This was not a war Hu Xiaotian wanted to see. Although he very much wanted Yunyang, he did not want to obtain it through war. He had once placed his hopes in Su Yuchi, believing he could persuade him to pledge allegiance to him. At their last meeting in Black Sand, Su Yuchi had clearly begun to waver, but Hu Xiaotian had failed to strike while the iron was hot. His journey to the Fragrant Kingdom had cost him his best opportunity. Now Su Yuchi no longer showed the melancholy he had then and had become steadfastly loyal to the Great Kang Imperial Court once more. Persuading him seemed impossible now. In life, every gain truly came with a loss.
During Hu Xiaotian's absence from Eastern Liang Commandery, Qiqi had used her extraordinary political skill to rekindle Su Yuchi's confidence in the Great Kang Imperial Court. Yunyang had become a nail in the truest sense-a nail driven into Hu Xiaotian's back, leaving him restless whether sitting or lying down.
Hu Xiaotian sighed, thinking that if he had persuaded Su Yuchi a little earlier, perhaps this war could have been avoided. It was too late to say anything now; the great battle was inevitable. The people nearby had only just brought in a bountiful harvest. Before they could celebrate their happiness or enjoy even a moment of peace, they were about to be plunged into the flames of war again.
Hu Xiaotian noticed a long, winding procession crossing the Springview River and heading due east. They were people leaving Yunyang to seek refuge.
Xia Changming said, "My lord, quite a few refugees from Yunyang have been fleeing to our territory lately."
Hu Xiaotian nodded. "I've already instructed Xiong Anmin of Cangmu County to set aside an area in the west to