Chapter 1559

Commander Guo Guangbi of Xingzhou sat on the reviewing platform, his features carved like knife and axe, devoid of expression; everything before him left him unable to feel glad. Not only were the drilling troops disorderly, but the soldiers wore helmets askew and armor crooked, showing fatigue; even the war drums sounded weak. In such a state, what's there to talk about fighting? Though Guo Guangbi felt disappointed, he was not angry; he blamed himself, not his men, for lacking clothes and food, with empty stomachs—what combat strength could there be?

Guo Guangbi could no longer bear watching his subordinates' performance; he slowly rose and walked down from the platform. His son Guo Shaoxiong, seeing his father suddenly leave, thought something major had happened, hurried after him and whispered, "Father Commander!"

Guo Guangbi raised his hand, signaling him not to follow.

The drill continued, but Guo Guangbi had already left the training ground; exiting it, his subordinates brought his yellow piebald horse, he mounted and was about to ride out of the city for a breather when a warrior galloped up, dismounted, knelt on one knee and said, "Report to the Grand Marshal, Mr. Xie has returned."

Hearing this, Guo Guangbi's tightly furrowed brows instantly relaxed; he flicked his whip at the horse's rump, and the mount neighed, galloping toward the marshal's residence.

After leaving Dongliang Jun, Xie Jian went straight to Yongdu; during this time he traveled day and night without sparing effort, becoming noticeably gaunt. When Guo Guangbi returned, Xie Jian was eating; hearing his footsteps, he hurriedly rose and bowed respectfully.

Guo Guangbi stepped forward, gripped his arm, and said, "Sir, no need for much ceremony; eat quickly, we can talk after you're full."

Xie Jian nodded, feeling a warm surge; though Guo Guangbi was cruel and bloodthirsty, he had been good to him—since following him, he had been heavily trusted, never doubted, treated with the honor due a national scholar, and a gentleman dies for his true friend. Although Xie Jian was not optimistic about Xingzhou's future, to repay Guo Guangbi's trust he would devote himself utterly until death.

Xie Jian finished the thin porridge in his bowl, took the towel Guo Guangbi handed him personally, and wiped his mouth clean.

Guo Guangbi eagerly asked, "How?"

Xie Jian smiled: "On my trip to Yongdu I not only met General Li Chen Zhou, but also, through his introduction, gained an audience with the Da Yong emperor."

Hearing this, Guo Guangbi felt a rise of anticipation and whispered, "Has the recent troop buildup at the Nanyang Water Stronghold been for this reason?"

Xie Jian shook his head: "The troop increase at the Nanyang Water Stronghold has nothing to do with this."

Guo Guangbi stared, startled: "What?"

Xie Jian said: "Hu Xiaotian refused our request to join forces. His true aim is to reap the benefits of others' labor—he not only wants to take Yunyang, but also to seize Xingzhou."

Guo Guangbi snorted coldly: "Pure fantasy!" Actually he had long been mentally prepared for this; if it were him, he'd do the same.

Xie Jian said: "In his eyes we are worthless, but Da Yong does not see it that way. They have already agreed to allocate grain, fodder, and military funds to us, giving us all possible support."

Guo Guangbi asked: "How could they be so kind?" There's no free lunch under heaven; he knew this well, and Da Yong wouldn't help them for no reason—behind this aid must lie their own purpose.

Xie Jian said: "Da Yong put forward two conditions: first, capture Yunyang and present its city to them as a token of allegiance; second, the Grand Marshal must agree to lead all his brothers in accepting surrender, after which Xingzhou will be incorporated into Da Yong's territory."

Upon hearing this, Guo Guangbi sucked in a cold breath and slowly closed his eyes. This meant he would have to bow to Da Yong as a vassal; though he had anticipated it, hearing Xie Jian say it still felt like a slap. These years he had labored hard, yet he was a regional hegemon who once enjoyed the glory of a single call summoning myriad responses—now that situation was short-lived; the rapid buildup of troops soon left him strapped for military supplies, and if he persisted, his brothers would soon face empty pots—but surrendering to Da Yong would mean he could never again hope to rule the world.

Xie Jian gazed at Guo Guangbi with worry; he still understood his lord—beneath Guo Guangbi's cruel, bloodthirsty exterior lay a proud heart, making it extremely difficult for him to lower his pride and submit to Da Yong. Xie Jian feared Guo Guangbi would refuse, rejecting this sole chance, and not everyone believed they still had value.

Guo Guangbi whispered: "You want us to bleed and sweat to take Yunyang and offer it to them as a token of allegiance? What if we fail to capture Yunyang?"

Xie Jian said nothing; if they failed to take Yunyang, their sacrifice would be wasted, and in Da Yong's eyes they would naturally have no value left.

Guo Guangbi paced a few steps: "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; Hu Xiaotian is a fierce tiger, Da Yong a hungry wolf—none of them are good, and they'd love to swallow us whole, hide and bones."

Xie Jian said: "Da Yong has recently reinforced the Nanyang Water Stronghold, while Dakang has done the same at Yangquan; clearly they are coordinating, and recent reports say Dakang and Da Yong have decided to join forces against Hu Xiaotian."

Guo Guangbi snorted: "Hu Xiaotian probably won't be so easy to deal with."

Xie Jian said: "Yunyang is everyone's objective; the rumor of a joint attack is false, the real purpose is to pressure Hu Xiaotian through this talk, deterring him from acting rashly. Though Yunyang is a fat prize, not just anyone can simply take a bite."

Guo Guangbi asked: "When will Da Yong's promised grain and fodder arrive?"

Xie Jian said: "Preparations have begun; the first batch of grain and fodder will be in place within seven days, with more to follow thereafter."

Guo Guangbi said: "Regardless of what comes later, first we take Yunyang—whoever gives us food, we'll give them Yunyang city." After a pause he added: "Li Tianheng of Xichuan has already sent word that they will stir up hostilities in half a month, hoping we will fully cooperate."

Xie Jian said: "Su Yuchi is no simple figure either; this battle may prove far tougher than expected."

A force of five thousand troops garrisoned Dongluo Storehouse; its walls had been freshly repaired, like a massive bastion rising southeast of Shaoyuan City. Chang Fanqi ascended Dongluo Storehouse's walls again, feeling an indescribable excitement; he had formerly been its commander. Hu Xiaotian being able to restore this place to him proves his trust. Yet the main purpose of this visit is to create a crisis, giving Da Yong the illusion that they intend to attack Shaoyuan.

Dongluo Storehouse is no longer a grain and fodder hub; Hu Xiaotian had once agreed with Da Yong to borrow Dongluo Storehouse for five years, and half that time has already passed. Chang Fanqi does not know whether Hu Xiaotian truly intends to return it to Da Yong. Dongluo Storehouse guards the throat of Da Yong's southern advance; one could say Hu Xiaotian's ability to gain a firm foothold in the lower Yong River stems from his control of Dongluo Storehouse. If he returns it, he will face a position with no defenses to rely on, once again exposing Dongliang Jun to Da Yong.

Chang Fanqi had just arrived at Dongluo Storehouse when an old friend came seeking audience—this was his former deputy Huang Xincheng, also his closest friend; after the Dongluo Storehouse battle Huang Xincheng was also stripped of rank and reduced to commoner, though he fortunately kept his life; now he lives with his family in Shaoyuan, still unemployed.

This visit too was made in the capacity of an old friend paying a call.

Chang Fanqi invited Huang Xincheng into his manor; old friends meeting inevitably drink heartily. After three rounds, both were slightly tipsy. Huang Xincheng set down his cup slowly and said: "Brother Chang, I thought after the Dongluo Storehouse battle we would never meet again in this life, yet here we are sharing a drink—truly fate's trick!"

Chang Fanqi replied: "Indeed, fate's trick; now we may be friends, but we each serve our own masters." He felt wary of Huang Xincheng's purpose in coming, doubting his appearance at Dongluo Storehouse was mere coincidence.

Huang Xincheng chuckled: "Brother Chang, no need to overthink; I am merely a commoner with no official duty, and I came mainly to see you, my old friend, and renew our old affection."

Chang Fanqi said: "My original choice implicated many friends and brothers, but loyalty and filial piety cannot both be fulfilled; for my mother's life, I could only act thus."

Huang Xincheng said: "Qin Yangming remains his grand general; only we brothers have been implicated, and I won't hide it—I came to see you because Qin Yangming forced me to."

A bitter smile flickered at Chang Fanqi's lips; indeed, from Huang Xincheng's arrival he had already guessed as much.

Huang Xincheng said: "We are brothers through thick and thin; I won't beat around the bush—Qin Yangming threatened my family's lives to make me come here, and he gave me a letter to deliver to you."

Chang Fanqi took the letter, didn't even look at it, and tossed it into the candle flame to burn.

Huang Xincheng exclaimed in astonishment: "Why don't you read what it says?"

Chang Fanqi shook his head: "No need to look; the letter's contents aren't important."

Huang Xincheng sighed: "Indeed, it's nothing more than some words urging you to surrender."

Chang Fanqi said: "If I'm not mistaken, someone has already reported your arrival at Dongluo Storehouse to my lord."

Huang Xincheng blinked, puzzled: "Could Hu Xiaotian have sent people to watch you?"

Chang Fanqi said: "My lord is open and upright—how would he resort to such petty tricks? Qin Yangming's having you deliver the letter is a pretense; his real aim is to use this to sow suspicion, and I suspect he has already had word of our meeting sent to Dongliang Jun."

Huang Xincheng regretted deeply: "It's all my fault; I've brought harm upon you—I never should have come."

Chang Fanqi said: "You made an innocent mistake; Qin Yangming can't harm me—I can see through his clumsy ruse, and how could I hide it from my lord?"

Second update posted, please support with Monthly Ticket! (To be continued...)