The grain from the western regions, primarily from Guanzhong, was first transported along the Tian River eastward to the Helan Mountains, to support the soldiers of Da Gan!
In the capital, Zhang Yang and Huang Xing reported the progress of water transport to Xiao Qing.
"Your Majesty, following the improvements and promotion by the Marquis of Anguo, the Ministry of Works has attempted to improve the rudder and sails. In adverse winds, by adjusting the angle of the rudder and sails and operating them back and forth, the ship navigates a serpentine route through successive turns. As long as the wind direction is determined and the ship promptly adjusts its angle to turn, it can harness the wind from all directions. All the sailors work together using winches to raise and lower the sails, and then connect the pulleys and winches with sail ropes. The speed is far superior to before in adverse winds!"
"With the winches, raising and lowering the sails is much more convenient. While this improvement places a significant burden on the sailors' physical strength, overall, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks! The Tian River has a gentle current recently, and traveling a hundred li a day is not a problem! The Marquis of Anguo is truly a divine person!"
As Huang Xing spoke with enthusiasm, his spittle flew. Du Gu Qun and others looked on with increasing unease.
Could Liang Xiao really assist the Ministry of Works in improving Da Gan's sailing ships?
Xiao Qing's heart was already blooming with joy. He glanced at Du Gu Qun and the others and said loudly, "Indeed, water transport will commence immediately along the banks of the Tian River to support our Da Gan soldiers! We will fight the barbarians for as long as they wish to fight!"
Du Gu Qun, He Wanli, and Ouyang Ji's hearts sank.
Were they preparing to transport more military provisions to the Da Gan army camps?
"We must inform the barbarians as soon as possible and have them dispatch troops to intercept!"
After the imperial court ended, Du Gu Qun immediately returned home to write a letter and dispatched someone to take a detour to the Helan Mountains.
In the imperial study, Zhuo Wulüe expressed some worry: "Your Majesty, if Du Gu Qun and the others collude with the barbarians, they will inevitably leak the news of increased military provisions to the barbarians, which will be disadvantageous to our army..."
Xiao Qing smiled: "This was requested by Minister Liang before he departed!"
Zhuo Wulüe was slightly startled.
He was also well-versed in military strategy. Why would one allow the enemy to know about their plans to increase grain transport?
Xiao Qing feigned mystery: "Minister Zhuo must trust Minister Liang and the General of Cavalry. Since they support this action, it must have its purpose! Before Minister Liang departed, he specifically reminded me that once grain transport begins, I must find a way to let the barbarians know!"
Zhuo Wulüe seemed to understand and then smiled with relief: "It is my superficiality. The talent of the Marquis of Anguo is unfathomable; we can only admire from afar!"
"Even the capital is sending grain to the Helan Mountains. It seems this war will last for several years!"
The citizens of the capital were aware of the news of grain transport by water. Throughout the streets and alleys, people were discussing it.
The citizens of the capital were a microcosm of the people along the Tian River and in various other regions.
Almost everyone believed that the battle of Helan Mountains would be a protracted war.
In the army camp, Liang Xiao rode his 'Wanli Yunyan' (Ten Thousand Mile Cloud Smoke) and personally led a team westward towards the Helan Mountains to observe the enemy's military strength and terrain.
The barbarian army camp, stretching for dozens of li from north to south, blocked the vital passage for Da Gan soldiers to enter the Helan Mountains.
The Da Gan army camp, stretching from east to west, was like a sharp blade pressing against the throat of the Helan Mountains, preventing the barbarian army from easily deploying its troops.
However, the barbarian army camp was situated on higher ground, giving them an advantage in charges once the battle commenced.
Furthermore, the barbarian army camp had constructed numerous moats and ramparts. This camp had evidently become a formidable fortress, difficult to attack but easy to defend!
"Deputy Marshal, can we really take it down?"
Lu Changhe, behind Liang Xiao, could not help but ask.
Liang Xiao turned back and smiled: "You should ask when we will take it down."
Lu Changhe chuckled: "Whenever is fine, as long as we can take it down!"
Lu Changhe's trust in Liang Xiao, the Heavenly General, was unconditional. Yet, he knew in his heart the difficulty of capturing the Helan Mountains.
If not for the great victory prior, where fifty thousand heads were taken, the barbarians would likely be even more rampant now!
Having followed Liang Xiao for these past few months, his horizons had been greatly broadened. It felt as if the military books he had read could now be integrated and applied in practice!
Lu Changhe was a rough man, but among the generals in the army, his understanding of military strategy was second only to Nie Yuan, and his practical combat experience far surpassed Nie Yuan's. He had been capable of leading troops independently even in the previous battle of Helan Mountains.
His intuition told him that Liang Xiao definitely had an unexpected plan, and as long as he followed orders, he could simply be a "freeloader"!
"The one riding the Lü Yi warhorse 'Wanli Yunyan' must be Liang Xiao!"
On a distant earthen hill, the barbarian generals were also observing Liang Xiao's distant troop.
Within a range of five li, it was neither far nor near. They relied on the terrain, and the barbarians with good eyesight could vaguely discern the scale of the army.
That horse, Wanli Yunyan, darted back and forth, its dark green hue too conspicuous.
A detachment of barbarian cavalry charged out of the camp, preparing to drive Liang Xiao away.
"Who will capture this person for me!" the King of Righteousness surveyed his surroundings.
As the generals were about to respond, their expressions suddenly changed, and they looked into the distance.
Liang Xiao, on his horse, raised his Setting Sun Bow. The Dragon Tooth Arrow turned into a streak of light and shot towards the west. A barbarian cavalryman three hundred paces away was immediately struck and fell from his horse!
"What kind of bow and arrow is this?!" the barbarian commanders exclaimed in shock.
"There is no record of the Heavenly General using a bow and arrow during his lifetime, is there?" the King of Righteousness narrowed his eyes.
"To be able to draw a bow with such power indicates considerable arm strength, and indeed, as the Temple of Rejuvenation claimed, he is skilled in both civil and military arts," the King of Lefteousness trembled.
Before the barbarian cavalry could approach, Liang Xiao had already led his white-robed soldiers to retreat, leaving the pursuers to glare in frustration.
"So, our scouts that were dispatched earlier were killed by Liang Xiao?" the King of Righteousness was both shocked and enraged.
The barbarians had also dispatched light cavalry. They approached to scout the Da Gan army camp, relying on horses as fast as the white-robed soldiers. They should have been able to retreat safely.
However, according to the reports from the light cavalry, someone in the Da Gan army camp could shoot arrows several hundred paces away, and had successively killed several members, forcing them to retreat early!
Furthermore, the barbarians had experienced Da Gan's volleys of arrows and crossbows, and dared not get too close, ultimately returning without success.
By the time Liang Xiao returned to the camp, the grain from Shuofang had already arrived.
The one responsible for transporting the grain was Wang Chunqiu's marching lieutenant, Wang Ping, the commander of Shuofang.
Lu Yi handed the manifest to Liang Xiao and said, "We have added another half month's worth of military provisions, mainly fodder!"
The generals looked pleased. At this moment, they finally understood why Liang Xiao had ordered the army to block the Helan Mountains.
To prevent the barbarians from intercepting the grain transport!
Liang Xiao glanced at the manifest and smiled: "Very good. The most crucial supplies are still in Yanzhou and the capital. With a ship speed of nearly a hundred li a day, they should be arriving soon."
"That fast??" The generals were startled.
Sailing from downstream to upstream, even with a gentle current, is against the flow. If there were also adverse winds, traveling sixty to seventy li a day would be difficult!
After Wang Ping delivered the military provisions, he sent the ships back to the city and remained to assist in military affairs.
"Marshal, Deputy Marshal! The grain from Guanzhong has also arrived!" another orderly quickly rushed to report.
As grain from various regions began to arrive at the Da Gan army camp, the barbarians in the Helan Mountains also received the news.
"Marshal, scouts report that Da Gan's grain transport ships from Guanzhong are flowing downstream, continuously delivering grain to the Da Gan army camp!"
Upon receiving the news, the King of Righteousness and the King of Lefteousness gasped: "Is this the purpose of the Da Gan army's risky blockade outside the Helan Mountains?"
The two barbarian kings felt as if thorns were pricking their backs.
Their army camps were impregnable, but the Da Gan army, leveraging their great victory, had cut off their routes to intercept the grain transport teams!