"What do you mean?" Liang Xiao asked with a smile.
"You're not allowed to let my cousin know that my father and I told you this!" Zhuo Xun said earnestly.
Liang Xiao was stunned, then let out a knowing chuckle.
This girl had exposed the whole story at once; he could guess it all!
After listening to Zhuo Xun's account, Liang Xiao fell silent.
"My cousin might still be in Yan Province, but she doesn't want to see you..." Zhuo Xun said weakly.
Liang Xiao asked, "Did your father apologize to her on my behalf?"
"She refused the apology and said she was preparing to find an opportunity to beat you soundly! You can't let my cousin know I told you this either!"
Liang Xiao nodded seriously, "Is there anything else?"
Zhuo Xun shook her head, ultimately not daring to ask him how he felt about her cousin.
Compared to romantic entanglements, recapturing Helan Mountain was her husband's top priority.
The soldiers in the three northern regions were training intensely, especially the Qingtian Guards and the Great Gan Iron Guards, who needed to quickly familiarize themselves with battle formations after being inducted into the ranks.
With wine to warm their bodies, meat to warm their hearts, and money to support their families, the soldiers were training with full enthusiasm.
On the reviewing stand, Liang Xiao looked at the soldiers below, who were filled with reverence, and announced loudly, "The only son of the family will remain in Yan Province!"
As soon as his words fell, a group of soldiers below anxiously cried out, "Deputy Marshal, we are willing to go into battle..."
Liang Xiao shook his head, "Defending the city is also a crucial task. The barbarians are all cavalry. Now that the Tian Jiang is frozen, far more so than in previous years, they may not hesitate to bypass us and launch a surprise attack on Yan Province. Our army must not be lax."
The soldiers were then satisfied.
Liang Xiao continued to review the troops. An hour later, Mu Hong arrived from afar and reported in a low voice, "Deputy Marshal, those divine bows are still on their way..."
Liang Xiao understood and quietly reminded him, "Guard them strictly, do not let any unauthorized personnel approach, and let them transport them all the way to Yun Province."
These military supplies were all classified.
Mu Hong immediately went to make arrangements.
The White Robe soldiers had also replenished their ranks to seven thousand men, and their military equipment was complete.
The soldiers of Yan Province were filled with fighting spirit, eager to march to Helan Mountain for battle immediately.
In this round of rewards, most people received silver equivalent to several months or even one to two years of their salary. The officers had all been promoted by at least one rank, and some soldiers who fought bravely had also been promoted!
In the past, working oneself to death in the fields, with more than half taken by the landlord, one could barely earn a few coins!
On this day, the soldiers of Yan Province conducted a household registration check, selecting only sons from families among the soldiers. Combined with some transport soldiers and newly enlisted recruits, sixty thousand men were finally chosen to defend Yan Province city.
The remaining ninety thousand were prepared to accompany Liang Xiao to Yun Province to rendezvous with Lü Yi!
The next day, all the citizens of the city spontaneously went to the West City Gate to see them off.
Parents sending off their sons, wives sending off their husbands, children sending off their fathers, and siblings, all were proud that their family members had joined the army!
The ninety thousand soldiers, under Liang Xiao's arrangement, began to march out of the city, bidding farewell to the people.
Jian Qinwan and others sat in their carriage, watching them depart with deep emotion.
"We bid farewell to the Grand Protector (We bid farewell to the General of Chariots and Cavalry) (We bid farewell to the Marquis of Anguo), we bid farewell to the army of wolves!"
The people of Yan Province shouted Liang Xiao's various titles, cheering with raised fists, their pride evident.
Zuo Jing, leading the Yuntian Guards, stood on a tall building, her gaze fixed on the departing army.
"How long will it be after he leaves? Will he return..." Zuo Jing murmured.
"Miss, the tasks entrusted by the master have no time limit," the Yuntian Guard Qing reminded her.
Zuo Jing merely nodded silently, looking at the general's figure in the open carriage, tears welling up.
He was the imperial twin carrying the hopes of the entire nation, while she was merely a Yuntian Guard who could only live in the shadows...
Liang Xiao, in his carriage, couldn't help but look back at his family and wave to the crowd as a farewell.
At this moment, Liang Xiao spotted the figures on the tall building, his gaze locking onto Zuo Jing, and his heart skipped a beat.
Zuo Jing had good eyesight and could vaguely sense Liang Xiao looking up towards the tall building. Her heart fluttered wildly.
After a moment of hesitation, Liang Xiao still waved towards the tall building.
Seeing this, Zuo Jing quickly closed her eyes and turned away, not daring to look again.
After an unknown amount of time, Zuo Jing finally trembled and asked, "Is he still there?"
"He has already left the city, Miss," Qing replied.
Zuo Jing turned around dejectedly, only to see that the Chariot General was no longer there. Her eyes drooped, and her eyelashes trembled slightly.
But soon, Zuo Jing's gaze fell upon the crowd in the distance, where Ye Qingyi and other talented women were also watching Liang Xiao depart.
"This old woman will wait for his triumphant return, and then she'll beat him, beat him soundly..."
The wind was strong today, and the ninety thousand troops marched west, forming a long line.
Thousands of miles of sand could not block the clanging of swords and spears!
Ding Wuyi, the commander of the Shadow Guards, accepted Liang Xiao's request and took over the military command of Yan Province, personally guarding it, with Mu Hong and Liu Fan assisting.
The generals who had led troops in Yan Province that day accompanied Liang Xiao out of the city, ready to continue to make contributions.
The barbarian cavalry was not invincible!
Liang Xiao and the "Heavenly General" had given the soldiers unprecedented confidence.
The Great Gan Kingdom spared no effort to mobilize all its resources to procure supplies and armaments for the northern frontier soldiers, mainly those in Yan Province. By today, all supplies were ready and were being transported to Yun Province!
According to Liang Xiao's intention, if this battle were successful, it would be more than just taking Helan Mountain.
The bold declarations of the former Heavenly General, to water their horses in the vast sea, were the dreams of the sons of Great Gan!
This was a feat that even the founding heroes could not accomplish!
In the biting cold wind, the soldiers sang their military songs.
Liang Xiao listened to the soldiers' military songs, a smile on his face.
"My heart is like the vast Yellow River," Great Gan did not have a clear concept of the Yellow River, only a river similar to it, the Tian Jiang. Few people referred to the Tian Jiang as the Yellow River, but occasionally the Tian Jiang would turn yellow due to excessive sediment, which was understandable...
Ten thousand miles of clouds and mist rose, and iron horses and spears advanced towards Yun Province!
Even when marching within the country's borders, Liang Xiao did not neglect to send scouts ahead to reconnoiter the area, including checking if the water sources were as usual.
Ninety thousand people were manageable within the city, but outside the city, even basic needs like eating, drinking, and sanitation were a matter that had to be taken seriously.
Fortunately, Liang Xiao's previous victory had shaken both domestic and foreign powers, and the soldiers were dedicated. Orders were strictly followed, making arrangements relatively easy, and no one dared to disobey.
After all, Liang Xiao's own meals were similar to those of the soldiers, and Lü Changhe and others followed suit.
Yun Province was relatively calmer than Yan Province, and the people had recovered from the joy of the great victory in Yan Province and the retreat of the barbarians.
However, due to the large amount of supplies being escorted, the army's advance was much slower than before.
Fifteen days later, at the end of December.
"Yan Province is about to rendezvous with Yun Province, and together we will advance northwest to reclaim Helan Mountain!!"
As news spread through the military camp, the entire city's military and civilians were invigorated.
He, finally, had arrived!
They, finally, had arrived!
The army of wolves that could slaughter seventeen thousand barbarian cavalry, led by the young General of Chariots and Cavalry, had finally arrived in Yun Province!
Liang Xiao personally led the great army to the east of Yun Province city, awaiting news from Lü Changhe.
After Lü Changhe entered Yun Province to deliver the message, Lü Yi was ecstatic and led his generals out of the city to greet them.