Chapter 1547

Xie Jian naturally agreed with this statement. Because of Hu Xiaotian's words, he felt his chances of success this time had greatly increased. Xie Jian said: "Young Master should be able to see through Li Tianheng's intentions, right?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled faintly. Xie Jian's visit was nothing more than probing his attitude. He shook his head and said: "I don't concern myself with others' affairs."

Seeing Hu Xiaotian unwilling to easily reveal his thoughts, Xie Jian continued probing: "Could it be that Young Master fails to see how this matter concerns you?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed heartily: "Why must everything be tied to me? I have no grudge against Xichuan, nor any friendship. As long as we don't interfere with each other's waters, it's fine. If he doesn't provoke me, I certainly won't provoke him."

Xie Jian said: "What about Su Yuchi of Yunyang, then?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "How else could I see him? Just a neighbor."

Xie Jian said: "I've heard there have been multiple robbery and murder incidents recently on Wangchun River."

Hu Xiaotian glanced at him and said calmly: "Mr. Xie's information is truly well-informed."

Xie Jian said: "Under heaven, is there any wall that doesn't let wind through?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Is there anything you can tell me, Mr. Xie?"

Xie Jian said: "Although I don't know who did it, I can assure Young Master that this matter has nothing to do with our Xingzhou."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I also didn't suspect this matter had anything to do with you?" The implication being: aren't you being overly suspicious, like hiding silver but revealing its location?

Xie Jian smiled slightly, showing no embarrassment, and said softly: "It's better to clarify things that might cause misunderstanding early on. We don't want to innocently take the blame for others. Xie also knows his actions might seem like overdoing it, but with Young Master's wisdom, he certainly won't be fooled by superficial appearances."

Hu Xiaotian remained silent, waiting quietly for Xie Jian's continuation.

Xie Jian said: "Li Tianheng proposed we join forces to attack Yunyang, offering quite tempting terms." He spoke while observing Hu Xiaotian's expression.

Hu Xiaotian said: "This is a major military matter. Mr. Xie shouldn't be leaking it to me, should you? Aren't you afraid I'll reveal it to the Yunyang Su Yuchi side?"

Xie Jian laughed: "If I had such concerns, I wouldn't have come. There's no free lunch in the world. Xichuan chose to ally with us because their goal is nothing more than opening the northeastern route by capturing Yunyang, which likely brings Young Master no benefit."

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: "What does this have to do with me?"

Xie Jian said: "Xichuan is now in an unprecedented predicament; they must seek a breakthrough—either south to open a passage, which must go through Hongchuan, now under the Young Master's control, or northeast to break through Yunyang. If we help them attack Su Yuchi from both sides, once they break through, our side might become their next target." Xie Jian judged this point quite accurately. In fact, he hadn't yet said: once they ally with Li Tianheng, Hu Xiaotian will certainly not stand by idly. Because Hu Xiaotian's plan should be to firmly trap Li Tianheng in Xichuan, sealing off his two likely escape routes like tying a sack shut, so Hu Xiaotian will certainly not let their alliance disrupt his layout.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Mr. Xie is indeed wise, but I still don't see how this matter concerns me greatly."

Xie Jian laughed: "Young Master Hu is a perceptive man. Su Yuchi's defense of Yunyang is nominally aimed at us, but his true focus lies on Young Master and Li Tianheng. Young Master wouldn't want such a thorn constantly at his back, would he?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "What Mr. Xie means is..."

Xie Jian said: "We would rather join forces with Young Master to seize Yunyang, so Young Master can firmly control the Wangchun River water system."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Helping me so greatly out of nowhere leaves me somewhat startled by the favor."

Xie Jian said: "We aren't helping Young Master for nothing either. If we assist Young Master in taking Yunyang, we hope Young Master will support us with 200,000 shi of grain. Also, we require a guarantee that no military action be taken against us within five years."

Hu Xiaotian burst into loud laughter.

Xie Jian felt a bit uneasy in his heart from Hu Xiaotian's laughter—his proposal was already quite tempting, so why was Hu Xiaotian laughing?

Hu Xiaotian said: "Mr. Xie, please tell your General Guo that I have never harbored hegemonic ambitions, nor do I wish to involve myself in others' grudges. You needn't worry I'll interfere. Your cooperation with Xichuan, whether or not to attack Yunyang, has nothing to do with me, and I won't reveal your plans. As long as war doesn't reach my territory, I'll honestly just watch from the opposite bank."

After hearing Hu Xiaotian finish, Xie Jian felt this stifled frustration: Hu Xiaotian, Hu Xiaotian, you're so young yet so scheming? Still want a bit of lotus? You claim no hegemonic ambitions? In just a few years you've never stopped expanding—from initially only holding Dongliang Jun, to taking Donglo Cang from Da Yong, to Dakang's blatant seizure of Wuxing Jun and Baiquan City, with the Wangchun River water system basically under your control, seizing Yunze and capturing Bixin Mountain just last year, and Hongchuan now in your hands. If you hadn't cut off Li Tianheng's southern route, he wouldn't have lowered himself to ally with us. You're not avoiding involvement—you want us to fight each other, the snipe and clam locked in struggle, so the fisherman profits. You aim to be that final profiteering fisherman.

Seeing Xie Jian's eyes gradually dim, Hu Xiaotian secretly rejoiced: Xie Jian wants to drag me in, his ultimate aim still being maximum gain. Li Tianheng urgently seeks breakthrough to open the northeastern passage, while Xingzhou also faces a severe grain shortage—neither side can afford delay, so this war is inevitable. As for Yunyang Su Yuchi, no matter how capable, facing two desperate opponents seeking breakthrough makes him hard to deal with. Regardless of who wins or loses, both sides' strength depletion will be obvious—I will certainly intervene, just at the right moment.

Xie Jian said: "Aren't you afraid Yunyang might fall into Li Tianheng's hands?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head: "Not afraid. Whoever holds it, as long as they don't provoke me, I won't interfere. Mr. Xie, I understand your meaning, but urging people to war isn't a good idea. Without necessity, I won't fight."

Since Hu Xiaotian had spoken to this extent, Xie Jian couldn't say more—he clearly wanted to wait until they fought until both were weakened. Though he came with sincerity seeking cooperation, Hu Xiaotian never regarded them seriously; perhaps in his heart, they were just a bunch of beggars.

Xie Jian stood, clasped his fists, and said: "Young Master, I understand your meaning. I will return and truthfully report to my lord."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Actually, with Mr. Xie's talent, you should be able to see the situation clearly and should understand the principle that a good bird chooses its tree to roost in?" This fellow has become addicted to sabotage work, and now he's doing psychological work on Xie Jian too.

Xie Jian laughed: "Under heaven, there may not be only one wise ruler."

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "Quite right. Forgive my bluntness, but Guo Guangbi is certainly not a wise ruler."

Xie Jian said no more, clasped his fists: "Farewell!"

Hu Xiaotian still saw Xie Jian off to the gate, watching him depart, and couldn't help but reveal a hint of mocking smile. Huo Shengnan walked over, curious: "How was it?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "How else could it be? They want to cooperate with us."

Huo Shengnan said: "Didn't they ask you for grain?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "What do you think?"

Huo Shengnan sighed: "The people of Xingzhou have suffered these years under Guo Guangbi's harm—I truly can't understand. He too came from common origins, initially rebelling because he couldn't bear Dakang's harsh taxes and miscellaneous levies, so he rose in resistance. Yet after becoming a leader, he disregards the people's suffering, becoming even more brutal than those former usurpers."

Hu Xiaotian said: "It's hard for a person not to forget their original intent. When Guo Guangbi became a leader, he already felt he had separated himself from others—he never intended to be a hero saving people from fire and water; he merely wanted to be a bandit, burning, killing, looting everywhere to supply his own enjoyment!" In the history Hu Xiaotian knows well, such people are not uncommon.

Huo Shengnan said: "If they truly ally with Xichuan, the pressure on Yunyang will increase greatly."

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "That's natural. Li Tianheng will surely exert full effort to open the northeastern passage, while Xingzhou knows I won't cooperate with them, leaving only Xichuan as an option. For now, the only way to gain Xichuan's aid is to capture Yunyang—each takes what they need, and it's not a bad partnership."

Huo Shengnan said: "Should we notify the Yunyang side?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Su Yuchi is no ordinary person—he should have anticipated this long ago, and perhaps soon he'll send people seeking alliance."

At that moment, a delighted voice said: "Young Master, I'm back!"

Hu Xiaotian was slightly startled, but Liang Da Zhuang, carrying his pack and looking travel-worn, walked over. During Hu Xiaotian's time in Tianxiang State, Liang Da Zhuang had also left Dongliang Jun, saying he was returning to Kangdu to visit his hometown. Although his hometown now had few relatives, after being away so long, his longing for home grew strong.

After not seeing each other for a while, Liang Da Zhuang had actually grown noticeably fatter, his round face showing a fawning smile as he approached the two: "Young Master, General Huo."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "You just came back?"

Liang Da Zhuang nodded: "Just came back, Young Master, guess who I saw in Kangdu this time?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Who?"

Liang Da Zhuang said: "The Old Lady Xu!"

Hu Xiaotian exclaimed: "What did you say?"

Liang Da Zhuang said: "It's like this—I thought since I'm returning this trip, I should visit the old lady's grave to offer incense, but when I got there, I happened to meet someone sweeping the tomb—turns out it was the Old Lady Xu!" The Old Lady Xu he referred to was the matriarch of the Jinling Xu family, Old Lady Xu, Hu Xiaotian's maternal grandmother, whom Hu Xiaotian had never met. Only, why would this Old Lady Xu appear in Kangdu? Was it merely to sweep her daughter's grave? Or had she finally come to her conscience?

Two updates delivered. This chapter was also written while zoning out in class—Zhangyu clearly isn't going to be a good student! Early month, please guarantee monthly tickets! It's said each person can cast three votes! Also, the review section has a warm-up post for the event featuring the sleepless beauty—everyone can go check it out, pay more attention, more rewards, signed books and such are available! Specific event rules will be released soon! (To be continued~^~)