Chapter 1550

The Sha Zhou Ranch is actually a grassland beside the Yong Jiang; it's not far from Da Yong's Nanyang Water Stockade. However, Hu Xiaotian and Da Yong have now signed a

Stepping onto this plain where the water grass was lush and rich, one instantly felt a sense of expansive openness. Since the Tang father and son took refuge with Hu Xiaotian, he entrusted them with the task of breeding warhorses; this place had been personally selected by Tang Wen Zheng. The horses Hu Xiaotian imported through various channels were first sent here for the Tang father and son to train, before being dispatched to the army for cavalry use. The Tang father and son's skill in judging and training horses was truly first‑rate in the world. Though outsiders considered Hu Xiaotian's most formidable force to be the Yongjiang Naval Brigade, his cavalry strength had also risen rapidly over the past two years, largely due to the Tang father and son's diligent assistance.

When Hu Xiaotian landed at the Sandy Islet dock, Tang Wen Zheng came to greet him with his third son, Tang Tiexin.

Seeing Hu Xiaotian approach, father and son were very respectful. Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "Uncle Tang, please don't stand on ceremony with me. I treat Tiehan and Tiexin like brothers; if you're too polite, you'll be treating me as an outsider."

Tang Wen Zheng smiled, but inside he understood that times had changed; the once‑profligate son of a Ministry of Revenue minister had become a renowned regional overlord, and moreover the lord whom the Tang family served. He dared not regard him as a junior, gazing at the spirited Hu Xiaotian. Tang Wen Zheng couldn't help recalling the conflict that had arisen years ago over his daughter; he never imagined the feud between the two families could be resolved, and that Hu Xiaotian bore no grudge—not only did he not retaliate, he even took in their whole family, which was already a tremendous kindness.

Hu Xiaotian took the reins from Tang Tiexin, swung onto a white horse—the very finest Night‑Lion Chestnut recently in the horse farm, handsome in build, pure white from head to toe, without a single stray hair.

Hu Xiaotian mounted the horse and, accompanied by the Tang father and son, headed toward the horse farm. He asked Tang Tiexin, "Where are your two older brothers?"

Tang Tiexin laughed, "My lord, my elder and second brothers have gone to Wuxing Commandery. Recently many horses have arrived there by sea, and they've gone to collect the cargo."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, his mind turning to where Long Xi Yue was.

Tang Wen Zheng guessed what he was thinking and smiled, "The Princess and my daughter went together to Dingdong Spring to play. It's about ten‑plus li from here; my lord, would you like to go now?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head. "No need; let's go check on the situation at your horse farm."

As winter's onset drew near, the Sandy Islet horse farm had entered the withered‑grass season. Tang Wen Zheng and his son took Hu Xiaotian first to see how the horses were being pastured, then to the paddock to observe horse‑training, and finally to the fodder field to inspect the stores.

The Sandy Islet horse farm currently has a thousand fine horses; at its peak it can hold two thousand, a number that shifts with the seasons and military demand. Tang Wen Zheng said, "Actually the finest horses come from Lan Kingdom. Within Lan Kingdom, the largest oasis, Langmu, covers less than a tenth of the nation's territory, yet it produces the purest‑blooded Lan horses. This breed is hardy and alert, excelling at hauling heavy loads and long‑distance raids far beyond ordinary mounts. The horses we have introduced so far have mostly come via Black Hu; one land nurtures one specialty. Though these horses are tall and strong‑pulling, their speed falls far short of the Lan horses."

Hu Xiaotian asked, "Why not consider importing directly from Lan Kingdom?"

Tang Wen Zheng laughed, "My lord, you've forgotten—the western trade route was cut off by the bandits of Prosperous Prefecture. They act without principle, burning, killing, looting, committing every evil; who would dare send merchants along that road now?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded; indeed, Guo Guangbi of Prosperous Prefecture and his ilk had become a malignant tumor on the western passage. If not removed in time, they would surely hinder his development. Thinking of the impending war, he felt a glimmer of hope, wishing that the three sides would cripple each other, after which he could step in and reap the benefits as the fisherman.

As they chatted, two riders appeared in the distance, one ahead of the other. In front was Long Xi Yue, riding Little Hui like a gray bolt of lightning, having already pulled far ahead of Tang Qingxuan, who rode a reddish‑brown steed. Only when she drew near did she realize it was Hu Xiaotian arriving, and she reined in her horse in delighted surprise.

Hu Xiaotian walked over, reached out, and helped her down from the horse, smiling, "You're having a great time—looks like you're about to forget me."

Long Xi Yue smiled sweetly and said softly, "How could I?"

Little Gray, seeing its master, was also very affectionate, wagging its big ears back and forth. Hu Xiaotian patted its head, and at that moment Tang Qingxuan caught up, seeing Hu Xiaotian's flushed cheeks—whether from riding hard or from shyness, she whispered, "My lord has arrived!"

Hu Xiaotian smiled, "Miss Tang, you're being formal with me."

Tang Qingxuan grew increasingly embarrassed; just then Tang Tiexin arrived with a few beggar‑gang members. Hu Xiaotian recognized Lu Sanfan among them—these disciples had spent the past two days in Dongliang Jun accompanying Elder Ninth‑Bag Xie Zhenhai for treatment, and Hu Xiaotian had dealt with them before. This time they had come to report the situation to Chief Long Xi Yue.

Lu Sanfan's face was grim; after exchanging greetings, he told Long Xi Yue, "Chief, we've found no clues around Sandy Angle Town, but today we heard that the Shao Yuan and Jingbian sub‑rudders of the gang were attacked in succession, leaving three fellow members dead, two of them Eighth‑Bag Elders."

Long Xi Yue's heart sank at the news; Hu Xiaotian, standing aside, felt it inappropriate to voice his opinion, since he was merely an outsider.

Long Xi Yue asked, "Have you found out who did it?"

Lu Sanfan replied, "The victims' wounds differ—two were killed by hidden arrows, one by a single sword blow to the neck. Based on what we know so far, members of the Falling Cherry Palace might be involved in the assassination."

Long Xi Yue asked, "What grudge do we have with the Falling Cherry Palace?"

Lu Sanfan said, "In the past there's never been any, but this matter isn't yet certain. If we discover it's linked to them, we will surely raze the Falling Cherry Palace."

Long Xi Yue said, "Let everyone stay alert and quickly uncover the evidence."

Lu Sanfan continued, "Elder Qin has already arrived at Sandy Angle Town; he asked me to inform the chief that he hopes she can spare time today, around the afternoon, to meet him at Sandy Angle Town." This Elder Qin is Qin Yangming, a Ninth‑Bag Elder of the Beggar's Gang and also the chief of its northern branch. His status in the gang is high; as the world's largest fraternity, the Beggar's Gang is divided by the Yongjiang River into north and south, both under the chief's unified command yet each enjoying considerable autonomy. Qin Yangming, as the northern chief, holds a position equivalent to vice‑chief.

Regardless of Elder Qin's age and authority, knowing that Long Xi Yue had become the Beggar's Gang's new chief, he had not come to pay his respects in person; instead he had others request that she go to Sandy Angle Town to see him—a breach of etiquette that Lu Sanfan understood, which is why his expression turned a little awkward when he spoke of it.

Hu Xiaotian felt a twinge of annoyance but held his tongue, not wanting the beggar‑gang disciples to sense that he was meddling too much in their affairs.

After some thought, Long Xi Yue said, "Please go tell Elder Qin that I will head to Sandy Angle Town before the afternoon."

Lu Sanfan replied, "Then I'll go report this to Elder Qin at once."

After Lu Sanfan left, Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but say, "Xi Yue, you shouldn't have agreed to go to Sandy Angle Town—Qin Yangming is clearly trying to make things difficult for you."

Long Xi Yue smiled and replied, "Elder Qin is a senior in the gang; it's only proper for me to see him. Besides, this is the Sandy Islet horse farm—he may not be willing to come here. Sandy Angle Town is not far off, and it's where Elder Xie was attacked; I'm also curious what actually happened that day."

Hu Xiaotian said, "If you really want to go, I'll accompany you."

Long Xi Yue nodded, then immediately shook her head, "Wouldn't it be inappropriate for you to go? They might think you're meddling too much in gang affairs."

Hu Xiaotian said, "I'll just pose as your guard; no matter what happens, I'll stay silent."

After thinking it over, Long Xi Yue finally agreed.

After lunch, Long Xi Yue set out for Sandy Angle Town under the escort of six warriors, which included Hu Xiaotian in disguise; Tang Qingxuan was responsible for showing the way. Sandy Angle Town borders the Sandy Islet horse farm, about twenty li from the farm's residential area.

Long Xi Yue arrived as promised at Sandy Angle Town; upon entering the town, Lu Sanfan came to greet them and led them to the Jiaji Tofu Workshop, where the Beggar's Gang's northern chief, Qin Yangming, was leisurely seated on a long bench, lazily basking in the sun, a pipe dangling from his hand, his eyes half‑closed, occasionally exhaling a puff of thick white smoke.

Seeing his appearance, Hu Xiaotian realized that Qin Yangming was almost certainly going to make things difficult for Long Xi Yue today.

Seeing them approach, Qin Yangming tapped the ash from his pipe against his shoe, rose, and walked toward Long Xi Yue with a swaying gait, clasping his fists and saying, "Qin Yangming pays his respects to the chief!" The fact that Long Xi Yue possesses the dog‑beating staff and the iron rice bowl is well known throughout the Beggar's Gang; even if Qin Yangming harbored resentment, he could not deny her current status.

Long Xi Yue replied with a gentle smile, "Elder Qin, you're being too formal."

Qin Yangming's sharp gaze swept over the people behind Long Xi Yue as he said, "I have a few words I'd like to speak privately with the chief; the rest of you had better withdraw."

Morning rise, first update written—Zhangyu, you're diligent enough! (To be continued~^~)