The Kingdom of Daliang, lacking a monarch, temporarily suspended its court sessions.
The Regent, Qin Feng, remained the Imperial Son-in-law. Princess Zhi Rou was alive and well, and the newspaper was under Qin Feng's control. After the populace learned the content of Mu Cheng's imperial decree, they offered Qin Feng their understanding.
Thus, the officials could only go to the Regent's mansion to argue with Qin Feng.
"The late Emperor showed respect and affection to Liang Xiao and others. Is this how Great Qian treats our princes? How outrageous!"
Dong Chen and others, in large numbers, marched towards the Regent's mansion, deliberately making a scene to let the entire city know they were confronting Qin Feng, to their dying breath.
"I have already received urgent reports. The perpetrators were the consorts and personal maids of the six princes. There is no possibility of these individuals being bribed by Great Qian, as there are clear daily records of the six princes' routines." Qin Feng stated gravely.
Dong Chen and the others were instantly enraged, "Can these few written records alone prove their innocence!"
Qin Feng replied, "News of the desert gold is already widespread. Great Qian also has to contend with the Xianbei and the Kushan Dynasty. The Emperor of Great Qian and Liang Xiao are enlightened rulers and sages who have shaken the ages. It is absolutely impossible for them to offend our kingdom at this time. To commit evil under the watchful eyes of Great Qian's Imperial Guards and poison six princes simultaneously, it must be the work of fanatical followers of the Hui Chun Sect."
The officials pleaded and reasoned, and even the Right Prime Minister, Cheng Qing, sided with Yan Ming, but Qin Feng consistently refused to confront Great Qian.
Yan Ming could only retreat and ask, "Then there should be no problem in now enthroning the Third Prince as the new ruler?"
Qin Feng remained silent, looked at Ye Chengxiu and Cheng Qing beside him, saw them nod slightly, and then sighed, agreeing, "I will make urgent arrangements."
After the officials departed, Qin Feng and his wives exchanged wry smiles.
Zhi Rou was not suited to be an empress, nor did she dare to covet the throne, putting Qin Feng in an unjust position. Only Mu Xuan was qualified to succeed.
"The deaths of the six princes must be related to my Third Imperial Brother. Once he ascends the throne, Qin Lang, even if you learn from Cao Cao in 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms,' you absolutely must not return the political and military power." Zhi Rou warned.
Qin Feng and Ye Chengxiu were filled with worry.
The situation was no longer within their control, as many generals throughout the kingdom originated from aristocratic families, and Qin Feng was unable to replace them.
In the southwest of Great Qian, in the region of Jiaozhou, the Jiaozhou army, which had been dormant for two years, launched a full-scale offensive. Led by King Feng Xiao Chang as commander, under the guise of 'clearing the ruler's surroundings,' they demanded that Xiao Qing execute Liang Xiao, Wang Canghai, and Zhuo Zifang, with their forces pressing towards Jiangnan.
Within this Jiaozhou army of unknown numbers were many generals with golden hair and blue eyes, leading troops whose soldiers had black hair and eyes, but bore the features of natives from the Peacock Dynasty region.
And the commander of this army was Jian Bei, a general from the Peacock Dynasty, the elder brother of Jian Nanfeng, who had betrayed the Jian clan – Jian Beihai!
Zhuo Ying, stationed in Jiangnan, commanded a hundred thousand troops to maintain strict defenses, ready to reinforce any location, and simultaneously requested aid from Yizhou.
Gongsun Ye, the Grand Marshal of Jiangnan, led the remaining hundred thousand troops to defend various locations, ready to support western Jiangnan.
South of Yizhou, the Queen of the Southern Barbarians also finally made her move. Thirty thousand elite Southern Barbarian soldiers broke out of the miasma-filled land, directly threatening the Banan region.
"The Southern Barbarians truly do not know their place, inviting their own destruction!"
The Yizhou army's pent-up battle spirit of two years finally found an outlet. Nan Jiyun personally led the troops to conquer, while simultaneously dispatching Shi Liuyun with fifty thousand troops to reinforce Jiangnan.
At this time, a mysterious group of blacksmiths arrived in Yanzhou.
At the Liang Residence, Liang Xiao quietly observed the blacksmith leader who called himself "Pu Yuan."
His beard and hair were white, but his muscles were robust, and his expression was agitated.
After Nan Jiyun received his message, he sent people to search for famous craftsmen in Xichuan, hoping to help Liang Xiao forge weapons of Silver Dragon Gold.
Pu Yuan was once the foremost master craftsman in Xichuan, a title passed down through generations.
"We were originally hiding in the wilderness, but later learned that the country had regained peace and order, and the Marquis of An Guo had pacified Xichuan for us. We are overwhelmingly grateful and wish to serve the country!" Pu Yuan said with a serious expression.
Liang Xiao asked, "I have already had people attempt to melt it with high-temperature coke, but it was still impossible to melt the Silver Dragon Gold and White Dragon Gold. Do you have a solution, old sir?"
"Does the Marquis of An Guo intend to forge what kind of weapons?" Pu Yuan inquired.
"Four spears and two sabers of Silver Dragon Gold, and two sets of armor and one ghost-faced battle helmet of White Dragon Gold," Liang Xiao said, handing Pu Yuan the pre-prepared weapon specification documents for review. He also produced his own Heaven General battle helmet.
This was the allocation of weapon quotas based on Liang Xiao's calculations of the density of Silver Dragon Gold. Each weapon weighed between twenty to twenty-five jin. Four spears were for Nan Jiyun, Lü Changhe, Nie Yuan, and Yue Yun; two sabers were for Zhuo Ying and Shi Liuyun. Nan Jiyun and Lü Changhe, who had contributed the most, each received a set of White Dragon Gold armor.
Yue Qing Tian had already been gifted the weapons and armor of Zen Master Long Yue.
Pu Yuan looked troubled, "Does the Marquis of An Guo know that the Ephemeral Sword took decades to forge? The sharper the Silver Dragon Gold weapon, the longer it takes to forge. Therefore, even a saber with only one sharpened edge requires prolonged grinding. We cannot forge them within a year. However, Silver Dragon Gold spears do not require sharpening and can be put into use sooner."
Seeing Liang Xiao's helplessness, Pu Yuan stroked his beard and laughed, "Marquis of An Guo, please do not be anxious! In fact, our several blacksmith families from Xichuan have also brought several ancestral divine weapons, including two sabers, one spear, and two sets of armor! The Marquis of An Guo has merits for ten thousand generations, how can we dare to keep them to ourselves? We have already discussed contributing all our Silver Dragon Gold and White Dragon Gold weapons, and then I will forge weapons for the Marquis of An Guo."
Liang Xiao was overjoyed, "The state will compensate you according to the value of the weapons!"
Pu Yuan quickly waved his hand, "No compensation is needed! Back then, we were forced to hide in the mountains precisely because we refused to work for the Helian family and the Hui Chun Sect. Now that the Marquis of An Guo has returned a clear and bright land to Xichuan, it is already a great gift."
Liang Xiao smiled, "While the old sir's noble character is certainly admirable, has the old sir heard of Zigong redeeming people and Zilu saving people?"
"We wish to hear the details!" Pu Yuan said with sincere earnestness.
"In the Spring and Autumn period, the State of Lu had a law. If a citizen of Lu encountered a compatriot enslaved in a foreign land, anyone who could redeem these enslaved compatriots and restore their freedom would receive rewards and compensation from the state upon their return."
"After Zigong redeemed the slaves, he refused the state's compensation. Confucius criticized him: accepting compensation from the state does not diminish your character; but if you do not accept the compensation, then no one in Lu will redeem their unfortunate compatriots again. Later, Zilu saved a drowning person, and the other party gave him an ox, which Zilu accepted. Confucius was actually very pleased and said: From now on, the people of Lu will definitely dare to bravely rescue drowning people."
"Selfless dedication is indeed admirable, but as the beneficiary, how can the state not express its gratitude? Confucius observed the minute to comprehend the distant. Even in the Spring and Autumn period, when the rites and music were in disarray, the ancients had such awareness. Now that the country is prosperous, how can we forget the teachings of our ancestors? In the future, the state will reward those who contribute to the country and act bravely for a just cause, so that the military and civilians will not be disheartened. It begins with you, sir."
Pu Yuan was deeply impressed and immediately rose from his seat to express his gratitude, "This old man thanks the Marquis of An Guo for his generous guidance!"
Several weapons were brought forward by the strongmen of the blacksmith family.