Li Yongfu took his orders and left with Jiang Zhengyang's men. Hu Xiaotian waved the servants away, leaving only himself and Jiang Zhengyang in the hall. Jiang Zhengyang said apologetically, "Please forgive me, Lord Hu. I couldn't speak frankly just now. To tell you the truth, I intend to lead these twenty thousand men through White Spring City to Capital City myself."
Hu Xiaotian nodded. White Spring City lay two hundred and thirty li due south of Wuxing Commandery, so Jiang Zhengyang probably wasn't lying. But White Spring City was no strategic stronghold. Why had he chosen it? Had they been mistaken, and Jiang Zhengyang had never intended to rebel? Or did he merely intend to use White Spring City as a stopover?
Jiang Zhengyang cupped his hands toward Hu Xiaotian. "Lord Hu, I'll take my leave. Transporting the grain is no small matter. I must supervise it personally."
Hu Xiaotian did not ask him to stay and saw Jiang Zhengyang out.
Returning to his room, he went straight to the map of Great Kang. They had originally concluded that Jiang Zhengyang would most likely head northwest through Cangmu as soon as he received the grain. Although that route involved a westward detour, it was still plausible. Once he reached Cangmu, he would be far from Wuxing Commandery. Jiang Zhengyang could send some men to escort the grain convoy farther west while leaving the rest behind to hold off any pursuers who discovered their movements. Yet Jiang Zhengyang had unexpectedly chosen to head straight south. Passing through White Spring City was a shortcut to Capital City.
This was rather beyond Hu Xiaotian's expectations. He stared at the map. Why had Jiang Zhengyang chosen to head south? Was he trying to mislead everyone, traveling south for a while before doubling back