Hu Xiaotian refused to give an inch. "The Great Yong merchant convoy passed through my territory, so naturally I bear some responsibility for what happened. But before the truth has even been established, you come demanding answers and throwing your weight around. There is no sincerity in that whatsoever. Go back and tell your General Tang that I know exactly what he is thinking. If he genuinely wants to resolve this, we can certainly discuss it. But if he is looking for an excuse to seize Great Kang's land, then tell him to come and try."
"Since you refuse to recognize the situation, Lord Hu, do not blame us for disregarding our old ties," Liu Yuncai said. He cupped his hands toward Hu Xiaotian. "Farewell!"
Hu Xiaotian snorted and swept his sleeve. "Forgive me for not seeing you out!"
After Liu Yuncai left, Xiong Tianba said excitedly, "Third Uncle, are we going to war? Excellent! Let me lead the vanguard. I'll slaughter those Great Yong dogs and bring you Tang Boxi's head!"
Hu Xiaotian glared at him. "All you ever think about is killing. They have fifty thousand elite troops and more than two hundred warships. What do we have? Are we supposed to meet them head-on with three thousand newly recruited soldiers?"
"Then surely we can't just sit here waiting to die?" Xiong Tianba said.
Hu Xiaotian summoned Liang Yinghao and ordered him to leave immediately for Wuxing Commandery to seek help from Zhao Wusheng. After all, Wuxing had thirty thousand naval troops and more than three hundred warships of various sizes. Though it could not compare with the Nanyang Water Fortress, its willingness to intervene would at least give Tang Boxi pause. He also ordered Xiong Tianba to tighten security at Xiasha Port to prevent Great Yong spies