Although Yan Xuanming knew he had an uncle on Heavenly Wolf Mountain, he had never met him. He smiled and said, "I ought to get acquainted with him if the opportunity arises."
Hu Xiaotian said, "Wuxing Commandery has developed well under your administration. Xuanming, I knew I had judged you correctly."
Yan Xuanming said, "You placed such trust in me, my lord, entrusting this strategic commandery to my care. Naturally, I must bend my back to the task and give it my all. I will never fail the weighty trust you have placed in me."
Hu Xiaotian nodded.
Yan Xuanming said, "My lord, given Wuxing Commandery's present development, its port can no longer handle both military and civilian duties at once. In my opinion, we should expand the commandery eastward and substantially enlarge the docks at coastal Haiyan Town to relieve the pressure on Wuxing Commandery's port. The greatest advantage would be that foreign merchant ships would no longer need to enter the inland reaches of the Yong River. They could complete their trade right at the estuary."
Hu Xiaotian nodded and said, "An excellent idea. Since you think it feasible, set about it as soon as possible. Whether you need supplies, money, or manpower, I will give you my fullest support."
Yan Xuanming smiled. "Thank you, my lord."
Li Yongfu also came over to greet him. Since Zhao Wusheng's return, his duties had shifted from the Yong River Navy to drilling the Cloud Marsh New Army. Picking up the subject Zhao Wusheng had raised earlier, he brought up the river pirates on the Springview River again. In his view, the matter was likely connected to Guo Guangbi of Xingzhou. Most of the Central Plains had enjoyed a bumper harvest that autumn, but Xingzhou was different. Its forces had constantly