The Xianbei cavalry might be marching out en masse, meaning they too have learned of the treasure’s whereabouts. My father-in-law, the King of Kucha, his consort is missing, perhaps it was this person who carried the news to the Guishuang Dynasty. Facing the might of my Great Gan, the Tianri tribe, under duress, has finally revealed the treasure. Liang Xiao, having anticipated this, made a swift decision and mobilized his troops.
“Notify the western frontier to strictly guard against Tianri cavalry. Should the Xianbei march out in full, threatening the desert, I will personally lead the army to annihilate them! Muster the Liaodong cavalry, ready to rush north of Yin Mountain to join forces against the Xianbei!”
The western frontier is defended by Lu Yi. Liang Xiao has also assigned him a host of gunpowder kegs, to cooperate with the improved trebuchets, ensuring safety, provided they don't underestimate the enemy and launch rash attacks.
In his homeland, Yumenguan had been reduced to a few crumbling ruins by the ravages of dynastic changes. Yet here, it remained a formidable pass, one that the Barbarians and the Guishuang Dynasty could not easily breach.
The Nine Cauldrons were obtained, completing only the initial objective. The gold must also be kept safe!
The soldiers of Great Gan could defeat the Xianbei cavalry head-on, but protecting hundreds of thousands of laborers from the ravages of war would increase the difficulty exponentially.
Troops were urgently mobilized from the northern frontier, leaving only a hundred thousand soldiers to garrison the region, ready to reinforce any area at a moment’s notice.
The Great Gan cavalry galloped into the desert, without hesitation.
The desert’s heat and cold intertwined, but their marshal, the Marquis of Anguo, declared that this battle concerned the nation's fate and was a necessary step towards achieving the goal of universal education and sustenance for all citizens!
Fortunately, the Great Gan had long prepared for such an eventuality, constructing numerous supply stations and granaries from Yin Mountain to the Hetao region and the northern frontier, solely for the purpose of transporting the gold back north swiftly once found.
Even if the gold did not exist, these supply stations would still be necessary to stabilize the desert territories.
Great Gan desired not only the southern desert and the vast ocean of sand, but the entire northern desert!
The people of Yanzhou, upon hearing that war was imminent on the border, bid farewell to their sons and husbands serving in the army.
Liang Xiao's children clung to him daily, afraid their father would disappear again.
“Be good, your father is always protecting everyone,” Yue Lian gently comforted the crying and fawning children.
“I want to be like Daddy and protect everyone too when I grow up!” the children, consoled by Liang Xiao’s wives, reluctantly expressed their longing, cherishing the days their father was present even more.
Liang Xiao continued to rigorously train the Great Gan’s elite cavalry, refining every detail to prevent any mishap on the battlefield.
For such a formidable force to be invincible, all potential weaknesses must be eliminated, including the proper handling of logistics and the psychological well-being of the personnel.
Battlefields are ever-changing, and opportunities fleeting. Frankly, Liang Xiao preferred cavalry units like the White Robe soldiers, which offered greater flexibility and a higher margin for error.
However, Great Gan could not be without its heavy cavalry. The drawback of heavy cavalry was its poor mobility, making it susceptible to attacks. At such times, divine archer units were needed to compensate.
The Great Gan elite cavalry possessed both offensive and defensive capabilities, but they could still face trebuchets, and potentially enemy cannons and ballistae in the future. This necessitated support from their own trebuchets and gunpowder kegs for ranged suppression.
The northern Yanzhou region was filled with dust daily, and the clamor of men and horses reached the heavens.
This area was specifically designated for the Great Gan elite cavalry and the Great Gan Town Guards. The training intensity was highest here, but the food was the best, with meat dishes available at will and in abundance. The treatment of their families was nearly equivalent to that of the Hidden Wolf Guards.
The Nine Cauldrons were finally transported back to the capital by Zhuo Zifang, and the entire city rejoiced, their spirits no less exuberant than those of Yanzhou’s populace!
Under the protection of the Shadow Guard, Xiao Qing made a rare appearance, personally overseeing the welcoming ceremony and preservation of the Nine Cauldrons.
“With the Nine Cauldrons returned to Great Gan, our Great Gan is destined for greatness, standing unassailable for ten thousand generations!”
“From this day forward, Great Gan shall be more than just a country or a dynasty. The people of this land shall, as an eternal nation, remain united forever!”
As Xiao Qing’s voice fell, the assembled officials cried out in unison, "Long live the Emperor!"
On this day, universal celebration ensued. Xiao Qing's status, already elevated by expelling the barbarians, was further solidified, officially entered into history as the eternal legitimate ruler of this land.
Back in the Imperial Study, Xiao Qing was in an exceptionally good mood.
“We can be certain that even if our country’s military and citizens learn that Your Majesty is a female emperor, they will accept it wholeheartedly! After all, Your Majesty’s consort is the Marquis of Anguo!”
Gu Hong and the others were also overjoyed, speaking with genuine emotion.
Xiao Qing, though beaming, maintained her composure and stated, “To prevent any unforeseen complications, it would not be too late to announce this to the world after the unification of Daliang. At that time, I also hope the people of the world will learn of a momentous event. I believe that day is not far off. Only when Daliang returns and the two nations are unified will this land be complete.”
Mu Hong, the Vice Minister of War, expressed concern, “The sudden westward movement of the Xianbei troops must mean they know the Nine Cauldrons and the gold originate from the desert. Our army has marched a long way, and I fear we will face another arduous battle.”
“The soldiers of Great Gan are not what they used to be. Have faith in their combat effectiveness, especially with Liang Xiao stationed at the northern frontier, ready to provide support at any time. Of course, our country must not be careless, lest we stumble,” Zhuo Zifang chuckled.
The others were finally at ease.
Liang Xiao had brought them too many miracles they once dared not hope for, filling the entire nation’s military and populace with boundless confidence.
The Nine Cauldrons were placed in the Divine Might Mansion of the Heavenly General for permanent safekeeping.
The populace unanimously agreed, as that location held the ashes of countless heroes of Great Gan. In their view, this was the most fitting way to honor the fallen heroes.
“Give me an explanation!”
In a mountainous region five hundred li northeast of Liaodong, the golden-haired, blue-eyed general of the Izumo Kingdom glared at the Xianbei general Duo She.
Duo She calmly explained, “It’s not that we retreated midway. The Great Gan has unexpectedly discovered the treasure of the ancient Xiongnu king. It must contain countless gold and silver. Our country must rush north of Yin Mountain to seize it! Can your Izumo Kingdom not even conquer a small country like Taiji?”
The Izumo general, with no other recourse, nodded. “Then all affairs concerning Taiji shall be handled entirely by our country!”
Duo She did not object and led the remaining troops to the desert, to compete for Great Gan’s gold.
On the northeastern coast of Taiji, at a commandery city, over a thousand Izumo warships, large and small, docked. Ito Masamune, as an envoy, received the greetings of Li Shunping and others.
“The Izumo Kingdom has mobilized its entire army to cross the sea. Are they preparing to cooperate with the Xianbei and fight Great Gan to the death?” Li Shunping asked with excitement.
“How many troops can your Taiji Kingdom provide?” Ito Masamune inquired.
“Our entire country can muster eighty thousand troops! May I ask how many troops your Izumo Kingdom is sending in total?”
“Two hundred thousand, including fifty thousand logistical troops,” Ito Masamune stated solemnly.
“The Izumo Kingdom possesses such military strength?” the Taiji people exclaimed in surprise.
Ito Masamune then asked, “However, our army has traveled across the ocean, and our supply lines are difficult. Can your Taiji Kingdom provide military provisions for our army, and arrange for ten thousand military comfort women to entertain our troops? Is that a problem?”
Li Shunping’s expression immediately became troubled. “Wasn’t it agreed that we only needed two thousand comfort women and provisions for fifty thousand men?”
Ito Masamune said urgently, “The threat from Great Gan is too great. Our country is also marching out en masse for the safety of Taiji, as per the decree of our Emperor Bushitsu. Can you truly supply troops for two hundred thousand men? If not, our remaining provisions will only last for two months.”
Li Shunping replied with a wry smile, “We truly cannot supply so many. Fifty thousand is our limit…”
“You must supply them, no matter what!” Ito Masamune stated firmly.
“There is truly no way!” Li Shunping sighed.
“Oh, I understand,” Ito Masamune said with a smile, before turning and rejoining his soldiers. With a wave of his hand,
All the Izumo troops let out a wild roar and charged towards the few thousand Taiji people.
Blood flowed like a river.