Chapter 1275

Zhuge Guanqi said: "To support a war with Da Yong's financial resources also requires raising funds; Dakang is only one aspect, I heard that Prince Yan Xue Shengjing has already handed over the treasury from Ju Bao Zhai."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Prince Yan is someone who values wealth as life; this time the crisis at Ju Bao Zhai has clearly been resolved, but I heard that Empress Dowager Jiang forced him to hand over Ju Bao Zhai, which I estimate is more painful than killing him."

Zhuge Guanqi said: "With Da Yong's current national strength, winning this battle should pose no problem; however, this war will inevitably delay their plan to unify the Central Plains, which is a good thing for our lord and for the states of the Central Plains."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Brother Guanqi, on what basis do you conclude that Da Yong will win?"

Zhuge Guanqi said: "Weichi Chong is a renowned general of the present age; over these years, Weichi Chong has fought countless battles against the Black Hu, earning meritorious service in defining the northern border; Weichi Chong is deeply respected in the army, and as long as the Da Yong emperor gives Weichi Chong sufficient trust, victory is still quite assured."

Hu Xiaotian said: "The fiercer they fight, the better."

Zhuge Guanqi laughed: "Not bad! Our lord happens to be able to plot development; taking advantage of this opportunity, we can consider the matter of Yunze."

The day after Hu Xiaotian made a public appearance, military strategist Yu Tianxing, naval commander Zhao Wusheng, Li Yongfu who had returned from delivering grain to Haizhou, Xiong Tianba, Liang Yinghao, Zu Dacheng and others all came to Dongliang Jun. In addition, Chang Fanqi who had returned from Mangjiao Island, and the governor of Dongliang Jun, Li Mingcheng, were all gathered together.

Chang Fanqi first reported to Hu Xiaotian the situation of their return from Mangjiao Island, in which he specially mentioned an important figure, Yang Yuanqing. This scoundrel had betrayed Hu Xiaotian on Mangjiao Island, was eventually captured, but this person is very stubborn; even now he has not said who his behind-the-scenes instigator is.

After the noon banquet for all the generals that day, Yu Tianxing and Zhao Wusheng remained behind alone; seeing their expressions, Hu Xiaotian knew they had an important matter to report.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Military strategist, what plan do you have?"

Yu Tianxing laughed: "Congratulations, our lord, on newly acquiring a talent for domestic affairs!"

Hu Xiaotian was stunned by his words, for a moment unable to recall whom he was referring to.

Yu Tianxing explained: "I never expected Yan Ming to be so capable, handling domestic affairs in orderly fashion; the Dakang emperor is foolish. Such a capable official would also be discarded."

Hu Xiaotian then realized he was referring to Yan Xuanming, and involuntarily broke into a knowing smile; regarding Yan Xuanming's background, Hu Xiaotian had not publicized it overly, after Yan Xuanming came here to serve as an official he simply adopted the name Yan Ming, to avoid unnecessary trouble, so that others would not know he is the son of Mangjiao Island's master Yan Tianlu. Hu Xiaotian does not understand Yan Xuanming's ability; as Yu Tianxing said, this time he has truly picked up a treasure. Although he has many civil and military officials around him, he lacks a true expert in domestic affairs; Dongliang Jun's governor Li Mingcheng can barely count as one, but his ability is clearly lacking, and Yan Xuanming's appearance just fills this gap. Hu Xiaotian suddenly thought of Li Mingcheng, given Li Mingcheng's study of law, after his arrival Hu Xiaotian will certainly be like adding wings to a tiger.

Hu Xiaotian said: "He is still young and needs more tempering." After saying this, even he himself felt embarrassed to laugh. Saying others are young, he himself is no different; in fact, his current team, aside from Li Mingcheng, are all young people.

Zhao Wusheng said: "Our lord, this time we have allied with Bohai State and Mangjiao Island; from now on we will have no rear worries."

Hu Xiaotian said: "We cannot be that optimistic, after all everyone has their own ledger."

Yu Tianxing smiled: "Therefore, to make this alliance unbreakable we must seek common interests."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "I am also thinking about this matter."

Yu Tianxing said: "Our lord, what plans do you have?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "I originally wanted to ask you, but you turned around and asked me instead; you go first!"

Yu Tianxing clasped his fists and said: "Seeing the weather warming up, our navy should begin drills; we initially plan to go to sea from the Yong River. Recently, Da Yong's grain transport fleet frequently passes through this area, delivering grain to Dakang and then reaping excessive profits by going north via the sea route."

Hu Xiaotian said: "You want to rob them!"

Yu Tianxing said: "It may not be our side that takes action!"

Hu Xiaotian laughed heartily: "That's exactly what I was thinking; it would be best for Mangjiao Island to handle this—let the grain ships pass, then when they come back with money and valuables, make them pay a toll."

Zhao Wusheng said: "This way we can train troops and also gain concrete benefits; the brothers' military pay will naturally be secured."

Yu Tianxing said: "However, such a thing cannot be sustained; after doing it once we must immediately withdraw, and even if Da Yong has more ships passing next time, they will certainly strengthen their defenses, so there is no need for us to engage the Da Yong navy in direct confrontation."

Hu Xiaotian nodded repeatedly.

Yu Tianxing said: "Da Yong's northern front is urgent, and the war with the Black Hu is imminent; our lord should consider taking action at this excellent opportunity to expand our territory and consolidate our defenses on the Yong River."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Military strategist, what plan do you have?"

Yu Tianxing said: "The governor of Baiquan City, Zuo Xingjian, is indeed a notable figure; in a short time he has already investigated the situation of the cities surrounding Yunze clearly; I believe our lord should prepare to take action to control Yunze."

Yu Tianxing's plan coincides with Zhuge Guanqi's suggestion; Hu Xiaotian said: "Controlling Yunze equals advancing southward; the court will surely suspect us of harboring designs, intending to invade the heartland of Dakang; if we make any move, Su Yuchi of Yunyang will not stand idly by, the emperor having placed him in Yunyang precisely to plant a bomb behind my back; if we mobilize most of our forces to attack Yunze, we cannot guarantee that Su Yuchi will not take advantage of the situation to launch a covert attack from behind."

Yu Tianxing laughed: "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; our lord, do not forget that behind Su Yuchi there is also Guo Guangbi of Xingzhou."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Guo Guangbi and Ma Kongxing of the Heishui Village in Yunze are allies; how would he help me?"

Yu Tianxing said: "Since Su Yuchi arrived in Yunyang, he has completely severed the contact between Bikong Mountain's Heishui Village and Xingzhou; the alliance between Guo Guangbi and Ma Kongxing has long existed only in name, and now Ma Kongxing has no external aid; in the earlier Yunze battle, his warships were destroyed more than half, and with his current strength he is fundamentally incapable of any action; given Guo Guangbi's disposition, he would not sacrifice his own interests to rescue Ma Kongxing."

Hu Xiaotian said: "You mean letting Guo Guangbi restrain Su Yuchi's troops, while we concentrate our forces to pacify the Heishui Village in the shortest possible time."

Yu Tianxing nodded and said: "As long as we occupy Bixin Mountain, it equals occupying Yunze; our side can use Bixin Mountain as a base to develop the navy, and the cities around Yunze will be within easy reach."

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Military strategist, you indeed have a good plan!"

For the states of the Central Plains, March saw many major events: first, the Black Hu people gathered two hundred thousand cavalry and marched south to invade Da Yong; on the Da Yong side, Weichi Chong served as commander, leading a force of 150,000 to hold the northern frontier; the two sides began a grueling stalwart battle in Da Yong's northern border, after enduring two large-scale battles, both sides suffered heavy casualties, and with the arrival of a lingering spring rain, the war fell into a stalemate.

Moreover, Da Yong's grain transport fleet heading to Dakang, on its return route, encountered a surprise attack by Mangjiao Island pirates; twenty warships were left with no survivors, all the naval personnel on board were killed, and also lost were the huge sums of grain procured from Dakang.

At the same time as Mangjiao Island's surprise attack on Da Yong's fleet, the Dongliang Jun side, under the banner of suppressing pirates, sailed downstream along the Wangchun River, mustering two hundred warships to launch a general assault on the Heishui Village at Bixin Mountain.

In Yunyang, violent rain poured from the sky; Su Yuchi stood on the city wall, gazing westward, where the rebels of Xingzhou had gathered thirty thousand troops and advanced to a point sixty li west of Yunyang city, causing him unprecedented pressure. His deputy commander Yuan Qing Shan hurried to his side and shouted loudly: "General, go take shelter from the rain; be sure not to get soaked and ruin your health."

Su Yuchi nodded, and together with Yuan Qing Shan entered the watchtower; Su Yuchi took off his helmet and handed it to a nearby guard, then came to sit before the campfire, while Yuan Qing Shan sat opposite him, gazing at his gaunt face, feeling a pang of sorrow; although Yuan Qing Shan is his deputy, he has followed him since childhood, growing up together, enduring countless battles to become a brave and skilled commander, and in Yuan Qing Shan's heart Su Yuchi is no different from his father.

Su Yuchi said: "These rebels of Xingzhou have arrived at just the right time."

Yuan Qing Shan said: "We have already sent scouts; they have set up camp sixty li out and are not in a hurry to advance."

Su Yuchi's lips curled with a hint of disdain: "They dare not attack!"

Yuan Qing Shan exclaimed in astonishment: "What?"

Su Yuchi reached out, took the map from the guard's hand, spread it on the ground, and moved his finger along the Wangchun River to the position of Yunze, saying: "Hu Xiaotian here has begun suppressing bandits, while Xingzhou's Guo Guangbi is launching a major invasion; in this world, how could there be so many coincidences?"

Yuan Qing Shan whispered: "General, are you saying that Hu Xiaotian is colluding with the rebels?"

Su Yuchi, his tiger eyes fixed on the blazing campfire, his body soaked by rain gradually regaining some warmth, said: "I have repeatedly memorialized the emperor, requesting to go to Yunze to suppress bandits, but the emperor has ignored my pleas; now I can only watch helplessly as others seize the initiative."

Yuan Qing Shan gazed at that map and whispered: "If Hu Xiaotian occupies Bixin Mountain, what would the consequences be?" Actually he had already thought of the consequences, but out of respect he was still seeking Su Yuchi's opinion.

Su Yuchi shook his head: "This person's ambition is truly too great; Ma Kongxing of Bixin Mountain could never be his match; this battle is surely doomed to defeat, and afterward Bixin Mountain will become Hu Xiaotian's place to train his navy; controlling Bikong Mountain equals controlling Yunze, and the seven cities around Yunze are in danger!" A feeling of inexplicable sorrow welled up in his heart; although he could see through the present situation, he could not obtain more support from the court; in fact, after the emperor assigned him to Yunyang and diverted one hundred thousand shi of grain from Hu Xiaotian to him, the emperor seemed to have already forgotten him.

Su Yuchi even thought that, unless Hu Xiaotian raises the banner of open rebellion, perhaps the emperor will continue to neglect him.

Yuan Qing Shan said: "General, what should we do?"

Su Yuchi sighed: "Hold the city!" (To be continued~^~)