The Grand Eunuch's voice, rarely raised with such fervor, echoed through the grand hall. Officials stood in solemn silence, holding their breath.
"By decree of the Emperor, by the grace of Heaven!"
"Our Great Gan's General of Chariots, Liang Xiao, and General of Flying Cavalry, Lu Yi, have led our armies to crush the Savage Lands, capturing three mountains, and achieving the great victory of Yan Province. They have slain forty-seven thousand Savage troops, captured over five million livestock, and seized countless weapons and supplies. This is a war that will forge our nation!"
"Marshal Lu Yi's command of the army and his oversight of the entire campaign have been exemplary! Vice-Marshal Liang Xiao reformed the military system, devising numerous ingenious strategies that have instilled awe across the land! Generals Lu Changhe, Zhuo Ying, Nan Jiyun, Yue Qingtian, Nie Yuan, and others, have displayed unparalleled bravery! Your Emperor is deeply pleased and hereby announces this to the world!"
"All soldiers who have fallen in battle are martyrs for the nation. They shall receive compensation as promised in my decree before the campaign. Their families will receive double the compensation and monthly stipends! Severely wounded and disabled soldiers will be supported by the state, receiving half their regular stipends! For each fallen or disabled soldier, a plaque inscribed with 'Contributors to the Nation' shall be sent to their home, informing their neighbors and bringing honor to their lineage!"
"General of Flying Cavalry Lu Yi is promoted to Grand General, serving as the supreme marshal of all our nation's forces, with his enfeoffment as Marquis of Zhenbei changed to Marquis of Zhenguo. His domain is increased to ten thousand households, and he is bestowed one hundred thousand taels of gold! General of Chariots Liang Xiao is promoted to Grand General of Flying Cavalry, serving as the vice-marshal of all our nation's forces, with his enfeoffment increased to twenty-five thousand households, and he is bestowed one hundred thousand taels of gold! We shall discuss further rewards for our remaining triumphant generals upon their return!"
"A bounty shall be distributed to the three armies of the Northern Frontier, ensuring that the soldiers defending the cities receive at least one month's worth of meat, and those on campaign receive at least three months' worth! In the Hexi Corridor, the prefectures of Yong and Liang shall be established, henceforth heavily garrisoned to ensure no breach occurs!"
"My esteemed minister Liang will soon lead the cavalry deep into the desert to expel the Savage tribes and spread our nation's prestige. The entire country looks forward to this with eager anticipation! Regardless of the outcome of this campaign, the nation shall not question it! Upon the victorious return of Minister Liang and his soldiers, further honors and rewards shall be bestowed! By Imperial Command."
"Long live His Majesty!"
Among the civil and military officials, almost no one could remain composed!
This was, without a doubt, a war that would forge the Great Gan dynasty, an unprecedented event!
This single battle had shattered the foundation of the Savage peoples' nation. With their decline and our rise, the Great Gan had gained so many spoils of war, and with the Hexi Corridor providing such excellent natural pastures for horses, the Great Gan cavalry sweeping across the world was now within sight!
The sheer casualty count alone was enough to make Liang Xiao and Lu Yi legendary, directly leading to Lu Yi's unprecedented promotion and the esteemed "national" title of his enfeoffment!
Yet, everyone knew who deserved the most credit. Even Lu Yi had dispatched a fast horse back to the capital, truthfully reporting the situation and declaring Liang Xiao to be the primary contributor to the victory.
With Lu Yi having gone so far, even Dugu Qun and others found no grounds to smear him.
Wang Canghai finally could not suppress his excited emotions, his voice trembling, "We are indebted to His Majesty's sagacity. Since the founding of our dynasty by His Majesty's ancestor, such martial prowess has never been witnessed!"
Wang Canghai and the officials joined in praise: "His Majesty is the sagacious emperor of Great Gan!"
Their ruler, merely eighteen years old, had achieved such merit in expanding the empire and securing the nation!
As for Xiao Qing's rewards for the Northern Frontier troops, they were not extravagant.
Compared to the captured livestock, the few months of meat distributed to the Northern Frontier soldiers were insignificant!
Returning to the Western Palace Villa, Xiao Qing threw herself into Ning Xuejun's embrace, her voice trembling, "He is invincible in the world, but the desert is perilous, far more so than Mount Helan! I know he is doing this for our country and our people, to expel the Savage tribes, and to prevent foreign races from coveting the golden treasures. But I... I am still worried!"
Her beloved's motivations for venturing into the desert were complex, each one critical.
Expelling the Savage tribes to secure the Northern Frontier!
Even if the Great Gan could not claim the last of the treasures for now, they would not allow the Savage tribes to find them. Thus, they must at least prevent the Savage tribes from remaining south of the desert and having any opportunity to search for treasure!
Spreading the nation's prestige and completely changing the prevailing sentiment that favored civilian pursuits over military ones, so that surrounding nations would not dare to covet their territory!
Compared to Liang Xiao's safety and the joy of capturing the three mountains, whether she could bear Liang Xiao's offspring seemed to have become less important...
Ning Xuejun spoke gently, "Please, Your Majesty, set your heart at ease. His Highness the驸马 is blessed by heaven and earth, is both scholarly and martial, and has repeatedly turned the tide. He will surely return safely!"
Only then did Xiao Qing manage to suppress her tears and murmur, "Mi'er should have arrived in the capital by now, right?"
An hour later, Zhen Mi, who had rushed from Yan Province, finally entered the Western Palace Villa and saw Xiao Qing.
"Sister Shuang'er, why has His Majesty summoned Mi'er to the palace? Mi'er is still young, can I not participate in the selection of concubines..." Zhen Mi pleaded, holding Xiao Qing's arm.
Xiao Qing looked at Zhen Mi and couldn't help but pinch her small cheek.
"Only you, who treats Mi'er as a younger sister, could conceal your thoughts from Brother Xiao!"
Zhen Mi said weakly, "Am I not very clever? Brother Xiao didn't discover it. Is it because he's too busy?"
"It's because you're still young, only twelve years old," Xiao Qing huffed.
Zhen Mi pouted, a look of tension on her face.
"Mi'er is already like a little adult. Sister will make a deal with you. I'll guarantee you marry Brother Xiao in the future, alright?"
Zhen Mi gazed at the earnest Xiao Qing, paused for a moment, then nodded joyfully.
"By decree of the Emperor, by the grace of Heaven: Zhen Mi, a talented woman from the Liang household, having been taught by our sage minister Liang Xiao, is now fourteen years of age, virtuous and proper. It is hereby decreed to the world that she be established as Consort Mi! By Imperial Command."
Twelve-year-old Zhen Mi, her household registration secretly altered, her age falsified, became Xiao Qing's nominal first consort.
The members of the Returning Spring Cult, who were discussing matters in Dugu Qun's home, including Duan Hong, Gong Xue, Gong Yu, Gong Mingqing... were all enraged!
Wang Canghai, understanding the full context, led the officials into the palace to offer congratulations.
Zhen Mi had already changed into a formal ceremonial dress, adorned with a phoenix hairpin and crown, a wide-sleeved brocade robe, a long brocade skirt, and a painted sash, all elaborately decorated and radiant. The phoenix hairpin and crown were adorned with exquisite gold and silver inlaid jewels, complemented by dragon and phoenix motifs and broad lapels.
Though young, she already exuded an aura of unparalleled beauty!
Zhen Mi maintained a calm demeanor, returning the bows of the officials with elegant and proper grace.
Even Gu Hong, the Minister of Rites, marveled, "Consort Mi truly possesses the demeanor of a phoenix! His Majesty has discerning eyes!"
The imperial family had few offspring, and the Ministry of Rites was most concerned about the Emperor choosing consorts or empresses of unsuitable ages, or even widows...
During the previous dynasty, the powerful Great Heng, the emperors were forced to elevate widows from major noble families to empresses, becoming puppets and enduring extreme humiliation!
Xiao Qing's face beamed with pride, even a hint of smugness, which, in the eyes of the civil and military officials, appeared as the joy of a newlywed.
The great victory in the North, the Emperor taking a consort, a cause for universal celebration!
However, Liang Xiao, far away in the Three Mountains, had no time to receive this news or today's imperial decree.
With the recovery of Mount Helan and the cessation of the Savage threat, Shuofang and Yun Prefecture had dispatched an additional fifty thousand troops to assist in defending the Three Mountains.
Currently, fifteen thousand troops from the Northern Frontier expeditionary force were gathered at Mount Yanzhi, enjoying meat rations. This was the height of their satisfaction in life!
Lu Yi had ordered the three armies to rest, with no immediate need for training. Yet, the soldiers continued to train as usual, fearing that a lapse in training would cause them to fall behind and ultimately be eliminated from the elite ranks.
The military system of the Northern Frontier was gradually being implemented nationwide. A certain degree of competition was maintained among the soldiers; those whose skills and attitude did not match their stipends risked demotion or salary reduction.
"His Majesty has specifically authorized this Marshal and the Vice-Marshal to dispose of the spoils of war at our discretion, and to distribute the captured gold and silver among the soldiers. In total, sixty-five thousand taels of gold and seventy-two thousand three hundred taels of silver will be distributed to everyone in the army. Each soldier will receive at least three taels of silver in value! Those who are about to campaign into the desert will receive a larger share, and a portion will be sent to their homes! Once we return, we shall receive true grand rewards!"
As Lu Yi's military order spread, the entire army shouted in unison, "Long live His Majesty!"
"However, one of the two main culprits who invaded Yan Province, the Right Virtuous King, shall be dealt with by the Vice-Marshal. Guards, bring forth the Right Virtuous King!"
To deal with a Savage king?
The soldiers were startled and all looked towards the high platform.