Yuzhang, Liang Xiao returned to his mansion and headed straight for the stable in the backyard.
At this time, the objects of Hong Xiu's care, in addition to Bai Ye Fei Ying, included a sturdy pure white mare and a newborn foal.
This foal had crimson eyes and its build was very much like the young Bai Ye Fei Ying.
A veterinarian from the Shadow Guard assisted Hong Xiu in caring for the foal and the mare, who had just given birth.
This mare was a Heavenly Horse from the Western Regions that Liang Xiao had purchased at great expense, specifically for breeding with Bai Ye Fei Ying. After a year of Hong Xiu's meticulous care, the Heavenly Horse had finally successfully given birth to a foal.
According to Liang Xiao's wishes, even if warhorses might eventually be phased out from the main battlefield, the legend of Bai Long Ying should continue, and its lineage should not be cut off during his tenure as master.
However, according to Hong Xiu and the veterinarian, Bai Ye Fei Ying was in its prime and might have a longer lifespan than ordinary horses, with a longer service period. It might be able to serve normally until the age of fifteen, meaning it could still be in service for over seven years.
"Amitabha, the Marquis of Anguo has not yet named the foal," Hong Xiu said, clasping his hands together.
Liang Xiao pondered for a moment and smiled, "Let's name him Da Gan Long Ying, with the nickname Long Ying. In the future, he might become the mount for my son's generation."
Hong Xiu happily agreed and then pleaded, "Marquis of Anguo, I am already over seventy. To prevent any accidents, we should still add more reliable personnel to care for Fei Ying's family."
Liang Xiao nodded, "The Shadow Guards are dependable. When we return to Jiaozhou, I will have the next generation interact more with Long Ying. Whoever is most suitable for Long Ying at that time will be entrusted with him."
Hong Xiu finally felt at ease.
Liang Xiao looked at the diligently working Hong Xiu and couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.
Hong Xiu did not fear death; he feared that Bai Ye Fei Ying would be left unattended, lose control of its emotions, and cause destruction.
Birth, aging, sickness, and death were natural human experiences. Zhuo Zifang was still in the capital waiting for his triumphant return with his grandson Zhuo Ying, but to ensure the complete success of the recapture of Jiaozhou, the army could not march south immediately...
"My Lord, people from the Marquis's mansion have arrived!"
Yue Qingtian's voice was heard from outside.
Liang Xiao went out to see that it was Jiang Long and others from the Qingtian Guard.
The Qingtian Guard had also traveled from Yanzhou to Yuzhang, continuing their legend.
"Hmm? Why are you here too?"
Liang Xiao's gaze fell upon a tall, male-attired captain behind Yue Qingtian, who was secretly looking at him.
This had to be Yue Wenxin.
Yue Wenxin stammered, "The defense of the Marquis's mansion is handled by Sister Liang (Liang Mingyu), and I wanted to visit my brother-in-law, so His Majesty sent me to protect you..."
"Protect me? I understand," Liang Xiao was momentarily stunned, then smiled.
Yue Wenxin lowered her head and remained silent.
It would be more fitting for the Heavenly General to protect her...
Jiang Long and the others quickly said, "Second Miss has arranged the defense of the Marquis's mansion in an orderly manner, earning the praise of the ladies!"
"I know, of course," Liang Xiao smiled and curled his lips, "However, according to military law, women are not allowed to be in military camps. They can only stay for a brief visit or to see relatives."
"Is that so?" Yue Wenxin looked down dejectedly.
Liang Xiao explained, "This is to protect female soldiers and strictly prohibit them from entering the battlefield. Da Gan soldiers defend their homes and country precisely to protect the elderly, the weak, women, and children. How can we allow women to step forward? While your marksmanship is exquisite, the dangers of the current battlefield are far greater than before, so exceptions cannot be made."
"Alright..." Yue Wenxin became even more disheartened.
Liang Xiao saw her disappointment and felt a pang of sympathy. He said, "It's good that you stay at the mansion. You can lead a team to patrol the streets, apprehend spies, and provide relief to the common people."
Yue Wenxin's beautiful eyes lit up, "Brother-in-law is so kind~"
A female captain appeared in Yuzhang City, often leading her team to patrol the streets, arrange relief for hardship-stricken commoners, and distribute cotton-padded clothes.
"This wife of the Marquis of Anguo is truly a reincarnation of a Bodhisattva!"
Every time Yue Wenxin heard the commoners praise her, her heart would flutter, but she dared not explain.
This was an agreement with her unscrupulous older sisters; they had forbidden her to explain, or she wouldn't be allowed to come. They had anticipated such 'misunderstandings' long ago!
Yue Wenxin couldn't help but mutter: These older sisters, before they married brother-in-law, must have been 'misunderstood' by the commoners quite a bit?
Qin Feng, far away in Daliang, controlled civil and military officials internally, strictly prohibiting the exploitation of the common people. He proactively allowed historians to write truthfully, recording his own exercise of power. He even permitted these aristocratic families, who had been suppressed, to spread rumors about him widely, only explaining his bottom line to the officials.
"I allow you to criticize, but if your actions cause the common people to suffer collateral damage, regardless of rank, you will be torn asunder by chariots!"
Facing Qin Feng's high-pressure rule, the local officials had resigned from their posts. However, these important central positions were still precious to the aristocratic families, so they could only engage in minor covert actions.
In the face of the growing chaos in Daliang's local cities, Qin Feng never compromised with them due to the local officials' resignation.
Daliang, facing the invasion of the allied forces of the southern natives and the Rejuvenation Cult, also mobilized troops for concentrated suppression.
While consolidating internal affairs and repelling external threats, Qin Feng also sent envoys to Da Gan, hoping to mend relations between the two countries and offering to compensate for all losses.
In the imperial bedchamber, Zhi Rou had changed back into her princess attire and was leaning in Qin Feng's embrace, her expression sorrowful.
Her Qin Lang was brewing a change, one that might lead to an irrecoverable path.
"If the nation is in turmoil and beyond salvation in the future, at the final moment, I will personally lead the troops to kill all the aristocratic families, sparing only women and children, and completely eradicate the root of the suffering for the people of Daliang," Qin Feng said, his tone as calm as usual.
Zhi Rou spoke with grief, "I seem to have foreseen how future history books will judge you, Qin Lang. They will fabricate stories, saying you eat people, perhaps even raw, and might even invent that your army uses a kind of stone mortar to pound living people to death for consumption... Even if the accounts are absurd and defy common sense, future generations will still believe them!"
Qin Feng smiled wryly, "After that day when Father Emperor described the vision of the Northern King, I finally understand why Father Emperor took the First Ancestor of Da Gan as a role model. The greatness of the First Ancestor of Da Gan far exceeds our comprehension."
"How can you say that?" Zhi Rou asked, perplexed.
Qin Feng opened a historical record of Da Gan and pointed to the text, sighing deeply.
"Since the founding of Da Gan, peasant uprisings have inevitably occurred in various regions from time to time. In previous dynasties, these rebels would be labeled as traitors and vilified to the extreme, accused of cannibalism, rape, and pillage. Only the First Ancestor of Da Gan left an ancestral instruction: future historians must not criticize peasant uprisings, nor should they slander the leaders of the rebel armies."
"When I read this passage, I was perplexed for a long time. Only now have I fully understood. The First Ancestor of Da Gan once told his civil and military officials that he began his rebellion by slaying a serpent, overthrowing the tyranny of Da Heng. However, he deeply understood that if he had been defeated and killed at that time, he would have also been slandered and demonized as a cannibal by the historians of Da Heng. Therefore, he hoped that historians would put an end to this absurd cycle."
"If you search through historical records, how many literati throughout history have not represented the interests of their own class? If the common people had not been unable to live, why would they risk death to rebel? But the literati of the imperial court have always recorded history from the perspective of the emperor, landlords, gentry, and aristocratic families. Therefore, the rebel armies of all dynasties have always been depicted as brutal. It turns out they were simply offended these classes, just like me. These classes do not eat people, but they are worse than eating people."
"Facing history squarely and pitying the common people, this is the true foundation of Da Gan's nation-building, the true way to win over hearts with virtue. With the First Ancestor of Da Gan, Zhuo Mingfeng, and Gongsun Wuji in the past, and the Holy Emperor of Da Gan and Liang Xiao in the present, such a nation may fall into temporary difficulties, but it is destined to be invincible."