NOVGO.NET Chapter 799 - Chapter 799: Chapter 346: Changes in Various Countries
Chapter 799: Chapter 346: Changes in Various Countries
The preparations for Chu State’s Southern Expedition were in full swing.
This expedition was expected to mobilize sixty thousand forbidden troops and one hundred thousand vassal state troops.
Such a large number of troops would consume over one hundred thousand stones of grain per month. Including civilian workers for grain transportation, the total would be several hundred thousand stones.
It was impossible to conceal such a large-scale transport of supplies and personnel.
Therefore, when these clues were exposed and collected by those who were interested, the surrounding forces immediately drew a conclusion.
The conclusion was that after the battle of Hanzhong, Chu State did not intend to stop, but planned to start a new war.
Moreover, this war was not small in scale, involving the mobilization of hundreds of thousands of people, almost equivalent to a national war.
After the news spread, it immediately aroused the attention and tension of many people, especially those small countries in Lingnan.
Based on the existing evidence, the troops mobilized by Chu State were probably between one hundred and two hundred thousand.
With such an army, they couldn’t attack Zhou Country’s Xiangyang and Nanyang in the north, as the stationed troops there numbered over two hundred thousand. Together with civilian workers, they could easily have four to five hundred thousand people.
With such a formidable strength, unless Chu State devoted its entire force to the north, it would not be able to take this region.
Therefore, Zhou Country was naturally excluded from the target list.
The same logic applied to Ning Country in the east.
Ning Country bordered Chu State’s Xiangyang and Yuzhang prefectures.
Xiangyang Prefecture in the north consisted of three municipalities. After years of continuous reinforcements, Ning Country had stationed about one hundred thousand troops and fifty thousand naval forces in Xia Kou.
As for Yuzhang Prefecture, there was no need to say anything more.
Inside the Pengli Camp of Yuzhang, there were two hundred and fifty thousand soldiers, as well as fifty thousand naval forces. On the border with Chu State, there were also about one hundred thousand stationed soldiers.
With a combined force of five hundred and fifty thousand troops covering both water and land, even if all of Chu State was sacrificed, it might not be able to break this hard bone.
Therefore, Ning Country could not be Chu State’s target either.
With this in mind, the problem arose.
Since Zhou Country wasn’t the target in the north, and Ning Country wasn’t the target in the east, and their vassal state was in the west, Chu State’s remaining target could only be the Lingnan region in the south.
After all, compared to the surrounding major forces, the small countries in Lingnan were indeed the best targets.
Nanhai Country was plagued by internal corruption, full of senseless soldiers, with an army that had long fallen into disrepair. There were not many competent troops within the entire country, and they lacked an Inborn Grandmaster.
Su Country was weak, although it had an Inborn Grandmaster and a strong army, it simply couldn’t last long, and it couldn’t possibly pose a challenge to Chu State.
As for Song Country?
It was a remote and barren country that couldn’t amount to much either.
After synthesizing all the intelligence, the outsiders had to admit that if Chu State wanted to expand, the three countries of Lingnan were indeed the best targets.
And if they could take these three countries, Chu State could immediately expand its territory by tens of thousands of miles, ruling over several million more people, and possess strength comparable to Ning Country.
With such a great temptation in front of them, anyone would be tempted, and Chu State’s desire to attack Lingnan became a matter of course.
But Chu might have calculated things right for themselves, but the other Lingnan countries that were targeted as prey were not so comfortable.
…
Yulin City.
As the capital of Yulin County and the current capital of Su Country, this city should have been magnificent, wealthy, and prosperous.
As a matter of fact, ten years ago, it was indeed prosperous.
At that time, Yulin County had a population of over forty million households and more than two million people, making it a relatively densely-populated region.
As the capital city of the county, Yulin City was known as second only to Nanhai City in Lingnan with a population of fifty thousand households and three hundred thousand people.
But time had passed.
In just ten years, Yulin County had experienced numerous coercive conscriptions, rebellions, War of Conquerors, and Tonghai Barbarian uprisings, leading to calamities on the people.
After several rounds of turmoil, the once densely-populated Yulin County had become destitute, devastated, and the people remained in distress.
Under such influence, Yulin City, as the capital city and the national capital, gradually declined as well.
The population dropped from fifty thousand households to less than one hundred thousand, and the remaining people looked pale and numb, lacking any vitality.
At this time, in the desolate Yulin City, there weren’t many pedestrians on the street. Occasionally, one or two scrawny figures passed by, seemingly lacking strength.
On the other hand, there were quite a few vigorous men, with red faces and loud laughter, gathered in the tea shops and taverns on both sides of the street.
Passersby at the doorway smelled the aroma and heard the noisy sounds inside, and couldn’t help but stop and take a sniff of the wine scent. They looked enviously inside before reluctantly leaving.
In the impoverished Su Country, only the high officials and the soldiers of Divine Sword Army could enjoy a hearty meal in the taverns.
Su Country was poor, with a population of only about one million. Even with two prefectures, it could not support too many troops.
After a previous local rebellion, Su Xuange learned a lesson, ceased excessive conscription and reduced some taxes.
In the end, although the tax burden was still heavy, the people could at least survive.
However, as a result, the national revenue was greatly reduced, making it difficult to maintain the previous force of one hundred and fifty thousand troops.