The captain was immediately ordered to be searched, and others were sent to search the captured enemy ships.
Indeed, a letter was found on the captain.
Liang Xiao took it and his face grew grimmer. He handed the letter to Li Mou.
"General Li, see if this is Dugu Ling's handwriting?"
Li Mou read it and his face also turned pale. He shook his head: "Reporting to Marquis An Guo, it does not seem like it! But framing loyal officials in this manner clearly has something to do with Dugu Ling!"
Those behind Nan Jiyun were confused: How could Marquis An Guo have just called General Dugu loyal and patriotic one moment, and now...
Instead, Nan Jiyun suddenly understood: "So Marquis An Guo was trying to trick them into revealing their intentions just now!"
"Indeed, I killed that old dog with the Son of Heaven's Decree Sword. Otherwise, how would I have had time to save you?"
Liang Xiao handed the letter to Nan Jiyun.
Nan Jiyun gnashed his teeth: "That scoundrel Dugu Ling must have found a trusted confidant to ghostwrite for him. This content must be his!"
Liang Xiao sneered: "No matter, we are confiscating his property now, and there will be a result!"
Several more letters were found on the ship. Liang Xiao glanced at them; they all contained content about Dugu Ling's secret dealings with the pirate fleet.
"The Dugu family, oh the Dugu family, let's see how you will deal with this this time." Liang Xiao chuckled inwardly, his eyes gleaming.
The Dugu family seemed quite wealthy, didn't they?
With this thought, Liang Xiao sternly ordered: "The army will return victorious to the East Sea military camp, bringing the foreign merchant ship with us. Do not damage any items on the ship, especially the plants. Violators will be executed!"
The three armies stood at attention!
In Donghai County, the East Sea Prefect Chen Ziliang, who had recovered his spirits, was browsing through a list.
"Dugu Ling, just how much military pay did he embezzle, and how much bribe did he receive!" Chen Ziliang almost spat blood!
Even Yang Huan and Zhang Yang were enraged.
Chen Shaoling angrily said: "Marquis An Guo killed him well!!"
Jian Qinwan and Luo Qingxue remained silent, their hearts only concerned about a certain someone who had gone on the expedition.
It had been two days, and he still hadn't returned?
A moment later, the Imperial Forest Army reported: "Marquis An Guo's fleet has returned victorious, beheading seven thousand sea pirates!"
Everyone was surprised and overjoyed, and they rushed out to welcome them.
A large crowd had already gathered on the shores of the East Sea, everyone eagerly anticipating their return.
The sea pirates had been rampant, and fishermen dared not even go out to sea to fish. Upon hearing that seven thousand pirates had been wiped out, the military and the people rejoiced!
Amidst the cheers of the crowd on the shore, over a hundred warships of the East Sea military camp finally appeared in sight and docked at the fastest speed.
The warriors from the three ships led by Nan Jiyun, as arranged by Liang Xiao, were the first to disembark, and the populace welcomed them with open arms.
Nan Jiyun looked around, feeling as if he had lived through another lifetime.
Overnight, he had gone from being an unknown boatman to a potential hero in the annals of history for eradicating pirates?
"It was Marquis An Guo's timely reinforcement, otherwise we would have also met our end at sea!" Nan Jiyun and others explained.
The crowd became even more excited, shouting "Marquis An Guo!"
Liang Xiao finally disembarked, leaving Li Long behind, and headed straight to the military camp with Nan Jiyun.
"Welcome back, Marquis An Guo!" Chen Ziliang, who had been waiting for a long time, was in tears, kneeling to greet all the troops. Liang Xiao helped him up.
Luo Qingxue and Jian Qinwan's eyes flickered as they looked at Liang Xiao. The worry of the past few days vanished, replaced by overwhelming joy.
Luo Qingxue's eyes were filled with stars. If it weren't for the importance of public affairs at the moment, she would have rushed into Liang Xiao's arms long ago.
After getting up, Chen Ziliang looked at Nan Jiyun and finally broke into a smile: "Jiyun, with Marquis An Guo here, you no longer need to worry about being overlooked!"
Nan Jiyun also bowed deeply to Chen Ziliang: "Thanks to the Prefect's many years of care and Marquis An Guo's resolute rescue, otherwise I would have long ago died without a burial place!"
Chen Ziliang just smiled with satisfaction and looked at Yang Huan.
Yang Huan understood and stepped forward to report: "Marquis An Guo, the assets of that Dugu Ling are worth a total of one million three hundred and twenty-three thousand five hundred taels of silver. This includes fifty thousand taels of silver, three hundred thousand taels in bank notes, ten thousand taels of gold, and the rest are fertile land, mansions, jewelry, and antiques!"
Liang Xiao's expression changed: "He deserves to die!"
How could a mere bandit suppression general, without any business ventures, accumulate an asset of over a million taels!
"What should be done with this? I fear the Dugu family will not let this matter rest!" Chen Ziliang said nervously.
Dugu Ling was a member of the Dugu family.
Liang Xiao said in a deep voice: "I learned at sea just now that Nan Jiyun colluded with sea pirates and framed loyal officials. After the crimes are confirmed, the property will be confiscated and used to reward the army! Each defeated pirate head will be rewarded with five taels of silver, ten times for leaders, and a hundred times for captains!"
Five taels!
Everyone was startled. The soldiers behind Liang Xiao were even more ecstatic.
In the Great Gan Dynasty, literature was valued over martial arts, and the salaries of soldiers were very low. For meritorious service in battle, the reward for one enemy head was even more than a soldier's monthly salary!
The captured sea pirates were brought before Chen Ziliang, bound hand and foot, begging for mercy.
Chen Ziliang gritted his teeth and said: "You have always harmed fishermen, looted passing foreign merchant ships, and brought endless losses to my Great Gan Dynasty. How can you be easily forgiven! It is all up to Marquis An Guo to decide!"
Liang Xiao ignored the pirates' pleas and smiled: "Prefect Chen, there is something I need your help with."
"Your subordinate will do his utmost!" Chen Ziliang became even more respectful of Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao then pointed at the group of pirates and said sternly: "These Outbound Country thieves, despite their short stature, have wicked hearts and are exceptionally cunning, unlike ordinary sea pirates. From today onwards, distinguish them from other sea pirates and call them 'Wa Kou'!"
"Wa Kou! Excellent!" Everyone praised.
"A fitting image! Apt!"
"Marquis An Guo's insight!" Chen Ziliang stroked his beard and nodded, immediately ordering people to make arrangements.
From then on, the sea pirates from the Outbound Country were given a new derogatory name by the people of Great Gan.
Wa Kou!
Watching Liang Xiao's back as he entered the military camp, Jian Qinwan's heart was filled with complex emotions.
Chen Shaoling, standing beside her, saw that there were no outsiders and whispered: "Junior Sister, Marquis An Guo is getting more and more handsome. If you don't seize the opportunity, Master and Mistress will cry!"
Jian Qinwan's face turned red, and she immediately drew her sword. Her senior brothers had already fled.
With a complex heart, Jian Qinwan followed Liang Xiao. Her face under the veil was so red it was almost dripping blood. She dared not utter a word.
Liang Xiao personally oversaw the military camp. Seeing the soldiers return, he finally felt at ease.
"Marquis An Guo!"
At this moment, the soldiers of the East Sea military camp below the review stand raised their weapons and shouted Liang Xiao's noble title, no longer harboring any disrespect.
Liang Xiao had led them to behead seven thousand enemies and rewarded the entire army handsomely!
Even without the heads of the Wa Kou, Liang Xiao had promised each soldier five taels of silver for this expedition, twenty taels for captains and above, and the soldiers guarding the camp would also receive half the reward!
Chen Ziliang trembled with joy, supported by Zhang Yang, fearing that he might become overwhelmed with emotion and pass away on the spot.
The captured Wa Kou warships and supplies were enough to reward the entire army, not to mention Dugu Ling's confiscated property as a safety net. There was no shortage of funds!
Liang Xiao then arranged a banquet, slaughtering cattle and sheep to reward all the soldiers in the camp.
In just three days, the East Sea military camp's appearance was completely renewed, and morale soared!
Yang Huan was even more impressed by Liang Xiao's demeanor and military prowess, obeying him wholeheartedly. The Imperial Forest Army strictly protected Liang Xiao and his entourage, carrying out any orders they were given.
"Is Marquis An Guo not attending the banquet?"
Outside the military camp, Chen Ziliang looked regretfully at Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao shook his head: "Please preside over the banquet on my behalf, Prefect Chen and General Li Mou. I need to go and see that foreign merchant ship and that old woman. After the situation is stable, I will also need to inspect the newly established salt fields."
At this moment, Liang Xiao's heart held a glimmer of hope and expectation, however faint it might be!