Including the reserve members of the White Robe Army and the Grand Qian Elite Cavalry, the Grand Qian Nation mobilized a combat force of 250,000.
Of these, 100,000 served as both logistical personnel and members of the Divine Arm Ballista and Hui Hui Cannon units during wartime, ensuring the maximum utilization of the army's combat power.
In the rear, a total of 750,000 conscripted laborers from Jiangnan and Jiangbei transported military grain along the route at various stations, ensuring frontline logistics.
Over a million people!
After the autumn harvest, Jiangnan, with its abundant surplus grain, fully supported the army. After calculating the grain needed for household sustenance, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn were used as temporary staple foods. The remaining grains, if named by Liang Xiao, such as rice and wheat, were all supplied to the army.
After Liang Xiao's confirmation, the descendants of the He family from Grand Zhou provided Grand Qian with meticulously cultivated new crops. Even in this era lacking fertilizer, they yielded respectable harvests. Combined with some other grain reserves, they were sufficient for the livelihoods of the people of Jiangnan.
The new crops had extremely high yields, but their caloric content was lower than the current staple foods. To provide the same amount of calories, a larger quantity of these new crops would be needed, making them less convenient to transport.
The common people did not fully understand the principles behind this, but out of support for the army's needs, they wholeheartedly agreed.
Essential goods like white sugar and salt, as well as various types of preserved dried meats, were continuously transported to the front lines.
In the past few days, the soldiers of Grand Qian, having undergone indoctrination in national ideology and experiencing a sense of belonging and joy, had regained their composure and were now disciplined and obedient.
"The Marshal said that as soldiers, we must be pragmatic! We cannot become arrogant and complacent just because our military equipment is the best in the world. Pride leads to defeat, and even if we avoid defeat, we might suffer more casualties because of it!"
All the soldiers repeatedly reminded themselves to avoid arrogance and haste, to be as steady as the three marshals of the Grand Qian Nation.
The Grand Qian Elite Cavalry were filled with high fighting spirit, especially the 20,000 Grand Qian Heavy Cavalry. Though their outward demeanor was calm, their hearts had already soared to the enemy coalition camp in Jiaozhou.
"Our army is well-prepared. We can advance south with confidence and lay siege to the city! Even if the enemy attempts a surprise attack from our rear, we have sufficient troops to repel, or even annihilate them!"
"The Zhongzhou Cavalry and Jiangnan Iron Cavalry will be deployed on the flanks to intercept any enemy cavalry units at any time! The Grand Qian Elite Cavalry will stand by in the center, ready to reinforce all directions! The recapture of Jiaozhou is within reach!"
Before the expedition, Liang Xiao did not forget to command the soldiers and boost their morale, invigorating all three armies.
Longbows were too large to be drawn effectively while mounted, but Grand Qian bows could!
Even some cavalrymen with less strength than longbowmen and Grand Qian bowmen could carry Grand Qian bows with lower draw weights.
The Grand Qian bow did not have a strictly fixed model but rather a template. Several models of Grand Qian bows were then produced based on draw weight, ensuring that every cavalryman was equipped, phasing out the most traditional powerful bows.
The once-powerful Grand Qian bows were gradually withdrawn from the battlefield and repurposed for hunting by both the military and civilians.
Both Jiaozhou and Da Liang had sulfur mines recorded in the Dongye clan's records, their yields unknown.
According to reports from the Hidden Wolf Guard, the people of Jiaozhou were also willing to submit to Grand Qian.
Heavenly timing and popular support all favored Grand Qian, leaving only the advantage of terrain yet to be secured! 138 Reading Network.
Due to the infiltration of the Tianri clan into the Jiaozhou coalition and their oppressive rule, Liang Xiao and Gongsun Ye were unable to dispatch spies into the enemy camp to instigate the soldiers. For now, they could only gather military intelligence.
"Marshal! Besides training, the Jiaozhou military camp has been unusually quiet during their rest periods. We have been observing for a full day, and we haven't heard the usual complaints!"
The scout's report caused Liang Xiao and Gongsun Ye to frown.
This was not necessarily a good sign.
A quiet army could mean they had calmed down, or it could mean something else was happening.
"We have gathered twenty Divine Might Cannons and a hundred Hui Hui Cannons. Should that be enough? Should we try setting fire to the mountains?" Gongsun Ye asked.
Liang Xiao pondered for a moment and shook his head, "Infiltrating enemy strongholds to set fire to mountains is quite difficult, and our army has a chance to persuade the Jiaozhou soldiers to surrender. If we were to burn these people along with the mountains, it might backfire. Unless absolutely necessary, we will not consider setting fires to the mountains for now. However, Grand Qian's Heavenly Fire has its uses and is on its way."
Gongsun Ye nodded slightly, "That's true. The Tianri clan has many cavalrymen, and they are fast runners..."
The Three-Bow Bed Crossbows and Divine Arm Ballista units had already been stationed with the central army, advancing alongside the Hui Hui Artillery, Divine Might Cannons, and Shadow Guards.
At the same time, in the capital city of the Grand Qian Nation, numerous workers were busy constructing roads outside the city in all directions.
"Huh? Sir! What kind of road is this 'railway'? It's a bit like our 'chidao' (royal road), but not entirely!"
The foreman, after receiving the blueprints from the Ministry of Works supervisor, looked puzzled.
The supervisor replied, "I'm not entirely sure either. The blueprints were provided by the Marquis of Anguo, and our Ministry of Works is responsible for designing feasible construction plans. This kind of 'railway' would have no problem for horse carriages! However, the Marquis of Anguo seems to have other intentions!"
"Is it what the Marquis of Anguo wants? Alright, alright! We'll definitely complete it on schedule! The Marquis of Anguo has given us a good life, so we should make him happy, shouldn't we?"
When the workers heard that Liang Xiao wanted to build "railways" and that they were being well-paid, they became even more diligent and dedicated, strictly adhering to the blueprints and the supervisor's requirements to ensure the stability of the railways.
In the West Palace Villa, Xiao Xun and Xiao Qian looked at the blueprints on the table with anticipation.
"Mother, can this steam locomotive really be made?"
Xiao Qing looked at the vehicle model on the drawing with a dazed expression and nodded slightly.
"It definitely can! Your father is guiding the research, and the Ministry of Works is fully committed. The people in the Ministry of Works are very smart now after learning from him. Their numbers have also been expanded to five times what they were before. Your father said that improving the treatment of researchers would boost their enthusiasm."
"The railways are already under construction. Even if the steam locomotive cannot be built immediately, it can still be used for horse carriages, so there's no fear of waste. We only fear delaying progress by digging wells when we're thirsty!"
"Long live Father~ Long live Mother~" The two brothers cheered with joy.
Xiao Qing also felt full of longing, recalling the romantic moments with Liang Xiao when he spoke of the magnificent scenes he had witnessed in the divine realm.
A hundred years of life, "cars," "airplanes," "rockets," "electrical appliances" – perhaps these novelties would not be seen in her lifetime.
Would she have the chance to witness transportation tools powered by steam engines, such as steam locomotives and steamships?
She now truly wished she could fly to Yuzhang and tell him that the railways were being built ahead of schedule, and that steam locomotives and ships were being researched with all their might!
The children were also very sensible, not arrogant or overbearing at all, and they even felt sorry for the palace servants who fell, moving her for days...
The Anguo Bookstore finally released popular science books on modern science, especially fundamental scientific principles like mechanics.
However, when these books were first published, they were treated as miscellaneous writings by the common people.
After the Ministry of Works personnel tasted the benefits of learning these principles, they also submitted memorials requesting their promotion.
Xiao Qing and the hundred officials discussed the matter for a long time at the imperial court. Considering the limited acceptance of this new knowledge by the common people, a decision was finally made.
The imperial examination content would include "Science" as a subject, though it would only constitute a very small proportion for this initial attempt.
One hundred li south of Yuzhang City, scouts from the Jiaozhou coalition swiftly reported back.
"Yuzhang has mobilized a large force towards our army, claiming to be a million-strong army!"