"How is that possible... could he be a reincarnation of the Great Zhou Martial Saint?" Attila's voice trembled, a rare occurrence in his life.
He knew well that tales of gods and ghosts were merely tools used by the ruling class to control the ignorant masses. He didn't believe in such things; otherwise, why wouldn't the sky gods of the Xiongnu protect them, allowing Liang Xiao to shatter their national spirit?
But there was no reason for Bleda to deceive him. Moreover, this place was thousands of miles from Da Gan, so how could those people communicate so easily with Da Gan?
Bleda offered no response, but his rapid breathing betrayed his inner fear.
He shared the same thoughts as Attila.
After a brief moment of fear, the brothers calmed down. Attila spoke, "There's another possibility! That Liang Xiao also has the surname Liang. Perhaps he's a descendant of the Great Zhou Martial Saint? Regardless, we absolutely must not let our people mention Liang Xiao's name! We should change our strategy and ease relations with these rebels, but we cannot let them rendezvous with Liang Xiao! If the people of Da Gan learn of this, Liang Xiao might even be deified, which would be detrimental to us."
Under the banner of the Xiongnu, the savage tribes, rising anew on the southwestern continent, repeatedly shifted their strategies, employing a mix of conquest and appeasement. The terror brought by the Tianri tribe to this continent made these conquered peoples more willing to pledge allegiance to Attila, seeking protection, even offering treasures and mercenaries, all for the sake of stopping the iron hooves of the Tianri cavalry.
The next morning, Liang Xiao and Zhuo Zifang proceeded to the imperial palace hall to meet the king and his officials of Da Liang. The tall Yue Qingtian and He Zizhang accompanied them, their swords at their waists, their steps steady. The palace guards, upon seeing Yue Qingtian and He Zizhang, felt displeasure but could only tolerate it. Mu Cheng had already explicitly forbidden any trouble for Liang Xiao, stating that he, the Emperor, would personally handle any conflicts.
Ordinarily, Da Liang's laws strictly prohibited wearing swords and shoes in the hall. Zhuo Zifang was already taking off his shoes, but Liang Xiao did not. Mu Cheng, who was holding court with his civil and military officials, had been informed of this in advance.
"Your Majesty!" Yan Liu and others looked up at Mu Cheng, their displeasure almost palpable.
The Right Prime Minister, Cheng Qing, quickly smoothed things over, saying, "Marquis Anguo enjoys privileges in Da Gan: entering court without bowing, being exempted from greetings and introductions, and wearing swords and shoes. These are privileges bestowed by the Son of Heaven of Da Gan, and he must not diminish his own sovereign's prestige when on a mission to Da Liang. Furthermore, given his extraordinary status and widespread popularity, our nation should indeed understand."
The others merely nodded, still displaying displeasure. The three gentlemen from two nations—let alone Qin Feng alone, even with Zhuo Zifang—their status was not comparable to that of Liang Xiao. These seasoned veterans understood this simple truth. However, how could the powerful aristocratic families, accustomed to their authority, be happy in the presence of this grave-digger of Da Gan's aristocratic families?
The current situation was that no one wished to offend Liang Xiao first, leading to Mu Cheng's displeasure, or even offending the people of both nations and becoming the target of public criticism. He was the Marquis Anguo of Da Gan, Mu Cheng's sworn brother, and the son of Da Liang's Northern King! The Northern King of Da Liang was deeply loved by the populace for turning the tide and retiring victoriously. The common people always held heroes they could only admire in high esteem. And when they learned that this hero's son was another great hero, this respect was amplified far beyond simple addition. What if this "great villain" Liang Xiao incited Mu Cheng to implement "donating wealth to show loyalty" in Da Liang as well?
Thinking of the tragic plight of the Dugu family, squeezed dry by Liang Xiao, these officials from aristocratic families felt a chill down their spines and decided it was best to send this plague god away as soon as possible. Yan Liu's expression grew increasingly grim. On his way, he had heard the noisy discussions of the surrounding populace from his carriage. Without exception, they all pertained to Liang Xiao, with the people affectionately referring to him as "Marquis Anguo." Currently, the most respected individuals among Da Liang's military and populace were Liang Xiao, Mu Cheng, and Qin Feng. Right Prime Minister Cheng Qing could barely manage to earn the people's gratitude. As for themselves, the aristocratic families, by supporting Mu Cheng's land tax reform, had barely managed to salvage some of their reputation and were not "smeared" by Mu Cheng's newspapers.
However, what truly made him uneasy was Liang Xiao's extreme caution—only eating food he brought himself, heavily guarded, and with rumors of his carriage being reinforced with steel plates, making any attempt at interference impossible. Mu Cheng pondered for a moment and said, "I have made up my mind. Liang Xiao is a man of extraordinary talent, whose might shakes the eight directions. Lord Zhuo has a reputation that fills the world. I bestow upon them special privileges, exempting them from all formalities."
The Grand Eunuch immediately hurried out of the hall to relay the order. "Liang Xiao, Grand Marshal of Da Gan, General of Flying Cavalry, Minister of Personnel, and Marquis Anguo. Zhuo Zifang, Minister of Personnel and Marquis, are invited to the hall!" The eunuch's sonorous announcement jolted the Da Liang officials, each lost in their own thoughts. Yan Liu exchanged glances with the officials behind him, their shared frustration evident in their eyes. In the past, foreign envoys were "summoned" to the hall, but now, the word "invited" conveyed Da Liang's profound respect for Liang Xiao and Zhuo Zifang. Of course, this was primarily due to Liang Xiao.
At this moment, Mu Cheng maintained a calm demeanor, but his heart was filled with anxiety. He had already shown Liang Xiao ample respect and was now most concerned about whether Liang Xiao would press his advantage and make things difficult for him. This young man was only twenty-two this year, at the prime of his life, full of ambition and youthful vigor. He dared to place such a wager because he understood the changes in Da Gan and believed Liang Xiao to be a steady person.
Liang Xiao and Zhuo Zifang, who had now put his shoes back on, entered the hall together. They clasped their fists towards Mu Cheng in a public salute, stating their titles and ranks before speaking in a very courteous tone. "We pay respects to the Son of Heaven of Da Liang!" Mu Cheng finally breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "I heard that when you attended court sessions in Da Gan, the Son of Heaven of Da Gan permitted you to sit by his side?" "I am grateful for His Majesty's favor," Liang Xiao replied without hesitation. Mu Cheng immediately instructed the Grand Eunuch, "Grant Liang Xiao a seat, and let it be beside me." As soon as the words fell, the assembled officials cried out in shock: "Your Majesty, this is impermissible!"
The first to step forward was Dong Chen, the Minister of Personnel and current head of the Dong family. "Marquis Anguo is a subject of Da Gan. How can he serve beside the Son of Heaven? Even Prince Consort Qin has never had such treatment! This act violates propriety!" The officials behind Dong Chen echoed his sentiments, strongly advising against it and even bringing up Qin Feng's name. Qin Feng, unintentionally implicated, looked bewildered. Mu Cheng, with a calm expression, sighed, "Do you still not understand? Everything I am doing is not just for Liang Xiao!" The officials were taken aback. "The Northern King once risked his life for the people of Da Liang, sustaining injuries and lacking renowned physicians, and did not recover in time. Da Liang is indebted to him. Now, by treating the Northern King's son with respect, we are making amends." Mu Cheng's tone gradually became solemn. The officials were speechless. Liang Xiao and Zhuo Zifang looked thoughtful. The father and son, with their strikingly similar feats of turning the tide and retiring with injuries. Fortunately, Liang Xiao received timely treatment from the Medical Sage, while Liang Anguo returned to Da Gan with devastating wounds, taking four to five years to recover. Liang Xiao looked at Mu Cheng, filled with curiosity. What was the relationship between them in the past, and why did his own father never mention it to his family? There was no indication that Liang Anguo might also be from the same hometown as "the heavenly gift Liang Xiao." If that were the case, then in the eyes of his chivalrous and tender-hearted father, were his wife and father Liang Qing not trustworthy? Was he afraid of implicating his family, just like himself? However, given Mu Cheng's attitude, if this matter were exposed, he would surely send people to protect the Liang family. Liang Xiao believed there must be an even more astonishing and unspeakable reason. With this thought, Liang Xiao looked at Mu Cheng, feeling a shiver. It couldn't be a bromance, could it?