Chapter 1275 – Overcoming Huang Song, Unifying Dongqing (Seventeen)
Yuan Xin, utterly confused, found himself reluctantly hiring this temporary worker.
“What’s your name? Where are you from? Do you have any family?”
Despite being just a temporary worker, he was still considered half-official, and some background checks were necessary.
The newcomer’s accent didn’t sound like someone from Dongqing; it had a soft, melodious tone typical of Wu dialect from a water-rich land, conveying an inexplicably gentle quality.
From the voice alone, one might easily mistake him for a kind-hearted gentleman.
Yet, Yuan Xin did not believe this person was harmless. From his observations, this scholar had likely taken lives—more than one!
The man cupped his hands in greeting, saying, “I am Hua Yuan, originally from Ningshou, Nan Sheng. My family has no more relatives.”
Ningshou, Nan Sheng?
Yuan Xin’s nerves tensed up like a drawn bowstring, his sharp eyes glinting dangerously as he regarded Hua Yuan with suspicion.
“A man from Nan Sheng? Why aren’t you staying there? Why come to Dongqing for a living?” Yuan Xin had no regrets about hiring a temporary worker; he was proud and arrogant. Even if Hua Yuan wasn’t friendly, he wasn’t afraid of whatever tricks he might have up his sleeve. “The surname Hua is quite rare.”
Hua Yuan didn’t mind Yuan Xin’s snide questioning. “The Southern Barbarians are still rampaging. I fled to Dongqing merely to seek a way to survive.”
Yuan Xin was taken aback. “The situation in Nan Sheng hasn’t stabilized yet?”
Hua Yuan replied, “The Southern Barbarians are strong. Before I left, I heard that An Huan and Yang Tao joined forces to invite the lords of Nan Sheng to a conference to discuss a united assault against the Southern Barbarians, but I don’t know how that turned out. Regardless of victory or defeat, the troubles caused by the Southern Barbarians aren’t something that can be settled quickly. I had no choice but to look for another way.”
Yuan Xin felt a pang of sympathy and pondered deeply.
The Northern Barbarians and the Southern Barbarians were notorious threats, always coveting the vast lands of the Central Plains. Dongqing had avoided the Northern Barbarians’ clutches, but Nan Sheng had already been ravaged early on. He understood the cruel methods of these foreign tribes—they were brutal, akin to uncivilized beasts, terrifying to behold.
It was understandable that Hua Yuan ventured all the way to Dongqing to seek survival.
Yuan Xin also casually tested Hua Yuan’s knowledge. He wasn’t sure how Hua Yuan compared to Nie Xun and others, yet he was undoubtedly impressive.
Thus, the arrangements for the temporary worker were finalized, and Yuan Xin even ordered a lavish dinner for Hua Yuan.
Though Hua Yuan appeared somewhat frail, he had quite an appetite, devouring three full servings of food, his eating style akin to a whirlwind, leaving one to deeply suspect whether this fellow had ever tasted sumptuous meals in his life—
Satisfied, Hua Yuan remarked, “I’ve only relied on cold water to fill my stomach for several days; I was truly starving. If I’ve behaved inappropriately, I hope the General will forgive me.”
Yuan Xin couldn’t remain angry; Hua Yuan’s performance justified his claims, finishing every morsel without wasting a grain of rice.
Having eaten well, Yuan Xin shared his recent troubles with Hua Yuan.
Hua Yuan said, “During my days of fleeing, I heard about Liu Xi’s troops causing trouble in Chenzhou.”
Yuan Xin gritted his teeth, fuming with anger. “They are too overbearing.”
Thinking of the thousands of troops lost before filled his heart with resentment, making him wish he could join forces with Jiang Pengji to fight back.
Hua Yuan asked, “I heard the enemy brought seventy to eighty-thousand troops?”
Yuan Xin corrected him dismissively, “At most fifty thousand.”
Hua Yuan countered, “Fifty thousand troops consume five hundred stones of grain a day. How much food can their light supply really carry?”
Yuan Xin stated, “They rely on war to sustain themselves, plundering the granaries of Chenzhou to replenish their supplies.”
Hua Yuan replied, “Since the enemy employs a strategy of going to war for resources, why doesn’t the General implement a strategy of protecting the land and destroying the fields, leaving them with no food to take?”
Yuan Xin choked on his next words, realizing he was aware of the strategy yet had his reservations. He believed he could directly defeat the enemy without resorting to such extraneous tactics. A defensive strategy could be a double-edged sword, hurting both sides; he wanted to avoid it unless absolutely necessary—
In fact, Nie Xun had mentioned it to him several times, but Yuan Xin felt that Nie Xun’s insistence on avoiding a direct confrontation was a denial of his capabilities, so he paid no heed. After suffering a significant loss, however, Yuan Xin recognized he’d made a blunder and needed to find a way to rectify it.
Suppressing his impatience, he asked Hua Yuan, “The bandits have raided most of Chenzhou. Can protecting the land still be effective now?”
“Of course it can! The enemy has fifty thousand troops; the issue of food supply is a significant problem. Why doesn’t the General set a trap to lure them deeper into Chenzhou, severing their retreat routes and confining them for several days?” Hua Yuan suggested. “If not, they could replicate their actions and wreak havoc in Haozhou again—”
Upon hearing this, Yuan Xin’s face turned a shade darker.
If Haozhou fell victim as well, he wouldn’t need Lord Huang Song to demand accountability; Yuan Xin would be compelled to take his own life in apology.
If Jiang Pengji weren’t so rational and decisive, perhaps a hint of greed could have led to their downfall.
The more greedy a person is, the more they love to take risks, a mentality akin to gamblers, always betting small to gain large.
If they guessed right, they’d rise to glory.
If they guessed wrong, they’d lose everything, down to their last pair of pants.
Following Hua Yuan’s advice, Yuan Xin moved supplies from various granaries to lure Jiang Pengji into chasing after them, while closely monitoring troop movements.
However, Jiang Pengji was no fool; she wouldn’t be reckless like Yuan Xin.
When it came time to withdraw, she did so decisively, showing no mercy.
As Hua Yuan was just a temporary worker, Yuan Xin didn’t trust him completely and kept him at a distance.
With some downtime, Hua Yuan began catching up on some gossip.
Like Yuan Xin’s countless past escapades, and the misfortunes of the previous temporary worker—Nie Xun and his complicated dramas.
“Did the General really kill Military Advisor Nie on the battlefield?”
Hua Yuan asked with a smile, seemingly unconcerned about following in Nie Xun’s footsteps.
A soldier replied, “Not killed, not killed. The advisor is still alive, but I heard from the military doctor that his condition is quite severe, lingering for over half a month.”
Hua Yuan remarked, “In my two days with the General, I sense that he isn’t difficult to get along with. Why is his relationship with the advisor so poor?”
What did he know?
The soldier sighed, “Our General is great in every way, except his temper is truly terrible. Young man, you’ve taken the advisor’s position; you need to be careful.”
Nie Xun nearly got chopped to pieces by Yuan Xin. Being a military advisor was a high-risk job for sure.
Hua Yuan waved his hand, signaling that he understood.
Unlike Nie Xun, who was Yuan Xin’s serious colleague, he was merely an itinerant worker here for survival, with no intent to go the extra mile.
“Where is the advisor resting now? I’d like to pay him a visit.”
Although Hua Yuan was merely a temporary worker, he held some authority, so he wouldn’t be stopped from seeing Nie Xun.
At this moment, Nie Xun had survived the dangerous phase. Although still visibly thin, his spirit was clear, and with adequate recovery, he would heal.
When he heard someone visiting, especially a stranger, Nie Xun raised an eyebrow, his expression cold, allowing the intruder inside.
Hua Yuan intended to check on Nie Xun, and it genuinely was only a casual visit. They exchanged a glance, nothing more.
Until—
“I heard the advisor wrote a letter urging his wife and daughter to seek refuge with the Yue family?”
Cooked up in his bed, unable to move, Nie Xun’s eyelids remained still, but his eyes turned toward Hua Yuan, filled with indifference.
“When Xun was in grave danger, he didn’t know if he would survive, so he had to prepare for the worst, first gathering his wife and daughter in a safe place.”
Hua Yuan smiled knowingly.
“I truly admire that.”
