To achieve immortality, I cultivate using Qi Luck

Chapter 698: Chapter 312: Qingzhou United_2

Nowadays, the territory under Liang’s actual control spans thirteen prefectures. Besides, two more prefectures would soon be added, effectively taking over Qingzhou.

Having surpassed all the major powers in the world, its strength is unparalleled, and it is already showing signs of sweeping the world and unifying the Nine Provinces.

The appearance of such a terrifying enemy would make anyone feel uneasy.

Lu Yuan was no exception.

Fortunately, although he felt somewhat uneasy, he was not overly fearful. He remained relatively relaxed, even somewhat looking forward to it.

“Liang’s dominance over Qingzhou is undoubtedly a concern. But the one who should be most worried about this is not my Chu State.

After all, Chu State and Liang State do not share a direct border; Ning’s Xiangyang Prefecture lies in between them.

With Ning as a barrier, even if Liang wants to launch a Southern Expedition, it would first target Ning rather than my Chu State.

Moreover, there is the Yangtze River Natural Barrier between Liang and Ning.

Liang is from the north, skilled in horseback archery and infantry, but unskilled in boats and lacking a naval fleet. Even with a million strong soldiers, Liang can only sigh and turn back when facing the vast river.

Until Liang forms a large-scale navy, there is no need to worry about its threat.”

The last time was during the 28th year of the Pre-Yue Longqing era when Liang launched its Southern Expedition.

At that time, Liang mobilized 500,000 troops, which lasted as long as the current war to annihilate Lai, in terms of scale and duration of military deployment.

But what was the final outcome?

Apart from seizing three prefectures north of the Yangtze River in Guangling Prefecture with their strong military force from Yue Country, they gained nothing else.

Facing the Yangtze River Natural Barrier, 500,000 Liang troops were stationed in the north of the river, blocked by Yue’s 100,000-strong navy, and failed to break through the defense and cross the river.

In the end, it was merely because of the invasion of Zhou that forced Yue to accept the status quo and cede the three prefectures of Guangling, which had already been occupied by Liang, to Liang.

It was not a small feat to mobilize 500,000 troops for three to four years, consuming an unknown amount of money and food, and accomplishing only so much.

Similar events also occurred in Zhou Country.

300,000 Zhou soldiers, stationed in the north of the river, could not cross southward. They finally ran out of strength, and Yue led a group of vassals, taking the opportunity to launch a vigorous Northern Expedition.

Eventually, they were defeated and lost more than half of Xiangyang Prefecture and a small portion of Hanzhong Prefecture. It was truly a tragedy.

From the above two examples, it can be seen how strong the protection of the Yangtze River Natural Barrier is for Yangzhou.

Before the enemy has a navy, the Yangtze River is a natural wall that no one can cross.

With this reliance and the fact that Chu State’s 50,000-strong navy has already taken shape, Lu Yuan naturally was not too fearful of the threat from north of the river.

Similarly, Ning Country, which possesses an even greater advantage with 100,000-strong navy on the Yangtze River, would not be too afraid of the rising Liang Country.

Chu and Ning might have some concerns, but to say that they are extremely worried would be an overstatement.

Compared to them, it is the three nations of Zhou, Zhao, and Xu, which are located in the plains of the north without the protection of many natural barriers and bordering Liang State, that should worry more.

Zhao and Xu are fine as they also border Liang, but they are separated by a large river.

Although this river is not as perilous as the Yangtze and even freezes on the surface during the cold winter months, it can still serve as a natural barrier as long as proper precautions are taken.

In addition, Zhao and Xu border each other, so if Liang truly invades from the north, they can combine their forces, which are not inferior to Liang’s.

It wouldn’t be easy for Liang to swallow them up.

Zhou, on the other hand, is different.

The regions where Zhou and Liang border each other are Henan Prefecture and Nanyang Prefecture, both of which are fertile lands as rich as Ning’s Yuzhang and Linhai.

Together, the two prefectures account for ten million households and have always been important sources of military and tax resources for Zhou State.

At the same time, there are not many natural barriers between these two regions and Liang, making it easy for Liang’s army to advance westward without any obstacles, attack the capitals of the two prefectures, and take over these territories.

“Furthermore, Zhou is currently facing a snow disaster led by the Barbarians, and half of its troops have to be deployed to the western border, leaving other areas vulnerable.

As such, it becomes even easier for Liang to attack Henan and Nanyang Prefectures.

With such a huge temptation, Liang cannot help but be moved if it has the ambition to unify the world.

At that time, Zhou will face powerful enemies from both the west and the east, struggling to cope and hardly able to support itself.”

As Lu Yuan thought of this, his heart was moved.

Originally, he was prepared to rest and recuperate for two years, train and consolidate the country’s finances and troops, and take advantage of Zhou’s military constraints in the west to launch a Northern Expedition to seize Hanzhong Prefecture.

Although this plan had a high probability of success, considering Zhou’s formidable foundation, it could not guarantee a foolproof strategy and still had a considerable chance of failure.

But now, with a Liang State in the east restraining Zhou and further distracting its attention, weakening its deployable troops and leaving its southern territory exposed,

the probability of success for this surprise attack increases significantly.

It’s not a hundred percent sure, but Lu Yuan has a high level of confidence that he could take control of Hanzhong Prefecture with a probability of more than ninety percent and prevent Zhou from sending troops to take it back.

And as long as Hanzhong Prefecture is captured, Chu State can shield the west and north, without worrying about external threats, and focus on the south to conquer the various prefectures in Yangzhou.