Within a single day, Izumo, allied with Taichi, broke its promise and annihilated Taichi's welcoming party led by Li Shunping, seizing their military provisions and capturing Beilong City, one of Taichi's largest prefectural cities.
On this day, Beilong City was plunged into despair. Izumo forces engaged in looting and slaughter, decimating the entire city and sweeping away any valuables or grain like a whirlwind.
Any woman of even moderate beauty was forced into prostitution, and after being defiled beyond recognition, they were taken with the children to serve as military rations.
Instead of curbing these atrocities, the soldiers of Izumo actively supported them, and the entire army erupted in cheers and laughter.
The demonic nature of the Izumo people, exacerbated by the infiltration of mysterious forces, had completely erupted and was escalating.
Li Shunchen, who had been demoted three ranks, was heartbroken upon hearing the terrible news.
"To plot with a tiger! To plot with a tiger!"
In the military camp, Li Shunchen publicly severed his left little finger and vowed to drive out the Izumo forces.
The entire army was united in their determination, and the Taichi flag fluttered in the wind.
"Has this Izumo country colluded with Great Qian to seize my Taichi kingdom?" The King of Taichi was also shocked and disoriented, initially suspecting the news to be false. It was only when urgent dispatches arrived one after another that he was forced to believe in Izumo's betrayal. He immediately issued an edict, reinstating Li Shunchen and others to resist the Izumo forces, and simultaneously dispatched envoys to Xianbei for aid.
Upon receiving the imperial decree, Li Shunchen angrily declared, "Your Majesty! Can you not see that Xianbei and Izumo have joined forces to make our country sever ties with the nearby Great Qian, thus cutting off our own support and paving the way for invasion! What benefit is there for our country to offend Great Qian, serving as a stepping stone for Izumo!"
The King of Taichi recalled Izumo's repeated mentions of Xianbei and was suddenly enlightened, breaking into a cold sweat.
However, Taichi's capital was to the east, surrounded by sea on three sides. At this moment, Izumo forces were within a hundred miles to the north, and a large number of Izumo warships were in the eastern waters. Taichi's remaining troops numbered less than forty thousand, scattered across the country, with only five thousand defending the capital.
"For now, the only course of action is to rally the loyalists from all regions and send emissaries to Great Qian's Liaodong for reinforcements. Perhaps there is still a glimmer of hope. We will fight to the death to repel the enemy fleet!" The elderly Li Shunchen exclaimed almost hoarsely. The King of Taichi finally made up his mind and dispatched an envoy to seek aid from Great Qian.
After destroying Beilong City, the Izumo forces split into two routes. One route, with thirty thousand men, blocked the rescue route from Great Qian to the west. The other route, comprising seventeen thousand men, marched south, heading straight for Taichi's capital.
At this time, in Liaodong, Lü Changhe was mobilizing his troops, preparing to participate in the Desert Battle and launch a flanking surprise attack on the Xianbei cavalry.
"General, although our army numbers one hundred and fifty thousand, we must also guard against incursions from Taichi. According to reconnaissance reports, Taichi is welcoming Izumo's fleet and they must have joined forces by now," a Liaodong staff officer, Mo Hongming, reminded him urgently in the camp.
Lü Changhe nodded solemnly. "I have heard. The Deputy Cult Master of the Huichun Sect is actually from Izumo, and the name Longyue Chan Shi is his surname. General Mo will be responsible for the defense of Liaodong, and there must be no losses. I will lead the White Robe Army and twelve thousand cavalry from various units to reinforce the desert!"
There were many supply stations in the southern desert region, and with the news of gold having leaked, Great Qian could not afford to lose it under any circumstances. Therefore, Lü Changhe did not bring any infantry logistics, and his entire cavalry force, carrying dry rations, headed directly for the southern desert.
After the Nine Cauldrons incident, the people of Yanzhou returned to normal life, but an increasing number of them purchased newspapers to follow the frontline situation.
Liang Xiao was already organizing his troops, ready to strike at any moment.
In Liang Mansion, Luo Qingxue was reviewing financial reports from various regions with a complex expression.
The "infertile land" of Yanzhou was essentially due to the past threat of the barbarians. Even fertile land was not something anyone dared to acquire.
With the barbarian threat gone, many lands could be safely cultivated and irrigated, and their yields had returned to the normal level of nationally excellent farmland.
With proper fertilization and diligent farming, the yield of potatoes and sweet potatoes per mu could be stably around two thousand jin, exceeding Liang Xiao's estimations.
Even if these new crops were not suitable as staple foods, they could alleviate the storage pressure on other grains to a certain extent.
However, the country was experiencing a drought this year, and other regions did not have Yanzhou's excellent water conservancy projects...
"The harvest is likely to be poor this year. I wonder how Shuangmei intends to handle it," Luo Qingxue sighed.
The nation's urgent war efforts placed an enormous demand on grain. Coupled with this year's drought, the pressure intensified.
Liang Xiao, who was reviewing military dispatches, said, "There is no need to worry for now. As long as it is not a three-year great drought or a ten-year minor drought, we can endure even with continuous border defense! The enemy is unlikely to be able to wage war year after year!"
Luo Qingxue then smiled brightly, "Husband and Shuangmei are always prepared..."
"I only fear continuous natural disasters across the country," Liang Xiao sighed.
"With the return of the Nine Cauldrons, destiny lies with Great Qian, not to mention that Great Qian has you and Shuangmei!" Luo Qingxue said with pride.
Liang Xiao smiled and nodded, but remained vigilant in his heart.
Fortunately, last year's harvest was bountiful.
If continuous natural disasters were to occur, Great Qian would have to adopt a retrenchment policy, and it would be unlikely to launch an expedition to Tianri Tribe for more than a decade.
The military's consumption of grain was astonishing, mainly due to the consumption of transportation troops during their back-and-forth journeys.
He had to trust Xiao Qing, Wang Canghai, and Zhuo Zifang.
The Yanzhou troops had assembled, and Minister of War Zhuo Wulüe had departed, but Vice Minister of War Mu Hong had arrived from the capital to assist.
As a meritorious official of the Yanzhou great victory, Mu Hong had also built a Mu Family Courtyard in Yanzhou.
"Mu Hong, it's been a long time since we had a drink. Sit down, and I'll tell you a story about the boy who cried wolf..."
Under Liang Xiao's arrangement, Mu Hong led forty thousand men northward.
In the capital, Xiao Qing also received news of the drought in various regions, feeling a sense of dread.
"Fortunately, I listened to Brother Xiao's advice and built so many granaries..."
Great Qian had built four giant granaries in the four major cities of the capital, Yanzhou, Jinling, and Donghai, namely Taicang, Pingcang, Ancang, and Dingcang, totaling sixteen.
Other medium and small granaries were also distributed throughout the country, and local authorities were instructed to use tax revenue to directly purchase grain and store it in the granaries, the more the better.
The national grain reserves were immeasurable, and relief efforts were launched by opening granaries across the country to aid the disaster-stricken population.
Situations that should have led to widespread civil unrest in multiple regions were instead silenced in Great Qian. Landlords, fearing the local garrison and the steadfast supporters of Xiao Qing, dared not instigate uprisings.
Except for the Third Prince Mu Xuan, the other princes who were held as hostages in Great Qian were escorted by the Imperial Guards and departed from the capital of Great Qian.
Mu Xuan was in the Honglu Temple, crying out to no avail, and fearing he would displease Liang Xiao and Xiao Qing, he dared not express his anger publicly.
On the official road south of the capital, six princes were in high spirits, singing along the way. They stopped at an inn to rest.
"Third brother has taught us with his own experience of being imprisoned that too much talk leads to mistakes!" Second Prince Mu Qing roared with laughter.
The other princes were in a jovial mood, indifferent to Mu Xuan's happiness.
"Second Prince, it's time to eat..."
The Prince Consort personally served food and dishes to Mu Ning.
Mu Ning, being in a particularly good mood, couldn't help but eat a few extra bites.
Meanwhile, Mu Qing's Prince Consort, and the personal maids of other princes, were also attending to them.
That night, the six princes suffered from vomiting and diarrhea, and ultimately died with blood flowing from all seven orifices.