Yu Tianxing and Zhuge Guanqi had reached the same conclusion about how the situation would develop. He, too, saw that Hu Xiaotian had only two paths left, but unlike Zhuge Guanqi, he did not keep his thoughts shrouded in secrecy. Having resolved to assist Hu Xiaotian, he would naturally speak his mind frankly.
Hu Xiaotian said, "Tianxing, if you were me, what would you choose?"
Yu Tianxing said, "Retreating to defend Wuxing Commandery would undoubtedly be the safer course. But abandoning Eastern Liang Commandery would not only hand over the fruits of our hard-won victory, it would also crush the confidence our soldiers have only just begun to gain."
Hu Xiaotian's eyes brightened. Yu Tianxing had voiced his own concerns. "So you recommend fighting!"
Yu Tianxing walked slowly over to the map. "Eastern Liang Commandery has three thousand soldiers, the Beggar Gang has two thousand men, and Wuxing Commandery has thirty thousand troops from the Yong River Navy. All these forces are at your disposal, my lord. Wuxing Commandery enjoys exceptional advantages of terrain and must not be lost. If Eastern Liang Commandery falls, you can still retreat to Wuxing Commandery. To secure it, we must leave at least twenty thousand troops there."
Hu Xiaotian nodded. "In other words, we still have fifteen thousand men we can deploy."
Yu Tianxing said, "The people of Eastern Liang Commandery are unsettled, and among them are no shortage of villains waiting for a chance to stir up trouble. Keeping Eastern Liang City stable will require at least another two thousand men."
Hu Xiaotian said, "Put that way, I don't have many troops left to use."
Yu Tianxing said, "My lord, you previously dared to pit five thousand men against Tang Boxi's thirty thousand. Now that you have thirteen thousand, are you afraid of