“Marquis, why would you name it after me?” Yue Qingtian asked, flattered.
“Isn’t this name pretty good? It lets everyone understand they are pillars of support, and it happens to be you leading the troops. Qingtian, have you killed anyone before?” Liang Xiao chuckled.
Yue Qingtian’s face turned serious. “I’ve killed bandits! The bandits of Meng Hu Mountain were wicked and planned to rob my tribesmen. I led my people and wiped them out! My tribesmen and I may dislike bullying the weak, but that doesn’t mean we have no temper!”
Liang Xiao smiled with satisfaction, and Chen Shaoling was surprised and delighted. He could tell that Yue Qingtian was remarkable, not just a hot-headed brute. It was no wonder he was so efficient at stealing horses from Nanshan…
Back at the Liang residence, Liang Xiao immediately arranged for Liang Qing’s household guard, Liang Zhan, to go with the shadow guard captain He Zizhang and others to recruit soldiers. Liang Zhan, in his fifties, was loyal to Liang Qing and now followed Liang Xiao’s every command.
After a long period of busyness, Liang Xiao finally returned to his courtyard. He saw the girls reading, and Jian Qinwan was also there. Seeing Liang Xiao return, everyone reluctantly put down the papers in their hands.
“Young Master, Mi’er writes so well!” Yue Lian said, walking over with a small stack of papers.
“What did you write?” Liang Xiao asked with a smile.
Yue Lian feigned mystery and handed the papers to Liang Xiao. Luo Qingxue and Jian Qinwan also looked at Liang Xiao with smiles. Zhen Mi, her face flushed, nervously awaited Liang Xiao’s evaluation.
“She indeed writes very well!” Liang Xiao praised sincerely. This child was only eleven years old, yet her choice of words and phrasing was already exquisite. Her writing was neither bland nor dry, nor did it merely pile up flowery language; the articles felt natural and complete.
Zhen Mi’s eyes lit up with joy. Liang Xiao was both amused and exasperated. “It’s just that… your Brother Xiao really can’t fly on a sword, conjure soldiers from beans, or summon wind and rain!”
Zhen Mi had written a heroic story, with the protagonist named Liang Xiao, hailing from the Liang residence of Da Gan… a perfect template for Liang Xiao. The Liang Xiao in this story, besides being able to lead troops in battle, could apparently breathe fire! Liang Xiao had indeed practiced juggling and breathed fire once when disguised as a performer in a foreign land for a mission… But flying on a sword, killing with a sword, summoning wind and rain, conjuring soldiers from beans… he was depicted as almost omnipotent, more exaggerated than Zhuge Liang in Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
“Mi’er, revise it again~” Zhen Mi replied weakly.
Liang Xiao smiled. “No need to revise! It’s not a biography. Let’s keep Mi’er’s wild imagination. If you wish, you can also include names like Zhang Yang, Nan Jiyun, Yue Qingtian, Chen Shaoling, Lü Changhe… Since I can already breathe fire, let them be as exaggerated as you like. For instance, Zhang Yang can generate electricity, Nan Jiyun can dive underwater, Chen Shaoling can swallow swords, and Lü Changhe can carry sacks…”
“After Mi’er finishes writing about Brother Xiao, I’ll give them some more scenes,” Zhen Mi pouted.
Laughter filled the room.
Luo Qingxue reminded him, “Husband~ Mi’er said the title of this book should be chosen by you, the protagonist.”
Seeing Zhen Mi looking at him pleadingly, Liang Xiao pondered for a moment and said, “Then let’s call it ‘The Heroes of Da Gan’!”
Zhen Mi happily agreed and added, “Then Mi’er is also preparing to write a book that conforms to common sense, as a biography of Brother Xiao. The title will be…”
“‘The Legend of Da Gan Heroes’?” Jian Qinwan sniffed.
Everyone looked at Jian Qinwan in surprise. Jian Qinwan realized she had spoken out of turn, her face turning red. She snorted coldly and turned her head away.
“Excellent, that’s it!” Liang Xiao nodded.
Zhen Mi agreed and then asked, “Does Brother Xiao think it’s improper for Mi’er to write these things after reading so much…”
“Why would I? I only wish for you all to be happy, safe, and healthy, to do what you want, to be less constrained, and not be burdened by utility. I will handle the matters outside,” Liang Xiao said with a smile.
Luo Qingxue and Yue Lian gazed at Liang Xiao dreamily. Even Jian Qinwan couldn’t help but glance back at Liang Xiao before turning away. For Jian Qinwan and Luo Qingxue, the formidable aura Liang Xiao displayed when he beheaded Dugu Ling and intimidated the generals was still vivid in their memories. It was only when he faced them that he spoke so gently.
“An Guo Hou is recruiting soldiers by imperial decree!”
As Liang Zhan’s men posted the notices, the entire Yan Prefecture city was shaken. People gathered around the golden posters, reading the content with astonishment. “Such harsh recruitment conditions! Such high wages!”
Considering that soldiers recruited from the populace would lack the experience of elites from the northern garrisons, Liang Xiao made some modifications to the recruitment requirements. Those who could carry a hundred pounds and run seventy li within half a day, if qualified and swore allegiance to Liang Xiao, would become his personal troops. Their families would be well taken care of, and their monthly pay would be five taels! The monthly salary of most ordinary soldiers in Da Gan was less than one tael of silver! Liang Xiao offered five taels directly!
Instantly, applicants poured in and were directed to the temporary training grounds established in Anxi County for testing. Liang Xiao took the girls to Anxi County and watched from upstairs. Even Zhen Mi was there. To command respect from the three hundred warriors of the desolate tribes, Yue Qingtian led by example, shouldering a hundred-pound sack and running back and forth around the training ground with over three hundred people, drawing cheers.
“Where did these people come from? They don’t seem to be locals of Yan Prefecture. Could they be spies sent by the enemy to infiltrate the An Guo Hou?” Because Yue Qingtian and his group performed so well, many onlookers were bewildered and even doubted their identities. Yan Prefecture was known nationwide as a poor region and a strategic military stronghold. Now that it finally had a Heavenly General and an An Guo Hou, it could finally hold its head high! Liang Xiao’s decision not to tax the people within his dominion and to recruit them for farming with favorable conditions had already spread throughout Yan Prefecture city. Countless people wished they were also within Liang Xiao’s dominion.
For both public and private reasons, the people of Anxi County did not want Liang Xiao to be harmed by villains and spies! Liu Fan quickly stepped forward to explain to the crowd, “These are all strong men our Marquis has found, and they are participating in the test with us!”
The crowd suddenly understood. Applicants for the test continued to arrive from the center of Yan Prefecture city, creating a sea of people. “The Marquis said to test them slowly, no need to rush. We need at least two thousand people!” The Imperial Guards protected Liu Fan, Liang Zhan, and others, maintaining order and informing everyone. The scene was still relatively orderly.
At the same time, in the capital, Liang Qing of the Liang residence also received a secret letter, which he read with Luo Changfeng. “Hmm? Why is Zhuo Lingjun suddenly in such a hurry for Xiao’er to go to Jiangnan? Is this really from Zhuo Lingjun?” Luo Changfeng repeatedly checked the handwriting and seal, confirming there were no issues.
Liang Qing nodded. “It is indeed from Zhuo Lingjun. However, he isn’t saying Xiao’er must go, just that it would be best to go as soon as possible, otherwise, a good opportunity might be missed…”
“Alas, these scholars always use such convoluted language. They should just say they are eagerly awaiting him, instead of being so vague about what this good opportunity is!” Liang Feng and Yang Xuejing, standing nearby, also paid attention.
Liang Feng chuckled, “Could it be that they want to arrange another marriage for my second brother? Second brother is already nineteen by lunar age. Although he’s still young, Qingxue and Qin Xian are clearly by his side, and they haven’t even married yet. In other families, children would already be running around…”
Liang Qing and Luo Changfeng frowned. “Arrange a marriage? Arrange for whom?” As they spoke, the elders exclaimed in unison!