Chapter 203

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Now looking back, I truly had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai; if I had known your status then, no matter what, I would not dare to show off my modest skills before an expert and attempt to match your lower couplet."

Zhang Qian said: "A single tower at the western bank's end resembles a brush, writing straight to the heavens' chapter. Besides Hu Lao di, who could come up with such a splendid line?"

Hu Xiaotian hehe laughed: "At the southern bridge's head, two ferries like shuttles, horizontally weaving the river's brocade. This upper couplet was posed by Sir Zhang, right?"

Zhang Qian smiled and shook his head: "I, old man, simply do not have that talent."

Hu Xiaotian said with deep meaning: "Could it be Grand Marshal Li?"

The two locked eyes, each understanding that the other already knew his identity and purpose, then they both burst out laughing.

Zhang Qian still did not directly expose the matter, tactfully said: "Grand Marshal also likes this couplet very much; he even personally wrote a copy and sent it to Minister of Revenue Sir Hu." Actually this is telling Hu Xiaotian: you little pretender, we clearly know your background, yet you keep playing mysterious here; if it weren't because you're old, and if it weren't because of the marital ties between our families, I would have set aside my stature and come to your door to pay respects.

Hu Xiaotian realized his identity no longer needed concealment; he rose and bowed deeply to Zhang Qian: "Sir Zhang, don't blame me; my concealment of identity is truly due to some difficulties."

Zhang Qian hurried forward to support his arm: "Hu Lao di, why such formality?"

He kept calling him "Hu Lao di" on the left and "Hu Lao di" on the right, making Hu Xiaotian's scalp go numb; considering his relation with Li Tianheng, he should address Zhang Qian as a peer of his generation, he respectfully said: "Sir Zhang, please don't call me that; according to seniority, you are my elder." According to age, calling you grandfather would be enough.

Zhang Qian smiled: "I, old man, have never minded these empty titles; Xiao Tian, you just said you have difficulties—could you tell me about them?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "Sir Zhang, to be frank, I am by nature unruly. In the capital I caused trouble, provoked public anger; my father, furious over my affairs, sent me here, intending for me to temper myself well in Qingyun, to know the hardships of the world, to understand the difficulties of an official career. Before I came, my father specifically instructed: never lightly reveal my family background."

Zhang Qian stroked his beard and sighed: "How pitiful are parents' hearts everywhere. Your father truly means well; he worries that if others knew your identity, they would pamper you everywhere, thus defeating the purpose of tempering you."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Exactly so; although I am somewhat unruly, I still have some self-respect deep down. Since I've come here, I want to accomplish something, relying on no one but my own ability." He glanced at Zhang Qian: "I just didn't expect that, from the moment I arrived in Qingyun, Grand Marshal Li already knew me." He understood clearly: Zhang Qian's posing as a fisherman waiting at Tongji He to ferry him across was definitely prearranged.

Zhang Qian said: "Young people having some ambition is always good; unlike us old fogeys, when we reach this age. If one can ride in a sedan, one never takes a cart; if one can take a cart, one never rides a horse; if one can have someone lend a hand, one is too lazy to exert oneself, saving energy that is one's own; time too is one's own." He looked at Hu Xiaotian with narrowed eyes: "Youth is great—you can toss about; this old body of mine can no longer toss about."

Hu Xiaotian heard the implication in Zhang Qian's words, clearly saying he doesn't know how to use connections, claiming to be strong-willed but actually wasting time. Hu Xiaotian secretly laughed, fearing he didn't realize he came here not for tempering but for his father to keep him away from the capital's political storms, also as a retreat for the Hu family. Hu Xiaotian said: "Sir Zhang's words are like sweet rain after a drought, opening my closed mind."

Zhang Qian laughed: "You are a smart youngster; you basically don't need me to say more." After a pause he added: "Those local officials in Qingyun haven't given you much trouble, have they?"…

Hu Xiaotian smiled without speaking; he could handle Qingyun's affairs himself and didn't want Zhang Qian's help.

Zhang Qian also said: "His Highness the Prince of Zhou previously spent some time touring Xizhou; I also had the fortune to meet him. I heard His Highness has made a grand vow to traverse Dakang's famous mountains and rivers, to pray for the Emperor."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Truly commendable filial devotion."

Zhang Qian said: "I see you two get along quite well."

Hu Xiaotian knew Zhang Qian was again probing his tone; he laughed: "I too am meeting him for the first time; I think his visit this time is not aimed at me but at Miss Xi Yan of Huan Cai Ge."

Zhang Qian hearing Hu Xiaotian say that couldn't help but smile faintly; Long Ye Fang's infatuation with Miss Xi Yan is obvious to everyone. He seemingly casually asked: "Your relationship with Miss Xi Yan is not shallow; it seems you've known each other for quite a while."

Hu Xiaotian secretly laughed; Zhang Qian is definitely an old slippery fellow, his real intention is to probe his relationship with Xi Yan, which is understandable since he is Li Tianheng's confidant, naturally leaning toward the Li family.

For Hu Xiaotian, this is actually a great opportunity; he puts on a troubled, embarrassed expression; to Zhang Qian it looks like he's guilty, and Hu Xiaotian wants to give that impression—his psychology background isn't for nothing. Hu Xiaotian's eyes dart, his lashes droop, he dares not meet Zhang Qian's gaze while speaking: "I'm not familiar with Miss Xi Yan!"

Zhang Qian chuckled: "It's obvious." No silver here, the more you describe, the darker it gets; Zhang Qian secretly thought: this brat has a notorious reputation in the capital; earlier rumors spread that he openly flirted with respectable women in broad daylight; now a courtesan from Huan Cai Ge has come from Xiezhou, crossing mountains and rivers to seek him—unfamiliar? Impossible! Even with Zhang Qian's shrewdness, he can't help falling for Hu Xiaotian's trick.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Once I'm done with this busy period, I will personally go to Xizhou once to pay respects to Uncle Li."

Zhang Qian said: "Grand Marshal also worries about you."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Sir Zhang, I hope you won't mention the matter of Xi Yan to Grand Marshal; I'm afraid he might misunderstand." He knew Zhang Qian's purpose in coming to Qingyun was almost certainly to assess him for Li Tianheng; he certainly wouldn't keep it secret for himself, deliberately putting on a nervous act to numb Zhang Qian—the more so, the more Zhang Qian would suspect something between him and Xi Yan.

Zhang Qian stroked his beard, sighed, and said: "Xiao Tian, there are some things I don't know whether I should speak or not."

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "Sir, please just instruct."

Zhang Qian said: "As a court-appointed official, you must choose your words carefully and act prudently; some things must not be done, some people must be kept at a distance." Zhang Qian affirmed Hu Xiaotian's talent; last night's charity auction also let him see Hu Xiaotian's ingenuity, but Zhang Qian still has reservations about Hu Xiaotian's association with the courtesans of Huan Cai Ge, fearing most that this young man has talent but no virtue.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I understand!"

Zhang Qian also didn't continue to dwell on this matter, shifting the topic: "Actually there isn't much to do here in Qingyun; why don't you come back to Xizhou with me?"

Hu Xiaotian's heart jolted; why is Zhang Qian so eager to have me go back with him? Could it be that Grand Marshal Li can't wait? Seeing my excellence, he fears another woman will steal me away, thus wanting to force me to marry his daughter? Hu Xiaotian said: "Sir Zhang also sees that the affairs here in Qingyun are really hard to set aside."

Zhang Qian gave a slight smile, also not pressing; from this remark he already probed Hu Xiaotian's attitude—this young man seemingly does not wish to see Li Tianheng.

Zhang Qian said: "Old man I will return to Xizhou tomorrow; since you are tied up with official duties and cannot free yourself, you should naturally prioritize public affairs. By the way, is there anything you need me to convey?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Sir Zhang, I have a matter and still want you to help me."…

"Speak!"

Hu Xia…

He lowered his voice and said: "Actually, His Highness the Prince of Zhou's visit this time is not to cheer me on, but specifically to receive the Sha Jia envoy."

Zhang Qian heard this and startled: "The Sha Jia envoy?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded; from Zhang Qian's expression he already guessed he knew nothing about this, and he also found it strange that the Sha Jia envoy's coming to Dakang, passing through Xichuan, such a big matter, Zhang Qian actually didn't know.

Hu Xiaotian continued: "I have received news that the horse bandits of Tianlang Mountain are very likely to ambush the envoy on the road from Qingyun to Honggu County."

Zhang Qian's expression turned grave; if the Sha Jia envoy were ambushed en route, it might well spark a war between the two countries; he understands the Sha Jia people's ferocity and toughness.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Sir Zhang, this is no trivial matter; if anything happens to the Prince of Zhou and the Sha Jia envoy, not to mention my official hat being at risk, I fear even Grand Marshal Li would be in trouble."

Zhang Qian furrowed his brows, pondered, and said: "What do you propose to do?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Strike first; rather than wait for the Tianlang Mountain horse bandits to attack the envoy, we should promptly eliminate the danger."

Zhang Qian said: "You mean we should destroy the Tianlang Mountain horse bandits' lair?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head, thinking: although Zhang Qian asks some questions, when it comes to actual combat his mind isn't particularly sharp; previous official campaigns against bandits have been many, each time returning empty-handed—how could destroying the Tianlang Mountain horse bandits' lair be easy?

Zhang Qian said: "Then how should we do it?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "The Tianlang Mountain horse bandits have been entrenched for years; the government has sent troops to suppress them many times, yet the results have been minimal; what do you think is the reason, Sir?"

Zhang Qian said: "Could it be that someone inside the government is leaking information to the bandits?"

Hu Xiaotian snapped his fingers: "Exactly!"

Zhang Qian angrily said: "Find out who it is; this old man will certainly memorialize Grand Marshal to have him sliced a thousand times, to relieve my hatred."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Perhaps it's not just one person; I currently lack solid evidence, but the situation is urgent; to protect the Prince of Zhou and the envoy's safety, we seem unable to keep hesitating."

Zhang Qian said: "How do you propose?"

Hu Xiaotian lowered his voice: "By now, we don't have much time left; rather than let them collude inside and out, we should first cut off their contact."

Zhang Qian said: "What do you mean?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Better to mistakenly kill a thousand than to let a single one escape!"

Please vote for Monthly Ticket, there are still days left until month-end, what are you all waiting for?