Chapter 380: Chapter 205 Great Prestige_2
Translator: 549690339
In this world full of war and chaos, people are scattered, etiquette and music are destroyed, and morality is lost.
Loyalty and betrayal often just hinge on a single thought.
Just like himself.
At this moment, he is on the side of the imperial court, but in a few days, he might find himself against it.
Having come this far, how could he trust others who have no close relationship with him and have no deep interests entwined with his own to serve him loyally?
In comparison,
Taking in more nominal disciples, though they still might not be reliable,
At least adds a layer of name, giving them martial arts teachings, granting elixirs, and as his disciples, they can gain fame and fortune…
With these various reasons, favors, and interests binding them together, the possibility of disciples betraying becomes significantly reduced.
In this way, Lu Yuan can use them with more confidence and be more willing to cultivate them.
So now, the fifty-two Divine Blood Elixirs and the previously stored seven Pure Water Profound Pills, as well as the Green-headed Dragon Armor Pills that Feng Zhijie is refining, have no use for the time being.
To make use of these elixirs to their full potential, at least two or three years must pass.
However, by that time, it remains to be seen whether Lu Yuan still needs to continue cultivating top-notch martial artists.
With their gains, Lu Yuan’s extermination squad returned to Shaoyang Prefecture twenty days after they left.
Most of the time spent was actually on the road.
However, upon returning to Shaoyang Prefecture, he received a piece of news.
“The imperial court has sent a hundred-thousand-strong army to march, led by Wuan Marquis Yang Jing as the commander, and the head of the Guanhai Villa in Guangling, Qiao Kangquan, serves as the deputy commander.”
“The two of them led the army to Yuzhang Prefecture, but their soldiers are stationed in Xunyang Prefecture and have not made any further moves.”
Yan Wangqiu and Su Xuange, who had stayed in Shaoyang Prefecture, immediately informed Lu Yuan of the news they had received in recent days after he returned.
Wuan Marquis, this is Yang Jing’s title, right?
Lu Yuan remembered Yang Jing, the person in charge of the South Ridge Yang Family, who had pulled him into the top ten grandmasters plan back then.
Now, more than a year later, the other party had already been granted the title of Wuan Marquis and was the commander of a hundred-thousand-strong army.
It is even very likely that the two would split camps and meet in armed confrontation.
On the other hand, according to the imperial court’s convention,
If someone in the country breaks through to the Innate realm, they would be given a marquis title starting with “Wu” (meaning martial).
Like Wucheng Marquis, Wuan Marquis, etc. Although they are named marquis, their ranks are higher than that of princes, much more significant than those of ordinary dukes and princes.
At this time, Lu Yuan has also broken through to the Innate realm, but the imperial court has not conferred a title upon him yet, could it be that they forgot?
‘Or, does the imperial court think that I am about to establish a fiefdom soon, and by then, I won’t need a title, so they are too lazy to give me one?’
Lu Yuan thought to himself and felt somewhat disappointed.
He was quite eager to get a marquis title beginning with “Wu” after all, this title would symbolize official recognition from the imperial court and strength.
Now that it’s gone, it’s quite a pity.
With these random thoughts flashing through his mind, Lu Yuan quickly dispelled them and returned to the main topic.
Looking at the two allies who were staring at him intently, he pondered for a moment and asked, “Is the imperial court on guard against us?”
Before Lu Yuan went to Luling Prefecture, he had already signaled Yan Wangqiu and Su Xuange to start spreading the news of their alliance to the imperial court’s side, to test their reaction.
Now, twenty days have passed, and if the news was sent back to Jinling’s imperial court by boat along the river without stopping, it should reach the Western Expedition Army, which had already set off.
At this point, Yang Jing and the others probably have already received the news and know that the situation has changed.
That’s why they stopped in Xunyang and didn’t recklessly lead the army into Dongting Prefecture.”
Yan Wangqiu nodded, “That should be the case.”
In these days, the Old Lord and Su Xuange had also speculated about the reactions of the imperial court.
So, upon hearing the news that the Western Expedition Army was stationed in Xunyang, they immediately concluded that the imperial court was guarding against them.
After all, with the addition of Su Xuange and Lan Cai’er, and their own betrayal against the imperial court, Lu Yuan’s camp now had four Inborn Grandmasters.
And considering Lu Yuan’s roots in Dongting Prefecture, there was an army of a hundred thousand soldiers ready to serve him.
Moreover, he could easily muster more than two hundred thousand Miao and Yue militia if he wanted to.
With these four Inborn Grandmasters and three hundred thousand troops stationed here, their attitude is now ambiguous, even leaning towards hostility.
Even if Yang Jing had ten times the courage, he wouldn’t dare to come to Dongting Prefecture!
After all, on this side, even if he led the troops here, the imperial court only has four Inborn Grandmasters and about thirty to forty thousand soldiers in Dongting Prefecture and Jiangnan.
Their strength may not even be as strong as Lu Yuan’s side.
As for Wucheng Marquis Bai Mengyang?
He is still leading more than twenty thousand remnants, hiding in Tianmen Prefecture, and being besieged by hundreds of thousands of Zhou troops!
If it weren’t for Tianmen Prefecture City being near the river, and Bai Mengyang could continuously receive the aid of the imperial court’s water forces and supplies, he would have been defeated long ago.
However, even so, the Wucheng Marquis can barely defend himself and has no hope of getting involved in Jiangnan’s situation.
Under these circumstances,
The imperial court naturally hesitates, not daring to act carelessly.
Otherwise, if Lu Yuan sided with the Zhou, and the Nanhai Sect and Nine River Sword Sect followed suit, the entire situation in the world would collapse instantly.
Not to mention protecting Dongting Prefecture, the entire Da Yue might not be able to be preserved.