Liu Yuncai sneered inwardly. Talking about not damaging their amicable relations now-wasn't it already too late? Yet he heard room for negotiation in Hu Xiaotian's words. Could Hu Xiaotian be considering letting them go? A gentleman could wait ten years to avenge himself; first, he had to preserve his life. Liu Yuncai asked, "What do you want?"
Hu Xiaotian said, "I've had a light boat prepared to take you back, General Liu."
Liu Yuncai asked, "What about the others?"
Hu Xiaotian said, "I want two million jin of grain. Go back and deliver my message, General: two hundred jin per man. For every two hundred jin you send, I'll release one prisoner. Once all the grain has arrived, I'll release all your men. There is absolutely no room for bargaining."
Liu Yuncai pursed his lips. "That's not a decision I can make!" Although two million jin of grain sounded frightening, it wasn't expensive when divided among the men. Two hundred jin for a human life-that was quite a bargain.
Hu Xiaotian said, "That's why I'm letting you go back to discuss it. You should be worth at least ten thousand jin yourself, General Liu. Consider it a favor."
Liu Yuncai cursed inwardly. I'm only worth ten thousand jin of grain? You underestimate me far too much. Still, escaping was what mattered. Why argue with him over something so meaningless?
The news that Hu Xiaotian had defeated Tang Boxi's thirty thousand naval troops with three thousand soldiers spread across the land almost overnight. The people of the Kang Capital were numb to such news. All they cared about was whether they could keep themselves fed and clothed, and whether they would live through this bitter winter.
The rift between Qiqi and the Old Emperor had grown ever deeper. Ever since Long