Chapter 1540

Li Mingcheng said: "Dakang had a good harvest this year, temporarily alleviating the famine problem, and they recently introduced some domestic policies that fully took care of people's livelihood; the common people's hearts gradually settled down. It is said these policies were all from Yang Lingqi."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, a shadow fell over his heart; Yang Lingqi was someone he had personally discovered, and he felt he had not treated Yang Lingqi poorly, yet he never expected that in the end Yang Lingqi would betray him and turn to Qiqi, leaving him puzzled: was it because he was not a wise lord in Yang Lingqi's heart, or due to other reasons? He had always given Yang Lingqi full attention; could Yang Lingqi have been swayed by high office and generous pay? He quickly dismissed that thought, judging by Yang Lingqi's integrity, he should not be such a person.

Yu Tianxing angrily said: "Such a villain who sells his lord for glory, betraying trust and abandoning righteousness, should be killed at once!"

The speaker meant no harm, but the listener took it to heart; Chang Fanqi felt his face flush a bit, although he too had been forced at first, after all he had also defected from Da Yong to Hu Xiaotian, and in fact Huo Shengnan was the same.

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "Everyone has their own aspirations, as the saying goes, a fine bird chooses its tree to roost; why should we force him, especially since he poses no threat to us, there's no need to worry about it." He then said to Chang Fanqi: "Brother Chang, how is your mother's health lately? How goes your marriage with Miss Yang?" This was Hu Xiaotian's true cleverness: he noticed Chang Fanqi's embarrassment, avoided public matters and asked about private ones, skillfully deflecting Yu Tianxing's remarks while showing respect and concern for Chang Fanqi.

Chang Fanqi felt warm inside, respectfully said: "Thank you, my lord, for your concern; my mother is doing well, and just the other day she was still mentioning you."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "Tell your mother, tomorrow morning I will bring the princess to see her."

Chang Fanqi could hardly contain his excitement. In the past, when he was in Da Yong, when had he ever received such treatment? Hu Xiaotian showed him such kindness; where else could one find such a wise lord? Even if he were to devote himself utterly, what harm would there be? He respectfully said: "I will go back and tell my mother this good news."

Huo Shengnan secretly admired, from Hu Xiaotian's worldly conduct she knew his present success was no accident. She softly said: "My lord, I see Dakang currently has no plans to deal with us; Da Yong is now mired in war with the Black Hu, unable to free its hands for the moment, so this is actually an excellent opportunity for expansion."

Yu Tianxing deeply agreed with Huo Shengnan's words, he added: "Just wait until spring, and we can gradually swallow the seven cities surrounding Cloud Marsh with Cloud Marsh as the center."

Hu Xiaotian, however, shook his head and said: "Now is not the time yet."

Several people turned their gaze to him at once, Hu Xiaotian said: "Dakang will not provoke us. We had better not take the initiative to provoke them; if we act in Cloud Marsh, we must not forget that behind Yunyang stands Su Yuchi—before I returned I had already heard that Dakang had recently reinforced him with twenty thousand troops, and also supplied ample military provisions nominally to suppress bandits and deal with Guo Guangbi of Xingzhou, but the real purpose was to intimidate us; as long as we deal with Dakang, he will coordinate with Dakang in a pincer attack."

Yu Tianxing said: "My lord, if we let Dakang develop unchecked, this will likely raise a tiger to our detriment; once Dakang regains its vigor, the first target it will likely attack is us."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "Matters have priorities and urgency; for Dakang, dominating the world may not be their goal!"

Nobody understood Hu Xiaotian's remarks; their gazes showed utter bewilderment—what could be more important for a dynasty than ruling all under heaven?

Hu Xiaotian did not explain: "Development is the fundamental truth; as long as I am strong enough, I fear no provocation; the urgent task is to first remove the thorn that is Su Yuchi of Yunyang; if we do not settle this, we will feel like a thorn in our backs, unable to rest or eat."

On this point everyone agreed, nodding in assent.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Today we have reunited after a long separation; let's not discuss military affairs. I still want to find some time to wander around the city, and when the brothers from Wuxing Commandery arrive tomorrow, we can have a proper gathering."

At noon, Hu Xiaotian, together with Long Xi Yue and Weisa, went to visit Zhuge Guanqi; when they arrived at Zhuge Guanqi's door, Zhuge Guanqi had just returned from a walk with Hong Lingxue, who was six months pregnant and her belly was swollen.

Seeing Hu Xiaotian approach, Zhuge Guanqi stopped, smiled, then stepped forward slowly, clasped his hands and bowed deeply; Hong Lingxue wanted to perform a salute, but Hu Xiaotian hastily stopped her, saying: "Sister-in-law, don't, don't!"

Hu Xiaotian also introduced Long Xi Yue, who stood beside him, to them; seeing Long Xi Yue's great beauty, Hong Lingxue also felt very fond of her, and the three of them went together to prepare the meal.

Zhuge Guanqi invited Hu Xiaotian into his study, lit a brazier; although it was deep autumn, the weather in Dongliang Commandery had already turned cool.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Brother Guanqi, your residence is somewhat dilapidated; I have prepared a garden for you in the eastern part of the city and arranged servants and maidservants for your sister-in-law's postpartum care."

Zhuge Guanqi smiled and declined: "Thank you, my lord, for your kindness, but having lived here a long time, I have grown attached to this old residence; moving away would make me uncomfortable."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, not pressing him, and softly said: "Then just send a few experienced maidservants and elderly women over to vacate the house next door; that will make it easier to look after."

Zhuge Guanqi knew Hu Xiaotian's good intentions came from the heart; if he kept refusing, it would be inappropriate, so he nodded and agreed.

Hu Xiaotian briefly recounted what Yu Tianxing and the others had just done when they went to his place.

Zhuge Guanqi said: "Actually, Yu Tianxing's proposal is not wrong; taking advantage of his illness to seize his life, with your lordship's current strength you could certainly handle both fronts, though fighting would indeed be arduous and entail great losses." He paused, then asked: "My lord, do you think Dakang's aim is not to seize the world?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "At least not for now, and I suspect they must have a killer move; do you remember the light sword I told you about?"

Zhuge Guanqi nodded and said: "Speaking of this, I have carefully studied the 'Neidan' chapter of the *Opening the Heaven and Earth*; this should not be some alchemical technique, but it seems to conceal a celestial chart within."

Hu Xiaotian's eyes lit up; what Zhuge Guanqi said coincided exactly with his own speculation.

Zhuge Guanqi said: "These days I have been studying it continuously; I can already answer part of it, but if we wanted to finish it all, it would still take some time."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Do you know about the blue skull I told you about?"

Zhuge Guanqi nodded.

"It turns out there are two in total; besides the one obtained by Qiqi from the imperial palace, Hu Buwei also has one in his hand."

Zhuge Guanqi said: "Two? What profound mystery does this skull hold?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "The skull contains many secrets, but unfortunately such secrets can only be received by certain specific individuals; they are useless to me." As for those he knows who can receive the skull's information, Ji Feihua is one; judging from the current situation, Qiqi should also be one, while others cannot, not even Hu Buwei.

Zhuge Guanqi said: "My lord, do you mean that the imperial mausoleum and the skull are inseparably linked?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "The true secrets should lie within these two skulls; now Qiqi and Hu Buwei each possess one, and to obtain all the secrets within them, one must necessarily have both skulls at the same time."

Zhuge Guanqi said: "They both want to monopolize the skull, neither willing to yield; in fact, that is a good thing."

Hu Xiaotian said: "When two tigers fight, one is bound to be injured; I think now is not the time to use troops, especially against Dakang."

Zhuge Guanqi smiled and praised: "My lord, your vision is unique; I admire you."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Speaking of strategic vision, I really am lacking; this time in Honggu County, if it weren't for others pointing things out, I might have failed to grasp Li Tianheng's true motive." He then recounted his experiences in Xichuan's Honggu County.

After listening, Zhuge Guanqi finally learned that Yang Dao yuan had been killed by Hu Xiaotian; the news spread quickly, and within a few short days it had spread throughout the world, but most people thought Yang Dao yuan had teamed up with the horse bandits of Heavenly Wolf Mountain to kill Zhang Ziqian, and that Yang Dao yuan then died at the hands of Yan Huacheng; because this seemed reasonable, no one suspected the true culprit was an outsider—if Hu Xiaotian had not admitted it himself, Zhuge Guanqi would also have thought it an internal feud.

Zhuge Guanqi said: "In that case, Meng Guangxiong is also a person of great wisdom and sagacity."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "Fortunately he cooperated; otherwise we could not have smoothly burned their grain and fodder camp, thus removing the danger to Hongchuan."

Zhuge Guanqi said: "Yan Huacheng voluntarily concealing this matter for my lord was likely out of goodwill; Zhang Ziqian was his adoptive father, yet he died at the hands of Yang Dao yuan's assassination, so this son probably bears a grudge against the Li clan, making him a potential ally to win over." He paused, then added: "Li Tianheng is clearly anxious; with Hongchuan now in my lord's hands, it amounts to controlling the southern passage of Xichuan, and my lord and Yan Kui have become allies through the relationship with Miss Yan; thus Li Tianheng's situation grows ever more urgent—I believe he will not let this rest, but must seek a breakthrough."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Could he possibly make a comeback?"

Zhuge Guanqi shook his head and said: "Hard to say; perhaps he will seek a breakthrough to the northwest."

Hu Xiaotian said: "You mean Yunyang?"

Zhuge Guanqi nodded and said: "After my lord's assassination disrupted their operations, the Hongchuan side also received the news and strengthened defenses; the Red Yi peoples excel at jungle warfare, and with the addition of the Beggars' Sect disciples, I think Li Tianheng will not choose to clash head‑on now, but rather a breakthrough to the northwest is more likely."

Hu Xiaotian said: "To the northwest, Yunyang is where Su Yuchi is stationed; his forces are now approaching."

Zhuge Guanqi said: "Things depend on people; my lord, do not forget that behind Su Yuchi there is also Guo Guangbi of Xingzhou; if Li Tianheng were to join forces with Guo Guangbi, then capturing Yunyang would not be impossible."

Hu Xiaotian's eyes lit up.

Zhuge Guanqi said: "Li Tianheng cannot simply wait for death; in my estimation, something major will happen soon."

This is actually today's Third Update; please vote for the Monthly Ticket! (To be continued~^~)