Chapter 307: Chapter 181: The Saintess Assassination
Translator: 549690339
On the sixteenth day of the second month of the sixth year of Hongdao, Lan Zhaoyun led sixty thousand Miao soldiers to withdraw from Shiyang County, returning to his old base in Wuling Prefecture.
Zhou Country’s Pillar State Grand General Li Yanjing assembled his troops and set up four camps outside Anxiang County, leading a forty thousand strong army to defend the city.
The following day, upon receiving news, Shangguan Ming immediately left ten thousand men to guard Baling City. He then personally led an eighty thousand-strong army, first recapturing Shiyang County, then advancing to Anxiang to surround the city.
In Yueyang Prefecture, the city was shrouded in the clouds of war.
On the seventeenth day of the second month of the sixth year of Hongdao, on the official road to Shaoyang Prefecture within the Shuangfeng County of Hengyang Prefecture, dust swirled and banners clouded the sky.
This place was nearing Shaoyang Prefecture, close to Wuling Prefecture, and even nearer to Changsha Prefecture. It is indeed a border area of the four prefectures.
In the past days, the Miao People frequently raided this place. Hengyang Prefecture also stationed a few thousand militiamen here to guard the territory.
Many battles took place between the two sides here, and coupled with local bandits, it was indeed a chaotic area.
Hence, upon reaching this location, Lu Yuan sent out reconnaissance cavalry in all directions, investigating the nearby area day and night, wary of bandits’ surprise attacks.
However, evidently, his careful precautions were in vain.
The local Miao People and bandits had long heard of the news that several hundred thousand troops would be passing through; they had scattered before Lu Yuan’s army even arrived.
The civilian group officials who were stationed were ready with provisions to reward the troops. As soon as the army arrived, they mobilized the citizens, providing food and drink to welcome the royal teacher.
So the journey was uneventful, apart from the scouts capturing some Miao People and bandits who were too late to escape. The army did not experience any fighting.
This state of affairs made Lu Yuan feel relieved, yet also unsubstantial.
He felt like he had thrown a punch into cotton, the sensation of missing his target.
Fortunately, he was still within the territory of Hengyang Prefecture, under the emperor’s control. Sense he was still some distance from Wuling Prefecture and Shaoyang Prefecture, not encountering Miao People was within reason.
Therefore, he wasn’t too disappointed.
Even though Lu Yuan felt something was off, from the perspective of others, the army’s departure was filled with impressive might.
Inside the Central Army’s troop carriage, customarily luxurious for the chief command, Lu Yuan closed the window and diverted his gaze from outside.
Just as he turned back, an elderly man with white hair stood before him, beaming, “General, your display of elite troops terrifies Dongting. The Five Poisons Miao People will surely flee in terror. This time, you may wipe them out, restoring peace to the counties. Your achievements will be unparalleled among generals.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Yuan couldn’t help but shake his head humbly, replying, “Your praises are unwarranted, sir. Although there are many soldiers in my command, none of them could be called elite. It’s just enough to intimidate the Miao People, if faced against a truly elite army, we would fall short.”
The white-haired old man standing before him was Grandmaster Yan Wangqiu, the current national teacher who came from Southsea.
Since the arrival of this old lord, Lu Yuan had him ride in the same carriage each day. At night, he arranged for the old lord’s tent to be positioned within ten feet of his own. It could be said that he always kept the old lord close.
Having such a guard produced evident results.
With such a powerful bodyguard around, Lu Yuan felt much safer sleeping every day.
Since returning from the Inescapable Meeting, he had had several peaceful nights of sleep and was finally able to relax.
Relieved of his worries, his state of mind unexpectedly made some breakthroughs.
During these days, he made noticeable progress in his understanding of the martial arts external body. His gains were considerable.
Given these benefits, Lu Yuan became increasingly kind and friendly towards Yan Wangqiu.
And his benevolence was naturally perceived by the old lord.
Befriending a rising star in the military court was undeniably beneficial for the Southsea Sect, which was siding with the imperial court and planning to establish its own country.
Moreover, upon his arrival, Yan Wangqiu had learned from Shangguan Ming that this Pingxi General, who ruled the southern territory of Dongting, was one of the ten grandmasters planned by the court, currently facing the threshold of breaking through the Innate.
In some ways, the two of them could be considered allies.
Given these relationships, Yan Wangqiu did not resist Lu Yuan’s closeness in recent days and responded with enthusiasm.
At times, he would even actively guide Lu Yuan, teaching him some Innate Requirements, thereby creating a good relationship.
As such, their relationship rapidly escalated.
While they couldn’t be called close friends, at least, on the surface, they could be regarded as good friends.
“Elite soldiers in the world are all built through battles. Even if your troops lack elites now, with a few battles in the upcoming campaign against the Miao, experience will weed out the weak and retain the strong to forge elite soldiers,” Yan Wangqiu, stroking his beard, said with a touch of flattery towards the extremely young Lu Yuan.
Although he, being a well-known, hundred-year-old grandmaster, had individual martial power that far surpassed the Pingxi General’s.
On the one hand, Yan Wangqiu was getting older, with just a few years left to live.
On the other hand, Lu Yuan’s strength was not weak at all.
Whether considering his peak first-rate cultivation or his impending breakthrough into the Innate, either one was enough to be taken seriously by any grandmaster.
Lastly, Lu Yuan wasn’t a simple martial artist, but a chieftain leading armies into battles to control territories.
As of now, he could summon an elite army of two hundred thousand men with a single command. Although most of the two hundred thousand men were civilian militiamen, the ability to rally so many people demonstrated his strength..
