Liang Xiao pondered briefly and sighed, "Our army can only guarantee the formation of a hundred thousand cavalry to advance into the great desert, with three spare mounts per man…"
As soon as he finished speaking, the expressions of everyone present changed drastically, and they rushed to sign up.
After signaling for everyone to be quiet, Liang Xiao said, "Do you know how many dangers you will face venturing deep into the great desert? This is much harder than retaking Helan Mountain!"
"We know!" the crowd responded in unison.
"Then you still dare to go?" Liang Xiao laughed heartily.
"A true man dies on the battlefield, his body wrapped in horsehide for burial; what a glory!" Yue Qingtian roared first.
The crowd echoed his sentiments.
Liang Xiao blinked and looked at Yue Qingtian.
This boy hadn't wasted his studies these past two years; when he got excited, he could still speak well!
When they first met, he had exposed Nan Jiyun at the slightest disagreement, asking him to discipline Nan Jiyun.
"Our Qingtian Guards and Da Gan Iron Guards have all practiced horsemanship. Following the commander is no problem!"
Nan Jiyun and Nie Yuan spoke up one after another, vying for spots.
In contrast, those tens of thousands of cavalry, upon hearing that only cavalry could go to the great desert, were all grinning, looking rather gleeful. The infantry brothers beside them couldn't help but roll their eyes.
However, these Da Gan cavalry, along with the Qingtian Guards and Da Gan Iron Guards, were indeed the ones who had worked the hardest, so no one had any complaints.
Furthermore, their stamina was better, making them more adaptable to the harsh desert weather.
"Select the men first, be realistic, and don't force yourselves. Whether you can achieve merit is still unknown!" Liang Xiao repeatedly reminded them.
After the soldiers calmed down, they eagerly signed up, with Lu Yi assigning people to screen them.
This was a battle of life and death, not child's play. Even if the soldiers were eliminated, they had no complaints.
Especially only sons, and soldiers whose wives had not yet given birth, were eliminated in advance.
After all, they had already captured three mountains, which was enough to bring glory to their ancestors. The rewards they received were also sufficient to ensure their families lived comfortably for years or even a decade.
The soldiers who were eliminated early could conveniently receive Lu Yi's military orders to guard Yanzhi Mountain, allowing the cavalry and other infantry from Yanzhi Mountain to come and undergo the second round of selection.
The soldiers from the three mountains all sang songs of victory. The good news was also transmitted to all parts of the country through carrier pigeons and urgent dispatches.
Da Gan's Marquis of Anguo, General of Chariots and Cavalry Liang Xiao, and Marquis of Zhenbei, General of Piaoqi Lu Yi, led their troops to behead 300,000 enemies, capture three mountains, and take control of the Hexi Corridor!
Their might shook the heavens and earth!
In the Western Regions, five hundred li to the west, the hurriedly marching Marshal of the Guishuang Dynasty soon welcomed Harmouchi.
"The barbarians... the barbarians have suffered a crushing defeat! The Da Gan Kingdom might send troops to support the western border! Retreat quickly back to your country!" Harmouchi's face was pale, and his words were incoherent.
The Marshal of the Guishuang Dynasty was startled!
An hour later, the Guishuang Dynasty army retreated westward in a panic!
The people of the Western Regions, upon receiving the news, were utterly bewildered.
This was the second time. The Guishuang Dynasty had aggressively attacked, only to retreat dejectedly. And they in the Western Regions had lost nothing…
The kings of the Western Regions, led by the King of Qiuci, all dispatched envoys to Da Gan to pledge allegiance and pay tribute to Xiao Qing.
In Jiangnan, Zhuo Zifang and Gongsun Ye, upon receiving the news, also tearfully offered sacrifices to their ancestors.
The founding Prime Minister Zhuo Mingfeng, the founding Marshal Gongsun Wuji!
"This battle has avenged our ancestors in heaven!!"
"Xiba! The barbarians have suffered another crushing defeat; this time, 300,000 have been beheaded! That makes a total of 470,000!!"
In the imperial palace hall of the Taiji Kingdom in the northeast, the ruler and his officials were in a state of panic and could not rest day or night.
The Lord of Taiji hastily asked the civil and military officials, "How should we handle this matter? Should we pay tribute to the Da Gan Kingdom?"
General Li Shunchen sighed, "Your Majesty, this old minister has repeatedly warned that we should not abandon our benevolent suzerain and instead rely on the fickle barbarians. Now, I fear our country will no longer receive the protection of Da Gan and will face grave dangers from the barbarians, the Xianbei, and the Izumo Kingdom!"
Li Shunping next to him sneered, "Shunchen, is it appropriate for you to speak like that? Even if Da Gan is powerful, they cannot possibly undertake a long expedition to kill their way to our Taiji Kingdom, let alone dispatch troops to support Taiji!"
Other officials chimed in, "The Great General is becoming more timid and fearful. The barbarians are right at our doorstep!"
Li Shunchen merely shook his head and sighed.
Li Shunchen, as his elder brother, completely disregarded him, the Great General. The entire nation was in a state of blind complacency, thinking that since they had become wealthy, they feared the suzerain Da Gan might covet them and thus colluded with the barbarians… their future was precarious!
And the current situation had already proven his worries were not unfounded.
However…
"How did Da Gan's Marquis of Anguo achieve this? Beheading a total of 470,000 people, it's incredible…"
Li Shunchen believed that it was absolutely impossible for Lu Yi alone to accomplish such a feat. Otherwise, he would have defeated the barbarians eleven years ago.
But even with a genius like Liang Xiao emerging, this record of beheadings shattered his understanding of warfare.
With 470,000 people, there must have been significant logistical support. Even if only 100,000 combat troops were beheaded, they would often break and flee. How could they have been completely annihilated?
Before Li Shunchen could speak, another general snorted, "Xiba! Beheading 470,000 people, that must be Liang Xiao exaggerating his military achievements. It's impossible. Da Gan is thousands of miles away and poses no threat!"
Upon hearing this, Li Shunchen exchanged bitter smiles with a few old officials.
At this critical juncture, they were still thinking of defying Da Gan, simply because they were far away?
"This old man is destined to die for the country…" Li Shunchen couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with sorrow.
The southwestern region also received the battle report from Helan Mountain.
The Huichun Sect and the Sun Moon Army were both terrified and fled southwest, fearing the might of the Da Gan army!
The local emperors in some prefectural cities in Xichuan all tucked their tails between their legs and obediently paid taxes to the central government.
The ruler and officials of the Great Liang Kingdom, through the advance warning from the Great Liang's Marquis of Zhenbei, also received the battle report from Da Gan.
The entire nation was terrified!!
Emperor Mu Cheng's forehead was covered in sweat, and the hand holding the memorial was still trembling violently. Those below did not dare to breathe.
At this moment, Mu Cheng felt despair.
Would he never have the chance to covet the lands of Da Gan in this lifetime?
Qin Feng's expression was solemn. He racked his brains but could not comprehend.
He believed that based on Liang Xiao's character, he would never falsely report the number of heads. However, such a record of beheadings, with less than ten thousand casualties, was simply inconceivable!
And the crisis before them was another one.
Would the Da Gan Kingdom, with its national strength and military might at an all-time high, march south to unify the Great Liang?
"His Highness the Consort's wisdom…" the Left Prime Minister Yan Liu trembled.
The civil and military officials all praised him.
Qin Feng immediately lost his temper.
His good relations with Liang Xiao and Da Gan were to prevent the Great Liang Kingdom from being attacked from both sides when it expanded its territory.
Who would have thought that these people were now pinning their hopes on Liang Xiao's mercy, hoping he wouldn't march south?
The world divided into two, facing each other across the river!
The "joke" that Liang Xiao and he, Qin Feng, had "made" in the past had now become the pattern that the ruler and officials of the Great Liang Kingdom dreamed of!
These aristocratic clans actually didn't care who was the emperor. But what kind of person was Liang Xiao?
He was the gravedigger of aristocratic clans!
The aristocratic clans of Da Gan either submitted and became good, or they were dealt with so thoroughly that they became shrinking turtles!
After a long time, Mu Cheng sighed, "Issue a decree nationwide, including the princes, that anyone who intentionally harasses the second daughter of the Zhuo family will be killed without mercy!"
The officials were stunned.
Liang Xiao and Lu Yi each received an imperial decree from Xiao Qing, granting them the freedom to dispose of the spoils of war, implying they were to slaughter cattle and sheep to reward the army.
Liang Xiao was waiting for the return of several key subordinates who were also crucial figures for the desert expedition.
Concurrently, Xiao Qing in the capital received the news of Liang Xiao's impending expedition into the desert and immediately issued a new imperial decree.