The scholars' expressions eased upon hearing the servant's report.
A subsidy of one tael of silver!
They were usually so poor that they jingled, and this one tael of silver was enough to sustain them for months.
The elders of the Dugu family were indeed as Liang Xiao had said, hopping with anxiety. Dugu Qun and Dugu Liang were furious.
"This degenerate who deserves to be wiped out! He repeatedly shields that beast Liang Xiao. The country needs a complete overhaul!" Dugu Liang gritted his teeth.
Dugu Qun sighed, "It's a pity that Lv Yi guards the northern border, and the barbarian lands were severely weakened by the Yan Province campaign. We finally devised a plan involving the White Robe Army, only to be repelled by the heavenly general's divine intervention..."
Dugu Liang sneered, "The ones that can threaten the Great Qian Dynasty aren't just the barbarian lands! The Liang Dynasty, the Chiune Kingdom, the Taiji Kingdom, and the Peacock Dynasty in the southwest... there are plenty! Once the Liang Dynasty's policies, proposed by Liang Xiao, are successful, we'll claim credit and secretly discuss major matters with the Emperor of Liang, helping them to unify the world!"
Dugu Qun's eyes lit up, "Flowing dynasties, ironclad aristocratic families! Dynasties fall, as long as we don't bet on the wrong side. The Liang Dynasty indeed aligns more with legitimacy, and they will surely treat us well!"
Immediately, Dugu Qun ordered his men to make arrangements for future contingencies, just in case.
"Though the scholars from the East Sea have some backbone, I've read most of their exam papers, and they still can't escape the ideological influence of aristocratic families. They truly are an ironclad force!"
In the academy, Liang Xiao laughed heartily at Zhang Yang's exclamation, "Ironclad aristocratic families? Then let's be the blacksmiths together!"
Zhang Yang smiled knowingly, inexplicably feeling a glimmer of hope ahead.
With Liang Xiao around, they would not feel despair!
A moment later, thirty-six people led by Lin Xiu were brought before Liang Xiao, bowing to him.
Liang Xiao looked at them with satisfaction and smiled, "You have all passed this examination. I plan to take you back to the capital to recommend you to His Majesty and the Prime Minister. Those who can serve as officials will do so. For those who cannot, our Liang Manor and Luo Manor are in need of advisors. If you are interested, you can stay. If you wish to return to the East Sea, I will give each of you twenty taels of silver for your travel expenses, or I can settle it with you immediately."
Everyone thanked him profusely, their hearts filled with anticipation. No one chose the silver.
This was perhaps their only chance for an official career in their lifetime!
Just then, Yang Huan rushed in with a report, "Marquis An Guo! An envoy from the Chiune Kingdom, Ito Masamune, requests an audience!"
Liang Xiao frowned.
Ito Masamune was one of the thirteen-nation envoys from before.
Most of these pirates from the Chiune Kingdom were actually disguised warriors from the Chiune Kingdom!
The leader of the fleet, named Ito Hidemune, was captured by Liang Xiao and confessed.
The relationship between Dugu Ling and the Chiune Kingdom was clear.
"Marquis An Guo, I trust you are well!"
Ito Masamune, with his samurai topknot and a small mustache, bowed to Liang Xiao with a smile as soon as he entered.
"Ambassador, let's get straight to the point. There's no need for pleasantries," Liang Xiao said with a smile.
Ito Masamune said sternly, "I wish to request that Your Excellency release my younger brother, Ito Hidemune!"
Liang Xiao shook his head, "Your brother committed a capital offense. Had I not needed to escort him back to the capital for judgment, I would have beheaded him as a sacrificial offering."
Ito Masamune finally became anxious, "Our Chiune Kingdom is willing to privately offer you ten thousand taels of silver and ten beauties, just for Marquis An Guo to spare my younger brother!"
Liang Xiao smiled without speaking.
Ito Masamune pleaded repeatedly, and only then did Liang Xiao speak, "It seems the ambassador does not understand me, Liang Mou."
How could Liang Xiao, with his innate hatred for these pirates with their mustaches, topknots, and their constant "mishi mishi" and "baka baka," bend the law for them and give them leverage!
"If the money is not enough, we can add more!" Ito Masamune gritted his teeth.
Liang Xiao said solemnly, "Ito Masamune, you should go to the capital and plead with our Emperor. Coming to me is only humiliating yourself."
Ito Masamune's face fell instantly, "Liang Xiao, our Chiune Kingdom is not something a mere marquis like you can afford to provoke!"
Liang Xiao laughed heartily and said to Yang Huan, "General Yang, escort the guest out!"
Everyone present was astonished.
A dignified national envoy, sent away so unceremoniously, driven out in just a few words!
No matter how Ito Masamune threatened or cajoled, Liang Xiao remained unmoved until Ito Masamune disappeared from sight.
"Both publicly and privately, I cannot possibly agree to their request. Otherwise, the Dugu family will surely retaliate, accusing me of colluding with pirates and framing Dugu Ling!" Liang Xiao said, a sneer on his face.
Everyone suddenly understood. The scholars were even more impressed, bowing down on the spot.
They had only just heard that Liang Xiao had executed Dugu Ling, who had preyed on the common people, and annihilated seven thousand pirates. This was an achievement unseen in over a decade!
Ito Masamune, expelled from the East Sea, gazed at the city walls and cursed, "A bunch of despicable beasts! They refused a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit! When our Chiune Kingdom lands, we will slaughter all the people of the Great Qian!"
With his mission unsuccessful, Ito Masamune had no choice but to rush to the capital to seek help from the Dugu family.
A unit of Shadow Guards traveled day and night to reach Donghai County and found Liang Xiao with Xiao Qing's token.
After repeatedly confirming Xiao Qing's handwriting and the Shadow Guards' identities, Liang Xiao entrusted half of the potatoes, corn, and sweet potatoes, and also dispatched two hundred Imperial Guards to accompany them.
These hundred Shadow Guards had undergone specialized training and were familiar with the maintenance, planting, and emergency response methods for the three crops.
The three crops were divided into two portions: one was sent to the capital, and the other to Zhuo Zifang's home in Jiangnan, to be guarded and planted by Zhuo Zifang.
This was Liang Xiao's measure to prevent the northern regions from experiencing adverse weather like late frosts, which could kill the precious seeds and seedlings of the three crops.
However, Liang Xiao absolutely would not tolerate any mishaps, so he prepared a large quantity of firewood and charcoal to immediately ignite and raise the temperature if the temperature suddenly dropped!
The Shadow Guards returning to the capital also carried Liang Xiao's letter and a pile of pearls, agates, and tortoiseshells from foreign merchant ships.
Xiao Qing's letter mentioned that Li Mou, the military commander of the Donghai military camp, was someone Lv Yi and Wang Canghai both trusted and could temporarily manage the East Sea. Liang Xiao then authorized him, and selected another hundred Imperial Guards, generously rewarded them, and led by Yang Huan, they were temporarily stationed to protect Li Mou.
Liang Xiao then set off for the capital with Nan Jiyun, Lin Xiu, and others. Accompanying them were the remaining seven hundred Imperial Guards, two thousand soldiers from the Donghai military camp, and hundreds of loyal individuals from the three warships that had accompanied Nan Jiyun in eradicating pirates that day.
These men could have stayed in the Donghai military camp to live a life of idleness. Having dared to risk offending Dugu Ling to go out to sea and fight pirates proved their courage.
Upon hearing that Liang Xiao was leaving, the people of the East Sea saw him off with tears.
Liang Xiao's arrival had changed the fate of the East Sea's fishing industry and the Donghai military camp. Now, the soldiers had the courage to escort fishing boats out to sea and even wished to encounter pirates to earn rewards!
Previously, when the soldiers requested to fight pirates, Dugu Ling always procrastinated.
Even if they went out to sea to fight pirates, most of the credit would go to Dugu Ling, and the soldiers would essentially be dying in vain. Over time, no one dared to bring up such a thankless task.
Because the escorted goods included treasures from foreign merchant ships and Dugu Ling's property, Liang Xiao's troop did not march quickly. The Shadow Guards first took Liang Xiao's letter to report to Xiao Qing.
In the imperial study, Xiao Qing, with trembling hands, handed the letter to Prime Minister Wang Canghai after reading it.
Wang Canghai read it, and his hands also began to tremble, his face filled with disbelief!