Liaodong also received news from Yuzhang, and the people were greatly encouraged.
Nie Yuan, who garrisoned Liaodong, and Mo Hongming, who administered Liaodong, summoned their generals to inform them of the military situation.
"The Izumo Kingdom has suddenly sent a large number of men and women to the territory of the Taiji Kingdom again, seemingly preparing for a protracted war. Our army, in conjunction with the East Sea defenders, should also focus on defense. I believe that after Marquis Anguo recaptures Jiaozhou and Daliang, he will definitely mobilize elite troops to expel the Wokou!"
The soldiers expressed their determination: "We will defend Liaodong to the death!"
Mo Hongming and Nie Yuan exchanged glances, a wry smile on their faces.
In fact, they were confident of cooperating with Mu Hong to heavily defeat the enemy, especially since Mu Hong had acquired more "Great Gan Heavenly Fire," and the soldiers of the East Sea were eager to show off their skills.
However, the strategic focus of Great Gan was currently in the south, and they had to ensure success without fail, so as not to cause trouble for the rear.
After all, the Taiji Kingdom had been completely occupied by the Izumo Kingdom, and the Izumo Kingdom still had a chance to hold its ground.
The soldiers of Great Gan were fearless, but the imperial court was increasingly worried about them dying in battle. All strategies and tactics aimed to resolve everything with minimal casualties. Otherwise, they would rather not fight, unless absolutely necessary.
Moreover, Liang Xiao had openly admitted that naval warfare was his greatest weakness.
Naval combat was entirely different from cavalry battles, with too many uncontrollable factors.
However, before Nie Yuan and Liang Xiao parted ways, Liang Xiao had told him in a very firm tone:
"I have already thought of the person who will annihilate the Wokou in the future. I will do so after I recapture Daliang."
Liaodong continued to reinforce its city walls on the border, while Mu Hong was responsible for harassing the enemy at sea and tying down the Izumo navy.
Ito Masamune of the Izumo Kingdom, a former envoy to Great Gan, was now an army marshal. Faced with Nie Yuan's stubborn defense and Mu Hong's harassment, he was helpless. He could only continue to push civilians to three hundred miles east of the Liaodong border to avoid Mu Hong's navy.
Meanwhile, Lü Yi of Great Gan's western front also received news from the south and was so excited that he couldn't sleep for days and nights.
"Damn it! Xiao Chang, you've had your comeuppance!"
The soldiers outside the military tent heard Lü Yi's occasional roars from within, their faces full of speechless exasperation.
Back when the Lü family was in Jiangnan, they had been constantly harassed by the Gongyang clan and Xiao Chang.
In contrast, the armies of the Guishuang Dynasty were in a state of panic.
"Impossible! My clan's Tianri cavalry is invincible throughout the world! We have never been defeated!"
Even Grand Marshal Mars was filled with shock and disbelief.
The invincible Tianri cavalry had actually been annihilated by Liang Xiao?
More than two hundred thousand Tianri troops, with the efforts of the Peacock Dynasty's hundred-year cultivation, had marched into Jiangnan.
The entire army was wiped out?
Yet, the people of the western front were more joyous than ever. Judging by Liang Xiao's usual style, it didn't seem like a fabrication!
After an unknown period, Mars finally calmed down and sighed.
"First, send someone to confirm the authenticity of the news, and then inform the Tianri King to persuade Attila to join forces and resist Great Gan..."
The arrogant Tianri clan finally succumbed to the might of Great Gan, seemingly forced to seek help from the barbarians they had once viewed as livestock.
On the day the Yizhou corps rushed to Jiaozhou, they requested to engage in battle.
"Marshal! Our unit will definitely take Jiaozhou. If we fail, bring my head to see you!"
Looking at the panting Yizhou soldiers, Liang Xiao began to panic.
"No, no, you've been on the road for almost a month. Rest for a while."
"We can do it! In short, Marshal, please let our unit take the lead in the assault!"
The generals of various units argued heatedly, their faces flushed. Liang Xiao had no choice but to agree.
After all, they weren't fighting yet.
He still needed Xiao Chang to persuade them to surrender, to assess the situation within the city. If it could be achieved without bloodshed, that would be best.
With over two hundred thousand Jiaozhou soldiers to rally the troops and civilians within the city to defect, the chances of success were extremely high.
The news of the Yizhou corps' long march and eagerness to fight spread throughout the camp, becoming a legendary tale.
All the soldiers of Great Gan were proud.
This also indicated that the sense of belonging and identity of the Yizhou people towards the country was unprecedented. The governance plan used in Yizhou could also be attempted in Jiaozhou. It would be best to send Li Xiuyun, the Prefect of Yizhou, to serve as the Prefect of Jiaozhou.
A short while later, Lü Changhe finally arrived with over a hundred White Robe soldiers to meet Liang Xiao and report on the results of the battle.
The Zhongzhou cavalry dispatched by Nan Jiyun, along with the Jiangnan Iron Cavalry operating in Jiaozhou, had joined forces with the White Robe soldiers, liberating eighteen cities in three prefectures along the way!
"The enemy's supply stations and grain reserves are truly astonishing. That large area of land in the south was used for growing grain and raising livestock. It is said that this plan began a hundred years ago! Back then, the warlords occupied Jiaozhou, outwardly paying tribute to the central government, and with the machinations of the aristocratic families in the court, they deceived the monarch. The entire court believed that Jiaozhou was well-governed, never imagining it was for rebellion..."
Lü Changhe's anger grew as he spoke.
"Therefore, we must make them repay it with interest!" Liang Xiao said decisively.
Lü Changhe then grinned and leaned close to Liang Xiao, whispering, "Marshal, I have a personal matter to report. You can leave my second brother and General Yue here."
Liang Xiao, filled with curiosity, had everyone else leave, leaving only Nan Jiyun and Yue Qingtian.
Lü Changhe then brought Yan Huaixi in to introduce her.
"Huaixi is the second wife I found in Jiaozhou, and I intend to legitimize our union."
Yan Huaixi lowered her head, not daring to look directly at Liang Xiao and the other two.
Nan Jiyun praised, "Third Brother has good taste! Sister-in-law looks like a virtuous and learned young woman at first glance!"
"General, speak plainly," Yan Huaixi urged, gathering her courage.
Lü Changhe then scratched his head and introduced Yan Huaixi's past. Liang Xiao and the other two fell into a brief silence.
Yan Huaixi lowered her head again, not daring to meet their gaze.
Liang Xiao said with deep meaning, "There is no need to spread the past. In the future, you two will surely receive the blessings of the Great Gan army and its people. You have found a good husband, and he has found a gentle yet brave young woman! Anyone who dares to gossip behind your backs, I will slap them hard!"
Lü Changhe then pleaded, "Marshal, regarding this matter, she does not wish to hide it from my father and my wife. She wants me to confess to them as well. My wife is kind-hearted, but my father is unpredictable. I would like to ask the Marshal to put in a good word for me in front of my father..."
Liang Xiao looked at Nan Jiyun, who was speaking in a subdued tone, and nodded solemnly, "Of course! If Uncle blames you, just say that I also fully support it. Hmm, say Prime Minister Wang also supports it... Never mind, let's bring the Emperor and the Shadow Guard Commander too!"
Lü Changhe then grinned and clapped his hands, laughing like a thirty-something-year-old child, "Thank you, Marshal!"
Looking at the formerly imposing Lü Changhe now humbled before him, Liang Xiao was deeply moved. "A true man can bend and stretch for his wife. General Lü is a true hero without question!"
While feeling moved, Liang Xiao suddenly remembered the song "True Hero" he often heard in his hometown.
"You've inspired me. The song 'Serve the Country with Utmost Loyalty' is no longer enough. After all, the Jiaozhou soldiers need further guidance, and the spiritual culture of the army needs to be enriched."
Saying this, Liang Xiao took out paper and a brush, and with vigorous strokes, wrote and sang a few lines, his heart surging with emotion.
"One step taken, eight directions pacified, time flows away. A man's ambition, a hero's dream, years fly by.
A dream of rivers and mountains, love for children, history turns like a wheel. A path of wind and rain, mountains and rivers, righteousness stands tall!
A true hero, heart towards the people, a true hero, a monument forever enduring. Holding up the heavens, dancing with the sun and moon, for ten thousand years, glory shall remain!
..."
Everyone listened, feeling inspired and filled with grandeur.
"General Lü, only this song is worthy of you. We will teach them to sing it later, and when the Jiaozhou soldiers arrive, we will teach them too." Liang Xiao said, presenting the calligraphy to Lü Changhe on the spot.
"Good! Let the soldiers deeply understand that the men of our Great Gan must have the people in their hearts to be qualified to join the army! It's simply brilliant!"
Under Yan Huaixi's gaze filled with admiration and pride, Lü Changhe joyfully agreed, cherishing the calligraphy and praising it incessantly.
Another military song had spread, causing an unprecedented sensation throughout the entire army.