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Chapter 1083: Chapter 441: Strategy of Division Chapter 1083: Chapter 441: Strategy of Division Zhou Country, Imperial Palace.

“So you’re saying that in the new Emperor’s Xian An, a coup has taken place, and the sixth prince, Liang Mingyu, who was the least regarded in the struggle for succession, has killed three of his brothers and now coerced the important ministers who fled to Xian An into preparing to ascend to the throne?”

Lu Yuan looked down at Guo Yishou, the commander of the Imperial City’s external division, who had rushed to report, and asked with a frown.

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Guo Yishou was a disciple of his and had always been practicing within the system of the Imperial City division, but because his cultivation was not high, he had been mixing in the middle and high levels without reaching the top.

However, after Lu Yuan successively eliminated Ning Country, Western Liang Country, and subjugated the Barbarians, the Southwest, Lingnan and other countries, he seized the opportunity to collect a large quantity of Divine Blood Elixirs.

Then, seeing that the Imperial City division had always lacked high-end combat power for deterrence, he selected a group, cultivated some trusted disciples, and placed two individuals who had made a breakthrough to Inborn among the commanders of the inner and outer divisions of the Imperial City.

Guo Yishou was one of those lucky few.

“Replying to Your Majesty, the events indeed transpired as such,”

Guo Yishou seriously responded to his sovereign and master’s question, “Now, King Rui of Liang Country, Liang Mingyu, has already taken control of the entire Xian An City, and the commandant of Donglai County is controlled by remnants of Zhou Country who are supporters of King Rui.

In addition, the seven hundred thousand troops of Liang in Jiaodong County are also half under King Rui’s control.

Plus, with the three hundred thousand soldiers led by He Ba Yuan from the coup, the forces in King Rui’s hands total at least a million.

In terms of strength, he is currently the strongest within the territory of Liang Country.”

Hearing this, Lu Yuan’s eyes flickered slightly before he asked, “Aside from Xian An, Donglai, Jiaodong and other cities and counties, how do the other areas of Liang Country view this coup?”

Source: .com, updated on ƝονǤο.с0

Today’s Liang Country, after continuous setbacks, had its territory greatly reduced.

Until now, it was left with only four prefectures: Donglai, Jiaodong, Yingling, and Jiaoxi.

Although King Rui controls the new Imperial Capital, his influence only extends to a maximum of those two prefectures, which is just half of the current territory of Liang Country.

By taking control of Xian An, it does indicate that he has the qualifications to declare himself Emperor and he has the biggest advantage among all the princes.

However, it doesn’t ensure that he truly controls the overall situation.

At the very least, if the other two prefectures decide not to acknowledge him as King Rui and instead wish to push forward another prince or royal uncle to succeed the throne,

then Liang Mingyu would have no means at all.

What he can control is just the two prefectures and the million soldiers.

The remaining forces of Liang Country in the two other prefectures, in terms of strength, are not any weaker than him as King Rui.

In fact, if they join forces, they might even be stronger by a margin.

So if anyone does not submit, the already miserable and downtrodden Liang Country could be faced with a brutal internal war.

If such a war breaks out, wouldn’t it provide an opportunity for other powers to interfere?

Lu Yuan was asking this with an agenda in mind.

He was considering whether he could divide and win over factions within Liang Country that were outside of King Rui’s camp.

Whether he let them invite wolves into their house or simply took the chance to reclaim the territory, it would make the third Northern Expedition he was planning to launch next year, aimed at the destruction of Liang Country, a lot smoother.

If he made such a promise, it would at least save two to three months of time and reduce the casualties by several hundred thousand.

Such a beneficial and cost-free option was naturally enticing.

Guo Yishou was aware of what his emperor desired but could only respond with a bitter smile and a shake of his head to the inquiry, “Your Majesty, apart from King Rui’s faction, there are still two major forces within Liang Country.

One of them is led by the renowned general of Liang Country, Yan Yunqing, commanding the former southern border troops.

These border troops were originally stationed at the Shanyang and Rencheng frontlines, with a number in the range of one million three or four hundred thousand.

However, after the Liang army suffered a major defeat in Rencheng Prefecture and Shanyang County was later breached by our forces, the Liang troops suffered heavy losses and ultimately only about four hundred thousand managed to escape, essentially crippling them.

But afterward, Yan Yunqing successively received some of the refugees from Liang Prefecture, Shanyang, Rencheng, and other places who fled our way, and he organized and governed them, drafting the men into the military.

Later, he managed to gather another hundred thousand or so.

Then, through conscription in the Jiaoxi Prefecture where they were stationed, he gained another three hundred thousand.

So now, the military strength under Yan Yunqing’s control in Jiaoxi Prefecture has recovered to about seven hundred thousand.

However, among these seven hundred thousand, fifty thousand are the old and the weak, those below fifteen or above sixty years of age.

Out of the remaining two hundred thousand, another hundred thousand are civilian workers conscripted into the military.

The troops of Jiaoxi Prefecture in Liang army that are truly capable of fighting number only one hundred thousand elite soldiers.

In addition to these troops, the Liang forces in Jiaoxi Prefecture include the renowned general Yan Yunqing and five Inborn Grandmasters.

These mentioned are the main strength of the Liang army in that area.

Although they are considered strong, their strength is still inferior to King Rui, and more importantly, their logistical support of food and fodder is firmly in the hands of Xian An City.

Their chances of successfully resisting King Rui are slim.

Moreover, Yan Yunqing and King Rui’s general He Ba Yuan, during the war against Tang forces in Donglai County last year, had cooperated and fought side by side.

It is said that during the Great War, He Ba Yuan was highly favored by Yan Yunqing for his contributions, and Yan Yunqing played a role in He Ba Yuan’s rise to power.

Their relationship is like that of a teacher and student, father and son.

Based on this relationship of brotherhood, plus the fact that King Rui already controls the overall situation, as long as Yan Yunqing doesn’t want Liang Country to fall, he certainly won’t rebel.

I assume he has already received the news and may have already sent a Messenger to Xian An City to express his loyalty.”