Zhao Wusheng secretly admired him. When it came to decisiveness and the sophistication of his methods, Hu Xiaotian was undoubtedly a cut above him.
Hu Xiaotian said, "Sorry to trouble you and Brother Yongfu with the affairs of Wuxing Commandery, Brother Wusheng. I'll return to Eastern Liang Commandery immediately. Please assign thirty warships and five thousand officers and men to Xiasha Port. I'll have supplies transported here as soon as possible so the men can make it through the bitter winter."
Zhao Wusheng said respectfully, "My lord, you are generous and compassionate, and you cherish your soldiers like your own sons. It is truly our good fortune to have met you."
Hu Xiaotian smiled. "I'm leaving. I'll take Tang Boxi's body back with me after all."
Hu Xiaotian had spent only three short hours in Wuxing Commandery, yet those three hours had played a crucial role in turning the tide. When he left, thirty warships accompanied him toward Xiasha Port. His first task upon returning would be to send supplies to Wuxing Commandery. It was easy to foresee that giving half of Eastern Liang Commandery's provisions to Wuxing Commandery would meet with opposition from the local people. Hu Xiaotian knew this would wound their feelings, but he had no choice. To win the loyalty of Wuxing Commandery's soldiers in the shortest possible time, he had to free them from worries over food and clothing. He had to let them see hope. The hearts of Eastern Liang Commandery's people were not with him to begin with, and he could not make them support him wholeheartedly in the short term. Conciliation would not work; only force could cow them into submission.
Medicine called for prescribing the right remedy for the illness, with different prescriptions for different patients. Governing was no different. To