Chapter 1917

Hu Xiaotian returned from the bitter cold lands of Mobei where white snow drifted to Dongliang Jun, discovering that it had also begun to snow here; entering the twelfth month, Dongliang Jun became a world clad in silver and wrapped in white because of this snow. Hu Xiaotian's safe return made everyone smile with joy, and he had no time to rest—first he summoned his subordinates to ask about the latest situation.

Yu Tianxing and Zhao Wusheng reported the latest situation to him on behalf of everyone; recently it had been relatively calm, with no major moves from any side, the reinforcement of troops on the Ankang Grasslands and the infiltration of Lan were proceeding in an orderly manner. The situation in Kangdu was also very peaceful; the Beggar Sect conference took place on schedule, and Qiqi and Long Xi Yue got along harmoniously—at least for now, no adverse action against Long Xi Yue had been detected from her.

Chang Fanqi, who was stationed at the East Lu Storehouse, also came specially to attend this military council; he waited until the last to speak, clasped his fists and bowed, saying: "My lord, recently Da Yong has had several major matters—Xue Daoming personally went to Bei Jiang ****, and continuous snowfall in Da Yong's southern tribes has already caused widespread disaster."

Hu Xiaotian nodded; it seemed unwise for Xue Daoming to dare go to Bei Jiang **** at this time, after all Kangdu has Li Chen Zhou, a tiger-eyed ambitious man, and it's hard to guarantee that this scoundrel won't seize the chance to stir up trouble.

Chang Fanqi added: "Recently there have been many deserters from Da Yong; it seems the situation of the southern garrison is not optimistic either."

Yu Tianxing said: "Da Yong harvested little this autumn, so winter food supplies will inevitably be strained; moreover, their military grain must be prioritized for Bei Jiang, so the south naturally faces cutbacks. It's unfortunate that this year they also encountered the coldest weather in ten years; the Yong troops in the south lack clothing and food, and deserting in battle is therefore normal."

Zhao Wusheng said: "We haven't yet reached the coldest period of the year; when the depths of winter arrive and the Yong River freezes over, I fear the number of southward refugees and deserters will increase further. I have already reinforced troops and strengthened the river defenses to prevent an uncontrollable situation."

Hu Xiaotian sighed; the Da Yong Empire, which once overshadowed Dakang, had declined to this extent in just a few short years after Xue Shengkang's death—not only due to Da Yong's chaotic internal affairs but also because of its national fortune, and over these years Da Yong has suffered constant natural disasters, further driving this once-great power ever deeper into decline.

Yu Tianxing thought Hu Xiaotian was reluctant, and he said softly: "Although the court has allocated us considerable supplies and grain, because of the Xichuan refugees we will likely have to tighten our belts this winter."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "All we can do is help as much as we can—help however much we can."

Yu Tianxing respectfully said: "My lord, your benevolence and virtue are cherished; I sincerely admire you."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Have Yan Xuanming contact Bohai to see how much aid we can still obtain; if we get through this harsh winter, spring warmth and blooming flowers will follow."

Yu Tianxing said: "He has already been sent; we have done everything we could think of." His expression showed a hint of helplessness; in fact he also knew Hu Xiaotian's intention—such times are the best opportunity to win over the people's hearts—but their situation is not optimistic either, and where would they find extra capacity to shelter those refugees?

After the military council, Hu Xiaotian went to the Hall of Benevolence accompanied by Weisa to visit Qin Yutong, who was already pregnant with his child; Qin Yutong was not only the first beauty to conceive his offspring but also possessed the blood of the Heaven's Chosen, giving her far greater knowledge in this regard than anyone else.

Arriving at the Hall of Benevolence, they heard Qin Yutong had gone out for a consultation and had not yet returned; asking Fang Fang, they learned she had gone to the Hall of Blessings, a charitable institution Hu Xiaotian had founded to shelter orphans. As Hu Xiaotian prepared to go to the Hall of Blessings to find her, Zhuge Guanqi and his wife Hong Lingxue happened by with their daughter; Bao'er, now one year old, was delicately carved like pink jade and extremely cute. Hu Xiaotian stepped forward to play with her for a while and laughed: "My adopted daughter really gets cuter by the day."

Hong Lingxue laughed: "My lord, since you love children so much, hurry up and have one yourself."

Zhuge Guanqi quickly burst into a series of coughs, evidently thinking his wife had misspoken.

Hong Lingxue then realized she had misspoken, her face flushing with embarrassment; after all, everyone knew that Hu Xiaotian and Long Xi Yue had been married for a long time yet Long Xi Yue's belly showed no movement, and this remark might embarrass Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian, however, laughed and said: "Good, good; when I have a son, I'll take Bao'er as my daughter-in-law."

Zhuge Guanqi, seeing that he didn't mind, put his worries aside and laughed: "Joining families by marriage is certainly the best."

Weisa said: "Even if you give birth now, the child would still be younger than Bao'er."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "An older bride brings a golden dowry—what's there to fear if she's just a few years younger? Hurry up and strive!"

Weisa, hearing him say such a thing in front of outsiders, blushed and quickly changed the subject: "Older sister, let's go find Sister Yutong and have her come back."

Hong Lingxue nodded with a smile; indeed everyone understood the relationship between Weisa and Hu Xiaotian, but Hu Xiaotian's frank remark did embarrass her a little.

After Hong Lingxue took her daughter and left with Weisa, Zhuge Guanqi stood watching until his wife's silhouette disappeared around the street corner, then he turned back.

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "How reluctant to part—truly the couple's deep affection."

Zhuge Guanqi gave a wry smile: "My lord, you're laughing at me, but I am now completely a slave to my daughter."

Hu Xiaotian said: "A virtuous wife and filial children, the whole family reunited, joy abounding—there is no greater happiness in the world than this." Zhuge Guanqi nodded deeply in agreement and whispered: "My lord, you can have such a life anytime you wish."

Hu Xiaotian laughed heartily.

Zhuge Guanqi also laughed: "Just that my lord, with his ambitions for the world, cannot be as easily satisfied as I am."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Brother Guanqi, you're beating around the bush saying I'm ambitious."

How dare I! How dare I!

The two returned to the Hall of Benevolence and sat down; Hu Xiaotian briefly recounted his experiences since parting to Zhuge Guanqi, who said: "It seems the true secrets of the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda are all in the underground palace; after my lord departed, I have carefully studied the ancestral military tactics and battle formations handed down through the generations."

Hu Xiaotian asked: "What did you find?"

Zhuge Guanqi said: "My ancestors' study of mechanisms and numerology originated with the Dakang genius Mo Wu Shang, was expanded by my ancestor Zhuge Xiao Lian, and reached another leap in the generation of Zhuge Yun Chun; after careful study, I found that the greatest advancement in this generation lies in the stellar arts."

Hu Xiaotian thought to himself that this was natural, after all Zhuge Yun Chun had been responsible for interrogating two Heaven's Chosen back then; from them he must have obtained knowledge far beyond this era. After the Heaven's Chosen died, he was tasked with constructing Long Ling Shengjing and the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda; only when both were completed did he realize that even he could not open them, and they were ultimately used by the two Heaven's Chosen. The knowledge the Heaven's Chosen left behind should have forced Zhuge Yun Chun to rack his brains, eventually exhausting his mental energy, and shortly after the completion of Long Ling Shengjing and the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda he died of depression. The knowledge Zhuge Yun Chun mastered was not wholly passed down to his descendants; the especially important Military Sage's battle diagrams were transmitted only through his own hands into Zhuge Guanqi's possession.

Zhuge Guanqi said: "What my lord said is quite possible; perhaps our ancestor truly acquired considerable knowledge from the outside world."

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Given the Military Sage's nature, his thirst for knowledge must be immense; the Heaven's Chosen are skilled at probing hearts, exploiting his weakness and reaching an agreement with him is quite normal, and if we want to unravel the secrets of that time, we still need to go there ourselves."

Zhuge Guanqi nodded: "Your subordinate awaits your summons at any time."

Hu Xiaotian said: "No rush; I feel the Military Sage's wisdom may well have left countermeasures, Brother Guanqi still needs to thoroughly study the documents he left behind and make full preparations."

Zhuge Guanqi said: "I think the same."

Hu Xiaotian asked: "Brother Guanqi, how do you view the current situation in Da Yong?"

Zhuge Guanqi said: "I don't know how my lord's trip to Bei Jiang to meet General Huo is going." He certainly knew that Hu Xiaotian's journey to Bei Jiang was not only to meet General Huo Shengnan but also had the important purpose of persuading Weichi Chong to bring his troops over to submit.

Hu Xiaotian said: "General Weichi probably won't return to Dakang in his lifetime."

Zhuge Guanqi said: "If so, why hasn't General Huo returned yet?"

This question hit the crux; Hu Xiaotian sighed and said: "He is not unwilling to return, but he cannot bear to leave his subordinates behind."

Zhuge Guanqi furrowed his brows and whispered: "My lord, is General Weichi intending to sacrifice his own life for the sake of his subordinates?"

The north wind howled; inside Bei Jiang's Snow-Rolling City, defenses were tight. The Da Yong Emperor Xue Daoming had already arrived here; his purpose for this visit was for ****, and Veteran Marshal Weichi Chong personally came out to greet him, accompanying Xue Daoming into the modest, almost shabby commander's residence.

Accompanying Xue Daoming on this visit was also General Tian, who wielded military might to dominate Da Yong; after the generals had paid their respects, Xue Daoming dismissed them and kept only General Tian at his side.

Weichi Chong gazed at the travel‑worn emperor, sighing inwardly that in such bitter cold weather the emperor could brave wind and snow to come a thousand li, showing how important Bei Jiang was in Xue Daoming's mind; although he came under the banner of ****, this move was not wise, for the court is unsettled, plagued by internal troubles and external threats, Bei Jiang is currently in a ceasefire, and what the troops lack is not the emperor's personal visit but provisions and supplies. Although Xue Daoming brought some this time, it still falls far short of the military's expectations.

Weichi Chong respectfully said: "Your Majesty, you disregard Bei Jiang's bitter cold, travel a thousand li, and come after a long journey; this fills Old Chen with gratitude to the point of tears, and he feels humbled and fearful."

Xue Daoming gave a hollow laugh and said in a sarcastic tone: "How so? According to the Old Beloved Minister, it seems I shouldn't have come—could Bei Jiang not be Da Yong's territory? Are the officers and soldiers of Bei Jiang not my subjects? May I not even personally attend ****?"

Weichi Chong hastily knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, this humble servant is foolish and spoke without thinking; he meant no disrespect at all, only mindful of Your Majesty's hardship and concerned for Your Majesty's health."

Xue Daoming coldly stared at Weichi Chong, his eyes lacking much goodwill, and he did not let Weichi Chong rise from the icy ground: "My health has always been fine; this veteran general, though in his sixties, is still fighting fiercely in Bei Jiang, capable of charging into battle and leading the troops—do you think I am inferior to you?" (To be continued~^~)