Liang Xiao smiled and said, "Are you referring to your master, the Qin Sheng?"
Qin Sheng was the only daughter of the Marquis of Dingguo, who was truly the wealthiest man in the realm.
While the Duanmu family's assets might have been worth significantly more than those of the Marquis of Dingguo's household, that was for the entire Duanmu clan.
The Marquis of Dingguo, with his fief of thirty thousand households, had, as a hereditary marquis and founding minister, amassed a fortune over generations, renowned for possessing mountains of gold and silver!
Qin Jiu, Qin Sheng's subordinate, could generously pay ten thousand taels to purchase Liang Xiao's poetry and wine, a testament to this.
Jian Qinwan said proudly, "Precisely! I can condescend to write a letter and send someone to Tianshan to seek my master's assistance!"
"No need," Liang Xiao quickly shook his head.
Jian Qinwan's tone softened, "I was joking, not condescending. My master would surely appreciate a young man like you..."
Liang Xiao said softly, "Bodhisattva, I appreciate your kindness, and please do not secretly write to your master for help. I am confident in my abilities, and moreover, it is not my style to constantly rely on others."
Jian Qinwan turned her head away, "Take it or leave it!"
How she wished Liang Xiao would accept, if only to make her feel less like a burden!
Yue Lian rushed in anxiously from outside, "Young Master, that General Anbei has arrived from the northern border of Yanzhou. He seems rather dejected and merely says that the General of Cavalry wishes to see you!"
"Dejected? It seems the news of my land acquisition has already reached the northern army camps."
Liang Xiao immediately rose and, with the two women, left the courtyard, running into Lu Changhe.
"You!"
Upon seeing each other, Lu Changhe noticed that Liang Xiao's complexion was no longer as pale as before, clearly indicating a significant improvement in his injuries.
But looking at him, Liang Xiao increasingly resembled the Heavenly General...
Lu Changhe stared intently at Liang Xiao, his breathing growing rapid.
Liang Xiao and the two women were startled, freezing in place and looking at Lu Changhe with confusion.
"You..."
Lu Changhe was on the verge of tears, his legs moving uncontrollably towards Liang Xiao.
Jian Qinwan frowned and quickly stepped in front of Liang Xiao, her gaze alert and fixed on Lu Changhe.
"You wouldn't possibly be infatuated with this lecher, would you?"
Jian Qinwan's sudden remark nearly caused Liang Xiao and Lu Changhe to stumble.
Lu Changhe realized he had lost his composure and quickly explained, "My apologies, you've misunderstood!"
Liang Xiao, of course, guessed Lu Changhe's intentions but simply smiled calmly, "General Lu, why is the General of Cavalry looking for me?"
"Marquis An Guo, why are you buying so much land?" Lu Changhe asked, puzzled.
"To farm, of course. Do you think I bought it to eat dirt?" Liang Xiao retorted.
Lu Changhe was bewildered and sighed, "Forget it, forget it. Hurry and come with me to the military camp. You can explain it to my father yourself; he's very angry!"
"Changhe, why are you here?" Chen Shaoling emerged from another room, looking at Lu Changhe in surprise.
"Brother Shaoling!"
Lu Changhe greeted his old acquaintance enthusiastically and urged Liang Xiao to depart within the hour.
Liang Xiao had no choice but to ask Chen Shaoling and Lu Changhe to go to the main hall to catch up while he went back to prepare.
"Yue Lian, Bodhisattva, women are not allowed into the military camp. You two wait for me here."
Jian Qinwan declared proudly, "I can disguise myself as a man!"
Liang Xiao stared at Jian Qinwan, his eyelids twitching. He shook his head, "You, disguised as a man? Is that even possible?"
Jian Qinwan paused, seeing Liang Xiao's gaze. Under suspicion, she looked down and quickly covered her chest, glaring at Liang Xiao in annoyance, "Pervert! Lecher! Flower thief!"
Before Liang Xiao could respond, Jian Qinwan had already run back to her room.
Liang Xiao then instructed Yue Lian to stay safely at home and not to meet any strangers.
"Young Master has been very worried about my safety recently," Yue Lian said with a look of guilt.
To protect her, Liang Xiao had assigned more guards to patrol the Liang manor.
Liang Xiao explained, "The leader of the assassins who attacked us at Tianshan is still at large. However, his reaction at the time was very unusual. I suspect it has something to do with your jade pendant! You have a pure heart; when I am not here, you must not meet anyone, lest you be deceived."
Yue Lian seemed to understand and nodded obediently.
A moment later, the door to the adjacent room opened, and Jian Qinwan strode out, looking furious.
Liang Xiao and Yue Lian were stunned on the spot: she had changed into loose hemp clothes and an outer jacket. Her usual light makeup was gone, her prominent chest was completely concealed, her hairstyle had changed, and she wore a man's hair clasp, a sword hanging at her waist. She was the very picture of a young chivalrous warrior.
"You even went to the trouble of binding your chest?" Liang Xiao's smile was somewhat stiff.
"Lecher, enough of your nonsense. Since I've taken on the role of a guard, I will naturally fulfill my duties!" Jian Qinwan shot Liang Xiao a glare and stood behind him.
Amidst Yue Lian's suppressed laughter, Liang Xiao, with Jian Qinwan, went to find Lu Changhe and Chen Shaoling. The four of them then rode non-stop to the northern military camp.
Dismounting outside the camp, Liang Xiao looked at the military stronghold with mixed emotions.
It was here that he had led the Great Qian soldiers to counterattack the barbarians, initiating that epoch-making decisive battle!
And the commander of this battle was none other than Lu Yi, who had generously agreed to Lu Changhe's joining the white-robed army...
However, he and Lu Yi were not particularly close.
Lu Changhe turned and quietly pleaded, "Marquis An Guo, for my father's hard work in defending this territory, and for the Emperor's sake, please go easy on my father later..."
Liang Xiao absently agreed, his thoughts still dwelling on that decisive battle.
His injuries had healed by about seventy to eighty percent. Even if he engaged in occasional combat, he didn't need to worry too much about his wounds reopening severely!
Last time, it was merely a matter of repelling the barbarians seven hundred miles. But the deep-seated hatred of the people of Yanzhou had yet to be avenged!
"Marshal, Marquis An Guo has arrived outside the military camp!"
A minor general ran into the camp to report. Lu Yi, who was discussing military matters with his generals, scowled and ordered the minor general to bring Liang Xiao in.
Liang Xiao and the two women followed Lu Changhe into the camp. Seeing the disciplined soldiers and the肃杀 atmosphere along the way, they felt reassured.
The defenses in the north were now much stronger than before the barbarian invasion!
As soon as they entered the central military tent, Liang Xiao saw Lu Yi seated on the main seat, with generals arrayed on both sides, all staring at him.
The middle-aged adjutant to Lu Yi's left wore a worried expression, while the young supervisor on his right stared at Liang Xiao with a forced smile.
After Lu Changhe cupped his hands in salute to Lu Yi, he did not return to his seat but stood to Chen Shaoling's left.
The atmosphere became heavy.
Jian Qinwan observed this and inwardly exclaimed that things were not good.
Lu Yi, from his prominent seat, had a grim expression and glared at Liang Xiao, not offering him a seat.
Lu Yi said sternly, "Are you perhaps too conceited, a favored person of the Son of Heaven, to not even know how to greet this Marshal?"
Only then did Liang Xiao cup his hands in salute to Lu Yi, "Greetings, General of Cavalry."
Lu Yi, who was about to lash out, saw Liang Xiao's gesture and his pupils contracted!
That day, when the barbarians invaded Yanzhou, countless lives were lost.
A young general in white, of unknown origin, on a white horse with a silver spear, single-handedly managed to repel the barbarian army!
Because of his desperate battle, the barbarian cavalry missed the best opportunity to breach Yanzhou city, and hundreds of thousands of Yanzhou citizens were spared from suffering!
His armor stained with blood, his spear pointed at the barbarian ranks, he returned to Yanzhou city under the cover of the defenders, stood before him, this Marshal, and offered a respectful, unhurried salute, his eyes beneath the devil mask weary but filled with unwavering resolve!