Chapter 1111

Fortunately, both Zhuge Guanqi and Zhan Peng are perceptive people; at such a time they naturally choose to ignore it, pretending they didn't see anything.

Hu Xiaotian smiled and nodded, saying: "Wesa, so you're here too."

Zhuge Guanqi smiled and said: "Miss Wesa came to visit my humble wife and brought some gifts; the meat fragrance you smelled, Sir Hu, is from those."

Wesa blushed and said: "I won't disturb your chat; I'll go cook."

Hu Xiaotian introduced Zhan Peng to Zhuge Guanqi; Zhan Peng had originally followed to protect Hu Xiaotian, but he actually understood that Hu Xiaotian's current martial prowess no longer needed his protection, and he suitably took his leave of the two.

Zhuge Guanqi invited Hu Xiaotian into his study; the two sat by the brazier, and Zhuge Guanqi said: "Congratulations, Sir Hu!"

Hu Xiaotian smiled lightly and said: "Thanks to you, Sir!"

Zhuge Guanqi smiled and said: "Sir, please don't say that; man proposes, heaven disposes. This time I truly didn't help much—I merely gave you advance notice of some heavenly secrets. In fact, even if I hadn't said anything, you would still have won."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I came this time to drink that jar of fine wine of Brother Guanqi."

Zhuge Guanqi said: "I've already had my humble wife prepare it."

As they spoke, Hong Lingxue and Wesa entered one after another; one held a few freshly prepared side dishes, the other carried a copper basin filled with hot water. Hong Lingxue placed the basin on the red-clay stove, then put the iron pot containing the wine inside the basin.

Hu Xiaotian called out: "Sister-in-law, Wesa, come eat together."

Hong Lingxue smiled, put her arms around Wesa's waist, and said: "We have some private matters to discuss; we don't want you two big men to hear." She was lovely and wise, naturally knowing when to be present and when to avoid; Wesa glanced at Hu Xiaotian, her eyes full of reluctant longing.

As the water temperature in the copper basin rose, the tempting wine aroma rose and soon filled the small study; Hu Xiaotian's gaze was relaxed and bright, Zhuge Guanqi picked up the wine pot and filled the cups before them with fine wine. His clean, slender hands made a gesturing invitation.

Hu Xiaotian raised his cup and, together with Zhuge Guanqi, drank it all in one gulp; the wine was rich and mellow, the years of sealed storage having dispelled its harshness, the fragrance rich and lingering, clinging to the throat, not dissipating for a long time as it entered the belly. Then, as body heat rose, it was truly moving and refreshing. After savoring the aroma for a moment, Hu Xiaotian praised: "Truly fine wine!"

Zhuge Guanqi smiled and said: "The key to drinking wine lies not in the wine itself, but in one's mood; I didn't invite you to drink before the battle because your mood then was vastly different from now, so you naturally couldn't appreciate this flavor."

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said: "Every word of Brother Guanqi is so thought-provoking."

Zhuge Guanqi laughed and said: "There's nothing so profound about it; you're overthinking." He then refilled the two cups.

Hu Xiaotian said: "According to Brother Guanqi's view, how will the Da Yong side react after losing the Dongluo Granary?"

Zhuge Guanqi said: "The ruler's attitude determines the state's attitude. If Xue Shengkang were in power, your situation, Sir, would likely be perilous."

Hu Xiaotian caught the implied meaning in his words. Now that Xue Daohong is in power, meaning my situation is much better. He sincerely said: "After winning this battle, I instead feel bewildered, although I have won two victories in a row. Yet Da Yong surely won't let it rest; I fear one wave hasn't settled before another rises, so we would constantly face their counterattacks—when will there ever be a day of peace?"

Zhuge Guanqi smiled and said: "Sir, may I ask what you have in mind?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Although we have won two consecutive victories, our true strength still cannot match Da Yong's; Da Yong suffered from underestimating the enemy, and the commanders of these two battles were somewhat mediocre. Once they take it seriously, we will likely face unprecedented pressure. Not hiding it from Brother Guanqi, I have already had people quickly move the supplies from the Dongluo Granary, preparing for the worst."

Zhuge Guanqi said: "Sir, your considerations are also quite thorough."

Hu Xiaotian said: "It was hard-won to seize the Dongluo Granary; I really don't want to give it up again, but Da Yong surely won't accept it. If we keep fighting like this, our troops will eventually become exhausted, and the disparity in strength between the sides is truly too great."

Zhuge Guanqi said: "Even if the Dongluo Granary were returned, it would be nothing but an empty shell; even if Da Yong reclaimed it, they might not stop there. If they continue advancing toward Dongliang Jun, would you, Sir, likewise give it to them and then retreat to Jiangnan, establishing a base in Wuxing Jun to seek development?"

Hu Xiaotian bit his lip and said: "To be frank, I have indeed had such an idea."

Zhuge Guanqi said: "Those two victories indeed don't signify much, but they have let Da Yong recognize your strength, Sir, and have given the people of these three cities awe and confidence in you. A true hero can bend and stretch; a suitable retreat can indeed preserve strength. Yet the territory you hold is indeed limited. Have you considered that, if you retreat to Jiangnan, you still have the court behind you, and what attitude the court will hold toward your recent actions?"

Hu Xiaotian secretly drew a breath of cold air. Indeed, Long Xuan'en has not yet punished me, but that does not mean he approves of my actions. The reason the old emperor fears me is because I now control both banks of the Yongjiang—two cities. If the old emperor presses me hard, he cannot rule out my defecting to Da Yong. Having just captured the Dongluo Granary, I am now openly hostile with Da Yong; if Da Yong sends troops, the old emperor might even cut off my supplies.

Zhuge Guanqi said: "Sir, you are quite right; soldiers cannot fight battle after battle without rest—they will eventually become exhausted. Therefore, if we want to halt fighting, we must seek peace."

Hu Xiaotian had thought Zhuge Guanqi could propose an astonishing suggestion, but he never expected him to suggest peace; feeling somewhat disappointed, he gave a wry smile and said: "Brother Guanqi, even if I wanted peace now, Da Yong would not agree, and even if they did, they would surely demand I cede land and pay reparations!"

Zhuge Guanqi calmly lifted his cup and said: "Peace must not sacrifice our own interests; otherwise, it would be better to fight with all our might."

Hu Xiaotian's heart stirred: "Brother Guanqi, how can we achieve the goal of shaking hands and making peace without making concessions?" Saying it is easy, but actually doing it seems impossible.

Zhuge Guanqi said: "Although Da Yong is strong, its court is also fraught with crises. Sir, have you considered why Tang Bohui would send thirty thousand troops to attack Dongliang Jun?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said: "These are all out in the open; Tang Bohui dared to violate the two-nation agreement merely to capture Dongliang Jun and win favor with the new ruler."

Zhuge Guanqi added: "If Tang Bohui's attack on Dongliang Jun was for merit, then Qin Yangming's gathering of a great army to attack Dongliang Jun is not merely revenge; it is because the Nan Yang navy suffered a crushing blow, damaging the new ruler's prestige, so Da Yong's new ruler Xue Daohong urgently seeks to regain face through this war—only victory can wipe away shame, only victory can swiftly establish his authority in the hearts of the people."

"It seems these two attacks amount to repeatedly slapping Xue Daohong's face, causing him to lose all dignity before his subjects."

Zhuge Guanqi smiled and nodded: "Some homes rejoice, others grieve; the new ruler has just taken the throne and his foothold is unsteady. The populace mostly regards him with a critical eye, and these two defeats will inevitably affect his standing in their eyes. Moreover, many other factions within the court will surely stir."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "Before his death, Xue Shengkang had been undecided between Xue Daohong and Xue Daoming; his sudden demise left the throne to Xue Daohong, so the Seventh Prince surely will not resign himself."

Zhuge Guanqi said: "A new ruler on the throne must avoid rash campaigns; one must know that to repel external threats one must first secure internal stability. Xue Daohong has not yet fully controlled the Da Yong court, yet he rashly launched a campaign. If he had won, people would say he loves grand achievements; now that he has lost, they will say he is dim-witted and incompetent, far from the former emperor's divine martial brilliance. Xue Daohong must surely regret it deeply; losing the Dongluo Granary has placed him in an extremely awkward, passive position. Though a few battles' outcomes do not affect Da Yong's overall situation, they can still shake the new ruler's rule."

Hu Xiaotian's eyes lit up at Zhuge Guanqi's words; he raised his cup and drained it in one gulp: "Xue Daoming will not let this opportunity pass."

Zhuge Guanqi said: "Looking across the Central Plains states, the strong appear in turn, yet for these past few hundred years they have been strong but not mighty, mighty but not hegemonic, hegemonic but not royal! Sir, have you considered why this is?"

Hu Xiaotian furrowed his brow; in this regard he had not given it much thought.

Zhuge Guanqi said: "Because the states call themselves strong, they first prioritize a strong army, believing that a strong army makes a strong state, and when they think of conquering another country their first thought is to use troops—yet they unknowingly fall into an inferior approach."

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

Zhuge Guanqi picked up the wine pot and again filled their cups before him: "The highest strategy is to attack the enemy's plans; next is to attack their alliances; next is to attack their armies; the lowest is to attack cities, and attacking cities is a last resort. Da Yong's two defeats are both due to this reason. To conquer a state, one does not necessarily need to use troops. Taking the present situation as an example, the state of Dakang is in decline, disasters unceasing, the people displaced and wandering in flight; Da Yong could have seized the opportunity to dominate the world, but they missed it, all because the Da Yong emperor first thought of using troops; using troops can indeed seize cities, plunder lands, and destroy states, but it easily leaves seeds of hatred. The method Da Yong has employed is to add insult to injury, joining with the neighboring states of Dakang to cut off Dakang's grain supply, block the borders of all states, and forbid Dakang's people from taking refuge abroad. Although this can further weaken Dakang's strength, it inevitably arouses some people's resistance and struggle—Sir Hu, you are such a case."

Wishing everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival, family reunion, and all things go well! (To be continued~^~)