"The Great Gan only permits female soldiers in the Shadow Guard and the Dingguo Marquisate, but they are still not allowed to fight on the front lines. Their general duty is to protect the women," Zuo Jing reminded.
Yue Wenxin drooped her head, stealing glances at Liang Xiao.
Zuo Wuji saw this and narrowed his eyes.
Had this child truly been lured away by him?
Liang Xiao said, "How about this, you become the Guard Captain of the Anguo Marquisate? In the future, Qingtian will be your second-in-command. When you're bored, you can spar with your aunt and the Yuntian Guard."
"That shameless brute, and the other brutes, will all have to obey my orders?" Yue Wenxin's beautiful eyes lit up.
Liang Xiao was at a loss whether to laugh or cry and nodded.
Previously, Yue Wenxin used to call Yue Qingtian "brute." Ever since she learned that Yue Qingtian had used the Sky-Crushing Thunder to capture Master Longyue, she had added the prefix "shameless" to his name.
"Alright! Brother-in-law is the best~" Yue Wenxin chirped like a joyful lark, but not daring to approach Liang Xiao, she could only hold onto Zuo Jing's arm and act spoiled.
"Qingtian is quite clever," Liang Xiao mused, recalling what Yue Qingtian had told him earlier.
"Marquis, Miss Yue stares at you all day, wanting to speak but hesitating. This monk can see it, she wants to become a soldier. This monk can make a small sacrifice and let her have my position as Guard Captain. Marquis, you must make her happy!"
Yue Qingtian had voluntarily yielded his position, so Liang Xiao had nothing more to say and simply went along with it.
Everyone looked at Yue Wenxin's jubilant appearance and had made up their minds.
This lass's joy over the past dozen years was less than that of the few months since meeting her brother-in-law.
The Anguo Marquisate was located near the Liang Mansion. Coupled with the expansion of Liang Xiao's family, Liang Xiao had to move his wife, children, and two mothers to the Anguo Marquisate for the convenience of Liang Feng managing the Liang Mansion in the future.
Within the Marquisate, Lu Xue was reminiscing with Yue Hongxiu, filled with emotion.
They had once been rivals in love and shared similar misfortunes. In her youth, Lu Xue, a disciple of the Great Liang Chess Sage, had of course interacted with Yue Hongxiu frequently.
Because of Liang Anguo, both had loved but could not attain their desires. Now, at least they had their rightful status, which fulfilled their long-held wishes.
"Why the sudden frown?" With no one else around, Yue Hongxiu looked at Lu Xue and asked with concern.
"It's all because of my niece. She wants to emulate Qingyi and the others and doesn't plan to get married, but instead adopt two girls." Lu Xue said with a bitter smile.
Yue Hongxiu asked doubtfully, "Could it be because..."
"Recently, there have been many talented women and beauties in Great Gan who have either become nuns or are emulating Qingyi and Yirou. They admire Liang Xiao, but don't want to cause him trouble. Xiaojun is also like that. Truly, meeting Liang Xiao once dooms one's life..." Lu Xue sighed helplessly.
Yue Hongxiu nodded in silence, then gave a wry smile.
These talented women were intelligent and sensible. Naturally, they also understood that Liang Xiao already had seven wives and a happy family. He couldn't possibly marry another woman just because some talented woman admired him.
However, for the people of Great Gan, his radiance was too dazzling, and he was in his prime. It was not unusual for him to be admired by thousands of women.
As long as their elders were willing to support them, this was the best course of action they could think of. It also encouraged the common people to adopt orphans, which could be considered a contribution to the country.
"No! Wenxin cannot follow suit!" Yue Hongxiu suddenly burst out with a sense of crisis.
This was her sister's only child, the sole surviving bloodline of the Yue family's main lineage!
With this thought, Yue Hongxiu could not sit still and went to find Liang Xiao, who was talking with Yue Qingtian, Yue Wenxin, and others.
"My dear, you mentioned earlier that today you were going to comfort the families of the soldiers in the capital?"
After receiving Liang Xiao's affirmative reply, Yue Hongxiu held Yue Wenxin's hand and pleaded, "Since this child wants to be a soldier, can she come along and see?"
Liang Xiao agreed without hesitation, leaving Yue Wenxin looking bewildered.
At the Xianbei encampment, Wolf City.
Mo Hongming, the Liaodong Adjutant, as the envoy of Great Gan, was warmly hosted by the Xianbei King.
"Your Majesty, the esteemed envoy of the Upper Kingdom has graced our presence. I regret not welcoming you from afar. I hope you will forgive me!"
The overjoyed Xianbei King did not refer to himself as "I" or "朕". Mo Hongming seemed to realize something and smiled, "The conflict between Xianbei and our country is fundamentally due to the Northern Barbarians. In the past, Xianbei was coerced by the Northern Barbarians, and it was inevitable that they would clash with Great Gan. However, in reality, there is no need for the two countries to engage in a major war."
The Xianbei King smiled, "I have not dared to call myself '朕' for a year now. The esteemed envoy should also understand the reason. Your reinforcement of Liaodong is to ensure stability in Liaodong. How can I not worry that one day the Marquis of Anguo will descend like a divine soldier and let my Xianbei cavalry die without knowing why..."
Mo Hongming suppressed a smile and comforted him, "Your Majesty need not worry. Our Marquis of Anguo has always loved peace. If people do not offend Great Gan, he will not offend them."
The Xianbei officials in the military tent curled their lips, wanting to speak but hesitating.
They could believe the latter half of that sentence, but the first half, should they let the more than 500,000 Northern Barbarian cavalry in the netherworld appeal about it...
"But for the Upper Kingdom to suddenly initiate peace with us, I truly cannot understand!" The Xianbei King began to probe indirectly.
Mo Hongming said directly, "Does the Xianbei King happen to have seen the recent historical records of the Great Zhou found by our country? Now there is a race called the Tianri Clan, who are the true scourges that all countries need to face. This race is cunning and treacherous. Once they have overwhelming strength against their target, their true nature is fully exposed, extremely cruel, and they can even eat people!"
"Does the esteemed envoy mean that we should shake hands and make peace, and jointly face the threat from the Tianri Clan?" the Xianbei King said with a smile.
Mo Hongming nodded, "Your country occupies the Northern Desert, which is not far from the Tianri Clan. Our country has always kept its word; since its founding, it has never unilaterally broken any peace treaty. As long as Xianbei does not covet our territory, making peace between the two countries is not difficult. To show our sincerity, our country can conduct regular trade with Xianbei, each taking what they need. Using gold, silver, grain, salt, white sugar, and cloth, in exchange for Xianbei warhorses and livestock."
The Xianbei King lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then asked, "Is this your Emperor's will? What does your Marquis of Anguo say about this?"
"Our Marquis of Anguo has said beforehand that the current prosperity of Xianbei is inseparable from the great wisdom and strategy of its King," Mo Hongming replied.
The Xianbei King's eyes lit up, and he eagerly asked, "Your Great Gan Emperor can be called a sage emperor of all ages. I naturally dare not compare myself to him. Setting aside the Emperor, in your Marquis of Anguo's view, how many people in the world can be considered heroes?"
"Heroes in the world are only the Marquis of Anguo and the Xianbei King!" Mo Hongming said with a serious expression.
"Really?!" the Xianbei King exclaimed.
Mo Hongming immediately had his attendant fetch a framed calligraphy and painting, which he displayed publicly, bearing the inscription: "Xianbei Iron Cavalry."
"This calligraphy penetrates the paper, capturing both form and spirit... Could this be a gift from your Marquis of Anguo?" a Xianbei general exclaimed.
"Indeed, the Marquis of Anguo has long intended to present it!" Mo Hongming nodded gravely, feeling a sense of emotion.
This calligraphy had been prepared before Liang Xiao's mission to Great Liang, and could be used to temporarily appease Xianbei if necessary.
The Xianbei King laughed heartily.
"Your Marquis of Anguo should have returned to the capital by now, right? Esteemed envoy, I believe your words! However, this matter is of great importance, and I still need to discuss it with my ministers."
After the Xianbei King had someone entertain Mo Hongming, he returned to a side hall, looking troubled.
At this moment, a familiar figure emerged from a secret chamber.
It was the Tianri Clan envoy, Valentine!
"King of Xianbei, the Great Gan will absolutely not let Xianbei go, while the Tianri Clan has given you genuine sincerity and help. I advise you to execute this person as soon as possible and guard against them strictly!"