Chapter 177: Chapter 133: Xichuan Wumeng_2
Translator: 549690339
During this period, although there were no reports of the leading experts of the Five Poisons Sect or the Inborn Grandmaster taking action. However, the several dozen second – tier experts within their sect were frequently active on the battlefield.
They were often used as spearheads, either coordinating with allies inside a city or simply leading the attack on it, using their powerful martial strength to rapidly clear an entire area of defenders, allowing the Miao Rebel Army to swiftly capture the city.
The fact that the Miao rebellion achieved such results so quickly, these martial arts experts from Five Poisons Sect played a significant role.
“Yet, despite the Miao people’s tremendous momentum, there has been little action from the Prefecture. Not to mention the absence of a large rebel-suppression army, even the martial arts experts from the Prefecture haven’t been sent to assist the local governments.
And then there is Marquis of Wuan Bai Mengyang.
I was initially hopeful that his arrival in Dongting Prefecture would somewhat curtail the Miao people’s arrogance.
Yet, who would have thought that upon reaching the prefecture, he didn’t pause in the slightest—he directly rushed off to Wushan Prefecture.”
Lu Yuan, who had initially held high hopes for Bai Mengyang, found himself feeling somewhat exasperated: “Even though I understand that compared to the Miao people, the Shu State which has already established a nation poses a broader threat.
But even if you’re off to deal with the Shu thieves, you can’t simply disregard the Dongting prefecture.
Are you aware of the consequences of letting the Five Poisons Sect run rampant as they wish?”
He was genuinely angry.
Without Bai Mengyang to restrain the Five Poisons Sect, even though the Five Poisons Sect’s Inborn Grandmaster couldn’t engage in conflict because of his injuries.
But once the Inborn Grandmaster recovers from his injuries, he will see that the situation throughout Dongting Prefecture is favorable, with only your Shaoyang prefecture achieving a significant victory over the Miao rebel army.
If you were the Inborn Grandmaster, what would you do?
That’s why, even after achieving a significant victory, Lu Yuan still didn’t feel much joy.
Because a crisis for the future was already looming over him.
“With my current strength, I can’t withstand an Inborn Grandmaster. Therefore, if I want to survive, I must strive to improve my strength as much as possible.” Currently fighting for his life, Lu Yuan had begun to strive as if he was in dire straits.
Nowadays, weakening the Five Poisons Sect’s war potential by committing massacres and cutting off their affiliated Miao people’s support is one aspect. Simultaneously, by eliminating the Miao people, collecting money, and requesting the government for funds, preparing to recruit an even larger army, this is another aspect.
Even beyond these measures, Lu Yuan now changes his lodging every night. He arranges a double for every place he stays in, to deceive those who may be watching.
As for him, he would hide somewhere clandestine, never appearing in any publicly Imown lodgings. No one within the barracks knows where he might be at night, doing his best to hide himself.
This way, even if someone intends to assassinate him, they will be unable to locate their target.
He would only dare to publicly appear during the daytime, only when surrounded by thousands of soldiers.
Despite taking such precautions, Lu Yuan still didn’t feel at ease.
Even within the large army, should he still feel unsafe, he has prepared to hide in the wilderness or some mountain hole.
However, looking at the current situation, it probably would not reach that point.
“An Inborn Grandmaster can already single-handedly resist an army of ten thousand. Currently, I only have five thousand soldiers, and after these days of warfare, only just over three thousand remain.
The number is far from ten thousand.
Therefore, to ensure my safety, I plan to recruit an army of ten thousand as quickly as possible and reside in the barracks. That would be the best solution.” Thinking about his safety issues, Lu Yuan felt a fierce sense of urgency.
Looking at the Miao People’s village that hadn’t yet finished being slaughtered, his brows furrowed, and he then arranged for another team to join the battlefield.
Now, with the Imperial Court’s “Decree for Local Recruitment of Militia to Resist Thieves”, the restrictions that originally hindered him from expanding his forces were no longer in place.
However, in its place, what hindered Lu Yuan’s enlistment of soldiers was the issue of funding.
He knew that the Imperial Court was very broke these years.
So even though Cui Changqing reported to the government, requesting the
Prefecture’s support with money and grain, Lu Yuan didn’t hold much hope.
Given the current situation of the prefecture, even if they can support, they would likely cough up around ten or eight thousand taels at most.
But this paltry amount of money is just a drop in the ocean for an army of ten thousand, it’s not even enough to cover one month’s salary.
“So it all boils down to fending for oneself. I can’t count on the Imperial Court anymore, if I now want to raise money, my only option is to get it from these rebels.”
Lu Yuan looked at the gradually quieting village in the distance, his gaze cold and stern.
Although these Miao people were relatively poor, there were nearly a hundred thousand of them. If each person was searched thoroughly, he didn’t dare to say much, but three or five hundred thousand tales of silver could certainly be collected.
This much money was enough for him to raise an army of ten thousand and support half a year’s salary.
Half an hour later.
Leaving behind the Miao women and children who were wailing in grief, Lu Yuan led his army, driving a large number of wagons, and returned to Fu City.
This time, the ransacked fort was larger, yielding more loot than before, with over ten thousand tales of silver.
Even though the lion’s share had to be submitted, many of the soldiers still managed quite a haul. On the journey back, all of them were visibly overjoyed.
In an era of chaos, pain and joy are exceptionally direct and cruel.
While Master Lu Yuan, was feeling distraught over his personal safety, making active preparations.
On the other side, his good disciple Zhou Qing, who was thousands of miles away in Xichuan prefecture, was also involved in a highly risky undertaking..