The capital has been remarkably stable after months of management by Xiao Qing and Liang Xiao.
The three major noble families and aristocratic clans still presented a posture of utmost loyalty and diligence, but their thoughts began to stir with Liang Xiao's departure.
The physiognomist Pang Ting also arrived at the secret chamber of the Dugu family to discuss countermeasures with everyone.
The matter of the "Phoenix's Aura" was suppressed by Xiao Qing and Liang Xiao, but they devised an even better strategy that could be utilized.
Nine of the seventeen highest-ranking advisors of the Marquis of An Guo's mansion accompanied Liang Xiao to Yanzhou.
En route, Liang Xiao traveled in the same carriage as advisor Mo Hongming, who was overwhelmed by the honor.
Before departing the capital, Liang Xiao had asked everyone, "Who is willing to go to that harsh and cold land to assist Nie Yuan in managing Liaodong?"
Mo Hongming, thirty years of age, was the first to step forward and was appointed by Liang Xiao as the Liaodong Assistant General.
Dugu Qun, the former Minister of War, dared not impeach Liang Xiao now and could only let Xiao Qing appoint these assistant generals.
"Liaodong will be entrusted to Mr. Mo. Even if it cannot be developed, it must not be lost," Liang Xiao said earnestly.
Liaodong had to directly face Taiji Kingdom and the Xianbei, as well as some minor incursions by other tribes. If it fell, these tribes could directly advance south, threatening the heartland of Yanzhou.
Mo Hongming nodded repeatedly, "Hongming will do his utmost to live up to the expectations of His Majesty and the Marquis!"
Halfway through the journey, Liang Xiao allocated a convoy to Mo Hongming to escort him to Liaodong.
The land of Liaodong.
Nie Yuan, the defender of Xiangping, also received news from scouts.
"Reporting to the General, Xianbei cavalry has been frequently active at the border recently. We must be on guard!"
Nie Yuan frowned, "Why have the Xianbei become so rampant recently? Could it be because they know chaos has erupted in Xichuan?"
However, Nie Yuan quickly dismissed his own guess and sternly ordered, "Guard the border and do not let a single Xianbei cavalryman cross south!"
Li Shunping, who had finally returned to Taiji Kingdom, tearfully recounted his experiences in the Great Gan Kingdom to the King of Taiji Kingdom in the grand hall.
"This Great Gan Kingdom still doesn't understand, we can only be a nation that befriends them, not one they can oppose!" the King of Taiji Kingdom exclaimed in surprise and anger.
A nation that could not defeat them, the Taiji Kingdom, was not doing business and had instead driven away his envoy!
Li Shunchen sighed, "I fear it's not that simple. Did Prime Minister Li offend the Heavenly Emperor of Great Gan?"
"The Heavenly Emperor of Great Gan didn't want to see this old man at all, and he even had Liang Xiao and Prime Minister Wang Canghai humiliate me!" Li Shunping fumed.
The King of Taiji Kingdom gritted his teeth, "Then cooperate with the Xianbei and make Liaodong restless!"
"Your Majesty, you must not!"
Li Shunping and several veteran ministers earnestly advised, but to no avail. After the court session ended, they could not help but sigh, "Taiji Kingdom is perhaps facing a crisis of national demise..."
The guarding general of Yanzhou was still the Rear General Lü Changhe, who arranged for the training of the Yanzhou troops.
The new recruits sent to Yanzhou from various regions, plus some veteran soldiers, already numbered over 150,000!
Among them, the Qingtian Guard was the main force. Ten thousand elite soldiers of the Great Gan Iron Guard level were undergoing intensified training, but they were no longer practicing the Queyue Formation.
According to Liang Xiao's opinion, the Qingtian Guard and the Great Gan Iron Guard were sufficient, and there was no immediate use for the Queyue Formation.
Given the existence of Qin Feng in the Great Liang Kingdom, they would certainly not be deceived by the Queyue Formation.
The space for the full deployment of the Queyue Formation in Liaodong, the Western Border, and Xichuan was limited, and it could not even be deployed.
These new elites were practicing some conventional formations.
"The Marquis of An Guo has arrived in Yanzhou!"
The news spread, and the people of Yanzhou rejoiced. However, under Liang Xiao's prior notice, there were no welcoming crowds lining the streets, and everything proceeded as usual.
But the soldiers and civilians of Yanzhou were well aware of the purpose behind Liang Xiao's grand arrival in Yanzhou.
Inspection of troops, training of troops, dispatch of troops!
In the military camp, Liang Xiao ascended the reviewing stand to inspect the three armies.
Lü Changhe, Yue Qingtian, Liu Fan, and others followed closely, and the entire camp was solemn.
The ten thousand new elites below exuded an imposing aura, their eyes burning with fanaticism as they stared intently at Liang Xiao on the elevated platform.
During this period, the steel mills in Yanzhou and the armory in the capital were still rushing to produce weapons.
As winter deepened, the entire army was clad in padded armor, and everyone was delighted.
Padded armor was highly practical, and the Great Liang Kingdom, which had the best conditions to replicate it, did not need it due to its location south of the sweltering Heng River.
"The ten thousand new Great Gan Iron Guards should be distinguished from the Great Gan Iron Guards, fighting independently and competing with each other!"
On the platform, the new recruits' spirits were lifted as they heard Liang Xiao speak!
"From today onwards, this legion will be designated as the 'Great Gan Town Guard'. I hope all officers and men will not fail the nation's cultivation!"
As soon as Liang Xiao finished speaking, the ten thousand Great Gan Town Guards below roared in unison, "Thank the Marshal for bestowing the name!!"
Liang Xiao was currently the Deputy Marshal of the nation's armed forces, but when leading his own army, he was the veritable Marshal.
These Great Gan Town Guards were also well aware of why they received triple the salary of other elites and were able to eat meat daily.
There was only one way to maintain their current treatment.
Achieve merits and establish a career!
"From today onwards, another military order will be issued. Until this Marshal rescinds this order, any soldier discussing troop movements during marches is strictly prohibited. Violators will be punished with a hundred strokes of the rod for minor offenses, and beheading for severe offenses!"
As Liang Xiao issued a new military order, the three armies became solemn and memorized it by heart.
With Liang Xiao in command, all soldiers trained even harder, striving to perform well.
In the military tent, Lü Changhe reported to Liang Xiao, "Marshal, the Great General has sent word from that region saying that merchants from the Guishuang Dynasty intend to trade with us, hoping to promote good relations between the two countries?"
Liang Xiao pondered for a moment and said, "Trade is permissible, but strictly limit the movements of these merchants, acquire their iron ore and warhorses, and at the same time guard against the Guishuang Dynasty's treachery. After I have read the ancient texts provided by the Ye family, I am even more convinced that Westerners are extremely cunning and untrustworthy!"
The generals exchanged glances, "How can you be so sure?"
Liang Xiao explained, "There are historical records from the Great Zhou Dynasty and the Great Heng Kingdom that document the customs and traditions of the Guishuang Dynasty and regions further west. These Westerners, when they are weak, feign compliance and hide daggers in smiles. Once their might far surpasses yours, they unhesitatingly reveal their true nature, going to extreme lengths to oppress and exploit. The suffering in the Western Regions in recent years is also due to this reason. I have a premonition that they are brewing some plan with the Tianri Tribe, and may even be imitating our nation's weaponry."
The hearts of the people present grew stern, but out of trust in Liang Xiao, they still believed him implicitly.
"After pacifying Xichuan and Jiaozhou, upgrading the nation's weaponry, and screening the population, we will continue to expand the army and conquer the foreign tribes."
Liang Xiao repeatedly traced routes on the map, and the people listened with surging emotions.
The Great Gan Kingdom had been suppressed for too long, and everyone dared to step on them!
"Whether it is the Guishuang Dynasty or the Peacock Dynasty, they are all inextricably linked to the Tianri Tribe. Even if we cannot launch a distant expedition to the Tianri Tribe's stronghold within twenty to thirty years, we must defeat these surrounding nations one by one, and never allow the Tianri Tribe to invade the Central Plains and repeat the devastation of the Great Zhou Dynasty!"
"Our generation must lay the foundation for a thousand years of peace for future generations, and let them know what the Great Gan Heavenly Might is."
"Whatever is illuminated by the sun and moon, and reached by wind and rain, shall submit!"