Mu Hong nodded, "I will do my utmost!"
Liang Xiao spread out all the blueprints, along with a written order from Xiao Qing. Mu Hong and Gu Shaoyan stared, dumbfounded.
"These are all unfamiliar weapons and armor. Are you planning to equip your future retainers and that ten-thousand-strong army?" Mu Hong realized with a start.
The Emperor's writ instructed Mu Hong to oversee the manufacturing of these weapons and deliver them to Liang Xiao free of charge.
Liang Xiao nodded. "Exactly! This matter is to be kept in absolute secrecy. Remember not to let Du Gu Qun interfere, or at least not to let him discover all the types of weapons."
Mu Hong pondered, "Understood. Rest assured, although Du Gu Qun is the Minister of War, my Mu family is not to be trifled with. Moreover, we stand with the Gu family, and we have the Emperor's support."
"Does Marquis An Guo require my assistance? I'm bored to death lately," Gu Shaoyan said, growing restless.
Liang Xiao nodded. "Brother Gu can pay attention to any unusual people or events in and around the capital."
Gu Shaoyan smiled. "No problem! But speaking of unusual people and events, your Yan Province has the most of them. You should also keep an eye out occasionally, after all, General Tian appeared in Yan Province, and you yourself are quite an extraordinary person..."
Liang Xiao was rendered speechless with laughter.
"Yan Province has a hardy populace. It's the most suitable place if you intend to recruit retainers. Furthermore, the people of Yan Province must be proud of you and General Tian, and with General Tian's protection, they will surely enlist enthusiastically, and you won't have any communication barriers due to accent," Gu Shaoyan reminded him.
"That's precisely my intention," Liang Xiao nodded, then added, "Brother Gu, Brother Mu, the reason I proposed your promotion to His Majesty was not solely out of personal friendship and cooperation."
They looked at Liang Xiao in confusion and said in unison, "Please enlighten us, Marquis An Guo!"
Liang Xiao said solemnly, "The Prime Minister is advanced in years and will eventually retire. There is probably no single person who can replace the Prime Minister. His Majesty intends to split the position of Prime Minister into Left and Right Prime Ministers in the future. You two are both virtuous and capable. If you can maintain your original intentions and serve the country and the people, you would be excellent candidates."
Their breathing became labored.
Left and Right Prime Ministers!
Since ancient times, wasn't the highest aspiration of scholars in officialdom to hold the Three Dukes or Prime Minister positions, and to be bestowed a posthumous title?
Liang Xiao then shifted the topic. "However, promoting you directly to Left and Right Prime Ministers would be difficult to convince the public."
They nodded silently, not disheartened. After all, they were too young, only in their early twenties, and did not possess the earth-shattering achievements and abilities of Liang Xiao. To be promoted to a fourth-rank official at this age was already astonishing.
Liang Xiao smiled. "Therefore, His Majesty is also considering re-establishing the positions of Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, Left Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat, and Right Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat in the future. You and Zhang Yang can advance step by step, even replacing Du Gu Qun and others, and in the future, all of you can become assisting officials."
They were both surprised and delighted, nodding. "We will surely uphold our original intentions to repay the imperial favor!"
In the Great Qian Kingdom, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat held a rank of Zheng Er Pin Shang, the head of the second-rank officials, whose actual power was even comparable to that of a Zheng Yi Pin official. The Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat was from Er Pin. As for the Left and Right Secretaries of the Imperial Secretariat, in the Great Qian Kingdom, they were Zheng San Pin Zhong, while in the Great Liang Kingdom, they were Zheng San Pin Shang!
If they were only offered the grand promise of Left and Right Prime Ministers, Mu Hong and Gu Shaoyan might have harbored a slight doubt about how they would jump from fourth rank to first rank. But with Liang Xiao's promise, Gu Shaoyan and Mu Hong had a clear plan for their future development.
At least, Liang Xiao's guidance and promises to them had always been reliable and sincere. Their promotion to fourth-rank officials was also inseparable from Liang Xiao's support.
It was evident to all civil and military officials that Liang Xiao's relationship with the Emperor was extraordinary, even like brothers. Liang Xiao would soon become a royal son-in-law!
At this moment, Gu Shaoyan and Mu Hong were secretly competing in their hearts, reminding themselves not to fall behind Zhang Yang.
What if Zhang Yang, who was ranked fourth in national talent selection, became Minister or Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat first, and they became Left and Right Secretaries assisting him? Wouldn't that be embarrassing?
Invisibly, they had also set Zhang Yang as a competitor, and they knew that Liang Xiao was still nurturing more talents.
Lin Xiu from the East Sea had already entered the Prime Minister's mansion. Li Xiuyun of Jiangnan, being proud and aloof, would likely not escape Liang Xiao's "claws." When the time came, they would still have to compete, and the capable would prevail!
"When the world is finally at peace, let's have a banquet, the few of us, and drink our fill. A hundred years of drunkenness will be more than enough!" Liang Xiao said solemnly.
Five hundred taels for a hundred years of drunkenness?
Their hearts warmed, their throats tightened, and they nodded with a smile.
Upon returning home, Liang Xiao saw Yue Lian waiting at the door, her eyes full of anticipation. Seeing Liang Xiao, her beautiful eyes lit up.
"Young Master, it's time to change your medicine."
Liang Xiao then remembered he had returned late and said softly, "Yue Lian is always so thoughtful."
Yue Lian immediately beamed like a blooming flower, then seemed to recall something and lowered her head. "Young Master, if those refugees from Great Heng come knocking again..."
Liang Xiao smiled. "There's no need to worry. Those who can be appeasement, we will appease as much as possible. For those who cannot, we can only proceed according to protocol. They do respect you after all. I hope they will see the error of their ways and not cause trouble everywhere."
Yue Lian was finally relieved. "Young Master is always so kind..."
In Liang Xiao's room, Yue Lian looked at the wound on his back and said softly, "Young Master's injuries are almost healed. All that's left are scars. With the Physician Saint's prescription and the care of Divine Physician Hua, you will surely recover."
"It's also thanks to my Yue Lian's excellent care," Liang Xiao praised.
Yue Lian lowered her head. "Young Master..."
"Your thoughts are no match for your young master. Are you reluctant to the days of changing my medicine?" Liang Xiao asked with a smile.
"But I wish for Young Master to be healed more!" Yue Lian replied earnestly.
Liang Xiao burst into laughter. "Then will you scrub my back from now on?"
"Okay!" Yue Lian responded without hesitation, then her pretty face flushed. "Young Master..."
"Since childhood, haven't you always scrubbed my back? Just consider it as continuing to change my medicine," Liang Xiao said.
"Oh!" Yue Lian finally felt a little more at ease.
Liang Xiao pouted. "I cannot repay the kindness of your back-scrubbing. To reciprocate, I will also scrub Miss Yue Lian's back in the future."
Yue Lian was instantly flustered and stammered, "Young Master is always so glib! I will report you to Sister Qingxue..."
Liang Xiao and Luo Qingxue had repeatedly asked Yue Lian to stop calling Luo Qingxue "Miss" or "Young Madam" and to simply call her "Sister."
"Then do you like it?"
"I like it very much..."
The next day, Du Gu Qun received the news and suddenly stood up. "Mu Hong, that scoundrel, has suddenly started manufacturing various new types of weapons?"
Du Gu Qun rushed to the Armory but was blocked by guards. "Without the Emperor's writ or an order from the head of the Armory, not even the Prime Minister can enter!"
Du Gu Qun flew into a rage. "What do you think you are? Do you know I am the Marquis of Wan Ling, the Minister of War?"
Even the guards at the Armory had been replaced in large numbers!
Two guards put on grim faces and produced their Shadow Guard tokens. "We are all Shadow Guards, ordered by the Emperor to seal this place. Minister Du Gu, if you have any objections, please find His Majesty. We are only responsible for watching and beheading."
Du Gu Qun's expression changed. He sheepishly retreated and went to find Mu Hong's father, the Prefect of Jingzhao, Mu Lingming.
"I'm sorry, my master is not feeling well and is seeing no visitors."
The chief steward of the Mu family's bitter smile was like pouring cold water on Du Gu Qun, Du Gu Liang, Ouyang Ji, and He Wanli, who had come to visit.
The four looked at each other, enraged, and left in a huff.
Within the opulent Mu family mansion, however, Mu Lingming was tasting "A Hundred Years of Drunkenness" with Gu Hong, Gu Shaoyan, and others, amidst much laughter. Gu Xiaoxiao and Mu Wanjun played the zither to entertain them.
Another day passed, and Jian Qinwan also received a family letter from her senior sisters.
The leading senior sister said weakly, "Junior Sister, our Mistress specifically instructed that you must read every word meticulously, execute it without omission, and not be allowed to object..."
"Not allowed to object to what?" Jian Qinwan narrowed her eyes and glanced at her senior sisters. They, however, found excuses to rendezvous with Chen Shaoling, Li Hongshu, and others, and made their escape.