Xiao Qing replied, "According to brother Xiao's plan, the palace maids are to 'accidentally' reveal news about Sister Sī Tí to her. She was surprised and actually thought Sister Sī Tí was her mother."
Kris Tī had already given herself a Great Qian name, Liáng Sī Tī, half a year ago. Now, upon learning the truth about the Heavenly General, she was even prouder of it and liked her new name very much.
Liáng Xiāo explained, "I heard her mention that back then, her mother, Li Sī, confessed everything to the King of Gāuzi. She had given birth to a son and a daughter for that 'King.' I originally thought it was this son and daughter who discovered Kris Tī and were now in the Peacock Dynasty, trying to harm Great Qian through her. But from the situation with this Sophia, could Li Sī's daughters have been considered descendants of witches, persecuted and fled to Great Qian?"
Xiao Qing pondered.
The Spring Return Sect came from the Peacock Dynasty, which was ruled by the Tian Rì tribe. It made sense that the enemy, based on Sophia's appearance, noticed Kris Tī.
"For safety reasons, we absolutely cannot let our guard down. Brother Xiao must not let Sister Sī Tí approach Sophia alone; someone must accompany her at all times," Xiao Qing reminded.
"That's precisely what I intend. From now on, Elder Bù Tí and Captain Liáng will lead people to accompany and protect Sī Tí, and by the way, observe Sophia," Liáng Xiāo nodded.
The Shadow Guard Captain, Liáng Míng Yù, had, along with Hé Zǐ Zhāng and others, faked their retirement from the Shadow Guard military and joined the Liáng mansion.
Hé Zǐ Zhāng was now assisting in training the Qíng Tiān Guards in Yān Zhōu, while Liáng Míng Yù, along with several female Shadow Guards who had also retired, was responsible for ensuring the safety of Liáng Xiāo's female dependents.
Liáng Xiāo felt somewhat guilty for always having the Heavenly Mountain heroines protect his female dependents. Moreover, Liáng Míng Yù did not want to be idle and useless, lest she face her former comrades with shame upon returning to the Shadow Guard.
"The most troublesome thing is the treasure left by the Dōng Yě clan, which is actually hidden in Mount Hè Lán," Xiao Qing couldn't help but complain.
Liáng Xiāo's eyes sharpened, "We must retake Mount Hè Lán!"
The treasure map that Yú Zǎo, then Yù Zǎo Qián of the Chū Yún Kingdom, had given to Liáng Xiāo was said to contain not only treasure but also a large number of precious topographical maps of mountains and rivers. If they fell into enemy hands, the consequences would be unimaginable!
What if the barbarians discovered the topographical maps and secretly handed them over to the Dú Gū family, or sent them to the warlords and influential families far in the south and Jiāo Zhōu, or even to the Southern King?
At that time, the mineral resources of Great Qian would inevitably be illegally mined and destroyed, enriching the enemy!
Yet, the treasure was in Mount Hè Lán, which was indeed a forsaken place for the current Great Qian!
Xiao Qing had dispatched the most loyal Shadow Guards to venture into Mount Hè Lán to search for the possible location of the treasure. However, even if they found it, they could only bring back the topographical maps. If it was gold and silver, they would likely have to leave it behind.
"First, let's try to retrieve those maps. If it's truly impossible, we can abandon the gold and silver... After all, we cannot risk the lives of our soldiers for territory that has already been lost and launch a rash attack," Xiao Qing sighed softly.
Liáng Xiāo said solemnly, "Mount Hè Lán must be retaken. This will boost the morale of the entire nation and restore the prestige that Great Qian lost ten years ago. If Mount Hè Lán cannot be retaken, the enemy can march out from Mount Hè Lán and continuously harass the Shuò Fāng region. Great Qian soldiers are intensifying their training, and the soldiers in the northern territories are also petitioning to retake Mount Hè Lán. Uncle has been suppressing the soldiers' fighting spirit, urging them to train and cultivate their morale and resolve."
Dīng Wú Yì, who had been silent, added, "At that time, will the second young master Liáng intend to lead the northern soldiers and the Great Qian Iron Guards as the Heavenly General to defeat the enemy and retake Mount Hè Lán?"
Liáng Xiāo nodded and said, "However, the White Robe soldiers can no longer be used as suicide squads; this is a great loss. They should be used as a surprise force to break through the enemy's weakest points when the two armies are at a stalemate, just as I led them in their first charge, to win a decisive victory!"
Xiao Qing solemnly agreed, feeling ashamed.
Back then, facing the pincer attack of the barbarian cavalry and the rebels, the White Robe soldiers fought to the death, with only one-tenth of their members surviving, which was heartbreaking.
But soon, Xiao Qing was filled with heroic spirit again.
Now that she had her Brother Xiao and the Heavenly General, the tragedy of the White Robe soldiers must not and should not be repeated!
Liáng Xiāo reminded again, "Uncle still needs to convey orders to various regions to continue the scorched-earth policy, strictly guard the cities, and not engage in rash battles. It is already deep autumn, and the barbarians might return, so we must be on guard!"
Xiao Qing understood and immediately wrote a letter, handing it to a Shadow Guard to be sent to the northern military camp for further reminders.
After the meticulous care and daily check-ups by Mu Xue Qin and the other two, Liáng Xiāo had accepted the bizarre changes in his body and even intentionally reduced his sleep, working late into the night.
The night after Liáng Xiāo and Yuè Lián consummated their marriage, Kris Tī sat in her room, her hands clenched tightly on her wedding dress, her two fingers visibly turning pale.
She had just learned that the Heavenly General she loved could not bear to consummate their marriage with Zhuó Xūn, who still had the mentality of a young girl, and that Luò Qīng Xuě and Yuè Lián still needed to rest for a few days...
The door was pushed open, and Kris Tī gasped, her face flushed, as she looked at Liáng Xiāo entering.
"Little girl Kris Tī."
Hearing Liáng Xiāo's call, Kris Tī shyly said, "Heavenly General..."
Liáng Xiāo walked over and held Kris Tī's jade-like hands.
Kris Tī trembled slightly, then quickly calmed down.
At this moment, the tension in her heart vanished, and she felt inexplicably at ease.
She suddenly realized, this was the Heavenly General she loved!
Kris Tī gazed at Liáng Xiāo affectionately, holding back tears.
Liáng Xiāo felt a pang of heartache seeing this, and with a surge of emotion, he kissed Kris Tī's red lips.
At this moment, the young girl experienced unprecedented joy and satisfaction.
"Heavenly General..."
Liáng Xiāo smiled, "Do you only call me Heavenly General?"
Kris Tī summoned her courage and said coquettishly, "Husband! Heavenly General Husband~"
Liáng Xiāo looked delighted and finally lowered the red curtain...
At dawn, after Liáng Xiāo carefully preserved her "red scarf," he returned to the bed and gently kissed her forehead.
This foreign girl had truly given her all for her Heavenly General, acting exceptionally docile and even enduring the pain, holding back until her face turned pale, for fear of him worrying about her.
Zhuó Xūn heard that Liáng Xiāo was still reluctant to consummate their marriage with her, and she pouted, muttering, "You stinking monster!" Reading Network 138.
She saw her sisters walking unsteadily lately and sometimes frowning, and she was also very scared...
After getting married, would girls always become like this?
The seven-day wedding ceremony finally concluded, and Xiao Qing couldn't escape Liáng Xiāo's "claws" on the last day...
Mù Hóng of the Ministry of Military Equipment came to the Liáng mansion to bid farewell to Liáng Xiāo and, with his wife Gù Xiāo Xiāo, traveled to Yān Zhōu to serve as an adjutant in the northern territories, taking over from Zhuó Wǔ Lǜ.
Zhuó Wǔ Lǜ remained in the capital to take charge of the Ministry of Military Equipment, which Mù Hóng had overseen, and also attended the court session.
Xiao Qing publicly announced Zhuó Wǔ Lǜ's duties: to "assist" Dú Gū Qún.
Dú Gū Qún endured his hatred and forced a smile, accepting this nominal deputy.
Zhuó Wǔ Lǜ's authority was still within Dú Gū Qún's acceptable range and did not seriously impede him for the time being.
On this day, Liáng Xiāo took Kris Tī to find that foreign girl named Sophia.
In the Yān Zhōu northern military camp, Lǚ Yì was discussing military affairs with his generals when a scout urgently reported, "Reporting to Marshal! Traces of a large number of barbarian cavalry have been found three hundred li north of Yān Zhōu city! News has also come from Mount Hè Lán and Yún Zhōu, reporting the appearance of large numbers of barbarian cavalry. A reconnaissance unit from Yún Zhōu has already been pursued and annihilated by the enemy!"