Newbie needs some help on a 'Home' Ambisonics Set up

Hey all, I'm looking to create a 'Home' style 2nd order ambisonics (something I've been researching into recently but am still very much a newbie with) 8 speaker cube set up, But I'm very new to Home A/V and Home Theater set ups via a PC. I think I have an understanding of how to do it but would like any pointing out of errors please.

Is this work flow right?

PC -> Multiple mono audio files (Instead of existing B-format material, so I could essentially create my own B-Format stuff) -> Ambisonic Panner (Pan/Automate the sounds around a virtual sphere)-> Ambisonic Decoder plug in (I'm using Wigware in Reaper currently) -> Multiple 7.1 soundcards (for example, two) -> Speakers/Subwoofer

Do I need to encode the mono files together into B Format using an Encoder plug in before they can be decoded to speakers, or will the Ambisonic Panning automatically create B Format?

Will Windows just detect both soundcards and treat them as a combined potential '14.2' output? I.e. can they just stack or 'gang' on top of each other?

This is all very confusing for a newbie and there aren't that many beginners articles available on the subject.

Thanks for any advice!