Chapter 1570

After Qin Yangming's army stationed three days north of Xingzhou, it finally withdrew; at the same time, the tense situation at the Nanyang Water Fortress eased, Li Yongfu's Yongjiang navy voluntarily withdrew, and the news that Hu Xiaotian had been ennobled as King of Zhenhai spread across the world in just a few days. Some said Hu Xiaotian and the Yongyang Princess had put aside their past grudges, some said his grievances were finally vindicated, some said the Da Yong court, pressured, had to adopt a appeasement policy to stabilize Hu Xiaotian, and some even claimed there had never been any hostility between Hu Xiaotian and the Yongyang Princess, that all previous events were merely a fabrication they created. Opinions varied, but everyone agreed on one point: Hu Xiaotian and Dakang had joined forces again.

Plans are no match for changing circumstances; the Da Yong side, forced by this pressure, had no choice but to retreat, for if they insisted on storming Xingzhou, they would inevitably face the alliance of Hu Xiaotian and Dakang. In fact, the Da Yong Emperor Xue Daohong's stance on attacking Xingzhou was not resolute; had it not been for Li Chenzhou's earnest advocacy to take Xingzhou, he would not have initiated this war.

Winter is approaching, and this will be Da Yong's coldest winter this year; although the northern fighting has temporarily entered winter lull, the Black Hu people have not ceased reinforcing, expanding their strength centered on Embrace Blue Pass, foretelling that come spring, when the ice thaws, another great battle will surely occur.

Fighting two wars simultaneously, making enemies of the powerful neighbors to the south and north, is clearly an unwise choice. Just then, Da Yong experienced a nationwide-shaking assassination attempt: Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard Yuan Jiang, together with twelve on-duty guards, plotted to kill Emperor Xue Daohong. Although the assassination failed, it also frightened the emperor greatly, prompting a large-scale investigation. Because the case implicated many, nearly a hundred people were successively jailed for investigation. This assassination also redirected Xue Daohong's main focus inward, making him realize his regime was still unstable.

Although Guo Guangbi lost his base in Xingzhou, for him it was unavoidable; had he held out waiting, his fate would have been annihilation. Relying on grain supplied by Da Yong, he led his main forces westward to Jicheng, using it as a base to expand westward, at least gaining a respite and escaping the predicament of being sandwiched between Dakang, Da Yong, and Hu Xiaotian.

After this war, Su Yuchi made everyone around recognize his formidable combat strength; now that Hu Xiaotian has accepted the title of King of Zhenhai, a stone in his heart has finally settled.

Although Hu Xiaotian did not obtain Yunyang as he wished, Xingzhou is still a considerable gain; holding Xingzhou means more than just acquiring a city—it means he now controls the entire lower Yongjiang, with Xingzhou in hand he can check the Nanyang Water Fortress to the east and exert pressure on Yunyang to the south. One could say Hu Xiaotian is the biggest beneficiary of this war.

The greatest loss befell the Xichuan side. Li Yan arrived with a hundred-thousand-strong army, mighty and imposing, yet suffered a complete defeat at the hands of Su Yuchi despite holding absolute numerical superiority. Although Li Yan tried to shift the main blame onto Yan Hu Cheng, he himself understood that as commander-in-chief he could not easily disentangle himself from responsibility. He led the remnants to retreat to Yangpu southwest of Yunyang, while sending someone to report the details to Xizhou and await Li Tianheng's final decision.

On the Yuejiang Tower in Xizhou, Xichuan Grand Marshal Li Tianheng stood silently, his adopted son Yang Haoran guarding behind him. The news of Yunyang's defeat had reached here; the war that Li Tianheng had once placed high hopes in proved his army was no match for Su Yuchi. Li Tianheng thought of Zhang Ziqian. If Zhang Ziqian were still alive, he should have a way to dispel the present crisis and help him emerge from the predicament.

These Xichuan troops had not fought for a long time. Zhang Ziqian once said, "Train troops for a thousand days, use them for a moment," but training troops is certainly not about indulging them; it is about forging them through constant combat. The Battle of Yunyang proved his words entirely correct— I have been overly cautious in many matters. Had I heeded his advice, seizing Yunyang while Dakang was at its weakest, or taking Redwood River sooner, I would not now find myself cut off from north‑south routes by others.

Li Tianheng sighed and said, "Haoran, is the news you received true?"

Yang Haoran nodded and said, "Quite true. Hu Xiaotian has accepted Dakang's investiture and become King of Zhenhai."

A bitter smile curled Li Tianheng's lips. Fate plays tricks—remember when, at my fiftieth birthday, Hu Xiaotian came representing Dakang to confer upon me the title of Prince of a Different Surname, which I bluntly refused; now that very title rests on Hu Xiaotian's head. Could it have been predestined? In just a few years, Hu Xiaotian's rise has been as swift and radiant as a new star. He walked a few steps forward to the railing; the winter wind brought the damp chill of the river, and Li Tianheng couldn't help but shiver, feeling a cold from deep within, he pulled his black cloak tighter, his burly frame seeming wrapped in a thick mass of clouds.

"What do you think?" Li Tianheng's gaze was as dim as the sky.

Yang Haoran said, "Dakang cleared Hu Xiaotian's name and granted him the title of Prince of a Different Surname merely as a pacifying gesture; it does not mean their estrangement has been completely erased. Hu Xiaotian is ambitious, and with his present strength he need not look to Dakang's face to act; his agreement stems solely from his assessment of the current situation."

"What is the current situation?" Li Tianheng asked this question, and his heart suddenly felt a pang of sorrow, involuntarily thinking of Zhang Ziqian again; this was a question he used to ask Zhang Ziqian most often in the past, but now Zhang Ziqian has vanished into immortality, and he has also lost one of his most important mentors and friends beside him.

Yang Haoran said: "I, the child, dare to speak a few sentences; please correct me, Father Commander, if I am wrong." Initially, for exposing Zhao Yanjian and Lin Zefeng's rebellion and earning merit, Li Tianheng adopted him as an adopted son, valued him greatly, and within a few short years he became one of Li Tianheng's most relied-upon young generals. After Zhang Ziqian was killed, Yang Haoran became Li Tianheng's most important strategist at his side, because he is clear-minded and has a strong grasp of the overall situation; Li Tianheng's esteem for him even surpasses that for his own son.

Li Tianheng nodded, indicating that Yang Haoran should boldly speak his opinion.

Yang Haoran said: "In the Battle of Yunyang, Su Yuchi fully demonstrated his formidable combat strength, especially the Heaven-Shaking Crossbow and the Tortoise-Shell War Chariots; these two likely also startled Hu Xiaotian. His original target should have been Yunyang, and upon realizing Su Yuchi's prowess, he shifted his aim to seize Xingzhou. Guo Guangbi's retreat was an unavoidable choice; if he had insisted on staying in Xingzhou, even without anyone attacking him, he and his men would have faced starvation, so he could only move westward to seek survival."

Li Tianheng snorted coldly; he utterly despised Guo Guangbi. This time Guo Guangbi promised to join forces with our side to attack Yunyang, but in the end he didn't send a single soldier, and Li Tianheng blamed our side's crushing defeat on Guo Guangbi.

Yang Haoran said: "As for Da Yong, they originally wanted to support Guo Guangbi behind the scenes, hoping to get a share from the Yunyang battle. Guo Guangbi is also a two-faced person; superficially he formed an alliance with us, promising to join forces to attack Yunyang, but secretly he also reached an agreement with Da Yong. I think even if they seized Yunyang, they might not honor the promise to hand it over to us. Da Yong should have supplied Guo Guangbi with ample provisions; if not for their aid, Guo Guangbi would not have been able to carry out this transfer."

Li Tianheng raised his hand and heavily slapped the railing, venting his inner frustration.

Yang Haoran said: "Da Yong gave away all that grain for nothing, yet they failed to obtain Yunyang and also failed to seize Xingzhou. From their prior troop movements, it seems they intended to advance via water routes and launch a strong assault on Xingzhou, but Dakang unexpectedly bestowed a title on Hu Xiaotian at this moment, and Hu Xiaotian, compelled by circumstances, went along with it and accepted the appointment."

Li Tianheng nodded; Yang Haoran's analysis of the situation was meticulous and sound. He furrowed his brows and asked: "According to you, what should we do?"

Yang Haoran said: "A forceful assault on Yunyang is no longer possible; we have suffered heavy casualties this time, so our only plan now is to withdraw the troops, rest and recuperate, and then plot a grand strategy."

Li Tianheng pressed his lips; initially he had repeatedly refused Zhang Ziqian's suggestion to leave Sichuan under the pretext of resting and recuperating, nurturing essence and energy, which led to the present predicament. After Zhang Ziqian's death, the situation deteriorated rapidly, and he finally realized that his own indecisiveness was the true cause of the predicament. If he continued to be conservative, Xichuan would only decline further; the southern and northwestern routes are Xichuan's two most important economic arteries, now both under others' control. Dakang had long blocked his eastern border, and now only the western side remains.

Yang Haoran said: "Father Commander, although the eastern, northern, and southern exits of Xichuan are blocked, there is still the west; our current plan should be to vigorously develop relations with Shajia, and moreover Xichuan and Shajia are originally connected by marriage, so they should mutually support each other."

Li Tianheng indifferently shook his head and said: "The people of Shajia cannot be trusted; they have always coveted the lands of the Central Plains. Do you think they would send help in the snow at a time like this?" A faint bitter smile appeared at the corner of his mouth: "They would only kick someone when they're down."

Yang Haoran said: "The situation in Xichuan is not as pessimistic as Father Commander imagines; although Yunyang suffered defeat and morale was somewhat affected, it has not damaged Xichuan's foundation. Even if the Shajia people cannot be trusted, there is still a chance to break through in the Hongmu Chuan region; although Hu Xiaotian superficially controls Hongmu Chuan, the Red Yi tribe may not all be sincerely submissive, and the Southern Yue state would not willingly see Hongmu Chuan fall into his hands. As long as we patiently seek, we will surely find an opportunity to break through."

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