Chapter 569: Chapter 269: Zhou Qing’s Innate Skill_2

“Once we block the Chu people at Lu River and secure the defense line temporarily, we can wait for news from Dali and Nanzhao about their sending reinforcements.

We can’t hold back these Chu people by ourselves.

Seeing our disastrous defeat, those two countries, as long as they’re not fools, will send troops to help us.

However, in doing so, we’ll have to concede even more benefits to them.

But for our people’s foundation and for the great god Chilih, as long as we can maintain the survival of the Chilih clan, we can accept these costs.”

With these thoughts in mind, Li River’s determination gradually solidified, and he became resolute.

He stood up and looked outside.

At this time, the generals who had received the orders were all coming in.

‘It’s time to end this meaningless bloodshed.’

Li River sighed in his heart, then looked at these people, his face regaining its usual dignity.

…

In the fourth year of Shenwu, in October,

After two months of bloody battle and losing tens of thousands of soldiers, General Li River of the Da Changhe Army finally couldn’t hold on, and retreated from Stone City with his troops.

King Lu Yuan of Chu seized the opportunity and led the troops to launch a fierce attack. They broke through the enemy’s defense several times, and killed or captured tens of thousands.

Finally, Li River, with more than 70,000 surviving soldiers, retreated to the west bank of the Lu River and stationed at Dragon City.

Then, the Da Changhe Army began to strictly guard the various ferry crossings at the Lu River. The Chu army tried to launch several probing attacks, but couldn’t break through. Finally, they could only face the enemy across the river.

Thus, from the northern Hui Chuan country to the southern Nong Dong country, a long stalemate set in between the Da Changhe Army and the Chu Army.

…

Lu River, Peaceful City.

“What a nuisance! Have they completely retreated across the river and become shrinking turtles?”

Lu Yuan stood on the city wall, looking far to the west, his eyes a little deep as he gazed at the distant, looming might of that city.

It had been nearly four months since they entered the territory of Da Changhe.

During these few months, although they had gained a lot – conquering the Wuman and Nongdong countries, and even occupying half of Hui Chuan Country – this series of territories almost equaled half a county.

However, despite their huge gains, they still couldn’t completely defeat Da Changhe Country in one fell swoop.

The other side had lost nearly a county’s worth of land, but they still held onto a county’s territory.

Moreover, unlike the lost Wuman and Nongdong countries, where rebels were everywhere,

the loyalty and cohesion of the remaining major parts of Hui Chuan Country, the directly-held territories of Da Changhe Country, and those small vassal countries were not so easily shaken.

Moving forward to attack the territory west of the Lu River, he would be faced with a situation where enemies were everywhere and battle was inevitable.

Without Li Xiong’s business, without the influence of the Wuman and Nongdong countries, the Chilih Yi people in the west would not recognize Lu Yuan as their King of Chu.

After conquering these territories, it would be virtually impossible to recruit soldiers and people from the east of Lu River.

Those useful cannon fodders were hard to come by from now on.

“Fortunately, Li Xiong has recruited 60,000 soldiers in the Three Nations during these months. With the previous consumption, there are still about 30,000 left.

The captives captured from various places total around 40,000. With a little reorganization, they can also serve as qualified cannon fodder.

The remaining 70,000 Yi people can barely be used for a while.”

As Lu Yuan lamented, he took inventory of his own assets, and after confirming the situation, he couldn’t help but nod.

Although they had consumed a lot, they also gained a lot. Overall, he still profited.

“What makes me even happier than these, however, is that Xiaoqing has finally broken through Innate.”

Muttering to himself, Lu Yuan picked up a letter in his hand and looked at the familiar handwriting, the corners of his mouth involuntarily curling up in a smile.

After more than a year, having found the direction to break through Innate, Zhou Qing had accumulated for a year and finally broke through Innate last month.

Although he had sensed this news through the sudden surge of Qi Luck in his own body,

it was only after receiving written confirmation in the letter that he was finally relieved and overjoyed.

With one more Innate, the strength of the Chu State became even stronger.

With Zhou Qing guarding the north of the river and Lan Cai’er guarding the south, there would be an Innate in both the south and the north. Lu Yuan could rest assured and stay in the territory of Da Changhe, slowly wearing down the enemy.

“Those people of Da Changhe Country think that by relying on Lu River, they can keep me at bay. It’s nothing but wishful thinking.

I’ll show them that even with this natural barrier, even if they hide across the river or inside those turtle shells, they won’t be able to stop my advance.

What, a stalemate and attrition?

I want to see what you, who have been fighting for five years and reduced your country to a mess, can use to fight me in attrition.”

Lu Yuan was not worried at all about the stalemate strategy adopted by Da Changhe Country for now.

When marching to the southwest, he never had any extravagant hopes of quickly and easily solving the problem this country posed to them.

Thus, they prepared for a war of attrition.

Backed by the Jianghan Plain and the Dongting Lake Plain, two major grain-producing areas, he had enough resources from the three counties providing constant financial support, and he had the confidence to fight an attritional war with the enemy.

Yes, his troops were now stationed at Lu River, and even if they did nothing but drain their resources, it would cost over 20,000 taels a day, not to mention the cost of food and fodder, which was calculated separately. It was indeed very expensive.

However, even with such huge consumption, Lu Yuan, with his financial resources, could bear it by gritting his teeth.

But the people of the Da Changhe Country across the river might not be able to bear it.