Chapter 450: Chapter 229: Sowing Discord and Plotting_3
Translator: 549690339
Even to the point of sounding harsh.
For Grandmaster Jihui and Qiao Kangquan, was their assistance to the court in destroying the Southsea really a good thing for them?
With Lu Yuan no longer in the way, the Court had regained the Dongting Prefecture.
So, was the next step to prepare to invade Xichuan, eliminate their two families and restore the original territory?
It was a very likely scenario.
Therefore, for them, the existence of Lu Yuan was actually a good thing.
Therefore, it was beneficial to do him a favor and let him stand in front, help them withstand the threat of the court.
The logic was the same as with the affairs of Ninghai Country and Southsea.
At this moment, Lu Yuan seemed to be consolidating his western defense line, but in fact, he was making preparations ahead of time, trying to split the relationship between the court, Grandmaster Jihui, and Qiao Kangquan.
He was very clear about this, and Yan Wangqiu and Su Xuange, after being stunned, quickly reacted and understood the purpose.
They were naturally pleased to see an expansion of the alliance against the court and an increase in the strength of their camp.
Thus, at this time, they cast a meaningful look at Bai Mengyang, wanting to see how the Wuan Marquis would respond.
In essence, Bai Mengyang was also a little unprepared at this time.
He hadn’t expected that Lu Yuan would come up with such a plan.
Using the rich southern prefectures of Hanzhong, to exchange for the already devastated eastern prefectures of Xichuan, it was indeed a clever move, a brilliant scheme.
If Grandmaster Jihui and Qiao Kangquan agreed, then the court’s original expectation of having them attack Southsea from the west.
With the eastern prefectures as a barrier, it would naturally amount to nothing.
These two nations could also use this as an excuse to refuse the Court’s request for them to attack Southsea.
Would Grandmaster Jihui and Qiao Kangquan reject this proposal?
Bai Mengyang, putting himself in their shoes, thought for a moment and finally sighed.
Because he really couldn’t think of any reason for these two parties to refuse?
On the contrary, if the court forces the two parties to disagree. Then, these two people who currently need the court might not say anything.
But privately, in their hearts, they might begrudge it and nurse a grievance.
Thus, under such a grudge, if the court still expects them to attack Southsea after establishing their countries, wouldn’t that be absurd?
They would probably not only ignore the court, but might also throw their weight behind Lu Yuan to resist the court’s army, in revenge for their past grievances!
So, Lu Yuan’s proposal was blatantly a masterstroke.
No matter what choice the court makes, he could always achieve his goal.
Therefore, Bai Mengyang, after thinking for a long time, still couldn’t think of a solution. In the end, he could only say, “This proposal doesn’t seem to disadvantage Grandmaster Jihui and the Qiao Family Head, but whether they agree or not still has to be asked. I need to send a letter first to ask for their opinion. I will respond to the King of Changsha based on their wishes.”
At this moment, Bai Mengyang didn’t have any other way but to procrastinate.
However, this method could only delay things for a few days.
From the main camp to Wushan Prefecture, if one rides fast, it would take five or six days for a round trip.
Asking someone’s opinion is very quick.
Therefore, after hearing these words, Lu Yuan laughed and said, “If that’s the case, the Wuan Marquis can send someone to ask. When there is an answer and a result, the king will then decide whether to rush a thousand miles.”
The matter of a thousand-mile journey, although it was related to the victory or defeat of this Northern Expedition.
But this matter was not exactly urgent.
Xiangyang City couldn’t be taken down in a short time, and when the reinforcements arrived, given their strength, they could at most confront their side.
It wouldn’t be easy to defeat the United Army.
So, even if it took some time, it wouldn’t matter much to the United Army.
On the contrary, being able to sow discord between the court, Grandmaster Jihui and Qiao Kangquan, made Lu Yuan happier, and he was willing to wait a bit longer.
Bai Mengyang laughed begrudgingly and said: “That’s how it should be.”
After he finished speaking, the Wuan Marquis, with no mood to continue the banquet, made some perfunctory remarks and left in a hurry.
Lu Yuan’s sudden open move disrupted the original deployment of the court.
At this moment, Bai Mengyang had to pass the news back to the rear, and discuss with others about how to deal with Lu Yuan’s move.
Otherwise, if his side loses two allies and Lu Yuan’s camp gains two grandmasters.
Considering the strength of the opponent’s six grandmasters.
Even if the court wins this Northern Expedition and even takes over most of Xiangyang Prefecture, it would still be a failure, not a victory.
‘Even if we can’t retain Jihui and Qiao Kangquan and have them continue to be used by the court, we cannot let them help Lu Yuan and become his wings.’
On the way back, Bai Mengyang was heavy with worry and sighed endlessly.
Just because of one proposal from the other side, the situation had been turned upside down like this, and his side couldn’t even stop it.
For the court, this was really the worst news.
After the banquet, Lu Yuan, Yan Wangqiu, and Su Xuange continued to talk and consolidate their alliances. Having confirmed their unified stand in facing the court, they returned to their respective camps.
Then, in his own tent, he pondered for a long time before finally picking up the pen and writing three letters.
Of those, two were naturally to Grandmaster Jihui and Qiao Kangquan.
Although Bai Mengyang said he would write to them to ask for their opinions, Lu Yuan didn’t believe that Bai Mengyang’s letter would clearly express his intentions.
So, it was necessary for him to personally write a letter to them, formally expressing his idea of the exchange.
After spending a moment writing the letters, he summoned his personal guard and had them delivered to Wushan Prefecture as quickly as possible.
He then wrote another letter, this one was for his disciple Zhou Qing.
The content of the letter was also simple, asking Zhou Qing to temporarily put aside the military affairs of Fangling and Xicheng prefectures, turn those matters over to his deputy Chu Wei, and quickly come to Xiangyang City.
Now, with the proposal to exchange territory being brought up, Lu Yuan could foresee that his territory was about to expand again.
At this time, facing the six prefectures that had expanded, and two defensive directions, he also needed to consider the personnel for commanding the troops.
Among them, there was Lan Cai’er overseeing the western three prefectures of Xiangyang Prefecture, which didn’t require concern for the time being.
But there was no one to oversee the eastern three prefectures of Xichuan.
For this place, the person Lu Yuan preferred was naturally his disciple Zhou Qing.
However, the strength of this senior disciple was still too weak, and he had only reached the first-level realm, having opened only two bizarre meridians.
This level of strength was not enough to guard Xichuan.
Therefore, Lu Yuan planned to cultivate this disciple well, to rush him to break through as soon as possible, and advance to the level of an Inborn Grandmaster.