Chapter 243 - 243: 159: The Imperial Court Angel<div>


    Trantor: 549690339


    After sending Zhou Qing off to war, Lu Yuan’s Barracks outside of Luyang City suddenly became half-empty.


    He originally had 15,000 soldiers under hismand, plus 5,000 Linwu county people and Seven Star Sect disciples forming the First Camp. Now that Zhou<div>


    Qing took away 10,000 soldiers, there were only 5,000 soldiers and 5,000 First Camp left in the camp.


    With the military strength reduced by half, thebat power was reduced even more, which made Lu Yuan suddenly feel less secure.


    So, in order to fill the sense of security and also to strengthen his strength, the recruitment n that he had always nned was put on the agenda.


    Nowadays, Lu Yuan does notck silver. After a fight against the thieves, he has umted over one million current silvers and nearly two million silver taels worth of assets, besides the funds to support the development of Luyang


    Prefecture.


    This huge sum of three million silver taels, if all used to expand the army, would be enough for Lu Yuan to recruit 50,000 soldiers and cover the army’s annual expenses.


    Of course, Lu Yuan needs a longsting army that can continue to maintain, so he couldn’t really recruit so many soldiers.


    Given his current territory, Lu Yuanpletely controlled Luyang Prefecture, and here the financial revenue is all his and he doesn’t need to submit it to the court.


    As for Shaoyang Prefecture, although it is not considered Lu Yuan’s territory, the county has been officially acknowledged from the past two years that the finance and revenue of the county are used for his army support.


    So, the financial ie from Shaoyang Prefecture could also be used by him.


    Shaoyang Prefecture could collect 500,000 silver taels a year, leaving 300,000 taels of silver for Lu Yuan’s army after various expenses from the counties.<div>


    Luyang Prefecture still needs recovery, but ording to Sun Siwen’s estimate, in two years when it is recovered, it should be able to provide 400,000 silver taels a year, leaving around 250,000 taels for Lu Yuan’s army.


    With thisbined, it is equivalent to 550,000 silver taels, which is about enough to support an army of 10,000.


    Being able to solve the food and drink issues for 10,000 cavalry unquestionably alleviate a significant burden on Lu Yuan and allows him to save more money for recruiting even more soldiers.


    So after careful deliberation, he decided to recruit another 15,000 people, expanding his soldiers to a scale of 30,000.


    Thirty thousand people, considering Lu Yuan’s current savings, as well as the financial support of Shaoyang and Luyang Prefectures, could almost maintain such arge army for two years of expenses and consumption.


    And after two years, what if there isn’t any money left?


    Lu Yuan thought that by then, his territory would not be limited to the current two prefectures, and perhaps it is enough to support the army.


    If it really doesn’t work, he can always lead his troops to fight the Miao people.


    There are still three prefectures upied by the Miao people in the south of Luyang Prefecture, right?


    With such arge territory, he can seize a couple of prefectures to eliminate some troops and, at the same time, solve the remaining military expenses.


    “If I go to fight the Miao people so ostentatiously, I am afraid I will provoke the<div>


    Saintess of the Poison Sect and have her assassinate me as prepared by Jin Xing.”


    Whenever Lu Yuan thought about the Saintess of the Poison Sect, he felt a headache.


    His development in Dongting Prefecture can be said to be threatened by this woman, and he can’t expand his power to the fullest at any time, which is really ufortable.


    The feeling of having a sharp sword hanging over his head, ready to fall at any moment, could almost be described as sleepless nights.


    This torment gave rise to some resentment in Lu Yuan’s heart. There was some against the Saintess and even more towards the court: “It’s been more than two months, hasn’t the court reached a decision yet?”


    When will they dispatch several Inborn Grandmasters toe over and kill that Saintess of the Poison Sect,pletely getting rid of this major hidden danger?”


    It has been more than two months since the fall of Baling City.


    In such a long time, the court has not yet discussed any countermeasures.


    The 50,000 elite soldiers of Tianmen Prefecture were held back by Zhou troops and could not move south to recapture Baling City.


    The news of the army supply cut in the Army of Pacifying Shu has reached the frontline of Xichuan, severely shaking the morale of the frontline army.


    Upon seeing this, the severely injured Marquis of Wuan, Bai Mengyang, had no choice but to order the army to continue retreating, giving up Anyue City, which had been guarded for half a year, and retreating all the way back to Yuzhong Prefecture.


    Both Anyue Prefecture and Tongchuan Prefecture’snds were handed over to the Xi Shu thieves and the Zhou people.


    Out of the ten prefectures in Xichuan, only Yuzhong, Linjiang, and Wushan Prefectures still remained under the control of the court.


    Qi Shu thieves and Zhou people suddenly became increasingly victorious, even chasing the retreating court army during Wuan Marquis’s withdrawal, repeatedly defeating the retreating court army and beheading tens of thousands.


    The court’s army was nearly destroyed.


    When they retreated to Yuzhong City, after a brief count, the original 150,000-strong army was reduced to just over 100,000.


    How indescribable the tragedy was!


    However, even after retreating to Yuzhong Prefecture, Xi Shu thieves and Zhou people did not give up. The two sides united forces of 200,000 and once again approached Yuzhong City, with the intention of driving Wuan Marquis out of Xichuan Prefecture.


    How arrogant this intent was, Lu Yuan did not know.


    But he knew that even if Wuan Marquis wanted to retreat now, he had no way to retreat.


    Because Yueyang City in Baling Prefecture had already been upied by the Miao people.


    The court’s Army of Pacifying Shu had lost its way of retreat, and even if they wanted to leave Xichuan Prefecture, they would have to cross that river and seize Yueyang City first.


    If they couldn’t recapture Yueyang City, the faster Wuan Marquis and his troops retreated, the faster they would die.


    So, in the tinal analysis, it still depends on when the court could send troops to recapture Baling City..