Chapter 32: Even a Celestial Being

"He... he actually lifted it! And with one hand??"

Wu Ping’s eyes seemed as if they were about to pop out of their sockets. Zhongli Wanxue and the others were equally dumbfounded, watching as Liang Xiao carried the bronze tripod onto the stage.

"Clang!"

It wasn't until the heavy bronze vessel hit the ground that the dull thud finally shook the onlookers from their stupor.

"That tripod must weigh several thousand catties, right? No, ten thousand!" The commoners whispered among themselves, filled with awe.

In the Wu Dynasty, the weight of the "Tripod of Sovereignty" was a major taboo. These tripods, which symbolized military authority, were distributed throughout the regions, though their weights varied. The weight of the Peixian tripod was rarely known; some thought it weighed mere dozens of catties, while others believed it to be thousands. But those with a discerning eye could see that it took four burly men to lift it together, meaning it was easily hundreds of catties.

Liang Xiao remained composed. He swept a cold gaze toward the distant Wu Ping and spoke in a resounding voice.

"Our dynasty's Founding Emperor rose from Peixian to suppress tyranny, uprooting the strong to aid the weak, and ultimately established this nation through military might. Everything I do now is for the sake of the people: executing corrupt officials, raising a righteous army, protecting our borders, and bringing peace to the people. With the Founding Emperor and all the past monarchs watching from the heavens, how could they not bless us?"

Wu Ping, having brought shame upon himself, turned from pale to green. He dared not meet Liang Xiao’s eyes, let alone offer a retort.

"The Magistrate is truly a god among men!"
"It must be the Founding Emperor sensing the Magistrate's heart for the people and bestowing his protection!"

The officials to his sides, the new and veteran soldiers on the stage, and the surrounding crowd were all filled with reverence, bowing or kowtowing, their praises endless.

"How could an ordinary man lift the tripod with one hand? Could he really be under the Founding Emperor's protection, or did he secretly replace the tripod with a fake beforehand..." Wu Ping felt a shiver of terror.

"How is he so formidable..." Zhongli Wanxue gazed at him, her eyes filled with yearning. He was the only one who dared to execute the Left Wise King of the Xiongnu under the cover of night!

Seeing the soldiers and citizens bowing in submission, Liang Xiao announced in a loud voice:

"Peixian will screen five thousand soldiers. The final combat troop quota is tentatively set at three thousand; they will undergo training and assist with farming when necessary! The remaining two thousand will be responsible for logistics and land reclamation."

"There are over five thousand applicants today. I will personally select some for enlistment; the rest should return home and await official notice. There is still a chance! Even if you are not chosen, the fortification of the city walls and the expansion of the city district are urgent matters—there is no shortage of work!"

Five thousand men? And even those who aren't chosen can work on building the city? The crowd was both surprised and delighted. Three thousand combat troops, two thousand logistics soldiers, supplemented by farming... counting the existing fifteen hundred garrison troops, that meant Liang Xiao might recruit up to thirty-five hundred new soldiers today! Their chances of enlistment were high! The Magistrate’s intent was clear.

Even if someone wasn't chosen today, they could return as reserves. If Liang Xiao didn't reach his desired five thousand, he might re-select from those who had been turned away.

Zhongli Wanxue watched from afar as Liang Xiao began arranging the selection process, growing more fond of him by the moment. She had originally used the excuse of accompanying her mother to watch the spectacle, but seeing his heroic spirit, she felt even more determined to facilitate a partnership between her family and him.

"Mother, we must make Father believe that he is a dragon among men, someone who can surely bring order to these chaotic times..." Zhongli Wanxue whispered earnestly.

The capital appeared to be in a golden age, with praises of peace echoing everywhere, but she and her family knew the true state of the Wu Dynasty. Chaotic times were approaching! This was why her father had never dared to openly support Liang Xiao. If the world descended into chaos, the Zhongli family might be able to spend their way to safety or seek the protection of powerful aristocrats. But if they offended the great noble families, they would not only lose that protection but might become the first sacrificial lamb on the chopping block.

Madam Qin understood perfectly and sighed, "When we go back, we will properly suggest it to your father..."

Zhongli Wanxue’s face lit up, and she whispered a coquettish thank you to her mother, though a trace of regret remained in her heart. How she wished she could accompany him onto the battlefield, even if it were just to watch his heroic figure from afar! Such a fine man—how could Situ Luoyue, who was touted as a heroine among women, be so blind as to betray him?

Wu Ping, peeking at the mother and daughter from afar, felt a surge of shock and anger. *Could she be interested in that pretty boy, Liang Xiao? How could such a fine woman take a liking to such a ruthless and bloodthirsty man...*

The hostile glares from the surrounding crowd made Wu Ping feel very uneasy. He realized that his deliberate mockery of Liang Xiao had made him look like a fool, and he might even be charged with "spreading rumors to incite the masses"! Under the disgusted gaze of the soldiers and commoners, Wu Ping had no choice but to tuck his tail and leave.

On Liang Xiao’s desk lay two stacks of rosters. One stack consisted of those with clear family ties in Peixian—parents, siblings, or children. The other stack consisted of those with uncertain backgrounds, or perhaps only elderly parents without children. This was a consideration for recruitment; having relatives in the area effectively reduced the risk of rebellion or being bought off by political rivals. Of course, this didn't mean those on the second list couldn't be used. Aside from necessary logistical roles, there was land reclamation, farming, and city construction—all of which were in dire need of manpower. Providing these vagrants with a livelihood would significantly reduce the crime rate and ensure stability in Peixian.

With the spring plowing yet to begin, reclaiming the vast tracts of farmland abandoned during the wars was a matter of extreme urgency. People like Yuan Bailong certainly didn't care about things that didn't yield immediate profit, as long as it didn't interfere with their own money-making. Even if land reclamation could provide sustained benefits, it would only lower the land value for big landowners like them, making them even less pleased.

Undoubtedly, Yuan Bailong had left him a massive mess, but it was not without a solution. If things could be set right, the land around Peixian was quite fertile and held great potential.

Zhongli Wanxue had already quietly accompanied her mother home to find Zhongli Xiu. She could foresee that under Liang Xiao’s leadership, Peixian would surely move toward prosperity. The prerequisite was that Peixian remained free from war, which was a difficult prospect. All she could do was strive to secure her family's support for Liang Xiao as quickly as possible—which was also support for the people of Peixian.

That day, Liang Xiao personally selected recruits at the Wuzhen military camp. All the applicants waited in anticipation, hoping to catch his eye. Even if they couldn't achieve great glory, the tax breaks, a steady supply of food, and subsidies sufficient to support their families were an unprecedented attraction.

In the main hall of the Zhongli estate, Madam Qin personally recounted what she had seen at the camp to her husband, Zhongli Xiu. Zhongli Xiu and his son, Zhongli Qingfeng, looked at each other, both stunned.

"That tripod weighs several hundred catties, and he really lifted it with one hand..."

The father and son stared intently, glancing at Zhongli Wanxue, a thought beginning to dawn on them. The White Horse and Silver Spear... Zhongli Wanxue had once mentioned that the warrior who slew the Xiongnu Left Wise King by night carried a silver spear with a red tassel and a black-hilted sword, a completely different person from Sima Lingyun, who rode a black horse and carried a red-tasseled spear with a black-hilted sword. Looking at how much this girl cared for Liang Xiao, the answer was obvious.

Zhongli Xiu fell into a long silence; the hall was quiet enough to hear a pin drop. Zhongli Wanxue sat to the side, feeling anxious. After a long while, Zhongli Xiu finally spoke, but only with a sigh.

"He said he wants to recruit five thousand soldiers, even more than estimated. By common logic, this would do more harm than good to Peixian’s production!"

Zhongli Wanxue couldn't help but look disappointed. Had she failed to convince her father after all?

Zhongli Xiu continued, "But you both said that the other portion of troops will be responsible for land reclamation and farming, and the applicants not selected will likely be hired by him to build the city walls... This young man has a very clear mind and can always accomplish multiple goals with a single move. He is indeed a rare talent!"