Wang Canghai and Ning Xuejun's breathing also became a little hurried.
General Tian manifested in Luzhou, and Liang Xiao was in Luzhou!
The capital, Yanzhou, Luzhou... Wherever Liang Xiao was, General Tian was there!
Even though Liang Xiao's age made it hard for them to believe, they really couldn't help but think in that direction at the moment.
After all, they all knew that Liang Xiao had suffered a serious injury, and this injury could not be explained clearly.
Xiao Qing recovered and glanced at Ding Wuyi's secret letter again, then asked doubtfully, "But why didn't Duke Ding mention the connection between my elder brother and General Tian in the letter?"
As the commander of the Shadow Guards, Ding Wuyi and Ning Xuejun would report anything to her in a timely manner.
Wang Canghai glanced at the content of the letter again and sighed, "Is it really just General Tian manifesting? Or, General Tian was a divine being from the beginning, and only because he appreciated Young Master Liang Er's intentions and talent did he lend him divine power?"
After Wang Canghai finished speaking, the three fell into a brief silence.
Even Wang Canghai himself didn't believe what he had just said.
Xiao Qing said dejectedly, "If my elder brother is General Tian, would he be worried about something..."
Wang Canghai pondered and nodded, "He is now the Marquis of Anguo, Grand Master of Grand Lin, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Works, and General Zhen Dong. If he is also General Tian, then according to the previous imperial decree, he would be General Shenwei Tian and Marquis Zhongwu, with a status equivalent to that of a Grand General. If this were the case, even if His Majesty still trusted him, this old minister and the General of Cavalry would have to treat him cautiously. This is probably what he is worried about."
Xiao Qing recalled what Liang Xiao had said to her before he left, and sighed, "I want to wait for him to return safely and let him know that even if he is General Tian, his little Shuangzi trusts him, and will always do so!"
Wang Canghai was silent for a moment, then sighed several times and said, "This old minister is also willing to believe, after all, in this world, only he can create a true era of peace and prosperity with His Majesty..."
Xiao Qing then smiled brightly.
Wang Canghai, however, was filled with unease and felt helpless.
This was gambling with the fate of the royal family, and even the destiny of the nation!
"In the battle of Luzhou, a total of one hundred thousand enemies were defeated. Marquis Anguo, Liang Xiao, planned the defenses, used divine artifacts to defeat tens of thousands of enemies, shot down two enemy leaders, and invoked the manifestation of General Tian, turning the tide. He shall be credited with the first merit! He is granted a fief of five thousand households, becoming a Marquis of ten thousand households from now on, and awarded thirty thousand taels of gold!"
"Duke Gongsun Dingjun performed meritorious service in defending the city, leading the charge and being second in merit! He is enfeoffed as a Marquis, granted a fief of two thousand households in his hometown, and awarded six thousand taels of gold!"
"Marquis Zhuo Zifang and Luzhou Prefect Li Xiuyun performed meritorious service in the defense and stabilized the hearts of the people, each awarded five thousand taels of gold. Li Xiuyun is enfeoffed as a Marquis of Guannei, and Zhuo Zifang is granted an additional fief of one thousand households locally!"
"General Taoyin Shi Liuyun rendered meritorious service in support, defeating over ten thousand enemies along the way, and is enfeoffed as a Marquis of Guannei, awarded three thousand taels of gold!"
Imperial decrees were posted in the palace, and the people of the capital finally confirmed the great victory in Luzhou, celebrating with joy!
But what truly inspired the masses was the manifestation of General Tian!
"Even if General Tian has become a god, he still cares about the country and its people!!"
Countless people wept with joy and went to the Shenwei Mansion to worship General Tian.
Xiao Qing was in the imperial study, her mood complex.
She had originally wanted to call for nationwide worship of General Tian, but after much thought, she gave up.
If her detestable elder brother was truly General Tian, then it was inauspicious for a living person to receive sacrifices; they could only establish a temple for him while he was alive...
For now, Xiao Qing could only wait for Liang Xiao to return to discuss it.
"Your Majesty, Princess Kristy requests an audience!"
Ning Xuejun's announcement made Xiao Qing's expression change, and her mood became even more complicated.
This infatuated girl who was hopelessly in love with General Tian could even humble herself before her elder brother for General Tian.
But if her elder brother was indeed General Tian himself, then Kristy... Ah, what an annoying elder brother!
However, Xiao Qing still suppressed her jealousy and received Kristy.
At this moment, Kristy's face was stained with tears. As soon as she entered, she kept kowtowing to Xiao Qing.
"Your Majesty, did Marquis Anguo invite the divine spirit of General Tian in Luzhou?"
Hearing the trembling sob in Kristy's voice, Xiao Qing could only reply, "Mm, yes..."
"Your subject requests Your Majesty's permission to go to Jiangnan to find Marquis Anguo and ask for clarification!" Kristy pleaded.
Xiao Qing exchanged a look with Ning Xuejun and nodded helplessly, "Your request is granted. A unit of the Imperial Guard will escort you, along with several maids and Buti..."
"Thank you for your grace!"
Kristy kowtowed repeatedly. Xiao Qing felt heartbroken seeing this and quickly asked Ning Xuejun to help her up.
The entire Liang Mansion, upon learning that General Tian had manifested because of Liang Xiao, was filled with joy and pride.
Luo Qingxue and Liang Qing, in their respective rooms, sighed with tears in their eyes, their hearts filled with more questions, and could only wait for Liang Xiao's return.
The Ouyang family and other noble families were like ants on a hot pan!
Ouyang Che had already been executed by Liang Xiao on the charge of causing public unrest, and it was also discovered that he was the mastermind behind the shoddy construction of the city walls years ago. With both crimes, the entire clan was implicated!
Under pressure from the emperor, Ouyang Ji had no choice but to donate five hundred thousand taels and disown Ouyang Che from the family registry to show his sincerity.
It was like breaking one's teeth and swallowing the blood!
The protagonist of the incident, Liang Xiao, was enjoying himself in Luzhou city.
The situation in the city was now stable, and Liang Xiao only needed to maintain order. Once the bookstore and other preparatory workshops were renovated, Liang Xiao could set off for Jinling.
Looking at the Luzhou citizens whose order had returned to normal on the streets, Liang Xiao and his entourage, sitting in an open-air carriage, were in high spirits.
"I heard that Marquis Anguo helped His Majesty manage the East Sea salt fields. Recently, the East Sea has produced countless amounts of salt, which is even finer than the salt we usually see, and cheaper!"
"That's right! Even the areas around Jinling have planned salt fields early on, and they have already successfully produced salt. Marquis Dingguo personally sent troops to guard them! Our Marquis Anguo proposed to His Majesty to significantly lower the price of salt, and from now on, we can all afford salt!"
Listening to the surrounding citizens' praises for Liang Xiao, the three girls beside Liang Xiao were full of pride.
To avoid causing trouble for Liang Xiao, they all wore veils.
"You, how are you so amazing?" Zhuo Xun asked with stars in her eyes, unable to resist speaking.
Jian Qinwan and Yue Lian could not help but chuckle.
This little girl didn't know yet that this guy was General Tian!
"Because I'm really a monster in disguise, I'm very powerful! Little monster, are you scared?" Liang Xiao said with a serious face.
Zhuo Xun quickly covered her face, "Why are you calling me a little monster..."
"Didn't you say yourself that you're a monster in disguise?" Liang Xiao retorted.
Zhuo Xun was both shy and angry, and said with a pout, "Then, then you're a big monster!"
"Alright, the big monster has come to Luzhou specifically to catch the little monster!" Someone raised their two demonic claws again.
Zhuo Xun, shy, shrunk behind Yue Lian and Jian Qinwan, not daring to respond.
Laughter filled the carriage.
"I heard that many salt smugglers have lost their fortunes because of those salt fields, and they hate Marquis Anguo to the bone. They might even hire assassins to kill Marquis Anguo. What should we do!"
"Do they dare? The people of Daqian country could drown them with one spit each!"
"They even dare to commit crimes punishable by death like smuggling, what don't they dare to do..."
Hearing the discussion again, the hearts of the three girls tightened, but seeing the guards constantly on alert around them, they felt relieved.
Liang Xiao smiled, but did not let his guard down.
Those smugglers, unable to sell their stockpiled salt at high prices, had lost everything and truly hated him to the core.
But he dared to offend even the noble families and the Huichun Sect, let alone mere smugglers?
Perhaps there were people from the noble families and the Huichun Sect among the smugglers!
Unlike Liang Xiao and his entourage, who were enjoying themselves, a group of men and women on the balcony of a distant inn were restless.
The leader was Ye Qingyi, the former master of the Baichun Building, who had been in hiding during the battle of Luzhou!