To achieve immortality, I cultivate using Qi Luck

Chapter 813: Chapter 350 Dividing Forces to Respond_3

Therefore, it was only a matter of time before Qingyunzi defeated the united army of Ning Country and Southsea.

Once he had dealt with Southsea, he could lead his troops westward to aid Lan Cai’er.

By then, with attacks from both sides, Su Xuange and his like would certainly be doomed to defeat.

The same principle applied.

If Lan Cai’er could successfully resolve the conflict with Su-Song, she too could lead her troops eastward to assist Qingyunzi.

In any case, whichever side won on the battlefield first would cement Chu State’s advantage in the Lingnan Battlefield, and thus secure an overall advantage in the war against the Four Kingdoms.

The battle for Lingnan, after Chu State committed seven Inborn Grandmasters and nearly five hundred thousand troops, was already on invincible land.

However, Lan Cai’er hadn’t thought so much about these deep strategic layers.

She simply felt a profound sense of responsibility, seeing that Lu Yuan had entrusted her with the entire military affair targeting the three countries in the southwest and the war against Su-Song.

Therefore, meeting Lu Yuan’s encouraging gaze, Lan Cai’er stated firmly, “Your consort will surely sweep away Su-Song and will not let Your Majesty down.”

She did not speak many empty words, but that simple statement already showed her determination.

Lu Yuan nodded slightly. As his queen for many years, he naturally understood what was in her heart at the moment.

After arranging for the affairs in Lingnan, he continued, “Apart from the three Lingnan countries, Ning People north of the river at Xiangyang have also amassed a hundred thousand troops, intending to invade our Great Chu at Xiangyang.

In Xiangyang, though Great Chu has one hundred and ten thousand troops, the enemy has dispatched not only a large army but also two Martial Marquises, led by none other than Yang Jing.

With only the Grand General facing these two, he would be undeniably alone and outnumbered.

Hence, I have urgently ordered the Defender of Xichuan, Han Hua, to rush to Xiangyang to assist the Grand General against Yang Jing’s forces.

With the Grand General and Han Hua there, Xiangyang will surely be safe and sound.”

Yes, Xiangyang will be safe and sound.

In Xiangyang to the north of the river, Lu Yuan deployed eighty thousand Forbidden Army troops, thirty thousand county soldiers, and stationed his disciple Zhou Qing to defend the city.

At first glance, these forces appear strong and not inferior to the invading Ning People.

In reality, out of these one hundred and ten thousand troops, a large portion must also remain to guard against Zhou Country to the north of the river.

Although currently Zhou Country appears harried by invasions from barbarians and Wei people, and is overwhelmed, one fact cannot be concealed.

That is, in the region of Zhou Country’s Nanyang Prefecture and Xiangyang Prefecture, Zhou People still maintain one hundred and fifty thousand troops and a Pillar State Grand General.

This force is already immensely formidable.

If mobilized in full, they could fight a war on the scale of a small local country.

Therefore, even if it seems unlikely on the surface that Zhou Country’s Nanyang Prefecture and Xiangyang Prefecture would send troops against Chu State due to the threat from Liang to the east,

Just like Chu State, currently under attack by the army of the Four Kingdoms, still gritting its teeth to detach a force to join barbarians in attacking Helong and seizing the opportunity for gain.

Who knows if Zhou Country might do likewise, send a small detached army of thirty to fifty thousand people, and while Chu State is dealing with Ning Country, suddenly cross the river to the south and attack Xiangyang Prefecture?

All these were plausible scenarios.

For Lu Yuan, equally schooled in cunning, it was impossible not to guard against this move.

So, of the one hundred and ten thousand troops in Xiangyang, at least thirty to fifty thousand would have to remain to guard against Zhou Country.

With these troops diverted, those left to face Ning Country amounted to only about sixty to seventy thousand.

Sixty to seventy thousand troops, along with Zhou Qing and Han Hua, could naturally only just hold their ground against Ning Country’s hundred thousand.

To expect them to crush Ning Country was not impossible, but rather unlikely.

Considering this, Lu Yuan did not have high hopes for Zhou Qing and the others.

He only needed them to secure Xiangyang and prevent Zhou Country from seizing lands to the north of the river, and that would suffice.

Of course.

Always prudent, Lu Yuan liked to prepare multiple backup plans in his affairs.

Like the situation with Lan Cai’er, where on the surface there appeared to be seventy thousand troops, but in reality secretly included Qianzhong and the vassal armies of three countries.

In Xiangyang, to prevent any mishap, in addition to the troops under Zhou Qing, Huang Xuan’s main force stationed in Hanzhong Prefecture would serve as a safety net.

If Zhou Qing could not hold back Ning Country, the one hundred thousand Forbidden Army troops from Hanzhong could proceed down the Han River at any time, rushing to support Xiangyang.

With this avatar in place, even if they could not secure victory on the battlefield of Xiangyang, they could ensure the safety of Xiangyang City and protect Chu State’s territory to the north of the river.

Lu Yuan had arranged contingencies for both the north of the river and Lingnan, truly an exhaustive effort.

However, these arrangements were just briefly listened to by those in the hall; they did not comment.

The military affairs in Xiangyang had already been decided to be Zhou Qing’s responsibility.

This Grand General of Chu State had been stationed in the north, inside Xiangyang City, since the time of Changsha and had rarely returned to Baling.

In the current gathering, except for Lu Yuan and Sun Siwen, even Lan Cai’er was not very familiar with Zhou Qing.

Therefore, no one could offer any suggestions regarding Lu Yuan’s arrangement, apart from understanding the layout.

Nor had Lu Yuan expected them to offer any suggestions.

So after simply discussing the configurations of the battlefield of Xiangyang, he briefly moved on, finally saying, “The battles in the north of the river and in Lingnan have been assigned. What remains is the main force led by Shen Qiu of Ning Country.”

This army of Ning Country, the strongest among the four nations’ forces, was nearly half of the entire united army, with a formidable force of four hundred thousand, and as many as six Inborn Grandmasters.

Such military might is almost unrivaled in Jiangnan.

Therefore, I will lead the army myself to head off this force.

Let me, let Great Chu, have a showdown with Shen Qiu, with Ning Country, across the vast river to the south, and decide the victor, the master of Yangzhou.

In this battle, the remaining one hundred and forty thousand Forbidden Army troops in Dongting Prefecture, twenty thousand county soldiers, and fifty thousand naval forces, totaling two hundred and ten thousand troops, will all engage.

In addition, two hundred thousand civilian workers will be conscripted within the prefecture to defend towns and fortresses along the border, in order to guard against Ning People.

I will serve as the Commander, supported by the Prime Minister and the Spirit Consort. The three of us will be responsible for facing Ning Country’s Inborn Grandmasters.”

Lu Yuan looked at Sun Siwen and the Spiritual woman, making the final arrangement.