Chapter 1527

Hu Xiaotian still remembered the last time he faced off against him, when Yang Dao Yuan had responded to him with the unity of martial formation; if it weren't for that dazzling clash, Hu Xiaotian truly wouldn't have known that Yang Dao Yuan was such a deeply hidden talent. Even now Hu Xiaotian still remembers the formidable power of the unity of martial formation; if Zhu Ge Guan Qi were here, breaking the formation would not be difficult, but relying solely on his own abilities, he feared he could not break the great formation. However, this time it's not about two armies facing off; he intends to carry out an assassination.

Yang Dao Yuan's headquarters is located in the county office of Red Valley County, with tight security all around, and the road leading to the county office has been temporarily closed. Their main army has already been in Red Valley for five days, yet Yang Dao Yuan has delayed launching an attack, frequently mobilizing troops and sealing off all the routes leading to Black Cool Mountain.

Hu Xiaotian has something he can't figure out: Red Valley County does not directly border Heavenly Wolf Mountain, so if they wanted to attack Heavenly Wolf Mountain, the most direct route would be to send troops from Qingyun County, yet the bulk of Yang Dao Yuan's forces are still concentrated in Red Valley County. On the surface, it seems Yang Dao Yuan intends to start with Black Cool Mountain, first seize Black Cool Mountain and then plot to take Heavenly Wolf Mountain. Although Hu Xiaotian is sharp-minded, military deployment is not his forte; he simply cannot fathom Yang Dao Yuan's true intention.

He and Xia Zhangming sat in the Five Flavors Tower at the city center, gazing into the distance toward the county office, because now troops from Xichuan fill the city inside and out, so the locals, wishing to avoid trouble, rarely leave their homes, and the Five Flavors Tower, usually crowded, has become much quieter.

Xia Zhangming picked up a piece of beef and stuffed it into his mouth, then said in a low voice: "The defenses are tight; sneaking in won't be easy—if only Liang Yinghao were here." Aside from divine troops descending from heaven, entering from underground is also a good method, and Liang Yinghao happens to be an expert in that; unfortunately, Liang Yinghao and Zhan Peng are still recuperating in Huo Shu City. Distant water cannot quench immediate thirst, so they cannot come over in the short term.

Hu Xiaotian looked out the window; his eyesight was much better than Xia Zhangming's. At this distance, Xia Zhangming could only make out numbers and patrol conditions, while Hu Xiaotian observed minutely. One could estimate their cultivation level from the rhythm of their steps, and what amazed Hu Xiaotian was that everyone patrolling outside the county office were martial artists; he couldn't help but recall the martial formation unity from their previous encounter—could these people all be formation masters?

Meng Guangxiong walked over laughing heartily; originally he and Hu Xiaotian had agreed to meet at the original spot, but Hu Xiaotian had gone elsewhere and he wasn't there. So Hu Xiaotian left a message asking him to meet here.

Although Meng Guangxiong wore tattered clothes today, at least they were clean; if he still wore beggar's garb in these settings, he'd easily be chased away. Meng Guangxiong laughed heartily and said: "Sorry, Young Master Hu, I just let you down—I was held up by some business." He glanced around, saw quite a few people present, and the hand he had originally reached into his pocket withdrew.

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "Let's eat first, then talk."

After finishing their meal, the three left and followed Meng Guangxiong to a nearby courtyard, which was also a temporary lodging for the Beggar Sect brothers; they closed the courtyard gate. Meng Guangxiong then took out two drawings from his pocket; the first was the architectural plan of Red Valley County Office. It was marked in great detail, even showing exactly where Yang Dao Yuan was staying.

The other drawing was their current troop distribution map; Hu Xiaotian is still a layman when it comes to deploying troops, so even if this map were placed before him he wouldn't grasp its subtleties. What he cares most about, however, is the whereabouts of Zhang Ziqian; ever since Zhang Ziqian schemed against Long Xi Yue to her detriment during their journey, Hu Xiaotian has harbored murderous intent toward this Lao hulí.

Meng Guangxiong said: "Zhang Ziqian is in the army; besides Yang Dao Yuan, this time a general has come from Xichuan named Yan Hu Cheng, skilled in offense and defense, a newly risen valiant general, and he is also Zhang Ziqian's adopted son."

Hu Xiaotian asked: "Who is in charge, Yan Hu Cheng or Yang Dao Yuan?"

Meng Guangxiong said: "Of these 60,000 troops, 20,000 were dispatched by Yang Dao Yuan from Xiezhou, while the remaining 40,000 were conscripted from various places in Xichuan; nominally Yang Dao Yuan is in command, but Zhang Ziqian is actually the one who calls the shots, so Yang Dao Yuan has set up his headquarters in the city, whereas Zhang Ziqian resides in the great camp outside."

Xia Zhangming said: "You mean they're on bad terms?"

Meng Guangxiong shook his head and said: "I don't know the specifics, but I find their deployment this time very strange."

Hu Xiaotian was in need of hearing more opinions; actually he also thought this matter strange, but he just couldn't see through its subtleties, after all he lacks skill in military strategy. Yet Hu Xiaotian's greatest virtue is being open-minded and eager to learn: "Old Meng, tell me, what exactly is strange about it?"

Meng Guangxiong felt a bit startled by Hu Xiaotian's cry of "Old Meng," wondering when they had become so close, and besides, he wasn't old either. Although Meng Guangxiong is not old in age, he naturally looks older; a twenty-something looks like a forty-year-old. He smiled and said: "Young Master Hu, don't laugh at me—I'm just speaking casually, you can listen casually. This time Xichuan's expedition to suppress rebels is truly grand in scale; in the past, there has never been an experience of mustering 60,000 troops to wipe out the bandits of Heavenly Wolf Mountain; one could say this is unprecedented."

Hu Xiaotian nodded; he also knew this.

Meng Guangxiong said: "If the goal is to attack Heavenly Wolf Mountain, why deploy troops in Red Valley County at the foot of Black Cool Mountain? Why forsake the near for the far?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Exactly! Why?"

Xia Zhangming said: "Could it be that they actually intend to attack Black Cool Mountain?"

Meng Guangxiong said: "What they want is the road!"

One sentence awakened the dreamer; Hu Xiaotian exclaimed: "Damn! Their true target is Redwood River?"

Meng Guangxiong nodded and said: "I don't know what they're thinking, but this is what I think: Li Tianheng has fought Yan Kui for years without achieving anything; attacking Heavenly Wolf Mountain is easy to say but hard to do, as the bandit forces of Heavenly Wolf Mountain spread across both Heavenly Wolf Mountain and Black Cool Mountain. They claim they want to attack Black Cool Mountain, yet they've been spreading the news for so long, deploying troops at the foot of Black Cool Mountain without taking action—why? It's to bluff, for Heavenly Wolf Mountain is easy to defend but hard to assault, whereas Black Cool Mountain has gentle slopes, making it relatively easy to take. There are also many bandits and their families on Black Cool Mountain; if an immediate sweep were launched, it would surely cause many casualties, and the Heavenly Wolf Mountain bandits, upon seeing their own side's losses, would certainly not relent but would fight the imperial forces to the bitter end."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "That's why they first spread the rumor of suppressing bandits; after the Heavenly Wolf Mountain bandits heard it, they immediately moved their subordinates and families out of Black Cool Mountain, effectively emptying Black Cool Mountain, while the Xichuan side spent not a single soldier."

Meng Guangxiong said: "They wait for Black Cool Mountain to yield a passage, then directly cross Black Cool Mountain and advance to Redwood River."

Hu Xiaotian truly began to look at Meng Guangxiong in a new light; this guy not only knows how to flatter, but his military insight clearly surpasses Hu Xiaotian's by far—without his analysis, Hu Xiaotian wouldn't have thought of this aspect. Actually it's not Hu Xiaotian's fault; he jumped to conclusions, overly focused on Yan Nujiao's condition, always believing these people intended to attack Heavenly Wolf Mountain. As the saying goes, 'those in the midst are confused, while onlookers see clearly'; Meng Guangxiong has no relatives in Heavenly Wolf Mountain, so he naturally avoids the mistake of letting concern cloud judgment, thus seeing the situation clearly.

Hu Xiaotian praised: "Old Meng, truly one cannot judge a person by appearance; you really are not simple."

Meng Guangxiong gave a wry smile and said: "Young Master Hu, although my looks don't match your handsomeness, I'm passable."

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "little knife": "Keep talking, keep talking."

Meng Guangxiong said: "Actually I figured this out from their logistics and supplies; if they were to attack Heavenly Wolf Mountain, they wouldn't need so much materiel, and the reason they haven't launched an attack yet also lies here—they want to invade Redwood River and occupy this strategic point." He glanced at Hu Xiaotian and said: "Young Master Hu, Redwood River is your fief, after all—what do you plan to do?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "What do you suggest I do?" After hearing Meng Guangxiong say all that, Hu Xiaotian clearly began to appreciate this flatterer.

Meng Guangxiong hehe laughed and said: "Young Master, you are both wise and brave, skilled in planning; this Old Meng would not dare to show off his modest skills before you."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I say, if you don't flatter, won't you feel uncomfortable all over? Come on, get to the point."

Meng Guangxiong said: "I believe we must stop them from heading to Redwood River; once they cross Black Cool Mountain, it will be too late to hinder them." He then produced the third map he had hidden—a topographical map of the Black Cool Mountain, Heavenly Wolf Mountain, Red Valley County, and Qingyun County area—spread it on the ground, and Hu Xiaotian and Xia Zhangming both gathered around.

Meng Guangxiong said: "Their total forces number 60,000, while we can currently mobilize only about a thousand Beggar Sect brothers; a thousand against sixty thousand is surely doomed to defeat, but we can attack their supply troops, set fire to their provisions—once their supply is cut off, their offensive plan will surely be thwarted, and reorganizing supplies will take a long time, time enough to notify the Redwood River side to prepare."

Hu Xiaotian said: "How confident are you?"

Meng Guangxiong said: "Their supply camp has many defensive shortcomings; it's not far from the White Dragon River, which is set up for livestock to graze and drink—we can conveniently exploit this. There's plenty of dry grass around now; if we seize the wind direction and ignite this meadow, we can burn them to a crisp."

Hu Xiaotian said: "There will surely be defenses on both banks of the White Dragon River; such an important place cannot possibly have a gap."

Meng Guangxiong hehe laughed and said: "Young Master Hu, haven't you forgotten that we still have over twenty brothers hidden in their army? If it weren't for them, how could I have drawn this map so detailed?"

Announcing a public WeChat account Stonesquid; I hope everyone joins—later Zhangyu will post his latest updates on the public WeChat, and once I get familiar with it I'll also write short stories there. (To be continued~^~)