Chapter 1732

Hu Xiaotian nodded. A lack of population was indeed his biggest problem; after his territory expanded rapidly, this problem became increasingly evident. Population is the foundation of productivity and combat strength; a state takes the people as its foundation. Without the foundation, there's no point talking about development. This is also why Hu Xiaotian is pessimistic about Xichuan. A country with a lagging economy and declining fortunes still has a chance to turn things around, but if it loses its people, it becomes a rootless tree, water without source. Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish—if you have the pot but no ingredients, how can you cook?

Zhuge Guanqi said: "The reason Dakang opened a route for Xichuan refugees to flow out is fundamentally to shift the pressure of Xichuan refugees onto Your Lordship. Your decision may stall or even reverse the economy in the short term, but in the long run it is beneficial and harmless to you."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Brother Guanqi's words have opened my eyes. These days I have been hesitating whether I should stop taking in refugees."

Zhuge Guanqi said: "I have calculated with Tianxing; taking in 300,000 refugees poses no problem, provided we use the treasury silver to purchase grain on a large scale."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "Since the Golden Jade Alliance was formed, it has never once exerted its power. Tianxiang and Bohai are lands of fish and rice; I will immediately arrange for us to purchase grain at a price ten percent above market value."

Zhuge Guanqi laughed and said: "My lord, why raise the price by ten percent?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Although they are allies, we cannot let them suffer losses. The need for grain is not only ours; large areas of the Central Plains have suffered disaster, so this year's grain prices will surely rise. Brother Guanqi, please help me draft a notice: first, pay attention to soothing the emotions of the local populace, letting them believe that our taking in refugees will not affect their normal lives; second, make all refugees understand that we will do everything to settle them properly, but also let them know that nothing can be achieved overnight and we need some time; third, require all incoming refugees to obey our regulations—anyone who dares to commit wrongdoing will be severely punished by law."

Zhuge Guanqi nodded repeatedly; the several points Hu Xiaotian mentioned are especially important.

Hu Xiaotian said: "West of Yunyang, the vast expanse of northeastern Xichuan has practically become our pocket. Because the roads are cut off, Li Tianheng's troops cannot immediately clear a path to reach there. The two cities of Fangjing and Qinglan in northeastern Xichuan have been almost razed to the ground. I plan to station troops there to reside, and after the situation stabilizes, help the displaced rebuild their homes."

Xizhou City also suffered severe damage in this earthquake. During these days, Li Tianheng has been busy rescuing and relief work, leaving him utterly exhausted. His strategist Yao Wenqing quietly came before him.

Li Tianheng glanced at him and said, "How is it?" His voice was weak and listless; having heard too much bad news lately, he had grown somewhat numb.

Yao Wenqing said: "All the envoys we sent out to seek aid have been rejected."

This was as Li Tianheng expected; he smiled faintly and said: "Everyone around is waiting to see us fall into a pit; who would bring charcoal in the snow?"

Yao Wenqing said: "The roads to Fangjing and Qinglan have collapsed in multiple places; clearing them would likely take at least half a year or more, and most of the refugees there have already fled."

Li Tianheng's brow twitched, and he lowered his voice: "Did Hu Xiaotian take Yunyang?"

Yao Wenqing nodded and said: "Su Yuchi refused to let the refugees enter the pass, provoking them to storm the city. Su Yuchi ordered the refugees to be shot, which further stirred internal discontent and sparked a mutiny. Fortunately, Hu Xiaotian promptly sent troops to quell the internal rebellion, and for this achievement Dakang richly rewarded him."

Li Tianheng gave a hollow chuckle, his laugh sounding inexplicably oppressed; after a long while the laughter ceased: "Do you really see it that way?"

Yao Wenqing said: "Grand Marshal, there must be something fishy about this, but since the matter has already become fact, investigating the process is of little significance."

Li Tianheng sighed and said: "Hu Xiaotian is truly blessed by fortune; this time he gained Yunyang without losing a single soldier, and even eliminated Su Yuchi—now the entire Yongjiang basin has no one who can rival him."

Yao Wenqing said: "What he gained is not just Yunyang; Fangjing and Qinglan are practically wide open doors for him."

Li Tianheng, unwilling to accept, said: "The roads are sealed; our troops simply cannot reach there now, so we can only resign ourselves to this reality."

Yao Wenqing said: "Very few in the world have the courage to take in refugees."

Li Tianheng said: "He is using this opportunity to win popular support, while Dakang seeks to shift the pressure onto them. Hu Xiaotian indeed has extraordinary boldness, actually refusing no refugee who comes—does he not fear being dragged into a quagmire?"

Yao Wenqing said: "I have also looked into this; I heard that Hu Xiaotian, in order to shelter those disaster victims, specially demarcated several large separate zones within his territory, unified management, so as not to affect the normal lives of the local populace while giving them the utmost assistance."

Li Tianheng frowned and asked: "Can his grain reserves possibly hold up?"

Yao Wenqing said: "It is said that the number of civilians fleeing to Hu Xiaotian's territory has already exceeded 100,000 and is still increasing; I originally thought Hu Xiaotian could not possibly take in refugees at his resting place, but so far there is no sign of it stopping."

Li Tianheng said: "That means he has found a grain source." He paused, then added: "Did his allies lend a hand?"

Yao Wenqing nodded and said: "Grand Marshal, you hit the nail on the head. According to our current intelligence, Bohai and Tianxiang have both sold Hu Xiaotian a considerable amount of grain."

Upon hearing this, Li Tianheng felt anger rise from his heart: "We sent envoys with kind words, yet they refuse to lend us even a grain of rice."

Yao Wenqing sighed and said: "After all, Xichuan is not their ally."

Li Tianheng said: "I truly do not know what ability Hu Xiaotian has that makes them utterly devoted to him."

Yao Wenqing said: "Grand Marshal, how should we respond?"

Li Tianheng sighed, burdened with internal and external worries, feeling mentally exhausted. Since Hu Xiaotian took Hongmu Chuan, Xichuan has been tightly trapped like a tied sack; now Yunyang also fell into Hu Xiaotian's hands. Without question, his next move will be to gradually annex our territory. This earthquake has left northeastern Xichuan isolated and helpless, and Hu Xiaotian has seized the opportunity to incorporate that land into his domain. Meanwhile, Dakang has stationed troops in the southeast, ever ready to march on Xiezhou. Li Tianheng cannot help but recall Zhang Ziqian; if he were alive, perhaps he could still offer some advice, but in the present situation, none of his subordinates can compare to Zhang Ziqian.

Li Tianheng looked at Yao Wenqing and said: "You ask me?"

Yao Wenqing's face showed embarrassment; he also sensed the displeasure in Li Tianheng's tone. In Shu there is no great general like Liao Hua to lead the vanguard; his appointment as chief strategist was made out of necessity. He knows his own abilities are inadequate, and compared to Zhang Ziqian, his talent and courage fall far short. Before Li Tianheng he always holds a deep reverence, daring not to lightly voice his own opinions.

Yao Wenqing said: "I humbly believe that the present plan can only be to surrender to Dakang as the best course…" As he spoke these words, his heart almost leapt out of his throat.

"No need to beat around the bush; just say what you have to say straight out."

Yao Wenqing said: "I humbly believe that the present plan can only be to surrender to Dakang as the best course…" As he spoke these words, his heart almost leapt out of his throat.

Li Tianheng's fierce gaze fell coldly on Yao Wenqing's face; Yao Wenqing was frightened and fell to his knees with a thud, saying: "I was just speaking offhand, Grand Marshal, please do not take offense…"

Li Tianheng slowly nodded and said: "I haven't blamed you; what are you afraid of?" He stepped back, sat down gloomily in the grand master's chair, and said softly: "Please rise."

Yao Wenqing furtively glanced at Li Tianheng with the corner of his eye, assured that he was not angry, then cautiously rose to his feet.

Li Tianheng said: "I still remember that on my fiftieth birthday, Hu Xiaotian came to confer the title of king under imperial orders; at that time Lin Zefeng and Zhao Yanjing plotted rebellion, hoping to take advantage of my lax defenses to seize me and rescue the Prince of Zhou, but thanks to Yang Haoran's warning, I learned of their scheme in advance."

Yao Wenqing nodded; he knew this all too well.

Li Tianheng said: "I fear neither the Dakang court nor Hu Xiaotian; even if they block my retreat, what can they do? My hundreds of thousands of troops in Xichuan are just as capable of fighting them, but now even Heaven is not on my side!" As he spoke, his emotions visibly flared; he raised his right fist and slammed it down hard on the tea table with a crack—the table split apart, and the teacups on it fell to the floor and shattered.

Yao Wenqing was startled and gave a shiver.

Li Tianheng said: "I regret not having heeded Brother Ziqian's advice back then; if I had led troops early to take Hongmu Chuan, I would not be in this predicament today, and if I had advanced eastward while Dakang was weak, control of the Yongjiang would not now be Hu Xiaotian's!" A heaven-sent opportunity, fleeting as it is—now Li Tianheng is left only with regret.

Li Tianheng looked at the silent Yao Wenqing off to the side, sighing inwardly: "If Zhang Ziqian were alive, perhaps he could turn the tide?" After Zhang Ziqian's death, Li Tianheng increasingly felt his importance. In fact, even if Zhang Ziqian were still alive, facing such a situation he could do nothing at all.

The Prince of Zhou, Long Yefang, has been in Xichuan for seven years; just past the age of thirty, his hair is already gray, making him look like an old man. During the years of soft confinement in Xizhou, he could only indulge in drink and lust; although Li Tianheng did not mistreat him, Long Yefang felt himself slowly dying, becoming a soulless carcass, a walking corpse.

During these seven years he rarely left the Qiuhua Palace, once a splendid residence of the Dakang court, which has become his prison; he is weary of everything here, and only through drunken dreams can he forget his miserable state. (To be continued~^~)