After leaving Deng Xia, Liu Cheng regretted telling him the story of Xin Xianying. He had spoken too deeply for so slight an acquaintance.
The best opportunity would have been after Wang Qia's affairs had been settled, when they could share a private drink before his return. Bringing it up then would have had the best effect.
It was not that he could not say it now, but the mood and atmosphere were clearly a little lacking. And if the other man later underwent a transformation like A Meng of Wu, lost his taste for hunting Chinese alligators in leather armor with a crotch guard, and took to reading instead, he might grow more calculating and even feel that Liu Cheng had overstepped his bounds today.
He had indeed been too hasty.
There was certainly reason for urgency, but it needed strategy behind it, and he had to appear unhurried. He would need even greater caution when dealing with the newly surrendered men next. If a moment's haste cost him his life, that would be a terrible bargain.
Having finished reflecting on horseback, Liu Cheng did not go straight to Wang Qia and his men. Instead, he first went to Xinye, where he met Huan Qian's father, Huan Huo, on the third day after the Lantern Festival.
Here, there was even less need for Liu Acheng to play the strategist or offer heartfelt advice. He delivered the letter, Huan Huo read it, asked a few questions, then nodded, and the matter was settled.
The specific strategy was simple.
They agreed to employ both courtesy and force, but courtesy would come first.
Liu Cheng would go as an envoy and work on the matter gradually. Ideally, he would persuade Wang Qia to accept reorganization and bring his army into the interior