The sudden military order stunned the soldiers.
No training today?
The clever generals quickly realized something, chuckled, and immediately carried out the order, commanding the troops to rest.
"From today until noon tomorrow, all sentries and scouts will continue their rotations, patrolling strictly, and not a single enemy soldier is to be allowed entry! When our army returns victorious, each of you will be assigned at least two enemy heads! Should the enemy approach or infiltrate the camp, all assignments will be canceled!"
Lu Yi's orders, spread rapidly by messengers and runners, were met with envy throughout the army.
However, the soldiers did not object or protest.
After all, since the great victory in Yan Province, the Da Gan army had relied on scouts and sentries for every victory against the barbarians, and during this period, the scouts had suffered over a dozen casualties.
The scouts and sentries, after cheering, immediately changed shifts and began their patrols.
During the period of confrontation with the barbarians, the Da Gan army had dispatched as many as three thousand scouts, not including the White Robed soldiers.
Behind the front lines of the military camp, the White Robed soldiers were sharpening their weapons and feeding their warhorses, gritting their teeth, their killing intent palpable.
The twenty unfortunate Da Gan women were a pain they could not forget, a hatred they could not resolve.
To crush the barbarians, retake Helan Mountain, and bring solace to the people!
For them, compared to these thoughts, fame and fortune were no longer important; what mattered was how many heads they could sever in this battle.
The enemy might still have two hundred and fifty thousand, adding to the fifty thousand previously beheaded and the six thousand recently beheaded, could it surpass the great victory in Yan Province?
The Da Gan Iron Guards and Qingtian Guards also had stern expressions, their Modao swords flashing brilliantly in the sunlight.
Attacking a city was no easier than defending it, and casualties were inevitable, but at this moment, no one retreated, all longing to achieve merit, secure their lineage, and bring glory to their ancestors!
"I heard the barbarians' mountain forts are exceptionally strong. If I accidentally kick the bucket in this battle, I beg you all, please tell my children that after they grow up, have descendants, and join the army, they should still be the Qingtian Guards of the Marquis!"
Laughter erupted from the Qingtian Guards. Yue Qingtian and nearly three hundred tribesmen from the barbarian tribes entrusted their final wishes in the most carefree manner.
Liang Xiao, with his keen hearing, naturally overheard the soldiers' chatter, but remained silent.
Lu Yi and the others were also making urgent preparations, not disturbing Liang Xiao's contemplation, for during campaigns, Liang Xiao was remarkably serious, a stark contrast to his usual shameless demeanor.
The sixty thousand Da Gan cavalry, primarily composed of the White Robed soldiers, were divided into twenty squadrons, rotating out of the camp to patrol and deter the surrounding area, ensuring no barbarian scouts dared approach before returning to rest.
On the high platform, Liang Xiao and Lu Yi gazed westward, their eyes burning with intensity.
Just then, the military flags fluttered in the wind, snapping crisply.
"It's windy," Liang Xiao finally smiled.
Lu Yi exclaimed in amazement, "The spring winds recently have been from the northeast, so that's it!"
At this moment, Lu Yi finally understood why Liang Xiao had been meticulously calculating the time.
Wind direction could affect the power of crossbows and catapults. In contrast, the barbarians would be shooting against the wind, their power inevitably weakened by the wind...
Helan Mountain, a natural barrier in the northwest, was also utilized by Liang Xiao, who had secretly arranged for the White Robed soldiers to bypass it and launch a swift attack!
The soldiers, enraged by the barbarians desecrating the graves of martyrs and slaughtering Da Gan women, were filled with immense fighting spirit, yet maintained their composure.
Timeliness! Geographical advantage! Popular support!
In the barbarian camp, the Right Virtuous King listened to the messenger's report with a troubled expression.
"Marshal, the difficulty of fetching water from that tributary of the Tian Jiang River has been increasing lately! Moreover, enemy scouts are constantly appearing, moving incredibly fast, and our forces cannot catch them!"
The Right Virtuous King furrowed his brow. "Why is it difficult to fetch water, is it drought?"
The messenger explained, "There is no drought! It's just that for some reason, when the soldiers go to the river to fetch water, they find several large, obvious holes in some sections of the river, and one small dam has been damaged, causing this water to flow towards the lowlands in the north!"
"Our army patrols the area daily. How could the enemy have dug holes and destroyed the dam in situ?" the strategists asked in confusion.
The messenger, looking bewildered, shook his head and indicated he did not know.
The Right Virtuous King sighed, "The enemy is intentionally interfering with our deep water supply, making it convenient for surprise attacks. It seems we need to send more men with tools to repair the dam and even set up camp there!"
Thus, the Right Virtuous King selected fifty thousand troops, including thirty thousand cavalry, and they immediately set off to encamp on the western side of Helan Mountain.
"Marshal! For these past few days, that brat Liang Xiao hasn't brought troops to harass our army, but our scouts have detected signs of Da Gan cavalry appearing in both the northeast and southwest!!"
The Right Virtuous King soon received another battle report, breaking out in a cold sweat. He ordered, "Immediately recall the cavalry to the main force. The enemy is preparing to bypass us from the southwest and northeast for a surprise attack!"
The barbarian iron cavalry patrolling outside the mountain forts also retreated to the camp and held their ground due to the deterrence of the two Da Gan cavalry forces.
The Right Virtuous King remained uneasy and sought out Ha'ermu Qi for consultation. "Holy Envoy! Can your Guishuang Dynasty truly guarantee an expedition to the western borders of Da Gan? If not, our army will consider transferring our women and children from Helan Mountain!"
"Da Gan has amassed a large army and is stalemated here with you, meaning the western border will not receive more reinforcements. Our country will definitely attack; they should already be on their way by now!" Ha'ermu Qi stated with absolute certainty.
Only then did the Right Virtuous King laugh heartily, relieved.
Only the Left Virtuous King wore a look of shame.
Once upon a time, the barbarians were so arrogant and self-important. Now, they relied on their allies' cooperation to defeat Da Gan!
During the night, within the Guishuang Dynasty, the King of Guishuang, full of ambition, personally issued an order: "Da Gan has brought a large amount of military provisions and is in a protracted standoff with the barbarians. This is a prime opportunity for our country to invade the western borders of Da Gan and thereby subdue the Western Regions! Akmenlo, I appoint you Marshal, leading two hundred thousand troops to conquer the western borders of Da Gan!"
The Guishuang Dynasty mobilized its troops overnight, preparing to depart the next day.
Meanwhile, in the capital of Da Gan, Ouyang Ji's hands trembled violently as he held the financial reports from various regions.
"The bookshops across the country, for acquiring Liang Xiao's books, have invested over thirty-five million taels of silver..." the steward said with a mournful face.
"Why hasn't he gone bankrupt yet..." Ouyang Ji muttered, his face pale.
Ouyang Ping and others were equally distraught, offering bitter smiles.
These books were all the Four Books and Five Classics, and literacy primers. If they continued to acquire them at this rate, it would take them two hundred years to sell, by which time the books might have rotted!
If they persisted like this, other noble families would not dare to continue their support.
And in a secret room of the Gu Family in the capital, Gu Hong, Mu Lingming, Huang Xing, and the heads of other small and medium-sized noble families, having learned of the Ouyang Family's situation, felt a chill run down their spines.
"Is Marquis Anguo preparing to sacrifice a thousand to gain ten thousand, to bankrupt the Ouyang Family?" Huang Xing's voice trembled slightly.
"The Ouyang Family has already contracted and sold off assets. The ones benefiting are still us few families; we can acquire them..." Gu Hong curled his lip.
Everyone nodded in agreement, their faces filled with awe.
To their enemies, Liang Xiao's shamelessness was infuriating.
But to them, his supporters, Liang Xiao was as kind and亲切 as one could be!
"The Ouyang Family seems unable to hold on any longer! Marquis Anguo's bookshops might also not last. Let's see who collapses first!"
Rumors spread throughout the country, with everyone eagerly awaiting the outcome of this battle of the bookshops.
This night, various parts of Da Gan were unusually lively.
However, east of Helan Mountain, it was remarkably quiet. The Da Gan soldiers slept soundly, a rare sight, conserving their energy.
Dawn had arrived...