To achieve immortality, I cultivate using Qi Luck

Chapter 1100: Chapter 446 Yangzhou Raiders_3 Chapter 1100: Chapter 446 Yangzhou Raiders_3 “Grand General.”

Sun Siwen looked at his increasingly outstanding junior, who he treated as a disciple, and couldn’t help but reveal a smile.

“I came to see the Grand General this time to discuss the matter of the South Sea pirates landing ashore.”

After the greeting, the two entered the Grand General’s residence, and on the way, Sun Siwen explained his purpose for the visit.

Zhou Qing smiled and said, “Coincidentally, I was also just about to seek out Minister Sun to discuss sending troops to Lingnan to suppress the maritime pirates and barbarians.”

Sun Siwen was slightly surprised.

“May I know what strategies the Grand General has in mind?”

Zhou Qing pondered and said, “The regions of Lingnan and the southwest, although a large number of civilians have been relocated to the Central State, His Majesty has not given up on these areas.

In both places, the county cities of each prefecture and some important mountain passes still have troops garrisoned, and a portion of the civilians was left to produce and cultivate the land to supply military necessities.

Thus, with these stronghold cities in place, the trend of the pirates deeply infiltrating the heartland of Great Chu has been curbed, forcing them to refrain from venturing too deeply inland before eliminating these city strongholds.

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This clearly shows His Majesty’s foresight in insisting on retaining these city strongholds despite, opposition at the time.”

Zhou Qing bowed to the north with his hands clasped, his face filled with admiration.

Originally, when Lu Yuan had the civilians relocated, whether to abandon the regions of the southwest and Lingnan altogether had sparked a heated debate within the country.

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Many believed that since the civilians had moved away, the large barren regions had lost all their value.

Garrisoning troops and maintaining a presence there not only wasted money and provisions but also left the army isolated, potentially leading to defeat amidst the barbarians.

Had it not been for Lu Yuan overwhelming opposing views, asserting the emperor’s authority, and forcefully implementing this policy to retain those stronghold cities in the south,

the situation there today would have truly been difficult to manage.

However, compared to Zhou Qing’s view that Lu Yuan had foresight,

the actual situation was slightly different.

The reason Lu Yuan insisted on retaining these regions was mainly because he couldn’t bear to part with the vast amounts of Qi Luck brought by the southwest and Lingnan.

The combined southwest and Lingnan comprised more than eight prefectures of territory, and the Qi Luck provided by such a large area was substantial.

If lost all at once, it would have nearly reduced Lu Yuan’s existing Qi Luck by a fifth.

Such a big loss was naturally unacceptable to him.

Therefore, to maximize the Qi Luck these lands brought, he preferred to face a higher expenditure of money and provisions and greater risks, just to keep garrisons and civilians in the major cities and towns of Lingnan.

He did it to maintain nominal rule over these regions, scraping together Qi Luck.

Who would have thought that what was once a single-minded pursuit for Qi Luck would turn out to be a blessing in disguise, achieving an unexpected effect.

This was an accidental gain as well.

But to outsiders, this was not seen as any selfishness, but as the Emperor’s great wisdom and martial prowess, further proving the depth of the Emperor’s vision, inspiring even more admiration and awe.

“Initially, His Majesty instructed that each county city and capital in the south should retain at least fifty thousand soldiers, with two hundred thousand civilians reserved for cultivation needs.

There are eighteen countries in the southwest and Lingnan combined, which makes for eighteen county cities and capitals.

According to these instructions, that’s a total garrison of nine hundred thousand troops and three point six million settlers.

Among these eighteen strongholds, the southern frontline cities of South Sea Prefecture, Nanhai City, Yulin County, Yulin City, Jiuzhen County, Songping City, Capital of Dali, Capital of Nanzhao, Capital of Song, Capital of Fuchuan, Capital of Lanzhao, and other eight cities,

each have an Inborn General stationed and generally have one hundred thousand soldiers assigned for defense.

The number of settlers is accordingly increased by two hundred thousand people.

And right now, it is these eight frontline cities that are being hit by the maritime pirates and barbarians.

The defenders of the many strongholds in the south all come from the settlers.

They defend the cities as if their own homes, thus they are determined to fight to the death, refusing to fear combat or retreat.”

In terms of military morale and spirit, it’s still assured.

At the same time, among the settlers, there are quite a few idle strong men.

These men have also intensified their training over the past two years, learning martial skills and military formations, and when mustered, they can also be quite useful.

On the frontline, calculating based on four hundred thousand settlers per city, and subtracting one adult male per household, aside from the fifty thousand troops, each city can still muster an additional thirty thousand soldiers, bolstering their forces even more.

With one Inborn General and eighty thousand soldiers, defending a major city,

even if the enemy attacks with three to five hundred thousand soldiers, the city can still be held for two to three months, ensuring the city doesn’t fall.

Moreover, the eight cities on the frontline support each other, forming a perimeter; if one city is in trouble, the surrounding cities can come to its aid.

In such a situation, conquering the cities becomes even harder.

In the short term, the eight cities on the frontline are absolutely out of danger.”

Zhou Qing first analyzed the situation.

Listening to his gradual explanation, Sun Siwen, who was originally somewhat worried, also felt much relieved.

Then he listened as he continued.

“However, as the maritime pirates and barbarians infiltrate further, their strength and numbers are increasingly great.

One never knows when the circumstances could turn into what happened in Central State, with a massive army of a million attacking a single city.

This arrangement is sufficient against previous conditions, but now it certainly will be found wanting.”

Zhou Qing was not blindly optimistic but made adjustments after observing the severe changes in the southern situation.

“Therefore, I’ve decided to pull another thirty thousand soldiers from each of the remaining ten strongholds behind those eight frontline cities to supplement the forces of the frontline eight.

This will enrich the military strength of these frontline cities.

As for the troops that these cities are missing, they will be replenished by local settlers.

Even though these settlers are both soldiers and farmers, and their combat ability is inferior to the full-time Prefectures and Counties soldiers, it’s marginally sufficient for city defense, especially with the belief in protecting their homes.

And among the Inborn Grandmasters left in reserve within the country, an additional five will be selected and sent to the five most critical cities on the frontline to strengthen the top-level force.

Moreover, from the two large areas of the southwest and Lingnan, another four cities will be chosen among the ten strongholds in the rear, and four Inborn Generals from the country will be assigned to station there.

When enemies infiltrate the rear, these four Inborn Generals at the strongholds can lead troops to eliminate them.”

During desperate times on the frontline, they can also lead Inborn generals to provide support, averting immediate crises.

If the frontline can’t be stabilized, with these buffers, it will be enough for us within the country to react in time, pulling together more reinforcements to rush to the rescue.”

Zhou Qing slowly spoke of his strategy.