Chapter 1890

Hu Xiaotian felt greatly relieved in his heart; beneath the beautiful appearances of these lovely confidantes of his, each harbored a heart of mutual tolerance, which was what mattered most. Although Long Xi Yue was broad-minded, Qin Yutong's consideration also made sense; since she had made such a choice, he ought to respect it.

Dawn arrived; Jian Rongxin and Tang Qingxuan's pink legs entwined, lost in fragrant dreams, when Hu Xiaotian had already slipped away unnoticed, feeling the morning light on the sandy islet's grassland, he spurred his horse and whipped across the green grassland, unable to help but loudly recite: "I went away gently, just as I came gently..."

On the distant horizon, a round, bright red sun rose slowly; a troop of horsemen was coming toward him, the leader being Zhuge Guanqi, to his left were Zhao Wusheng and Zhan Peng, to his right were Wesa and Yan Nujiao; upon seeing Hu Xiaotian, they all shouted in joy.

Hu Xiaotian laughed heartily; he had originally planned to go to Dongliang Jun to meet everyone, but he hadn't expected that after they got the news they would already have arrived.

After Wesa and Yan Nujiao met Hu Xiaotian, they immediately left to meet Qin Yutong and the other ladies, while Hu Xiaotian sat with Zhuge Guanqi and a few others on a nearby high ground facing the rising sun.

Zhao Wusheng first gave Hu Xiaotian a brief report on the recent situation; after the ice was broken in Hu Xiaotian's relations with the court, the formerly tense atmosphere between him and Dakang eased, and the pressure on all defensive lines lessened considerably; now Da Yong was overwhelmed and unable to exert any pressure on them.

Zhuge Guanqi said, "I forgot to congratulate my lord; this trip to Kangdu has already resolved the crisis, and Dakang's first batch of grain has already been transported to Wuxing Jun."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said, "We must ensure the grain distribution is done properly; no link in the process can afford any mistake."

Zhuge Guanqi smiled and said, "Yan Xuanming is in charge of this; his ability is more than sufficient for the task."

Hu Xiaotian nodded; Yan Xuanming is an expert in domestic affairs, meticulous in his work, and having him oversee the grain distribution is indeed most suitable.

Zhao Wusheng said, "My lord, the road to Xichuan is about to be opened; what should our next step be?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "For now there's no need to open it; holding back the troops is the best strategy." He turned to Zhuge Guanqi and asked, "Brother Guanqi, what do you think?"

Zhuge Guanqi said, "Now the world's situation has fallen into unprecedented chaos; the more chaotic it is, the more we need to calm our minds. Although it's said that heroes arise in troubled times, who can stay calm, who can steady their stance and press forward, who will ultimately prevail—heroes should not be judged by temporary gains or losses."

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said, "We actually have nothing to worry about now."

Zhuge Guanqi said, "There's something I'd like to ask my lord privately."

Zhan Peng and Zhao Wusheng understood, rose, and left.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Brother Guanqi, what matter is so mysterious?"

Zhuge Guanqi bowed deeply to Hu Xiaotian and said, "This matter is actually your private affair, my lord; I dare to ask: have you and the Yongyang Princess already reconciled?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled but said nothing.

Zhuge Guanqi said, "If it's inconvenient for you to speak, my lord, you may remain silent."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Xi Yue went to Kangdu; her intention was to help bring about my reconciliation with the Yongyang Princess."

Zhuge Guanqi sighed with admiration, "The princess consort understands the greater good; she is truly a blessing to the state."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Do you also approve of her approach?"

Zhuge Guanqi said, "The highest strategy is to attack the enemy's plans; next is to attack their alliances; next is to attack their armies; last is to besiege their cities. Since ancient times, warfare is chosen only when there is no other recourse."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said, "By controlling Dakang through this method, are my means not sufficiently upright?"

Zhuge Guanqi laughed and said, "Those who accomplish great things are not bound by minor details; may I ask, my lord, do you in your heart actually like the Yongyang Princess or not?"

Hu Xiaotian pondered for a moment and said, "Being with her is actually quite novel and stimulating!"

Zhuge Guanqi laughed and said, "Since you can already accept so many lovely confidantes, why worry about adding one more? Others will only look up to your success; few will notice the path you've walked. You and the Yongyang Princess can turn weapons into jade and silk, renewing old friendship—this is something all Dakang subjects would be glad to see. Now the situation is such that only by joining forces can you and the Yongyang Princess dominate the Central Plains."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said, "Those who accomplish great things are not bound by minor details; for the happiness of Dakang's millions of subjects, it seems I have only to sacrifice my appearance."

Zhuge Guanqi laughed and said, "My lord, you actually aren't at a loss."

Indeed, with the Yongyang Princess's beauty and status, Hu Xiaotian suffers no grievance whatsoever; this fellow harbors no thought of sacrifice. During this trip to Kangdu, he discovered that Qiqi also has many shining points, and this girl might be the purest‑blooded Heaven's Mandate bearer in the world. Imagine if we could make the Heaven's Mandate bearer's belly swell, giving birth to a space‑mixed child—who knows how adorable that would be.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Both Heihu and Da Yong have sent envoys to Kangdu; originally they wanted to ally with Dakang, but I rejected them all."

Zhuge Guanqi said, "After you and the Yongyang Princess join forces, there is indeed no need to ally with them."

"Brother Guanqi, what do you think we should do about the surrounding states?"

Zhuge Guanqi said, "Heihu and Da Yong are mired in war; although on the surface Heihu seems to have a slight edge, Da Yong has Weichi Chong guarding its northern frontier, while Heihu is unable to advance southward. With the year's coldest winter approaching, the conflict between the two nations will enter a prolonged hiatus. In ordinary circumstances, both would use this time to rest and recuperate; Heihu and we do not share a border, so there is no obvious contradiction between us. Although Da Yong has been at peace with us for the past two years, once it resolves its northern crisis, its primary target will be us."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said, "It seems we should take advantage of this opportunity to strike them while they're down."

Zhuge Guanqi laughed and said, "We don't even need to act ourselves; Xue Daoming has been on the throne for a while, and Da Yong's internal contradictions have not eased but grown sharper. This is thanks to my lord's far‑sightedness, which helped Da Yong overcome the epidemic crisis, established Xue Daoming's prestige, and won the trust of a group of subjects, giving him the wherewithal to oppose Li Chenzhou."

Li Chenzhou is no longer a concern.

Zhuge Guanqi said, "Everyone must find their proper place; to covet Shu after gaining Long only brings self‑destruction. Li Chenzhou was originally a rare talent, deeply trusted by Xue Daohong, and could have become Da Yong's most powerful minister, but his ambition was too great—he tried to seize control of the entire Da Yong court in a short time, leading to his present predicament. I believe Da Yong will soon plunge into a fierce internal struggle."

Hu Xiaotian nodded in deep agreement and said, "The fiercer their fight, the better it is for us."

Zhuge Guanqi said, "When Li Chenzhou dies, that will be the moment Da Yong's fate is exhausted; as for Xichuan, it has long been declining, and Li Honghan is merely a puppet. My lord, after stabilizing the northeastern situation of Xichuan, you can open the route, spread rumors, and create the illusion of joining forces with Shajia to attack Xichuan; the Xichuan people will naturally flee at the wind, leaving Xichuan rootless and waterless, destined to collapse without attack."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "I fear these things cannot be realized in the short term."

Zhuge Guanqi said, "Everything requires a process, especially the struggle for the world; as long as my lord can endure, unifying the rivers and mountains is merely a matter of time. The urgent task is to firmly grasp Dakang's authority in his own hands, to devour the fortresses along the Yongjiang basin; once all this is done, no one under heaven will be able to oppose my lord."

Hu Xiaotian said, "The momentum of Tiangxiang State is now very fierce."

Zhuge Guanqi laughed and said, "No matter how fierce the momentum, it's mere bluster; limited by its geography, Tiangxiang State cannot realistically launch a land attack on Dakang unless it concentrates its forces in Xichuan and strikes from Dakang's western side. As for the sea route, although Dakang's navy has weakened somewhat, its foundations remain strong, still ranking among the top among nations, and our navy has grown strong these years; if we join forces, no one within the four seas can match us."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "Put that way, our situation is not just good—it's excellent."

Zhuge Guanqi said meaningfully, "All this still rests on the foundation of my lord being able to control Dakang's authority."

Hu Xiaotian understood inwardly that the key to his so‑called control of Dakang's authority lay in winning Qiqi's heart and making her wholly devoted to him. He recalled the Seven‑Treasure Glazed Pagoda and said softly, "Brother Guanqi, just how much do you understand about the Military Sage?"

Zhuge Guanqi stared in astonishment and said, "My lord, why do you ask this?"

Only then did Hu Xiaotian relate how the Military Sage, Zhuge Yun Chun, had personally supervised the construction of the Dragon Mausoleum's Sacred Grounds and the Seven‑Treasure Glazed Pagoda within the Dakang imperial palace back then.

After listening, Zhuge Guanqi frowned tightly, pondered for a long while, then said, "My lord, I actually don't know much about my ancestors either; I merely feel that many of the military treatises he left behind contain extraordinary insights, and as for the art of mechanisms, it is unparalleled under heaven. Perhaps you are right, my lord—he may have received some inspiration from the Heaven's Mandate bearer." He lifted his eyes to Hu Xiaotian and said, "If possible, I would be willing to accompany you to the imperial palace to see firsthand the buildings designed by our ancestor."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "Wait until I finish my current affairs, then you can go with me to Kangdu for a trip."

Zhuge Guanqi said, "My lord, you've just arrived and you're already leaving?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said, "The Heihu people have stolen two skulls; those two skulls are closely tied to the Heaven's Mandate bearer, and if they manage to uncover its secret, it could cause unforeseen trouble."

Zhuge Guanqi said, "Actually, my lord need not handle every matter personally."

Hu Xiaotian burst out laughing; even the extraordinarily crafty Zhuge Guanqi would not grasp his own anguish, and matters concerning the Heaven's Mandate bearer certainly cannot be left to others. (To be continued~^~)