people are content with poverty; Brother Guanqi's realm has long transcended the mundane!"

Zhuge Guanqi burst into laughter, lifted the jar of wine from the pit, placed it on the stone table in the courtyard, and shouted: "Lingxue, bring a bowl!"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head and said: "No need, let's wait until I return to celebrate victory before drinking this jar of wine."

Zhuge Guanqi nodded: "That's fine!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I'm leaving now; Brother Guanqi, do you have any advice?"

Zhuge Guanqi said: "Even the most perfect plan still depends on heavenly will."

Hu Xiaotian said: "According to your view, what is the heavenly will?"

Zhuge Guanqi raised his head; the azure sky was vast and boundless, without a single cloud in the sky.

Hu Xiaotian imitated him, raising his head to look at the sky: "The weather is fine!" Suddenly he recalled the jade pixiu he had given to Qiqi; if worn nearby it could also foretell wind and rain, but overly good weather is not necessarily a good thing.

Zhuge Guanqi said: "The day after tomorrow is the day for the final batch of prisoner exchanges, right?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "It is very likely the time of the decisive battle."

Zhuge Guanqi smiled and said: "Not possibly, but destined; things destined by heaven are hard to change."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Brother Guanqi, haven't you heard the saying that human determination can conquer heaven?"

Zhuge Guanqi said: "Heaven and earth are infinite, life and death limited; Sir, why must you necessarily fight heaven? Rather than fighting heaven, it's better to let the timing be on your side."

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said: "Fighting heaven is endlessly enjoyable!"

Zhuge Guanqi said: "Actually everyone is just fighting themselves; if it snows tomorrow, Sir, can you stop this snow?"

Hu Xiaotian blinked slightly, his eyes brightening: "Tomorrow will have snow?" He raised his head again to look at the sky; there wasn't a trace of cloud, it didn't look like snow at all, but Zhuge Guanqi earlier had not accurately predicted that the west wind would turn to the northwest wind, did he?

Zhuge Guanqi said: "Heaven's decrees, Sir, cannot be changed." He smiled: "I always feel heaven treats you well, yet why do you fight heaven?"

Hu Xiaotian burst into loud laughter, saying a line that left Zhuge Guanqi stunned: "I have tormented heaven a thousand times, yet heaven treats me like a first love!"

Zhuge Guanqi suddenly understood the true meaning of heavenly mandate; some things are indeed related to fate.

Hu Xiaotian bowed his fists toward Zhuge Guanqi and said: "Brother Guanqi, wait for my return; keep this jar of wine for the victory celebration."

Zhuge Guanqi said: "Sir, with eight thousand troops defending the city, have you considered if Da Yong's three fronts simultaneously advance to attack the city, how long could Dongliang Jun hold?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Six hours should be no problem."

Zhuge Guanqi shook his head and said: "If Qin Yangming attacks with full force, I think Dongliang Jun can hold at most two hours."

Hu Xiaotian furrowed his brows; this is not good news, but is Zhuge Guanqi being overly pessimistic?

Zhuge Guanqi said: "The north and east gates of Dongliang Jun are the weakest; although there is a moat, Da Yong has siege bridges, siege ladders, and battering rams; the most optimistic estimate is that Dongliang Jun can hold two hours."

Hu Xiaotian said: "After the hostage exchange, I will immediately launch the operation."

Zhuge Guanqi said: "Sir, you have this idea, the other side has the same idea, so controlling the timing is key. Regardless of whether Sir can capture Dongluo Cang, at the same time the Yong Army launches an attack, we must definitely spread the news of a sneak attack on Dongluo Cang."

Hu Xiaotian frowned tightly. If the news of a sneak attack on Dongluo Cang is released as soon as the battle starts, Qin Yangming will definitely divert some troops to rush to Dongluo Cang for emergency relief; the forced march from Dongliang Jun to Dongluo Cang would take only two hours, so wouldn't the pressure on the five thousand troops led by Zhao Wusheng and Xiong Tianba be doubled?

Zhuge Guanqi said: "Bailakou is the key; we must cleverly leak the news, so that Qin Yangming pays sufficient attention and splits half his forces, only then can Dongliang Jun hold out longer."

Hu Xiaotian said: "If they gather a large army, how can these five thousand withstand their attack?"

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