The middle-aged man beside the esteemed scholar Li You could no longer suppress himself. He cupped his hands and said, "I am Li Shiheng, an official in the Ministry of War. I deeply admire the An Guo Hou's military prowess. Your Que Yue formation is exquisitely crafted, and now, whenever our country discusses infantry tactics against cavalry, the Que Yue formation is inevitably mentioned! Could the An Guo Hou perhaps offer some guidance?"
A wave of admiration swept through the crowd, with many echoing his sentiments. Countless gazes turned towards Liang Xiao, filled with curiosity.
After defeating the barbarians, the Que Yue formation had gained widespread fame, yet Liang Xiao had not revealed all its intricate details to the outside world. After all, should the Great Gan and Great Liang nations ever fall into conflict, the Que Yue formation could be employed by either side, perhaps enabling one to secure troop transports across the river and pose a significant threat.
Liang Xiao pondered for a moment, then smiled. "Formations precede battle; this is a fundamental principle of warfare. The true artistry lies in its application, which stems from the heart. The Que Yue formation merely capitalized on opportune timing and exploited the barbarians' eagerness for quick victory. If the enemy were prepared, it might not have been as effective and could even have led to a disadvantageous situation."
He then proceeded to give a rough overview of the Que Yue formation's cavalry deployment. Most of the audience found it perplexing and difficult to grasp.
Qin Feng and the officials from the Ministry of War nodded slightly, their expressions filled with wonder. Qin Feng understood that Liang Xiao was holding back, yet even this cursory explanation could not conceal its brilliance.
Once Liang Xiao finished his explanation, Li Shiheng and the others applauded enthusiastically.
Qin Feng added, "The An Guo Hou speaks wisely. No formation can exist independently of favorable timing, terrain, and the human element. A general must comprehend these fundamentals and adapt accordingly."
The assembled scholars all expressed that they had taken his words to heart.
Liang Xiao then continued, "My visit to Great Liang is not solely for fostering amity between our nations. There is another crucial reason. I have heard that the Rejuvenation Cult has since run rampant and grown increasingly audacious in Great Liang. I hope that all of you, as learned scholars, will prioritize the nation's welfare, enlighten the populace, and prevent them from further falling prey to the Rejuvenation Cult's influence."
"The Rejuvenation Cult?!" The mention of it caused the faces of many to turn ashen.
Yan Liu then rose and said with a smile, "Does the An Guo Hou imply that Great Liang is a nest for the Rejuvenation Cult, or that we are incapable of dealing with them ourselves?"
Liang Xiao glanced at Yan Liu and replied, "This Marquis is merely concerned for the well-being of the people of both nations. I harbored no such ulterior thoughts. This is merely the Left Prime Minister's own assumption. For the safety of innocent citizens, what are minor matters to be concerned about?"
Yan Liu's face flushed red, and he was rendered speechless.
Dong Chen, standing nearby, chuckled, "Are the barbarian people not innocent? Why is the An Guo Hou unwilling to take them in and make them citizens of Great Gan?"
Liang Xiao responded without hesitation, "Those who are not of our kind harbor different intentions. Even the ancients understood this simple truth. As a high-ranking minister of a nation, surely you are not concerned with the people's welfare but are instead meddling in others' affairs by showing concern for the barbarians?"
He had dealt with the barbarian captives, including some young children, in the same manner he had treated the children of the Helian family: entrusting them to ordinary households to raise, ensuring they would never know their true origins. However, Liang Xiao disdained to explain this; it was a matter that absolutely could not be revealed. If these children were to discover their heritage later due to their appearance, their inherent barbarian nature might reawaken, leading them to turn against Great Gan. The profound damage inflicted upon their homeland's civilization following the Eight Princes Rebellion of the Western Jin must not be repeated here.
Dong Chen merely sneered and sat down. They dared not openly oppose Liang Xiao, but any opportunity to tarnish his reputation, however small, was worth seizing.
The esteemed scholar Li You and the others lowered their heads slightly, deep in thought. They too felt that Liang Xiao had been somewhat excessive in his actions.
"No one is perfect. The An Guo Hou must have his reasons for acting this way," Li You sighed, though disappointment was evident on his face.
Dong Chen sneered, "Is Li Hongru not always benevolent? Why then do you sympathize with such a heartless act? Is it simply because he is the An Guo Hou?"
Li You's brow furrowed, about to offer an explanation when Liang Xiao spoke.
"This Marquis has at least ensured that all barbarian captives have enough to eat, which is the utmost benevolence. As for Minister Dong, your eloquent words of appeasement, in reality, risk sowing seeds of disaster for the nation, making you no different from Dugui Qun, Ouyang Ji, He Wanli, and Gongyang He of our Great Gan in the past."
"You!" Dong Chen's blood surged, his face turning crimson. Dugui Qun and his ilk were pariahs in Great Gan, reviled by both the military and civilians. Even the people of Great Liang knew how these former powerful officials from aristocratic families had fawned over the barbarians, disregarding the nation's security and thus bringing about the disgrace of Yanzhou. Liang Xiao comparing him to Dugui Qun and the others in public was a far more severe insult than an outright verbal assault.
The surrounding scholars suddenly understood, whispering amongst themselves.
"The An Guo Hou speaks the truth. First and foremost, one must cherish and consider the welfare of their own people. If foreigners are cruel, they should indeed face some punishment."
The scornful gazes from the crowd made Dong Chen feel as though thorns were pricking his skin, and sweat beaded on his forehead. He had specifically sent people to gather this intelligence, intending to curb Liang Xiao's arrogance, but now he had cornered himself.
"His Majesty arrives!"
With the arrival of Mu Cheng, the atmosphere shifted. The people of Great Liang knelt to welcome him, while Liang Xiao and his entourage rose to greet him.
Mu Cheng ascended the central platform, surveyed the assembly with satisfaction, and smiled. "My son-in-law and the Right Prime Minister have handled matters competently!"
Yan Liu pouted, able to feel anger but not dare to express it. Hosting the grand banquet for three thousand people should have been his role to preside over such a glorious occasion. However, due to his discord with Liang Xiao, Mu Cheng had completely overlooked him, and he felt too awkward to volunteer.
"Liang Xiao, what is your assessment of the scholars of my Great Liang? What is their bearing?" Mu Cheng inquired publicly.
Liang Xiao replied without hesitation, "It is similar to that of our country's Jiangnan region. Congratulations to the Son of Heaven of Great Liang."
This simple response neither belittled nor praised excessively. It lauded the scholars of both nations while upholding the dignity of his own. The scholars of Great Gan, free from the influence of aristocratic families, indeed possessed a fine spirit. However, Liang Xiao doubted that the scholars of Great Liang were entirely unburdened by such influences. It was evident that these scholars had been carefully selected by Qin Feng under Mu Cheng's instruction, ensuring they were not those who would flatter aristocratic families and thus spoil the occasion.
Mu Cheng was greatly pleased and then asked, "And what do you think of my son-in-law, the Zhen Guo Hou?"
"A hero of his age!" Liang Xiao replied.
Everyone present turned to look at Qin Feng, their eyes filled with envy. Such high praise from the An Guo Hou of Great Gan, destined for historical immortality, was enough to make Qin Feng feel his life had been worthwhile. They too hoped to receive Liang Xiao's favor, even if it were merely a casual remark of "good" or "very good."
Mu Cheng was overjoyed and said with genuine sincerity, "Then, would you compose a poem for my son-in-law?"
An involuntary gasp of astonishment rippled through the crowd. Qin Feng was startled, "Your Majesty, I dare not accept such an honor!"
Before Mu Cheng could respond, Liang Xiao readily agreed. He immediately picked up his brush and ink, and fifty-six characters flowed onto the paper, exquisitely crafted.
"Nobility draws near, yet freedom is lost,
The dragon's flight and phoenix's soar, hard to contain.
A hall full of blossoms intoxicates three thousand guests,
A single sword's frost chills fourteen states.
Drums and horns pierce the sky as auspicious qi grows cold,
Winds and waves shake the earth, the seas and mountains in autumn.
For eternity, a pillar of gold in the southeast,
Who envies the marquisates of yesteryear?"