The Northern Army camp had been training for many days, gradually becoming more proficient with the Shenbi bow and longbow, gaining a better understanding of them.
However, Liang Xiao and Lü Yi were still awaiting the delivery of arrows from the Armament Directorate.
Many arrows had been recovered from the great battle against the barbarians, but most were damaged.
It was common for arrows to be destroyed upon impact with armor, and some had directly pierced the barbarians' flesh, making them difficult to extract. Even when retrieved, they required repeated washing. In the midst of winter, this process was time-consuming and laborious.
"After a great war, there is inevitably a great plague. After a great plague, there is even greater famine."
During the rest period, Liang Xiao was already expending considerable effort just to deal with the barbarian corpses.
To prevent the "plague" brought by the corpses, they were transported to the former camp of the Left Virtuous King and burned. This consumed a massive amount of firewood.
The common people could not comprehend why so many headless corpses were not buried but instead burned with precious firewood. They chose to support Liang Xiao unconditionally out of trust.
On the reviewing stand, seeing that no one else was around, Lü Yi quietly asked, "Did the barbarians possibly find the treasure?"
Liang Xiao pondered for a moment and shook his head. "If they had found the treasure, they would surely have indulged in extravagance, purchasing more weapons and provisions from other nations, or even directly hiring the armies of the Guishuang Dynasty. Last year, they would not have been able to oppose Da Gan with only a few hundred thousand troops."
Lü Yi was then reassured.
The mercenaries of the Guishuang Dynasty were renowned.
As long as a friendly nation could afford their price, they would fight for them.
"As for this battle..." Liang Xiao pointed to a red circle on the map in his hand and asked, "Helan Mountain, was it truly not drawn incorrectly?"
Lü Yi peered at the map. The Helan Mountain range had a noticeable opening in the middle, resembling a passage.
"It was definitely not drawn incorrectly. Helan Mountain was once a territory of Da Gan. Unless the barbarians can fill the gap in Helan Mountain!" Lü Yi stated with certainty.
Liang Xiao mused.
Helan Mountain ran north-south, but this conspicuous gap split it in two. This differed from his impression of the Helan Mountain of his homeland, indicating that simply applying the geography of his homeland was not feasible.
However, this meant that any attack on Helan Mountain would require extreme caution.
While this gap would allow Da Gan soldiers to enter the mountains more easily, the barbarians could also set up an ambush here, using traps, fire, and rolling stones once they were lured in!
This would necessitate Da Gan sending more scouts into the mountains to explore, lest they fall into an enemy ambush.
"Uncle Shi, if the time is right, the other batch of weapons should also be arriving. Once we are prepared, we can rendezvous at Shuofang and then march on Helan Mountain," Liang Xiao finally said.
Lü Yi's old eyes lit up. He slapped Liang Xiao on the shoulder, filled with anticipation. "I am counting on following you, Uncle!"
The soldiers of Yun Prefecture were preparing their logistical support, getting ready to march to Shuofang.
That same day, south of the capital, the streets were teeming with people, a scene of great commotion.
"I heard two southern beauties have arrived in the capital, enchantingly beautiful!"
Countless people flocked from all over to witness the spectacle. They discovered a pair of twins sitting on a carriage, eliciting surprise and delight.
Their skin was like fine jade, their eyes like clear water, their demeanor elegant and graceful, their steps light and soft.
"Truly of unparalleled beauty!" countless scholars marveled, some even composing poems on the spot.
On the carriage in front, an elder stroked his beard and laughed heartily, "My daughters, Gong Xue and Gong Yu, are still unmarried!"
The two young women shyly covered their faces with veils, like startled fawns, causing the scholars to exclaim endlessly.
"This elder gentleman, isn't he the great magnate from the Xichuan region, Gong Mingqing?" a businessman from Sichuan finally exclaimed loudly.
Gong Mingqing simply cupped his hands in greeting to the crowd. "Greetings to all!"
Just then, another commotion was heard from afar: "Master Pang has arrived!"
The crowd parted, making way for a white-haired, white-bearded old man in green robes walking towards the carriage.
"Are you the foremost physiognomist of the capital, Pang Ting?" Gong Mingqing quickly dismounted with his two daughters to pay his respects.
Pang Ting cupped his hands. "It is merely a false reputation, not worth mentioning!"
However, Pang Ting's gaze soon fell upon the two peerless beauties. "These two seem otherworldly... Forgive my audacity, but may I request them to temporarily lift their veils?"
"Master Pang wishes to read your fortunes. He is remarkably accurate!" the surrounding commoners urged with playful shouts.
The sisters, blushing shyly, walked to their father Gong Mingqing's side, each holding an arm, their eyes conveying a hint of inquiry.
"Unveil yourselves," Gong Mingqing said with a loving expression.
The two girls removed the veils they had just put on, their pretty faces flushing slightly.
Pang Ting gazed at them, momentarily entranced. Regaining his senses, he exclaimed, "A countenance of imperial bearing, noble beyond measure, noble beyond measure!!"
As soon as his words fell, the entire crowd erupted!
"What does 'countenance of imperial bearing' mean?" "It means they might enter the palace, serve His Majesty, and even become Empress, presiding over the realm!!" "Hush, how can such words be spoken lightly? Be careful, lest you lose your head!" ...
The commoners' discussions made Gong Mingqing extremely anxious. "Master Pang, you flatter my humble daughters. How dare they harbor any ambitions beyond their station!"
Under the awestruck gaze of the crowd, Pang Ting merely stroked his long beard and departed with a hearty laugh.
"The late Emperor's Empress also came from the common folk. The will of heaven cannot be revealed, cannot be spoken, cannot be spoken!"
Hearing Pang Ting's parting words, the crowd felt a jolt, and they looked at the sisters with reverence, daring not to gaze upward.
In the Imperial Study, Xiao Qing also heard the rumors of "countenance of imperial bearing" and frowned. "Where did this 'countenance of imperial bearing' come from?"
Ning Xuejun and Wang Canghai, who were reviewing memorials for Xiao Qing, also could not help but furrow their brows.
Xiao Qing was the female Emperor; how could she have an Empress?
"I hear that this Pang Ting does not easily read fortunes for just anyone, but he possesses unique insight. He has resided in the capital for ten years and has never been wrong. However, this old minister absolutely does not believe it..." Wang Canghai's brow furrowed even more tightly.
"Perhaps it's someone deliberately promoting them. He doesn't easily read fortunes, and he only reads for his own people, so of course, he can be very accurate," Xiao Qing scoffed.
Ning Xuejun also sneered, "Pang Ting hasn't met Your Majesty, but he must have met the Emperor's consort, right? Why hasn't he commented on him?"
Xiao Qing couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle. "Even when my Xiao Gege was a commoner, even during the selection of officials, I never heard him make any evaluations of Xiao Gege. He's just deceiving ghosts~"
"Besides, even the Heavenly General... Hehe, I'd rather look at Xiao Gege's face more and listen to Xiao Gege speak. It's more reliable~~" Xiao Qing became increasingly smug as she spoke, her small face flushing red.
Even the Heavenly General, who was deified by the populace, was Liang Xiao himself. What sort of supernatural beings could make her believe?
Just then, Zhang Yang, the Grand Master of the Bureau of Imperial Decrees and Minister of Works, requested an audience.
Zhang Yang entered the Imperial Study, his face tense. "Has Your Majesty heard of the 'countenance of imperial bearing' that spread this morning?"
After receiving Xiao Qing's affirmative reply, Zhang Yang quickly knelt down, his voice tense. "This minister believes that physiognomy should not be trusted! The two women are from Xichuan, they suddenly arrived in the capital, and Pang Ting happened to encounter them to read their fortunes – it is too coincidental! Furthermore, this minister believes Pang Ting is not as esteemed as he claims and can confront him in person!"
"Does Minister Zhang believe the arrival of these two women is with ulterior motives?" Xiao Qing's brow rose.
Zhang Yang nodded. "Your Majesty's person is of immense value, and you are the only surviving male heir of the imperial family. We must be cautious. This minister dares to advise Your Majesty to reconsider! Without any unforeseen circumstances, within three days, there will surely be ministers instigating Your Majesty to take them into the harem..."
Just as Xiao Qing was about to respond, a eunuch's announcement came from outside: "Grand Tutor He Wanli requests an audience!"