Following the deaths of Ouyang Ji and Dugu Liang, Liang Xiao went on to scare Gongyang He to death, completing a hat-trick against the aristocratic families.
On this day, Gongyang Qiu, clad in mourning, was overcome with grief.
While Xiao Chang, Xiao Che, and others mourned, they convened a meeting to discuss their next steps.
"Perhaps we should withdraw to Jiaozhou? And never return to Da Gan!"
Xiao Che, eager to avenge his son, was now consumed by fear and was the first to propose a retreat.
Xiao Chang, Dugu Qun, and the others nodded slightly. Even Gongyang Qiu numbly agreed, not daring to suggest raising an army for revenge.
With morale shifting, they had no confidence in dragging Da Gan down.
This was because intelligence from the Jiangbei region reported that countless civilians were pushing carts, delivering their own stockpiled rations to the Jiangbei army camps to support the front lines.
The Guyun Kingdom had suffered another crushing defeat at sea, the Daliang Kingdom had withdrawn its troops and stationed forces along the Peacock Dynasty's border, and there had been no progress in the western territories.
It seemed impossible to defeat them through attrition of supplies.
Moreover, the truth about the "Heavenly General" would surely galvanize the people of Jiangnan, sparking wave after wave of counterattacks!
"We cannot retreat!!" Hannibal slammed the table and declared, "To retreat now would mean all our efforts have been in vain, and the Da Gan Kingdom would certainly not let Jiaozhou off the hook! The Tianri tribe has already consolidated the full might of the Guishuang Dynasty and the Peacock Dynasty and is confident enough to wear down Da Gan! At the very least, we absolutely cannot let them reclaim Jiaozhou!"
The others looked troubled.
Hannibal roared, "Liang Xiao has reclaimed Xichuan, and the Xichuan troops that followed pacified the Southern Barbarians in two months, with vast new Xichuan resources being transported to the capital and Jiangnan! If Liang Xiao also reclaims Jiaozhou, or even Daliang, do you know the consequences? If we must retreat, then retreat to the Peacock Dynasty and slaughter all the people of Jiaozhou! Under no circumstances can we allow Liang Xiao to gain population and consolidate resources!"
"Slaughter all the people of Jiaozhou?" everyone exclaimed in unison.
"If we do that, how will my second brother and I recruit soldiers and collect taxes in the future?" Xiao Chang shook his head and refused.
Xiao Che said gravely, "Jiaozhou is the foundation of my brother and my dominance. If we don't have those lowly peasants to serve and pay taxes, who will fund the purchase of your Peacock Dynasty's military equipment in the future?"
Hannibal sneered, "Isn't that exactly the point? You are unwilling to slaughter the people of Jiaozhou, yet you expect Liang Xiao not to conquer Jiaozhou – that's a pipe dream! It would be better to stay here, by the mountains and rivers, to tie down Da Gan's main forces and await a breakthrough in the west. The Peacock Dynasty and Guishuang Dynasty will also go all out to replicate the enemy's magic iron balls! When that time comes, our Tianri cavalry, armed with magic iron balls, will find it easy to capture cities!"
"As for the morale issue, I will resolve it as soon as possible!" Hannibal said, suddenly changing tack. "First, you go and register the number of elderly, infirm, and disabled personnel in the army. Also, register those soldiers who have expressed thoughts of retreat or openly complained. I have great use for them! If war breaks out, the Tianri cavalry will be at the very forefront!"
Xiao Che had no choice but to comply.
In a teahouse in Yuzhang City, Yue Wenxin, fully armed and disguised as a male soldier, was drinking tea in a corner with other female soldiers, eavesdropping with relish on the commoners' conversations.
"The Marquis of Anguo is truly a Heavenly General, by my mother!"
"Our Da Gan's Martial God, the Marquis of Anguo, is accomplished in both civil and military arts, and has been protecting Da Gan from beginning to end!"
"After the Marquis of Anguo has passed on, I wonder what posthumous title he should receive. Oh dear, a Literary Sage, a Martial God – any title feels somewhat inadequate..."
"Don't jinx it! What do you mean 'passed on'! The Marquis of Anguo will surely live to one hundred and twenty years! No, two hundred years!"
"So Luo Shen's novel, 'The Heroes of Da Gan,' is true. The Heavenly General is indeed omnipotent! I, I want to have children with the Heavenly General..."
Hearing the increasingly outrageous praise from the commoners, Yue Wenxin couldn't help but cover her mouth and giggle, her mood greatly improved.
She used to wonder why her elder sisters would grin like love-struck fools whenever someone praised Liang Xiao.
Now, she completely understood.
So this was what it felt like, so wonderful~
Even just hearing others talk about him filled her heart with joy and made it difficult to contain herself.
"My treat for all the patrons here!"
Yue Wenxin placed a hundred tael silver note on the table, startling the shopkeeper.
"No need for change. Calculate the remaining amount, and use it to provide free tea and pastries!"
Under the shocked gaze of the shopkeeper and his assistant, Yue Wenxin turned away with a smile as radiant as a blooming flower.
"Oh my, this official looks a little familiar? Could it be the Marchioness of Anguo who recently arrived in Yuzhang?"
Hearing the discussion behind her, the once graceful Yue Wenxin's pretty face instantly flushed red. She didn't dare to respond and fled in haste.
Returning home, Yue Wenxin looked around, but the familiar figure was nowhere to be seen, and she felt a inexplicable sense of loss.
"Why are you suddenly in the mood to take the female soldiers to the teahouse today?"
The gentle voice from behind made Yue Wenxin's heart flutter wildly. She quickly turned to look at Liang Xiao and replied weakly, "I wanted to hear how everyone praises you..."
"Oh? And how do they praise me?"
"They praise you in every way!" Yue Wenxin's face was flushed red with excitement, her hands gesturing wildly. Finally, she added, "And many people said they want to have children with you!"
"That won't do. Your brother-in-law has always been pure and chaste, surpassing the white lotus of Mount Tianshan," Liang Xiao pouted.
Yue Wenxin looked at Liang Xiao's familiar, shameless face and snorted, "However, most of the people saying that are men~"
Liang Xiao: ...
Seeing Liang Xiao speechless, Yue Wenxin burst into laughter.
"My sisters were right. It seems you are more popular with men than women~"
Liang Xiao's old face blushed, and after a tactical cough, he said, "Little darling, you haven't even married in yet, and you're already learning bad habits from your sisters."
"Marry in?" Yue Wenxin's face instantly turned crimson, and she lowered her head, murmuring, "Can I really marry in..."
Liang Xiao took Yue Wenxin's hand, feeling the warm softness in his palm, and said solemnly, "When we return to the capital, I will hold a belated wedding ceremony for your sisters, and for you and Mi'er, all marrying me together. I'll write to the family first, so my Third Mother can be happy too. According to my promise, if we have children in the future, the first one will be surnamed Yue, ensuring that your Yue family has descendants. How about that?"
Yue Wenxin's heart pounded. She mustered all her strength, but her voice was still as faint as a mosquito's: "Okay, okay, I'll do whatever you say..."
Liang Xiao simply looked at Yue Wenxin, his face full of relief.
This girl had always been working hard, and she even learned Da Gan etiquette from Christina, treating Christina with deliberate rudeness, for fear of embarrassing the Marquis of Anguo's manor outside.
In fact, before he went on campaign, he had promised his wives that he would marry her, which would also fulfill Yue Hongxiu's wish to honor her deceased elder sister, and serve as his father's compensation for his guilt towards this Third Mother. However, there was no need to tell Yue Wenxin these things, lest she mistakenly believe he was marrying her merely out of obligation.
The two then went to pay their respects to Zuo Wuji and inform him of the impending marriage.
Zuo Wuji beamed, his smile stretching from ear to ear. Then, he suddenly remembered something and slapped his forehead.
Wouldn't this mean he would have grandsons and granddaughters in the future? He'd have to work even harder to get promoted!
Three days later, twenty miles north of Yuzhang City.
The iron cavalry advanced south, their arrival heralded by dust and thunder.
"Reporting to the Marshal, all forty thousand Da Gan elite cavalry have arrived north of the city!"