Upon receiving a satisfactory reply, Lü Changhe and his men were so moved they could barely speak, "We are willing to follow the General to water our horses in the vast sea!"
They had already recaptured Helan Mountain and incorporated the Hexi Corridor into the Great Gan territory, a feat of immense merit established alongside Liang Xiao and Lü Yi.
However, venturing deep into the wilderness to expel the barbarians was a mission that stirred even greater ambition within them, an achievement yet unknown to the ancients!
"Impatience will not do. It is unrealistic for our cavalry to build roads," Liang Xiao sighed.
Only then did the others nod, feeling a pang of regret.
They had pursued the barbarians for days and were weary; indeed, a few days of rest were necessary, and they also needed to wait for Lü Yi to rendezvous with them.
After all, the western borders of Great Gan still held the Western Regions and the Kuishuang Dynasty; caution was paramount.
What if the Kuishuang Dynasty took advantage of their expedition into the desert to launch a cavalry raid on the Three Mountains? They would have merely paved the way for others!
"Deputy Marshal, do you think, with such peerless military achievements during His Majesty's reign, upon his passing, he will be granted the posthumous title of Emperor Wu?" a general couldn't help but indulge in gossip.
"Emperor Wu?" Liang Xiao blinked, and Lü Changhe beside him chuckled.
An Empress Wu?
Liang Xiao smiled, "That depends on how future generations judge!"
At this moment, Liang Xiao was also in high spirits.
He and Lü Yi seemed to have inadvertently accomplished deeds comparable to those of Huo Qubing and Wei Qing?
Yet, comparing Xiao Qing, a girl with an adorable dimple, to the strategically brilliant Emperor Wu of Han felt oddly incongruous...
While resting, Liang Xiao summoned Nan Jiyun and the others, issuing each of them a certificate to facilitate their return to claim bounties from their own people.
After all, Liang Xiao had promised an additional ten thousand taels of gold from his private coffers if the Right Virtuous King was captured.
Had these valiant soldiers not pursued with such fervor, the Right Virtuous King might have safely escaped to Yanzhi Mountain, and the losses would have far exceeded ten thousand taels of gold!
Nan Jiyun, who had rendered the greatest service, received two thousand taels, while Zhuo Ying and Nie Yuan each received one thousand. The remaining fifty-odd individuals shared six thousand taels, bringing joy to all!
"For those who did not receive a bounty, do not be disheartened. The Left Virtuous King and the Barbarian Chieftain still await; let us press on," Liang Xiao encouraged.
The previously envious soldiers' eyes suddenly blazed with fervor as they looked northward, wishing they could fly to the Left Virtuous King and the Chieftain and bind them back.
"This time, every soldier will receive generous rewards, and the families of fallen soldiers will receive double the imperial condolences. You can rest assured!"
The soldiers cheered upon hearing Liang Xiao's inspiring words.
Liang Xiao also felt relieved.
To maintain an army's fighting prowess, one could not rely solely on patriotism and righteousness; proper rewards and punishments were crucial.
If meritorious deeds went unrewarded, and fallen soldiers were neglected, no one would dare to charge forward.
Liang Xiao believed that after this campaign, the Great Gan nation would shed its preference for civil over military pursuits, transforming into a martial nation, much like the mighty Han!
A nation often perishes through weakness, but Han perished through strength. However, Liang Xiao did not wish for Great Gan to follow the same path as the late Han dynasty.
As for watering their horses in the vast sea, it was not born of his arrogance but necessity.
Firstly, to truly shatter the backbone of the barbarians and inspire the entire nation. Secondly, to search for traces of treasure, preventing outsiders, especially the barbarians, from seizing it first, as such a treasure could lead to their resurgence.
Since the retreating barbarians had slaughtered large numbers of lambs and calves before their departure, Liang Xiao and his soldiers built fires on the spot and feasted on roasted lamb and beef.
"Damn it! The Deputy Marshal is personally standing guard? How can this be!"
The soldiers were startled to hear that Liang Xiao was sleeping on sentry duty and rushed to dissuade him, but Liang Xiao sent them all back.
His night vision was extraordinary, and he could remain alert for extended periods. It was necessary to guard against possible ambushes by the barbarians, even if the probability was only one in ten thousand.
However, this action earned him the utmost admiration and moved the soldiers to tears, fostering an unprecedented level of cohesion throughout the army.
The following morning, Liang Xiao also received a detailed inventory from Yanzhi Mountain.
"Our army has captured two hundred thousand live cattle, four hundred thousand sheep, thirty thousand horses, though none are suitable for immediate cavalry use. Five thousand auxiliary dogs, and two hundred thousand live chickens!"
Liang Xiao presented the list to his soldiers, who looked rather unimpressed. "Why is it so little?"
Liang Xiao smirked, "Did the spoils from Qilian Mountain raise your standards?"
Nan Jiyun and the others chuckled, not denying it.
Qilian Mountain had yielded nearly four million head of livestock; Yanzhi Mountain seemed rather meager in comparison...
However, Yanzhi Mountain was merely a branch of the Qilian Mountains, and a significant portion had been taken by the Left Virtuous King. These spoils were not unexpected.
Furthermore, there were no shepherds here, and the soldiers were generally not skilled in herding. They could only remain stationed here temporarily and, before Lü Yi arrived with reinforcements, make a last-ditch effort to find a few soldiers from shepherd backgrounds within the army to learn how to tend to livestock.
Liang Xiao dispatched another ten thousand men to guard Qilian Mountain and bring back two thousand young shepherds to assist with herding.
These shepherds, having been rescued, were now grateful to the Great Gan soldiers and naturally would offer their full cooperation.
The only unfortunate aspect was that they had all been castrated, preventing them from marrying and starting families...
"Deputy Marshal must advise His Majesty that this Right Virtuous King must not be pardoned lightly!"
The soldiers, recalling the mistreatment of the people of Helan Mountain, grew increasingly indignant and unanimously proposed this to Liang Xiao.
"Long before the expedition, His Majesty granted me the authority to deal with enemy leaders as I saw fit. I have already decided how to dispose of the Right Virtuous King, ensuring the satisfaction of the Great Gan army and its people!" Liang Xiao nodded.
Only then did the soldiers become jubilant.
Liang Xiao's words now carried immense weight with them. Apart from the Emperor, whose word was law, no one possessed more credibility than Liang Xiao; not even Lü Yi.
The construction of roads was far more challenging than their destruction, and the Great Gan soldiers were temporarily unable to pursue the barbarians.
However, Liang Xiao did not lament this.
The defeated barbarian troops retreating into the desert would only instill dread in the entire barbarian tribe and gradually erode their will to resist.
If the main army pursued immediately, the barbarians deep in the desert would not have had sufficient time to learn of the front-line situation or to confer on a withdrawal. They would only be forced to fight back desperately in coordination with the Left Virtuous King, leading to more casualties among the Great Gan soldiers.
A subsequent pursuit might still encounter barbarian resistance, with similar outcomes, but it might also scare the barbarians into fleeing, allowing for a prolonged chase.
Even if the roads were clear, Liang Xiao would have his soldiers rest first, at the very least waiting for the horses from Qilian Mountain to arrive, allowing them to carry large numbers of reserve steeds, military provisions, and fodder into the desert. If they were short on meat, they could slaughter captured barbarian warhorses.
The destruction or otherwise of the roads merely meant whether the Great Gan soldiers had to spare some manpower and resources for reconstruction and paving.
While enjoying roasted meat during their rare rest, the soldiers gazed northwards, their hearts filled with ambition.
"Great Gan, fierce and valiant, like bears and tigers, dyeing the path of conquest with blood. Twenty thousand armored soldiers, witness the return of our mountains and rivers today!"
Songs gradually erupted from the ranks of soldiers, along with the army anthem "Serve the Country with Utmost Loyalty."
"Man Jiang Hong" was no longer suitable for singing in this context, as they had already avenged the martyrs, recaptured Helan Mountain, and expanded Great Gan's territory, seizing the Qilian Mountains and the Hexi Corridor.
The valiant Great Gan soldiers, like bears and tigers, had slain barbarians all the way, their blood staining the path of conquest. Over two hundred thousand armored troops had finally restored the old order!
The barbarians had also left behind tens of thousands of jars of fine wine. However, Liang Xiao had already issued a military order prohibiting drinking before their triumphant return, so no one dared to touch it.
After all, they still wished to follow Liang Xiao to water their horses in the vast sea.
Lü Yi, who was leading his troops towards Qilian Mountain, finally received the triumphant news from the Great Gan cavalry.
The entire army was filled with joy!