"Jian Beihai..."
After reading the secret letter from the Spring Revival Cult, Jian Nanfeng, who was usually cheerful, was filled with shock and anger. He coughed in rage and immediately sent a disciple to Yan Province to report.
With the court's commendations concluded, Liang Xiao reluctantly bid farewell to Xiao Qing and returned to Yan Province.
Xiao Qing climbed to a high building and wistfully watched Liang Xiao's convoy depart. She couldn't help but touch her small belly and murmur, "You need to be more spirited..."
When Liang Xiao finally returned to Yan Province, the soldiers on the city walls were all excited and saluted him in unison: "We welcome the Deputy Marshal, General of Chariots and Cavalry, the Marquis of Anguo!"
The Son of Heaven's imperial decree had already been sent ahead to Yan Province. The soldiers and civilians of Yan Province all knew that Liang Xiao had secured astonishing rewards for them, which were about to be distributed!
In the past, conscription mostly meant military service. Not only was it a luxury to receive a salary, but soldiers even had to provide their own clothing and tools.
During the warlord era, most people joined the army with ulterior motives, because they could loot after capturing a city and make a fortune.
The Great Gan dynasty valued civil over military affairs. While the military commanders were suppressed, the soldiers' salaries were not high, and they had nowhere to loot. This led to a lack of fighting spirit among the troops.
Now, soldiers received salaries, and there were rewards for victory, boosting their morale to an unprecedented level. They were more willing to face the next battle.
Liang Xiao, without stopping, returned to the Northern Border military camp to deliver the imperial decree to the generals and distribute the rewards.
The entire camp rejoiced!
On the day Xiao Qing issued the decree, the rewards were already on their way to Yan Province. By the time Liang Xiao returned, everything was ready for distribution.
The one hundred and fifty thousand troops who had served before the great victory in Yan Province would each receive at least five taels of silver as a reward. Those who participated in the battles would receive an additional five taels each!
Captains and above received extra silver rewards, enough to slaughter cattle and sheep for a month.
Three million taels of silver were distributed throughout the Northern Border. Liang Xiao did not take a single copper coin for himself.
The military morale soared!
Tens of thousands of oxen were requisitioned for the state. Other suitable sheep and some beef cattle were used for rewarding the army after the consumption of horse meat. Livestock was still being transported to the three northern territories.
The Sky Pillar Guard and the Great Gan Iron Guard, with replacements recruited, maintained their normal formations. Xiao Qing had already sent people across the country to recruit such elite soldiers to ensure the longevity of these two legions.
The Great Gan Daily published the news that Liang Xiao's twenty thousand households of fiefdoms were all located in the northern border of Yan Province, which deeply moved the soldiers and civilians of Yan Province.
This meant that their Marquis of Anguo would live and die with Yan Province, and would never allow the barbarian hordes to invade!
What truly touched the soldiers and civilians of Yan Province was that Liang Xiao also handed over the one hundred thousand taels of gold he had received as a reward to the state, to be used for distribution, fulfilling his past promise: all rewards would be shared with the soldiers.
When this matter spread to the capital, Liang Xiao's political enemies finally found an opportunity. They began to instigate the populace and privately impeached Liang Xiao for buying people's hearts. However, they were deterred by Xiao Qing's cold gaze.
Ouyang Ji, on the other hand, was relieved by this event.
In his opinion, for every extra million taels of silver Liang Xiao acquired, they would have to spend at least a million taels of their own property to match him. Making Liang Xiao spend money was a good thing!
After awarding merits in the military camp, Liang Xiao finally returned home the next day.
Jian Qinwan and the others were both happy and proud.
A young Chariot and Cavalry General, a Grand Lord with twenty thousand households!
Zhuo Xun, upon hearing that her adoptive father Zhuo Wulüe had been promoted to Minister of War, felt her joy doubled and smiled even more brightly.
Zuo Wushang was her biological father, but Zhuo Wulüe had raised her, and she was genuinely grateful.
Only Mu Xueqin, while relieved, brought Du Pingling to have a private talk with Liang Xiao and informed him about the Jian clan.
"My father-in-law's elder brother, Jian Beihai, is still alive, and he is very likely the mastermind behind the destruction of the Xichuan Jian clan back then?" Liang Xiao was shocked.
According to the intercepted secret letter from Ren Changfeng, it did mention that Jian Beihai had become one of the "Cult Masters" of the Spring Revival Cult.
The letter also mentioned the Jian clan's "Tribe's Treasure," which the Spring Revival Cult was determined to obtain.
Considering the sudden annihilation of the Jian clan, which had a tradition of thousands of years, the reason was obvious...
Could a "Tribe's Treasure" make someone collude with the Spring Revival Cult at all costs and destroy their entire clan?
Ren Changfeng, being familiar with the Xichuan region, had gone to Xichuan to continue his investigation.
Jian Beihai was likely after the Jian clan's "Tribe's Treasure." Both Liang Xiao and Tianshan had to be wary.
However, Liang Xiao was currently facing impending warfare, and since he had already absorbed the "Tribe's Treasure," he couldn't focus on this matter for the time being.
"The confidence of the Great Gan military and civilians has reached an unprecedented height. But if we want our Great Gan military spirit to be immortal, we must take advantage of this surge in morale to recover Helan Mountain and capture Yanzhi Mountain and Qilian Mountain!" Liang Xiao said with a serious tone.
Seeing her son-in-law, whom she had personally healed, now achieving such success, Mu Xueqin felt only pride.
"Where is Sister Pan? Call her over as well!" Liang Xiao suddenly asked.
Mu Xueqin was stunned and immediately instructed Du Pingling to send for Pan Feng.
Currently, she and Pan Feng were responsible for looking after Liang Xiao's wives, fearing any mishaps.
After Pan Feng arrived, Liang Xiao finally spoke: "Mother-in-law, Sister Pan, Senior Brother Du, I will be leading troops to Yun Province soon. Yan Province will be defended, and the three northern territories will jointly advance towards Helan Mountain."
The three nodded solemnly, understanding that the Liang Residence was being entrusted to Tianshan's care.
Liang Xiao frowned and requested, "Mother-in-law, Sister Pan, the risks of pregnancy are unpredictable. I know the prevailing customs of the era, but if anything were to happen to any of them... remember, you must prioritize saving the mother!"
The two were stunned and nodded solemnly, their hearts filled with shock.
Even Du Pingling was taken aback.
While the Great Gan dynasty was tolerant towards women, given the mainstream patriarchal society, women's status was still not high. In cases of difficult childbirth, most families would choose to save the baby.
Pregnant women, out of maternal love, also wished to save the baby.
After Liang Xiao left, Mu Xueqin couldn't help but sigh, "Unbelievable..."
Pan Feng also couldn't help but laugh, "I heard that His Highness, in cooperation with the Ministry of Works, has been researching something called 'obstetric forceps' for three months and promoting it across the country. Yan Province will also be able to use it."
Mu Xueqin just nodded, her face full of confusion, "This good son-in-law, how does he seem to understand even childbirth?"
At this time, the physicians had not yet foreseen the future impact of obstetric forceps on some pregnant women and fetuses.
Returning to the courtyard, Liang Xiao finally had some leisure time to spend with his wives.
Seeing Zhuo Xun looking dejected, Liang Xiao looked apologetic. He hugged her and kissed her forehead, comforting her, "Little monster, your big monster is not neglecting you."
"I know, I don't want to trouble you!" Zhuo Xun huffed.
Liang Xiao finally breathed a sigh of relief and told the girls new stories.
At night, in bed, Liang Xiao's expression changed. He looked at Zhuo Xun, whose face was slightly flushed, "What are you doing..."
"Sister Qinwan taught me. She said I should tease you..." Zhuo Xun murmured.
Liang Xiao almost suffocated.
This vixen was becoming more "lawless" now that she was pregnant. He was truly helpless!
Looking at the shy Zhuo Xun, Liang Xiao comforted her, "When I return victorious, you will be eighteen."
Zhuo Xun's face instantly turned red, and her voice was as quiet as a mosquito's: "Then I'll let you off tonight..."
Liang Xiao finally breathed a sigh of relief.
After a moment, Zhuo Xun suddenly remembered something and quietly reminded Liang Xiao, "Oh, right. My father secretly warned us to be wary of Sister Si Ti's older sister, Sophia. He said she might be a very dangerous person!"