Declaration: Some readers may have forgotten the previous settings after following the book for a long time. Let me explain. This is a fictional world. Due to a large number of butterfly effects, the Qin Dynasty was followed by the Wu Dynasty.
"Imperial Seal of China?!"
The Hidden Wolf Guard, always guided by Liang Xiao and Sima Jing, acted with composure and calmness, but at this moment, they could not help but exclaim in shock, their bodies trembling!
The Imperial Seal of China from the Qin Dynasty?
That was the true Imperial Seal of China; later versions were mere replicas made to specification!
The captain of the Hidden Wolf Guard immediately produced a document written in Da Qian script to prove his identity.
"We will escort Your Excellency to the western border of Da Qian. We hope you can be candid with us. Of course, the whereabouts of the Imperial Seal of China should be personally reported to our Emperor, or the Great General, or the Marquis of Anguo!"
Sensing everyone's sincerity, Xeracles finally felt at ease and introduced his identity.
"What? Your aunt is called Lis, and she was forced to marry King Tian Ri??" The Hidden Wolf Guards were astonished again.
"Indeed! Why are you all so shocked?" Xeracles asked in confusion.
"To be frank, we have another mission in the West: to ascertain the truth about Lis. You could be considered the cousin of our Marquis of Anguo's wife. Our Marquis of Anguo's wife is a princess of the former Roman Empire..."
Xeracles was both surprised and delighted. The others could no longer sit still and rushed to the western border overnight.
News of Da Qian's declaration of war against various countries spread, causing worry among all citizens.
"Is the national treasury's military grain sufficient? My family still has surplus grain, which we can offer!"
Countless citizens carried sacks to the local government offices, hoping to contribute some of their household's stored grain to the nation.
Local officials and guards were deeply moved but dared not accept randomly. They could only report to the prefectural and central governments for instructions.
Citizens in the capital also contributed their household's surplus grain, ironware, cotton, and linen.
The Lu family of Qiantang even offered their newly acquired million catties of southern rice to the Jiangnan army garrisoned by Gongsun Ye.
Xiao Qing was deeply moved upon hearing this: "There is a drought this year, so we cannot accept the people's stored grain..."
Zhuo Zifang reminded him: "Your Majesty! For the people, national stability means they can live good lives. They absolutely do not wish for the nation to be defeated due to a failure in grain supply. In their view, this would mean invasion by foreign races and the end of good times! I believe that instead of refusing the people and cutting off our own retreat, it would be better to register the donations from each family in detail and have the national treasury purchase them. Once the war is over and the gold is transported back, we can provide further compensation and commendations."
Xiao Qing then agreed and strictly ordered all prefectures and counties to purchase the grain with state funds, record the details meticulously, and make plans after the war. At the same time, he increased the production of new crops.
After the reforms carried out by Liang Xiao, the people of Da Qian had an unprecedented sense of national identity, and the beginnings of a wartime economy were emerging.
Potatoes and sweet potatoes are not as resistant to storage as grains, but their seedlings are more tenacious than ordinary grains, and they do not have excessive demands on the soil. Even in the face of this year's drought, their yield was still gratifying. Coupled with the grain reserves in the national treasury, they were sufficient to cope with famines in some areas.
Responding to the prefectural government's call, the people voluntarily cleared a portion of their farmland to prepare for planting new crops next year.
Five days later, Lü Yi in the western region finally welcomed the Hidden Wolf Guard and Xeracles.
After understanding Xeracles's intelligence, Lü Yi was greatly alarmed: "Your Excellency has rendered a great service to our Da Qian. You may proceed to Yanzhou and the capital to report the whereabouts of the Imperial Seal of China to His Majesty and then reunite with Christa!"
Xeracles looked westward, his expression anxious.
"Thank you for your kindness, Great General. But I have heard that both you and the Marquis of Anguo can represent the Son of Heaven of Da Qian and receive any important intelligence. I heard that the Nine Cauldrons your country recovered not long ago were also received by the Marquis of Anguo?"
After receiving an affirmative reply from Lü Yi, Xeracles pleaded: "I will relay the news of the Imperial Seal of China to the Great General. The Great General can dispatch loyal and righteous individuals to the capital to report to the Son of Heaven. I will remain here and accompany the Great General to conquer the Kushan Dynasty and the Tianri tribe, and to rescue the Liang family army fighting alone in the West as soon as possible. What do you say?"
Lü Yi sized up the strong and imposing Xeracles, then looked at Yue Yun.
"Marshal, this person's martial arts should be above mine. His long saber can shave iron, which should be the 'Silver Dragon Golden Weapon' mentioned by the Marquis of Anguo," Yue Yun replied.
"Silver Dragon Gold?" Xeracles looked at his long saber placed aside and explained, "Indeed, it can shave iron, but we Westerners have never understood the smelting method of this metal. The long saber, armor, and warhorse were all gifts from the Liang family army. They said the armor was made of White Dragon Gold."
Considering the ferocity of the enemy and the need for more fierce generals in the western region, Lü Yi finally agreed to Xeracles's request. He arranged for an shadow guard captain responsible for guarding him to liaise with Xeracles, learn the whereabouts of the Imperial Seal of China, and then arrange for troops to escort the shadow guard captain back to the capital.
"I will avenge my tragically deceased relatives and citizens against the Tianri tribe!"
As he walked out of the military camp, Xeracles raised his long saber high and vowed.
Inside the Kushan Dynasty's military camp, Achilles's shrill roar could be heard from the central tent.
"What? Elis is dead?!"
In an instant, the vast military tent was directly cut down by Achilles's long saber.
Achilles, in a frenzy, killed everyone he met, including the Tianri cavalry, making his way through the army alone.
"Elis! Why didn't you heed my advice and insisted on taking the risk... Elis!"
"Achilles!!"
Mars arrived upon hearing the news, holding a spear, and blocked Achilles's overwhelming saber strike, shouting angrily: "Wake up!"
"Elis hasn't given me the most outstanding offspring yet, how can she die in Da Liang!!" Achilles roared.
Mars's face darkened and he said, "Don't forget that Elis's death is inseparable from the people of that land. The mastermind behind the plot that killed Elis must be the Marquis of Anguo of Da Qian, Liang Xiao!"
After regaining his composure, Achilles gritted his teeth and clenched his long saber.
"Good! Regardless of whether General Tian is present, we will attack immediately and slaughter Da Qian!"
In Jiangnan, the Great General Who Conquered the South, Zhuo Ying, defended Luzhou and set up defense lines in various parts of the southwest, strictly guarding against any advance by the Jiaozhou army.
Shi Liuyun led fifty thousand troops downstream along the Yangtze River and finally returned to Jiangnan, meeting Zhuo Ying in Luzhou.
"I heard that there are also remnants of the Helian family in Jiaozhou," Shi Liuyun said, his eyes blazing with hatred.
In Monan, Liang Xiao led his troops on patrol along the front line. A month had passed, and it was already late autumn.
Only the shadow guards and officers of the fifth rank and above knew of his presence in the army, and they kept it a secret.
After this year's drought, Monan welcomed cold winds and entered winter early.
Da Qian soldiers, wearing padded armor, protected and repelled Xianbei cavalry with Liang Xiao.
Da Qian's gold had already reached halfway to its destination, only a thousand miles from Yanzhou, but the number of Xianbei people appearing in this area was increasing.
At this time, Nie Yuan followed Liang Xiao, responsible for receiving Liang Xiao's military orders and temporarily commanding the fifty thousand troops.
"My Lord, the enemy seems to have realized the importance of scouts. Our army cannot penetrate deep into the Eastern Grasslands, and the other side may also be able to estimate the distance and concentrate their attacks on our hinterland..." Nie Yuan worried.
"How is the water supply I asked everyone to prepare?" Liang Xiao asked.
Nie Yuan replied: "It has been prepared! Iron basins are used. If they freeze, we can use charcoal to heat them and restore them to the liquid state you mentioned!"
Just then, a scout rushed in from afar with an urgent report: "The enemy's main army has moved out and is indeed heading this way!"