Chapter 317: Setting Out on the Journey Again

At this time, the people of the entire Longyan Dynasty were also concerned about the war in the southern border.

The Southern Barbarians captured Jiangzhou, and the people of the nation were all enraged.

The sentiment across the country to request battle was running high.

Since when had the Longyan Dynasty become so weak that it could not even resolve a group of Southern Barbarians? Every day, those Southern Barbarians were slaughtering their compatriots. The scholars and literati of the current age were writing poems of grief every single day.

The Imperial Palace.

It was also arguing incessantly and was in a heated state at this moment.

"Your Highness, the Jingzhou side is watching the fire from across the river; their intentions are punishable!"

"Your Highness, the various noble families of Jiangdong could also rush to aid Chuan Shu!"

"Your Highness..."

A group of civil and military officials were each expressing their own views.

"A bunch of trash!"

Xie Tianyao slammed the Dragon Throne and shouted coldly: "Who is willing to go? I ask you, who is willing to go? Does fighting a war not require money and grain? The national treasury is empty, money and grain are insufficient; I ask you, who is willing to donate their entire family fortune to resist the Southern Barbarians?"

Once these words were spoken, everyone became as silent as cicadas in winter.

Donate their entire family fortune?

Are you joking...

Those places—Jingzhou, Jiangdong, and Shangyong—were all unwilling to send troops precisely because they were afraid of not gaining any benefits from this matter—without benefits, who would rush to aid you?

The Feudal System and Feudal Lord System of the Longyan Dynasty.

They were already struggling to look after themselves; how could they dare to care about the frost on someone else's roof?

Everyone was preserving their own strength, waiting for this old Emperor to pass away, waiting for the world to fall into chaos, and then together grabbing a share of the spoils; this was the most realistic portrayal of the Longyan Dynasty today.

The Feudatory Kings were unwilling to go.

Why should they, these capital officials, donate their family wealth?

Xie Tianyao looked toward his own sons again.

"What about you? Are you willing to send troops to aid?"

Crown Prince Xie Fang said with a bitter face: "Father Emperor, the Crown Prince's Guard has suffered too many losses, this, this, this..."

Xie Ling also lowered his head, not daring to speak for a moment.

Xie Tianyao sneered coldly: "So what is the use of saying these fart words every day! The Prince of Yong in Hanzhong has the heart for Longyan and is sending fifty thousand troops, and Liangzhou is also about to send troops; these are the pillars of my Longyan! If the war in the southern border ceases, you all had better consider how to reward merits!"

After saying this, he had already stood up, and perhaps because he was too angry, his whole body swayed.

Frightened, the few old eunuchs beside him hurriedly supported him, and he left unsteadily.

Finally.

Only these civil and military officials remained, looking at each other in dismay.

There was not a sound.

"Haha, Lord Zhu, are you going to fish in the suburbs at noon today?"

"Yes, yes, yes, let's go together!"

"Yesterday's polo match..."

Once the old Emperor left, these people immediately lost their appearance of worrying about the country and the people, and swaggered out.

Xie Ling, however, looked at the Crown Prince mockingly: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, this Liu Zheng is your man after all... Liangzhou is about to send troops, do you not have any response?"

Xie Fang said coldly: "This matter does not require your concern; rather, Third Brother, you lost Liangzhou, this situation is not looking too good..."

Xie Ling retorted with a sinister smile: "How this matter ends is still unknown; I only fear that the Liangzhou Army is fighting frequently, the province is exhausted, and the hearts of the people are unstable..."

"You..."

The Crown Prince was immediately furious.

Actually, this matter was something everyone could see. In this entire Longyan, except for the Prince of Yong, no one would send troops, yet you in Liangzhou agreed to this? Everyone felt that Governor Liu was truly lacking in reason this time. At this time, he and his father, the Liu Family, having just obtained Liangzhou, should be vigorously promoting internal development.

With the old Emperor Xie Tianyao backing you, what are you afraid of?

Who would have thought...

Once this trouble with the Southern Barbarians arose, you could not help yourself again. Counting the time over this period, this Liangzhou Army could truly be considered an exhausted force. The war against the Xiongnu, the Battle of Hanzhong, the war in the Western Regions—every major battle resulted in huge losses. It was only thanks to having Yintan City behind them, which made money every day, that they could support it; otherwise, an ordinary Feudatory King would really not be able to afford it.

And...

This source of troops was also a big problem.

A Feudatory King or Prefectural Governor could have at most three hundred thousand troops; this was the iron law of the Longyan Dynasty. Even if Governor Liu had the exclusive favor of the Emperor, it was impossible to allow you to hoard more troops.

Therefore.

This overly rapid consumption brought about a gap in the army—the speed of training could not keep up with the speed of dying in battle; how could this be played?

Consequently.

That the Liangzhou military force was exhausted was something everyone knew. Of course, they were also happy to see Liangzhou like this. At a time when everyone was recuperating and building up their energy, Liangzhou's excessive consumption was something they were happy to see.

"Hahahaha, Your Highness the Crown Prince, you should care more about your own lackey!"

Xie Ling successfully angered the Crown Prince and laughed as he strode away.

The outside world was watching the joke.

Liangzhou, however, was very busy.

Upon hearing that Liu Zheng would dispatch an army of one hundred and fifty thousand to aid Shuzhou, those generals in the army all became anxious.

"Young Master, this must not be done!"

"Young Master, the Liangzhou Army should rest..."

"This, years of continuous warfare, the soldiers will certainly be mentally and physically exhausted..."

Liu Zheng did not listen; he naturally knew that these people all meant well. But at this moment, he had to appear arbitrary and dictatorial. Anyone who dared to have any objections would be dismissed from their post!

For a time, the army was filled with complaints.

Resentment and indignation!

Ying Rong and his gang saw this and were naturally very happy, clinking glasses and drinking merrily for several days in a row.

When a great army goes on an expedition, the various matters involved are quite complex.

During these days, these people inevitably became involved in the affairs of military supplies.

Sure enough!

Just as Ying Rong had said, with everyone preparing for war, these military supplies were truly dripping with fat... These supplies were like a piece of fatty meat, passed from one hand to another; it seemed as if no one had cut a piece off, but the grease left on their hands was enough to keep them fat for years.

Inside Liangzhou City.

For a time, demons danced in chaos.

Finally.

Half a month later, the 150,000-strong army was fully equipped and ready to set out.

This time, the whole city saw them off again. The common people cheered like a mountain landslide; since when had their Liangzhou been so dignified? When Shuzhou suffered, it also needed the Liangzhou Army to come to its rescue! This was absolutely the greatest dignity and the greatest confidence a province could have! Resisting the Xiongnu was their Liangzhou Army; conquering the Western Regions was their Liangzhou Army! The Battle of Hanzhong was still their Liangzhou Army!

This time, with the Southern Barbarian invasion, it was still their Liangzhou Army!

A powerful military force was the source of the common people's confidence, sense of honor, and sense of happiness!

The wind blows mournfully, the Yi River is cold; the brave man goes forth, never to return!

Hundreds of thousands of people were shouting, telling them to drive those uncivilized Southern Barbarians back to Dianzhou! Let them taste the mettle of the men of Liangzhou!

At this moment.

The rugged and fierce folk customs of Liangzhou were displayed to the fullest.

Liu Zheng even brought out fine wine to bid farewell to Qin Zhangfeng, Jiang Xuan, and those Liangzhou generals, as well as the 150,000-strong army.

As that 150,000-strong army set out with the rising sun.

It seemed that in an instant, Liangzhou City became empty.