Qin Feng fell silent for a moment and sighed, "People can be as humble as dust, but how can they be as twisted as maggots?"
Zhi Rou added, "These new crops are a convenient door opened by Marquis Anguo and Zhuo Lingjun specifically for Qin Lang, allowing the Daliang Kingdom to confirm their effectiveness and facilitate production as soon as possible. A gentleman has his principles."
Qin Xun looked ashamed.
Qin Feng then entrusted five of his wives from the Hengjiang Six Beauties to visit the Go pavilion and inform Zhuo Yun truthfully about the 'tan ding ru mu' policy.
This time, whether it was Li Xin, Zhuo Yun, or Yue Wenxin, or the "Senior," they were all struck speechless with shock.
"This is the first time in thousands of years that head tax has been abolished. How many people will this offend!"
Zuo Jing, stroking her swollen pregnant belly, tried to maintain her composure.
"Disciple, consider returning to Daqian. That brat Liang Xiao will definitely not force you," came an aged sigh from across the screen.
Zhuo Yun said tearfully, "I just want to spend my remaining days with Master in the world of Go. If I leave now, I might never see Master again..."
"You will regret it," the aged voice said with a hint of helplessness.
"Doesn't Master hate the Liang family of Daqian the most? Why are you also persuading your disciple now..." Zhuo Yun felt even more wronged.
Before, everyone except her Master and this Senior thought she would regret her choices.
A sigh of helplessness emanated from across the screen.
"Back then, when I traveled through Daliang, I was arrogant and spoke disrespectfully. Liang Xiao's grandfather, Liang Qing, publicly spanked me. But since we both came from military families of two nations, we were destined to be apart. Now, looking back, that was just a twisted fate. I should have let it go. How could I hold a grudge? After all, his grandson is a peerless talent of this era, destined to be renowned for eternity, which proves his choice to marry that woman back then was correct..."
Everyone was stunned, and even Zhuo Yun was at a loss for words.
Everyone knew that this Go Sage had never married, and even Li Xin's mother was merely an abandoned infant she had adopted.
So, the person who caused her to remain unmarried her whole life was Liang Xiao's grandfather?
No wonder Grandpa Zhuo Zifang said that he and this Go Sage were "old acquaintances." After all, Old Master Liang was a former comrade-in-arms of Zhuo Zifang and had known him since they were young...
Thinking of how she had also been spanked by Liang Xiao for speaking disrespectfully, Zuo Jing's face, hidden by the veil, turned a rare shade of red up to her ears.
Was this a family heirloom of shamelessness?
The Senior also froze, but the slight trembling of her eyelids beneath her mask revealed her emotions at that moment.
Meanwhile, Old Master Liang was at the Liang residence in the capital, carefully holding his sixth son, Liang Cangsheng, his heart filled with complex emotions.
His grandson already intended to go to Daliang, but that little girl was hiding in the Daliang Go Sage's home...
No one knew better than him why the Daliang Go Sage was so vehemently supporting Zhuo Yun's stay in Daliang, even withstanding the pressure from the Daliang Emperor for Zhuo Yun.
What a mess!
At this moment, Liang Xiao was on his march, repeatedly studying the map of Xishu.
This map was almost identical to the topography of his homeland as he remembered it, so his knowledge of his homeland could serve as a reference.
So, how could he conquer Xichuan?
The difficulty of taking Xichuan was no less than that of taking Helan Mountain!
The battle of Helan Mountain had consumed all his efforts and strategies, coupled with the military equipment and elites supported by the entire nation, to achieve success.
However, Xichuan was treacherous. It could not be easily conquered by formations and weapons. It might be a protracted war, which was why he had planned to enter Sichuan in advance and ensure the stability of the court.
Especially the perilous Shu Road.
Liang Xiao's troops were usually led by a group of seasoned Yan Zhou generals.
The trust and cooperation of these generals towards Liang Xiao were undeniable. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to move ninety thousand troops stealthily, create a false impression, and not disturb the populace.
"Marshal, the General of the West is here!"
Just as Liang Xiao was contemplating, an urgent report arrived from outside.
Liang Xiao immediately ushered Nan Jiyun into the tent and inquired about the situation.
"Hanzhong is temporarily secure. Before I arrived, the enemy was defending Xichuan and had no intention of advancing into Hanzhong. But I have already spread the news that Hanzhong is secure and that two divisions have been dispatched to reinforce the western border to counter the Guishuang Dynasty. After several troop movements, Hanzhong nominally has only thirty thousand troops, but in reality, there are still fifty thousand. It all depends on whether the enemy falls for this ploy," Nan Jiyun said sternly.
He was ordered to lead troops for Liang Xiao, to facilitate his entry into Hanzhong, and to help him remain hidden.
A small portion of these ninety thousand troops still believed they were heading to Liaodong.
All the soldiers who had noticed something amiss obeyed military orders and dared not discuss the march. Simultaneously, they strictly controlled their subordinates and prohibited any disappearances to prevent spies from reporting back to the enemy.
"I have already sent word to Jiangnan, and the General of the South can cross the river and march north at any time to cooperate in entering Xichuan, but still under the guise of defending against the southwestern rebels," Liang Xiao said with a smile.
Xichuan and Jiaozhou had, in fact, already rebelled, though they were still nominally subjects of Daqian. However, due to the long distance, the court had poorly managed them since the founding of the dynasty.
As the barbarians retreated, Daqian's military might was at its peak. These warlords also knew that they would eventually be purged by the court. They dropped their pretense, blocked all transportation routes, and no longer allowed civilians to interact with the court.
Nan Jiyun's brow finally relaxed, "This humble general is willing to serve as the vanguard!"
Liang Xiao immediately sent orders to all units, with Nan Jiyun assisting in leading the troops.
At this point, all the soldiers in the army realized the true situation.
Wasn't the General of the South in Hanzhong?
By this time, the ninety thousand troops were only three days' march from Hanzhong. The die was cast.
The soldiers had no complaints, only immense joy!
Their Marshal was indeed not one to seek glory by conquering the Taiji Kingdom, but had traveled thousands of miles to pacify Xichuan!
While campaigning against foreign tribes was appealing, pacifying Xichuan and ensuring national stability was the immediate priority.
However, because the army had been well-disciplined, no soldiers were lost along the way, and the enemy could not easily gather intelligence.
At the same time Liang Xiao met Nan Jiyun, south of Hanzhong, the Helian family's army finally broke through Jiange and galloped towards Hanzhong.
"Taking advantage of Hanzhong's lack of defenses and before Lü Changhe's troops arrive, capture Hanzhong immediately!!"
Helian Heng personally led a hundred and ten thousand troops, forcefully exiting Jiange, determined to succeed in one fell swoop.
"After capturing Hanzhong, the treasures and women in the city will be plundered by the soldiers at will!!"
After the order was spread, the morale of the Helian family army surged, but some soldiers fell into thought.
Through the Daqian Daily published in places like Ba County, they had learned bits and pieces of the situation.
A Marquis Anguo had emerged in the Daqian Kingdom, who, after reforming the military system, had led troops to decisively defeat the barbarians and achieve the glory of "Fenglang Juxu"!
The once weak and inept Daqian soldiers, under his leadership, had achieved great deeds and even left their names in history. They did not need to enrich themselves by plundering civilians; the emperor's rewards alone were enough to ensure their families lived in abundance for years, even decades!
Yet they were still embroiled in internal strife in Shu.
Facing Helian Heng's high-pressure policies, the soldiers dared not voice any complaints, lest their heads be severed.
But the brand new Daqian army and Liang Xiao's influence were like a spark, buried in the hearts of these soldiers who had not completely lost their humanity.
"My Lord, we have discovered that some soldiers, after hearing the military order, do not exhibit their usual fervor!" the strategists repeatedly warned.
Helian Heng was startled and angered, "When Liang Yun opened bookstores and published the Daqian Daily in Xichuan, my family should have acted decisively to stop it. I regret it! Immediately issue an order to the entire army: kill one to warn a hundred, and quickly take Hanzhong!!"
At the same time, in the southwestern region, the Sun Moon Army and the Spring Revival Cult finally joined forces to support Xichuan.
The commanders of the two armies were none other than the Prince of Jin and the current leader of the Spring Revival Cult, Master Longyue Zen.