Until Lü Yi led Liang Xiao and others onto the high platform, the soldiers stopped their whispered conversations and resumed their usual solemnity.
Lü Yi was known for his strictness in governing the army. Even if they didn't show respect to Liang Xiao, they wouldn't dare to act carelessly.
However, over half of the soldiers had complex expressions, their gazes fixed on Liang Xiao beside Lü Yi, a sense of unease lingering in their hearts.
He was dressed in white, and while his physique was imposing, he was undeniably a scholar!
To avoid angering Lü Yi and for the sake of triple the salary, everyone chose to endure.
Lü Yi looked down at the soldiers and said loudly, "We will handle this by the book! Before Marquis An Guo speaks, this commander hopes all soldiers will understand one principle: Without Marquis An Guo's selection, you would merely be ordinary elite soldiers, with no chance of receiving triple salary!"
As soon as his voice fell, the crowd below responded in unison, "Thank you, Marquis An Guo!"
They naturally understood this principle, which was why they didn't rush to question Liang Xiao.
Lü Yi stepped aside to rest, but not before glancing at Dugu Yuncheng and the others watching from the distance below the platform. His gaze seemed to convey to Dugu Yuncheng: Don't look at me, I'm handling this by the book.
Dugu Yuncheng was extremely annoyed but dared not act out.
Lü Yi's action was to support Liang Xiao, but the excuse of "handling it by the book" was too grand to be refuted, and they had no grounds to impeach him.
Liang Xiao walked to the front of the platform and surveyed the ten thousand elite soldiers.
Compared to the newly recruited Qingtian Guards, these elite soldiers selected from the northern frontier army clearly possessed a more formidable aura.
Liang Xiao keenly sensed the complicated expressions on everyone's faces and smiled, "Once you enter the army, I am the Zhen Dong General of Da Gan. You shall address me as General and Commander!"
The soldiers' eyes lit up.
"This General, bearing the Emperor's token, slew Dugu Ling in the East Sea. You have all likely heard of it. That Dugu Ling defied orders. Henceforth, if any of you wish to defy orders, first consider how you compare to Dugu Ling."
A seemingly casual sentence, yet it inexplicably carried endless coldness and authority.
The three armies fell silent!
Beside him, Lü Changhe and Lü Yi stared at Liang Xiao, their hands trembling slightly.
Once Liang Xiao raised his voice... he already possessed the demeanor of a Heavenly General!
Unlike the astonishment of the Lü father and son, the soldiers below showed respectful expressions: "We dare not!"
They were merely ordinary soldiers, and the highest-ranked among them were only colonels or auxiliary generals!
And Liang Xiao was still leading troops by imperial decree. They were uncertain if he had completely grasped the power of life and death over everyone in this army...
"Very good! His Majesty has specially granted me the authority to manage this army independently, free from the jurisdiction of anyone except His Majesty. From this moment on, you and I will form a new legion, named 'Da Gan Iron Guard'! The first article of military law: Absolute obedience during wartime and training. Those who disobey the Legion Commander's orders will be beheaded!"
Da Gan Iron Guard! Absolute obedience!
Everyone was secretly astonished.
Free from the jurisdiction of anyone except the Emperor?
That would mean even Lü Yi couldn't control Liang Xiao?
Lü Yi stood by the side calmly, showing no displeasure, even a smile.
He had, of course, seen Xiao Qing's imperial decree and didn't care about such minor matters, especially since Liang Xiao had convinced him with the Que Yue formation and military law.
Because of the movable type printing technology provided by Liang Xiao, Lü Yi was secretly delighted!
With Lü Yi having no objections, the soldiers below dared not oppose either.
Liang Xiao read out the military laws in public, his hands empty, yet he recited them one by one.
Lü Yi, Lü Changhe, and Nan Jiyun exchanged shocked glances: The several thousand characters of military law that Liang Xiao recited were identical to the content in the manuals they had received!
A prodigy!
"Frozen to death but not to dismantle houses, starved to death but not to pillage?"
It wasn't until Liang Xiao recited the tenth and final article that the soldiers below exchanged bewildered glances.
During times of war and chaos, when military supplies were scarce, it was inevitable for some to resort to looting from the populace, or even killing. This was a persistent problem.
Yet, Liang Xiao forbade the army from seizing civilian property at any time, even a single egg, under penalty of death!
After finishing the military laws, Liang Xiao said sternly, "Lastly, this General will emphasize again, military law is as unyielding as a mountain, and cannot be disobeyed! Otherwise, dismissal from the army is a minor matter; for serious offenses, immediate execution on the spot!"
The soldiers trembled, finally understanding why there was triple salary.
It wasn't that easy!
Liang Xiao's Qingtian Guards received five taels of salary, higher than theirs. After all, the Qingtian Guards were his retainers, strictly speaking, his private soldiers, but they were private soldiers personally supported by imperial decree.
Private soldiers did not enter the national military registry and had almost no chance of promotion. Therefore, even though they received a bit more pay, the ten thousand elite soldiers of the northern frontier army felt no psychological imbalance.
Lü Yi and Lü Changhe watched the stern-talking Liang Xiao, then exchanged glances, lost in thought.
So alike!
Was it truly just an illusion brought by the protection of the Heavenly General?
Jian Qinwan, dressed in coarse linen and disguised as a man, stood behind Liang Xiao, her heart pounding: He actually possesses the talent and courage to lead troops, not just a mere scholar!
But soon, Jian Qinwan worried again: If Liang Xiao isn't the Heavenly General, he will eventually have to lead troops into battle. Will he have the Heavenly General's protection forever?
Moreover, these ten articles of military law were more complex and strict than those of the northern frontier army!
How would they be implemented?
Dugu Yuncheng and the soldiers of the Dugu family watched Liang Xiao's figure on the high platform with cold eyes, their hearts burning with anger.
Dugu Ling was one of the few members of the Dugu family to hold military power, and he was slain by Liang Xiao. Not only was his family's property confiscated, but he was now used as an example to intimidate everyone!
The court's fourth-rank official, the de facto emperor of the East Sea for over a decade, was beheaded by Liang Xiao. Who among these ten thousand men would dare to follow Dugu Ling's path?
This army was meticulously selected by Lü Yi, the cream of the crop, with individual combat power not inferior to the White Robe Army. Once controlled by Liang Xiao, the consequences could be imagined!
Facing the increasingly popular and influential Liang Xiao, Dugu Yuncheng was now as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, yet utterly helpless. He could only pray that Liang Xiao wouldn't lead the troops into battle and make a mess of things.
He wanted to retort to Liang Xiao at this moment, but what if Liang Xiao produced another imperial token from somewhere?
What was the use of being a third-rank official in the Ministry of War? Dugu Yuncheng dared not gamble his life on whether Liang Xiao would dare to behead him as well...
Listening to Liang Xiao's authoritative speech, Dugu Yuncheng's heart sank deeper.
With this display, he intended to firmly control these ten thousand men. Even if he had planted some of his own people among them, it would be difficult to find opportunities to stir up trouble in the future!
Nan Jiyun and Liang Zhan, the household retainers of the Liang Mansion, had also been appointed by Liang Xiao as deputy legion commanders of the Da Gan Iron Guard.
Now, even Nan Jiyun had an opportunity to prove himself!
Lü Yi listened to Liang Xiao issuing orders, his heart growing more astonished: "He seems to have made arrangements long ago?"
Whether it was slaying Dugu Ling in the East Sea or recommending Nan Jiyun, it all seemed like Liang Xiao had prepared specifically for this day!
Normally, entrusting the army to Nan Jiyun's care was acceptable to Liang Xiao and also to him, Lü Yi. At least for now, Liang Xiao definitely harbored no ill intentions, and Nan Jiyun, who was filled with thoughts of the nation and its people, was even less likely to do so.
Now, Lü Yi only wanted to know how powerful these ten thousand men would be under Liang Xiao's command in the future?
He just hoped they wouldn't be mere armchair strategists who would constantly get themselves killed on the battlefield...
"Greetings, Legion Commander!"
After Liang Xiao finished his speech, the ten thousand Da Gan Iron Guards knelt on one knee towards Liang Xiao, their respect overflowing.
From this moment on, they were the Da Gan Iron Guard, and Liang Xiao's orders took precedence even over Marshal Lü Yi's!
Liang Xiao looked satisfied and asked everyone to rise, then said, "This General has finished speaking. You are now permitted to raise your hands and ask any questions you wish."
As soon as his voice fell, the crowd below exchanged glances.
After a moment, someone couldn't resist raising their hand.
Dugu Yuncheng smiled: It was someone he had arranged!
"Commander, I wish to ask, you are the Marquis An Guo of our Da Gan, known throughout the world for your exceptional talent, a shining example among scholars! The battlefield is perilous, why do you come to lead troops? You will have to fight battles in the future, won't you? Can you lead us to charge into battle?"