The scene fell into a brief silence, with the soldiers and civilians exchanging confused glances.
A year ago, such words would have been met with ridicule, without the emergence of the Heavenly General and the Marquis of An Guo!
But now, everything was different!
The white-clad figure on the high platform, not yet twenty, had been enfeoffed as a marquis, appointed to high office, ascended the Golden Terrace, ridden in the Emperor's carriage, achieved a great victory in the defense of Luzhou, and now, at Yanzhou, had beheaded seventeen thousand barbarians – an unprecedented feat!
After a long pause, thunderous cheers erupted from below, followed by countless people raising their arms towards Liang Xiao on the platform, shouting: "Reclaim Helan Mountain!!"
The common people did not understand military strategy; they could only make simple calculations.
"With fewer than five thousand losses, we beheaded seventeen thousand. The northern border, including newly recruited soldiers, should number three hundred and fifty thousand. That means we can defeat over ten million barbarians…"
Mu Hong and others beside the high platform, hearing the discussions of the surrounding populace, broke out in a cold sweat.
Who calculated it like that?
However, no one was surprised.
After all, beheading seventeen thousand on the battlefield was too astounding. Throughout history, apart from Bai Qi, the God of Slaughter from the Spring and Autumn period, few others could claim such a feat. But Bai Qi primarily killed infantry in every battle; killing so many cavalry in a single engagement was exceptionally difficult.
The barbarians were lured by Liang Xiao's plan, eager to break through the city. The darkness of night impaired their vision, and they attacked the infantry, resulting in the loss of forty to fifty thousand men, their morale shattered. Then, the Great Gan cavalry, armed with powerful bows and crossbows and fighting from a position of strength, pursued them relentlessly. Moreover, the Heavenly General's might terrified the enemy, leading to such a remarkable outcome.
All these factors were almost indispensable!
However, the people's support for reclaiming Helan Mountain was a good thing. Helan Mountain absolutely could not be left unattended, otherwise, the barbarians could launch incursions at any time from there, harassing the northwest and northern borders, and potentially severing the passage between Great Gan and the Western Regions!
Liang Xiao, gazing at the exceptionally inspired populace, knew that he must solemnly commemorate the fallen soldiers. He ordered someone to fetch brushes, ink, and paper, and with a flourish, he began to write.
The "Ode to White Horses," one hundred and forty characters long, with vigorous brushstrokes, sprang to life on the paper! 138 Reading Network
"White horses adorned with golden bridles, gallop northwest in a swift pace…"
"With bows strung, the left flank shattered, the right hand strikes down the Yuezhi. Reaching up to catch flying macaques, bending down to scatter the hooves…"
"...Sacrificing their lives for the nation's plight, viewing death as if returning home!"
"This is the Marquis of An Guo's tribute, a song of praise for the Great Gan soldiers. The White Horse Knights are merely a metaphor, not solely referring to the white-robed soldiers!"
As the soldiers and civilians recited, scholars present explained the verses.
In a daze, everyone seemed to be transported to the scene, witnessing the sons of Great Gan marching north with unwavering resolve, engaging in a life-or-death battle with the barbarian cavalry, viewing death as if returning home!
Cheers and screams from the young men and women of Yanzhou echoed, accompanied by thunderous applause.
The people of the simple and honest Yanzhou, with proud smiles on their faces, filled Liang Xiao with emotion.
They had suffered hardship, and some had even lost loved ones to the barbarian cavalry. Now, finally, someone had avenged them, and they displayed their most sincere adoration.
From now on, trade with the barbarians must cease!
The more Liang Xiao thought about it, the angrier he became.
The aristocratic families, led by the Dugu family, had secretly eroded Great Gan's national strength for a hundred years; their hearts were damnable.
Now, it was time to let them taste what it was like to be eroded!
At this moment, several scholars finally gathered their courage and shouted in unison: "The Marquis of An Guo and the Heavenly General are truly the twin jewels of our Great Gan Empire!!"
The populace suddenly realized and shouted in unison: "Twin Jewels of the Empire!!"
Liang Xiao simply thanked them humbly.
Jian Qinwan and others couldn't help but cover their mouths and chuckle.
Zuo Jing had been secretly observing Liang Xiao and his wives' reactions. Seeing this, her gaze was filled with longing, further convincing her that Liang Xiao was indeed the Heavenly General in person!
Liang Xiao was waiting for the commendation ceremony to conclude.
Beheading and recording victories was not the only method of commendation in the Great Gan army; it ran parallel to military merit commendation. Six months prior, Xiao Qing had accepted Liang Xiao's proposal to have various regions emulate this system, and the methods of commendation had become increasingly refined.
Liang Xiao had established dedicated personnel to oversee the battlefield beheading and statistical work. Rewards were then allocated based on the soldiers' units and the number of heads, effectively resolving issues such as delaying kills to claim heads, false claims, and disputes over merit, thus achieving a more perfect system for recording battlefield beheadings.
A moment later, Mu Hong, having received the news, reported to Liang Xiao from below the platform: "Deputy Marshal, it has been confirmed, the commendation is complete. A total of one hundred and seventy-one thousand two hundred and thirty barbarian heads!"
The surrounding heralds gasped, and then Mu Hong's number was relayed throughout the area, causing another wave of astonishment.
There were indeed seventeen thousand!
The people naturally did not believe Liang Xiao would kill innocent civilians to claim merit, especially since no massacre had occurred in the city, and the features and hairstyles of Great Gan people and barbarians were distinctly different.
Liang Xiao immediately issued an order: "Pile these heads five li north of the city. Three days later, send them a hundred li north of the city and display them at the original site of the Xiongnu's Left Wise King's camp!"
As soon as the words fell, the soldiers and civilians present were all shaken to their core!
Displaying heads as a warning, and then dumping them at the original site of the barbarian camp?
They could imagine how terrified the barbarians would be upon seeing so many heads in the future!
After the memorial ceremony concluded, Liang Xiao bade farewell to the populace and led his troops back to the camp.
Passing by the encampment, the soldiers gazed at the stele of the "Jiangshan Di Jun" (Empire's Majestic Army) bestowed by Xiao Qing, their hearts filled with pride.
After this battle, the soldiers of the northern border army had proven to the world: they were worthy of this honor!
The commendation was also a significant event, and Liang Xiao had to personally supervise it, as well as determine the merits of the top-ranking generals.
In the tent, including Liang Xiao's family members, everyone held their breath, quietly awaiting Liang Xiao's arrangements.
Their efforts up to this point were about to bear fruit!
"Lü Changhe, for assisting in the defense of Yanzhou, successfully leading troops to raid the enemy camp, and returning to defend Yanzhou while pursuing the enemy, first merit."
Lü Changhe grinned: "I dare not accept such praise!"
Everyone was convinced.
However, Lü Changhe truly did not dare to accept, it wasn't just modesty.
For him, following the Heavenly General and being a shirker was safe and exciting enough; merit was secondary.
"Mu Hong, for flawlessly supervising the manufacture of weapons, and for distinguishing himself in defending the city and commanding the archers, you understand, right?" Liang Xiao looked at Mu Hong.
Mu Hong suppressed his excitement and nodded repeatedly: "I have some understanding, some understanding…"
No one objected. After all, the role of weapons was crucial. Relying solely on the Que Yue formation, even if they won, without excellent equipment, they would have suffered more casualties.
"Zhuo Ying, Nan Jiyun, Yue Qingtian, Liang Zhan, Nie Yuan…"
More than fifty soldiers were in the tent. Liang Xiao assessed their merits one by one, and everyone was visibly excited, with no objections.
Even the lowest-ranked merits, according to Liang Xiao's description, would have been considered major achievements in the past!
After Liang Xiao publicly announced the merits of each unit, he said: "News should also be coming from the capital. If nothing unexpected happens, there will certainly be rewards for the entire army. Slaughtering pigs, cattle, and sheep is appropriate, but for now, make do with horse meat."
Everyone nodded with smiles.
In this battle, over fifteen thousand warhorses had either died from exhaustion or been killed by the barbarians. In the frigid weather, these horses had not spoiled, and thus, they had gloriously become the daily fare for the soldiers of Yanzhou.
A barbarian cavalryman typically had three or more warhorses for rotation.
Each warhorse weighed several hundred jin. These days, the soldiers were practically stuffed with horse meat.
Just then, a herald, granted permission, entered the tent and reported: "Deputy Marshal, an imperial decree has arrived!"