Qiqi frowned. "I'm afraid he won't be that obedient."
Wen Chenghuan chuckled. "Has Your Highness forgotten about the Great Yong envoys? You can offer to resolve that trouble for him as a condition! If he refuses, how will he face the world once the matter comes to light?"
On this point, Hong Beimo actually shared Wen Chenghuan's view. He agreed, "I think Grand Tutor Wen's idea is sound. Where Western Sichuan is concerned, Hu Xiaotian's interests align with ours. Even if we don't send him, he'll certainly want to get to the bottom of this."
Wen Chenghuan said, "We can say we're sending him to the Western Prefecture to pay his respects to Li Tianheng and clear Great Kang's name, posthumously confer the title of prince upon Li Tianheng, and persuade Li Honghan to surrender while he's there."
Qiqi said, "Do you take Hu Xiaotian for a fool? Why would he risk so much to go to the Western Prefecture?"
Wen Chenghuan said, "When two nations go to war, they do not execute each other's envoys. Besides, our army is massed along the Western Sichuan border. Li Honghan is no fool either. Unless he wants to seek his own death, he won't kill an envoy."
Hong Beimo said, "Grand Tutor Wen is absolutely right. Moreover, Hu Xiaotian has always been wildly ambitious. Although he won't obediently serve the Imperial Court, he has coveted Western Sichuan for a long time. Surely he won't let this once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity pass him by."
Qiqi said, "You mean he'll conduct his own business under the banner of serving as Great Kang's envoy?"
Hong Beimo smiled. "Your Highness sees clearly. What Hu Xiaotian does best is turn public resources to private use!"
Qiqi nodded, then thought for a while before asking, "In your opinion, who would