As five thousand new-style musketeers entered Yumenguan, the soldiers within the pass looked on with doubt.
These five thousand soldiers were not like the archers and heavy cavalry, robust and powerful. Some of the musketeers even looked slender.
The entire musketeer corps, due to the varying physiques of its members, formed a strange "echelon" based on height and build, appearing as if they could be easily scattered by a charge from the cavalry.
And they were unarmed, carrying no weapons?
The only thing that convinced the soldiers they were an elite force was their eyes, firm and serious!
These musketeers were not swayed by the doubtful glances of the soldiers, only looking towards Liang Xiao on the high platform in the distance, their eyes finally showing admiration and fervor.
They were all selected from the Hidden Wolf Guard and Shadow Guard, with nimble hands and excellent eyesight.
Their weapons might accompany them until retirement, and their families would receive enviable treatment and live in abundance.
This was also a reward for their hard work.
Liang Xiao’s gaze swept over the musketeer corps, and he was quite satisfied.
"Marquis of Zhenguo, the Xiongnu cavalry have also donned imitation cotton armor. This type of defense is actually slightly better against firearms than other armor," read a report.
Qin Feng understood and said in a low voice, "Then the musketeer corps should be used to deal with the Tianri tribe. I have also noticed that the Tianri tribe is not afraid of extreme cold, but seems to be intolerant of heat, even more so than ordinary people. According to captured intelligence, the Tianri tribe's armor is more conducive to heat dissipation than general armor!"
Liang Xiao smiled and nodded, saying, "At that time, you and General Nan will lead the troops to confront the Tianri tribe, while General Yue and I will deal with the Xiongnu cavalry."
As he spoke, Liang Xiao looked back to the west.
"That Attila must have been waiting for me for a long time."
All the generals said in unison, "Your subjects are willing to clear the rebels for Your Majesty, and there is no need for Your Majesty to personally lead the campaign!"
Liang Xiao merely shook his head, gazing intently at the western sky, "Scourge of God..."
There were many people named Attila, but based on his historical knowledge from his homeland, the current era should be between the Song and Ming dynasties. Attila should not belong to this era.
"In the end, I cannot escape the influence of my homeland. As the ancients said, seek truth from facts and avoid rigid application..."
Liang Xiao couldn't help but sigh, and then he addressed the generals.
"The enemy is currently in a dilemma. A hasty attack will be difficult to break through Yumenguan. A stalemate will likely lead to our army concentrating forces to annihilate them all. A retreat will mean permanently losing the chance to break through Daqian. Now, our army has a firm grasp of the initiative. When the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy retreats, we advance. We will wait for the opportune moment, and one decisive battle will settle it!"
"After the war, our army will strive to penetrate the Kushan Dynasty, destroy their roots in the Kushan Dynasty, and from then on, the western border will be free from worry!"
Qin Feng and the others looked eager, full of hope.
Now they deeply felt the value of Daqian's stability. For the sake of their descendants, they, in this generation, must go all out. Even if they could not annihilate all the Tianri tribe in the world, they would at least establish confidence for several generations, until their descendants completed their unfinished business!
The five thousand musketeers mounted their warhorses and returned to the barracks allocated by Liang Xiao to rest.
It was not until the afternoon that the soldiers were allowed to watch the musketeers train, and seeing their firearms penetrate several layers of heavy armor at close range, they were overjoyed.
"No more worries!"
It was not only Daqian that was developing its military strength. The Tianri tribe, after suffering greatly in this land, had also mined and plundered iron ore at any cost, smelting steel and forging more and more weapons, all in order to defend against Daqian's crossbow volleys.
The Zhuge Repeating Crossbow, facing enemy vanguard troops with high armor penetration and coverage, could no longer be effectively utilized. Coupled with its cumbersome weight and burden of transport, it had been retired and became a specialized siege weapon.
At close range, it posed a great threat to the Western Allied infantry climbing the city walls, making full use of its utility.
The arrival of Daqian's musketeer corps further boosted the confidence of Daqian's soldiers.
The White Robe Army was also rushing in reinforcements from the northern border.
Several cities had been built in the southern desert, along with a large number of infantry, cavalry, and chariots to resist the Tianri cavalry from the depths of the northern desert.
Except for Liang Xiao, his wife, and officials of the third rank and above, almost no one knew how many warhorses Daqian had raised and how many cavalry units had been formed.
The treasure of gold had not been depleted yet...
"The daily meat rations for the three armies must not be delayed, and they must be ready for battle at all times. Eradicating the white devils will be a feat of eternal merit!"
Liang Xiao's military order spread, and the army's training enthusiasm soared to an unprecedented height, especially among the veterans who were nearing retirement.
Everyone hoped to have a "Home of Military Merit" plaque hanging in their home, enjoying the envy and respect of their neighbors.
The Western Allied forces returned to their camp and were also busy making arrangements for the decisive battle.
Overseers whipped slaves, desperately rushing to produce trebuchets.
Meanwhile, a change also occurred in Izumo, the island nation to the east of Daqian.
After Ito Masamune's death, only a small number of remnants escaped back to Izumo.
"Our army was defeated, and Marshal Ito could not escape the disaster!"
Emperor Buretsu and his ministers, upon hearing the news, could not eat or sleep peacefully.
Now, half of Izumo's civil and military officials were blonde and blue-eyed...
Emperor Buretsu gritted his teeth, "This matter must not be leaked. The results of Daqian's victory must be distorted!"
"Your ministers understand!" The ministers immediately went to arrange public opinion.
"Daqian cruelly massacred our country's soldiers and even caused the annihilation of the Taiji Kingdom!"
"The women of our country who went to the Taiji Kingdom were brutally humiliated and their bodies abandoned in the wilderness!"
...
Propaganda after propaganda spread throughout the country, shocking the nation and increasing hatred for Daqian day by day.
"The Emperor calls upon the nation of Izumo to mobilize its full strength to fight against Daqian. Our country has a population of ten million... ten million will be shattered like jade!!"
As the imperial proclamation was posted, shouts of "Ten million will be shattered like jade!" echoed through the streets and alleys.
Across the nation, anger erupted. The few who questioned rationally seemed to vanish into thin air the next day, disappearing completely.
The entire Izumo nation entered a state of preparation for war, drying fish and making rations, in order to seek revenge in the future.
Just as the atmosphere of war in Izumo intensified, Mount Fuji, which had been silent for a long time, erupted, and lava continuously overflowed, spreading...
At the same time, tsunamis occurred frequently in the east, raising monstrous waves that submerged various islands of Izumo.
It was like the end of the world. Several days later, less than one in ten of Izumo's military and civilian population remained, and there was widespread suffering.
"Is this the wrath of heaven? Is the Emperor leading us to the abyss? Rebel against him!"
The surviving population, less than a million, suddenly woke up, and uprisings broke out constantly.
Emperor Buretsu and others, relying on ships, narrowly escaped, still shaken.
"We can no longer maintain our rule! Quickly let our kin from the Senra Islands occupy this place as a springboard! We'll keep the music playing and continue our revelry!"
With a command from Emperor Buretsu, the surviving ships headed east.
"Your Majesty, the people have lost their food and are rioting!"
Upon receiving the urgent report, Emperor Buretsu, who was playing with a singing girl, lost interest and angrily left the room.
"Whoever disobeys will be exterminated! There are enough sea fish here to feed our army. The food shortage is just an opportunity to eliminate those who consume food!"
Izumo, which had just experienced a major upheaval, was once again subjected to an internal purge...