Li Xin sighed as she heard the tremor in Miss Zhuo Er’s voice. "Report it truthfully."
The maid dared not insist further, only promising to leave.
Two peerlessly beautiful women emerged from behind the screen. The one in blue was the leader of the Six Beauties of Hengjiang, who had accompanied Qin Feng to visit Liang Xiao back then.
Li Xin!
The woman in white had a graceful posture and a furrowed brow. "They, along with that group of young talents, are always coming here to disturb me, disrupting my state of mind. I fear I won't be able to play chess properly in the future."
This woman bore some resemblance to Zhuo Zifang’s eldest son, Zhuo Wulüe, and grandson, Zhuo Ying.
It was Zhuo Zifang’s granddaughter, Zhuo Wulüe’s second daughter, the Golden陵 Chess Immortal, Zhuo Yun!
"My grandmother will send people to deal with them," Li Xin said with a light laugh, covering her mouth. She couldn't help but ask, "But you escaped to my home, only saying your grandfather is forcing you to marry, yet you've never said who it is."
"The Emperor of our Great Liang sent people to inquire, and I dared not conceal it," Zhuo Yun replied helplessly.
Li Xin asked, "Just satisfy my curiosity, sister. Who is it that scared you into fleeing to our Great Liang?"
A hint of bitterness appeared on Zhuo Yun's face as she stammered, "It's... it's the Marquis of Anguo of our Great Qian, Liang Xiao."
"Marquis of Anguo Liang Xiao?!"
Li Xin, who had been giggling moments ago, suddenly stumbled and was caught by Zhuo Yun.
Li Xin looked at Zhuo Yun with disbelief, pulling away from her embrace. "You're running away from a marriage with the Marquis of Anguo??"
"I just want to play chess, I don't want to marry. What does it matter to me who he is, be he a prince, a marquis, or a general..." Zhuo Yun said, her voice full of grievance.
Li Xin exclaimed, "How can you be so foolish!!"
"How am I foolish?" Zhuo Yun retorted playfully.
Li Xin's expression froze. "He is a remarkable man whose fame is destined to last for generations, a man even our Great Liang's Marquis of Zhenguo admits inferiority to. Women who admire him are as numerous as carp crossing a river; it's a luxury even to be his concubine! And you're running away from your marriage..."
"What does it matter to me? What's wrong with me not wanting to marry?" Zhuo Yun replied meekly.
Recalling the "Ghost King Liang Xiao" her younger sister had drawn for her, Zhuo Yun shuddered.
Li Xin, abandoning her usual supportive stance, quickly urged, "You should go back quickly. Listen to your sister's advice, marry him, and don't let your family's efforts be in vain!"
"I knew it. As soon as I told you, you would also urge me to go back, which is why I never dared to tell you! I would rather die than go back. Even if my grandfather cancels this marriage, I won't go back!" Zhuo Yun said, close to tears.
"You will regret it!" Li Xin said with deep regret.
Zhuo Yun looked at Li Xin with suspicion. "Sister Li Xin, have you met him?"
Recalling how she had played a wrong note in her zither piece in an attempt to gain Liang Xiao's attention, Li Xin lowered her head. "Yes, I have. I also heard the Princess recount his conversation with the Marquis. I was astounded... 'War is merciless, the common people cannot bear its weight... Dynastic rise and fall in two sleeves of wind, a century of ups and downs in a single day's words...'"
"He's not a monster in disguise?" Zhuo Yun asked cautiously.
Li Xin blinked and then playfully chided, "Are you foolish? How could someone like that be a monster? His deeds have spread to our Great Liang. His Majesty and the Marquis of Zhenguo are imitating his national policies. Many talented women in our country are heading to the capital of Great Qian these days, just to catch a glimpse of him."
Zhuo Yun pouted. "Then that's perfect. You marry him in my place. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"
Upon hearing this, Li Xin's face flushed, and she chided, "What are you thinking! I am a citizen of Great Liang, and my family has long received imperial favor. How could I possibly marry someone from Great Qian! Before it's too late, you should go back..."
Zhuo Yun became anxious and turned to run. "If you mention him again, I'll get angry! You're not allowed to spread this matter either..."
Li Xin stared blankly at Zhuo Yun's retreating figure. As if coming back to her senses, she sat down by the ancient zither, gazing at her reflection, tears streaming down her face.
"Why do women who have the chance to marry him not cherish it?"
After the situation in Luzhou stabilized, Ouyang family members in the city were all placed under supervision by Li Xiuyun’s men. Even the Ouyang family's bookstore business was greatly affected.
Despite this, the shopkeeper of the Ouyang bookstore still came to Liang Xiao to buy books, as Liang Xiao’s bookstore had completed tens of thousands of volumes that day.
Liang Xiao said sympathetically, "Shopkeeper Ouyang, you are in such dire straits, yet you can still buy books from me? Don't force yourself."
The shopkeeper of Ouyang bookstore gritted his teeth, looking at Liang Xiao's face, wishing he could jump over and tear it apart.
"According to the contract, we must accept all that you print. We will buy as many as you print, until you can no longer print!"
With his home and bookstore under surveillance, and yet still having to collect books, and with the other party having said all that, Liang Xiao could only agree.
"The Ouyang family's thirst for knowledge truly makes this Marquis deeply admire them..."
After Shopkeeper Ouyang left, Liang Xiao sighed, "I almost feel reluctant to let them give me money..."
Yue Lian and Jian Qinyin smiled at each other, gazing at Liang Xiao, their eyes full of a playful spark.
This fellow was truly full of schemes, a far cry from the invincible General in the battlefield!
In addition to Liang Xiao's recruitment of scholars, Li Xiuyun also followed Ding Wuyi's orders to announce conscription.
Because Liang Xiao and Zhuo Zifang had stood by Luzhou until the end and had won the battle, inspiring the entire city, young people in Luzhou enthusiastically enlisted. Li Xiuyun recruited five thousand men in one day!
Fortunately, Luzhou had enough military provisions, and they had captured a large amount of enemy supplies, so these five thousand men could be supported.
On the training grounds, five thousand new recruits and over ten thousand veteran soldiers from the Marquis of Dingguo's mansion gathered, awaiting Liang Xiao.
Only when Liang Xiao and Zhuo Zifang appeared on the reviewing stand did a thunderous roar erupt from below: "We thank the Marquis of Anguo, we thank Lord Zhuo!"
All the soldiers bowed deeply to the two, expressing their gratitude and respect.
After simple greetings, all eyes eagerly turned to Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao said loudly, "In the Battle of Luzhou, we achieved a victory that will make the soldiers proud for a lifetime. But let us not forget, our comrades suffered a total of four thousand nine hundred and twenty-seven casualties, of which three thousand one hundred and twenty were fallen!"
The excited veterans and recruits alike lowered their heads in shame.
They had only seen the victory and had almost overlooked the thousands of broken families behind it.
Liang Xiao continued, "You all now have military registration in Great Qian. Whether you are new recruits or veterans, you are all soldiers of Great Qian. Soldiers must first have courage!"
"Yes!" the soldiers below responded in unison.
Without courage, they could not have won this defensive battle. The enemy was several times their number, and it was entirely thanks to the Heavenly General and the ten thousand Luzhou garrison that they held out until reinforcements arrived!
"Then, what is courage?" Liang Xiao sighed.
Silence fell below.
After a moment, Gongsun Dingjun and Shi Liuyun, leading the troops below, spoke in unison: "Please, Marquis of Anguo, enlighten us!"
Liang Xiao said, "Everyone knows that fleas are insignificant, yet these insects can attack humans millions of times their size anywhere. Can this be called courage?"
Everyone was stunned, and many nodded.
Jian Qinyin, Ding Wuyi, and others watched the military review from a high building in the distance. Chen Shaoling smiled and said, "Fleas are disgusting, but they can be considered as the weak fighting the strong. However, the Marquis of Anguo has a deeper meaning in his words."
On the reviewing stand, Liang Xiao said, "That is the flea's survival instinct, and it certainly cannot be called courage. So, what exactly is courage?"
The crowd fell into thought.
Liang Xiao said, "Courage is to know what fear is, and yet still be able to make fear work for you! Fear makes your breathing irregular and your heart race, but when you can control your fear, it transforms into the strength of courage! As soldiers, what do we rely on to control fear? Naturally, it is our burning passion and belief! Never forget, why do we fight? It is to protect our homes and our country, and to return peace to the land!"