Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains
Chapter 929 - 929: 403, Gongwu River Crossing, Gongjing River Crossing_2

"The alliance made the River Lord bring heavy rains and cause floods, inundating Longxiang County, aiming to widen the Tongtian River channel. The water level in Hexi has risen, but it's still not deep enough for the Great Jin's troop carriers to navigate. Even if the Great Jin landed in Hexi, they would either have to spend time dealing with the floodwaters or build a lot of small boats to cross the river;

In contrast, the Hedong Alliance only needs to transport troops to Longxiang Ferry using large boats. Even without smaller boats, soldiers can wade through the water for over ten li to land and resist the Great Jin army.

The Great Jin caused a great drought in Xiapi County, evaporating water uncontrollably. The water level north of the Chaoxia Crossing is dropping by three meters every day. If the drought continues for another month, the entire area three hundred li north of the river will dry up. The Youye Emperor Tuoba Zun's millions-strong army has been heading south for half a month. The plan is to dry up north of the Chaoxia Crossing entirely, and when the warships reach the appropriate location on the water, soldiers would disembark and quickly march to Hexi. At this rate, the journey that would usually take three months can now be completed in less than a month.

The strategies on both sides can be considered clever. The only flaw is that neither the Great Jin nor the Hedong Alliance takes the Hou Clan seriously or regards the tens of millions of residents in Hexi as people."

Hou Yuxiao's tone grew sinister towards the end.

The disasters instigated by the Great Jin and Hexi have lasted half a month. If the Hou Clan still cannot discern the real intentions of both sides, they would be unworthy of being called the Lord of Hexi. Besides threatening Hexi, the primary objective of both sides is to prepare for their upcoming war.

The Great Jin, being farther from Hexi, seeks speed by evaporating three hundred li north of Chaoxia Crossing. After reaching the middle and lower sections, the army disembarks and marches overland quickly;

The Hedong Alliance, being closer, has its large army separated from Hexi by the Tongtian River. Therefore, they are not in a hurry to move their troops but first focus on preparing defenses. The first defense line is already set as Hexi. So Hexi will be their and the Great Jin's first battlefield. Flooding Longxiang County is meant for the second defense line. If they can't hold off the Great Jin in Hexi, the swollen Tongtian River would at least delay the Great Jin for several months.

The drought and flood clearly show that the two sides have tacitly agreed to use all of Hexi as the first battlefield, which means Hexi will inevitably become a battleground. At that time, all the wealth accumulated by the Hou Clan over the past decade will be reduced to nothing. This is the main reason for Hou Yuxiao's sinister tone.

"Before taking these actions, neither side considered Hexi's opinion at all. They are confident that before making a move, Hexi wouldn't dare to side with either one. When I expressed allegiance with the alliance at Si Shui to the River Lord of the Tongtian River, his reaction was very indifferent. If we approach the Great Jin, I expect the feedback would be the same. Unless our Hou Clan's army clearly supports one side or the other, neither side would take us seriously!"

Hou Yuduan paused here, noticing Hou Yuxiao's heavy expression, then continued: "I've already informed the River Lord that you're leading the army to Xiapi County to prepare to resist the southward advance of the Great Jin. He said he would notify the people from the alliance to confirm it, which should happen in the next few days. I reckon the alliance's army has already started crossing the river. As soon as the flood drowns Longxiang County, their army will surely land before the Great Jin, and when the battle starts, we..."

"...should also take action!"

After Hou Yuxiao finished speaking, he turned to look at the river and fell silent again.

Seeing that he said no more, Hou Yuduan looked somewhat puzzled, opened his mouth, but seeing Hou Yuxiao was not inclined to speak, he didn't ask further.

In fact, until now, Hou Yuxiao hadn't revealed any strategy for this battle to them at all, only stating that Hexi's position is against the Jin.

But if the position is against the Jin, then why not attend the Yangzhou Alliance?

Even if it was to avoid the Great Jin's targeting, both sides are now on the brink of war, with the Great Jin marching south and the Hedong crossing west, and yet they do nothing; why is that?

Is bringing the army to Chaoxia Crossing truly to resist the Great Jin's troops?

That's ridiculous, resisting the Great Jin isn't solely the responsibility of the Hou Clan. Not to mention the 500,000 Red Flame Army currently stationed at Chaoxia Crossing, even if the Hou Clan's two million Red Flame Army plus three million Zhaoyang Army came together, they couldn't stop the southward-moving Great Jin army!

The correct response should be waiting for the Hedong Alliance's army to cross west, then joining forces with them to resist the Great Jin. Not only does it ensure prudence and conserving strength, but also making sure to be fully prepared before engaging with the Great Jin. In previous major battles, the Hou Clan has always been adept at safeguarding its own interest. He couldn't believe such a straightforward matter could elude anyone with a sound mind, much less his brother.

This only proves that his brother Hou Yuxiao has other plans.

But for some reason, his brother hasn't explained them to them yet.

Could it be that his brother is still indecisive?

Saying the position is against Jin is just a temporary measure, in reality, he wants to turn towards the Great Jin?

No, no...

Hou Yuduan quickly dismissed this speculation in his mind. From his understanding of Hou Yuxiao, turning towards the Great Jin is impossible. If it was just a temporary measure, Hou Yuxiao would have no reason to deliberately deceive them. The position against Jin must be genuine.

"Old Fifth, tell me, after so many years, I've suffered so much at Sikong Yue's hands. How does she view me and Hexi?"

...

Hou Yuduan froze at the unexpected question from Hou Yuxiao.

He didn't know why his brother asked this suddenly. But after pondering for a moment, he quickly gave his answer quietly: "From the Zhaoyang Disturbance till now, you've had dealings with Sikong Yue three times, each time as you said, being manipulated by her. Presumably, she looks down on you, and given her current status and power, her attitude towards our Hexi is bound to be mostly contemptuous."

"That being said, after returning from Yongdu, she must think I'd find ways to open the Divine Sect's treasury, let her New Moon Cult intervene smoothly, join the Hedong Alliance to jointly resist Jin. As a result, perhaps the Great Jin would hesitate, not rushing south, but rather deal with the Qinjian Villa first, then move south from Jizhou. Thus, Hexi wouldn't become a battlefield, and it could also lean on the New Moon Cult and Hedong Alliance, barely maintaining. Is that right?"

Hou Yuxiao had already told Hou Yuduan everything about Yongdu. After asking this, he saw Hou Yuduan nod, causing a slight smile to appear on his lips. He turned back to the river, took a deep breath, and said:

"The Great Jin Dynasty and the Hedong Alliance do not take Hexi seriously, and Sikong Yue's New Moon Cult has Hexi at their mercy to this extent. It's no wonder that the north is dry and the east is flooded, and they dared to do so silently."

Hearing these words from Hou Yuxiao, Hou Yuduan's expression showed slight dejection, and he sighed heavily: "We are mere fish on the chopping block, facing these Holy Lands, Hexi is still... too weak, with no real options.

The Great Jin is eager to cross the river, the alliance is crossing the river as well, and the New Moon Cult to the west sits watching the tigers fight while waiting for you to open the Divine Sect's treasury and enter at any time. Currently, it seems our only path is to open the treasury. After it's opened, attracting the major sages to contend over it, we can delay it for a while, and once the treasury matter concludes, the New Moon Cult can then join in. With the situation even more chaotic, things could turn in unexpected ways."

"Crossing the river... sieging... betrayal..."

Facing the river water, Hou Yuxiao fell into silence again.

After a moment, with a serious look, he turned back: "Have you ever considered why, though the situation between Hedong Alliance and Great Jin has reached its peak, neither side seems to care about Hexi's stance?"

For a moment, Hou Yuduan was taken aback by this question from Hou Yuxiao. He opened his mouth but, seeing Hou Yuxiao refrained from speaking, he too remained silent.

In fact, until now, Hou Yuxiao had not disclosed any of his thoughts about this battle to them, only once said that Hexi's position is anti-Jin.

But if the position is anti-Jin, then why not participate in the Yangzhou Alliance?

Even if it's to avoid provocation from the Great Jin, both sides are now on the brink of war, with the Great Jin advancing south, and Hedong crossing the river west. Yet they are doing nothing; why is that?

Did he bring the army to Chaoxia Crossing to really resist the Great Jin's army?

Nonsense, resisting the Great Jin is not just a matter for the Hou Clan. Not to mention that even if the 500,000 Red Flame Army stationed at Chaoxia Crossing, combined with Hou Clan's 300,000 Zhaoyang Army, arrived together, they would not be able to stop the Great Jin army from heading south!

The proper response should be to wait for the Hedong Alliance's western-bound army, then join forces with them to resist the Great Jin. Not only to face them head-on with full preparation, but also to at least keep our forces intact! In all the major battles previous to this, the Hou Clan has always been skilled at self-preservation. I can't believe my brother wouldn't see something so simple, which anyone in their right mind should see.

This can only prove that my elder brother, Hou Yuxiao, has other plans.

But for some reason, he still hasn't explained anything to us yet.

Could it be that deep down, my brother is still wavering?

Saying that we are anti-Jin is just a stopgap, in reality, does he want to side with the Great Jin?

No no no...

Hou Yuduan quickly rejected this speculation in his mind. From what he knows about Hou Yuxiao, siding with the Great Jin is impossible. If it were just a temporary strategy, Hou Yuxiao would have no reason to deceive them intentionally; the stance against Jin is real for sure.