Chapter 1740

Politics is like life: a continual process of turning against each other and reconciling, forming alliances for profit, breaking for profit; shared interests can quickly bring both sides together, yet for profit they can just as easily turn swords against each other, even fight to the death. Life is a trial; only after much experience does one realize that genuine things in this world are growing ever fewer, and precisely because of that, one must learn to cherish. With much trial, one learns to conceal love and hate; keeping joy and anger from showing on one's face is the most basic requirement for any politician.

Although Hu Xiaotian did not like Geg, even though this fellow had sworn brotherhood with him long ago, he still remembered that when he came to Xichuan to congratulate Li Tianheng on his birthday, Geg had once joined forces with Xue Shengjing to plot against him. Times change; now the person who seems most trustworthy is Geg, and Hu Xiaotian intuitively feels that the Fragrant Heaven State's dispatch of people this time must have some hidden motive.

Geg this time stayed at the Xuan Ning Relay Station, which also belongs to Xizhou's place for receiving guests, but his treatment still differed from before; previously he would always stay directly at the Da Shuai Fu, and although it seemed on the surface unrelated to his wife not coming along, in fact it was a slight against him.

Geg keenly sensed the change here; after arriving in Xizhou, he also wisely chose to speak and act cautiously, aside from visiting Li Tianheng's spirit hall once to pay his respects, he never again voluntarily entered the Da Shuai Fu.

Although Li Tianheng had been dead for several days, his funeral had still not been held, reportedly because they were waiting for his daughter who had married far away to Shajia to return. This time Geg came representing his wife, and only then did he discover that the internal affairs of Xichuan were far more complicated than he had imagined.

Shajia had shown considerable sincerity by sending a congratulatory envoy when Hu Xiaotian got married. As Shajia Khan Sangmu Zha said, nothing can be achieved overnight; for Shajia to accomplish the grand feat of taking over the Central Plains, they must be patient, spending ten years or even several decades, and they have clearly put forward the strategy of allying with distant states while attacking nearby ones. Their current primary target is the Southern Yue State, which they have already occupied more than half of its territory; judging from the present situation, they could complete the plan to conquer Southern Yue within a year. Xichuan is merely their next target, but before they could even launch their plan to invade Xichuan, the situation in Xichuan suddenly underwent a drastic change.

Geg's purpose in this trip is certainly not merely to offer condolences; he bears the mission of clarifying the situation in Xichuan. Compared to the Southern Yue State, Xichuan is the real fat meat, and Shajia cannot stand by and let this fat meat be carved up by other forces.

When Hu Xiaotian previously came to Xichuan to congratulate Li Tianheng on his birthday, he had stayed at the Xuan Ning Relay Station and was quite familiar with everything there; he had Meng Guangxiong deliver his personal letter into Geg's hands.

After receiving his personal letter, Geg hesitated not at all and, as agreed, went to the Hall of Hundred Flavors opposite the relay station, where he and Hu Xiaotian had met before.

The Hall of Hundred Flavors was completely empty; besides them there were no other guests, and today Hu Xiaotian had bought out the entire establishment in advance.

Geg entered the private room and saw a person with his back to the window, gazing at the street outside; from the silhouette he immediately recognized Hu Xiaotian, and he burst out laughing: 'My good brother, you really made a grand gesture today!'

Hu Xiaotian smiled and turned around: 'Elder brother, how have you been?'

Perhaps because of the wind and sun on the plateau, Geg looked much more weathered than when they last met; his temples had gained some white hair, and above his eyebrows appeared a shocking scar. Geg said: 'I'm getting by.'

The two sat opposite each other, first downing three bowls of wine. Geg wiped the wine stains from his lips and said: 'These years, though we brothers are far apart, I have never ceased to follow your news; every achievement and every joy of yours brings me honor as your elder brother, and I am deeply gratified.'

Hu Xiaotian filled his wine bowl, raised it, and said: 'This bowl of wine I offer to my elder brother; thank you for sending the congratulatory envoy thousands of miles to my wedding.'

Geg raised his wine bowl, drank it, and sighed: 'I had wanted to go myself, but the Southern Yue State's war is urgent, I really cannot free myself, so I could only send He'er Dan in my place; I hope brother will not blame me.'

How could that be!

Geg slowly set down his wine bowl, looked Hu Xiaotian up and down, and said: 'Brother, you really have extraordinary courage; in this situation you still dare to come to Xichuan.'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'Why wouldn't I dare to come?'

Geg said: 'My father-in-law is said to have been assassinated by an assassin sent by Dakang.' The implication being that you are the Prince Zhenhai of Dakang, yet you dare to show up now—don't you value your life?

Hu Xiaotian said: 'Elder brother, you keep saying it's only hearsay; I suppose there's no real evidence. Although I accepted Dakang's ennoblement, I have never involved myself in Dakang court affairs, and you surely know that.'

Geg certainly understood; he gazed silently at Hu Xiaotian, and the purpose of his remarks was nothing more than to draw out Hu Xiaotian's true motive for coming to Xichuan this time.

Hu Xiaotian also had no intention of concealing it, and softly said: 'Elder brother, I am not hiding anything; this time I have indeed come to handle affairs for the Dakang court.'

Geg let out an 'oh', leaned forward, and asked: 'What matter?'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'To mourn the loyal soul of the Grand Marshal, and to posthumously confer upon him the title of king.'

Geg's eyes lit up, then he lowered his voice: 'Is the Dakang court trying to cover up something?'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'The Dakang court refuses to take the blame for this; otherwise, given Xichuan's current state, Dakang would not need to expend much effort to recover the lost territory, so why bother with such a superfluous act?'

Geg chuckled: 'Brother, are you saying Li Honghan mistook the person?'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'The Grand Marshal's assassination is likely a fact, but according to common sense, if an assassin succeeded and escaped unharmed, would he be foolish enough to reveal his own name?'

Geg said: 'If you say that, then the assassin might have been deliberately framing someone.'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'Perhaps the assassin said nothing at all.'

Geg caught Hu Xiaotian's implication; he was clearly suspecting Li Honghan, and Geg himself also harbored suspicions, but without evidence it's hard to speak outright. He shook his head and said: 'Li Honghan couldn't possibly have fabricated this out of thin air, could he?'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'I don't know him; he is your elder brother-in-law, what kind of person is he? You know him better than I do.'

(To be continued~^~)