Chapter 1126

Zhuge Guanqi poured a full cup of wine for Hu Xiaotian, smiled and said, "Sir, you're not going to agree, are you?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "If I don't agree, they have other plans; Dakang suffers deeply from grain shortages, and the terms they propose are extremely tempting."

Zhuge Guanqi asked, "Sir, do you think the Emperor will agree?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "The Emperor also sent an envoy to demand 100,000 shi of grain from me."

Zhuge Guanqi said, "The initiative does not lie with the Emperor; Dongliang Jun and East Lo Granary are now under your control, and the grain supplies are also in your hands. Even if the Emperor agrees to give the Jiangbei region to Da Yong, it would still require your permission."

Hu Xiaotian said, "If I don't agree, that would be openly defying the sage ruler, giving the Emperor a righteous pretext to deal with me."

Zhuge Guanqi said, "If you surrender those two cities, where will you, your troops, and the forces you just recruited go?"

Hu Xiaotian fell silent; he only had three cities. If he lost the Jiangbei region, his only option would be to retreat to Wuxing. Zhuge Guanqi knew this and asked anyway.

Zhuge Guanqi said, "No matter what, your strength hasn't weakened much! If you control 70,000 elite troops with ample supplies, the one who should start worrying is the Emperor of Dakang."

Hu Xiaotian nodded; that indeed made sense. No one could fail to worry about a disobedient fellow holding 70,000 troops guarding his border. However, Long Xuan'en seems to have no choice; if Dakang's internal grain shortage isn't alleviated, it won't be long before greater turmoil erupts within the country.

Zhuge Guanqi said, "Life is like chess; Dakang's days are hard, and Da Yong's days are hard too. Otherwise, given Da Yong's usual strength, how could it accept two consecutive defeats? Turning to diplomacy to solve the problem? Sir, please answer me one question: if the Emperor agrees to Da Yong's terms, will you hand over the Jiangbei region?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head and said, "No handover!"

Zhuge Guanqi smiled and said, "If you don't hand it over, aren't you afraid that Da Yong and Dakang will join forces against you?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Even if I hand it over, they'd still join forces against me; the outcome would be the same. Why would I do such a foolish thing?"

Zhuge Guanqi couldn't help laughing loudly, he nodded and said, "This game has come to this point; Da Yong's purpose is obvious. Behind the grain-for-land exchange, their true intention is to provoke a conflict between you and the court. If the court could see through their treachery, it would surely reject this demand; if the court is short-sighted, it will accept the peace terms, thereby concentrating all the conflict on you."

Hu Xiaotian said, "How should I break this stalemate?"

Zhuge Guanqi said, "Everything still depends on the attitude in the capital; I hope the Emperor can see the big picture. As for Da Yong, there's little to fear; they likely won't launch an attack against you in the short term, given the pressure from the Black Hu people. This new ruler in the court must also be under immense pressure, otherwise he wouldn't make such concessions. Although you are the source of both sides' conflict, from another angle you are the one truly able to control the direction of the situation. Without your participation, their talks, no matter how long or frequent, would be mere paper talk. If I were you, I would remain unchanged to meet all changes, letting the winds and waves rise, and sit steadily at the Fishing Terrace."

Hu Xiaotian nodded with a smile and thought of something: "Right, Brother Guanqi, I have a gift for you."

Zhuge Guanqi said, "No reward without merit; Sir, please don't let me feel ashamed."

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "Whether to accept it or not should be up to Brother Guanqi himself, but you should look at the gift before deciding."

Zhuge Guanqi could only nod helplessly; Hu Xiaotian took the book from his bosom and gently placed it before Zhuge Guanqi. Zhuge Guanqi carefully unfolded the blue cloth wrapping it, and when he saw the book inside, he was visibly stunned. He never imagined that the book Hu Xiaotian gave him would actually be the Military Saint Formation Diagram. Although he is a descendant of the Zhuge family, the Military Saint Formation Diagram has long been lost, and even he does not know where this book, which condenses ancestral wisdom into a marvelous formation treatise, is hidden. Whenever Zhuge Guanqi thinks of this, he feels regret, having thought this marvelous book was already lost, never expecting that in this life he would have the chance to see it with his own eyes.

Zhuge Guanqi couldn't contain his inner excitement; he picked up the Military Saint Formation Diagram, flipped through a few pages, and with his profound knowledge of military strategy quickly determined that the book is undoubtedly genuine.

From Zhuge Guanqi's change in expression, Hu Xiaotian could already tell he was undoubtedly a descendant of Zhuge Yun Chun, and he smiled, saying, "This book is treasured in the Imperial Palace; I obtained it by chance. I know nothing of military strategy, but I believe that in Brother Guanqi's hands this book will truly shine—so please don't refuse it."

Zhuge Guanqi, how perceptive! He certainly understood that Hu Xiaotian would not give him this book for no reason; presenting such a valuable gift shows his high regard, and another reason is that Hu Xiaotian must have already learned his true identity.

Zhuge Guanqi pressed his lips, bowed deeply, and said, "Thank you, Sir."

Yu Tianxing entered his father's room, placed the gift he brought down, and said respectfully, "Father!"

Yu Dongqing lay in bed, responded with a sound, waved his hand to signal the servant maid to leave, then clenched his fist against his lips and coughed a few times.

Yu Tianxing said anxiously, "Father, how many times have I urged you to move back to the city with me? The environment there is much better—why are you so stubborn?"

Yu Dongqing let out a long sigh and said, "Son, the villagers elected me as their leader and trust me so much—how could I leave before them?" He suddenly grabbed his son's hand and said, "Tianxing, are you really going to be Hu Xiaotian's military advisor by his side?"

Yu Tianxing's heart jolted; looking at his father full of doubt, he said, "Father, what do you want to say?"

Yu Dongqing said: "Tianxing, Father knows that Sir Hu has shown you kindness of recognition, but Father also knows the principle that a fine bird chooses its tree to roost. Although you have assisted Sir Hu and helped him win two battles, these two victories cannot fundamentally reverse the situation—how mighty Da Yong is, and with Sir Hu's current forces, how could they be a match for Da Yong?"

Yu Tianxing's expression turned cold: "Father, has someone come to see you?" He stood up, looked toward the door, saw no one else outside, and then returned to his father's side.

Yu Dongqing sighed and said: "Tianxing, Father knows I have always blamed you wrongly, thinking you were a talentless good-for-nothing, but only today did Father realize you actually possess such talent; Father does not want you to hide your Bright Pearl, wasting your prospects."

Yu Tianxing said: "Father, I will treat today's words as if I never heard them; if you dare speak such words again before me, do not blame me for disregarding our father-son bond." He rose to leave, but Yu Dongqing grabbed his sleeve, tears streaming, and said: "Son, do not forget—your elder brothers and sister have all fled to Da Yong, and their lives and fortunes now hinge entirely on your single thought."

Upon hearing this, Yu Tianxing felt as if struck by five thunderbolts, his voice trembling: "What did you say? Father, speak clearly—what exactly happened?"

Yu Dongqing raised his sleeve to wipe the tears from his face and said: "Today someone brought a letter saying your two older brothers have found positions in Yongdu and are now doing well."

Yu Tianxing gritted his teeth: "Is someone using my brothers' lives as leverage, forcing you to persuade me to serve Da Yong?"

Yu Dongqing nodded: "They say that if you are willing to go to Da Yong, they will grant you high office and generous emoluments, letting you enjoy wealth and honor for the rest of your life."

Yu Tianxing sneered: "Father, do you also believe such lies?"

Yu Dongqing said: "Son, if you refuse, I fear your two older brothers and their families will all meet a cruel fate—poor my three grandsons, your three nephews, the eldest of whom is not yet five..." As he spoke of this heartache, Yu Dongqing burst into tears again.

Yu Tianxing said: "Father, tell me plainly—who exactly came to see you?"

Yu Dongqing was about to speak when a clear voice came from outside: "Is Mr. Yu in?"

Yu Tianxing stared slightly, turned and walked out the door, only to see a tall, graceful young man standing outside; noticing his brows and eyes bore a faint familiarity, after a moment he realized it was the Da Yong Eldest Princess, Xue Lingjun. Recalling his father's earlier words, Yu Tianxing instantly grasped the crux, and with a calm salute he said: "Who did I think it was? Turns out it is the Eldest Princess gracing us with her presence."

Xue Lingjun smiled: "I merely came to look at the refugee camp; I never expected to meet you, sir—what a fortunate coincidence."

Yu Tianxing stood at the doorway with no intention of inviting her inside to sit.

Xue Lingjun didn't mind, speaking softly: "Mr. Yu, are you not afraid that others might see us talking?"

Yu Tianxing said: "I conduct myself uprightly and sit properly, worthy of heaven and earth, worthy of the Conscience of heaven and earth—what is there to fear?"

Xue Lingjun clapped her hands in praise: "Mr. Yu is indeed a standout fellow."

Yu Tianxing said: "Eldest Princess, instead of accompanying my lord to discuss important matters, what refined interest brings you to this poor, remote backwater?"

Xue Lingjun said: "I am merely curious—what sort of person could assist Hu Xiaotian twice to overcome the strong with the weak and defeat my army, prompting me to come see for myself."

Yu Tianxing smiled calmly: "If you wish to see me, you could simply summon me; why make this trip yourself? Eldest Princess, you really have gone to great lengths!" Remembering that his two older brothers were wholly in her hands, used as leverage against him, Yu Tianxing could not help but feel a surge of anger. (To be continued~^~)