"A rapid report from the Liaodong front states that the Izumo Kingdom has occupied the entirety of the Taiji Kingdom, engaging in widespread plunder and destruction. They are now approaching the various prefectures of Liaodong and are in a standoff with our forces there.
The western border is under continuous assault from the Kushan Dynasty. While we can hold them for now, the enemy is likely reinforcing their troops, possibly intending to establish a long supply line for a protracted war, aiming to exhaust our multi-front military.
In Yizhou, we have proactively launched an offensive against the Southern Barbarians, penetrating their homeland. It is a land of miasma, and despite our numerical superiority, they possess the advantage of terrain. Without guides, it will be difficult to conquer quickly.
In the Jiangnan region, we face immense pressure from the Jiaozhou warlords and a Liang army of four hundred thousand. However, no prefectural cities have fallen yet. Due to our advantage in crossbows and arrows, the enemy dares not assault the cities recklessly. This is thanks to the nation's foresight in utilizing vast amounts of timber to prepare an immense quantity of arrows and spare crossbows.
At the conclusion of the report, Zhuo Wue's expression was tinged with pride.
The nationwide promotion of afforestation was the visionary foresight of his ancestor, Zhuo Mingfeng!
This timber was not only for papermaking but also for crafting bows, crossbows, arrows, shields, palisades, and caltrops…
With the Great Qian Kingdom's accumulated wealth, these timber resources were finally put to their best use, creating countless job opportunities for the populace and allowing them to earn a living, thereby invisibly promoting the economic development and circulation of the Great Qian Kingdom.
With money in their hands, the common people could provide their children with better educational environments, changing their own destinies and those of their families.
Upon understanding the situation, Liang Xiao's face darkened. 'It seems we need to focus on reinforcing Jiangnan. The Peacock Dynasty is likely to send troops to support the Jiaozhou warlords led by the Southern King. Including Jiangnan, not a single city or territory of the Great Qian Kingdom can be lost. To lose it would mean the potential for a massacre of its people!'
Zhuo Wue nodded. 'Following your proposal from years ago, the scattered residents of Jiangnan have been relocated to areas along the rivers, ensuring their safety. However, if we cannot repel the invaders, over ten million mu of official land there will remain uncultivated.'
'Understood. If necessary, I will go to Jiangnan first, repel the enemy, and then counterattack to reclaim Jiaozhou and unify Liang!' Liang Xiao nodded.
Zhuo Wue was taken aback and hesitated to speak.
He wanted to advise Liang Xiao to rest, but it was clearly inappropriate.
War is a matter of vital importance to the state, the realm of life and death, the path of survival or ruin, and cannot be taken lightly.
The military is different from other matters; the battlefield is ever-changing. To maximize the chances of victory, one must go all out. He also did not wish to see any region suffer the tragedy of being massacred after its cities fell.
Furthermore, the disharmony among the officials of the Liang Kingdom presented an excellent opportunity to unify it!
If Qin Feng were to depose Mu Xuan from the throne in the future and establish Zhi Rou as empress, or if he remained steadfastly loyal and served Mu Xuan, it would present a significant obstacle to Great Qian's unification, as they would be serving different masters.
Instead, Zhuo Zifang and Wang Canghai could not bear it any longer and stepped forward to comfort Liang Xiao.
'Jiangnan has a continuous flow of reinforcements and supplies, and Yizhou can sail directly downstream to attack the enemy's camp. Therefore, the enemy will not dare to remain in a stalemate without absolute certainty of victory. You should rest in the capital for a while first, await the battle reports from Jiangnan, and then make your plans.'
Only then did Liang Xiao agree.
As Xiao Qing and Zhen Mi were unable to leave the palace, Liang Xiao's wife and children resided in the West Palace Villa, facilitating family reunions.
One day, Zhen Mi was meticulously dressing up in her room, her heart filled with joy.
Her lover had returned victorious once more!
'Mi'er, your Brother Xiao is back. Why are you still in your room?'
Xiao Qing's call from outside the door sent a flutter through Zhen Mi's heart. Upon opening the door, she gazed at Liang Xiao with affection and threw herself into his arms.
'I heard that Season Two of Mi'er's "Chronicles of Great Qian Heroes" is being prepared?' Liang Xiao chuckled.
'It cannot be released yet, because it is the story of Brother Xiao, the Heavenly General. We must wait until the people all know Brother Xiao is the Heavenly General…' Zhen Mi said in a soft voice.
Liang Xiao smiled, nodded, took the second season story from Zhen Mi, and sat down with the two girls. He flipped through the book and praised it highly.
Zhen Mi then brightened up and said softly, 'Brother Xiao, Mi'er will be sixteen after her birthday this year…'
'That's great,' Liang Xiao replied without hesitation.
Beside them, Xiao Qing gave Liang Xiao a playful glare and pinched his cheek, 'Blockhead!'
'When your Sister Shuang announces her identity to the world, I will marry you,' Liang Xiao added.
Zhen Mi's face immediately flushed red, and her voice became like a mosquito's hum, 'Mmm…'
Liang Xiao's six children would be four years old after their birthdays, and the other five would be almost three.
The children, cared for and educated by Liang Xiao's wives, were quite sensible, but they still liked to cling to Liang Xiao, asking for hugs and kisses, especially the eldest, Liang Hongxue.
The next morning, cries were heard from the West Palace Villa, belonging to Liang Hongxue.
'What's wrong, Little Xue'er?'
Jian Qinwan quickly picked up Liang Hongxue, showering her with kisses and comforting her.
Liang Hongxue wiped her tears and choked out, 'Is Daddy going to die…'
Everyone was stunned. Liang Xiao smiled, 'Daddy wants to see you all grow up. How can I die?'
'Then why is Daddy out of strength? I heard that's a symptom of impending death…' Liang Hongxue said aggrievedly.
Liang Xiao was taken aback. He lifted the nearby stone platform with one hand, a look of confusion on his face. 'Where am I out of strength?'
Liang Hongxue glanced at Jian Qinwan and said, 'When Little Xue'er got up to use the privy last night, she heard Mommy crying and shouting: Husband, put more effort in~'
As soon as she finished speaking, all of Liang Xiao's wives' pretty faces flushed red, and they dared not make a sound.
Jian Qinwan quickly put Liang Hongxue down, covered her face, and wished she could find a piece of tofu to smash herself with.
A brief separation makes the heart grow fonder, so she hadn't slept with the children last night…
After a moment of stunned silence, Liang Xiao regained his dignified demeanor and said, 'Children shouldn't ask about these things.'
Beside them, Zhen Mi and Yue Wenxin asked curiously, 'We want to know~'
Liang Xiao's old face reddened, and he waved his hand. 'It's all in the past, no need to mention it. Qinwan, let's be more careful in the future.'
Jian Qinwan merely nodded with a red face, her back to everyone, not daring to speak.
'Sister Qinwan, tell us!' Zhen Mi teased.
Jian Qinwan immediately feigned anger.
'Mi'er, if you're naughty again, after you get married, I'll also ask you about your feelings on your wedding night!'
As if still not appeased, Jian Qinwan said in a sweet, high-pitched voice, 'Every day!'
Hearing this, Zhen Mi's pretty face also flushed red, and she instantly became quiet.
She clearly remembered that her sisters, for several days after their wedding nights, could barely walk steadily, and they were afraid of their sisters asking endless questions.
Liang Hongxue saw her parents' reactions. Her bright, watery eyes rolled, and she wiped away her tears with a snort, 'If Daddy doesn't buy Little Xue'er good things to eat, Little Xue'er will ask every day and talk about it every day~'
Luo Qingxue and the others looked at Liang Xiao with strange expressions. 'She has the bearing of her father, truly inheriting from you…'
Liang Xiao cleared his throat tactically, maintaining a calm expression.
'Good girl, don't threaten Daddy anymore. Daddy will buy you good things to eat, and make you a Transformer that I've been preparing for a long time.'
Transformer?
Everyone was surprised.
The next day, Liang Hongxue held a simplified version of Optimus Prime in her hands, smiling from ear to ear.
'What is this? Is it some mechanism art from Grandpa Liuyun's "Ghost Valley True Teachings"?' Jian Qinwan asked curiously."