Chapter 585: Chapter 274: Xu Guokun’s Sea_3


    Both of them climbed the tower to enjoy the view, looking past the swiftly flowing river in the distance and focusing on the majestic Dragon City on the opposite bank.


    Complex emotions filled their gazes.


    Lu Yuan had been held back by this river for several months, unable to break through the stubborn defense of the enemy on the other side and make any progress in the situation.


    Eventually, the army had no choice but to halt on the bank of the river and engage in a standoff with the Yi people, contending in a war of attrition and patience.


    Li Xiong felt the same way.


    Five years ago when he began to mobilize the Wu Barbarian Country to rise up in arms, he achieved overwhelming sess in the beginning, full of pride and ambition.


    But when it came to this point, facing the natural barrier of the Lu River, he also encountered the tough resistance of the Da Changhe Country.


    His army and the opposing one, each with hundreds of thousands of soldiers, stationed on both sides of the river, constantly assaulting and probing, confronting each other across the river. They stubbornly fought for two or three years.


    At times, Li Xiong couldn’t help but think.


    If the river had not hindered him, and he had been able to advance quickly and defeat the Da Changhe Country and take over the throne of the Chilih Barbarians.<div>


    Then, perhaps, even if his identity had been exposed, with the overall situation already set, even the intervention of the Divine Pce Witch Doctor would not create any turmoil, right?


    At the very least, his oue would not be worse than it was now.


    However, he couldn’t cross this river, nor the hurdle in his life.


    Now he had no choice but to submit, be a vassal, and follow others, hoping for the little scraps they might throw his way.


    The cold spring breeze blew, and even though both of them were Inborn Grandmasters, they still felt a slight chill.


    After gazing at the opposite bank for a long time, Lu Yuan turned his head and looked at Li Xiong, who was also lost in thought, and said, “Li Qing, do you see? Across the river lies Kunhai, and it is the most fertilend of the entire Da Changhe Country.


    Once we take this ce, even though Da Changhe Country has not been wiped out, it will be no different than a ruined country.


    By then, under the heavy blow to its vitality, there will be no chance for them to contend with us.


    Qianzhong County will be ours.”


    Lu Yuan looked at the vastndscape of rivers and mountains, a surge of ambition arose in his heart.


    The Kunhai region, together with the Erhai Lake and Li Sea areas, were the threergestkes in the southwestern Yi region, each covering hundreds of miles, which led the Yi people, who had never seen the vastness of the sea, to call them seas.


    Thanks to these threergekes, hundreds of thousands of acres of fertilend had been cultivated along the banks, supporting the poption of nearly a million people.


    It was precisely because of these threekes that Da Changhe Country, Dali Country, and Nanzhao Country could rule the southwestern Yi region and be pathbreakers.


    After passing the Lu River, once they had taken the Dragon City on the opposite bank, they would enter the Kunhai region after another hundred miles.


    Therefore, this Lu River was indeed thest line of defense for the Da Changhe Country.


    Once this ce was breached, Da Changhe Country would have no ce to defend, and the entire essence of the Kunhai region would face the threat of being exposed to enemy forces.


    If thend of a thousand miles near Kunhai were taken away, then after losing this food-producing region, the Da Changhe Country would also lose control over half of its poption and would no longer be able to form an army of more than 100,000.


    Thus, by capturing this ce, even if the Da Changhe Country had not been annihted, it would stumble and never recover, bing a mediocre Yi country like the former Wu Savage Country, and would no longer pose a threat.


    Li Xiong, on the other hand, heard these words and a flicker of intrigue crossed his eyes, as if he had heard something, but he did not mention it. Instead, he ttered, “Your Majesty is wise and martial, and these mere Yi countries are no match. The position of Kunhai’s overlord is bound to belong to Your Majesty.”<div>


    Lu Yuan looked at his reaction andughed heartily, “Li Qing, I have already set up eight prefectures in Qianzhong County. With the strength of the Chu State, I can only develop the Qianzhong County at most.


    If I want to expand further, it would be beyond my capabilities.


    At most, I will set up two more prefectures, making a total of ten prefectures in one county.


    However, even if I want to set up two more prefectures, I am more interested in the oldnd of the Hui Chuan country, which is adjacent to my governed Xichuan County, and once conquered, it can be connected with Xichuan.<div>


    It can also serve as a hub to connect Xichuan County and Dongting County.


    Although it is not very rich, in my eyes, its value far exceeds that of the present Kunhai.


    I previously promised you Nong Dong’s four countries, but now that area has been assigned to prefectures and counties and incorporated into Qianzhong County.


    I know that this has made you doubtful.


    But rest assured, I will not go back on my word, and I will not let down those who have contributed to me.


    Thend of Kunhai before us, this two thousand miles area, is your fiefdom promised by me.


    From today on, as long as you conquer thend and city on the other side, I will not want it, and I will grant it all to you, Li Qing.


    As long as you have the ability, even if you conquer the entire Kunhai, it shall all be your territory.”


    Of course, this conquest of the Yi people is not just a matter for you.”


    Apart from the 30,000 Yi people’s troops that were previously allocated to you, I still have about 80,000 Yi people in my hands. After this battle, I can also hand them over to you.


    Moreover, the 100,000 elite soldiers in my hands will also participate in the river-crossing battle, helping you to capture Kunhai and defeat the Da Changhe Country once and for all.”


    Lu Yuan’s voice was low and seemed to possess a magical power that fascinated Li Xiong as he listened, unable to resist the excitement that enveloped his entire being.


    Gurgle!<div>


    Li Xiong suddenly felt his throat dry and his body hot, as excitement engulfed himpletely.


    He knew his state of mind was already in chaos, but did not want to adjust and reason with himself.


    Because the matter at hand – the enticement of the entire Kunhai area two thousand miles away – was enough to make him lose control of his emotions.


    Swallowing hard, he calmed his flustered feelings just a bit, and Li Xiong, looking at Lu Yuan, asked with difficulty, “Is your Majesty serious?”


    His voice was not loud, as if he was afraid that speaking too loudly would cause the person in front of him to change his mind.


    The temptation of Kunhai’s two thousand miles ofnd was too great for Li Xiong, who had already lost everything, to bear.


    It was so great that he dared not gamble or lose it.


    “Of course, it’s true.”


    Lu Yuan looked at Li Xiong, who was cautious and utterly devoid of the demeanor of a grandmaster, and knew in his heart that the other party had beenpletely grasped by him. He couldn’t help but feel relieved andughed, “It’s just a mere Kunhai area after all. Compared to my Great Chu’s territory of thousands of miles, what is there to regret?


    To exchange it for a wise minister like Li Qing, it’s already a bargain for me.”


    Lu Yuan expressed his sincere feelings.