Chapter 1138

Hu Xiaotian said, "Mr. Li, you don't need to say that; I saved you not expecting any repayment from you."

Li Chang'an said, "I have a junior disciple named Xia Zhangming; he has studied arts beside my master since childhood. After my master passed away seven years ago, he built a hut by the grave and kept vigil for us for seven years, diligently studying Beast Tamer techniques, never leaving the mountain. I once intended to recommend him to serve in the Heavenly Secrets Bureau, but given the turbulent state of the world and Dakang's bleak prospects, I reconsidered his future. Lord Hu, you are currently in need of talent; if you trust my judgment, I recommend he come serve under you. What do you think?"

Hu Xiaotian was overjoyed upon hearing this; although Li Chang'an refused to stay and serve him, recommending his junior disciple amounts to the same. Even if his skills are not as good, he is at least a top-notch Beast Tamer. He nodded repeatedly and said, "Then I'll trouble you, Mr. Li."

Li Chang'an said, "I have already written a letter to him just now, asking him to come assist me; if all goes well, he should arrive within these two days."

Hu Xiaotian said, "So it turns out your junior disciple is this close to me."

Li Chang'an smiled and said, "It's not far—over three thousand li."

Hu Xiaotian stared speechless—covering over three thousand li in two days? Are you taking a high-speed rail or a plane? Then I thought: someone like Li Chang'an, a Beast Tamer, cannot be judged by ordinary standards; I ride a horse, while he rides a bird. Li Chang'an has a snow eagle, doesn't he? As his disciple, he shouldn't be far off. Astonished, I also felt anticipation—if this Xia Zhangming could truly serve me, it would be like adding wings to a tiger.

Many things in this world proceed at speeds beyond Hu Xiaotian's expectations; although he had promised to send 300,000 dan of grain to the court, he did not expect the court's grain transport corps to arrive so swiftly—just seven days after Fan Zongxi left Dongliang Jun, the court's first grain transport detachment had already reached thirty li outside Wuxing Commandery.

Upon receiving this news, Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but feel surprised. Could it be that these people also came riding giant birds?

If the court's grain transport corps had set out from Kangdu, it certainly would not have come this quickly; rather, the elderly emperor Long Xuan'en, upon learning that Hu Xiaotian was willing to provide 300,000 dan of grain, immediately took action, ordering Yunyang's city guard Jiang Zhengyang to organize troops and wagons to transport the grain.

Although Hu Xiaotian had never met this Yunyang city guard Jiang Zhengyang face to face, they had dealt with each other not long ago. Jiang Zhengyang had once sent his subordinate Zu Dacheng to borrow grain, which I flatly refused; I never expected the emperor to entrust this grain transport task to him. Hu Xiaotian silently lamented that Emperor Long Xuan'en was muddle-headed and confused, to the point that Dakang not perishing is simply unjust. It seems the emperor is eager to get this 300,000 dan of grain out of the way, fearing I might change my mind. Moreover, it shows the emperor has no trust in me at all.

Jiang Zhengyang attached great importance to the personnel for this grain transport, dispatching a force of 20,000 men with a total of 3,000 mule carts; Hu Xiaotian preliminarily estimated that this trip could haul away 100,000 dan of grain. The second grain transport corps would set out from Kangdu, possibly arriving here only after half a month.

Hu Xiaotian was very clear about the situation in Yunyang; Jiang Zhengyang is now in a dire strait where he can't even keep the pot boiling. The emperor sent him to transport grain—equivalent to letting a hungry wolf escort fat sheep; it's strange if the sheep aren't harmed.

On this matter, Ye Tianxing and the others shared Hu Xiaotian's view. Zhan Peng said, "Based on what we know, Yunyang's grain supplies are exhausted; the garrison once numbered 30,000. Because recent provisions have fallen short, tens of thousands have deserted in succession; I think although they claim the escorting grain transport force numbers 20,000, the actual figure may be even lower."

Li Yongfu said, "My lord, Jiang Zhengyang personally came to oversee the grain transport; something seems off—this time he has practically mobilized his entire army, leaving Yunyang virtually an empty city." Li Yongfu also, upon receiving the news, immediately came to report to Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian furrowed his brows: "The emperor fears I might change my mind, yet he instead trusts Jiang Zhengyang—does he not fear Jiang Zhengyang swallowing this batch of grain?"

Xiong Tianba said, "Third Uncle, I just don't get it—why should we send the grain we painstakingly seized to the court? Obviously the court ought to be issuing us rations; we serve the court, so how has it come to this?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "Don't meddle; just do what you're told."

Xiong Tianba sighed, "Fine, I won't say more; just remember to let me be the vanguard when we go to war."

Hu Xiaotian rose, slowly walked to the sand table, looked for a moment, and said in a low voice, "Jiang Zhengyang's greatest lack is grain; if his supply is cut off, what will he face?"

Gao Yuan beside him said, "If he runs out of grain, won't his troops become a scattered mess? Desertions in Yunyang City are rampant, and many soldiers are pillaging civilians, hardly different from bandits."

Hu Xiaotian said, "If we give him this grain and he delivers it safely to the court, how much do you think the court will reward him?"

Li Yongfu said, "The court itself can barely hold on, just waiting for this grain to relieve the emergency; giving him even a tenth would already be good." According to current grain estimates, Jiang Zhengyang would likely receive about 15,000 dan—such an amount is surely a drop in the bucket for him, perhaps not even enough to fill the gaps between his teeth.

Hu Xiaotian asked Xiong Tianba, "If it were you, would you send the grain to Kangdu?"

Xiong Tianba stared for a moment, then scratched his head.

Hu Xiaotian said, "No need to think; just say whatever comes to mind."

Xiong Tianba said, "Of course not—my brothers and I are starving; why should I give cheap grain to that dog emperor?"

Everyone couldn't help but smile; Xiong Tianba is such a blunt fellow—indeed he says whatever comes to mind. Though his words are coarse, the reasoning is sound; if it were us, we'd think the same. In fact, most people don't understand why Hu Xiaotian would send the fruits of victory he has in hand to the court; among those present, the clearest-headed is Ye Tianxing.

Hu Xiaotian smiled at Ye Tianxing and said, "Advisor, tell us your view!" Although Ye Tianxing had already been given the title of advisor by Hu Xiaotian, merely relying on two victories still fails to win everyone's wholehearted approval; Hu Xiaotian is also deliberately strengthening his standing in everyone's eyes. In fact, regarding the future direction of Jiang Zhengyang's grain transport, Hu Xiaotian already sees it crystal clear, yet he still wants to leave this analytical opportunity to Ye Tianxing, so that Ye Tianxing can display his talent while also boosting his confidence—after all, Ye Tianxing still has some immature aspects, and Hu Xiaotian must help him change, doing so as unobtrusively as possible.

Ye Tianxing said, "Tianba's thoughts represent those of most people; Jiang Zhengyang has no other choice—this time he has practically mobilized his entire army, which on one hand shows how seriously he takes the grain transport mission, and on the other indicates that Yunyang is not important in his mind." Ye Tianxing came to the sand table, stood beside Hu Xiaotian, gazed at Yunyang's location, and said, "Yunyang's geographic position is extremely important; two major northwest routes pass through it. Although it is still far from Da Yong and Xichuan, everyone should not overlook one thing." He moved his finger northwest, pointing to a city three hundred li from Yunyang.

Li Yongfu said, "Xingzhou!" As the commander of Wuxing Commandery, he understands Dakang's northern situation more clearly than the others.

Ye Tianxing nodded.

Li Yongfu said, "Guangbi Guo of Xingzhou already commands sixty thousand troops, the strongest rebel force in Dakang; he occupies Xingzhou, launches raids and plunders in the surrounding areas, and has now secured a foothold."

Ye Tianxing said, "If Jiang Zhengyang harbors designs on this grain, he will surely have planned a retreat; although Yunyang is geographically important, it lacks natural defenses, so even if he seized the grain he could not hold it. Grain theft is no trivial matter—it would not only invite court punitive expeditions but also likely provoke hostility from neighboring peers. As an experienced commander, Jiang Zhengyang has probably already worked out his next retreat; after careful study of the local situation, I conclude that if he wants to establish a foothold, his only option is to go to Xingzhou and seek refuge with Guo Guangbi."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, bringing along 100,000 dan of grain to defect; no one would refuse such an army.

Zhan Peng said, "Advisor, how did you calculate that he will definitely rebel?"

Li Yongfu sighed beside him, "The emperor thinks only of himself; if he doesn't rebel, there's no way to survive."

Gao Yuan said, "If that's the case, letting him defect to the Xingzhou rebels would be worse than persuading him to surrender to us. My lord, why not send envoys in advance to persuade him to surrender?" Gao Yuan consistently regarded Hu Xiaotian as his master, yet habitually addressed him as "young lord."

Hu Xiaotian said, "He hasn't rebelled yet; if we go to persuade him to surrender, wouldn't that be tantamount to publicly declaring to the world that we too are rebels?"

Gao Yuan, at a loss for words momentarily, clearly still cannot grasp the grand scheme Hu Xiaotian is plotting with his current insight.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Regardless of whether Jiang Zhengyang will rebel, preparing in advance is always wise; we must never let our guard down, taking every precaution—if he dares to embezzle this grain, we will strike and crush him."

At this point everyone vaguely realized that Hu Xiaotian was probably playing a grand game; these 100,000 dan of grain were likely a bait he deliberately threw out.

Jiang Zhengyang's army, dispatched to transport grain to Wuxing Commandery, is entirely encamped ten li outside the city; before obtaining Hu Xiaotian's consent, they dare not rashly enter Wuxing Commandery. As the saying goes, "under someone's eaves, one must bow one's head"—although bearing the imperial decree, since they have come to ask others for things, they inevitably feel somewhat deferential. In terms of status, Hu Xiaotian is actually not much higher than him; he is merely a future prince consort, not yet realized. However, Hu Xiaotian has recently defeated Da Yong twice in succession, his morale is high, and moreover, the other side has seized the Dongluo granary, solving the food and clothing problem; Jiang Zhengyang can only feel envious. (To be continued~^~)