Hu Xiaotian refused to give in and said: "If something happened to the Dayong Merchant Group when they passed through my territory, I will naturally have to bear a certain amount of responsibility. However, before the truth was found out, you came to investigate and use your power to suppress others.

There is no sincerity. Go back and help me tell your General Tang. I understand what he is thinking. If he really wants to solve the problem, it will be easy for everyone to discuss it. But if you find an excuse to seize my Dakang land, then please

He just came over and tried."

Liu Yuncai said: "Since Mr. Hu is ignorant of current affairs, don't blame me for not remembering our old friendship." He bowed his hands to Hu Xiaotian and said, "Goodbye!"

Hu Xiaotian snorted coldly, flicked his sleeves and said, "I'm sorry I won't send you far away!"

After Liu Yuncai left, Xiong Tianba said excitedly: "Third uncle, is there going to be a war? Okay! Let me be the vanguard. I will kill all those big Yong dog thieves and come to you with Tang Boxi's head."

Hu Xiaotian glared at him and said: "We only know how to fight and kill. They have 50,000 elite soldiers and more than 200 warships. What do we have? Are we going to go head-to-head with them with only 3,000 newly recruited soldiers?"

Xiong Tianba said: "Then you can't just sit and wait for death, right?"

Hu Xiaotian called Liang Yinghao and asked him to immediately go to Wuxing County to find Zhao Wusheng for support. After all, Wuxing County also has 30,000 naval troops and more than 300 large and small warships. Although it cannot be compared with Nanyang Water Village, if you are willing to help,

At least it would make Tang Boxi fearful. He also asked Xiong Tianba to strengthen vigilance in Xiasha Port to prevent Dayong's traitors from sneaking into the city.

After everything was arranged, it was already nightfall. Hu Xiaotian came to the backyard to visit Hong Lingxue, who was temporarily staying with him to recuperate. Hong Lingxue's condition had improved significantly. She could now sit up on the bed and was chatting with Visa. Zhu Guanqi was not there.

inside the room.

Visa saw Hu Xiaotian coming and hurriedly invited him in.

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "I have nothing to do. I just came here to check on my wife's condition."

Hong Lingxue said: "Thank you so much, Mr. Hu, for saving me. I am ill and cannot perform the ceremony. When I recover, I will definitely thank Mr. Hu for saving my life."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Sister-in-law, there is no need to be polite to me. Brother Zhu and I are quite compatible. You must not meet me outside."

At this time, I smelled a refreshing smell. But it was Zhu Guanqi who came in with the freshly cooked porridge. Visa came over and took the porridge. Zhu Guanqi greeted: "Master Hu is here."

Hong Lingxue said: "Mr. Hu, Mr. Hu has something to do with you. Please have a good chat with me."

Hu Xiaotian secretly praised that Hong Lingxue was indeed a very smart woman. Although she didn't say anything after entering the door, she had already guessed the purpose of her coming.

Zhu Guanqi smiled, made an invitation gesture, and came to the courtyard with Hu Xiaotian. Zhu Guanqi guessed that Hu Xiaotian came to him because of the difficulties faced by Dongliang County. He was about to speak, but heard Hu Xiaotian say

: "Brother Guanqi, are you hungry?"

Zhu Guanqi said: "Shall I serve Mr. Hu a bowl of porridge?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "I asked someone to prepare some food and wine in the flower hall. How about we drink and chat?"

Zhu Guanqi nodded.

Hu Xiaotian had already prepared. He had asked Liang Dazhuang to prepare the wine and food in advance. The wine was already hot and there was only one dish. A plate full of cooked beef, and the two of them sat at the table. Hu Xiaotian picked up the wine bottle and took the initiative to pour Zhu Guanqi a glass.

Zhu Guanqi smiled and said, "I should be the one pouring the wine for Mr. Hu."

Hu Xiaotian said: "There are no adults here. You treat me as a friend and we can just chat casually."

Zhu Guanqi picked up the wine glass and said: "Guanqi respects you, sir!" It is not difficult to see from his words that he regards Hu Xiaotian as an adult and as a benefactor, but not as a friend.

Hu Xiaotian clinked the wine glasses with him and took a sip, then put a piece of cooked beef into his mouth. He hadn't eaten a grain of rice all day, and now he sat down to eat something. Drinking on an empty stomach felt like a ball in his belly.

The fire burned brightly.

Zhu Guanqi said: "My lord has been busy all day, and I'm afraid I haven't thought about eating yet. Why don't you eat something first and then drink."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Brother Guanqi has already deduced that there is another mystery to the Dayong caravan?"

Zhu Guanqi said: "Actually, there are too many loopholes in this matter. As long as you pay a little attention, you will find the problems."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Different people have different ways of handling the same thing. If Brother Guanqi hadn't reminded me, I might have led soldiers to the refugee camp to search for evidence, and maybe I had angered those refugees."

Zhu Guanqi said: "So what if the thing was done by refugees? For Dayong, it is just an excuse for them to get it. I heard that the great prince Xue Daohong of Dayong has ascended the throne. When the new king takes the throne, he must do something, and this kind of

This is also the time for ministers to show their loyalty. Tang Boxi of Nanyang Water Village should have wanted to give Dongliang County to the eldest prince Xue Daohong as a gift."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Are you saying that this matter was not designed by Emperor Dayong?"

Zhu Guanqi said: "Probably not. If it were Xue Daohong, he would have directly made a request to Dakang. This city was originally sent back by them. Emperor Dakang would have had an indifferent attitude and would most likely do it as a favor.

, return Dongliang County back."

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "Yes! It should be Tang Boxi who made the decision on his own. What happened just now, he sent envoys to threaten me to hand over Dongliang County and surrender to Dayong. Calculating those businessmen should not be so quick.

Even if Tang Boxi receives the news, it is impossible for him to send envoys to reach Dongliang County today."

Zhu Guanqi smiled and said: "This matter is indeed full of loopholes, but Tang Boxi should not be afraid of being discovered. In troubled times, the strong are respected, and the weak have no chance to defend themselves."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Brother Guanqi, are you willing to help me?"

Zhu Guanqi said: "I once swore an oath in front of my ancestors that I would never serve Dakang in my lifetime."

Hu Xiaotian sighed secretly after hearing this. Doesn't Zhu Guanqi's words mean that he clearly rejected him? He whispered: "I have rejected Tang Boxi's request. It seems that he will send troops to come in a few days. This situation in Dongliang County

I’m afraid the disaster of war is inevitable.”

Zhu Guanqi said: "Some things are destined by God and cannot be avoided."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Brother Guanqi is dissatisfied. I don't know anything about marching formations. If I fight Tang Boxi alone, I might have some chance of winning, but facing his 50,000 navy troops, I don't even have a single clue."

Zhu Guanqi smiled and said: "In the eyes of Tang Boxi, Dongliang County is not an opponent at all. This man thinks very highly of himself. If he uses the strength of 50,000 naval troops in Nanyang Water Village to attack Dongliang County, I am afraid it will be a joke in the world.

"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I only have three thousand soldiers and horses under my command, and these three thousand people have just been recruited from refugees and have been trained for less than a month. Even if Tang Boxi only sends ten thousand people over, we can't withstand it.

"

Zhu Guanqi said: "Behind your Excellency, there is Wuxing County. Wuxing County is known as a hundred thousand navy and more than a thousand warships. Even if there is some water in it, it still has some strength."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Zhao Dengyun and I have an old grudge. I'm afraid he wishes I was dead. Although I have sent people to Wuxing County for help, he may not be willing to send troops to help." Although he asked Liang Yinghao to go for help, but

I am not optimistic about the outcome of this trip.

General Zhu Guanqi dropped the wine glass in his hand and said, "What you need next to me is not a general, but a counselor who is good at strategizing and using troops!"

Hu Xiaotian made another request: "Brother Guanqi, are you willing to help me? If the city is destroyed, more than 100,000 people in Dongliang County will inevitably fall into fire and water."

Zhu Guanqi said: "Lord Hu has forgotten. Many people in Dongliang County still don't think they are Kang people. If they have their hearts set on Dayong, this battle will not be easy to fight."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, he had already thought of this matter. Hu Xiaotian's mind was currently at a loss. Although he resolutely rejected Tang Boxi's unreasonable request, he had no way to deal with the opponent's army.

Zhu Guanqi said: "Yu Tianxing is a pretty good talent. Why don't you invite him here and ask what he means?"

After hearing what Zhu Guanqi said, Hu Xiaotian already knew that Zhu Guanqi would not agree to assist him for the time being. Since others were unwilling, he could not force others to do so.

Zhu Guanqi bid farewell to Hu Xiaotian and returned to his wife. Seeing that his wife Hong Lingxue's complexion had recovered somewhat, he felt greatly comforted and said with a smile: "It looks like we can go home tomorrow."

Hong Lingxue said: "How was your discussion with Mr. Hu?"

"Very good!" Zhu Guanqi smiled.

Hong Lingxue, who knew his wife Mo Ruofu, had already noticed something from her husband's eyes, and said softly: "Did you encounter something particularly difficult?"

Zhu Guanqi came to the bedside, held her cattails in his hands and said, "Go to bed early, there's nothing wrong."

Hong Lingxue said: "You can't lie to me, there must be something wrong."

Zhu Guanqi said: "Dayong wants to take back Dongliang County. Mr. Hu is worried about this matter. He wants my help."

Hong Lingxue said: "You want to repay your kindness, but you don't want to violate your oath, right?"

Zhu Guanqi turned around, put his hands behind his back and came to the window. He stood facing his figure for a while before saying: "I will never do anything for Da Kang in my life."

Hong Lingxue said: "You are unwilling to work for Dakang, and you are not willing to work for Dayong. Could it be that everything you have learned in your life has been wasted?"

Zhu Guanqi slowly turned around and said, "I don't have any ambitions. Being able to grow old with you and stay together forever is enough for this life. I have no other requirements."

Hong Lingxue shook her head and said: "You are willing but I am not. If you give up your ambition because of me, I would rather die than let you be mediocre."

Zhu Guanqi returned to his wife, held her hand again and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? Didn't you promise me that you would spend the rest of your life with me and never be separated?"

Hong Lingxue sighed and said: "Ms. sir, I know you love me, but I also know that a man can never live for just one woman in his life. Over the years, you have been hiding your talents and being mediocre, but if you let your talents and learning go,

What kind of sin is it to be buried like this? Although you don't say it, I can see that you must be unwilling to do so."

Zhu Guanqi sighed softly: "My ancestors made great contributions to the great prosperity and devoted themselves wholeheartedly. However, in the end, they were still jealous of the Long family. If not for the blessing of God, my Zhuge lineage would have been cut off long ago. The ancestral precepts say, let me Zhuge descendants

I am not allowed to take revenge, and I dare not violate the ancestral precepts, but I can no longer serve Dakang." It turns out that Zhu Guanqi is a descendant of Zhuge Yunchun, who was once known as the military sage of Dakang, but his real name is Zhuge Guanqi.

Hong Lingxue said: "Dongliang County is in trouble. We can't just watch the people here fall into misery."

Zhu Guanqi said: "Hu Xiaotian is by no means an ordinary person. Even if I don't take action, he may have a way to resolve the crisis. When I accompanied him to the refugee camp today, I met a very interesting young man. If I read it correctly,

That man is a rare talent."

Yu Tianxing was invited to Hu Xiaotian's official office overnight. Hu Xiaotian stayed up all the time and had food and wine waiting for him. After Yu Tianxing greeted Hu Xiaotian, his eyes suddenly lit up when he saw the hot beef. He was rude without waiting for Hu Xiaotian to say hello.

He sat down and ate deliciously until he was full and burped again and again. Then he stopped, picked up the sweat towel on the side, wiped the oil stains on his mouth and hands, and laughed and said, "Don't be offended, Mr. Hu. I haven't seen meat in more than half a year."

Already."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "Are you full? If not, I will have someone bring it to you."

Yu Tianxing said: "I'm full, I'm full. Can I take some back for my dad to eat later?"

"sure!"

But Yu Tianxing shook his head again: "No, if I bring beef back, although I am filial, the end result will definitely be to make countless enemies. The common man is not guilty of carrying the treasure, and what was originally a good thing has turned into a bad thing."
To be continued...