Chapter 1149

Zhan Hongsheng roared angrily: "You brat, how insolent!" He clamped his legs hard against the horse's belly, the black horse let out a whinny, strode forward toward the center of the bridge, this black horse was quite a divine steed, reaching great speed in a short time, swift as the wind, Zhan Hongsheng raised his great spear in hand, man and horse as one, man and spear as one, the spear tip tore the air with a whistling sound like a snake's tongue, thrusting straight at Xiong Tianba's throat.

Xiong Tianba stood motionless, his gaze dull as he stared in the opposite direction; he wasn't looking at Zhang Hongsheng, but had taken a liking to the black horse beneath Zhang Hongsheng's crotch. Though Xiong Tianba was exceptionally brave, he had never had a decent mount; although he had once borrowed Hu Xiaotian's little gray and liked it very much, he could not simply steal someone else's beloved horse. Xiong Tianba instantly took a fancy to this black horse and laughed heartily: "Not bad!"

Everyone thought he was praising Zhang Hongsheng's spear technique, but no one realized he was actually praising that horse.

As the spear came within reach, Xiong Tianba swung his left hammer sideways, clang! It struck the spear tip; with his tremendous strength, the hammer bent the spearhead, the shaft vibrated like a frenzied snake, Zhang Hongsheng could not hold on, the tiger's mouths of both hands split and bled, the spear flew from his grasp, tracing an arc toward the surging river, while Xiong Tianba's right hammer drove straight at Zhang Hongsheng's chest, blasting him off his saddle and flying backward seven or eight zhang before he crashed heavily onto the bridge, his bones and tendons shattered, clearly unable to survive.

The black horse suddenly lost its rider, turned and tried to flee, but Xiong Tianba was quick-eyed and quick-handed: he gripped both hammers with his left hand, reached out with his right, seized the reins, and bellowed, "Where do you think you're going? Stop!" With that jerk, his strength was immense; he forcibly hauled the black horse back, yet because his force was too great, the large black horse beneath him could not bear the pressure, it went "plop" and knelt on the ground, actually being forced down by him.

Zu Dacheng saw Zhang Hongsheng unable to last even a single round before Xiong Tianba took his life, feeling both grief and fear. Seeing that the black brat had not only killed Zhang Hongsheng but also seized his mount, his hatred peaked; he took down his longbow, nocked an arrow, aimed at Xiong Tianba's chest, and shot.

The arrow whistled straight toward Xiong Tianba's heart, but his eyes remained fixed on the black horse; he giggled foolishly, "Oh wow, not bad!"

Another arrow whistled past Xiong Tianba's side, but Zhan Peng shot in time, his arrowhead precisely blocking the incoming arrow's path; the two arrows collided, sending sparks flying.

Startled by the impact, Xiong Tianba realized Zu Dacheng had shot a cold arrow at him; he seized the black horse's reins and roared, "You dare scheme against me? I'll see you fed up with living!" He spurred his horse toward the enemy camp.

Seeing Xiong Tianba leading his troops in a ferocious charge, Zu Dacheng's side fled in terror; truly a rout like a collapsing mountain, Zu Dacheng could do nothing but spur his horse and escape.

Xiong Tianba, eager in pursuit, was caught off guard when the black horse suddenly halted; his body, from inertia, launched off the horse's back. He flung both great hammers away, covered his head, and muttered, "Oh dear… it's over…"

Xiong Tianba, being a simpleton about horses, only cared about forcibly taking someone else's mount; the black horse, however, understood human nature—seeing its master slain by Xiong Tianba, it initially pretended to gallop wildly with him, then suddenly stopped, aiming to fling him into the river to avenge its master.

Sure enough, Xiong Tianba took the bait and shouted as he plunged straight into the river's middle.

Fortunately, a few of their boats were on standby below, promptly hauling Xiong Tianba aboard; he clambered onto the deck in a sorry state, still shouting, "Don't let it get away, don't let it… achoo…"

Yu Tianxing personally led ten thousand troops in ambush on the western road out of Yunyang leading to Xingzhou, the essential route; Liang Yinghao hurried into the tent and reported, "Sir Military Advisor, the ten thousand troops under Jia Anshuang are only thirty li from here."

Yu Tianxing nodded and said, "Keep close watch on their movements."

Liang Yinghao departed after receiving the order.

Tang Tiehan beside him said, "Military Advisor, are we to ambush them here?"

Yu Tianxing shook his head and said, "No need to bother with them."

Tang Tiehan said, "Wouldn't that be handing Yunyang over on a silver platter?"

Yu Tianxing smiled and said, "If they dare enter the city, they'll never get out; we need only seal the roads around Yunyang, for their supplies cannot last long, and entering Yunyang would be tantamount to seeking death."

Tang Tiehan seemed to understand, blinked, and said, "No wonder the Military Advisor refuses to enter the city."

Yu Tianxing smiled at the map on the table; Yunyang's provisions were nearly exhausted, and Jiang Zhengyang's entire army would surely scour the city clean of whatever grain remained; whoever occupied Yunyang could obtain no resupply from within, so if Jia Anshuang dared bring his ten thousand troops into Yunyang, we would cut off their supply here, forcing them to abandon the city once their stores ran out, and that would be the moment we deliver a fatal blow; should Xingzhou dare to send reinforcements, they would fall into his scheme, and he would make them lose as many men as they sent.

Yu Tianxing's plans went smoothly on paper, but events did not unfold as he had expected; when Jia Anshuang advanced to within ten li of here, he unexpectedly chose to withdraw, abandoning the easily taken Yunyang, likely because he had received news that Jiang Zhengyang's supplies in Yunze were exhausted; however, from the enemy's refusal to enter the city, it is clear this person's mind is not simple.

After a day and night of torment, Jiang Zhengyang was finally brought ashore by boat; he repeatedly wondered who had ambushed him, and after consideration, his suspicion settled on Hu Xiaotian, for in this region only Hu Xiaotian could mobilize seventy war vessels; Jiang Zhengyang's remorse reached its peak, he was one step from success yet lost everything. Even without mentioning dereliction of duty or colluding with rebels, the mere loss of ten thousand shi of imperial grain would plunge him into an abyss of eternal ruin.

Jiang Zhengyang knew he was surely doomed, yet why would the other side spare his life? Was it to send him to the Emperor for merit and reward, or to extract something from him? He would not have to wait long; all would be revealed.

The black mask on his head was lifted; the indoor light was dim, only a flickering oil lamp, its orange‑yellow glow giving Jiang Zhengyang a slight warmth, and only then did he realize he was cold and hungry, having not eaten a grain for a full day and night.

Someone entered from outside; Jiang Zhengyang looked up and saw it was Hu Xiaotian, who opened his mouth as if to speak but ultimately said nothing, lowering his head in dejection, now reduced to the other's prisoner—what more could be said?

Hu Xiaotian said, "Sir Jiang, I never expected we'd meet so soon!"

Jiang Zhengyang sighed, "If you're going to kill me, just do it; why waste words?"

Hu Xiaotian waved his hand; a servant brought a food box, which was opened to reveal steaming hot dishes, their aroma almost irresistible to Jiang Zhengyang.

Hu Xiaotian made an inviting gesture, signaling his men to untie Jiang Zhengyang.

Jiang Zhengyang said nothing more, picked up his bowl and chopsticks and ate, determined to die with a full belly even if it meant death.

Hu Xiaotian's patience was excellent; he quietly watched Jiang Zhengyang eat heartily.

Jiang Zhengyang devoured the food in a gust, belched contentedly, and said, "I'm full; I've never tasted such delicious food in my life." Then he looked at Hu Xiaotian and said, "No matter what, I must thank you; now you may kill me."

Hu Xiaotian said, "I still want to ask Sir Jiang a few questions."

"I may not answer you."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Have you and Guo Guangbi already reached an agreement? What is Guo Guangbi's relationship with the Yunze Blackwater Gang? Did Zuo Xingjian of Baichuan City participate in your affair?"

Jiang Zhengyang chuckled and said, "Indeed, there's no free lunch under heaven; I merely ate a meal of yours, yet you pose so many questions—this price is far too cheap."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Your twenty thousand soldiers still face a desperate situation; answer my questions honestly, and I will grant them a path to survival."

The smile on Jiang Zhengyang's face vanished instantly; he was clearly struck where it hurt by Hu Xiaotian, and though he felt guilty toward his own soldiers, he had originally intended to seize that ten thousand shi of grain and lead them to a way out, but in the end he lost by a single move, everything gone; even if Hu Xiaotian hadn't spoken, Jiang Zhengyang could have foreseen his subordinates' fate, he pressed his lips together and whispered, "How do you know I wouldn't send the grain to the capital?"

"Your gaze is too greedy to conceal; I originally thought you would go to Xingzhou to join Guo Guangbi, but since you said you would take the route via Baichuan City, that made me notice the Blackwater Gang of Yunze, and I really ought to thank you for that."

Jiang Zhengyang's face turned ashen; had he known this would happen, he would never have uttered that sentence, which put Hu Xiaotian on alert early—this is fate, and now there's no point in regretting; Jiang Zhengyang said, "I trust you; give my brothers a way to live."

Hu Xiaotian nodded slowly.

Jiang Zhengyang caught his breath and said, "Not bad; I have reached an agreement with Guo Guangbi. Originally I planned to take the grain straight to Xingzhou to meet him, letting him send men to rendezvous, but Guo Guangbi, out of caution, advised me to head for Baichuan City so as not to arouse your suspicion prematurely; the Yunze Blackwater Gang's Ma Kongxing had already secretly defected to Guo Guangbi, which is why I was ordered to escort the grain to Baichuan City, and by the time you noticed, we had already boarded ships and entered Yunze, arriving at Bixin Mountain."

Hu Xiaotian said, "The plan is also quite thorough."

Jiang Zhengyang said: "Zuoxingjian once was my subordinate; to make him cooperate, I promised him five hundred thousand catties of grain." (To be continued~^~)