Chapter 212: Chapter 147: Desperate Resistance 2
Translator: 549690339
However, even so, this is still an extremely powerful force.
Then the problem arises.
Between Wuling Prefecture and Lingling Prefecture, there was Shaoyang Prefecture. Between Changsha Prefecture and Luyang Prefecture, there was only Hengyang Prefecture.
This means that Shaoyang and Hengyang Prefectures have become the greatest obstacles to the north-south convergence of the Miao Rebel Army.
Actually, in the original plan, the Poison Sect intended to capture Shaoyang Prefecture and connect their territories into one piece.
However, who would have thought they’d run into Lu Yuan.
Before the 30,000 Miao people in Shaoyang Prefecture could even start a rebellion, Lu Yuan led his troops to directly quell the uprising.
Not only did he quell the Miao people’s uprising, but he also killed numerous young and robust Miao people, completely eliminating the possibility of local Miao people causing trouble.
As a result, the Poison Sect’s original plan to unify their territories was completely shattered.
Moreover, since Lu Yuan killed so many Miao people, it could be said that he has long been a thorn in the side of the Poison Sect, and they want nothing more than to get rid of him as soon as possible.
However, before this, Lu Yuan was stationed in Shaoyang Prefecture with 15,000 elite soldiers.
If you also count the local county soldiers and Village Braves that have been rebuilt, he could muster up to nearly 30,000 troops.
With such a large army, as long as they are focused on defense, even if tens of thousands of Miao people come to attack, they would not be able to capture Shaoyang Prefecture.
So after several failed attempts to attack Shaoyang Prefecture, the Poison Sect could only helplessly retreat, watching Shaoyang Prefecture separate their territory and break it into two pieces.
However, even if they retreated, if you were to say that the Poison Sect had already accepted the reality and no longer coveted Shaoyang Prefecture, that would be absolutely impossible.
Lu Yuan believes that as long as there is an opportunity for the southern and northern passages to be connected and the two sides to merge, the Poison Sect will not let it pass.
And this time’s Luyang Prefecture Seven Star Sect rebellion is the best opportunity for the Poison Sect.
Shaoyang Prefecture’s 15,000 elite soldiers had already been led by Lu Yuan to quell the unrest. Only 2,000 county soldiers and more than 10,000 militia remained in the prefecture, making it the weakest time in term of strength.
Furthermore, Luyang Prefecture, which originally blocked the Miao people in the south from going north, had its gates wide open due to the Seven Star Sect’s rebellion.
The Miao people from the three southern prefectures can follow Luyang Prefecture directly to Hengyang Prefecture and join the Miao Rebel Army in Changsha Prefecture.
So for the Poison Sect, whether it is a joint attack on Shaoyang Prefecture and breaking through the shortest but most heavily guarded passageway,
Or responding to the Seven Star Sect, starting from Luyang Prefecture and Hengyang Prefecture, which are farther away but have the weakest defenses, both are good choices.
It is precisely because Lu Yuan understood this that he so firmly demanded to take over the defense of various cities in Luyang Prefecture and confiscate local troops at the same time.
This is not only because he wants to centralize power but also because he wants to eliminate hidden dangers in advance, establish a solid defense line, and prevent local snakes from colluding with the Miao people and exposing flaws in his north-south isolation zone.
Isolating the two forces of the Poison Sect’s rebellion and blocking them in the north and south is the counter-rebellion strategy set by Lu Yuan and the provincial government after their communication.
Otherwise, if they turn a blind eye to the convergence of the Miao Rebel Army
in the north and the south, the other side can instantly gather an army of 200,000. Even if these troops are just a ragtag army, the sheer number of them would be enough to overwhelm most of the official power in the province.
Anyway, Lu Yuan is very clear that if the Poison Sect gathers an army of 200,000, the first one they will target will be him, given the hatred between them and himself.
Against an army of 200,000 coming to kill him, his 15,000 soldiers, no matter how good they are, wouldn’t be able to handle an enemy that outnumbers them by more than ten times.
Therefore, blocking the Miao people and keeping them separated is not only for the sake of the court’s strategy but also for Lu Yuan’s own safety and interests.
“I’m not too worried about Shaoyang Prefecture, there’s Prefect Cui and Brother Sun watching, and there are 2,000 county soldiers and a well-established militia system in the city.
If the Miao people come, they can immediately assemble an army of 20,000.
Though these people may not be able to fight in the field, they should have no problem defending a city.
With 20,000 people, even if 100,000 Miao troops come to attack, they can hold out for several months, long enough for me to lead my troops to reinforce them.”
Lu Yuan explained his strategy and thoughts to his disciples, then said, “What I am most worried about is Luyang Prefecture and Hengyang Prefecture.
After the previous battle in Changning County, Hengyang Prefecture lost more than 10,000 local militia and county soldiers in that battle.
After losing these troops, the entire Hengyang Prefecture, even with the militia included, can’t even muster 5,000 soldiers now, and its defense can be said to be extremely weak.
And there’s even less to say about Luyang Prefecture.
After the war, only 2,000 Righteous Heroes came to join from the entire prefecture. Considering the surrendering soldiers and militia that I’m about to take over, I estimate that there are fewer than 5,000 troops available.
If the Miao people were to invade these two prefectures, even with just ten thousand people, they would probably pierce through the two prefectures in an instant.
At that time, the grand situation would instantly dissipate.
So no matter what, I have to take over the defense of Luyang Prefecture, establish a new line of defense, and block the Miao people from the three prefectures in the south.
I cannot trust the locals of Luyang Prefecture, as their ties to the Seven Star Sect are too deep, and they even have connections with the Miao people. Entrusting them with guarding the heart of our forces is undoubtedly taking the safety of our army as a joke.
Only when it is guarded by our own people can I feel at ease.”
Lu Yuan expressed his concerns and plans.
After listening, Zhou Qing’s face could not help but show admiration, and he quickly said with shame: “It was my short-sightedness that I failed to comprehend Master’s strategy.”
Lu Yuan shook his head: “It’s nothing, I’m just thinking a little too much.” He truly was thinking too much.
However, being targeted by such a formidable enemy as the Poison Sect, if he didn’t think too much, he would have already become a corpse by now.
It was understandable that Zhou Qing didn’t have as many concerns as Lu Yuan, so his consideration of the situation was not as comprehensive.
But as a Master, he cannot afford to be careless, and this was the case now.
In the army, Lu Yuan was both the Commander and Master to all the generals. Once he had a strategy in mind, it was naturally carried out firmly and quickly.
In fact, his foresight proved to be well-founded.
At a time when Lu Yuan’s army was at its peak, some of the rebellious military leaders who had surrendered chose to resist rather than accept the orders to hand over the city defenses and serve at the front.
Out of the five county towns, three military leaders gathered in the city to defend themselves, unwilling to let Lu Yuan’s army enter the city.
Only two of the county towns chose to obey and hand over their defenses, then rushed to join the main force in Pingyang County.
In response, Lu Yuan could only lament the loss of imperial authority and the stubbornness and shortsightedness of these local military leaders, who could not grasp the situation.
The resisting county towns did not have more than a thousand soldiers under the command of the military leaders, yet with such limited strength, they dared to resist?
There was no need to say more.
For these resisting elements, Lu Yuan directly mobilized his army. After a few days and the loss of a few hundred captive soldiers from the Vanguard Army, they were all eliminated one by one.
In the end, more than a thousand captives were captured, and the number of the Vanguard Army not only did not decrease but rather increased to nine thousand.
After pacifying the local areas, Lu Yuan left five thousand of his own troops stationed in each county, then led tens of thousands of main force soldiers, three thousand volunteer militia, and nine thousand captive troops from the Vanguard Army, forming a mighty force of twenty thousand men, advancing towards Shaoyang Prefecture City.
On the 23rd day of the first month, Lu Yuan’s army arrived at Luyang Prefecture City.
At this time, after a series of consolidations during these past days, the Seven Star Sect had gathered nearly ten thousand troops in the city.
Seeing the arrival of the imperial soldiers, these rebels still held their ground, determined to fight to the end.
Under the scorching sun, ice and snow melted away.
On the battlefield, the flags fluttered and drums rumbling.
Lu Yuan stood on the high platform, looking at the majestic Luyang Prefecture City in the distance, after gazing for a while, he finally gave the order.
“Attack the city.”
At the command, the organized Vanguard Army’s First Camp of a thousand men were driven towards the city walls.
The new round of bloody battle began in earnest.
Although Luyang Prefecture City looked quite sturdy, Lu Yuan was not deceived by its appearance and did not harbor any intention to retreat.
Previously, wasn’t the Seven Star Sect’s rebel camp in Changning County also built quite solidly?
But in the end, it was still broken through.
As for whether this city was strong or not, they would find out after the attack..