Chapter 1693

Hu Xiaotian deliberately said: "Where is Prince Yan now?"

Zan Buliu shook his head and said: "I don't know; with his ability, if he truly wanted to hide, no one would find him."

Hu Xiaotian had previously let Wesa control Zan Buliu's mind, knowing his words were likely true; his gaze fell on the grassland beneath the morning sun, and he whispered: "I suspect the Han'er Gold Tribe and Guo Guangbi's father and son are merely pawns being used; perhaps Dakang's forces are also involved behind the scenes."

Zan Buliu was also startled upon hearing this; the matter was more complicated than he had imagined.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Actually, any complicated matter can be resolved with the simplest method; help me tell them I agree to ally with them, and if my great army later attacks Ji City, I will not harm a single blade of grass on the Ankang Prairie, leaving this prairie for them." His words were spoken with lofty ambition.

Zan Buliu gazed at Hu Xiaotian; although Hu Xiaotian's influence had not yet reached here, his words did not sound boastful at all; Hu Xiaotian's resolute expression and confident voice inspired Zan Buliu from the heart with conviction, believing Hu Xiaotian possessed such qualifications and even greater ability.

Hu Xiaotian said to Zan Buliu: "Although Prince Yan is my sworn brother, that person is not easy to get along with; I have worked with him before and know his ferocity; I offer Zan brother a piece of advice." He paused, then emphasized: "He who seeks the tiger's skin!"

Zan Buliu pressed his lips, of course able to hear Hu Xiaotian's hint to him—that cooperating with Prince Yan Xue Shengjing is no different from seeking the tiger's skin. As for his knowledge of Xue Shengjing, Zan Buliu is not lacking compared to Hu Xiaotian; he smiled and said: "Young Master Hu, I will remember that saying."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "Zan brother, when will you depart?"

Zan Buliu said: "I am merely a merchant, not skilled in warfare, so it's best to withdraw as soon as possible."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Zan brother, is your trip to the Lan Kingdom solely for business?" He had already known Zan Buliu's purpose earlier; now he asked merely to test Zan Buliu's sincerity.

Zan Buliu's expression showed some hesitation, enough to guess his inner conflict at this moment.

Zan Buliu understood that to earn Hu Xiaotian's trust, his current performance alone was insufficient; Hu Xiaotian needed him to reveal news of Xue Shengjing. Although Zan Buliu acknowledged Hu Xiaotian's present strength, deep down he still feared Xue Shengjing. After hesitating for a while, he said: "To act upon another's trust is to be loyal." Though he did not explicitly say he served Prince Yan, this statement amounted to a confession.

Hu Xiaotian gave a slight smile and did not press further; Zan Buliu's having spoken to this extent was already no small feat. Looking down from the mountaintop, one could see many wagons and horses beginning to move in the Tanan Tribe, most of them elderly, weak, women, and children. Hu Xiaotian furrowed his brow and whispered: "Are they leaving?"

Zan Buliu said: "They are likely moving the elderly, weak, women, and children ahead of time, preparing for a decisive battle with the Han'er Gold Tribe."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I now understand your original intention in inviting me here; it is probably not to help me, nor to ally with me, but to use us as bait to draw the Han'er Gold Tribe's great army here."

Zan Buliu said admiringly: "Indeed, nothing can be hidden from you, my lord; however, the Tanan and Liejian Tribes truly have sincere intent to ally with you, and no one dares to underestimate your strength." He spoke without falsehood. With a force of fewer than sixty, they defeated over two thousand of the Han'er Gold Tribe—who would dare to look down on such a troop?

Hu Xiaotian said: "If I am not mistaken, news of our presence at Yingjian Valley should already have been spread; it won't be long before the Han'er Gold Tribe's great army comes here for revenge."

Zan Buliu said: "The Han'er Gold Tribe has provoked public anger; not only the Tanan and Liejian Tribes, but this time they have contacted the other five tribes of the Ankang Prairie, resolved to eradicate the Han'er Gold Tribe, this malignant tumor."

Hu Xiaotian returned to the tribe, seeing Hua Li conversing with Zong Tang; unexpectedly, this young chieftain spoke Chinese quite well. Upon seeing Hu Xiaotian return, Hua Li laughed, rose to his feet, placed his right hand over his heart, and bowed deeply to Hu Xiaotian, fully expressing his respect.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Chief, you are too kind."

Hua Li said: "Your party is our tribe's most honored guest."

Hu Xiaotian thought, "You're treating us as bait," and got straight to the point: "When will the Han'er Gold Tribe's forces arrive here?"

Hua Li's face showed surprise; he had thought he was doing this unbeknownst to gods and ghosts, but he did not expect that others had already seen through his intent. Hua Li said: "According to the latest scouting reports, the Han'er Gold side is still gathering troops and has not yet left the tribe."

Hu Xiaotian said: "According to your estimate, how large a force can the Han'er Gold side muster?"

Hua Li pondered and said: "Eight thousand to ten thousand."

Hu Xiaotian looked around and said: "How many troops do your Tanan and Liejian Tribes have combined?"

"Around four thousand, but with the other five tribes added we should have ten thousand, so we won't be outnumbered." Hua Li, perhaps noticing Hu Xiaotian's doubt, added: "We have already agreed that if the Han'er Gold Tribe sends troops to Yingjian Valley, they will immediately come to flank us, and together we will wipe out their army."

Although Hu Xiaotian believed Hua Li had already united the seven tribes, he lacked sufficient knowledge of their combat strength; moreover, circumstances change, who can guarantee that the other five tribes will arrive in time to join the attack when fighting breaks out? Furthermore, having contacted so many tribes, it is inevitable that some will lean toward the Han'er Gold Tribe; if any link fails, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Since the chief has made all arrangements, there should be nothing left for us here."

Hua Li heard this and was startled, not knowing what Hu Xiaotian meant.

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "Luring the enemy deep is indeed a good stratagem, but according to your plan it will inevitably be a bloody battle of flashing blades. I'm sorry, I have no interest in this vendetta."

Hua Li said: "The Han'er Gold people killed your followers and stole your fine horse; we share the same enemy!" In his view, Hu Xiaotian should stand with us in mutual hatred.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Who told you that?" From Hua Li's words it appears he has already guessed my identity.

Hua Li said: "How could such a big matter stay hidden? You have killed many of the Han'er Gold Tribe; under the current circumstances only we can help you, and only by cooperating can we defeat the Han'er Gold Tribe."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I am not unwilling to cooperate with you, but your battle plan has major flaws; even if your plan succeeds and you can muster the brave warriors of the seven tribes, you would still only number ten thousand, which offers no advantage over the Han'er Gold Tribe; moreover, as the Han'er Gold Tribe comes for revenge, their fury is united, while your seven tribes may not be of one heart."

Hua Li fell silent; what Hu Xiaotian said was indeed true. Such an alliance would be fine if it possessed overwhelming strength, but once the fighting stalemates or one side suffers excessive losses, it is not impossible that each tribe would seek to preserve its own strength as much as possible, avoiding unnecessary sacrifice.

Hu Xiaotian said: "We have already arrived at Yingjian Valley; if I am not mistaken, you have already leaked this news to the Han'er Gold Tribe, meaning your purpose has been fulfilled, and we naturally have lost our value as tools."

Hua Li said: "Do you wish to leave?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "It's not that we want to leave; if we wanted to go, why would we have come in the first place? I merely feel that a head‑on clash may not secure victory; you spread the news, drawing the Han'er Gold Tribe's main force here to pin them down, while we can send a detachment to strike their rear when they march out, attacking their home base."

Hua Li's face showed excitement, clearly moved by Hu Xiaotian's words; in truth, these Dangyi tribesmen are mostly brave but lacking in wisdom, and Hu Xiaotian's strategy is not profoundly mysterious, yet to Hua Li it seems almost supernatural in its cleverness.

Hua Li pondered and said: "We can send someone to contact the Enke Tribe to attack their base while they are out on campaign."

Hu Xiaotian said: "The Han'er Gold Tribe likely has experts lying in wait; to be safe, we also need someone to infiltrate them beforehand, coordinating with you from inside and out."

Hua Li said: "I am quite familiar with their internal situation, but who should we send?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I will go!"

The appearance of Monk Bu Wu made Hu Xiaotian realize that the earlier massacre on the Ankang Prairie was not so simple, and the current tribal conflict could indeed be exploited; he did not approve of Hua Li's plan to mass troops and fight the Han'er Gold Tribe to the death at Yingjian Valley, for though the two sides' strength is not vastly different, even victory would be hard won, and moreover a war can decide victory or defeat yet still fail to reveal the truth behind it.

Hu Xiaotian decided to seize this opportunity to go to the Han'er Gold Tribe to investigate internal details, striving to uncover the truth of the matter.

Going to the Han'er Gold Tribe does not require many people; besides the guide Hua Li assigned them, Hu Xiaotian only brought Xiong Tianba along—this lad is bold, martial, and impulsive; apart from Hu Xiaotian, no one can restrain him.

Tang Qingxuan, Wesa, Zong Tang, Liang Yinghao, and the others remained at Yingjian Valley. Although everyone was very nervous about Hu Xiaotian's risky venture, they still chose to obey.

Today's Monthly Ticket sales are rising slowly; please support the Monthly Ticket. As for when the Medical Union will conclude, Zhangyu will finish filling the pits, and the earliest estimate is the end of August, so nobody needs to worry about an abrupt ending. (To be continued~^~)